================================
Volume 5
Chapter 54: The Wars In The Shadows
================================
While the battles intensified inside the walls of Alexandria and the hands pulling the strings from the shadows are revealed, a different fight was also happening on the other side of Terroa.
.
*****
.
Seated in a 2m bench at the porch on one of his villas, AG stares at the vast expanse of modern day New Zealand.
High-rise buildings towered, the clean streets hummed with activities as people and cars crossed one corner for another; they honked, laughed, they giggled and run, life buzzed with abundance… the sight of a prosperous city.
Only… there was something more about this city.
The villa was situated in a hill and the entire hill is his property.
It was 7:40 in the morning. A cup of blend warms his slightly cool arms.
In front of him is a bloodied, battered, beaten to a pulp 30-something year old male. He was still on his black tie and slacks, but his shirt under that dashing coat had the stains of the painful night that passed.
One of AG’s new lackeys from the bank bent down to the man and turned him around, his short ragged breathing echoing in their ears.
“Good.” Augustus was pleased when he saw him still breathing. “So let’s go back to our original topic. And please, this time, I will be gentle so just tell me what I want.”
AG’s smile at the moment is of the warm kind.
The man looked up at him and then coughed up a few spots of blood. He groaned, breathing short in between, he was clearly was in the verge of actually dying.
Moments passed more but AG was patient. He switched his posture and leaned back to the chair’s back rest, sipped the blend, and then sighed, “Well?”
“Archangel.” The man squeezed the words through his breath.
“Ho? Archangel?” Augustus smiled as if he had heard something amusing. “You mean the ship sailing at the Northern Seas right now… The Archangel?”
Augustus had a look of anticipation but contrary to his expectations, the man shook his head and laughed mockingly his shoulders were even shaking. He raised his eyes and effortfully made contact with Augustus’s indifferent gaze.
“The Almighty Father… cough… cough… had summoned the Archangel’s Holy Ghost from the depths of darkness to deliver us from our sins and give light to this prehistoric civilization… our mission… cough… was to tell you that all of your plans will fail this time around. Ahahaha… haha, hahaha… cough… cough… the Archangel will come and deliver us all from our sins! cough… Hahahahahahaha… the Archangel will come and deliver us all from our sins! The Archangel will come and deliver us all from our sins…”
After saying this, the man seemed to have been able to resign himself to his fate as he seems to start losing his sanity and laugh without care of his injuries.
He was repeating the same lines over and over.
AG could only smile as if to say “is that so” and he put his gaze back to the city, the smile beaming wider on his lips.
“To think that Pegasus had become this pitifully degraded in just a short span of a few years… it really makes me happy that such an entertainer exists in the era that I’ve lived.” He sipped his blend and then uttered a long satisfied sigh. “I really never wanted to see a Mortal God ascend from us but for the sake of my envisioned future, I might just have to allow him in the end. Pegasus, oh Pegasus… you told the world that you’ve been kidnapped by Terrorists. But I wonder… I wonder… (laughs) ooohhh, I wonder who are the real terrorists. Is it they… or the UNICORN?”
After murmuring these words, he stood up and cast down a cold murderous glance at the man on his feet. The man’s laughter was choked on his throat and his body unconsciously quivered.
“Since you’ve already resigned yourself to your impending death, might as well make yourself a little bit useful. You said your name is Seven, very well, from now on, you’re number seven on the list.”
As he spoke, AG poured down the remainder of his blend on the man’s head and threw the cup to his chest.
Right after his words were spoken, AG’s two new lackeys came over. One of them held the man and the other one took a syringe from his breast pocket and pressed the device on the man’s neck.
With a press of a button, the liquid inside the syringe was injected to hiss body. The man’s eyes widened for a moment before it went up and his body fell as if he was dead.
The new lackeys took the man off the porch as AG turned sideways to take a panel from one of his original bodyguards.
