Braving a murky stairwell, the party plants down at the foot, finding themselves before a grandiose carriage in a musty basement.
“How’s it top-side Kleara?” Simon leads the group to where the legendary surveyor, Kleara, gazed into an orb displaying the outside.
“Lane Flint has been leveled by interlopers who subsequently were dispatched by Galini and Favos, the pair are now utilizing a captain caller.” Her eyes stick to the orb, not even raising to see her newly rescued son.
Alex stares at his mother with intrigue. ‘I’ve never seen her this focused, not even in her drills.’
Familiar sapphire blues and brown curls catch the eye of Kisu. “Dad, Mom!” She jumps from the herd and into the carriage before collapsing onto her slumbering parents. “Panic napping, just like when we burned that expensive tart.” Her voice softened as she joined them in rest.
Solaris cocks a brow. “Did she really? Bah! She deserves some rest.”
Alex shrugs. “Even the #1 delivery girl tires.” A yawn escapes his mouth as the last word runs off his tongue. “I’m also at my ends.” His blinks slow; free off fear’s grip, exhaustion takes hold. His remaining energy carries him inside before collapsing on a seat.
Domier squints, his eyes bouncing between the all-seeing orb and Kleara. ‘She matches the description of the freshly added retreat-class the scout captain was making a fuss about.’ With a glance of the carriage’s door, he turns away. ‘Not even worth trying.’
The remaining party enter, finding Kleara standing in the center overlooking the orb whilst Solaris’ sisters, Medo and Jochu, slept in the back.
‘Sisters!’ Sol steps over to the peaceful pair. ‘I was so wrapped up in what was going on I didn’t even have time to worry for you two.’ Starring at the soundly sleeping pair, he smiles.
Shifting his focus to the miniature monitor of his parents, a shiver bolts down his spine.
The deciding duel has commenced, Galini and Favos stand amidst decimated terrain as they await the response to their red whistle.
“You sure took your time, scorn, demon.” Before them a dark rift opens, unfurling like a curtain. As the void creeps, the air around it morphs to sleek grey feathers.
A towering bird manifests, its gargantuan wings acting as a gateway into the abyss.
“Morphstrix, hunted down to near extinction by impurities, as they were believed to be harbingers of ill omen.” Through the black a figure emerges, adorned in a cloak ornamented with an illustration of a flaming bird circled by foxes.
“I for one cannot grasp as to how their likes were foolish enough to not ogle at this avian’s allure.” Their black gloved hand runs through the ashen feathers of the beast.
Favos’ eyes coldly watch on. “And here I was, certain the ‘pure’ Shi Fos, who launches an unprovoked invasion, would lack compassion.”
Galini’s stare digs in like daggers as twenty luminous spears materialize around the adversary. “I cannot grasp how you see their ‘allure’ but still enslave them.” Her tone mimicked the opulence of the newcomer’s.
Shi eyes the hovering armaments. “A Kanpeki, more so the pale demon, shouldn’t be seen using such poultry skills.” With a wave of his hand, he whisks away what he sees as no more than glowsticks.
Galini’s stance tenses. “You’ve learned off the abyssal series?” Her bow appears in hand, drawn to full.
Shi scoffs. “To anyone in our league, it’s common knowledge.” He taps the lone legged owl beside him. With a red flash they vanish.
~*~
Inside the carriage, the onlooker’s minds race.
‘Whisked away like stage props! How’re they going to fight this.’ Solaris’ fret clings to the demonstration of prowess.
Kleara’s professional demeanor unravels. “I can’t provide proper assistance if he knows that!” Her nails dig into her scalp.
The despaired pair whilst lost in thought are nudged together, enwrapped within two arms. “If you think too much, you’ll spent more time worrying than helping -Kleara Blossom.” Simon mimics his wife’s absolute manner of speech.
A smile creeps across her face. “Right! I’ll just have to put my all into it.” Imbued with vigor, her eyes refocus on scene.
Solaris turns to face Simon, his eyes silently thanking the optimistic man.
“Surveyor, I have information I believe may help.” Domier crouched, speaking through the doorway.
~*~
“Let’s have a game scorn, see if you’re worth the extravagancies of this ordeal.” A red flash summons a silver behemoth before them.
