《The Renegade Beyond Time》


 1: Starting at the Finish Line

    Despite his extensive memory which spanned entire decades, his memory of childhood was incredibly brief. All he could remember was a fireplace that warmed his back as he stared out at the snow which blanketed the landscape. Free from any obligations after all preparations were concluded as the onset of winter was more important than any future prospects for almost every impoverished region.


    During that time, he was able to relax and appreciate the nature around him. Fascinated by the change in scenery, he would calmly sip from his mug filled with tea as he keenly observed each snowflake as it landed like a fairy descending from the heavens. The only change in a silent landscape that somehow transformed the world he had always known into something interesting and novel. It was a time devoid of any troubles or ambitions.


    Then one day, his rustic clay mug disappeared. He did not bother searching for it. Not because it held no sentimental value but because something more intriguing had taken its place. A vessel of ethereal design, made of an exotic shimmering metal that seemed to breathe as if alive. On the sides were exposed veins of intense mana that flowed with unfathomable currents that rivalled the motions of the ocean. And oddly enough, the essence of the vessel reminded him of fresh snow at the beginning of winter.


    That was the start of everything and the augur to an eternal purgatory.


    An endless hell without a haven to bask in the peace of stillness.


    __________


    Explosions shook the earth as rounds and rounds of artillery pounded the ground. Each shell left deep craters the size of inverted hills. When an aircraft fell, another would immediately take its place to continue razing the field.


    Right behind the aircraft leading the charge were legions of men and machines. Clad in the uniforms of the Empire, they marched forward in a practiced pattern to hide their fear. Each step they took left an imprint in the sea of corpses at their feet. The corpses of their former compatriots and creations.


    It was a battle they could not afford to lose even though their opposition was but a single man. An absolute monster which cleaved through entire armies and fortresses in a single swing. An abomination that encroached upon their sovereignty and crushed them to the point that their nation was forced to resort to drafting even their prized mechanics. Their most celebrated occupation with the ability to create mechanical wonders and possessing the authority to protest even the actions of their Emperor. Now, reduced to common foot soldiers.


    Even their current action of wide scale bombardment had no meaning. They knew that their explosives would be evaded, deflected, destroyed, or even defused the very moment that detonation was triggered. And that was if they could even reach their enemy. But logic had fled long ago in the presence of such overwhelming fear.


    They had weapons that forced powerful nations into unconditional surrender. They had transcendent machines that could crush heroes that made history. They had an iron grip on those they subjugated and their own empire was free of disharmony.


    But they did not have the mercy of their opposition.


    After a long and arduous war which left them with only sacrifices and only their capital remaining as their territory, they surrendered.


    In the midst of a brutal war, their very own Emperor marched into the trenches and knelt deeply. With great emotion, he pleaded, ¡°We, the Antares Empire, yield unconditionally and offer our lands, people, and resources. Please ¡­ let this bloodshed end¡±.


    In response to his earnest plea, the man gave a statement filled with derision and mockery.


    ¡°It must be easy living off machines that do all your bidding without question. Did you forget the brutality of war after hiding behind your machines for so long?¡±


    ¡°I spend my time removing the bastards that pose even a bit of challenge. Then, you just go and raze these defenseless nations as training exercises.


    Don¡¯t get me wrong. I¡¯m not acting on behalf of those you slaughtered. I¡¯m just taking back what I gave. I remove your threats and all you have to show is mechanical crap¡±


    The Emperor lay in stunned silence as he attempted to comprehend the monster¡¯s reasoning. He could admit that his desire for conquest was not fully rational or purely patriotic but it could be understood even by people that were not sympathetic towards his cause. He then slowly raised his head, intending to ask for clarification when a soldier rushed forward.


    Around the Emperor was an entourage dedicated to his security. They were not prepared beforehand as the Emperor intended on going by himself to show his sincerity. Thus instead of trained and thoroughly screened personnel, they were the soldiers that remained on the battlefield.