He read the contents and then chuckled,
“So that’s how it is. No wonder why he’s always in-the-know on every happening. So it turns out that he really has someone inside every power in Terroa. Haha… This mad scientist is really one to hold a grudge. Sigh, it really is very troublesome of him to kill my investment. Alright, contact the twins and make them attend to our king. Make sure that his every action are monitored and reported to me.”
The man affirmed but after a moment, he spoke in a lowered tone, “Boss, he’s heading towards the war between The Union and The Legion. If he dies…”
“He’s not going to get a game over so you don’t have to worry about him.” AG interrupted. “His will is strong and with how things have gotten at this point, he had matured at least enough to be able to use his mind the right way. People’s good intentions are what define the line between right and wrong. What he had to learn is how to use these ‘good intentions’ for his own benefits. The world he’s living in now is too dark and those who live in its shadows are selfish and sinister. If he wants to survive, for the sake of both of them, he will have to change his thinking. Soon, GENESIS will begin and whether he likes it or not, he will play the lead role on bringing us our long awaited destiny…”
AG’s words were paired with a burning desire in his gaze. This particular city in New Zealand is a center for one of his investments and his gaze when looking at it was like a father to a little son.
On the streets of this city were many cosplayers wearing colorful clothes.
Some even carried with them swords strapped on their waists and backs while the some others had large weapons on their backs. Some, even, were like the in-game version of the loli witch, Coralline, riding floating brooms while others were atop hover boards.
Humanoid shadows flew around the city without wearing any sort of wings or external items.
If one would focus his gaze, he’d see a peculiar transparent mirage that extends like a gas a few hundreds of meters at the edge of the city…
When those geeky ones take a closer look in this mirage-like transparent invisible substance, they will immediately notice that this is in fact the same rendering holographic lasers as that of the Real@D Technology.
In here, there are more than a thousand Real@D laser outfitters many times larger and durably stronger than the performance of the commercial ones built along important parts of the city.
These laser outfitters beamed their signals all throughout the city, activating something in the bodies of the citizens, thus creating the results AG and his lackeys are witnessing right now.
This sight was like looking at a sci-fi movie or like a detail on a fantasy novel… humans flying and strolling the skies in the real world is just too…
Magical…!!
It was like seeing a human city of Terroa in the real living world!
“Soon…” AG whispered, grinning, extending his hand up as if this city was built on top of his palm. “It’s so close I could almost taste it. Father might be against my methods of handling Rex Kingsley but he will never ever oppose Project Genesis for this is also an alternative path on the realization of his grand design. Hmp. He can only accept my methods, in the end, and the only power he can use to delay my plans is the finger he’s using to poke the wound on the UNICORN’s foundation. If not for that, he would have handed his position to me since a long time ago.”
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
The man behind AG had an ugly face of confusion. Thankfully, his principal didn’t turn around or he would have been a laughing stock by his partner.
Still, with how long he’s been working for AG and with how much he’s been exposed to their plans for the last decade… he at least knew that when it comes to Project Genesis, AG will spare at nothing to make it into reality.
Even including the Mefisto Extraction Experiment that Doctor Pegasus disguised as legal experimentation… everything was done by the leaders in the head of the UNICORN.
Project Salvation began with an idea from that renowned genius programmer, Doctor Pegasus, but he just had to succumb into his obsessions that even his own daughter had to stop him in exchange for her own life.
But despite that, that madman never stopped.
The grand ambitions of the UNICORN… never stopped.
Despite the sinister origins of Pegasus’s plans, the top hats of the UNICORN still supported him –even going so far as to staging his fake death and also spreading the news of it.
And yet, he understood… that everything, whether it was the goal and aim of the UNICORN for hiding and nurturing Dr. Pegasus’s plans, or the reasons behind The Father wanting to use a different approach to this plan and use it as his own backdrop for a different [Project Salvation], or his boss’ own [Project Genesis] that sought to use Project Salvation’s main character, Rex Kingsley, as just a mere side character…
…he understood it all…
…that despite the differences on their goals and aims, it was all for the sake of their good intentions towards humanity.
The UNICORN to the people… wanting to be the God that everyone will unconditionally follow.
