《The Last Prince of Rennaya》


 Atlass Patience

    The air felt heavy, dense with the feeling of fear and tension as the empire''s army made their way, through  Rennaya''s royal capital, Senae. The boy was confused, witnessing the way his people were behaving as they arrived. He gripped his mother''s hand even harder, worried, but unsure why.


    She noticed and glanced down, giving him the most reassuring smile she could. "Don''t worry my little Osei, stay quiet, they will be gone soon."


    He nodded back, feeling a slight bit of relief. However, he still couldn''t help but wonder why the guards were trembling and how his parents, Rennaya''s rulers, could still have something to be afraid of.


    The usually bustling city, was quiet today. The army was not there to invade but rather to escort a prince and his entourage. The 103rd prince of the Cerian Empire, Ataron.


    Their vehicles finally stopped once they had reached the large outdoor arena on the outskirts of Senae. There awaiting them on the opposite side, were the King and Queen of Rennaya, with their only son and guards behind them.


    The people of Rennaya were a majority of dark skin tones. With a minority that looked similar to people, native to south-east Asia. They were known for their height, with men averaging 6''5, and women 5''9, as well as their strength.


    Among their other defining characteristics were their prominent blue eyes, with the minority population having brown or hazel. However, the traits they were most known for were said to have been blessed by the planet itself.


    Supernatural abilities, that allowed them to summon fire, earth, ice, and electricity for combat or everyday use. Making them one of the galaxy''s most formidable warriors.


    Ataron and his entourage hopped out of their vehicles. He glanced over at his two siblings, standing among his five candidates. Although they were perfectly evolved, AI-sentient beings, he couldn''t help but feel that they might embarrass him today.


    Hearing some noise, he looked over to the largest vehicle in their procession. He smiled as he watched the Valmerian giant, hopping out of his customized unit, shaking it as he towered over 10 feet tall. Although this giant was short compared to those within his race, Ataron was relieved he brought one of his best trophies with him.


    His last two candidates had been with him for a while, so he was able to vouch for their abilities. Captured from conquered worlds, that were once home to prosperous civilizations. They no longer had any hopes of returning home.


    Each of his candidates had different weapons and black gladiator armor, contrasted with purple stripes. Ataron himself was sporting a black and purple, armored body suit with a flowing cape trailing behind him.


    "I''m hoping this year''s candidates are much more promising, King Zenu!" Ataron was unable to contain his excitement as he addressed the King.


    Zenu a proud and patient man, knew never to give in to the children of Atlas'' taunts and had exerted tremendous amounts of patience to hold himself in line. With his wife standing beautifully beside him, he responded calmly.


    "Of course, they have trained day and night for the honour to fight for us today... Do not underestimate the Rennayan race!" The king replied, as five hooded figures seemingly emerged from behind him, landing softly by the middle of the arena.


    They took off their hoods. Three men and two women in their youth, exhibiting traits of fire, ground, lightning, and ice abilities. The five gladiators on the prince''s side, hopped into the arena, focused and driven by one purpose only, to kill.


    Zenu should have been used to this. Having witnessed the Annual Trial for the last 10 years of his life, he wanted his son, to watch, and understand how heart-less and barbaric the enemy was. Forcing their people to go through this event in search of a legend, one dubbed as ''The Legendary Rennayan.''


    A person fabled to have been of great humility, trust and a power to be reckoned with. With that power, they were able to bring peace to the galaxy over 1400 years ago, by ending the First Galactic War. Since then, there had not been a single Rennayan, that was capable of using more than one of the elements at the same time.


    The conductor raised his hand and slammed his hammer into the giant drum, sounding off the start of the battle. Both the candidates and gladiators engaged. Swords swung, knives were thrown and spears impaled flesh.


    The five Rennayan candidates in under 10 minutes, were all killed. Their butchered and dismembered corpses were scattered across the arena floor. The gladiators on the other hand roared war cries of victory. Unsettled by the swift battle, they looked longingly at the royal family and guards, while one continued to hack away at a body.


    "Stop it!" Osei didn''t know what came over him, but he felt like he couldn''t stand by and watch the psychotic gladiator continue to mutilate the body.


    Ataron taken back, by the boy''s outburst, stepped forward and spoke up. "Now settle down... Messy as always, aren''t you guys." The prince ordered while raising his hand and lowering it.


    The gladiators calmed down and went back into their vehicles except for the one hacking away at the body. Ataron sighed, then walked up to him and placed one palm over his head. In seconds, from head to toe, the gladiator was completely absorbed, following the sounds of bones crunching together and blood splatter, disturbing the silence.


    Ataron grabbed a cloth from his pocket and proceeded to wipe the specks of blood that landed on his body, then glared over at Osei. With eyes, cold enough to pierce every fibre of his body. "Boy, the weak don''t deserve to speak." He said coldly, shutting Osei up.


    The prince then turned his attention to the royal couple, expressing utter disappointment. "I guess we couldn''t find one again this year, couldn''t we?" He shook his head, then clapped his hands together, suddenly changing back to his old cheerful self.


    "Well then... Our ship will be passing by the loading bay to collect the tributes." He said as he began walking towards his vehicle. However, before entering he looked back and gave the royal family one last message. "Just a warning... Atlas''s patience is running out, you know."


    Zenu was speechless. He knew the results were always the same, but he always found himself hoping, that something would be different.


    Half of the guards remained behind to help the cleaning androids, while the rest escorted the family back to the Royal Palace. A palace standing at almost 300 ft. tall and had been the symbol of Rennaya, for over 1400 years. Built by the people of Messa as a peace offering to commemorate the end of the First Galactic War.


    The Rennayans filled it with the treasures of their people and called it the Hallantium. It had never been attacked. Until today...


    Later that day...


    Zenu knew his people didn''t have much longer. He was forced to assume the throne at 22, when his father, the previous king spoke out of turn and was killed in front of him, by the third prince of Ceria, nearly a decade ago.


    Since then he had tirelessly placed all of the planet''s resources to work. By gathering all of the top scientists on Rennaya, as well as the blood of one billion of his people. Synthesizing, distilling, and experimenting with it all to create the perfect serum. His father''s idea and legacy. A serum to recreate the Legendary Rennayan.


    It was all for today.


    He ran through the hallways of the Hallantium. Making his way towards their royal ship, the Aratris, parked at the back of the palace. There, as he burst out of the door, he found his wife and child hugging and crying, by the doors of the ship.


    The sounds of explosions and screams in the distance, distracted him, causing him to glance up and below. Witnessing hundreds of missiles & aircrafts falling out of the sky and crashing through the city. Blips of light escaped the ashe-covered clouds as the Rennayan Royal Space Force engaged the invaders. Monsters that were mutated horrifically, screeched across the sky, carrying off civilians as giants trampled the city.


    It was utter chaos.


    Zenu quickly grabbed hold of his family, then manifested a large flame barrier, surrounding them and the Aratris. Safiyah, his wife layered the interior with sheets of ice, maintaining it to reinforce their fortified dome. Satisfied, they both looked down at their frightened son, holding himself back, till his mother could tell him, ''Everything, will be alright.''


    "You know we love you, Osei... We wish we could stay with you and watch you grow..." Safiyah spoke with her voice cracking, as she found it difficult to utter her next words.


    Zenu noticed and took over, dropping down to one knee, to face his son. "However life is not always so fortunate... So hold on to what''s important-"


    Several explosions and violent tremors cut him off, yet he remained calm. "Our memories together, never forget them. This is not the life I wished for you my son, but you must remember your mission. Earth is safe... your grandfather kept it hidden with the Arflauge. Find a ''Human'' mother as identical to your own and give her this." He said as he handed him the flask.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Sure enough, it should be impossible and immoral for a 7-year-old to have to undertake such a mission. However, Zenu found himself with no other choice. This mission had been top secret and kept under wraps, with all loose ends burned. Especially since their planet had been under surveillance for the last 10 years, with nothing they could do about it.


    He hoped the Arflauge was still operating well, despite camouflaging the Solar System from all advanced radars or telescopes in the universe over the last 60 years. However, it had been too difficult for him to send a team to check, with each one being shot down, before even being able to leave their solar system. Which was why he had his son trained, for the last three years, with the royal attendant, Waio. There was no more time, he had to be ready.


    "Your sibling will need you to raise them... To be strong... The fate of the galaxy now rests with you," he concluded, as he placed both of his hands on his son''s shoulders, giving them a genuine good squeeze. He believed in him.


    Yet, Osei couldn''t help but sob uncontrollably, letting little whimpers and sniffles in between bursts of tears, as he tried to catch his breath. In the short span of his life, he had often been told, he was too smart for his age. A blessing and a curse. He had noticed the change in everyone''s mood ever since the events of the recent Annual Trial, accompanied by the despair on Waio''s and his parent''s faces, on the way to the Aratris. He knew one thing for certain.


    He would never see his parents again. He would never see his home again.


    They brought him close, for what felt like the longest hug they had ever had together, then his mother kissed his forehead as his father gave him the most heartfelt smile he had ever seen from him. "We love you, Osei... We always have and we always will." His parents said, in unison.


    Osei could not bring himself to speak much, but the words he did utter, could not get a response back. "Please... Don''t leave me."


    Trying her best to hold herself together, Safiyah looked forward and called an android over. It trodded over quietly and gently held his hand, escorting him onto the ship as he cried, turning back one last time to try and join them. Only to be swiftly held back by the android, until the doors closed. He ran to the window watching them, as the Aratris prepared to launch.


    Out of nowhere, the barrier surrounding them was shattered, and crumbled from the collision of an attack, coming from an unknown source. Zenu shielded his wife and the Aratris, from the explosion. Then glanced up above him, as a mixture of emotions tore through him, from the sight of the person floating above them.


    He couldn''t believe it. Chuckling to himself high above them, was the Cerian Emperor, Atlas.


    On his hip, was a long thin sword finished in obsidian black, with a violet strip, coating the edge. He was dressed in a black armoured bodysuit with purple stripes, as rings around his shoulders. He was pale, with slits that ran vertically under his eyes and down his face, disappearing at his neck. His cold heart-less eyes seemed to be staring into Zenu''s soul, only to be cut off by gusts of wind, flowing his silver-gray-like hair, across his face.


    "Atlas!" Zenu exclaimed, shocked that the Emperor would come to see him, himself.


    He looked back at the Hallantium. Now two-thirds collapsed, as it continued to burn down in a scorching violet inferno. A lasting symbol of peace and unity, now drowning in its own debris.


    The King unable to keep his cool any longer exploded in rage. Unknowingly giving up his lifespan, for more strength and ascending to a level he didn''t think he could reach in his lifetime.


    Red and orange marks snaked around his body, pulsing at the same rate as his heartbeat, and flowed like veins of energy.


    Streaks of silver glowed evenly popping up all over his hair, then completely dyed itself in a silver glow.


    It is said, that Rennayans are capable of accessing more power in times of stress or despair. Boosting all of their abilities to their utmost potential. Thus, Zenu hearing the screams of his dying people and watching the place he grew up in, destroyed, shattered the last of his patience. Shaving a great amount of years off of his life.


    He recalled the speech he gave his people, as the first war bells rung across the planet. How naive he was, thinking he had truly prepared his people from a Cerian invasion.


    "Crimson Scythe." He whispered as he unsheathed his sword and swung it through the air, in rapid motion.


    A giant wall of flames seemingly sparked out of the tip of his sword and arced, slicing its way toward Atlas. Who in turn welcomed the challenge, without lifting a finger to stop it. Seemingly, it crashed into an invisible wall, leaving him unscathed.


    Zenu leaped forward, appearing in a blur, before the emperor. Then swung down diagonally aiming for his neck, as violet flames danced over his blade, reinforcing it with his killing intent.


    Atlas dodged to the left, almost in a blur, and followed up delivering a devastating strike right into Zenu''s gut. Sending him crashing through the city. Resulting in a series of light earthquakes, all around them.


