Chapter 16

The 1000th Year War

A flash of light, the sound of silence, thousands of voices were pleading then, as if in an instant, nothing. A voice calls out saying a name it's so muffled it can not be deciphered it reaches out just before the dome of light touches their hand then-

Lupo's Wife jolts up with a gasp from a cold sweat of what seems like a nightmare as she looks around. She turns to the side her husband usually sleeps and sees him sleeping, an arm outstretched to her side she relaxes a bit and places the back of her hand on her forehead to slightly wipe it seeing the sweat she slowly gets out of bed and heads towards the front of their home. When Lupo returned he had informed her of what happened when he was up in the mountains with the hunters of the Acherons, the details of Arael people, and of their cryptic warning. It has been two weeks since that had happened and with only it being a day before the festival and no signs of the Arael, the Clan and the Moonshines have become weary. Both from the enigma of what the Arael have planned and keeping it a secret to the citizens of the Realm. Both families silently plan for the worst. Her thoughts are clouded in many ways from not being included in various task of the family, her own husband not supporting her when she protest, and too the occurrence of these dreams. Things have not been going to well for her as off late. She takes her mind of it by heading into the city and speaking to the both the armorsmith and jeweler from time to time about an item she has been planning to give to Lupo for maybe it can help him understand. A locket shaped in a heart inside it something she knows is important to him. Since it has been completed and she holds it in the morning light. She clasps it to her heart seemingly to pray, hoping that the Goddess is in her favor as she prepares to give this to him when he wakes.

After another hour Lupo awakes with his wife dangling the locket above him one of her arms crossed in-between her stomach and chest. Lupo sits up and blinks his eyes adjusting to both the sun and the object in front of him. "Good Morning? What is this?" He takes it by the chain and rest it on his palm. Feeling the weight of the heart shaped locket he slowly examines the embroidery and complex designs of the etching of the metal. Noticing the hinge he opens it to reveal that it separated the heart into two halves. On one side, a picture of his wife. The other side etched in writing. "For if we ever go apart I will always be near your heart. As you will always have mine." Lupo looks in disbelief as he stares at the picture of his beloved then to her. He sits up and embraces her without saying another word and grips the locket tighter. After the hug she lightly grabs the locket from his hand and opens the chain and attached it around his neck. "If I ever catch you without this you will be sorry" He then chuckles at her as she says this and cups his wife's face. "I will never remove this from my body" He then clasp her chin with his fingers "I love you" She smiles and nods "Good and I love you too".

The sound of the Acheron horn is called and another Call of The Wild is underway. Lupo stands as he hears it and starts to gather his things His wife sits there but she is taken out of her slight day dream to the sound of her boots being lightly tossed to the base of her feet as she looks up to Lupo who nods at her. With that sense of acknowledgment, she stands with vigor and delight as she proceeds to get ready with him to prepare for The Call unbeknownst to them what ut truly might be.

As they seemingly teleport to the Call they land inside the grand city of Nocturnia as the Festival is almost in full swing citizens cheering and celebrating about the many pathways and openings of the city. Firecrackers, colored dust and whimsical music are playing all around. For the couple this would be there first time ever witnessing the festival. They look around before a hand rested on Lupo's shoulder. He turns and Bjorn hooded up as well tilting his head using it to point in the direction that is a bit quieter for the trio. Lupo lightly rugs on his wife's cloak to get her attention as they all head towards the break. "So what are we doing here uncle" Lupo asks with curiosity. Bjorn makes sure no citizen is around then he answers. "A crow whispered that the northern mountains' clouds are on the move. Becoming darker and drifting too the mainland." He points over to several spots where guards and hunters stand in the crowds and rooftops. "They are coming." Lupo face looks more serious than before, and with that information he just nods. Bjorn continues, "Watch the skies" Lupo wife then speaks up "And what of the Moonshines where are they in this?" Bjorn hesitates to answer, "They aren't in the city they have scattered themselves to various parts of the world to protect their domains the only ones we are aware of that are still present are the eggs but they are sealed deep within the castles walls. They have their reasons for doing what they do but we can't question it. For now, let's focus on the here and now." The trio proceed to the town square a large and elegant fountain resides in the middle and denizens from all over encircle it dancing cheering and celebrating the occasion as the trip reside near if. Since the area is fairly open they can watch the area with ease.

Hours seem to go by as the light from the sun starts to lower and the lights of the city glow after each passing second of natural light falls. Buildings, people, and even the roads begin to glow in bio luminescence and this is what gives The Kingdom of Nocturnia its name. The party continues throughout the night as the full moon shines bright abo e the heads of everyone. A countdown seems to initiate from the city and in unison the crowd cheers as it goes to zero firecrackers, fireworks and streamers whizzing all around as the new year commences. But no sign of anything off putting which makes Bjorn uneasy. Lupo heads over to him to see what is wrong as the crowd seems to chatter and cheer. Lupo, curious about the crowds looks around seeing most of the citizens oohing and aweing at the sky. The trio look up as well and to their gaze see multiple glowing red and orange balls of firery light paints the sky slowly streaking across it. Some of citizens remark it to think its apart of the spectacle some say they look like shooting stars. The citizens cheer as they seem to get bigger and bigger.

