Issue 16: A Princess with A Plan
What are they doing?! Get additional personnel to the barrier!--Terran Union alert
Florida has a charm about it. If you live here you get it. Or if you managed to transplant yourself to our humble state. It calls to the blood of certain kinds of people. --Sunset Showdown
I stated the truth. I am afraid of Death. That final leap. You leave behind all that you know. My brother always said I was stronger. The truth is? We are stronger together. We each wield a piece of the puzzle. Life and Death constantly balancing one another. We shall endure. It took a while for me to consciously acknowledge this fear. The faint recognition began with the Climb. It is what we do with our lives that matter. The soul shard will attend to itself afterward. This is not the end. Just a page turning.--Unseen Archives Vol 3
Earth (Edenverse)
New Ashbury
Arthur plunged Excalibur into the wiggling mass under the blackened breastplate. Each Child of Chains had a precursor race it imitated. Since this one had an imprint of a Intez? The body was fluid corded with a mass of muscle. Not a pretty sight. Tobin Murphy encased the Flesh Ticks in columns of ice. Lazarus brought C’alain’s Blade down on the knot of putrid flesh encircling the false helm of the Intez. It gargled as its body shriveled into steaming black tar.
“Even the Anubis cannot hold--”
The great dane tested the air, <<Weave Waters...>>
Tobin remained near the opening with Gwen.
Lazarus, Arthur and Robert dashed forward.
∞
A call went out. Taken up by each Floridan circling the dome. Beams of light crossed through each man and woman attached to the Blood Curse. Sunset Showdown held out his hand to his Hatheon Princess. Il’kari wrapped her arms around him, “We shall bring forth the deluge. Not since the time of Noah’s Exodus was this called forth.”
Human and Hatheon voices chanted. J’dax shouted, <<All lines! Form up!>> Odessen, M’tah, Ayeer and Commons personnel gathered into tight V formations around the clustered Floridians. Rain poured down. J’dax sucked in a breath, <<DOWN!>>
Nearly all hit the deck.
The chanters were unaffected. A massive kraken formed through the breach above the fell dome. Its bloodless beak opened wide. Demonic waste flowed into that gargantuan maw. Steam rose as the water cleansed the outer shell. J’dax’s eyes widened. The kraken phased through the buildings. Thunder rumbled. His suit could barely keep up with the rain pinging on his visor. The leviathan’s tentacles dove through the dome.
∞
White Lily awakened to see her grandson holding his hands over her neck. A shadowed form behind Abraham whispered, <<Mortal’s cannot abide the touch of the Blade. It must be reformed. The Flower will beat for you. I cannot promise anything else. I must take the shard from your body.>>
Memory pulled. Eliza had taken the blade on the palm of her hand.
The shadow leaned in closer, <<She is Throne Bearer. Life Unending. To be summoned when needed. Given Mortal form to learn.>> Its features cleared. It was one of the Anubis guards from the dead city. It replied, <<Icath City. Yes. You have experienced much beyond your Ken.>>
Fingers brushed past Blue Blaze.
Lily saw it.
On one throne. White as bone. Sat Dexter.
To his left sat Eliza. Her throne black as midnight.
In their Defender gear. Behind them twin Tigers paced. Beyond that was Earth and Typha circling. A black world sat between them. Circled by massive Titans. One white. One blue. The final black as the void. Avatars for a forgotten age. A new age. Stone fingers lifted the poison from her body. <<The final waves lap upon renewed shores.>>
The shark of moonlight consumed her Abraham and Karvax both.
She gasped, “Husband!”
A red thread twisted around her heart and mind.
<<Forged in Love. A tie not easily forgotten.>>
Blue Blaze jerked. His metallic sphere failed as rain poured forth. INet kicked in.
///Alert: Weave Entity detected.///
Red letters rose across his HUD.
///Evacuate. Evacuate. Evacuate.///
He cut it off with a blink. He ran. Grabbing the civilians trapped below. Lily’s vines rose skyward. Each plucking additional forces from the fray. Eleanor Murphy linked to her husband one final time as the pale beak closed about him and the hulking mountain of madness.
<<I love you.>>
∞
Golden Bulleteer moved as Karvax hurled a bulk of duracrete. The massive slab sailed past. Smacking the glowing wall of Weave energy. The Anubis guard had been correct. This battle had to be waged here. In a plane of pure Weave. Not just any piece either. One linked to the primordial age of Creation. Bulleteer’s left side erupted in fire as Karvax made a chopping motion with his hands.