    ¡°Glory to Antares¡±, the zealot declared to himself. The distance between him and the monster was negligible and he was sure that he¡¯d be able to reach him. Even if he did not succeed, he could be the ignition that would revive the Empire. And he was right as many were considering the opportunity created by the Emperor.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    His eyes then widened as his eyes met the monster who had been glancing towards him.


    Before he could react, he then felt it. There was no motion other than a side glance but his body seized up. As he tried desperately to croak out in pain, his head exploded. A confetti of skull fragments, brain matter, and a torrent of blood emerged. His headless body began to teeter then it returned suddenly.


    The zealot dropped to the ground and began squirming as he convulsed with unfathomable pain. In his throes of agony, he considered it a powerful illusion but it happened again.


    Right before his head expanded to the point of cracking, the process reversed completely. But the pain remained. From within emerged a wail which tore up his lungs and rattled the resolved soldiers.


    The monster then eyed the crowd. To their shock, he looked at every person with similar intentions and then smirked.


    ¡°I will return and spare those that can last past the next sundown¡±


    He then disappeared leaving the people in devastated shock.


    They who had conquered the world were now being conquered. Their attempts to surrender had been met with mockery and apathy. The lives and resources meant to support a glorious future had been instead fed to a deep black hole with absolutely no end.


    ¡ª-----------------------


    ¡°Target sighted. Conduct defensive measures¡±, the voice on the comms stated.


    Immediately the procession stopped their march. Hesitant to take even a single inch forward, they cradled their rifle and scanned their surroundings in panic.


    Amidst the silence, the only motion was that of the fleet of aircraft flying overhead and their propulsion engines roaring as if in defiance to their state of affairs.


    A cadet then tensed involuntarily and braced himself for something he could not comprehend.


    Abruptly, the fleet of aircraft froze in place. The propulsion engines continued to roar but there was no longer any motion. Huge cracks revealed themselves in slow motion and the groan of collapsing metal began to fill the air.


    The fleet of aircraft had been cleaved into pieces. In less than a moment, each and every flying ship in a formation that numbered in the hundreds had been compromised.


    Debris and shrapnel, the size of houses, then fell back towards the earth with great force. Staring up at the pieces which would darken their overhead view right before crushing them instantly, the men grew grim and bolted. The previously orderly troops scattered in a futile attempt to escape amidst the great chaos.


    Noticing the change on the battlefield, the command promptly rained volleys of powerful explosives down on their location. Each with varying magnitude in firepower. Some possessed the power to evaporate cities while others could only shatter large boulders. However, only the weaker ones had been detonated while the rest joined a canopy of deadly fireworks that erupted like airborne volcanoes. It was as if ¡°that thing¡± knew the strength of each and every bomb, only letting the weaker ones rain down on his prey, prolonging their suffering.


    With fanatic desperation, the cadet ran with speed he had never known he was capable of. Despite the uneven footing filled with shrapnel, carcasses, he covered a great distance and was still able to scramble further.


    In an instant, a machine with a jet black alloy coating shot onto the battlefield. It then reassembled itself immediately and lunged forward. Immense shockwaves of resistance were felt across the battlefield as the jet black machine assailed an unseen entity.


    Thousands of the same model as the machine were swiftly deployed right after. They were then all dismantled at the same time. To an onlooker, the only thing they saw was an explosive force that scattered jet black shrapnel as the confrontation occurred and concluded within seconds.


    From behind, a small sphere fell with great velocity and successfully landed with a crack in its metallic shell. Plumes of molten metal then erupted before igniting and engulfing the center of the entire battlefield in flames.


    Incapacitated by the series of shockwaves emitted from the great detonation, the cadet blacked out as he was being crushed by piles of debris.


    Some time then passed and he began to stir when the ringing in his ears lessened. As he listened, he no longer heard any explosions, sensed any motion, and time seemed at a standstill.


    But he was not at leisure as he was completely pinned by layers of massive rubble. Fortunately or unfortunately, the rubble fell in layers and created a gap that left him alive. However, his right leg had been eviscerated while his left leg was crushed into a slab of compressed flesh and bone.