    The king coughed up blood, as he used his sword for support. Blood dripped down the side of his head. ''I can''t lose,'' he thought to himself. If Atlas could be defeated here, his son and soon-to-be child would be safe.


    Atlas dropped to the ground softly, unsheathing his sword. Then proceeded to walk towards him, calmly.


    For a moment, Zenu looked around him. Carnage was rampant. Bodies littered the streets. Strikes of lightning, giant golems, frozen sheets of ice, and explosions of fire, burst out like fireworks at intervals, throughout the city. As the citizens fought back in a futile fight, against the onslaught of the Cerian invasion.


    There was no doubt about it. Senae the royal capital, had fallen.


    Atlas looked at Zenu, disappointed. "It was inevitable, you pathetic humans, have stalled me for far too long." He gripped his right hand into a fist in front of him. "I''ve grown tired with each passing year. My goal... within my grasp... Yet you couldn''t bring me one!" He shrieked furiously.


    Zenu looked at him, scoffing as he replied. "The Legendary Rennayan... an anomaly we haven''t seen in 1400 years..." He prepared a defensive stance. "You expected us to be able to find them and bring them to you? Why do you search for such power?"


    Atlas looked at him with the largest grin on his face. "Why else, of course? To bring humanity closer to God!"


    "That ancient religion..." Zenu laughed in his face. "By bringing death, destruction, and fear with you?"


    Atlas flicked his wrist with his sword in his left hand, slicing up a nearby building, and sheltering people from the violence. Several screams escaped, but it quickly became quiet as the entire building collapsed within itself.


    "It''s just more fun that way. You humans, seem to grow stronger when placed in... difficult situations Maybe with the right nudge we are giving them, they just might show up," Atlas replied nonchalantly, then he lunged at Zenu with frightening speed.


    Attacking the king with an onslaught of uncountable sword strikes. Zenu parried as many strikes as he could, with violet and blue flames burning his blade bright and helping him keep up. However, he winced, as blisters formed from the recoil, with every several strikes one would make it through, allowing cuts to begin appearing all over his body.


    Atlas disarmed him on the last strike, sending his sword flying nearby, prompting Zenu to jump back. Barely able to stand as his vision fogged up. He felt a delayed pain from his left, not realizing a deep wound inflicted on his left shoulder. The new transformation started to flicker as he took ragged


    breaths. He had reached his limit.


    Atlas continued, ignoring the king''s desperate situation. "Besides you have committed the greatest sin against me. By going behind my back and creating that concoction of yours... It''s finished isn''t it?"


    The king was shocked. He knew they were being watched, but he didn''t think that the Emperor would find out about the serum.


    "What? You didn''t think to question some of your private investors before you killed them? Where is it?" Atlas followed up, as he began walking towards him.


    Suddenly cutting him off, a shower of ice sparrows poured down on him and froze him in a block of ice, shaped out of birds. "Zenu!" Safiyah yelled at the top of her lungs.


    She had turquoise vein marks running all over her body, and streaks of glowing silver highlighted her hair evenly. Cold air, seemingly emanated from her, as birds of all kinds, made out of ice, flew along her side.


    Safiyah rushed to Zenu''s side, trying to heal as much of his wounds as possible. He looked at the direction she came in and saw the Aratris soaring into the sky, heading into space. "They''re safe." He whispered. "That''s all that matters."


    Safiyah looked him over, then kissed him. "Let''s fight him together." She said, looking at him, with her mesmerizing storm-like eyes.


    He was at a loss for words, he felt like he had failed to protect her, however he knew her all too well. She was a warrior first. If she left him or her people when they needed her most, she would never forgive herself. "Of course... In life or death, you''re the only one I want by my side." He repeated his vows, as she had remembered it.


    They both began to gather all of the energy their bodies would allow them, as the sculpted ice block Atlas was trapped in, began to crumble. Then shattered, as the emperor himself climbed out.


    "Queen Safiyah... So good of you to join us. I''m in a good mood today and I wanted to share it, with everyone... What do you think?" He smiled while raising both of his hands to the sides, indicating the carnage around them.


    "Alcra set up the World Telomonitor." He ordered into his comm.


    Moments later, massive screens appeared all over Rennaya in skies above populated areas. Showing scenes of destruction within the royal capital and the royal couple themselves, about to engage with Atlas.


    "People of Rennaya!" Atlas spoke with the most eccentric voice, knowing the entire planet could hear him.


    "I apologize but your time has come, you have all failed me and I am not taking it personally, I just don''t have any more use for you, except your lifespans." He smiled and chuckled lightly out loud. "Which I will gladly accept unconditionally...You see, my children need them, so they will be helping themselves."


    People across Rennaya, watched terrified by what they were witnessing, as hope started to fade and despair began to settle.


    "As a gift though, I will allow you all to watch the execution of your King and Queen-" Zenu and Safiyah charged him, interrupting his moment and aiming to bring him down.


    They fought valiantly for eight and a half minutes. Devastating the city, with parts of it frozen or on fire.


    By the end, Zenu was sitting against the wall, with his sword protruding out of his chest. It was getting harder to breathe. He knew he didn''t have much longer.


    He found it difficult to raise his head, but as he did, he saw his wife lying on the ground. Bruised, bloodied, and completely immobilized with Atlas standing above her. About to plunge his sword into her heart.


    She turned her head towards Zenu. Softly, with a tear rolling down the side of her face, she uttered, "My king..."


    His eyes grew wide. Unable to accept reality. "My queen..." He reached out, as Atlas plunged his sword through her heart, killing her.


    Tears streamed down the king''s face. However, he mustered up his remaining strength to speak. "Your search for power... will be your ultimate downfall... and... and one day the universe... will come and collect what is due..."


    He coughed blood as the last of his strength faded away, his gaze settled on his wife. "I will be joining you soon, my love." He said, giving his last breath.


    Atlas was unfazed. "Sure." He replied, looking up at the sky, unfulfilled.


    Ashe and smoke covered the clouds, with lightning striking every few moments among the loud drops of rain, as the invasion progressed. Many thoughts ran through his mind, however, he could not stop wondering who that spaceship was transporting, leaving the planet from the Hallantium''s direction.


    Where was it headed? That''s when he recalled there being a son, from his spy''s reports. "Alcra! Please tell me you caught sight of the ship that left Rennaya near me, about 15 minutes ago."


    There was a soft click, as she replied in his comm. "Of course, I placed a tracker on it, since it was moving too quickly to prepare a Retrieving Party."


    Atlas smiled, he was always proud of her decision-making. "Good, then send a few scouter ships after it. Bring the boy back alive... Tell the squads going, should they fail to bring him back they will be incinerated by me, personally."


    Alcra took in all of his orders and began preparing the mission. "Yes Father, I will send them out immediately," she replied, as the planet of Rennaya fell...

 Hidden Among the Stars

    Alcra was the 46th child and the 23rd daughter of Atlas. She was the commander placed in charge of the Rennayan invasion, and she did so with the utmost precision. Overlooking everything within, the Pandora, Ceria''s strongest warship, floated above the Rennayan atmosphere.


    Her reconnaissance team locked onto the spaceship and brought it to her attention, just as they were about to warp out of the Rennayan Solar System. After Atlas'' call, she rushed down below deck and picked out three teams of slaves, many of them, from different worlds. Then proceeded to arm them with weapons and technology enough to take out a small country.


    She smiled as the squads got in their space shuttles, modified for slave hunting. No ship could outrun them. "Father will be pleased," she whispered to herself, then turned back, heading for the command center.


    On the Aratris...


    Osei wondered, what his parents were going through, as he watched the androids bustle about, with instructions from Waio, the first attendant. There were twenty-five androids on board, capable enough to handle grown bears on their own. Tasked with keeping them both safe, as priority one.


    Osei noticed one of the androids, stuck on a screen, just staring at it. He asked it what it was looking at, then quickly went quiet, after noticing his parents on the screen. Watching Atlas murder his parents in cold blood.


    "Mom... Dad..." He uttered, as tears streamed down his face, knowing for certain this time, that he would never be able to see them again.


    Waio approached Osei, noticing him crying in front of the screen. The transmission must have been picked up as they left Rennaya, he thought to himself.


    He placed both of his hands on Osei''s shoulders, kneeled, and spoke to him from the heart. "They made this sacrifice for us. Do not cry for their pain, embrace their strength! For them, we must complete the mission..."


    He paused briefly, clearing his throat, then continued. "Young Osei, you are now the next ruler of Rennaya. We must revive Rennaya once again and grow it strong enough to take down Ceria once and for all... The serum is the key to all of that."


    Osei shook his head. "I am no king," he whispered under his breath.


    They dropped out of warp speed in front of the Arflauge machine, distracting Waio as the ship slowed down. ''We must enter the barrier slowly, as to not stress the Arflauge'', Waio thought. He turned back to give the androids some more instructions.


    Suddenly, a tense feeling crept over him, like something was not right. There was a loud explosion behind the spaceship, shaking the Aratris back and forth, as Waio grabbed and protected Osei. Everyone onboard was thrown around from the impact.


    "Defence shields are at 60%." One of the androids called out. "Three shuttles inbound behind us. Less than 2 minutes away."


    Waio got back up, and checked on Osei first, making sure he was alright. Then gave an order to the androids. "Return fire. Then concentrate all power on shields and engines!"


    The robots rushed to their positions. Some ran around the spaceship working on maintenance and repairs, others headed straight to weapons to return fire. The fight between the ships intensified, as they approached the invisible old satellite. One of the ships in pursuit of the Aratris broke away, into a ball of flames, remains drifting in the abyss.


    Waio knew they would not be able to shake the rest off. They had to split up. He turned around to look at Osei, then spoke softly.


    "Osei, this is where we must part ways...Take one of the shuttles below and head to Earth, find a human mother, as similar to your own as possible, and complete the mission... After that stay hidden, live your life, and guide your sibling, on the right path."


    Osei was in shock, trying to hold back tears, as his eyes already stung. "But... but... I don''t want to leave you!" He stuttered back, voice cracking midway.


    Waio shook his head. "I have watched you grow. You''ve excelled in your training and you are very mature for your age... Wipe your tears now. I am proud of you and I am glad to have served you, Prince Osei."


    Waio had served the royal family for 40 years of his life. Taken in by Osei''s great-grandfather as a starving orphan child on the streets, he felt like this was the moment, where he could repay his debt.


    Three androids escorted Osei down to the shuttle bay. He watched powerless from the shuttle window, as the Aratris took continuous bombardment from from the assailing ships. Their shuttle cloaked itself, in invisible camouflage, as it slid away from the battle, while the Aratris led the ships away, to a large floating asteroid.


    The shuttle passed through the Arflauge''s barrier, with ease, as it shimmered to reveal the Solar System. "Entering the solar system now, approximately 15 mins to planet Earth," the android at the helm updated him. Osei had too many thoughts muddling his seven-year-old mind, to listen. He gripped the serum tightly in his hand. ''I can''t fail,'' he thought to himself, over and over.


    "A 97% match has been found on the continent of Africa, a country called, Nigeria." The android added. Fifteen minutes later, they descended, towards Africa camouflaged.


    Osei wondered, if Waio was okay and if he would be able to see him again, but quickly shook the thoughts out of his mind and practiced a meditation technique that his instructor had taught him.


    They landed on the outskirts of a small village in the state of Ekiti. Osei told the helper bots to stay in the shuttle and to keep reaching out to the Aratris. They gave him a device updated with the location of the target.


    Osei was trained in the art of stealth. Outfitted with a special nano suit, which completely turned him invisible, by blending him with his surroundings, he made his way into the village, with light, quick steps in the middle of the night.


    He approached a small group of old houses, held together by clay, cement, and wood. Then got closer to the targets house the target''s house quietly, scanning it with his device. Three people were inside, one in the washroom, the other, asleep, and the last yet to be born.