“Oreaequus, lively mountain dwelling critters with spring-loaded legs that’d fly them across heights.” Shi’s eyes trail the behemoth’s muscular legs the size of 2 men. “Unfortunately, corruption persists, emerging even in blissful zones; driving the oreaequus from their sunny mountains to decrepit forests.” Shi’s tone emanates melancholy.
“Unable to adapt, they fell to near extinction.” Shi tenderly lays his hand against its thick silver mane, draped down its body like an armor.
“On the brink, my precursor found them, and pitied them.” Shi bends down, motioning his hands to a hoof’s ‘feathers’, consisting of familiar emerald threads. “They were bread to catch up to the rest: sturdier bodies, faster speeds, further leaps.”
Shi steps back, brimming with pride as he gazes at the oreaequus. “This one is my blood brother, Lei Feng. Born on the same day as I and from similar circumstances; the two most sublime of the species.” For a moment he appears entranced with his own speech.
Rings of grey miasma encircle the chatty adversary whilst skyward an angel preps a shot of sun’s wraith.
“Don’t take me for a talkative fool.” His response lacks any shock.
Grey claws erupt from the miasma gates, targeting the enemy alongside a heaven-sent bolt of light.
Before collision, the pebble pavement crumbles as blue light surges and the hefty beast appears in the sky with Shi atop their back. “How about some patience this time, I’ve not even gotten to rules.” The pair fall to the ground with avian elegance.
Galini and Favos reappear in their prior positions.
‘Even with my lineage, the speed’s hard to gauge.’ Favos’ outward nonchalance remains.
‘Faster than everything we’ve gone against so far.’ Galini’s fangs emerge as her lips twitched.
“Impressed? Lei Feng is truly a treasure.” Shi strokes the beast’s locks as he dismounts.
While Galini’s face scrunches from distain, a comforting voice speaks into her ears. “Lin! I know how to subdue the beast.” Galini’s anger flips, overjoyed to where she conceals it with a bite to her lip.
“Ears sharp scorn, if you can catch Lei Feng in 30 seconds, I’ll leave.” Shi tilts his head, exposing his overzealous grin.
“Why’d I play your game? It’d be a better use of my energy to kill you where you stand.” Favos’ eyes teem with hostility.
In a flash Galini appears next to her husband’s ear. “Kleara just gave me some info to take the beast down, take this offer and we may end this peacefully, or at least have that thing dealt with.”
Shi watches on, his grin losing emotion as time goes. ‘Quick to kill, slow to follow; maybe they aren’t as diluted I thought.’
“Are there any terms to this game?” Favos’ demeanor subtly shifts, from his posture to tone; an air of approachability arises.
“Don’t let my lack of violence so far sway you, I have no plans off letting you live easily. But since you seem willing, if not eager to play then let’s talk. Only rule is no attempting to harm Lei Feng, otherwise.” Raising his hand to the sky, a small fiery orb forms above. Quickly growing to the size of a bucket, then to a cart, then a carriage, then a house…Its growth continues until it approaches the size of the Fos estate, shining harsh heat down on all of Guardian.
Like Atlas holding up the world, Shi held the fate of Guardian.
Guardian’s final frontier freezes, enthralled with the power of the man before them.
“5 seconds.” Galini’s mouth tosses out her thoughts in whispers.
Favos looks on, his heart beats escalating under the scolding fire above him. “Understood, I’ll play your game.”
Turbulent gales pick up, throwing debris about and drawing back the cruel domineer’s hood. Unveiled is a straightlaced dark face coupled with pearly white eyes, only comparable to an other- worldly entity. “Let’s begin then, scorn.”
Lei Feng crouches down as Favos’ form morphs to brilliant light.
An explosion of blue springs Lei Feng into the air with Favos darting for him.
As the light appears to catch up, another blue rupture occurs with the prized steed emerging elsewhere. Favos returns to flesh as he redirects to again give chase.
Shi carefully observes, his eyes following every split-second beat. ‘Lumen, if only you could rid yourself of that apsída, you’d be easily faster.’
As ten seconds pass, miasma gates begin cloaking the area.
From them springs tens of black globs that attempt to latch onto Lei Feng as he moves.
‘Caliginous? I didn’t know it was possible to be acclimated to both.” Shi’s gaze turns to a harsh glare.
5 seconds of near unreadable movements finalize with a sudden halt. The dirt clouding the air clears, revealing Lei Feng with black covering his ‘feathers’ and Favos upon his back.