    The cadet knew he would have been wailing in pain if not for the potent painkillers granted to every deployed troop on the very last day of their Empire. An act of solace for their inevitable deaths. They were not fighting for glory, honor, or even resources. They were only fighting for survival.


    Footsteps then resounded on the silent battlefield. If he had analyzed them, he would have found them odd.


    Calm, composed steps without hesitation in a sea of dried blood and metal fragments.


    However, all he had was desperation and the desire to escape.


    The cadet screamed at the top of his lungs, ¡°HELP!!!¡±


    For his efforts, pebbles and dust tumbled into his open mouth and he began to choke.


    Then the footsteps ceased right above his grave. The ground itself moved.


    In an instant, a massive opening was made in the ground and the light of the day began to shine through. However what he found instead of salvation was the certainty of death.


    Peering from above was a man with a cloak dyed in obsidian, an ornate mask of celestial silver, and the Insignia of Dying Sand, the Hourglass.


    The monster which drove the world¡¯s ¡°greatest¡± empire into desperation single handedly.


    Unconsciously, he swallowed the specks of ash and pebbles out of sheer terror. He then began to sputter as he coughed his lungs out.


    The monster then spoke, ¡°Ah, Commander Tavelly. Congratulations, you survived past sundown¡±


    He then reluctantly responded, ¡°...I was never a Commander¡­¡±


    The monster grinned, ¡°Makes sense. An upstart like you could never flourish without opportunities¡±


    Tavelly found it odd. The monster spoke as if it knew of him. He then shook it off.


    ¡°Since I survived-¡±


    ¡°Indeed. You survived the destruction of the Empire. You''re free to leave¡±


    There was a slight sense of relief that began to bloom, only to be immediately crushed.


    ¡°Do as you will, last survivor of the Empire¡±


    As the reality set in, notions of grief, loss, and death began to plague his mind. They were then all erased as if he had been freed of all apprehensions. The only thing that remained of Tavelly was his rage.


    ¡°Why?¡±, he asked with gritted teeth.


    ¡°What could possibly make you go this far?¡±, Tavelly demanded with radiant eyes that burst forth with fierce crimson.


    The masked man paused before laughing.


    ¡°To test Providence. This has always been a war between Gods¡±

 2: A False Sanctuary

    Within a desecrated nation of levelled metallic spires and torn monoliths, two humans stood as the only ones alive. One, the cause of its downfall and the other, the witness. However, the witness was deemed worthless and thus, had been removed from the stage.


    In his place, a God descended.


    The Gods were an esoteric bunch. Known to possibly all but understood by very few. Fundamentally, they could come from anywhere and anything and unlike people, they were distinct individuals. There were groups which were alike as a result of affinity but otherwise, they could vary in great extremes. To realize his plan, he had provoked and targeted a God that was easily understood. A God that was practically human in every way except power.


    The moment after the radiant crimson spilled forth into the world, a subtle but magnifying distortion could be felt. Immense power began to flow through his bloodstream, each and every vein becoming visible through the skin as divine energy began to permeate the mortal vessel. Each drop bolstering and elevating the sack of meat into a greater being.


    ¡°Test Providence? Mortal, do you not comprehend hubris?¡±, Tavelly or the husk of Tavelly responded with a peculiar resonance in his voice. Arcs of fierce crimson energy crackled, slightly distorting the world as the power flared sporadically.


    With incredible ease, he then got up and effortlessly extricated the tattered and worn body he inhabited from the mountain of debris that attempted to pin him down. The pile shook tentatively before crumbling like baked clay from the immense pressure exerted by the former human.


    With an emission of his divinity, the right leg visibly and swiftly repaired itself through the realignment of broken and contorted bones to the pulsing muscle tissue which grew like invasive vines. The left leg then inflated right before initiating a similar grotesque process.


    He then levitated and soared to be just above the masked man in elevation.


    ¡°Tell me. You went so far as to annihilate this entire nation, even putting in the effort to make the occasion ostentatious enough to force our hand. Completely crushing your initial efforts of removing the Empire¡¯s every major obstacle. Was this the Commandment of your God?¡±


    The masked man briefly adjusted his mask, holding it closer to his face.


