Tides Of Protomis LII
Old Enemies Return- Heinrich The Kyuem!!!
Within the forests of the North American Federation, where two dark-skinned boys. Both of which were unarmed. One, Arctaius Corde. And the one beside him, bearing more than a bit of resemblance. With many of the same features as the first, though, with his skin of a slightly lighter shade. This was how things had been for them, wandering around with no goal in mind, ever since that day...
“During Frost’s rebellion most of the Corde family was killed in the opening stages, aside from two members. Arctaius, and his Cousin- Mars Corde, who managed to survive the massacre. The two cousins, though family, began to drift apart as one became more ruthless, something that the other didn’t enjoy. They stayed with each other regardless, still wanting to keep the other safe nonetheless. It was during this time that the unknown boy, who’d stated to be doing what he did as vengeance, was nicknamed the Agium... A concept in the extinct Rufal religion. A vengeful spirit. He continued his constant battles against them, with his name spreading soon after."
Mid 2008, Southern Fenewald District.
In the midst of the ongoing war, there was no doubt that Fort Ebner was important to the AR's goals. Not only serving as the last line of defense for the Regional HQ, but holding a large amount of their forces. As per usual, the base was bustling with activity, patrols moving outside, watching for any intruders, vehicles being sent out, or returning. In the midst of the activity was a man who bore a certain resemblance to Sebastian. The same chiseled jaw and blonde hair. Lieutenant Colonel Florian Heinrich. At his side, was his son, who he treasured dearly. The very reason he'd tried to keep away from him. As an officer, it went without saying that he was a target. After his wife's death during childbirth, he certainly didn't want to lose another.
At first, his gaze was situated forward, but he eventually glanced at his son. The boy curiously looked around at the soldiers, and the work they did. He'd somewhat grown to idolize the military, having been around them for a good part of his lifetime. Even hearing of his father's exploits on the battlefield. As they continued walking down the street, the boy eventually spoke, seemingly at random.
"Dad, when I grow up, I wanna be like you!"...
Florian said nothing as he heard these words. Though many would be happy such a thing was said, considering the risks that were involved, he was much less so. Regardless, he bit his tounge, and ruffled the boy's hair, as he spoke once more.
"Work hard, and you'll be there one day, kid."
The boy smiled as he heard the words. As the two enjoyed their day, they sat unaware of the AR's bogeyman looming just outside of the base, taking full advantage of the forests surrounding it. Thankfully quick enough to avoid patrols and sensors alike.
"Three days of observation... Now, its time to establish goals. Florian Heinrich is the commanding officer. He needs to be taken care of. That man is too dangerous on the battlefield. The destruction of the base and its armaments is certainly a goal as well. The loss of this much weaponry, and equipment would be a blow to an AR. For the moment at the least..." Now, he went silent, beginning to think about his plan of attack. Though he'd drafted some plans the days beforehand, figuring out all the factors was essential, as he'd learned from the tactical guides his father kept around....
It was made apparent that his plans were successful. Within an hour, the reinforced concrete walls that protected the base, had been reduced to rubble. The numerous building turned into a smoldering ruin. Now, within a clearing leading to the NAF's interstate, large force of tanks and soldiers alike faced the boy that came to strike them down.
“Dammit, stop him!” One of the CO’s yelled.
Arctaius rushed through a storm of bullets, as the opposing force soon aimed their railguns at their enemy, soon followed by droves of rounds flying at him. However, their opponent weaved around their attacks. In the very center of the formation, within yet another tank, was a man who bore a resemblance to Sebastian, having the same chiseled jaw, and blonde hair. Lt.col Florian Heinrich. At his side was a younger Sebastian Heinrich.
“This is our chance, Get Sebastian out of here”
It was supposed to be a normal day, the Federation’s forces had come nowhere near the base. It was for that reason Florian brought his son here. He never had much time to spend with him, and thought this would be a good opportunity… And yet, here the dreaded Agium was, attacking almost out of nowhere. Now, he was left with his current dilemma.