    He snuck around to the back door. Picked the lock with a skeleton key and entered slowly. There were creaks frightening him, yet he proceeded cautiously. Down the hall and making a right turn.


    The walls were crude and rough, but the home felt warm. He felt relieved, knowing his sibling would be taken care of. However, what he was about to do, he knew was unforgivable.


    He plunged the syringe lightly into her arm as she jostled a bit in her sleep from the discomfort. The nano-tech carrying the genetic concoction made its way through her body carefully toward the unborn child.


    Fusing, moving cells together, all to recreate the growing human being. Unable to bear the pain any longer, the mother woke up. Looking around flustered, but no one was there.


    Osei was already making his way back to the ship, through the village. ''Mission complete,'' he thought to himself. Another mission he accomplished on his own at his age. There was nothing more he could do, till his sibling was born.


    "Status report," he asked the androids, as he entered the shuttle.


    "The Aratris has not yet, returned any of our outgoing calls. We think it may have been destroyed." They responded.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Another one of the androids continued, where the other left off. "We have also discovered a small opening forming, due to the Arflauge deteriorating and lack of maintenance. Extensive repairs may be required to prolong its use."


    He nodded, thinking over their updates. "Set a course for the Arflauge then, we''ll dock and repair it." He ordered, after making a plan.


    "Affirmative," each of the androids chimed in unison.


    The shuttle left the Earth''s atmosphere, cloaked. Thirty minutes later, they were at the Arflauge. ''It''s massive and old'', Osei thought as they docked onto the satellite. He sent one of the androids into it, with everything it would need to repair the Arflauge.


    It confirmed its mission with him once again before leaving. "I will repair the tear immediately. It will take roughly 5 months for me to complete a full diagnosis and maintenance."


    He nodded, signaling the android off while having second thoughts about it. He didn''t want another person to leave him.


    The android at the console called out to him. "Sir, we have sent a drone out to the asteroid and scans indicate, that there is still a battle ongoing there."


    Osei rushed to the console looking over the report. "Alright, take us there." He ordered hoping to see Waio alive and well.


    As the shuttle approached, Osei saw bodies and weapons scattering the surface of an asteroid where the three ships had landed. A little further away, he heard the whirring of a Terraforma active. A machine that kept air and gravity circulating the asteroid, slowly turning it into a small planet.


    Osei''s shuttle landed behind the Aratris. "Activate combat mode and equip your weapons... Make sure to locate and report to me Waio''s location." Osei instructed.


    The two androids went to work, transforming themselves into their military-designed modes, installed by the Rennayan Royal Military engineers. They grabbed their automatic laser rifles, from the compartment equipped with knives and several other pieces of equipment, they would need to use.


    Osei grabbed his sword. He wasn''t prepared to lose anyone else. The androids exited the shuttle with Osei rushing quietly behind them, along the Aratris. They turned by a corner of the hull.


    Osei''s eyes grew wide. A Valmerian giant, at least 12 feet tall swung his axe down on a humanoid golem, a little smaller and made of dirt and minerals from the asteroid. He had only heard of them in stories.


    Ten soldiers wearing purple and black, armored space suits, engaged in combat with seven humanoid golems. Behind the golems, he saw a wounded Waio barely holding on to the broken half of his spear, as it held him up.


    Osei was too happy to see him again, causing him to make a fatal mistake. "Waio!" He called out.


    Waio looked back, seeing Osei. His facial expression switched to fear, as he uttered, "Osei..."


    He paused, shaking his head. "You mustn''t be here!" He yelled out in desperation, shaking Osei a bit back.


    "The boy!" Some of the men called out, noticing Osei, then they regrouped and started their way toward him as the golems crumbled due to Waio''s wavering strength.


    Nevertheless, Waio still took down the first two running at him, smacking the back of their heads with high-speed pebbles. The other dodged one coming for him and fired multiple shots from his rifle. Nearly marking Waio, as he raised the dirt wall. He then summoned a clay spike from behind the soldier impaling him from the back, as the man was about to flank him.


    Another two charged him, firing their high-tech pistols and unsheathing nano swords, glowing out. Golems rose, taking the shots for him instead, and dove at them, slapping their firearms, out of their hands, before the golems were cut apart. Waio took advantage of one of the soldiers being distracted and impaled him along with the crumbling golem.


    "Damn you!" The remaining soldier screamed, lunging at him. Waio pulled out the jagged spear and returned a few blows, till it was broken once more. However, the soldier was too hasty, seeing Waio disarmed, that he didn''t notice him summoning an iron sword from the ground. Allowing the attendant to behead him as he dodged the soldier''s amateur strike.


    Osei''s androids began firing at the rest of the soldiers, as they broke through the golems that Waio had created. "Let me fight with you!" Osei yelled out, hoping Waio would agree.


    "It is not your place to fight now, young Osei. Hurry, get to somewhere safe-" His words were cut short, as he was sliced horizontally in two, letting the upper half of his body, fall to the ground with a thud. Blood sprayed out, from the bottom half, as it plopped forward.


    "Since we know where the boy is, we no longer need him alive." The giant finally spoke up, lifting his bloody axe back up on his shoulder.


    Valmerian warriors, a giant race with explosive speed, that had once ravaged the galaxy, Waio had taught him. However, Osei''s mind went blank, as his world shattered. He had taken in too much loss that day. He could no longer bear it.


    Something snapped within him, his life force started to shave away. Static electricity built up, within his vicinity, converging electric currents from all around the asteroid, towards him.


    Blue marks, flowed like veins all over his body, glowing, along with his bright blue eyes. His hair started to rise. The soldiers were wary of him and began backing away.


    "Aaaaaaaah!" Osei''s scream, was full of anguish and pain, shaking the soldiers as it pierced their souls and sent chills down their spines.


    A shockwave of electricity burst out from him, ripping the ground up, as the soldiers winced covering their eyes from the dust and debris. In a blur like lightning, before they could even react, Osei cut down three of them, in one swift motion. He could barely register the thought of killing for the first time, due to the high adrenaline, as he circled back around before the other soldiers tried to restrain him.


    The first unfortunate soldier, got his hand sliced cleanly off dropping him to his knees as he screamed from the pain. The last two raised their weapons, aiming for him. Completely terrified and forgetting their mission.


    Osei''s androids on standby, neutralized them before they could pull the trigger, joining in on the fight. The only one remaining was the giant, watching him with interest.


    "Boy, come quietly and I won''t hurt you." He said breaking the tension.


    Osei growled at him. "I won''t forgive you." Although he was out of breath, his anger had not subsided.


    It had just been only been a year since he had first awakened his electric abilities. He was a prodigy and quickly recognized that he had ascended to the first level. Waio had given him the harshest training, preparing him for moments like this. Now he felt like he had enough strength to take down the villain, in front of him.


    A small cloud started to form and grow above them, as Osei raised his hand. Electricity crackled around them converging towards the cloud darkening it, as it rumbled loudly. The giant braced himself, unsure of what was going on.


    "Thunder Raika!" Osei yelled.


    A giant bolt of lightning, struck the giant and surrounding area causing a large explosion. Osei covered his eyes, bracing himself as he was pushed back from the winds, but held his ground. His androids, however, were sent flying back into the ships.


    Osei stared into the dust and smoke expecting to see the giant down, but he was gone. The next moment felt surreal, as he felt a large blur to his right.


    He raised his sword in the nick of time trying to block the giant''s axe, however, the force knocked him crashing back against a wall Waio had raised. The giant had used the flat side of his axe to avoid killing him.


    Pain stung his left arm. He could feel, it was broken. He coughed coarsely, as blood splattered the ground, while his vision blurred.


    The markings on his body began to flicker. The glow in his eyes was fading.


    ''I''m going to die,'' he thought to himself as a tear broke through.


    The giant began walking towards him but was cut off by the androids, who had recovered from their flight and started firing, in a futile attempt to bring him down. However, all it did was annoy him as he shrugged the bullets off, and threw his axe at them.


    They jumped back dodging the flying axe. That''s when he took his chance, lunging at the first and grabbing it with his explosive speed. It resisted and stabbed his hand multiple times, but after a few seconds, it became motionless, crushed by the giant''s hands.


    The giant dropped the android''s remains and looked towards the other firing at him from further away. Suddenly he sprung into a sprint, and kicked the android like a ball with his full strength, faster than it could retreat. Sending the android flying past the ships, unseen ever again.


    "Now it''s time for you to come with me." The giant said, turning his head towards where he left Osei.


    However, Osei did not waste the opportunity his androids had presented him. Leaping up behind the giant''s neck, clad completely in electricity he stabbed deep into the giant''s beefy neck. Dragging his sword across as far as he could.


    The giant screamed in pain, grabbing for his neck. Osei dropped to the ground behind him and slashed the back of his knees, dropping the giant forward.


    Osei kept striking himself with lightning, charging up electricity, and moving in a blur of flashes as he sliced away at the giant over and over. Until he was satisfied, dropping his sword, covered completely in blood.


    There was silence, as he stood back to back with the giant, out of breath. Then the giant flopped forward, lifeless.


    Too many emotions washed over him, but he couldn''t help but let out an anguished, cry of victory. He picked up his sword and sheathed it, then rushed over to Waio, mourning him.


    He glanced at the teacher''s face, remembering his smile whenever he was proud of his achievements. "I''m sorry-"


    "What''s there to be sorry for, you were wonderful." A voice startled him.


    He unsheathed his sword and quickly turned around pointing it at the speaker. Static electricity crackled around him as his energy soared by instinct.


    "You!" Rage had rushed back through Osei''s mind like never before. For the first time in his life, he understood true hatred.


    Descending before him, was Atlas, deserving of all his animosity. Osei got up and immediately charged with all his might trying to bring him down, in one strike. However in the blink of an eye Atlas disappeared, leaving cracks in the air, and lightly struck the back of Osei''s neck, knocking him out instantly.


    "You''ll make for a fine trophy," he said as he picked up the unconscious prince. Then with the air cracking once more around him, he left, heading for the Pandora.

 Brother

    Throughout Tobi''s life, he''d felt multiple voices having a dialogue within himself. Conversing, advising and even warning him sometimes, like a sixth sense.


    He walked back from the grocery store on a warm Sunday, his first day off. Thinking about the quote he recently went to, hoping it would sell and finally help him clear his debt.


    He turned a corner entering a small shortcut through his neighborhood forest, towards his apartment. It had been too long since he had left Ottawa, he thought to himself. He needed a vacation.


    Out of nowhere, a man with a dark complexion, blue eyes, and a sharp scar on his left cheek, appeared in front of him, turning off his camouflage. He was dressed in a black and purple, sleek armoured battlesuit and equipped with a large longsword, on his back.


    "Are you Tobi Taiwo?" The man asked.


    Scared, Tobi took two steps back. "Who''s asking?"


    The man took a step forward. "Do not be alarmed, my name is Osei, and although, we have never met... I am your older brother."


    Tobi was shocked by the revelation. "Stop the cap, you''re lying! I''ve got three younger siblings. and that''s it."


    Osei shook his head, taking another step forward."I know it may be difficult to take in, but 20 years ago, I had to conduct an operation on your mother, giving her a serum that would merge my unborn sibling, with your mother''s child before birth."


    Tobi''s eyes grew wide, hearing that. He was completely flabbergasted by what this man was saying. "You what!" He responded.


    Not wanting to hear any more of this nonsense, Tobi just started walking away. However, Osei persisted, calling out to him. "What I did was unforgivable, but it was all for a good reason and you''re no longer safe here."


    Tobi still walking away, yelled back trying to lose the crazy stranger, he just met. "Look, I don''t know you, nor do I want anything to do with you. I don''t want to hear any more about this!"


    Osei sighed then clad himself in electricity, appearing with a blur in front of Tobi. Before the man could react, he placed one hand over brother''s chest, and then shocked him with thousands of volts. Dropping him to the floor, as nausea and dizziness washed over him, followed by a short seizure.


