1121 Battle of the Academies [Finale] [1]


    “Artanos, you seem to be in a grand mood.”


    “Lixbin. You’re right, I’m in a great mood. Can you imagine the look on his face as our nes to fruition?”


    “Yes I can,” out in the distance before the gods grow a ruggedndscape of sharp mountains and cliffs. With the heavy moistured air, the impending sense of dread, and the asional gust, Lixbin and Artanos paused. Cracks echoed behind; the remnants of the battle-scarred fortress breathed itsst breath. Thetter, a resounding thud from the fallen main pir.


    ‘Artanos defeated Formle, we captured the central trading point and advanced. He easily overwhelmed the fortress and swiftly moves to Inux. The Aapith nation’s scared to react. They’ve neutered themselves. Eipea Empire’s the clear winner of this game,’ Lixbin’s memories took him at a time before the heavenly convention. He was abruptly visited by Artanos, who, with a kind smile and meaningful intent, strode across Lixbin’s property, “-visitor.”


    Lixbin pulled from his research desk, throwing a half-adjusted regard at the voice, “-visitor?” he echoed, “-Artanos, my, I wasn’t expectingpany. Do ignore the scatter.”


    Artanos entered with a meaningful nce. The whole shed was scanned and showed misced papers, a broken water cup, and blood stains over the couch. A timid but present scent of deception hung in the air.


    “I should apologize for the abrupt stop. Lixbin, will you join me?”


    “Pardon?”


    “I n on betraying the Aapith Nation, they’ve outlived their use. Instead, I n on joining hands with Zeus.”


    .....


    “Zeus and Lucifer have a concrete agreement of non-aggression. They want the same thing, it’s hard to tear those of simr thinking apar-”


    “Won’t be an issue,” he proimed. A gleam of curiosity, the dangerous look upon a feline’s gaze as she watches an unknown prey approach, “-you enjoy entertainment. How about we make a deal,” Lixbin pounced, like the feline sensing an opening.


    “What sort of deal?”


    “The kind that reads, when Zeus forsakes Aapith and joins us, you will let me use Cleopatra, who’s already stationed in Ragno.”


    “What about me?”


    “The connections between you and Leviathan are yours’ to decide. It sure was a wise move to use a proxy as opposed to revealing thineself. A sudden disappearance, doesn’t that sound lovely?” Artanos left whence he came.


    ‘The bait he dangles is too scrumptious for me to ignore. It’s too tasty, he knows my weakness and yed on it. I love nothing more than for people to find ws and use them to their advantage. Watching Igna doesn’t bring as much pleasure as it once did. I’m tired of his idleness – he beats around the bushes, goes off onto side jobs, and disappears. It’s no fun, not like Artanos, a man who has a purpose. I digress. Artanos, show me your resolve – and it tis entertaining, I will join the cause no questions asked.’


    As he proimed, the news of Zeus’ betrayal of the Aapith nation slipped through the grapevines. Familiar footsteps, “-visitor.”


    “A visitor?” an overwhelming sense of deja-vue hit, “-Artanos.”


    He stood with purpose, “-so, I hear Zeus’ joined your side?”


    “It was a simple matter. Our agreement.’


    “You can have Cleopatra.”


    “What’s the catch?”


    “For I to be involved with the proceeding of the n. I swore, and a god is no man to break a promise.”


    “Swearing an oath as a god is as pointless as drinking soup with a fork. You don’t fool me, Lixbin. The moment boredom hits, you’ll leave.”


    The god of Darkness gave a silent grin.


    “-no matter, I care not for the oath. I’m here for my end goal. You can do what you wish, on second thought, there may be something you can do,” and so, a meeting was called between him, Cleopatra, and Lixbin. Finer details of the n had the god drooling in anticipation, “-let’s recap. My n is simple. We will use a fa?ade to hide my true intention. We’ll make it seem like we want Ragno, well, thend is wanted by Leviathan, and he can try to conquer. As for us, we’ll y the part of wanting the Tomes of Control, ones Ereena has hidden. I don’t n to control time, not yet. Therefore, the tomes aren’t needed. Instead, I want to rule over Draeb,plete conquest. Cleopatra, you will be key in keeping Igna fixated. If I know the man how I think I know, he will be preupied with you and turn his gaze towards Dems. I’ll set the scene so the ploy is alluring enough to take Igna’s interest. I expect he will realize our goals – by the time it’s understood, we will have conquered a third of Zayan D’olsak. I predict the final battle to be in Inux.”