The lands around them cluttered with missed onyx slug, transforming the brown wasteland to a black hellscape.
“Enjoy your trip home.” Favos’ regal stance loosens as ego bubbles to the surface.
Shi’s glare matures to a scowl with the undesirable aftermath. “Get that sludge off Lei Feng, then I’ll leave.” His tone’s mild agitation appears joyous compared to his look.
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“Finally.” Galini falls back. A blue flash conjures a stool to catch her fall. ‘I need water.’ Her eyes scan her shredded attire, noting every tear and stain.
A critter coiled about Favos raises a clawed arm. The lumps of black cloaking the environment float up, forming a gargantuan ball. “Favos, should I return this now?”
Favos’ smile returns to his usual blank. “No, if he goes back on his word use it as a vessel.”
Lei Feng, free of inky blindness, returns to the side of Shi.
The miniature sun shrinks down, returning to its original stature. “Quite an impressive display that I must respect.” Slow claps follow his eerie congratulations. “How unfortunate, if not for that curse I’m sure you’d be a welcome addition to the lineage.”
Nove crunches their claws into their ashen scales. “No tact.”
Favos leaves his cold expression for the affable feeling expected of a leader. “We may not live as long, but it has shown us to cherish life, far more than where we began it seems.”
“I do, just not those that lack worth like your people.” Shi hops atop Lei Feng, fireball still in hand. “I said I’d leave, and I will, but I’d rather not waste the lives of my men, so Favos.” The fire in his hand morphs from a dreadful orange to a petrifying white. “Mind dying as retribution?”
In an instant Lei Feng appears above Favos. “Thanks.” A white eruption of flames encompasses the scene.
The heats power reaches even the underground depths through the surveyor’s breach.
Crack! Fractures run along the glassy exterior of the orb before its connection is severed.
“No! No! No!” Kleara crams her hands to her face as she falls to her knee.
Surface side the light finally calms. Displayed is a sight that’d boggle the mind of any Guardian citizen.
There, betwixt the cursed man and the fiery domineer is the Lucet of legend. Its radiant jaws shredding the iron muscles of Lei Feng whilst its heavenly lances fall like rain.
Completely engrossed with the beauty of the titan tearing through his brother, Shi stiffens.
In a moment, Galini appears behind the beast. ‘And here I was hoping to leave my roots behind.’ She snags her lover’s hand, pulling him to the sidelines.
“I never expected to see it again.” Favos brims with awe and elation.
“I wish you didn’t have to.” Galini focuses on the clash between the Lucet and Shi.
The enemy’s senses return and Lei Feng vanishes with a flash. His fiery fists spring into the ethereal beast but meet no resistance, sending him off balance.
In the second Shi falls, 12 spears drill into his back.
Galini falls from the sky, her hair radiating green as it’s become hundreds of metal needles.
Shi waves his hand, eradicating the spears and pushing back the Lucet, but to no advantage. Galini lands like an anvil, colliding her metal hair and several ton pressures fists against his back.
His eyes flash whites as all resistance slips away.
“Second opinion, does he look dead?” Galini’s exhausted voice called to Favos.
“Can’t be sure, Nove, finish him.” The gargantuan black mass hovering above the battle field extends a sharp tendril to the incapacitated opponent.
Shi slips back to consciousness, surging with anger. ‘Like I’d die here.’ He snaps, calling upon his calamitous salvation.
Brought forth is a tier of monstrosity unseen to most. A disaster carried by wings guarded in scales emanating the sun’s warmth. Eyes of black & gold deliver primal fear to onlookers whilst the jagged horns trailing its jaws ensures the skewering of those encountered.
“Moyasu, finish them.” Shi staggers to his feet as the infernal dragon thrice the size of the molten canine stands over him.
~*~
The carriage ridden party’s moral sinks to the planets core.
Heads shift, eyes dance, attempting to read the thoughts of those around. As if they held the answer to quell their hearts.
Attempting to halt the mental turmoil, the one assuredly to have an answer is looked upon.
Begging, pleading eyes gaze at the foreigner, as if with a snap he could change their world.
“It’s the end of my power I’m afraid.” Domier’s lively nature fled.
‘I’m afraid.’ The line strikes their hearts, as it was already at the for front of their minds.
Kleara opens her eyes, with a steady gaze she looks to the others. “We aren’t retired yet. Look lively, we can do something.”
