As they trudged through the verdant forests that marked the outskirts of the Everhart kingdom, Arion bombarded his companions with a barrage of questions. The dense canopy above them filtered the sunlight into a mosaic of light and shadow, playing across their path as they navigated the underbrush. Despite the journey's weighty purpose, the group found solace in the simplicity of their march, the only sound being the crunch of leaves underfoot and Arion's relentless curiosity.
"So, how does one become a king in this world? And what makes this new guy so bad? Why not just start over instead?" Arion's voice carried through the forest, his pale figure a stark contrast to the vibrant green around them.
Elara, the ironclad spearwoman, took the lead in answering, her voice steady as she navigated both the terrain and the topic. "The late King Aldric Everhart was a man of virtue; just and respectful towards all. His half-brother, Darius Everhart, born of a concubine, was always shadowed by jealousy. Such was his envy that it led to numerous imprisonments. Yet, our king, never one for cruelty, spared him the executioner's axe."
As they emerged from the forest into a clearing, the sun casting long shadows on the ground, Roland picked up the narrative thread. "Following the coup, Darius imposed his rule and shifted the kingdom's policies drastically. Our relations with the Gaul Empire, once friendly, soured under his reign. He despised the Empire, and their closing of borders to our citizens is like tinder to the flame, especially since they've withdrawn their support in our time of need."
They continued their journey, the path now leading them across a gently flowing stream, the water's murmur a backdrop to their discussion. "Our quest to reclaim the throne might seem self-serving, desiring our former stations while remaining loyal to Princess Seraphina, the rightful heir. But the stakes are far greater. With our trade routes, heavily reliant on our past amity with Gaul, now jeopardized by Darius's actions, we're a kingdom on the brink. Should famine strike, the lack of trade will hit us hard, depriving us of food, health potions, and other essentials," Roland added, his voice tinged with concern.
"The situation worsened when Darius murdered a priestess from the Temple of Hera, one of our allies. This not only put us at odds with one temple but soured relations with multiple religious factions," Elara interjected, her expression darkening at the memory.
"Woah, so different religions stand together in times like these?" Arion asked, his eyes wide with intrigue.
"Normally, they're at odds, but attack a member of the clergy, and it's like declaring allegiance with demons. In the face of such blasphemy, all creeds unite against a common enemy," Albert added, his voice grave.
As they navigated through a dense thicket, the branches parting gently to allow them passage, the conversation took a darker turn. The natural chorus of the forest seemed to hush as they delved into the nefarious schemes of King Darius. The sunlight, now a mere whisper between the leaves, cast a solemn hue over their faces as they discussed the precarious position of their kingdom.
"The king's machinations extend far beyond mere power grabs," Elara began, her voice a low murmur blending with the rustling leaves. "To solidify his claim to the throne and dispel any notion of alliance with demons, Darius plotted against Princess Seraphina. His aim was clear: eliminate the rightful heir and erase any doubts of his legitimacy."
Roland, his gaze fixed on the path ahead, added, "His strategy involves not just political maneuvering but a deep play for the religious heartstrings of the kingdom. By aligning with the Galadrian Church through substantial offerings, he plans to secure the blessing of Goddess Galadria. A necessity for any Monarch among humans to continue their reign. This move would not only affirm his devotion to the faith but also signal to the people and the clergy his unwavering allegiance to the light."
The group emerged into a clearing, the sudden openness a stark contrast to the dense forest they had traversed. Here, under the unobstructed sky, the gravity of their situation seemed even more pronounced. "This is a crucial step for Darius," Albert chimed in, his face etched with concern. "Without the church's endorsement, the kingdom remains isolated. No healer or alchemist would dare provide their services here, and the absence of health potions would be a dire blow, especially now when we're on the brink of conflict."
As they continued their journey, the landscape around them subtly shifted, reflecting the tumultuous nature of their discussion. A distant mountain range loomed on the horizon, its peaks shrouded in mist, a silent witness to the unfolding drama.
"It's a delicate balance, one that Darius is willing to tip at any cost. Our mission, then, is not just about reclaiming a throne but about restoring the soul of Everhart. We must counter his narrative, reveal his deceit, and bring back the true heir. Only then can we hope to heal our land and reopen our kingdom to the world," Elara concluded, her determination mirrored in the faces of her companions.
Arion, overwhelmed by the flood of information, scratched his head and smiled wryly. "Demons, temples, churches... Man, this is a lot to take in."
Sera, ever the patient teacher, smiled gently at Arion's candid admission. "Feel free to ask us anything, anytime. When we reach the next town, I'll take you to a library where you can delve into these matters at your own pace."
"That sounds fantastic... Though, I might need a quick lesson on reading first," Arion admitted with a sheepish grin.
Her smile broadening, understanding and warmth in her eyes as they resumed their journey, the promise of knowledge and understanding lighting their way.
"Ah, right, I had forg-“
"GET DOWN!" Albert's warning tore through the air with urgency as he launched himself towards Sera, tackling her to the ground and narrowly avoiding the lethal path of an incoming rocket.