    Then it stopped, as all was quiet, except for the chirping birds, disturbing the silence.


    "You ok?" Osei asked, a little worried.


    Tobi''s eyes shot wide open. As he got up, He couldn''t believe what he was seeing. The energy of all living things around them, zig-zagging around like circuits and flowing harmoniously, naturally. In trees, animals, insects, and even within Osei.


    Static electricity started crackling all around them, followed by frost forming on the trees and the ground beneath them. Rocks rose and collided against each other splitting up into tiny pieces, as the ground cracked up. Followed up branches, grass, and Tobi''s clothes catching fire.


    Osei looked around him, happy but wide-eyed about the destruction unfolding all around them. With one hand patting out the flames on his clothes and the other on his shoulder, he tried calming Tobi down. "Control your emotions, breathe in & out slowly."


    "Wait what... You''ve gotta be kidding me..." Tobi stuttered.


    Calmly Osei walked towards him. "You are the legendary Rennayan, the one who can bend the will of all four elements and may one day liberate the galaxy."


    Tobi was stunned, slowly comprehending the situation he was now in. "Is there some kind of prophecy saying this? Because I''ve got bills and responsibilities to deal with and I''m not some MC in some novel."


    He started to freak out, remembering something else. "Also you people did something to her without her consent?! I can''t forgive you! Did I kill her kid? Which one am I?!" He lost it. Pacing back and forth as the fires got bigger.


    Dark clouds were starting to form, with occasional thunder rumbling loudly.


    Osei tried to get his attention. "Look at me. Calm down, take all your anger out on me if you have to. Our people had no  other choice. Our planet of 12 billion, was wiped out in a single night. We were the last defence against them, but now they have conquered the entire galaxy!"


    Tobi glared at him.


    Osei continued, seeing that he was finally listening. "Earth was only safe, because of our grandfather''s interference. The Arflauge has been camouflaging this part of space over the past 60 years. Deteriorating away until I took an android up there 20 years ago to maintain it..."


    He sighed. "But the android most likely ran out of power by now...That''s why my squadron is here on the moon of a planet you call Jupiter. Earth will be invaded in 2 weeks."


    Tobi''s head had started to hurt. This was too much stress for him all in one day. However, he was smart and quickly grasped the situation. The clouds started to dissipate and the fires died down, as he began to calm himself.


    "We''ve got to tell someone... Anonymously... we need to let them know." Tobi looked at Osei, wondering if he would agree.


    Osei shook his head. "This planet has not yet blessed your people. There is no telling what the authorities on this planet will do to you, that''s why Father wanted you to train in secret... You are not ready to be in the public''s eye yet." He said as he started getting annoyed.


    They didn''t have much time. However, Tobi wasn''t about to back down or run away. He understood immediately that his family was in danger. Since he had been put in a lot of tough situations in his life, he had always tended to look for a solution first, then to dwell on a problem.


    "Then we''ve got no other option, train me, and let''s take them out. Then we fix this Arfie thing, and forget about this galaxy stuff."


    Osei laughed. "You must be joking."


    Tobi looked him in the eye. "I''m serious. I''m not leaving. This is my home, my family is here, and my friends are here. Innocent people live here. I can''t just let them die and I''m not about to leave, just because of some random duty someone gave me before I was even born. Besides, do all of them have superpowers?"


    Osei shook his head. "Only one, The rest don''t." He responded.


    Tobi smirked. "Perfect, how many are there?" He''d been in fights throughout school, but he knew this was going to be something else. So he tried his best to steer himself away from fear as best as he could.


    Osei sighed."Two million, including giants, mutating flying lizards, called Kaycers. Indestructible giant robots, and many slave & drone soldiers. Leading them is the 147th Prince of the Cerian Empire, Kairon."


    Tobi was a little taken aback by the info. "Do we even have a chance?" He said as real fear started to creep in.


    Osei knew it would be tough, but he still wanted to reassure his little brother. He wondered if he could find an opportunity, to sneak him off the planet to somewhere safe. "Honestly, it may be possible, if you start training now. You will need to experience combat anyways, but you can''t throw away your life." He smiled, then crossed his arms. "I''ll train you."The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Tobi was happy but tried not to show it as much because he still didn''t forgive him for what he did. "For real?" He asked.


    Osei responded. "Yeah, for real."


    Tobi smiled, then picked up his groceries. "Cool, Imma just drop these off at my place before they melt."


    He started to leave.


    "Wait, hold onto this device," Osei called out to him. He handed Tobi a cellular-like device.


    "Is this like a space cellphone?" Tobi asked.


    "It''s a communication device, called a Hizor. It uses the shuttle''s satellite network. It''s been modified to display things in your language. When it rings tap over here and I will send you coordinates to meet me later this evening." Osei showed him how it worked.


    "Cool, cool. By the way, I''m not sure if you can walk around with a sword like that in Canada." Tobi remarked, pointing at his sword and gear.


    Osei laughed out loud. "Fine then, get me some normal Canadian clothes, while you are home." He replied.


    Tobi smiled back. "Sure thing, big bro." He looked at the device as it displayed a bunch of alien functions. It had only just hit him like a truck. He couldn''t believe, his world had just gotten bigger.


    Two hours later...


    Just as promised, Osei picked up Tobi at the coordinates, that buzzed into the Hizor. Tobi''s eyes went wide, seeing the shuttle drop out of camouflage. He had spent most of the afternoon, putting out fires, hiding appliances from himself, and accidentally freezing things he touched. Tremors occurred below and around the building, scaring the tenants. Things were getting too real.


    Curiosity struck Tobi like a child as he ran around the large shuttle, touching everything and anything. After Osei finally got him to sit down, he asked questions nonstop.


    "Just fasten your seat belt please," Osei replied back, already exhausted from his energy. They flew to an opening, in a forest on the outskirts of Ottawa. "No one will see us here." He said as they exited the shuttle.


    Tobi looked up at Osei, after momentarily staring at his palm, then gripped it tight as he spoke. "I need to get a hold of these abilities. My building can''t take it anymore." The memory of his book and manga collection freezing up also pained him dearly.


    Osei laughed. "Typically a normal Rennayan awakens their abilities at around 5-6 years old, rare cases at 3-4... So, keeping our abilities under control feels natural." He replied.


    He backed up a bit, giving Tobi some distance.


    "Since I can command electricity, it will be the first one I''ll show you. The rest I will convey all that I can remember from my teacher... Waio." He said a bit solemnly.


    He shook himself out of it and punched his palm, giving both of his legs some distance. "Now focus and assume a stance, feel the flow of energy within your body, and manifest it into a ball in front of you."


    Tobi did as he was told, copying Osei''s stance. He took deep breaths and closed his eyes, focusing and picturing a ball of energy in front of him. Something that had always felt there, but inaccessible, suddenly broke open like a dam, flooding his body with energy, he had never felt before.


    The ground beneath them cracked up, as pebbles and rocks floated around them. They collided together shaping into a ball. Followed by a ball of ice, a ball of fire, and lastly, a ball of white crackling electricity manifesting into spheres of their own. Rotating slowly around him.


    Osei backed up a bit, watching what was going on. Even though he had only seen a portion of it, he was still shocked by the latent potential his brother possessed.


    Tobi opened his eyes. Astounded by the sight before him. "Woah, am I... am I doing this?" He reached for the sphere of electricity and it transformed into a lightning rod the size of his arm.


    Osei glanced up from the spheres to Tobi. "Whatever image you have in your mind, the elements will take the form of... The fact that you can produce all four at this moment, means you have potential. We''ll just need to draw it out of you."


    Tobi placed his hand on the ice sphere and it turned into a sparrow. He touched the flaming ball, and it turned into a ring of fire. Lastly, he placed his hands on the clump of dirt, but instead, it crumbled apart, falling to the ground.


    Osei chuckled. "Earth abilities tend to take a little more time to master." He then glanced at the sparrow, a little surprised. "You know... our mother used to make these same birds out of ice. I''m surprised that was your choice."


    Tobi looked at it with interest as well. "I''m not sure, it just came to me."


    Osei stepped back once again, giving some distance. "Alright, onto the next step. Launch attacks using each element to hit that tree over there." He said pointing towards a tree, roughly 60 meters away.


    "Ok," Tobi responded, nodding back.


    He raised one hand and faced his palm towards the tree. Then launched the elements he manifested, towards it. All of them fell flat, dissipating less than 5 meters away. He shook his head in disappointment.


    Osei let out a soft chuckle. "You won''t get it right on the first try. Keep practicing.


    Tobi tried over and over but was unable to hit the tree. After ten minutes, he collapsed to the floor.


    Osei rushed to him from where he sat and knelt by his head. He had only just realized how exhausted his brother was. Wielding the four elements all at the same time seemed to drain a lot more energy than he had thought. ''I might have to train him using each one separately,'' he thought to himself.


    Osei lifted Tobi over his back, taking him to a small, bunker bedroom on the shuttle, and letting him rest there. Then he went back out to train.


    The next day...


    Tobi woke up not finding his brother on the ship. He quickly rushed out to the forest, bewildered by the sight before him. Clad in lightning, bouncing from tree to tree, and chopping branches Osei exhibited the skills of a perfectly honed warrior. Ones Tobi had only seen on TV and in manga.


    Osei noticed his brother watching him. Then dropped down from a tree and landed with static electricity softening his fall, right in front of him. "Ready for today? You knocked out pretty early yesterday." He joked.


    Tobi was a bit embarrassed. He scratched the back of his head. "For sure, I got a bit carried away yesterday. Let''s grab some breakfast first at Timmies, there''s always one close by."


    They went back into the shuttle. As they entered, Tobi noticed a modern offline android packed away. "You have a robot?" He asked out of curiosity.


    Osei nodded. "Every shuttle comes with two Type 3 Naya. They are supposed to be a companion in case you ever get lost in space and aid us in terraforming planets... You can program them however you want them to be, by uploading your mind to theirs."


    Tobi''s eyes grew wide, as he thought of the possibilities. He knew this was an invention that would drastically change the world. However, one problem began persisting in his mind. "So y''all aliens are pretty advanced then." He replied, pacing his thoughts.


    Osei disagreed, shaking his head. "Well not anymore, this tech is a copy of a relic from the people of Messa, an ancient planet destroyed over 200 years before ours."


    "Atlas remade most of their technology and ours into his own. Advancing them himself and for his own means." He continued.


    Another thing had still been puzzling Tobi for a while. "Still... how are you able to speak English so fluently, if you came from outer space."


    Osei smiled pointing to a laurel-like headset on the shuttle console. "After hacking into a nearby network, I uploaded the most common languages on this planet to my brain."


    He then pointed at a small white device in his ear, continuing his explanation. "Afterwards I have to use this device in my ear which intercepts what you say and helps me formulate what I want to say back in English, by working with my brain... Otherwise, with just this in my ear, I would be speaking broken English."


    Tobi scratched his head. "That''s a lot to keep up with." He replied, a little confused, but getting the gist of it. He followed up by asking something that shook Osei back a little. "Tell me about our people and how Rennaya fell."


    Osei sighed while taking a seat at the console. It was a heavy subject, but he reluctantly agreed. They went to grab breakfast first, then flew back to their training area.


    As they ate, Osei filled Tobi in about the incident, about his people and their home planet as best as he could remember it. He started to slow down, as he got to the invasion. The pain, still evident on his face.


    Tobi knew it was a tough topic for him, and lightly comforted him, before taking a bite of his egg sandwich. "You don''t have to if it''s too much."


    Osei shook his head. "No, you must know what they''re like. Those abominable soul-less creatures. I wish I had the strength to take them all out on my own." He said angrily and continued to recall all the events of the invasion, giving Tobi the full story of what happened.


    Tobi fell silent. Unable to perceive how his brother had gone through all of that, at just seven years old.