An armored truck soon came toward them. The door opened, as Florian held his son out toward the soldiers, but, Alas. With a flash of lighting, Arctaius appeared in front, snapping the man's neck with a chop. His eyes soon went empty, as his body fell limp. Heinrich’s expression was mortified. The one family member he had, or, at the least, remembered, killed just like that. Though tears don't fall. Arctaius lifted his hand, as he aimed his palm at the tank, before firing a burst of electricity forward, flying back, as it exploded, the force of which sent Sebastian flying back, as he yelled in pain. Though, as Arctaius glanced over, he took notice of not one, but ten spears flying at him. Though he moved out of the way of most, one caught his shoulder, drawing some blood.
“An activation…”
He looked down upon the bloodied boy once again, as he struggled to lift himself off of the ground, but ultimately, the boy fell on his stomach.
“No need to waste time with that one. He doesn't look like he’ll be any threat”.
Arctaius turned away, facing the forest that lay in the distance, before he bounded off, leaving the boy to stare up at him, a look of rage engraved on his visage. And tears streaming down his eyes, a mix of despair, and rage alike.
“Eventually- as the title of the Agium became all the more prominent, Heinrich- enraged at the death of his father- began to directly stop Arctaius’ plans, or at the very least- slow him down… Time and time again, he would attempt his vengeance upon Arctaius. Soon enough- the name Kyuem, a direct counter to the Agium in Rufal mythology- rose… The two were enemies beforehand, but there was one event that solidified this fact.
Within a small town in the NAF’s southern districts, a battle took place. With the forces of The Federation and the Reich alike fighting in a battle that could’ve very well changed the tide of the war, despite the town seemingly being of little importance. Much of the two states forces found themselves in this town. Though, they’d cleared out of this area, as two young proto-humans came to occupy it. Arctaius shifted through the air time and time again, as steel spheres flew at him. No sooner did the man close the distance, his hand surrounded with electric arcs, as he plunged it into Sebastian’s torso. A successful hit, as the youth was thrown back by the impact. However, he would skid to a stop moments later. Below, Mars watched this battle, and, as Heinrich’s eyes shifted, he took notice of the boy. The liquid metal that swirled around him soon formed tens of spears, which were soon flung outward. Arctaius prepared to strike before he took notice of something.
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“Wait...Those aren’t aimed at me, they’re aimed at--”
His eyes widened.
“MARS, Move!!!”
Mars took note of the attack, and jumped back, with the first wave of spears piercing the road below.
“This doesn't look good for me- “
His words were soon interrupted, as yet another wave of spears flew at him, this time, he was not able to avoid them. Soon finding his body pierced all over.
“Now, You’ll feel the pain I did, Agium!”
Arctaius was silent, as he took note of his words. He stayed silent as he clenched his fists. What was first a few moments became a long one. What came next was a scream of pure rage, as he arched his brows, charging at Heinrich.
“Damn you, HEINRICHHH!”
The hate solidified between the two. Arctaius, already less than willing to let the boy live, was now out to kill him, with his last family member dead by Heinrich’s hands. Even after Mars’ death, Arctaius continued fighting, Fiercely chasing the Amerikanisches reich, with more vigor than before, and fighting Heinrich with any chance he had. At this point, neither of the two fighters had any interest in stopping their hostilities. That was decided with the deaths of their families. Battle after battle continued, until what he believed was the final battle. As the Amerikanisches Reich was chased back into their de-facto capital, they pulled out the stops to make a final stand… Sebastian predicted that his enemy would be there, ready to end it, and as such- he would be there as well.
Roanoke, late 2008.
As one would expect from a battle this large, the city shook again and again with explosions. With streaks of light going across the sky, as the ships that loomed above fired at one another. Away from the intensity of the battle, Arctaius and Sebastian were at a standoff. Though neither threw any hits at the other, the clenching of fists and tightening of muscles could tell one that they were more than eager to do so.