Arion, caught off-guard, spun around with a speed that defied nature, his eyes scanning for the source of the threat. But even his extraordinary reflexes weren't quick enough. The rocket found its mark, detonating against his chest with a thunderous explosion.
BAAAAAAM
The world seemed to pause at the sound of Sera's scream, "No- Arion," her voice a mix of terror and disbelief. Around her, the chaos of the explosion rendered her companions dazed, their senses overwhelmed by the ringing in their ears. The forest around them erupted into pandemonium, with boars squealing as they fled the flames and trees succumbing to the force, tumbling to the ground.
Elara and Roland, driven by instinct, had hoisted their shields in defense, bracing against the impact. Yet, the sheer force of the invisible shockwave sent them flying, their consciousness slipping away as darkness claimed them.
The lord of Havenbrook, their unwilling captive, was not so fortunate. Without any magical protection to shield him, the shockwave proved fatal, his life ending abruptly in the chaos of the moment.
Arion bore the brunt of the devastation. Lacking any form of protective aura, the explosion ravaged his body, reducing his upper torso to nothingness. Only his legs and a portion of his face remained, a grim testament to the rocket's deadly efficacy. Miraculously, he was still alive, his consciousness clinging to the fragments of his existence.
In those moments, Arion's emotions cascaded from shock to fear—not for himself, but for the safety of his companions. Then, as the reality of the attack settled in, his fear transformed into a seething anger. Despite his catastrophic injuries, the will to protect those he considered allies, and perhaps friends, ignited a fierce determination within him. The aftermath of the explosion left a scene of destruction, the silence of the forest shattered, and the fate of the group hanging in the balance.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Alert!
Initializing Full Body restore
Respawning in
5
4
3
2
1
Error!
Heart not found!
Error
Brain not found!
Error!
DNA storage damaged!
Image not found!
Error!
Error!
Need to download the data!
Would you like to connect to datacentre?
Yes
No
Left with no choice, Arion mentally pressed Yes
Commencing connection request
Error!
Timeout!
Either the datacentre is out of coverage area or you don’t have access
Would you like to connect to extraterrestrial datacentre located near the …. Scanning
No datacentre found in 3 light minutes distance
Expanding search area
Error!
As minutes passed on, I kept lying motionless, bewildered… so is this the end? Is this how I go?
Scan found a datacentre at 8 light minutes
Recovery not recommended as it can cause lost packets
Do you want to proceed?
Yes
No
Host losing consciousness
Host no longer awake
Please respond
Please respond
Please respond
Please respond
If no answer is provided yes will automatically be selected in 5 4 3 2 1
Proceeding with request
Connection request denied by remote datacentre
Trying again
Connection blocked
Scanning again
Scanning
Scanning
Failed
Scanning for a new host
----------------------------------------
As the companions collected themselves, they witnessed a large mechanical army was proceeding towards them. The same army that they had to fight in the legendary dungeon. The army was led by non-other than the dungeon boss himself.
Quickly, Roland scanned his surroundings, desperately searching for the well-being of his princess. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw that she was safe. At the last moment, Sera had deployed a shield, saving her from harm. However, she was still thrown a considerable distance, collapsing against a tree and losing consciousness. Her necklace, an epic-class artifact, had also automatically deployed another shield that protected her from certain death.
Albert, too, was unconscious, his leg severed below the knee, but miraculously still alive. Elara remained awake, fending off the mechanical beings that threatened them. Meanwhile, the Boss approached what remained of Arion.
In his years, Roland had witnessed many deaths, but now his sole concern was the safety of the princess. Arion's death was tragic, but they needed to regroup and make a run for safety. If the princess perished, all hope of the kingdom's revival would vanish.
Elara, consumed by anger towards the mechanical monstrosity, spun her spear, striking down one foe after another, steadily closing the gap between herself and the Boss. Was it for revenge?
"Sir Roland, help me in this endeavor. We cannot let this monster desecrate Arion's body," she implored.
"Lady Elara, our priority is protecting the princess. You know this. Let us retreat while the Boss is preoccupied with Arion's remains."
"No… What will we tell her highness? Arion was the beacon of her hopes."
"It's too late."
While still battling hordes of robots, Roland scooped up the unconscious Albert and the princess. He signalled for Elara to follow.
"Run away… I will find you guys," Arion declared, his struggling voice filled with determination. Despite the earlier appearance of his demise, he had somehow survived. No body, no heart… just half his face and some remains of a functioning brain. It was… difficult to look at him.
"Hey, system, how far should they go before we proceed?" Arion inquired as if calculating something.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Got it."
"There's something very ominous about to happen… No matter what occurs, don't look back. Keep your mouths open, or your eardrums will shatter," Arion cautioned Elara.
"Find shelter, preferably underground."
"Go downhill, don't climb any hills," Arion continued, his tone unwavering. "Walk at least 2 kilometers away from here. They'll likely take me to a dungeon, so avoid going there for at least 2 days."
Elara nodded in both relief and dismay, her eyes fixed on Arion's haunting form. Still she decided to follow his orders despite the eerie sight before her.