The Father to his family… to preserve centuries of heritages for the sake of generations to come.
And finally Augustus Laniary, to his pursuit of evolution… for a never ending life, to perpetually continue watching the world completes its cycle of foundational progression…
Immortality?
Looking at this city now, with this miraculous nanotech on humanity’s disposal, everything that the humans have dreamed were almost within their grasps.
While it all revolved around Rex Kingsley, this young man himself, for the sake of his personal good intention is moving on his own different path towards realizing AG’s good intentions.
In the end, while AG seem to be a sinister and cold person who only cared about entertaining himself and taking good care of his investments, the core of his ambitions still lies at the fact that everything he had built these years is all for the sake of humanity’s evolution.
For him, this lowly servant understood, to see the world change in front of his eyes is the ultimate form of entertainment.
To invest everything in his grand plans for this realization was worth it for AG.
Besides, many years in the future, some other person with the same or even higher level of intellect and greater ambitions would take this very step for the sake of the same goal, the undying pursuit of evolution, so why not take this chance now and be the pioneers of that generation?
Augustus Laniary was only an intermediary.
He was only shaking and speeding things up.
In the end, that world, Terroa, is merely just a vessel and Rex Kingsley, who these four powers of the real world, Pegasus, UNICORN, The Godfather, and Augustus Laniary, trapped inside the paradox of his own personal ‘good intentions’ is merely a pawn on their own grand schemes.
…for his brother, whether he knows it or not, he plunged straight to the pits of pain and suffering because, just how it was made so, he had nowhere and nothing to lean his back against.
Rex Kingsley is hugging the blade aimed at his own throat.
It’s quite tragic.
He was but just a teenage boy who was yet to step into the doors of adulthood.
Thus, with all these so called ‘good intentions’, everything boils down to the different methods that creates the barrier that separates them.
Creating the conflict of interests, the rift between their desires, the inability to accept another’s methods… and eventually the reasons why they have to violently cross each other’s paths…
These complicated webs of lies and deception, of the waltz of death that entangles everyone around Rex Kingsley…
He was both a victim and a poison that, whether he and everyone around him like it or not, will be dragged along this giant chess board.
Such a case is currently takes place.
Rex Kingsley is but a tragically collateralized pawn on these giant figures’ game.
He, a lowly pawn himself, considered his self a mere spectator, watching and being aware of the web of circumstances and conspiracies happening in the shadows of RPG: Terroa.
Thus, he could only secretly sigh for the poor boys’ sake.
That year…
In that place…
Just who asked him to be there at that place at that time anyway?
If he wasn’t there back then, then he wouldn’t have been dragged into these events and his family wouldn’t have been destroyed in the process.
He could only look at AG’s indifferent back.
AG used a few moments to stare at the city, his right thumb caressing the dragon head of his black ivory cane.
Moments later, he clenched his left palm as if he just grabbed the city, and then turned to face the large man.
“Prepare my jet. We’re going to the moon.” AG said and led the way out of the porch. His strides were quick, his shoulders excited.
This is a complete surprise.
Augustus Laniary… is in a hurry.
The man almost swallowed his teeth as he did his best to hide his nervousness and replied with a strong toned “Yes sir” before sparing a glance to his partner who only sighed.
.
*****
.
The North
A storm carrying specks of ice wildly caressed their coats as it flutters to imitate the sound of a flag being whipped by the winds. With every step they take, their feet leaves 6in deep trails on the white frozen ground, and for every single stride on this white terrain, their energy depletes more than they could recover it.
Even their weapons felt like a burden when they traversed this blizzard. The cold touch of metal is like burning lava to their cold-laden skins.
And yet, they tracked.
On the lead was an old man unhindered by the blowing of the cloud monster, followed by their imperial companion and then their guest member, until finally the five youths who stuck together and held hands, walking as a single unit with each of their steps synched on every pedal.
Janus looked back and saw the shivering five. He just lightly laughed and continued forward.
Gabriel looked back and saw the children and couldn’t help but sigh to the playfulness of the old man.