The cheering is getting louder and louder as the citizens think the light show is for them. But for some of the keen eye hunters, Like Bjorn. He remembers something similar to this all to well. He starts to scream to Lupo to brace and with a bit a luck lupo hears the command and grabs his wife and yells to her to get down. The light show was not just getting bigger it was getting closer and to some of the citizens there cheers convert to a mix of worry and questioning, but slowly turn to concern as the streaks change direction straight down towards the crowded spaces of the city. Hundreds of streaks break from the original and the kingdom starts to light up more and more as the sound of cackling of the air is heard. Sonic booms and explosions surround the ears of the crowded city. People point in shock as the objects come into view. The Arael have arrived.

The Arael soldiers falling from the sky are glowing red hot. However, it isn't their armor or their bodies that glow but their wings. The white elegant wings they all displayed are glowing red hot and seem to be on fire as they fall from the sky. Using their wings as some sort of air brake to slow their decent but still moving incredibly fast. The Acherons and guards start blowing horns and ringing bells all around the kingdom as the residents starts to scream and run into buildings and shelters all over knocking into one another. If you were too look from the city from the outside, thousands of reddish orange lines streak towards multiple sections of the kingdom.

Then it happens, large booms are heard hitting the ground as the ground seems to shake from each impact as the Arael land all over the city. They all clad in white and blue armor as smoke emanates from their wings and openings on the armor on their bodies. Picking up dust and debris masking them in a slight fog. The citizens that were around each crater were pushed back, burned and injured by the impacts. The unthinkable to have ever happen to this kingdom has come into fruition.

Screams of terror from all around as the smoke clears revealing the winged soldiers that nearly tower over everyone even the females stand 6 feet if not greater. They look around with no visible shields or weapons they all stand and some float using their wings to hover just a bit off the ground. But they don't seem to do anything but stand their ground. The citizens look at the beings in fear while the guards and Acherons stand their grounds as people brush pass them to get to shelter. This is what seems to be sort of a standoff of sorts. The humans of the Acherons along side the many races of city guards versus the unknown might of the Arael soldiers who fell from the sky. The main trio are all in a stance not knowing what to really do at this moment. The Arael soldiers continue to stand there ground. All seems unorthodox and calm until a random citizen adolescent screams and picks up a rock and in the process of throwing it at the Arael. One of Guards yells stop. But it's too late, as the rock hits and bounces off one of the Arael soldiers' armor. The Arael looks at the dust mark stares at the teen. The kid is grabbed by the Arael soldier lifted up by just his head alone the Arael summons his blade and with quick succession and with a swift swipe beheads the teen with a clean cut. The blade seems to sizzle as the blood boils and drips from it and the headless body of the teen thumps to the floor with a limp. In unison the Arael soldiers summoned their weapons from seemingly know where and begun to charge at individual people. No one had time to react to what happened. As spears and swords hit their mark and blood from the guards and even the Acherons are spilled on floor. The War has started.

The Arael are cutting the first line of defense sending pieces of heads, limbs, and body parts splattering all over the place. Bjorn is in shock as even some enhanced who thought they had a chance to fight block some blows but are stabbed with such force that blades penetrate through their armor like butter. "We have to retreat to the inner walls! Go!" Bjorn yells to the men and woman who are able. Lupo and his Wife follow Bjorn as the sounds of screams weapons clanging and explosions ate heard in the distance. As they run the Arael surround and overpower many people who want to fight back. Some are more lucky than others as they fight in groups to take on one Arael. However as it seems one guard joins the fight another Arael includes themselves into it. Which breaks the effort giving the Arael soldiers the edge. The group that is running dodges spears and Arael dive bombs as they reach the gates of the inner ring the soldiers shooting crossbows and magic projectiles to defend the skies and the entrance of the gate to get people inside its safety. Smoke and fires scatter Throughout the kingdom for which was bustling with beautiful light now Enveloping embers and smoke and explosions.

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Bjorn waves to the others too get inside quickly and even deflects a spear that almost hits one of the guards with all his might he grabs it and throws it back hitting the Arael who threw it out of the sky with a thump and it falls to the ground. The gate keepers begin to slowly close the gates and only allowing a slither to be open to let the citizens enter anything bigger than that wouldn't be able to come in. Lupo fires his arrows some of them hitting their mark but most bouncing off the Arael soldiers he comes across in the air. His wife throwing fire balls and lightning from her hands using various types of magic such as vines to constrict the Arael who happen to enter the area of effect. So far range weaponry is effective against them bit the Arael continue to bombard them with their numbers and strength they are still on the back foot as they retreat further and further back into the kingdom walls.

