Rewritten story of "Sanity's Eclipse" that I abandoned due to my previous conflicting schedule and now I reworked it because of my renewed interest.
Prequel of "Sanity's Eclipse" Still pending on how it goes
This is the opening curtains of a Dark Epic Fantasy.
http://royalroadl.com/fiction/898
-A Ruin of Ken Saga-
The Phantom Eclipse
Dark Fantasy.
The story begins after the sudden release of Ruin’s Newest expansion , a popular online game where a massive siege event occurred and thousands of players participated in order to conquer the very 1st Mythical class tower Avernus and after 2 week of non-stop action the siege had finally ended and it was named “The Great and Stupid Clusterfuck” But after the last boss was defeated and and for the first time a “sovereign” had been named. A player named “Ken” accidentally triggers a mysterious and unknown skills called [Transcended Rebirth] & [Ascension] that resulted in not only he but also several others being swallowed up by a strange light and the next thing they knew they found themselves transferred to far more twisted and deadly world than their own.
Follow the players journey as they forge their own legends as the “Pioneers”.
http://royalroadl.com/fiction/898
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-Prologue-
"Ruin Falls When Worlds Collide"
At the Edge Forest of Greed where where the gods once wonder..
Facing the wounded young girl and several other children at the edge of the cliff, the conquistadors aimed their rifles as they drew closer.
To have mercy was to take away a life in a single strike. Their rifles glistened high up in the air, when struck by light and all the conquistadors gave off a wicked smile as if they were enjoying this moment and was giving the children a small
leisure time to pray for their lords.
A man wearing slightly different outfit from the rest of the group spoke.
“Why do you protect all this filth? Let them die girl and I’ll let you live!” the conquistador asked.
“You already know my answer.” the girl bravely replied.
The man stared at the girl’s eyes and saw an unyielding determination and he knew that she would never be convinced and just sighed.
“Tsk… tsk… tsk… We honestly did not know that you hid yourself on the monastery but we won't apologies for our necessary actions.” the man clicked his tongue and gave off a disappointed looked.
“I guess I could never convince you to join our cause. For the glory of god's chosen children then let’s turn this into our advantage.” A sudden wicked smile creep from the man’s face and as he nonchalantly should a devious expression, as if he had gained a sudden godsend insight
.
“ All your efforts of protecting all this filth would now only turn for naught, as we are going to turn you into a beacon of hope that would relight the extinguished flame of our people. Your holiness would become the symbol of our vengeance that our people could rally behind and as the news of your death would be spread throughout all of Mundo. The Taos shall rise and smite this filthy creatures and soon enough every race would then be forced to pick a side and the world would be engulf in a massive sea of flames once more and the inevitable demise of all this little filthy monsters would finally come as it was foretold on the great promised."
"We are tired of living under constant fear and hide within the shadows, hoping that their gaze would pass. Who would want to live as a live stocks for the more carnivorous kinds".
"I could kill you right now but for the sake of our common pass i’ll give you a slow and painful death as you slowly wither and watch helplessly as we ‘play’ with your ‘children’ even if I have a deep rooted ‘respect’ for you.
I thank you for your noble sacrifice as you yourself become will being a martyr for our ‘great’ Tao race and your death will be the cause of these vermin extinction.
Remember this your holiness that within my heart has nothing but respect for you and I genuinely thank you for your upcoming sacrifice. A ‘true’ hero of the Tao race. May you be immortalized within our hearts forever.” the man grinned maliciously then lowered his head as a sign of ‘respect’.
Hearing those words the girl easily understood what he meant and the girl spitted on the man’s face as .
“You’re the filthy monsters who deserves a horrible, gruesome and painful death for what you have done. Not this helpless innocent children.”
The man took a red cloth out of his left pocket and wiped the spit off.
“Innocent? Just by being born not a Tao is already a sin itself that must never be forgiven and how far can your bravery bring you. Surely you must know that all your actions are a wasted effort for them, as your actions contradict what’s written on the great promised.”
“...” The girl fell into silence unable to refute what he had just said.
"Silence? I guess cat got your tongue. Have you forgotten all the pain our people the Tao have continually suffered because of their pointless disputes. Do you remember that night your Holiness cause i
could never forget that day."
The captain took a long and deep pause to reminisced the past.
"Nowadays everyone calls that bloody night 'Wrath of the Falling Skies'."
"Hehehe....."
The man showed a wicked smile that scared the children further besides her.
"Oh! I remember that night all too well for I was there when that tragic night happened. The lives that was lost and the madness and horror that came and struck everything down and I barely escaped with my life."
The girl stared at the man's face and for a moment the man's visage slipped and showed a moments of weakness as the person himself showed for a second a deep melancholic smile full of sadness, hate and a self inflicting pain of regret.