    The last thing he said, piqued his curiosity but had him unsettled. "They are holding billions of people captive and enslaved. The slaves in camps often talk about the Legendary Rennayan. Hoping that one day, they would come free them, like they did, during the First Galactic War." Osei concluded.


    Tobi frowned, crossing his arms. "I''m against slavery and all that, but I''m no hero. Besides, wasn''t I made in a lab or something? I''m guessing that the hero was a lil'' more natural, don''t you think?" He said, trying to disregard another impossible responsibility.


    Osei looked at him. "It doesn''t matter, father always said destiny is what you manifest, with your own decisions. I never thought I would see you again, if I never thought to escape." He looked down depressed by a thought. "My only regret was leaving my friend, Ganitas, behind. He''s a Monrosion and they''re good with weapons development & tech." He said regretfully, glancing back at Tobi, with a different expression.


    "Regardless, we can''t waste time, we''ll be practicing the Rennayan martial art for the rest of the afternoon. Then in the evening, we''ll have elemental training." He added, closing off the topic.


    The day blurred by pretty quickly and by the evening, Tobi was all covered in bruises.

 The Type 3: Sarah

    The brothers spent all day training, only letting up, as the sun set. They made their way back to the shuttle, entering completely exhausted.


    Osei began making his way towards the shower as Tobi stopped in front of the offline android. It displayed no defining characteristics, just an androgynous, android doll. "Can this thing... take care of my family, while I''m gone?" He finally asked, curious.


    Osei turned back around and looked at him, then at the doll. "Depending on the instructions you give it, it could... possibly. They''re efficient and strong enough to take on a bear, but that''s about it."


    Tobi pondered a bit. "I have an idea, but will we be traced, if we turn it on?"


    Osei was curious about what his brother had in mind. "The whole shuttle has been combed through and the server operates using its own smaller satellite, which I launched before landing." He gave his brother a reassuring look. "Don''t worry, we can''t be traced."


    Tobi looked at him with the widest grin. "Then... let''s upload our minds to it."


    Osei was confused, still not seeing where he was going with this, but reluctantly agreed and proceeded to turn the android on. It made a few foreign noises, which Tobi could not understand, but Osei seemed like he did, as he continued to grab the laurel-like headset, then asked Tobi to sit.


    He placed it on Tobi''s head, while the console flickered to life, whirring away with a loading symbol on the screen. The android''s eyes flickered and sparked for second, as lights lit up inside it.


    On cue, Tobi''s life began flashing before his eyes, like a movie being uploaded out of him, while Osei typed away on the computer. After about 30 seconds, it stopped, and Osei lifted the laurel, took the seat, and repeated the same process to himself.


    When it was all done, he lifted the headset off ofhis head and turned towards Tobi. "Now tell it what you want it to do and it should be able to process your request."


    Tobi was excited to see what would happen, he stood in front of the android and chose his words carefully. "I want you to run independently. Use our memories to protect Earth, keep human beings safe, and back us up in the war against the Cerian empire. Also, Make sure my family is safe at all times and do it all discreetly for the time being, until we have to go public."


    It started flickering, with its iris and pupils spinning within the socket. Osei was surprised by what his brother had asked for. He looked over at the console and typed a few commands. "We''ll need to wait till the morning for that kind of request." He explained to him. Then pressed a few more buttons and turned around to face him. "It will reread your memories, then mine, and start to go about it, the way we would."


    Tobi smiled. "Sick, looking forward to it." He replied. Afterward, they both showered, ate, and then went to sleep exhausted.


    The next morning...


    Tobi got up much earlier than Osei, too excited to see his experiment. He rushed out of the dorm in boxers and went straight to the cockpit. However shocking him awake was a beautiful blonde woman in her late 20s, typing commands away at the console chair.


    Noticing someone behind her, the lady, rotated her chair around. She wore a flower-green dress. "Hi Tobi, I''m Sarah." She said, breaking out a smile.


    Stunned that she knew his name and more so of how she was here. Still, something about her felt unnatural to Tobi. "Hi Sarah, how did you get on our ship?" He asked, calmly.


    She let out a genuine light-hearted chuckle, before responding. "Silly, I''m the Type 3 Naya, you programmed. I just chose a form, that would help me get around easier on Earth, to fulfill your request."


    Tobi immediately felt guilty about something he wasn''t sure of, but he shook it away to keep his cool. "Damn, I dunno how I feel about that... Anyways what are you working on?" He replied.


    She looked back at the console and then back at him. "I''ve drawn out several plans while you guys were asleep. We''ll be building our headquarters on the moon and will commence building an army to combat the incoming invaders, utilizing resources from the surrounding planets." She explained, happily.


    "Wow, you''ve thought this through. Why the moon though?" Tobi was curious.


    "We''ll be able to overlook and respond quicker while keeping under the radar. This way you can train in private." She smiled reassuringly.


    She then added, "Thank you, Tobi, for giving me the opportunity to protect the Earth. Now leave it up to me. Go wake up Osei and get ready for training. I have to go somewhere."


    Tobi was astonished by what he had created and what she was up to, but he decided to leave it be for the time being. He was hungry. As the thought crossed his mind, he noticed lots of shopping bags, in a corner.


    "Did you go shopping?" Tobi asked.


    Sarah without looking up from her task, responded. "Yup, your breakfasts just need to be heated and coffee is on the side. You can do the rest yourself, I''m busy."


    Tobi felt like, that she had probably inherited that personality from his side. Osei was a little surprised to see how the android turned out, but he quickly shrugged it off and prepared for training.


    Sarah informed Osei that she would need to borrow the shuttle, but assured him that she would be back by the evening. Osei reluctantly agreed with a little pressure from Tobi.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Tobi was starting to get better at controlling his abilities. He pictured each element as an extension of his limbs and started to move gracefully in tandem with them.


    Sarah returned later that night, with dirt on her face and dress. Although Tobi was exhausted and bruised from the beating his brother gave him, he couldn''t help his curiosity. "Where did you go?" He asked.


    She gave him a playful smile. "Woman''s secret... Give me one week and I''ll show you." She replied.


    He grudgingly accepted her answer and went in to rest. The week passed by pretty quickly and Sarah finally came to them to get them.


    "It''s time... I want to show you guys something."


    Moments later...


    It was Tobi''s first time in space. He had thrown up multiple times, in the last last twenty minutes. The shuttle was going too fast and he wasn''t used to it. He still couldn''t believe how advanced it was compared to the rockets on Earth. The shuttle finally made it to a middle point between the far side of the moon and the near side. Stopping, as they floated above a massive crater.


    "What are we looking at?" Tobi asked, still trying to recover from the trip. Osei was quiet, still unsure where this was going.


    Sarah giggled, seeing their confused expression. "Just wait a moment." As she finished her sentence, nanotech, like fleas, seemingly parted ways, leaving an opening big enough for the shuttle to fly through. It continued a ripple around an invisible massive dome, revealing itself for a second, then camouflaging and closing the opening as their shuttle entered.


    Bright lights beamed on them, as they flew into a construction zone. The biggest attraction catching the brother''s eyes was a massive, ancient futuristic-looking spaceship. Draped in red and gold, with a smudged royal insignia on it. Androids rushed around it trying to refurbish it back to its good days.


    Osei yelled out, nearly breaking down into tears. "How... how did you find this?"


    Sarah smiled, understanding what he would be feeling right now. "I have your memories, remember? It seems as though Atlas did not care, for what was left...."


    Osei couldn''t believe it. The Aratris, beat up, but still in good condition, was brought back before him. His father''s ship.


    Sarah continued, as she flew around the construction site, showing them all of the buildings. "... After he picked you up 20 years ago... I went out and scavenged everything I could. Broke down the other spaceships... Won lots of easy bets online, using Tobi''s credit card." She continued, looking back to give Tobi a playful smile. "Then got to work repairing the Aratris and building our headquarters."


    The brothers were shocked by what she had been up to and she was glad to see their surprise. "Isn''t this cool!" She ended gleefully.


    Tobi was mind-blown. He''d given her free reign to do as she pleased and didn''t have much time to check on her, but he never thought she would go to such lengths. "This is insane! You''ve done great, keep it up." He said, praising her, as their shuttle landed at a landing bay.


    "Do we have space suits?" Tobi asked, fearfully looking around the shuttle, seeing none.


    She chuckled lightly. "Don''t worry, the Terraforma is active and it''s circulating air around the dome as we speak. You can walk around freely, I''ve repaired it and done all the maintenance needed, including the backup power source." She replied, trying to reassure him. Then turned to look at Osei.


    "Let me show Tobi around the site and the Aratris... In the meantime, I''ve set up a private gravesite far behind the building... There you can pay your respects to your teacher." She said with a faint smile.


    Osei was speechless and was only able to utter a few words. "Thank you." Then he left quickly, with the directions Sarah gave him.


    Tobi was still trying to process how there was air in space, but he overheard them and understood Osei needed some time alone. Sarah proceeded to show Tobi around the construction site, and told him, of all of her plans to protect and defend Earth. Using the knowledge she had gained from the brothers, Sarah devised thousands of plans to counter the might of the Cerian empire.


    "You''re safety, is of paramount importance as to Earth''s defense. No current nuclear power or military power will be capable of stopping Atlas or any of his children. That''s why... You''re going to need this." As she said that, they had just reached turned into a massive room, within one of the buildings being built. Each connected by a tunnel for easy access.


    The entire room looked like a robot factory, with a smelting area, and a storage in the back, storing away androids. While the active ones bustled about, building more copies of themselves. However, one shiny object caught Tobi''s eye, stopping him in his tracks. On a pedestal, on one side of the room, was a katana, black, with a crimson edge and the hilt matching it by intertwining the two colors.


    "My own sword?!" He exclaimed, raising his hands to his head, holding it in disbelief. He had been practicing swordplay with Osei, with a crude alien spare sword, on the shuttle.


    "I made it myself, tempered with a new recipe of steel alloys. It can handle up to 11,000 degrees Celsius and won''t break in cold temperatures. I felt like you would want something familiar with all the stories you''ve read."


    Tobi was barely listening, already swinging the sword around excitedly and getting a feel of it. "Honestly Sarah, you''ve outdone yourself. This is way too cool and this place will make a sick base!" He said, content with his new sword.


    "Thanks, Tobi." She replied content with seeing him happy. "What do you think about registering as a security company or a mercenary group and calling it the Beyond Space Force? We''ll use shell companies first." This was one decision she felt like she wanted to run by him first.


    Tobi was intrigued by the idea. "But won''t that put us in danger, if we go public?"


    She shook her head. "We''ll eventually need to go public. Every simulation that I''ve run, showed us needing to have set up an organization before our debut... Otherwise you and I both know, the humans of Earth won''t trust us."


    Tobi thought about it for a moment. Then shrugged, not wanting to dwell on it any further. "Do what you got to do."


    She was happy with his response and immediately sent out tasks wirelessly to her androids to begin. "Awesome, because I''m just missing your IDs and signatures."


    Tobi rolled his eyes. "Sure."


    She brought Tobi to a massive indoor room still undergoing construction but had gym-like floors. Osei was escorted to them, by an android, Sarah summoned. "This will be your training area." She said, showcasing the brand-new gym.


    Tobi looked around, taking it all in. "This is way better than the forest!" He remarked.


    Sarah chuckled. "I will have one of the androids bring you some moon rocks to play with, aside from that, I''ve got things to do. So, see ya!"


    She ran along, happy that her show and tell went well.


    Tobi shook his head in disbelief. "I still can''t get over how life-like she is." He said as he and Osei did some stretches.


    "Slaves were always in the front lines..." Osei replied as he switched stances. "...Since they were constantly thrown into battle, Atlas created these advanced androids to help take care of them and boost morale, but limited them."


    He continued, as he and Tobi, broke into a jog. "He didn''t care about their lives, but he knew it would make them fight harder, keeping them under surveillance and helping them terraform or mine planets." He looked back at Tobi, trailing behind him. "It seems like he was able to simulate feelings into code, through the people he had absorbed. Since the Type-3 Naya are nothing like the other androids we had on Rennaya. However Sarah, is unlike any Type-3, I''ve ever seen."