    “They have the god of war on their side.”


    “Leave Formle to me.” Thus, a convoluted method of the, ‘-bait and switch,’ tactic was employed. Wasn’t long before Igna danced to Artanos’ tunes. The slow, haunting echoes of defeat rattled his bones. Facades of grandeur crumbled, Artanos’ n worked – and there, in the distance, shes of energy marked the end of Inux.


    ‘Artanos was right,’ Lixbin stood beside the maimed body of Formle, ‘-he defeated the god of war and utterly destroyed their camp.’


    “They won’t do much damage,” Lixbin remembered Artanos’ words, “-the army stationed in Draeb are puppets. The moment Formle falls, it’splete victory.”


    ‘His words are scarily urate. We’ve breezed through their defenses. What remains in thest siege, after which, Artanos will disable the castle’s teleportation circle and take hostages. s, Igna, he’s got you where he wanted. Sathanas’ capture has you quivering – what will you think when you see this,” antern amberedzily, casting over-stretched shadows upon the rough walls, ‘-his children,’ he raised the me, casting light upon the faces, ‘-Draconis, Raphael, and Saniata.’


    “WHERE’S CORA, KALEEM, YURIA, AND STARIX!”


    “Don’t shout,” said a figure sitting deeper in the dungeon, “-Cora and Kaleem put up a great fight. Yuria too, she did her best considering her condition. Too bad. Your father is a fool. He never understood the true potential of the Floor Bosses inside the Tower of Aria. Their potential is subjective to their owner,” the affluent voice paused and lowered.


    “WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.”


    “Dead,” Lixbin replied, hisntern casting the cage’s iron bar onto the prisoners, “-impaled and ced before the castle. Formle died and your army,” he turned towards Artanos, “-is defeated.”


    “Just you wait,” Saniata mumbled, “-just you-”


    “Abandon all hope, children of Igna,” Artanos’s lean figure rose like long fingers stretching into the darkness, “-teleportation circle is off. I’m no fool to fight that man head-on. Instead, I will make him suffer and the best way to a cruel man’s heart is those who have meaning. Therefore,” he grabbed the bars, “-children. You will remain still; thy fate is in my hands.”


    Meanwhile, back in Ragno – the feeling of uncontrol despair had Igna seething inside an empty office. “-How does it feel?”


    “Cleopatra?”


    “The academy sure is quiet.”


    “How are you here?”


    “Artanos,” she lowered her top, “-the mark of the god. You stripped me naked and failed to notice the truth. My lord was true in trusting him.”


    “I assume you’re here in transient form?”


    “Right, you are correct. My physical body’s already home. I came to have a look at the loser’s face,” she skipped passed the shelf, past the desk, andnded before Igna, “-that look on your face, the light of retribution burns. I should warn you, Igna-”


    “Inux’s already under Artanos’ rule. I lost. Where’s Artanos?”


    “On his way,” cheered Cleopatra.


    ‘I sense him,’ he puffed, ‘-the footsteps,’ the presence paused at the door and pushed. Igna rotated his chair andughed, “-Skeptor of the East.”


    “Director Igna Haggard,” the man shadily rubbed his palms, “-you fell for my trap.”


    “You yed the fool well,” he puffed, “-where’s Artanos?”


    “Right here,” a shadow split from the vice-director, “-how did you like my surprise?”


    “I must know, when did you use Skeptor?”


    “Oh, Skeptor of the East is a member of my information core,” he smiled, “-he’s a noble born of the demon faction I recruited to check on Ragno. Igna, I must say, that face you have, the one where no matter the adversaries faced thee keep a cool head, it’s, honesty, it’s beautiful.”