~*~
“Moyasu?” Galini stares star struck.
“Galini!?” To the surprise of uninformed onlookers, the titan speaks.
“You two are acquainted?” Shi and Favos in unison inquire. Shi heavy in intrigue whilst Favos drowned in confusion.
“Long time since we’ve met.” The dragon anxiously spoke as their talons tap the earth.
“A few decades.” Galini’s bubbling emotions contorts her expression to a wry smile.
For a moment the past pals silently stir in their confusion.
“Galini, there’s a lot I need to tell you, but.” Moyasu looks to the man beneath her wing. “I’m afraid, this isn’t the time for it.”
Galini’s subsiding confusion made way for explosive anger. “How did this happen!?”
Before Moyasu can get a word out, Shi answers for her. “The enamoring elder infernal wasn’t protective enough of their clutch.”
An ethereal maw materializes below Shi, attempting to rip through him. Without so much as a wink, the oppressive atmosphere around Moyasu disintegrates the maw as it bites down.
Galini shoots evil eyes to Moyasu. “He has them on him, is that why?”
Moyasu lowers her head.
“Moyasu dear, kindly kill the man.” Uncaring off the emotional moment, Shi delivers his command.
Moyasu looks to Favos, then to Galini. “Who’s he?”
“My beau.” Galini’s predatorial eyes stare down Moyasu.
Moyasu returns the vocal hostility. “I’m sorry Galini, but I need my clutch.”
The prior pals transition to vitriolic adversaries in moments.
“Galini.” A calm voice calls out to her.
Looking over her shoulder, her eyes meet her husband’s.
“You’re exhausted, let me deal with this.” Favos walks past, towards the biological incarnate of a star.
From the sky descends a black dragon with a serpentine body, rivalling the stature of Moyasu.
“Nove, take the dragon. I’ll handle Shi.” Favos’ being liquifies into a grey mass, bringing about a sheet overlaying the earth. Like roots in a marsh the mass creeps outward, concurring land until it’s reached the end of the battle grounds.
Nove dives towards Moyasu, dragging her talons through the earth and her away from the bleak lands.
Shi leaps into the air, suspending himself atop a blue disk. ‘This is surely the most interesting war stance I’ve ever seen.’ His eyes race across the unchanging grey.
As Shi observes, tens of grey spires jump from the earth and pierce the blue suspender.
Shi tosses himself off and with a flash ends up atop a golden avian the size of Lei Feng. ‘The entire sheet is an output, is this an all point?’
Whilst his mind works, a spire stretches into the sky, surpassing his height.
‘What’s this leading to? Destroying it could be a trap for more of those protrusions.’ Shi’s eyes spin about, observing his surroundings at all times.
The spire pauses, growing thicker by the second before a sheet of grey hides the sky from the enemy’s view.
‘Trying to take me out in the air? Good luck.’ Five orbs of white flame fly from around him to the root spire.
As they’re to impact, an inky being takes the blow as it flies by.
Shi’s expression for the first-time sours with dread as Moyasu dives through the forming grey dome after Nove.
As the dragons slip out, the dome completes, leaving Shi in a dull world.
Around his body forms several flames, illuminating the area to reveal the same bleak death awaiting him.
From a blind spot bellow the beast a javelin shoots up.
KRAW! The avian’s eyes roll back as its strength fades.
In place of Shi appears a dancing air which abandons the carcass it laid atop.
Tens of arms the size of men reach out to the heat, attempting to snag the Apsída maintaining the heat’s collectivity.
Returning to flesh, Shi spins with pure flames whirling around him, fending off the encroaching extremities.
As he’s to touch the grey mass below, he waves his hand and it breaks up beneath him.
‘The abyssal series even works on this torment.’ Another patch of eigengrau breaks up as Shi again waves.
As he goes for anther swipe a familiar golden bird tears open his shoulder.
‘What?’ Shi’s mind whirls as he realizes what’d happened. Flying around him is his past companion turn puppet to the grey mass.
The necromanced fowl clunkily shifts its limbs as it again dives to attack again.
“How dare you.” The tattered remnants of Shi’s cloak lit ablaze with his fury. “DESOCRATE MY CREATION!” The puppeteering grey shatters, dropping the corpse of the fowl to the earth.
“I’ve entertained you for too long!” Near the entirety of the grey explodes into shards that break into dust.