    Tobi still couldn''t wrap his head around an AI absorbing people. He wondered what would happen if Atlas absorbed him as he and Osei, trained in their new gym for the rest of the day. Before long, the next four days had passed by in a blur and the day of the raid had come...

 Operation: Zero

    ''We have to win,'' Tobi thought, while strapped into the Aratris''s cockpit with Sarah and Osei, as they made their way to Jupiter''s moon, where Kairon and his force had landed. This moon had not yet been named by the international community, so Sarah decided to name it Caspion, after her favorite ghost.


    The moon was dead quiet, it took them over three hours to get there. Avoiding warp drive, as they get close so that scanners didn''t pick them up. Tobi filled the time by reading manga and listening to M&M & other artists, to psyche himself up.


    They had gone over the plan, multiple times. Take out the leader and the rest fall in shambles. The 147th Prince of the Cerian Empire, Kairon, can bend the earth with his will. Having absorbed enough Rennayans, during the invasion of Rennaya, he was now in a steady position to begin aiming for the throne, by first conquering Earth and its inhabitants.


    Sarah had built and repaired up to two hundred and seventy-five androids by then. She left only ten behind, to continue construction at Beyond''s Headquarters. Then armed the rest with assault rifles and fit them into military gear that she managed to purchase off of the black market.


    "We''ll be entering their Terraforma''s barrier pretty soon, get ready to parachute with the squads, and good luck!" She said as they approached the moon''s atmosphere, raised by an active Terraforma.


    They both unbuckled their seatbelts and began heading toward the hangar bay. Sarah outfitted them with armored space suits, equipped with retractable helmets, sleek, in black and grey contrast, with a blue stripe on the right arm spelling ''BEYOND'' in capitals.


    She made them using nano-technology and added a bit of her touch to make sure they could fight more efficiently. They were more durable than bulletproof vests and could shift themselves to reinforce vulnerable areas before impact.


    Osei had his sword on his back as usual but kept a dagger at the side of his right hip. Tobi equipped his new sword, sheathed at his right, and kept a smaller one on his back, attached horizontally towards his left.


    They entered the bay. Awaiting and making a path for them, were hundreds of androids fully outfitted with black and blue military gear. Ready to jump out of the bay hangar. "Operation: Zero, commencing in T - 5 mins," Sarah announced on the overhead speaker.


    Osei looked at his brother and put both hands on his shoulders. "You''ve got this, we''re coming out alive and after this, you''re buying me donuts."


    Tobi smiled, he didn''t realize how close the two of them had gotten in the last two weeks. "Of course, we''ll stop them together."


    The Aratris broke through the Terraforma''s barrier,  a force held up with floating nanites, almost like a bubble followed by six other similar ships, designed by Sarah, yet to be painted. Sounding off the alarms immediately.


    In front of them like a mobile city, saturated with futuristic-looking tents and overlooked by a massive mobile structure indicating the prince''s headquarters. Sarah opened fire immediately, and commenced evasive maneuvers, as anti-aircraft turrets showered bullets and missiles sailing past them.


    One of her ships burst into a ball of fire as the others continued to rain hell on the moon. Clouds of smoke plumed up and filled the sky, as fires spread among the tents. Sarah was cold and calculated, landing her missiles in key areas to wipe out their ships and gears of war, along with thousands of soldiers scrambling and confused, among some still sleepy. The Aratris and Sarah''s spaceships were fully equipped for war and the camp wasn''t expecting an invasion.


    Sarah ordered the other pilots to destroy or disable all of their parked spaceships and aircrafts. There wouldn''t be any escape. The Aratris repeated a few laps with the others, while the soldiers of the camp continued to scurry to safety.


    She then dropped the bay doors open. "It''s show time," she said, as her militia jumped out in an organized manner, pulling parachutes, as they landed.


    Tobi wasn''t scared of heights, but there''s a limit, he thought, teetering along the edge, until Osei pushed him over. Jumping in after him.


    They were skydiving. Tobi couldn''t believe it. He looked to his left, as Osei whizzed by, not drawing his parachute as he got closer to the ground. He wondered what he was thinking as he continued to awkwardly fall and pull his parachute early.


    Osei had gathered electricity in his body, then released it, bursting it out in an enormous shockwave as he landed. Helping to break his fall, while sending an electrical surge throughout the entire camp.


    He exhaled deeply, as dust and smoke kicked up around him. The lamp lights flickered and then went out. Luckily Sarah equipped the brothers and her militia with night and infrared contact lenses. They pressed forward, undeterred.


    Sarah''s militia split into groups to secure key areas. Lighting up soldiers that charged at them from all sides.


    Osei flashed through the oncoming mob with ease. Leaving blood and entrails spilling out all over their path to the center, leaving Tobi a little shocked, as he landed. While a soldier charged at him out of the corner of his eye, shaking him back to focus. He panicked, dodging at the last second, still trying to unbuckle his parachute.


    The soldier swung at him once more, but this time Tobi raised his right hand in front of him, finally freed of his parachute. A ball of fire manifested, heated up quickly, and shot toward the soldier''s chest, sending the man flying back. The fire continued seemingly climbing into the soldier''s armour and burning him to cinders.


    Tobi was at a loss of words, just taking in the fact, that he had just killed someone. He knew he had willed the fire to continue burning. Sick to his stomach, he vomited to the side. Disturbed even further by the screeches and screams he heard overhead, as some of the militia and soldiers had been carried off by the kaycers let loose.


    Flashes of electricity sparked the camps, as Osei, went on a rampage, wiping out anyone in his path. He was zoned in, there was nothing, but the goal.


    Tobi ran after him, sword in hand, and raised a floating rock wall half the size of him, leading him as a shield. Osei finally stopped in his tracks, as Tobi caught up, panting. He looked up, dismayed.


    In front of them, three Valmerian giants, orange-skinned, towering at least 12 feet tall, blocked their path. They wore heavy space armour, carrying axes and swords the size of Tobi.


    Sarah had given both of them new comm devices beforehand, combining Osei''s translator device and letting her keep in touch with them wherever they were.


    "Invaders!" The giants yelled as they charged them with complete animosity.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Osei without missing a beat charged forward, leaping up with a flash of electricity and lopped the head off of the giant in lead. Tobi again, was still in shock by his brother''s calm demeanor, but quickly shook himself out of it, seeing the incoming danger. He placed one hand down on the ground freezing the other two giants'' feet, immobilizing them before one of them could catch his brother in the air.


    Osei jumped back to regroup, with Tobi. Quickly glancing at him, noticing his new resolve, then together they both pressed forward, as the giants broke out of their restraints, swinging.


    Tobi jumped to the right, while his brother, hopped onto a tent on his left, as a massive axe landed down right in the original positions. Osei continued running, leaping off the edge of the tent to jump up even higher.


    Simultaneously, a small dark cloud formed quickly above them. Flashing an intense lightning strike at his sword as he raised it high, then compacted his body and struck down at the giant, like lightning. Splitting the giant in two vertically.


    Tobi gathered flames over his blade, then charged it with thousands of volts. "Ignite: Volt Strike." He whispered then swung down in the direction of the last giant. Slashing a flaming arc across the ground, as it snaked its way faster than the giant could react, splitting him in two, with blood, fire and electricity splashing the area.


    Tobi was starting to get used to it. ''It''s us or them,'' he ran constantly through his mind. The Aratris passed by overhead mowing down more enemies. Sarah had kept trackers on them to maintain visuals and keep them away from lines of fire.


    They waited out the gatling of bullets and missiles, Sarah rained on the soldiers. However, after a few moments, the Aratris was attacked and boarded by a horde of kaycers, as if someone directed them. The Aratris flew out of view, shaking some off, then crashed down into the distance.


    Tobi hoped Sarah was ok, but followed after his brother as they took out dozens of more soldiers, before finally reaching the center of the camp...


    At the Kairon''s Headquarters...


    Prince Kairon walked out of his tent hearing the alarms blaring. He wondered if a meteorite had made it through or if the alarms were faulty. Never to his imagination, would he have thought he''d be attacked in this side of his sector. When his scouters had come to him, telling him about an anomaly in space. He ventured forth seeking untapped treasure in his domain, not expecting it would come with so many obstacles.


    Kairon towered at seven feet and did not bother changing his appearance, unlike some of his siblings. He kept his father''s pale complexion, with slits under his eyes racing down his neck, contrasted with short black hair. Equipped on his back was a large long sword, wide and a bit more than half the length of his body.


    Kairon stood at his post, furious as he watched the Aratris and several other ships bombard his camps. He telepathically signalled the kaycers to swarm and take down the leading spaceship.


    Then he yelled out in a megaphone-like voice and connected to speakers set up around his camp. "Everyone! We are under attack! All of you get in formation! Find the perpetrators and eliminate them!" His voice reached the entire camp, except for the two brothers who were busy taking out the giants.


    Kairon realized his army had taken damages, far beyond what he could account for. Leaving him impatient to find out who was responsible for this. That''s when the brothers strolled into view from a pathway through the burning camps.


    He bellowed at the top of his lungs, demanding an explanation. "Who are you guys? Attacking me! Kairon, a Prince of Ceria!"


    A flash of lightning struck down aiming for him followed by the boom of thunder overhead. Instinctively he had summoned a thick dirt roof over his head shielding him from the strike.


    "Osei..."He whispered, as his mouth twisted into a nasty grin. "So you''ve finally rebelled! I''ve been wanting a reason to kill you, but this couldn''t come at a worse time." He placed one hand on his face, shaking his head.


    The two brothers stood clear in sight, swords out, bracing themselves. Osei gathered an immense amount of energy, spreading it all over his body, as blue marks, raced as veins, reinforcing his body with the newfound energy.


    Kairon continued, as explosions sounded off in the distance. "You see, a bunch of insects seem to have infested that blue planet near one of my stars... I want their lifespans to challenge my older siblings. So come along now, my slave, and kill for me again." He said, smiling psychotically.


    Tobi immediately started firing a continuous series of fireballs, as Osei zipped around the outskirts, flanking in. Satisfied that he had struck a nerve, Kairon summoned twenty humanoid golems, from the ground, each his height. Some taking the fireballs for him, others lunging for Osei.


    Osei cut down the golems cladding himself in electricity. Then swung his sword aiming for the prince''s neck. However, Kairon was unfazed, smiling as a metal golem launched itself from out of his tent with frightening speed, trucking him into another nearby tent dozens of meters away.


    Metal. Tobi had forgotten, but he remembered Osei telling him that, some ground wielders were proficient enough to control metal. He had only ever attempted stones and dirt.


    He glanced at the wreckage, wondering if his brother was ok. Within seconds, electricity sparked out of the tent, as Osei crashed back through zipping back to the metal golem, now protecting Kairon, and engaged in fierce combat with it. Blood dripped down his temple, among other injuries, slowing him down.


    The rest of the golems swarmed Tobi, as more manifested from the ground, joining in. He backed up, cutting down one at a time.


    The metal golem was striking back faster than Osei could keep up, magnetically reacting to the electricity he ran through his sword. He kept trying to think of a new strategy to get closer to Kairon. Suddenly two arms grabbed his feet, as a giant golem protruded out of the ground near him, swinging around a massive fist the size of Osei''s body.


    He braced for impact, blocking as much as he could with his sword in front of him, as he was sent flying across the camp. Simultaneously the rest of the golems attacking Tobi dropped to the ground.


    "Osei!" Tobi called out for his brother. He was angry and scared at the same time.


    Kairon had shown greater earth abilities than he had at his disposal. It felt hopeless. How could anyone on Earth stop them? His friends, his family. A million thoughts ran through his head. ''No... This was why this power was made, for this moment right here, right now,'' he knew he couldn''t lose. He shook his head and slapped his cheeks, waking himself back up, as electricity crackled around him.