Their guest party member was a rich person, if you considered his battle record and his time in playing the game, and as such he had many kinds of items and equipments that can be used to conquer almost any kind of challenging terrain.
With a snap of his fingers, Gabriel’s Mana fluctuated, a powerful isolating power rushed in to surround the five shivering squirrels and the wind began to stop battering the youths as if obeying an imperial command.
As soon as they noticed this, the five youths all beamed a smile at Gabriel who only sighed and went on to follow the old man.
After traversing the hill, they gathered atop a steeply inclined path, seeing a temple embedded on a chipped off rock stratum not far in the distance.
One glance and they all knew that this temple was an untouched archeological marvel. The five youths were awed and Garin had his mouth open as he watched a rock obelisk emit a warm and almost mystically bright light at the top.
Turning around, Garin saw that they had their backs against the silhouette of a chaotic northern city and far off in the distance was the castle that floated above a forest like a monstrous king.
“I could even see the dome from here.” Garin whispered to himself.
He had seen the news and he had heard some of the lingering stories. The Union was caught by surprise and Alexandria was invaded from within and outside.
Garin looked back at the obelisk, and then back to the city, having thought that perhaps the people of Alexandria wasn’t oblivious of this temple at all.
“Sir.” Garin called out to Gabriel. “Is this temple somewhat of an important part of the quest you are after right now?”
Gabriel cast him an indifferent gaze before he brought it back to observe the pylon. He can’t help but to feel weird on answering this question.
Back then when he was still the emperor, this temple had so many priests and acolytes and the mountain itself was a bustling place of worship and activity by the followers of the God Knight.
“In a certain… way…” Gabriel could only utter.
He doesn’t want to disclose any kind of clue as to what they are actually doing here. If he could, even, Gabriel wouldn’t want to come back here because this place is one of the five places he was forced to seal in order to stop the senseless wars. The memories of those days were just too painful for him.
To see his people, for the sake of power and greed, kill each other mercilessly and not even spare even the innocent children, is just too tragic.
Seeing his pained expression, Garin could only keep his other questions at bay. He decided to just watch for the moment.
Janus went towards the obelisk and ignored the cold biting chill of the surface when he touched its frame.
A droning vibrating sound assailed their ears as the entire snow region around the structure was fended off by a surge of mana that originated from the glittering gem on top of the obelisk.
SWOOSH!
With a final surge of wind, the entire snow clouds that poured the blizzard dissipated, the wide blue sky boomed above like a sea that could drown the senses.
But aside from the blue, what were more eye-catching were the glittering stars that formed an entire sea above their heads that stretched from horizon to horizon, with the sea of clouds in the distance serving as a reminder that they were still on land.
“Woooow.”
“Beautiful.”
“So pretty…”
“Look a shooting star!”
“Awesome!”
The five youths marveled at the sight and even Garin couldn’t help but take a commemorative snap shot of it. In fact not only one, but he also took shots of the temple with a few sneak groufies.
He then thought of those mountain climbers on earth who managed to reach the top of the Upper Himalayas or even the Everest.
The calmly floating sea of clouds in the distance reminded him of the line “like touching the clouds” that managed to seep into the hearts of those who were seeking enlightenment on their selves atop a mountain.
The sea of stars above was stunningly beautiful.
It was black yet also blue, the battling gradient on the horizon that seem to separate night and day captures your heart as if it was on fire. Like you suddenly realize a seed of inspiration and wanted to write an entire book all about this one single moment.
“This world… is more than just a game.” Garin murmured in an inspired manner.
“Stay here.”
These words caught the attention of the people and even Gabriel, who followed Janus all around and didn’t dare to stay afar from him for even a moment, did not take those casual words as just an ordinary reminder.
Janus entered the temple alone.
They could only watch as the subsequent evens transpired and eventually changed the course of destiny of planet Terroa.
.
.
===================
The players are appearing as their pawns have begun their advance.
Now, Janus takes the center stage.
===================
.
.
Next chapter: The slumbering soul in the temple.
.