“We meet again...Heinrich the Kyuem.”
“Looks like it. Corde the Agium...I thought you’d come here. It looks like my guess was right.”
The two went silent.
“No need for idle discussion… It’s about time your life ends.” Arctaius responded.
“My life ends? No, you seem to have gotten the wrong idea. Your life will be the one that ends.”
The two then began a slow advance toward one another. But, as Arctaius sped up into a brisk walk, so did Sebastian. As the brisk walk turned into running by Sebastian, Arctaius did the same, The two flashed toward one another as if they were both blurs. They soon met each other in the middle, both fighters throwing a punch. Arctaius, a right, and Sebastian, a left. Their fists flew past one another, and they soon found both of their cheeks hit by the other’s attack, a cross counter. Sebastian jumped a foot back, before he swirled his body, sending a kick at his side. However, his opponent grabbed his foot, and picked him up by it, and threw him away. Sebastian flipped mid-air, as he pointed his palms at Arctaius.
“Mercury Storm!”
Soon, out of his palms flew hardened balls of mercury. Arctaius would soon fly out of the way, as the projectiles made craters as they landed.
“It won’t be that easy… Especially with this.”
Soon, arcs of electricity flew around Arctaius once again. Sebastian took notice of this, as he opened his palms once again. But, was soon left in surprise as his opponent seemingly disappeared.
“WHAT?! Where did he go?”
“Corde!! Come out- you coward, you can't hide from me!”
As sparks appeared behind him, Arctaius rematerialized, his fist ready to strike.
“Who said that I was hiding!” He yelled, as he smashed his fist into Sebastian’s cheek. Something followed with Sebastian returning with a strike of his own, that hit Arctaius' chin. The boy moved away from his opponent’s melee range, yelling out two words.
“Shocking Cannon!!!”
Arcs of electricity flew out of Arctaius, it soon tore apart the buildings around them, and Sebastian as well, forced away from Arctaius, as wave after wave of electricity hit him. Sebastian gritted his teeth, as he clenched his fists once again, prepared for yet another attack.
“You… You!!! So many of us, killed because of you. They had families, people to go home to!!”
Arctaius gritted his teeth as well, as he grimaced. He soon charged at his opponent as he began to throw strikes, and his opponent did the same, as the two weaved around and blocked against one another’s hits. But regardless, they were devastating, the area around them wrecked time and time again. Now, the two began a punching contest, smashing their fists into the other, the shockwaves repeatedly flying outward, as the buildings around them collapsed. Something soon followed by yells echoing out into the street.
“Families… Families, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DEAD FAMILIES?! WITH ALL THE PEOPLE YOUR FACTION SLAUGHTERED MINDLESSLY, HELL- YOU SLAUGHTERED MINDLESSLY!!!! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN!!”
“HOW IS THE FEDERATION ANY DIFFERENT WITH THEIR ACTIONS. HOW ARE YOU ANY DIFFERENT?! YOU KILLED MY FATHER!!!”
“HE KNEW GOOD AND WELL WHAT HE WAS GETTING INTO!!! MARS WAS JUST ALONG FOR THE RIDE- I HAD TO PROTECT HIM, FROM THE LIKES OF YOU!!”
“THAT'S YOUR OWN FAULT, YOU COULDN’T EVEN PROTECT HIM. CAN YOU TRULY PROCLAIM YOURSELF TO BE THE GOOD ONE HERE, DESPITE YOUR ACTIONS?! “
“I NEVER CLAIMED THAT WAS I WAS, I'M SIMPLY DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!”
Arctaius smashed his fist into his opponent’s stomach, while Sebastian did the very same, ending the shouting match between them. Then, the two withdrew from the close quarters fight.
“I need to end this… I'll use that.”