As it gets more condensed, their defenses seem to get better and better. Some areas are being locked down and barriers are put up to stop the Arael advance the denizens look like they are putting up a good fight. Suddenly large rumbling is heard from the lower rings of the kingdom and it get more and more intense as it seems to encroach onto their level sounds of screaming and confused yelling is heard as the thunderous sounds approach the gates and barriers. The unthinkable is being seen. Covered in fire that seems to not go out a stampede of Walkers plow through the defenses causing explosions and even more fire to erupt. Creating ruins of debris and bodies being skewered and trampled by the 4 legged beasts. The Arael are using them as fodder to break through the lines using there durable hide as a tank to plow into the more fragile bodies and barriers. Some would say it is genius but to the people it just cruel and brutal to witness. They again are forced to retreat even farther up more and more as each defensive position is broken and as they get back into a figurative corner of the main castles grand hall all seems to be not going to well. "where the hell are those damn dragons!" Someone yells as they continue to fight The only one that truly seem to stands even a bit of a chance are the Acherons as they work together to take down these highly skilled soldiers of feather and might.

Then more kingdom guards come into the back end of the castle some burnt and battle damaged the small reinforcements help too provide aid to the Acherons. Lupo Father who stands at the top clashing with two of the Arael yells to his clan to fight hard and to not give in to these savages. He kicks one of them away and stabs the other their blood splattering on his armor and bit of his face an audible sizzle begins as he grits his teeth from the blood that seems to be burning him with this distraction the one that he kicked away charges at him full force gutting him with the spear and raising him high in the sky The Acheron leader cough up blood as his face is burned and his body slides down the spear. As he reaches closer to the end he punches the Arael that stabbed him knocking the winged man out then with his blade he thrust it into the Arael chest and with a twist the winged man goes limp. The Acheron leader slumps down his glowing blue eyes seeming to flicker as speaks "Se-Serves you right you damn-" He falls over. Bjorn and Lupo notices this and Both Yell to him. One yelling brother and the other yelling father! They both charge through the line the duo in tandem to get through the bloody ordeal to him. Bjorn is then stabbed on his side then stabbed in his shoulder he yells and fights through the pain but gets flung into the air and gets lacerated his blood covering him with cuts by a bunch of the Arael soldiers in the air. He punches and kicks the ones in front of him while the ones lifting from the air struggle to hold him down. The one behind him grabs his neck and Bjorn grits his teeth and uses one of his hands to viscously gouge the eyes of the one holding his chin and neck the Arael yells and just for a split moment he twist tremendous force and an audible crack is heard. Bjorn neck is broken and he falls from the greats heights and slams into the marbled blood stained floor.

Lupo is in disarray he continues to fight to the best of his ability and he getting tired he has cuts all along him and is bleeding from his arm He is about to charge at the entire line of Arael in front but is stopped abruptly by the sound of a scream calling to him "Lupo!" His wife lashes a giant whips of vines and thorns all around her and smacks the Arael soldiers away from her husband protecting him from what would have been his end they stand back to back holding their own against this onslaught of this winged military. "They're gone! The Moonshines have vanished I cant feel their auras!" She exclaims. Lupo shoots his last bolt from his crossbow hitting an Arael in the eye socket. "Don’t worry about that now, just try to focus and teleport us out of here! I'll defend you to my last breath" His wife begins trying to concentrate trying her best to focus her aura and energy to find a place to get them out but with her husband constant movements and the sounds of battle and screaming it is hard for her too focus. She is too distracted and Lupo turns to see a Arael stand wearily almost at deaths door seemingly aiming his spear at his wife the man curses at the pair and chucks it at her and at that moment, time seems to stand still. Lupo outstretches his hand and charges at his wife while she sees the spear and does her own to dodge it but it going to fast she closes her eyes too fear for the worst.