    ¡°They seem contradictory but everything has been planned. Whether it be the rise of the empire, its destruction, and of course, your forced intervention. Not a single Commandment has been followed or even issued throughout this process. But it would be far easier on you if that had been the case, am I wrong?¡±, he stated without breaking eye contact.


    A deep silence ensued.


    If it had been a God, then that would be acceptable. Perhaps, there was a grander vision in mind. If the God had been greater than he, then that would be tolerable. He could not intervene but discourse could be held as fellows. If the God had lost their mind, perhaps he could retreat and deal with them alongside others.


    Visions of the cities razed, the people slaughtered, and the countless deaths surfaced again and again.


    Reaching forward, he annihilated the world before him.


    Intense tremendous waves radiated forth, each emission devastating anything and everything in its reach. Carving deep ravines in its wake, the blast erased all vestiges of life on the battlefield and left scars that could be witnessed from even outer space.


    And directly in the path was the masked man who stood perfectly still with no indication of evasion or resistance. As his body began to fade and fall off as specks that could be blown away by the wind, the God noticed the mask which remained unblemished.


    He then moved with perfect posture and motion despite retaining less than a tenth of his initial body mass. Each step was perfect as if he had never noticed the damage. And with each step, he was gradually rebuilt. The legs, the torso, the arm, then the hands. It was like watching grains of sand return to their origin, their place which made them whole, before time ate away at their existence until it was utterly ground to dust.


    Seeing this, the God paused. He appeared visibly agitated. A man on the path to apotheosis.


    ¡°What could justify committing such a great sin? Could you even answer for or face the atrocities you have created?¡±


    Fully reformed, he briefly stretched the body to check for any inconsistencies. He then stopped right in front of the God.


    ¡°My transgressions might indeed be grave enough that the only absolution is with a judgment so grand that it would cripple a God. But they are necessary. In order to realize greater possibilities in spite of the countless disasters the divine has wrought¡±, the masked man declared.


    ¡°...And to this end, you would cull the world of life itself?¡±, he questioned, doubting his intentions and perhaps sanity.


    ¡°I won¡¯t reveal anything to correct your perspective. But it should be abundantly clear that this world is already beyond redemption. Every person of significance and even the nations of old have been wiped clean, supplanted by creatures from other realms. Innumerable lands suffer from the impact of eternal blights, incompatible entities existing in great chaos, and most importantly, the world itself is collapsing. Free to be invaded by any and all. This has all happened irrespective of my involvement, has it not?¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    The God then peered past the masked man, at the ruined cityscape which bustled with life and purpose less than a day ago. Then at the world itself which undeniably had its halcyon times torn asunder. A hint of mourning could be seen.


    ¡°We are not blameless. In our bid for more, we forgot ourselves and our standings¡­ succumbing to greed and grew negligent. Ultimately, ruining the world¡­ But those were the unforeseen long-term consequences of our plans¡­ Your transgressions¡­ Can you truly justify them? How will the slaughter of your fellows reform the world? Everything merely results in more death, so how are we different, Nascent Godling?, he bellowed with righteous fury.


    ¡°They are not my fellows or kin¡­ In case you conveniently forgot, the Antares were brought forth by you Gods. At their core is a penchant to shirk sacrifice when they would force it upon others. Irredeemable if not for their capacity to dedicate effort towards their creations that transcend their limits as a flawed species¡±


    ¡°So you intend to dismiss your sins as our crimes? Just because they are not of your world, you believe it acceptable to cull them?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all¡­ I am not a hero nor am I fighting with the intent to save the world or on behalf of humanity. I am merely here because the path ahead is bleak. The end of each path carved by your kind will lead to nothing but blind zealotry amidst the apocalypse. And you resemble this path down hell the most, Aorrata...¡±


    The God tensed at the mention of his name.


    Understanding the considerations, the God before him had given to his actions and the state of the world, the masked man paused. Although the Gods all governed and reigned over different distinct domains, their motives and reasons were ultimately similar even if the execution and methods employed wildly differed.