    “Compliments,” he puffed, “-tell me, what of my children?”


    “Straight to the point. Draconis, Saniata, and Raphael are under my watch. I won’t free them, they’re bound. Sadly, at this point, Igna, you have nothing you can use to bargain. I’m not interested in Ragno, nor am I interested in the Shadow Realm. I got what I need and did so without resorting to cheap tricks.”


    “No chance I’ll get them back?”


    “No.”


    “I thought so,” he pressed the cigarette and casually looked at Artanos, “-you won.”


    “That’s it?”


    “Yeah, you won.”


    “The victory feels like shit. Igna, you won’t even attempt rescuing them?”


    “We know it’s pointless. Tell me, what of Formle and the attendants.”


    “Killed.”


    “Complete defeat then?”


    “Complete defeat it is.”


    “Judging by the look on Skeptor’s face-”


    “You understand quickly, feels good not needing to exin my words. Effective immediately, you are to forsake thy seat as Director of Ragno and hand over Lucifer’s symbol. Skeptor will take your ce.”


    Igna snickered, “-Artanos, you got what you wanted, yes?”


    “Yeah?”


    “In other words, the events here don’t affect your ns?”


    “No, it doesn’t.”


    “Despite the scheme to lead two wars. You’ve won one.”


    “Where is this headed?”


    “Simple,” he nced, “-Ragno’s fate is yet decided.”


    “You won’t dare kill Skeptor.”


    “No, cutting off a few limbs shouldn’t be too much trouble. Artanos, you had your victory and came to seek the satisfaction of the triumph, to catch a glimpse of my sorry face. Sadly, Artanos, you won’t get the satisfaction. Ragno will remain mine.”


    Skeptor stepped in andughed, “-we have your children as hostages.”


    “And?”


    “Are you not-”


    “No,” he returned, “-they were captured and must pay for the weakness.”


    “You truly are heartless, Igna,” said a woeful Artanos, “-I feel sorry for your children. To have a father who won’t bat an eye at their fate. Suppose I’ll have them sent to work in the heavenly ne. Unlike you, I have a sense of mercy I must uphold, I am, after all, a god,” the shadow imploded, leaving Skeptor to face his fate.


    “IGNA HAGGARD, COME OUT OF THE OFFICE – WE HAVE CAPTURED THE ACADEMY!”


    .....


    “So long, Igna. I had fun ying with the demons,” Cleopatra winked and vanished.


    Satan, Leviathan and Viatnah’s forces stormed the yard. “-you’re surrounded, director. I sold myself to Artanos so I’d have a chance of purifying Ragno and its academy from its filth.”


    “IGNA HAGGARD!”


    He abruptly stood and walked past Skeptor like he was nothing, ‘-Artanos won. If he defeated Formle and the others, I shouldn’t underestimate their strength. As is now, I doubt the princes would stand a chance against his troops, titans, angels, and the gods. I’m really taking on the whole of reality at this point. I see a single way out of this predicament. If Artanos wants to take over Draeb, I’ll just have to take over the Aapith Nation.’


    “You don’t look pleased.” Lixbin’sment went over Artanos’ head. The gilded halls of Zeus’ pce carried the jestful tease, “-not aplete victory?”


    “No,” he clenched his fists, “-Igna didn’t once bat an eye,” and turned to four inly dressed servants, “-you heard?”


    “You know they don’t hear,” said Lixbin, “-poor children and goddess, forced into absolution under the oath of Undaim.”


    “He could have shown some concern… no matter. I’ll have my satisfaction sooner orter. Are the forces ready?”


    “Yeah, I think so.”


    “We’ll move into the Aapith Nation’s territory. Draeb will be mine, and with it, Kronos’ testament.”


    A harsh wind blew – the quietness cast a haunting atmosphere. A pin-drop silence went across the troops, the director walked out into the field without so much a look of concern, “-Director, you will pay for the sin of ying my students.”