“You are mine now Golden Dart! I care not what this place does to my soul!”
Murphy watched as deadened flesh curled away from Karvax’s wide shoulders. A pinprick of diseased light poked through. What remained of the large man’s soul hemorrhaged into the waves of the Kraken. Black Scrawl leaked through his ruined lips.
“I will kill you.”
∞
Lazurus linked Blue Blaze across HeroNet channels, <<Where’s Bulleteer? We need this frequency stat!>> The silver and blue speedster paused. Gathering up the last of the civilians. His voice was low, <<He got eaten by that Moonlight Kraken! Karvax too!>>
The dome was deteriorating. Not gone. Not by a long shot. He exclaimed, <<You want to send it into the Earth’s Weave on purpose!>>
Lazarus replied, <<Not the Weave. The Soul Layer. I’ll explain later.>>
Blaze rushed to his brother, “What is needed?”
The city’s defenses came online. Light Shaman beams cut through corrupted living stone demons as they spilled from the partially collapsed dome.
∞
C’alain and the other Arbiters waited.
They had no physical bodies to combat this menace but in this layer? Under the guidance of Dexter and the Order instructions? They knew how to pull apart the necrotic energies tainted by the Red King’s denial. This would be easier once the Markav reclaimed their true heritage. The Moonlight Kraken phased into the Soul Layer of Earth. C’alain snapped, “Advance!” Earth’s Soul Layer was pristine. Thanks to the Twins clearing the Weave of the Edenverse.
Karvax would be the first to fall.
∞
Abraham Murphy sprinted deeper within the creature.
The words of the Anubis guard ringing in his head. His movements slowed.
His breath curled around him in a fog.
To keep them safe? What shall you give?
He gritted his teeth and reached for a glowing spark of energy.
“Everything.”
Karvax bellowed, “You are slowing! This place will kill us both!”
Tendrils of moonlight plucked him from the floor.
A series of voices intoned, “The price is paid.” White hot liquid consumed them both.
Abraham forced his eyes to remain open.
Remember Grandfather, when the white waves carry you away, face it head on. Do not look away.
Dexter’s warning rang true.
∞
C’alain charged forward. His hands were steady as he took up the fallen blade. It had been cleansed by the primordial titan of Creation’s Flow. Only known as the Kraken. It needed no other name. Two shapes rose from the foamy white waves. Karvax held up his arms, “Now you die!” He moved forward. Put every bit of strength in his blow.
Bulleteer turned. A basic textbook block. Karvax’s fist slammed into the harden earth.
The huge man rolled. Clutched his hand as he rose. It was broken!
C’alain motioned to the rest of the Arbiters. This fight was the price.
The ancient Typherian could not abide the ghostly white glow of the Bulleteer’s ruined visage.
Mars (Edenverse)
Illarium
Plain of Sages
J’ino scrambled over the side of the stonework.
Her brother’s voice held a grim tone, >>Under the marker! It says “Here Lies the Lost of Illarium!”<<
She dug into the soil. Her fingers brushed against the containment sphere. She yanked. The movement overbalanced her. She tumbled to the edge. Clutching the orb to her chest. C’alain’s voice joined his a moment later.
>>The price has been paid.<<
J’ino winced as the copper tang filled her mouth.
The cold air hit her face as she threw herself into the awaiting shuttle.
“Hold on Abraham.”
∞
The Howling circled the massive hole. This part of the city would remain as a reminder. A pool into the well of souls. The ruminants of the demonic dome faded as the Kraken washed away the corruption. Sunset Showdown peered over the vast chasm. “HERE IT COMES!” He pressed his hands together in prayer.
"From the Flow of the Oversoul so shall he rise.”
Countless voices took up the chant.
The Howling’s mortal form melted away.
Cerberus ran. A wave of silver and white thread trailed behind him.
Dogs appeared from every corner imaginable. They joined in the race. Their cries mingled with the strong chanting echoed within the ranks of Floridans and Hatheon alike. This would be the apex. Where all Thrones would meet. Entrusted to Earth. Tidalwave held his katana aloft. Its turquoise reflection danced off the visors of the troops encircling the city blocks. He fell to his knees as the image of the Kraken rippled across the blade’s surface.