"And you blame anything that's not Tao as a result?" the young wounded girl replied.
"You're pathetic and stupid! your little crusade will cause death and despair not just Enkantos but also countless Tao lives. I know full well that you’ll make this entire affair seemed like the ‘others’ came and massacred this temple".
After hearing her words the man slapped the girl so hard and her left cheek bleed.
"As long as all the the ‘others’ disappear from the face of Mundo. I'll be happy to burn in hell for all eternity even if the Lords forsake me for all time. Look at the little ‘feline’ girl who clings passionately on your left, that little ‘dog’ at your back cowering in fear, and the ‘reptilian’ child that you held so dearly with your right hand ever so tightly.”
“Why would you grace and spare an effort for them. The're not even Tao's." he angrily shouted.
The man paused again for a moment to take a deep breath to calm and composed himself and said.
“Knowing full well you’ll die anyway and you still have the guts to spit on the captain of the phantom conquistadors whom even the ‘others’ fear. Hahah! Well nothing less than expected from you.” he laughed maniacally.
"Nonetheless a great war shall soon dawn on this dark world and it shall be wage in the name of the 7 holy sins" He gleefully expressed himself as several pints of liquid dyed with red dripped from her wounded body.
The girl looked further around her surroundings and what she saw was the nearby village known for its neutrality and the great ‘Temple of Sins’ known as a place where sinners go to make amends to wash away their sins. A symbolic place worship my many and had stood proudly at the top of mountain for nearly a millennia had been reduced to ash and rubble.
Such sacrilege would never be forgiven no matter what race they belonged too but for now she must focused the matter on hand, as she and the 9 surviving orphan children besides her are trapped in a current predicament on the cliffside as they were surrounded by the by not only the the calm ocean beneath the cliff, but by extremist captain and 7 other conquistadors that are determined by vengeance.
The children are all in a state of terror and despair as they had watched the horrors of what had transpired earlier. They had been crying for over an hour as the the young girl kept her stance though as they grew closer at the edge she managed to shut her eyes for a moment as her strength had slowly begun to be sapped away from her as time went on. Though her expressions showed a brave front could easily read a facade for the children.
Deep within the girl harbors misery and hopelessness and as she had resolute herself that she had been powerless to prevent their upcoming fate.
She knew she there are ways of escape but the price would cost her both her morality and her soul.
A price she never considered to accept as it would mean that she would abandon this children to their deaths and many more would follow as she herself must accept her forsakened responsibilities.
She knew that by doing so basically makes her a murderer of innocence and that kind of fate must be averted no matter what.
The young girl dared not to show and signs of despair in front of the children. The young wounded girl embraced the nearby children as they awaited their fate. The young girl prayed and wished if she ever had power of some sort, she would have used it on the men before her and save the children. Though she had trained to become a priestess nonetheless she was still a trainee and her training had only been briefed.
She had watch the others from the monastery practiced in secret, she knew that the others had practiced she had witness were all forbidden for a reason. It was widely known that even a hint of attempt of such action would purge not only you but everyone you knew as it was a form of prayer that many considered heresy and outright sacrilege.
There was once a country who tried and prepared to perform it secretly was purge and that the same country no longer existed.
Though there had been accounts of it been performed publicly very rarely, it was only on a specific date and only a chosen grand priestesses may be allowed perform such tasks as a sanctioned ritual that had been approved and sanctioned by the highest of authorities to call forth a so called ‘lord’ from the great beyond.
Such was the fairy tales of old and many knew that such sanctioned ritual was only a away that could be describe as symbolism or often a form of offering to the gods and nothing more.
Though no one knew why such rituals are forbidden.
A fellow acolyte once told her in secret that if such ritual turned into an actual success, the priestess who manage to performed such legendary feat must give her everything to the one she had summoned as a price in order to avoid incurring its wrath.
When she heard those word she dismissed it as nothing more than a joke and outright speculation.
But what can she do? Surely abandoning the children and siding with this extremist is out of the question which leaves her with one choice.
To perform the ritual in secret right here, right now. Such was the only option she conceived as a last resort, even if she must give her everything she knew she must not fail.
The ritual itself was easy but the cost of connection was severe that many priestesses would never be able accomplish.
Still she hope, still she dread of the outcome that would nonetheless occur on a few moments.
If she fails they die and if she somewhat managed to successfully perform the children would at live. Such thoughts gave her hope and determination.
Pain ached throughout her whole body signaling she was near her limits as blood slip through her little by little. The girl carefully moved as she took some of her blood to use as marker for the upcoming ritual.
Her breath grew heavier, her heart was filled doubt and hope as her nervousness increased further as she slowly drew a crimson star on each her wrists as she used the children to mask her intent as she knew what she was about to do was outright insane. The girl knew of the price required was immense and what she was about to attempt would definitely drain her to a state of hopelessness or possibly kill her.