No sooner did an uptick of Protomis come from Arctaius. Something that was soon followed by the patch of sky above them, rapidly darkening… No sooner did a downpour again, accompanied by rolling thunder. This did not go unnoticed by the Forces in the area. As confused Chatters began about the sudden change. On the federation flagship, a dark-skinned man with grayed hair sat in the bridge, surrounded by soldiers. The Federation’s General Miller.
“... Just what is going on here?”
“'I've heard rumors that the Agium entered the area… think it could be him?” one of the officers questioned.
“Could be… but from what I heard- he might just be a kid. Proto-human or not, children at that age usually aren't that powerful.” Said another.
All this talk of kids running across the battlefield put a frown on Miller’s face. It was never something he enjoyed talking about, but it was reality nonetheless, from what he'd heard from his friends in another branches, from those in other nations. The internet's forums had filled up with threads about this new generation, the large amount of child prodigies, and how effective they were... The celebration always irked his nerves to no end. Especially being a soldier himself... Eventually, he began thinking out loud.
"But Alas, it would seem as if his theory has been confirmed."
One of his subordinates glanced over his shoulder.
"His theories... Who might you be talking about?"
“Gerald Renheim, Delmenforde's former high senator. He was a wise man indeed... He once said. 'Mankind must avoid the outbreak of another war. If our species surrenders to our tendency for conflict, a new generation of proto-humans will emerge, and chaos will come soon after.' "
As Miller finished his repeat of the speech, the crew mulled over it... 1965, it had been over 40 years since the late Renheim had made that statement. And yet, it seemed as if he'd been ignored since then. It was only now that they acknowledged his statement as something to concern themselves with. Though, even if they had, one questioned if that truly would have stopped the conflict they saw themselves in... The man eventually stopped mulling over, as he put his gaze back onto the battlefield.
Sebastian looked up at the clouds, putting his hand out as the rains began. Before turning his gaze back to his opponent.
“What’s going on here?” He thought.
“It’s time to end this…” Thought Arctaius.
There was silence between the two, with the sounds of the battle, and the rain falling being the only thing to fill their ears.
“Whatever it is, I won’t let it stop me!”
Soon, thunder began to roll, As arcs of electricity streaked across the sky, and around Arctaius. As he clenched his fists once again.
“This ends now… Finishing move- Stormbreaker…”
The clouds soon opened up, as downright gigantic bolts poured down at Sebastian. Though he was not the only one affected,As soon, across the city, both forces found themselves torn apart left and right by the force that descended upon the city. Sebastian himself, however, found himself caught in the stream of electricity. Unable to stop it, he barreled toward the ground, bit by bit, he could feel it, his body was being torn apart by the force. However, as if it were timed, the boy’s body seemed to glow, as a black light poured out of him, Explosions triggered around him, with the stream of thunder stopped in its tracks. Soon, both fighters found themselves caught in the many explosions that formed around them, whenever the black light appeared around them. The city around them ripped apart more than any of their attacks had before... But, the boost from the activation finally faded, they both fell to the ground, covered in injuries, much more so than before. But, after some moments, Arctaius bent his torso, getting off of his back, before standing up. Arctaius glanced at his enemy, who lay on his stomach, unmoving, and eyes closed.
“It looks like I've finally finished him off. Now, it’s about time to go for my next target. Nolan Frost, you’re next.”
He turned on his heel, as he began walking deeper into the city. But unbeknownst to him, Sebastian raised his head, as he saw Arctaius leave, with his blurry vision. The half-conscious boy attempted to lift his arm, but it soon fell limp. He gritted his teeth, as he let out just one word, laced with venom.
“A--Agium…”
Sebastian Fell Unconscious...
It was clear, neither would surrender. The two youths had stolen something from another, a something that couldn't be replaced. It was for that reason that their standoff continued. For that reason, the steel-melting glares had gone nowhere. Though, they would both begin some moments after, at the same time.
“Without” Arctaius began
“A doubt…. “ Sebastian continued.
Arctaius turned to face him, and Sebastian stepped forward, with both yelling
“I will kill you here-- Once and for all!”
To Be Continued