    They were here to infiltrate a new world, extract value from the beings within along with the world itself, while finally propagating their influence. And from their haste and avarice, the world was overwhelmed with the countless deities that intruded and began to crumble without resistance.


    The only difference with this God was that he had human compassion. A trait created as a result of harnessing power from society. But the flaws of the divine were too great for that to matter. Arguably, his compassion was merely a means to an end.


    ¡°This world is beyond saving no matter how much effort you personally commit¡­ for now. You might have compassion and provide hope as the God of Sanctuary but you conveniently ignore your own true nature. You seek and certainly have the capacity to save many but they will suffer as you slowly fragment them, incite chaos, and then thrive off of their endless torment that will seed a yearning for peace and a swift return to despair. The conflict inherent to humanity amplified unreasonably and consistently. An infinite cycle which will effectively bolster your Godhood. I will admit your compassion is real but you will always relent to your true nature as a being born into overwhelming power. Both sides of you don''t contradict as you''d like to pretend, your compassion merely facilitates your capacity to harness suffering as the holder of Turmoil. An eternal hell perpetuated by the short-lived lives of mortals which you will herd like sheep to the slaughter¡±


    Exposed to the core, Aorrata did not protest.


    ¡°...you know far too much..¡±


    The masked man then abruptly shifted his position, travelling entire miles across the battlefield out of anticipation. Narrowly he avoided the barrier that formed in an instant, spanning an entire mile around Aorrata in a perfect sphere as it permeated underground and reached towards the clouds.


    ¡°I will no longer dismiss your efforts, our sins, or my incentives as a God. I will only act on behalf of the man who desired to avenge his homeland¡±, Aorrata stated with a new resolve.


    ¡°You should have just started with that, sanctimonious bastard!¡±


    He then struck the exterior of the barrier with tremendous force. As the impact reverberated, the barrier peeled like a cracked egg. In tandem with the barrier, his hand exploded from the force exerted.


    Following the momentum, he charged forward but right as he entered, the gaping hole which revealed the sky closed in an instant.


    A heavy pressure then converged upon him, threatening to compress his bones into diamond. Constricting his posture, movement, and even blood flow, his form and power waned. The Sanctuary dominated all that entered and wrapped every being in the chains of their bonds, completely enslaved by their duties. Or that would have happened if there had been any semblance of a civilization remaining in the world.


    In its place was merely a force equivalent to greater gravity. Not even a fragment of divinity in its power.


    In disbelief at the extent he had been weakened, Aorrata reactivated his ability.


    The masked man smiled.


    ¡°So used to having everything your way, it¡¯s easy to forget how reliant you are on what defines you. Without your divine sovereignty, you are merely a man that doesn¡¯t die easy¡±, he began as he raised his remaining hand.


    From behind, the fragments of his hands once again, crashed against the barrier, forcing the miniscule Sanctuary to waver.


    Uninhibited, he launched himself like a rocket, breaking the sound barrier. In response, Aorrata released a wave of energy directly in his path.


    He then witnessed the masked man¡¯s flight path curve strangely despite having been launched in a straight trajectory. A minor distortion in reality. He was then struck.


    The force caused the land to shift and crack, painting the air with particles of dust and debris. Following the aftershock which spanned the entire battlefield, Aorrata had been sent flying directly into the center of the city.


    The divine barrier which he desperately deployed shielded him from direct consequences. The only lasting impact, a minor dent on his greatest shield and a dazzled mind.


    Calming his agitation, he briefly surveyed his surroundings. Unsurprisingly, the Capital had no signs of life remaining. Yet, among many residences, many people remained. Having peacefully perished, they seemed asleep with decay yet to set in.


    He grimaced while recollecting the previous dialogue.


    ¡°There is no meaning in rotting peacefully¡±, he muttered to himself.


    Turning away from the dead, Aorrata focused his divinity on a new source.


    From the alleys, the masked man emerged with stalwart steps. Without agitation or anxiety, he stopped, awaiting his response.


    ¡°What could someone born into Godhood understand about hardship?¡±