She knew that the guy in front of her was also aware of such ritual and if she was caught and in no doubt they wouldn't waste anymore and outright massacre them.
Vigilance is a must and any mistake are fatal. She knew what she was about to do was forbidden and punishable by death, rarely this method rarely succeeds and most who attempted it failed died a painful death afterwards.
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Doubt and hesitance must be discarded and fear must be purge and determination to succeed must above all else.
Such thoughts pondered her over and over again till she had finally finished all the necessary preparations.
Once she had be warned by a Bishop who taught her various things that such method are dangerous and the consequences that follows it is far worse than anyone can imagine.
Nonetheless it was a forbidden technique that was long forgotten by many and those who do, then to avoid practicing it.
She prayed and silently whispered the words of her prayers.
"I invoke thee ancient covenant of the great promised as I offer my soul as key to open a path long forgotten and my life as the energy that would connect our gate to the other one from the great beyond. Such is my wish and those before me to call forth a greater power. Please hear my silent prayer as I call those who could hear my call."
While saying those words she felt her blood boiled and her her temperature raised.
"To the creature that lurks from the great sea of darkness or even beyond. Heed my call oh great one. Come forth as I offer myself to be yours forever"
“The contract has been offered now descend to this world and show them your power.”
After the ritual had managed to successfully finish the earth shook and growled, calm ocean moved and violent waves came, and the soft breeze of the wind turned instantly to gale, and still trees now began to wave, and a loud thunder could be heard from the distance beyond the the horizon. A sudden storm was coming and and she knew why.
A smile crept within her face and everyone around her was baffled by the sudden change of mother nature. Nervousness and confusion appeared as the children cried more louder than ever.
Happiness had begun to enveloped her as she knew something was coming and it is coming for her.
Then out of nowhere everything stopped and a moment passed and only silence remained.
“....”
Did the connection failed? Or was it that she was refused? She prayed and gave up on her life for a hope small fictional hope yet nothing came, Nothing happened. She trembled and felt her body weakened deeply as they knew her strength was somewhat used during the process. She unconsciously left out a disappointed sigh.
Why would she believe and hope from a mere fairy tail as she wallowed further on despair. The girl hoped for something even children would dismiss as tall tales. Now this is the end and nothing more she could do but but only wished dearly if there was a way to escape this fate the girl even if she had to sell her body and soul in order to survive to gain power.
She raged within for her powerlessness, she screamed inside her mind wanting power, calling those who can hear her whispers to heed her call anyone close to help her.
And even that she could not do as she knew it was already too late. She dared not to yell for she's trying to buy time as much as possible.
But she had no such power to prevent either the upcoming scenario where they shall fall to their death or be butchered to death, a conclusion she had no power to refuse. As fear crept within her she looked back at the captain's eyes which was filled with delight.
He smiled and said.
"I will watch you slowly wither and die but I could also save you if you let go and join our cause. So I’ll let you watch the horror that will fall upon this cretins until you say “Yes” to our cause. We will spare them but you know that many more others will have to die in place of them. ”
“Then let us begin” A vicious and wicked smile nonchalantly appeared as if the person himself was enjoying this inhuman act.
“Know this while you bleed slowly that everything that had happened could’ve been averted and the fault lies not only on ‘others’ but also from ‘them’ and ‘you’ for your refusal back then.”
“Banngggg…..”
A loud noise came and she felt something a pain surge as the girl felt dizzy, and what remained of her strength had slowly began to fade away, she then fell and hit the floor, silently repeating her requests over and over again, hoping help would come soon.
"Please someone or anyone save us."
Her last few moments of her consciousness as she lay helplessly on the floor and the children cried with all their might like there’s no tomorrow, the girl saw an oddity from behind the conquistadors.
A floating cracked in air giving off an ominous aura. The crack ripped the opened and within it could only be describe as an abyss of pure darkness that was as thin as paper, yet of an unfathomable depth, a scene that evoked mystique and indescribable apprehension.
The girl knew it was a door and that someone or something answered her prayers.
She wanted to smile but was unable to do so but whispered silently on a tragic tone. "You awaited for the moment of my death to come. Surely a ‘lord’ has come to answer my prayer and deliver not only the children but also my death." and at the same moment something fell from within the darkness and there it was a mysterious that stood some distance before her and that the figure itself was wrapped by a cloak that was darker than the moonless night. Making the person seemed like a shadow who would devour the light and would bathe in the eternal darkness.
Is it a Demon? Angel? God? Reaper? No it is a phantom born to challenge and devour the light and would try to reign over darkness.
That was what the girl had concluded. and yet despite facing each other the girl had yet seen this phantom’s true visage, the girl felt that the door in front of her was a gate to the underworld and death came for her.