    Kairon looked off into the direction that Osei flew. "I guess I will check on him later." He said, turning his attention back to Tobi. "Now who are you."


    His voice seemingly pierced every fibre of Tobi''s being. He tried hiding his fear, while speaking up for the first time. "I''m Tobi. A human from Earth... Sorry, but I can''t let you invade my home." He said pointing his sword at him.


    Kairon chuckled, beginning to see the connection. "Ahh, I see... So Osei has grown soft. Trying to save insects before extermination again. I guess I should rehabilitate him later... May I ask though, how can you summon fire when your people are so primitive?" Kairon was curious.


    Tobi finally settled his nerves, making up his mind. "There are things in this universe, you will never understand." As he said that, he raised a dirt golem behind Kairon grabbing him in a bear hug as tight as possible. Grasping the idea from watching the prince himself.


    Then he lunged forward swinging his sword down and sending forth electric flames, ripping the ground apart as it raced towards the prince. However, a giant golem almost 20 feet tall took the strike for him and protected him.


    Tobi jumped back, shocked himself with lightning, mimicking his brother as he held the charge, but not as efficiently. Then wasted no time to flank the prince from the left, leaping off stone platforms to hop over golems and while crushing them with it to pieces.


    Kairon was dumbfounded just noticing what he had been doing. "How... How can you wield more than one element!" He demanded an answer.


    Tobi ignored him and sent more fireballs in his directions. His breathing was starting to get heavy. Using more than one at the same time, still exhausted him.


    Kairon dodged them all with ease, with the last couple taken by his golems shielding him. He decided he would just have to capture and wring the answers out of him. Raising his hand to the sky he yelled out, "Rise Stone Warriors!" Fifty more golems reinforced in stone and iron rose out of the ground climbing over each other, to get at Tobi.


    Tobi jumped back, steeling his nerves, and dropped his hand to the ground. "Frost: Arctic Bite." A chill of frost breezed over them, then froze them all in place, as he swung an arc of electric fire to break them all apart. He followed up by flinging all the crumbling ice stone pieces, at the fastest speed he could, at Kairon.


    The shower of ice-covered stones made their mark, smashing through the dome, the prince summoned to shield himself and buried him alive. Tobi dropped to his knees, celebrating victory.


    A little too early, as the ground rose around him in the shape of giant hands. Enclosing him inside with a loud clap. Metals and rubble flung at the hands like a magnet, sealing him in tight and making sure, he couldn''t escape.

 The Republic of Rennaya

    Kairon was beyond ecstatic. He couldn''t believe, he would find the Legendary Rennayan out here, much less capture them. He climbed out of the ice mountain he was trapped under, brushing some off himself, as he walked towards the giant pair of hands.


    Suddenly, he stopped, as he felt tremors from his prison. Then watched, as an eruption of fire, melted out an opening through the hands, allowing Tobi to walk out, charred from the smoke.


    "I''m not done yet!" He yelled, glaring at Kairon.


    "You are making this harder than it needs to be," the prince replied, lunging at him, sword drawn.


    Tobi reinforced himself with electricity, matching Kairon''s unnatural speed. Then coated his sword with flames, increasing his damage with each strike and cutting Kairon''s sword in half on their last exchange.


    He jumped back from Tobi, noticing the difference in their abilities, then summoned twenty more golems to cover the distance and think of a plan.


    ''I can win,'' Tobi thought to himself. His stamina was the only thing bothering him.


    He was already starting to feel out of breath, taking in air with ragged breathing. A memory momentarily popped into his head, from the mission briefing. Sarah had told them that the children of Atlas use their lifespans to regenerate and fight. So in a battle of attrition, he was at a severe disadvantage.


    Far off, he could hear the sounds of soldiers swarming in, dawning on him, that he was out of time. He pondered what he could do, running over all of his options, but only one came to mind. A move, he had attempted many times in private training but could not master, due to his lack of energy.


    This was why Osei, taught him how to draw some, from his environment. However, the first time he tried, he accidentally drained too much. Drawing in the entire life force of the surrounding forest and killing thousands of wildlife habitat.


    Osei reassured him, telling him, it was natural for different people to have different pools of energy they could pull from. However, the amount drawn is usually proportional to what the creature or entity would allow. Still, it scarred him, seeing dead animals dropping all around him, so he vowed never to draw energy that wasn''t his again.


    Kairon had a golem bring him an axe from a fallen soldier. "Onwards!" He yelled as he sent all of his golems forward, while a few hundred soldiers, poured in from all sides gunning for Tobi.


    Dark Clouds formed, gathering together, then unleashed a flash of lightning, striking down between them, with a bright explosion. Seemingly appearing out of the lightning, Osei landed in front of Tobi, dropping to one knee, and bursting out an electric shockwave rippling throughout the camp. Knocking out many of the soldiers and golems, but avoiding Tobi.


    Osei was badly injured, with his left arm, visibly broken, and his body covered in blood. The blue markings flickered, on and off his body. Yet Tobi was still relieved to see him. "Osei!" He called out happily.


    Osei responded, not taking his eyes off Kairon. "The mission''s not over. We need to finish this." His breathing was ragged.


    Kairon was starting to get annoyed."You should have stayed down. Were you hiding him from us, for the past 20 years?" His voice was filled with anger. "After we let you live and sheltered you!" He shouted furiously at the top of his lungs.


    Osei glared at him, shaking his head. "Anything is better than living under your rule. The universe would do better with one less of any of you savages!" He said, as he clad himself in electricity and prepared himself. Then charged, breaking sound barriers and cutting down the remaining golems like butter. Almost making it to Kairon, before the metal golem stopped him.


    Tobi raised his right hand and dropped it, simultaneously crushing the metal golem, as if an invisible giant hand had formed above it. Osei, noticing his brother''s growth and support, didn''t hesitate to continue striking at Kairon.


    The prince parried as many incoming blows from Osei as he could. Yet blood sprayed out of him regardless, as cuts started appearing all over his body, as a result of the ones that got through.


    A golem tried grabbing Osei from his rear, but he flipped his sword backward, stabbing it and crumbling it down with thousands of volts. Then quick-drawed his sword out of it in the same moment to slash Kairon diagonally across his chest and cut off his left arm. Sending the prince flying back paralyzed by electric shocks.


    Golems swarmed in, out of nowhere protecting Kairon and aiming for Osei, as he jumped back, breaking them apart. The prince yelled out, as he landed on his back. The pain had finally reached him.


    His lifespan slowly sapped away, as his injuries closed up. Making metallic sounds as nano-tech climbed over each other shaping a new arm for him. He started to realize that he was using too much of his lifespan for this fight. Kairon sat up looking at the brothers. He could tell they were at their limit as well. One more push and it would all be over.


    Tobi ignored everything going on around him and focused. He could feel the energy of every soldier, especially the ones dying. He clenched his teeth, hating himself and was beginning to feel sick, yet he continued regardless. Pulling energy from any living creature in his vicinity, as shimmering electric currents began surging their way towards him. Picking up a light breeze and heatwave surrounding him.


    Rings of fire, crushed the ground as seismic cracks appeared with him as the epicenter. Dark clouds gathered as thunder bellowed through them, with a light chill settling over the camp.


    The soldiers closest to death, died peacefully, then turned into husks, while others fell unconscious, some unable to see another morning. He ignored the dropping soldiers and placed his hands to his right side covering them in dirt, while frosting them over, leaving a small distance between them, as a concentrated small ball of fire, began rotating.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    He continued, adding more flames and condensed it further and further, untill it burned like a miniature sun, then flowed thousands of volts into it, holding the charge. Osei and Kairon stopped, noticing the build-up of energy from Tobi.


    "Wait... what are you doing?!" Kairon called out.


    Tobi smirked. "Everything I''ve got... I''ll put it into this!" He said, fighting for his life, trying to hold together the raging ball of energy in his hands.


    Osei knew something big was coming. He had never seen his brother execute this technique, properly before. He jumped back far enough, wary of what was about to unfold.


    Placing all of his hopes, Tobi thrust his hands in front of him. Facing the condensed attack, towards Kairon. "Ignite: Static Cannon!"


    The ball of energy in front of his palms, cracked open, revealing a beam of fire and electricity intertwining and shrouded in cloud rings, as it ate up the ground, aiming for Kairon.


    The recoil was too much, but Tobi held his ground sinking slowly, as the ground below his feet gave way. His eyes flickered from brown to blue for just a moment, as purplish-orange marks flashed over his body, along with a few streaks of hair glowing silver.


    Kairon instinctively raised dozens of metal and dirt walls in front of him, trying to block the beam, but to no avail, as it burned through his walls reaching him with ease. His life flashed before his eyes, as he yelled out his final words. "Impossible I am the Prince of-!" Only to be enveloped by electric fire, blasting right past him and incinerating his body.


    His tent went up in flames as the beam struck, causing a deafening explosion. Tobi, dropped to the floor with an explosive headache, accompanied by a seizure. While frost formed on random parts of his body, simultaneously and along with third-degree burns. Side effects from overusing his abilities.


    Osei was aware of this and grabbed, a painkiller, that Sarah had prepared in his belt. Then proceeded to stab Tobi in the arm, with the syringe. Plunging the contents within him.


    Tobi started to calm down, but he was out cold. His body stopped shaking, but third-degree burns still remained on his skin.


    Osei ran over, checking the destroyed structure, to see if the prince survived. However there was no trace of him. Relieved, Osei yelled out a cry of victory.


    Hours following the Battle of Caspion...


    Caspion''s cleanup went smoothly. Sarah had the remaining fifty androids, put down the monsters, and secured the prisoners.


    She recorded over six hundred thousand casualties from the camp, but freed the rest of their chains and allowed them to stay at Beyond HQ after rehabilitation. Among them was a man named, Ganitas. The short, bald, Monrosion that had helped Osei escape.


    Tobi slept for two days. When he woke up, he noticed a tray to his right with a plate of food. Bread, an omelet, apple juice, and cookies. His favorite chocolate chip cookies. ''I guess we won,'' he thought as he took a bite of the cookie first.


    Osei barged into the room. "We did it!" He shouted excitedly. It was the happiest Tobi had seen him.


    "Yeah bro, we did." He replied smiling and locking their hands, as they celebrated.


    Osei grinned, "That''s one of the children of Atlas down, 199 of them left, to go."


    Sarah walked into the room with the most ecstatic expression on her face. "Congrats guys, on completing our first mission! Honestly, y''all did great out there, I had one of the androids tail you guys. We''ve got the whole thing on video!" She said, feeling jittery.


    Tobi smiled at her, he had acknowledged her as a great ally. "Ayy that''s great! We''ll check it out later. Honestly, we couldn''t have done this without you, Sarah. Thanks for everything!" Osei nodded in agreement.


    Sarah looked at both of them. "You''re welcome! As long as the Earth is safe." She replied.


    Tobi''s expression momentarily switched to worry. "What happened with the Aratris?"


    She gave him a reassuring smile. "It sustained a heavy amount of damage, but it got us back to HQ and we''re maintaining it now. I''m also recycling and rebuilding our broken androids, and theirs, with plans to build millions more." She took a deep breath, pausing, before continuing. "The next step is simple. Both of you will continue your training. I will gather funds, build more spaceships and soldiers..."


    She trailed off, as she directed one of the androids to refill Tobi''s cookies. He had finished the plate, leaving everything else. "I will also look for more gadgets and tech that can help us in our war against them..."


    Tobi glanced at his brother, just taking in, that he had just started a war.


    Sarah continued. "Both of you will have many hardships along the way, that''s why it''s important for us to not be alone out there. Which brings me to my next point... If you guys could please follow me to the R&D Department." She turned, walking out of the room, and beckoning them to come with her.