Biting her lips in frustration, she leaves.
“remember… I will find you all”
“comeback in one piece” she replied back as she started running away
"Now then… I must wait for them to get as far away as possible," Arion muttered to himself, bracing for whatever challenges lay ahead.
“System scan this guy for demon core, we are going to excite it”
Scanning 76-T82
Scanning in progress…
Scanning in progress…
Scanning in progress…
Demon core found, preparing wavelengths…
Error! Due to lack of power cannot fire
Get to close proximity
“Gotcha… I guess I’ll let it capture me…”
“You see it bugs me a bit… why was the connection request refused”
Parallel process in progress…
Investigating…
ETA is unknown…
As Arion chatted with his AI, the boss 76-T82 picked up all the parts of his body, opened his chassis and stored the parts in cavity.
“Yeah well let me know” as he said this, Arion’s consciousness drifted away. Trusting the system will take care of all the instructions he had given.
But due to damage in hardware, system glitched and perceived different instructions… for better or worse.
Affirmative… Commencing Phase 1
You have authorized a series of events…
Cancelling Demon core excitement…
New host found…
Commencing Plan A
Rebuilding hardware…
1%
10%
19%
Error! Signal is weakening
Error! Signal lost
Commencing Plan B
Hacking 76-T82…
Acquiring backdoor entry
Acquired control
Sending signals through 76-T82
Connecting datacentre
Timed out
Request denied
Retrying Plan A
Recreating connection with new host
Rebuilding hardware 21%
97%
98%
100%
Hardware build complete
Consciousness failover initiated
Commencing Phase 2
Warning! 90% System resources will be allocated to investigation
System will initiate investigation in sleep mode…
Sleep sequence initiated
----------------------------------------
As soon as I regained my senses, a tinge of shocking pain engulfed my entire body. My heart rate surged, and I was sweating profusely.
I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn't, as my face was tightly wrapped with bandages. I attempted to lift my hands, but they felt heavy. I was weak, too weak.
Then, I lost consciousness again.
After an unknown amount of time, I once more felt myself coming to my senses. I realized I was surrounded by people. There was a bright light engulfing my being. Countless liquids were shoved down my throat. I was given a bath, and then the bandages were placed on my face again.
I was then put to sleep once more.
This continued several times until I was finally able to move my limbs, feel my sense of touch, smell… I still couldn't see a thing because of the bandages on my face.
The room was a sensory tapestry of opulence, its vastness evident in the rich and complex aromas that wafted through the air. As I inhaled, I could discern the unmistakable scent of aged leather, suggesting sumptuous, well-crafted furniture and perhaps even an ornate, oversized leather-bound chair or two.
Intermingling with the leather was a subtle, earthy aroma of wood, hinting at the presence of dark mahogany or oak paneling that adorned the room's walls. The wood was likely intricately carved and polished to perfection, an ode to fine craftsmanship.
Beneath these dominant notes, there was a delicate and fragrant whisper of fresh flowers, their blooms no doubt carefully selected and arranged in ornate vases throughout the room. The floral scent spoke of extravagance and a penchant for beauty.
In the background, a faint hint of aged parchment and ink lingered, suggesting the room's occupant had a penchant for literature or perhaps rare manuscripts that added to the air of sophistication.
Overall, the room's aroma painted a picture of grandeur and wealth, where every element was meticulously chosen to create an environment of luxury and refinement.
Lying on the lavish and luxurious bed, my sense of touch was instantly captivated by the opulence that surrounded me. The sheets beneath me felt incredibly soft and smooth, like the caress of silk against my skin. They were of the highest quality, no doubt, with a thread count so fine that it was impossible not to notice the luxuriousness.
As I ran my fingers over the bedspread, I discovered it was adorned with intricate embroidery and delicate patterns, undoubtedly the work of a skilled artisan. The fabric was cool to the touch, indicating a high-quality blend of materials that promised comfort and indulgence.
Moving my hands further, I encountered the pillows, plump and sumptuous. They yielded to my touch, providing just the right amount of support and cradling my head in a cocoon of extravagance.
The mattress itself was a marvel. It was firm yet yielded to the contours of my body, offering the perfect balance of support and comfort. I could sense the presence of multiple layers, each carefully designed to ensure a restful night's sleep.
"Ah, my Lord, you are awake… finally… Thanks to the goddess's mercy," an old, frail voice entered my ears.
"I will now carefully unwrap the bandages, my liege."
"You see, you were abducted by some... traitors and criminals, and while in their company, you were attacked by monsters," he paused, then continued. "We found you barely alive, with a wide chunk of your skull missing. It's indescribable how horrible your condition was, and it was a miracle that you survived."
I stayed quiet as he continued to unwrap my bandages, revealing a room similar to Lord Cedric's office but with a large bed.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked.
“I don’t know you. More importantly… who am I?”
“My Lord… Please oh Goddess have mercy on Havenbrook” the old man tensed up worried then looked at me with guilt in his eyes.
he replied with reverence in his voice, confirming my identity.
“You are my lord, my liege… Lord Cedric”
----------------------------------------