The mysterious being stood before them and yet the others had yet taken noticed. Is she imagining this? that thought came to her but diminished it afterwards because hope returned within her heart.
Her heart beat once more and she smiled for it seemed that the bad men has yet to have taken noticed. Her fate and those men had been decided and the children would live. Her life as payment she wouldn’t hesitate to give. A beautiful smile unconsciously creep from her and the conquistadors saw her blissful expression despite the terror before her, as it confused them on why she would smile knowing the she and the children would perish soon.
It was not an expression of despair rather hope but why hope when there is none left? Which confused them further.
The girl knew that a savior had come and the children shall be saved. Her body and soul was the payment of their salvation and the savior had come to collect her as a bounty. A price she was willing to give.
But....
Suddenly.....
She heard a whisper within the mass of the crying voices that came from the children around her. The voice was clear as day and yet she knew it was a whisper and it came from so far away. She knew someone was directly talking to her and it was the phantom that’s so far away.
"Must be nice lazing around while everyone else are either kneeling or standing. What a lazy ass princess"
The girl was startled, shocked, and dumbfounded. Further losing her consciousness though her heart showed a grateful radiance that lessened her fears.
“Is this something to joke about?!!!”
She instinctively yelled in anger within her but apologized a second later hoping that her savior would forgive her.
"Please save the children"
"..."
She had not heard any sort of response but she knew that thing would oblige her. A feeling that gave her a semblance of solace. Though she knew her Inevitable demise would soon come. She wanted at least to know who the savior was or what he was for everyone who exist within this world carries a mark their own personal Mark that they adhere, whether one was a god, demon, king, human, spirits, monsters or beasts. All possess their own mark even those who had longed passed.
All are bound to have one at least one.
“At least let me see my lord's MARK that all your mortals adhere, then after i can die smiling."
Thought she had been weaken very considerably a spark of will reignited within here and what's barely left of her consciousness, she focused and searched for any symbol this lord carried.
It was something odd for majority of the marks are usually circular in shape but this one had the shape of triangle. She thought she was mistaken and so she focused further and the girl unexpectedly saw the creature’s visage more clearly. The being had a silhouette of a regular mortal Tao, though shrouded in dark odd dress and their she found what she was searching for. The mark was very unfamiliar located on the left side of his chest and it resembled something what looked like a three different colored stars and a yellow sun in the middle of the three
She looked at the creature's face and what she saw was that the creature had a black hair and and black eyes, a very rare and unusual feature that differs from the Taos of this world. As she observed the one further she noticed that he held something intriguing yet she could not figure what it was.
The girl kept inspecting as fast as she could before she her timely demise.
A single second had passed.
Her curiosity lead her vision to his hand and what she saw was something that instantly mortified her to her core.
A legendary, fabled device were a certain type of race always carried it with them.
She was then reminded of an old and ancient lore of her people and all of the the Enkantos of this world.
Then she realized who came to her rescue, and that the one who came isn't what she she could call a savior.
As her soul sundered, then her heart was shattered, her sanity was losing it's way. she declared within that the world must be warned for something terrible had came.
She tried to so hard to scream, yet she couldn't for her whole being was terrified to death, she tried to move but her body was still struck paralyzed. She knew what kind of fate would fall unto the world if it isn’t warned.
She knew what had came was something that even was far worse than all the sum of the world's fear couldn’t even match. A fate so terrible that even the some of the gods would tremble and flee as it was once told as she use to love and fear their legendary tales.
As they are those that even the the higher order life those of powerful demon lords and immortal dragons feared. She believed that they had once existed and and if she spoke of their existence none would ever believed, for they had been forcefully forgotten into legends.
The girl knew the fate of the world was sealed for she had once heard of the whispers of their wrath and might that they possessed could cause unnatural disasters.
Now one of ‘them’ stood before her and that by just standing there terrified her to her core.
The girl cursed her life, cursed her fate, and she especially cursed the moments she prayed.
She wanted and tried to cry, yet no tears fell.
The world is at its end and she was the one who inadvertently screwed it over.
As hope and sanity fled her and only foreboding thoughts remained.
"What was it? What does everyone use to call them?"
"Oh yeah!"
She spoke their name yet no words came.
"_______!"
"Then"
Finally her consciousness fell and her vision was engulfed and shrouded in what seemed like mist and black haze as she unconsciously let out her final words.
"Damn! We Are All DEAD!!!"
But before her mind painfully faded away she heard a whisper saying “It's Time! Are you ready?”.
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Well I hope you guys enjoyed the beginning of my dark fantasy.
And for Further chapters please go to http://royalroadl.com/fiction/898
or search for:
"The Phantom Eclipse"
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Lol taking advantage of my old stuff to republish my new stuff brouhaha shameless advertising. :D