The dome collapses, raining grey matter upon the blazing man and his past ally.
From the corners of the grey a figure emerges. ‘I didn’t think he was that much stronger.’ As Favos settles back in his skin, a hand grabs his face.
‘Wha-’ Before he can finish the though, he’s thrown to the ground face first.
As Favos regains focus, his eyes meet the furious glare of his opponent.
“I-’ Favos is cut off as a hand pressures his throat.
“Scorn is too good for you, ‘Swill’ is what you’ll be known as after death.” Shi’s nails dig into the opponent’s neck, drawing blood.
‘Guardian, I’m sorry I let it end like this.’ As Favos locks his eyes, a familiar cry closes in.
A shooting star throws Shi, digging him into the ground.
Favos’ eyes awaken, looking to his side he spots a crater with a befouled angel pummeling a flaming man.
‘Solaris, Kleara, thank you.’ Galini’s fists and steel hairs connects with Shi so rapidly it blurs.
‘I now have the energy I need.’ Her collisions keep pace even as her hands begin bleeding.
‘To go out fighting.’ Her barrage halts, sweat races down her entirety. She falls back, gasping for air as she looks to Favos.
The couple stare at each other, at last the battle has concluded. With them as the losers.
‘She utilized the climax, she’ll be suffering from falling action, we’ve really lost.’ Even whilst coming to accept his fall, outwardly, he smiles for his wife.
A gigantic calamity descends upon them. “Shi!?” They examine his body.
Protrusions emerged from within his chest, looking as if they’d break surface any moment. An arm dangled lifelessly from remaining muscle, filled with enough holes to ensure it’s drained. His right eye was rendered to little more than décor and his face’s harrowing disfigurement would churn the stomach of even hardened hunters.
“GALINI!” The calamity’s glare falls upon the exhausted angel.
“I hope you know I don’t hate you.”
Moyasu’s head bobs back as she hears a sweet tone.
“I do, so don’t think you’re getting away guilt free.” Favos’ rough yet cheerful retort is followed by a coughing fit.
Moyasu picks his body up. “He’s alive, this can’t kill someone who’s stepped into the peak of the extreme infernal zone.” She props him up against her arm.
“Ready to kill your old friend, so we don’t have to do this song and dance again?” Galini feigns a smile.
Moyasu lowers her head. “Is there anything you want to say, it’s all I can do for you.”
“Protect our son, you’ll know him when you see him.” Her answer rushed out as if it’d been on her mind for years. “And Favos, of all the beings I’ve ever met, I’m glad I die beside you.”
Favos’ outward appearance now completely softens. “Galini, there’s never been a day, nor will there ever be a day apparently, that I regret running off to see the ocean, because I wouldn’t want to live half as long if I hadn’t met you out there. And dragon, don’t be surprised if there comes a day where our son forgives you.”
A shiver runs through Moyasu. “Forgive me?”
Galini and Favos struggle to their feet. Favos wobbles towards the crater his wife is stuck in. He attempts to jump down but is swept up by a dragon claw which lowers him to Galini.
They join hands and look to the mouth off imminent death.
“It’s not in his nature to hate.” Galini tears up.
“He’ll eventually see that people do anything for the ones they love, even kill.” Favos finishes.
The two look to one another and take deep breaths.
“Good bye Nove.” Favos whispers a final goodbye as he accepts fate.
“I’m sorry.” Before Moyasu a compact flame arose. Its intensity grew astronomically by the second, becoming a micro star in a blink.
In the next moment it launches into the crater. Upon impact, its flames stretch into the sky.
Moyasu lifts Shi’s body into her mouth, before flying away.
~*~
Above the stairwell to the underground, Simon looks on as the volcanic calamity departs.
“I await my fall.” Tears sully his face. “To see my greatest friends again.” He plunges his blade into the desecrated earth.
Turning away, he descends the stairwell. “At least your children and Kleara were sparred the sight.” Arriving at the basement again, he looks to Domier.
“I’ll be going then, I wish you luck in wherever you may end up.” The titan of a man walks away.
Entering the carriage, Simon finds only slumbering people. ‘It’s better this way.’ He approaches a slot for a gem. With a flash a purple crystal fits in the slot.
The wheels of the carriage begin moving, carrying them away.
“Guardian, is no more.”
End of Act 0