The sound of armor and leather being penetrated is heard blood spilling from the spear. She opens her eyes to see the horrible sight. Lupo standing in front of her and a spear pierced through his body he blocks her and the tip of the spears blade almost reaching her face her eyes are wide in disbelief… "N-No… Lupo why… H-How?" Blood drips out of his mouth as the color of his eyes are starting to fade "I-I need you t-to get out of here" He begins to slump as she catches him and she sits holding the her dying husband in her arms trying her best to tend to the gruesome wound tears beginning to flow from her cutup and dirty covered face. The battle around them continues Lupo body starts to get colder and colder "No matter what… You have to get out of here…" He shakenly places his hand onto her face and she holds it, denying what's going on in front of her "I will get you out of here You cant leave me" She exclaims still trying to conjure the teleportation spell but also trying to heal him but to no avail the hole in his chest is burning and negating the healing. He coughs more blood, "The only thing I wanted was for you", his voice starts to go weak. "To be safe. " His hand falls from her face and his final breath comes out his eyes still open in sadness looking to his wife. Her eyes widen and shakes him . The last words he utters as his breath leaves his body is the one of her name. "I love you my beloved, Uzume." His eyes lose all color and his body gets colder. Silence seems to surround the room to her and lupo on the ground. Emotions flooding of anger sorrow and desperation hear tears hitting his face. She screams and bawls which causes the very ground to shake and tremble. Everyone fighting stops and looks to the Aura and red glow emanating from the woman as she screams furiously hugging her husband in her arms as her hand stands up and begin to glow. She starts to float and the red light envelopes both her and Lupo's dead body turning them into a sphere of glowing red mass. So bright that many of the guards and Arael cover their faces to shield from the blinding light and trying to keep their balance as the ground continues to shake and the castle walls crack. The light seems to slowly close into the pair and seems to merge the glowing red silhouette in to the woman. Her hair of black now dawning crimson red and her eyes glowing showing no irises or pupils the tears that landed on lupo glow and absorb into his skin his body begin to rapidly heal and he starts to gasp for air his body lightly lands on the ground and he looks to his chest which was healed miraculously he sits up and braces himself seemingly confused and looks up to the glowing woman that’s floating in the middle of the grand hall. The Arael chant and look in awe at the glowing woman speaking their language and saying one line. Akuma, over and over again. Lupo grits his teeth slightly wincing to get up he yells to her. "Uzume!" His wife doesn’t seem to respond, and as she floats, horns begin to grow from her head and she outstretches her hand. Her voice begins to speak and it is her own but also others voices that are disembodied and speak unison with hers.

"I have seen enough bloodshed I had remained dormant for too long and now witness atrocities that I will no longer tolerate with the death of my other half committed by her five children and the crimes of my creations I condemn you to Twilight!" Her hand opens and a white orb glows and expands enveloping her then begins to increase in diameter quickly the Arael gasp and yell as the ones that were closest to the orb, as soon as they touch it scream in pain turn to dust. The humans and guards that are hit however are not affected by the sphere and phase through it. Lupo continue to yell and outstretches his hand and calls to his Wife as the blinding light of the orb envelops the entire castle then to the outside of it and continues to expand and envelope the land the Arael try to out fly it but are engulf into dust and seemling wiped from existence. The entire landscape, no, the entire planet seems to be enveloped by the white orb and within moments it dissipates. Dust particles fly around and continue to get smaller and smaller before nothing is left. All the Arael have been erased from existence. Not a trace of their buildings and children are spared. The woman in red glow slowly disappears from her eyes and instead of her lavender eyes they area now glowing yellow with black dragon-like irises. Lupo blinks staring at the woman in front of him no longer truly resembling his wife anymore but something different the naked woman looks to him and a tinge of familiarity comes back to her but its only for a second before whatever change that happened to her takes control again. She begins to glow and she slowly begins to morph the castle and the bodies around the hall into the building molding them and using them to repair the building. Everyone that is alive seem to fall unconscious and before Lupo could realize it, he too falls into some sort of deep sleep. His memories playing in his head of this day are being changed and his consciousness is being molded into something new, as a voice enters his head sounding similar to his wife but its it a bit different and more mature and monotone. "For you will be given a second chance, I must take away what you love most." His memories are stripped from his mind.. And not just his all the denizens that have witness the Arael are having their minds being erased and filled with new memories. For Lupo the memory of his Wife, Bjorn and his father. Have been changed to a bad hunting accident and they all seemling perish his guild wiped from the existence and him the sole survivor. He is taken to a realm of pure black and time seems to push forward as he stays in limbo his new memories flooding into him as he is manipulated and sent back to the world.

Uzume memories change as well for the being that took control of her body wipes them almost clean filling them with new ones as if she was just reincarnated into a brand new life the being slowly disappears into Uzume's body and time starts back a new. The castle is repaired and the city is restored. All the people of the kingdom no longer remembering what had happened continue to celebrate the new year as if nothing happen with slightly new memories. Deep inside the castle wall the eggs of the moonshines are teleported away unknown to where they went. Lupo unconscious body is teleported to his home which had been changed to fit his memory the only thing that was not changed about him was the locket which still hangs on his neck. The goddess then speaks inside Uzume's mind "They will see you as royalty as you're name will no longer be of Acheron. He will be safe and he will no longer remember you. A sacrifice for what has transpired. However, you will rule over this land and be of it that it will no longer face the atrocities of the past."

Time now moves on from the year one thousand war ending within just an instance. The Paradise of Dark comes to peace for four ions and nine centuries where now new discoveries are being developed.