“The soul awaits. Hear its call Protector.”
Vines exploded outward as White Lily awoke.
Her face was a mask of calm.
Those closest to her reported overhearing one phrase, “In Life or Death. I shall be with you. Always.”
∞
Judgment landed next to his wife’s shuttle as it landed in the Central Starport.
He took her into his arms and exploded skyward. <<Remember what Dexter said.>>
J’ino pressed her face to his armored neck. <<Renew the Blade that was Broken. Don’t look into his eyes. It is not for us.>>
∞
Bulleteer could see the death clinging to Karvax like a second skin. He tugged at the space within him connected to his speed and metal abilities. Empty. He danced back as another set of blows struck him on the shoulder. His shoulder popped out of place. Karvax laughed. Murphy scuttled backward. Leading his foe away from C’alain. The Sword. A talon of the true mantle. He could see it now. What his grandchildren would stand for. If they should win.
It was the only way.
Abraham opened his eyes.
Karvax stumbled. His face was a mottled red. “LIES!”
∞
Karvax snarled, “What hope is there within that realm?!”
Those ghost white orbs mocked him. That cub didn't have a thimble of power. Compared to Abbadon that one was a mere gnat against the whirlwind. Even Unity’s pathetic carcass held more power than these failed Thronebearers of the Highest. He pulled his right arm back. His knuckles brushed the edge of Bulleteer’s nose.
Karvax spat crimson as he laughed.
“A Dart no longer.”
His elation turned to agony as white fire climbed up his arm.
The Golden Bulleteer’s other hand clutched a sliver of green crystal.
∞
Abraham Murphy examined the soul shard. What was left of it anyway. Karvax gritted his teeth. Sank to his knees as the ghostly fire of the Kraken’s boon climbed over every inch of the corrupted flesh. The brute’s memories leaked forth. He had Karvax. Bright Eyes had been consumed in the attempt to desecrate the Blade further. One less horror within the world of men. Karvax crawled towards him. Hatred glinting in those dark eyes. “I BROKE YOUR SON! I SEE YOU! I KNOW IT ALL NOW!”
Abraham poured a flask of holy water on the putrid green sliver.
Steam hissed. The green speck cleared for a single heartbeat.
“May the next cycle serve as a warning. All power. Great and small comes with a price.”
Those swarthy features froze as a stone guardian plucked the shard from Murphy’s fingers. “He will serve within the Ninth Circle. The first of many.” Shadows crawled from the Anubis’ mouth. Karvax’s barred his teeth. “You think this will stop me! This---” His voice cut off as a great doorway rose from the ground. His eyes widened. Bones snapped and twisted. His flesh darkened as the tendrils wrapped about him.
Orange red orbs replaced the dark brown of his eyes.
His mouth extended. A long tongue flickered out. Ending in three white prongs.
The doorway slammed shut as Karvax struggled.
∞
He crawled. He had a name once. His back split open. Tattered bloody rags sprouted. The sky above glimmered with three scaled bellies. One was black as night. The second was as blue as the daytime sky above….
He frowned.
Above what?! The name escaped him.
The final glimmered silver white in the infernal black fires of this place.
The wind echoed across a blighted plain.
He was alone. His reddish orange eyes gleamed.
He was the first. He patted his belly.
“Warm wishes to me and mine….” His claws tapped on the blackened stone.
Why couldn't he remember? He inhaled.
A twinge of blood registered. His lips pulled back.
Pale green light followed. His soul shard forever bound to this place.
His stomach rumbled. He waited in the shadow of the central tower. Its long fingers hid him from his prey.
Sector 58F2 (Unity Territory Universe Echo)
UNA Vessel Crows Nest.
X’mil broke out into a cold sweat.
From the darkest recesses of his mind a three pronged tongue flicked across his flesh. He backpedaled from his sitting position on the floor. The recycled air of the ship tinged with a smell his brain could only interpenetrate as sour milk, sulfur and blood.
Lilith crossed the threshold. Her face whitened as she spotted the creature clinging to X’mil’s palid flesh. The former Typherian dashed to the refresher.
She linked with the fallen Amarche that made up the bulk of Unity.
<<It has started.>>
Abbadon had lied to them all.
Issue 15: Here
Issue 17: Here
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