[2].Dawn of times.
The Jump Drive was ten seconds away from activation when Iskard’s vitals suddenly disappeared from the display. Looking below, Rhod saw that the goddess’ blue force field had collapsed. A couple dozens Kjatans - Scourge spawns - were closing in on the group, followed by a massive Kjal. This one was five meters tall and built like a Combat Mech, it’s thick limbs covered in seredated chitinous spikes.
Seven seconds left.
The pilot slammed his fist on the side of the cockpit, thinking. For all he cared, he would rather go home: his mission - and Litha’s - had been to secure the site until Iskard repaired the anchor, which he had. All duties had been completed, however the mission briefing was clear: Erasia had to be anchored at any cost.
Five seconds left.
Disengaging the Jump Drive, he turned the ship towards the group and pushed the thrusters at full speed, holding onto the control stick like his life depended on it. The ground kept on getting closer and closer, his helmet’s HUD displaying his trajectory onto his visor. He reached maximum velocity right before crashing into the massive Kjal, crushing it and all Kjatans that had been ten meters on either side of it, and a long distance behind.
He opened the cockpit with fury and jumped out, mowing any and all spawns that dared cross his path with his sword.
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Vultarm was the first to get back on his feet, followed by Tali. Iskard was lying face down next to the anchor thing, and the rest of his family was lying down in pain, black etheric smog gathering around the group.
-Tali! Clear the smoke before mom and the others choke!
The crimson haired god yelled, before picking up Iskard’s sword. He had seen these blades at work, and saw no reason to settle for his attribute weapon only.
-On it, Tali replied, a wrathful sneer on her face.
Vultarm stepped forward. He held his burning longsword ‘Glossa Tis Fotias’ - the fire tongue, in his left hand and Iskard’s rapier-like blade in his right hand. The young god rubbed the blood off the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, smirking. Those human swords were strangely heavy for their size, but made up for it with an unstoppable edge.
-Always wanted to try one… He whispered to himself, impatient to test it.
The first Kjatan arrived, the upper half of its body human, the lower half a mangled insectoïd abdomen with six legs. Its right forearm was a mantis’ scythe, which it swung down on the young deity.
Vultarm parried with his longsword, the flames sizzling the chitine, before swinging the human blade upward. It whistled and met no resistance, shifting the warrior’s balance off. Clicking his tongue, he jumped back a few meters to ready himself for another attack, but nothing came: the Kjatan’s forearm had been cut clean, as well as the entire right side of its face, which should have been outside of the rapier’s range. ‘That’s neet’, Vultarm thought.
Two more spawns arrived, charging straight at him disorderly. Readying himself with a parrying stance, the god watched a gauntleted fist punch downward through the furthest Kjatan, from its head all the way down to the ground, puncturing the charred stone floor. Right after, the angry human Blinked, instantly reappearing next to the second spawn. He grabbed its head and released a devastating lightning bolt into the creature’s skull, vaporizing it.
-Hey, stop showing off! Vultarm said, his voice half amused, half nervous.
-You good? Rhod asked, his tone less of a question than that of an affirmation.
The tall human stayed several meters away, keeping his usual distance even in that situation. He had cleared the closest threats and watched as the rest slowly crept closer, gauging the threat that the mortal represented.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
-Yeah, but mother is down. We’re bare without her protection, Vultarm informed.
-No shit.
A silent minute went by, with both sides staring at each other. Pandore had come back to her senses and was now taking care of everyone else. Tali had done a great job, pushing the smog towards the spawns and causing a large number of them to dissolve within it. The stalemate remained with the gods coming back up one by one, leaving only Iskard down. After a long moment, as the Kjatans started to show signs of impatience, Rhod turned to look at Vultarm, sheathing his own sword.
-Your world better be worth it, the human said.
He then walked towards the anchoring machine, fists clenched. The Kjatans chose that moment to charge in, closing in at high speed towards the group. Understanding the mortal’s intentions, Gaïa rose her voice.
-Throw everything you have at them! She yelled at her children while throwing huge spears of light, groaning under the strain her powers laid on her mortal vessel.
Tali and Vultarm immediately threw everything they had, lighting up the enemy. Pandore shook herself up, and started enhancing her siblings’ abilities. This pulled the remaining gods out of their sideration and they, in turn, threw everything they had at the spawns, raining spells on them and running their weapons through chitine-clad flesh.
On his side, Rhod walked by Iskard, looking at him without stopping, before focusing on the spatial anchor’s display. The timer had run down to zero, and the tactile screen displayed a dialogue window.
00:00
COUNTDOWN: CLEAR
CONFIRM ANCHORING?
Confirm
Abort
With no hesitation, the soldier confirmed and triggered the anchoring. The whole machinery whistled for a couple of seconds, before engulfing the whole of Erasia in an iridescent light.
----------------------------------------
Rhod opened his eyes, seeing nothing but a starry sky. His body felt heavy and strangely warm, as if wrapped in thick bed sheets.
Trying to move his limbs about, he immediately felt what was wrong and materialized his armor around his body, immediately feeling safer. He took a moment to calm down and catch his breath, trying to release his tension.
He mentally went through his last memories, and found no fault or gaps in the logic of the last events he could recall. The anchoring had been successful, but at the cost of stranding him in a world within his world. A shield world. Anytime things went south, it had to bring him down along, it seemed. At least, with Erasia up and running, the World Array was formed. That alone made his situation tolerable.
Having calmed down somewhat, Rhod pushed himself into a sitting position, his stiff body numbly responding, creaking at every effort. He was indeed wrapped, but in layers of fur. He looked left, from which he could hear the distant sound of drums beating at the rhythm of primitive tunes. He seemed to be in a small clearing, surrounded by a forest of short pine trees with sparse patches of young grass growing sporadically.
He then looked right and saw, on the horizon, the sky gaining some hues of orange and purple. Watching in silence, the young man slowly took his helmet off, undoing the hermetic seal. His helmet beeped quietly. A fresh breeze gently blew through the trees, rustling his hair and letting the grass sway peacefully. He had just sacrificed his future but at least the view was nice, he thought.
-You’re unkillable, old man, a male teenager’s voice gently said.
Rhod sighed, annoyed, his lifeless eyes still on the horizon.
-I would relay mother’s message to you but knowing you, old man… you won’t really care. So, to put it simpl-
-It’s as you said, Theni. I don’t care. Rhod calmly said, cutting Thenistas. Thanks for healing me, I'm grateful. But that’s it. We’re done.
-I know, old man, I just-
-Don’t call me old man! The soldier snapped, wobbling himself on his feet. Whatever life I could have had! Whatever future I could get for myself, gone! Gone, because everyone is a selfish prick! Rhod yelled. His sudden outburst did not scare the god of healing but instead, made his face turn into a scowl of sadness and pity.
-Leave me alone, ok?! Just… Just freaking…
Rhod’s voice broke, turning his face away to hide his teary eyes.
-Leave me alone. I’m… I’m done. It’s enough… Enough… he whispered, while sitting down again to cradle himself up.
Where Iskard had been a goofy big brother to Thenistas and his siblings, Rhod had been a fatherly figure. A stern, but caring one.
-This is the Dawn of Time. Nothing for you to see or do, the young deity said, fiddling with his scepter. I will put you to sleep until a civilization rises. And then… Thenistas slowly turned around, walking towards the forest.
-... Maybe you can live freely. If you find the strength to do so.