    The buildings were so far apart, so Sarah drove them down the large hallway on a cart, one of which she had filled the headquarters with. Tobi sat in passenger, awestruck as he glanced around the new areas and departments being built. Osei tagged along, sitting in the backseat. A lot had changed and things were starting to look more complete.


    They reached a new area, they hadn''t been to before. A large room filled with chemistry equipment in one corner and a bunch of monitors and wires in the other. Tobi immediately deduced that it had to be her lab. In the middle of the room, were five giant tubes, that contained five sleek, armoured bodysuits. All black and blue, with Beyond''s logo etched on the arms. Nanites rippled, in intervals through them.


    "Woah, what are those?!" Tobi exclaimed, unable to hold in his excitement.


    Sarah smiled, expecting that question. "I''ve thought about it, from the moment I came to be, how come we can''t replicate your power? Won''t the Earth be safer, if we had more people who could protect it?" She walked towards one of the suits and placed her right hand on the glass. "Using samples of your cells. I created these prototypes." She glanced back innocently at him. "Sorry about that by the way."


    Tobi nodded, he had given her permission, to do whatever was needed. "All good, how does that help us out?"


    She continued. "Each of these suits will be able to lend a human that..." She pointed at herself. "I will pick... One of the four elements. We''ll call them the Nova Division." She revealed, shocking the brothers.


    However, she kept on going, as they got closer, to have a better look. "Also, I have been thinking of pulling some islands together and establishing a republic, with refugees... Maybe it''ll help aliens in the future, have an easier time immigrating to Earth. Knowing the rest of the world, they may not accept them so kindly right away."


    Tobi was impressed, by how far she had thought. "Damn Sarah, you''ve outdone yourself. You''ve put a lot of thought into this, haven''t you?


    She smiled, content with his words. "Of course. I set up an android dedicated to running simulations, 24/7... By the way, Kairon planned on transporting the Earth back to his territory, once he conquered it." She added.


    Tobi had never heard, of such a thing. "Wait what!" The thought of Earth moving from the Solar System had never crossed his mind.


    Osei shook his head. "Planet movers, called Vollan Transporters. The Cerian Empire used these machines to hijack planets and ambush them... They were often used among themselves too, between the siblings."


    Tobi was perplexed. "That''s crazy. How can we stop this?"


    Sarah spoke up, realizing something else she needed to tell them. "I''ve been thinking of rewiring the ones we confiscated, as an escape measure for Earth."


    Tobi smiled, trying to imagine what next she had planned. "That''s brilliant Sarah. Alright then, keep it up. I''ll get back to training." The brothers turned, heading for the exit, but before leaving, Tobi had one more question for Sarah. "By the way, what are you going to call your country?"


    She looked him deep in his eyes, giving him a gleeful expression. "The Republic of Rennaya."


    Eight months later...


    The solar system was at peace undisturbed. Earth rotated slowly in axis, unaware of a fleet of four spaceships, almost invisible, descending towards America.

 The Battle For Earth

    There were no words explaining the happiness, Prince Zaryon was feeling at the moment. He towered over his soldiers, at the island console in the cockpit of his ship. "Send out the World Telo-Monitors, make sure it reaches all sentient beings on the planet!" He ordered in a demanding manner.


    The soldiers went to work, while he stayed behind and went over his plan. One of them came back roughly five minutes later, confirming that all devices were good to go.


    He nodded, giving his next order. "Attack the entire network, get every one of those disgusting primates'' attention." He said, walking over to the center of the console.


    The screen lit up in front of him, beaming up a hi-def holographic screen. Showcasing miniature squares, one reflecting him and multiple others a little larger. All displaying major cities around the world.


    He spoke in a loud, eccentric voice, knowing he was being broadcasted all over the world. "People of planet Earth... My name is Zaryon, the 125th prince of Ceria and I am utterly disgusted by how you vermin, have freely populated this planet!"


    People around the world heard his voice in their language. Specifically, the language shared by the majority of people every 20 km. Regardless they understood. He did not come in peace.


    "Furthermore, we had trouble getting past the barrier, that you''ve set up to hide yourselves and your Solar System." He scratched his chin, crossing his arms. "Still... looking at how primitive your society is, I don''t see how it was possible to have been created by you insects... Lastly, my younger brother, Kairon''s vitals disappeared last around this deep part of his sector. The only intellectual beings living in this solar system are on this planet... Yet!"


    He stretched his hands out wide. "I see nothing that shows me of the carnage of his invasion and I don''t doubt his strength. So..." He took a deep breath. "Since you all have divided yourselves up conveniently, we''ll begin with the so-called strongest of you all... But I am nothing, if not generous."


    Zaryon nodded at the soldier helping him with his broadcast, and turned his attention back to the camera, while the soldier went to work on a few commands. "We only need 3 Billion of you alive. So you have two options to survive: The first, bring me the ones who killed my brother. Second, vote to surrender first... For the largest areas that surrender, we''ll leave those regions. as safe zones from our invasion. We''ll come later to trim the fat, you have 30 mins."


    His voice sent sheer terror through people''s minds. Some laughed thinking it was a joke. Nevertheless he smiled, feeling euphoric. "Let the invasion begin." He ordered raising his hands higher, then the screen switched to broadcasting the invasion.


    A red dialog box popped up in front of everyone on Earth and displaying, ''Do you surrender?'' Attached below the question, it gave them two options to answer, ''Yes'' or ''No'', in their respective languages.


    Four ships dropped out of the skies of New York, spreading out in four different directions, while the main one released dozens of aircrafts and deployed infantry. Each of the four spaceships soared slowly toward their destinations. People started to panic, wanting to disregard reality. Roads were packed in minutes as people began rushing out of the city as fast as they could, causing traffic, crashes, and road rage.


    Onlookers held out their phones recording the alien ships to share on social media, as massive robots dropped down in crowded places and began grabbing people, eating them and storing them in sedated chambers within. Soldiers parachuted behind them, touching down and opening fire, as kaycers flew in hordes, screeching out of ships.


    The U.S. military were swift into action. Within moments, fighter jets zoomed over the city, engaging the aircrafts and firing missiles at the spaceships, which exploded on impenetrable force fields. American soldiers joined the police officers fighting back, trying to protect and evacuate the citizens. Some Americans joined in the fight, taking out their firearms and firing back at the invading forces making their way through their city.


    Zaryon laughed as he exited his spaceship floating and overlooking the carnage, as screams and explosions echoed below. Three fighter jets cracked the sky, in the distance, gunning for him. The pilots had identified him from the broadcast and without hesitation, made their way over, to eliminate him.


    They fired bullets, then missiles, but with ease he evaded the first few rounds. While the missiles swerved around, homing for him, with another round closing in on him. With quick reflexes, he fired multiple balls of fire out of his palms, as the projectiles got closer, enclosing him in an explosive inferno, and surrounding him in dark smoke.


    The pilots celebrated, toasting to victory, too early, as Zaryon appeared out of the smoke at Mach speed, smashing the glass of one of the cockpits and grabbing the pilot''s face, while holding them in place. The jet exploded as he held the remains of the burnt pilot, cindering.


    The remaining pilots witnessing what had just happened to their comrade, circled back, as the smoke cleared. Firing another round of missiles, followed by a shower of bullets to avenge their them.


    Zaryon stayed in place, welcoming the barrage, as the jets flew by. Out of the fiery smoke shrouding him, two quick fireballs, broke through, catching up to the jets. With no time to evade, both jets exploded in midair, raining rubble back down to the city.


    The prince laughed out loud, jeering at the world. "Is that all you''ve got?!" The broadcast showcased the whole exchange, causing more fear among the people. "Let''s make this more interesting... Hurry up and bring me whatever or whoever was able to kill my brother. Or I''ll wipe out a random country, outside of this continent every hour, starting right now."


    He pointed his hands towards a random direction, then manifested a massive condensed ball of fire, enlarging as it hovered in front of his palm. Within ten seconds it had become twice the size of him. Bringing the world to shambles, as people scrambled to safety, terrified.


    Suddenly a resounding boom echoed the skies, causing the broadcast to switch over to one of the spaceships, making its way to Canada. The ship went up in flames and began falling, however, massive whips of steel, with nets attached them together, whipped around the ship, as two more blue and white spaceships labeled ''BEYOND'' descended out of the sky and towed it back up to space, disappearing.


    Zaryon watched, absolutely stunned, as another deafening boom, forced him to turn his attention above him to the broadcast. The spaceship he had ordered to conquer South America, was falling in flames but was quickly picked up by two more Beyond spaceships.


    He was furious, canceling his flaming attack and gripping his fists to his side. An intense heat wave settled around him. The only spaceships he had left were his own and the one that was supposed to go overseas to Europe, then Africa where they were supposed to regroup.


    Regretfully, he ordered them, to stand down. He needed to figure out who was responsible for this. "Kalista!" He yelled.


    Jumping out of his spaceship, was a young woman with a dark complexion and sullen blue eyes, landed on a rock platform, she summoned right in front of him and dropped to one knee, as she brushed back her jet-black hair. She wore a black, with purple contrast, armor bodysuit and a loose metal bracelet on her left hand, flashing like an exploding tracker.


    "Find out who dared to attack us. I need to know who is capable of breaching our defenses." He ordered.


    "Yes, my lord." She nodded.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Dark clouds gathered above them, blocking out the Sun. The broadcast switched to Zaryon''s spaceship, as lightning ripped through the ship, followed by an immense shockwave, reverbrating across the sky. His ship continued to light up with small explosions, as a large electric current, continued to devastate the ship even further.


    Finally, bursting out a giant hole under the belly of the ship and struck like lightning from the ship towards Zaryon. Before he could register what he was looking at, a man punched the prince with his full might, adding thousands of volts of electricity sparking out of his fist.


    Zaryon was sent flying, breaking sound barriers as he flew into a clearing far from the city. There was a large tremor as he hit the ground, tumbling over and destroying everything, as the force dragged him through the dirt. The world watched wondering who had just come to their rescue.


    The man looked at Kalista, who was speechless. Unable to defend her master. He was dressed in a black suit, with a blue and white Beyond logo, on his left arm. Suddenly he spoke. "You''re Rennayan, aren''t you?"


    Moments before, on the Prometheus...


    Tobi was furious. He wanted to head out sooner, but Sarah stopped him.


    "Through my simulations, I have concluded, that they still won''t accept us, if we save them right away. If they''re not indebted, they won''t listen." She explained.


    Tobi felt like she couldn''t grasp the weight of life, due to her not being human. Regardless, he reluctantly agreed and waited patiently, as their spaceships hovered, camouflaged above the invading force. They had seven ships with them including the Aratris.


    Sarah had been working with her androids day and night to perfect them for missions. She outfitted them with new weapons, laser artillery and defense shields, that reflected force fields, and called the ships Aeromachs.


    Tobi and Osei stood at the hangar, doors wide open, overlooking the city and the ships drifting across it. They were dressed in new uniforms, Sarah updated, with data from their last mission. Now more capable of handling their abilities to extreme limits.


    They raised their hands in front of them and called forth lightning, striking two of the enemy ships out of the sky. Then, they both jumped out.


    Osei landed, sword first as lightning struck, engulfing him and aiding his descent through Zaryon''s main ship. The shockwave, rippled through, as Osei continued to lay carnage, with continuous momentum. Then burst out of a hole from beneath the ship and struck Zaryon flying with his full might.


    A few kilometres away, Tobi dropped down to the city. Landing on one of the giant robots, Osei called Bosryn, which was shot at by police, trying to rescue the citizen within. He blocked stray bullets with a small stone wall hovering near his body. Flames erupted out of his sword, as he brought the giant robot down without breaking a sweat.


    He looked back at the officers. "Focus on evacuation, we''ll take it from here!" He reassured them.


    Then jumped off the robot and jetted off with fire under his soles, as the officers helped the citizens trapped inside the machine out. Over the past eight months, Tobi had learned how to fly, by maintaining heat around his body with fire or electricity and boosting it from his feet, to fly faster or even higher. Often he would need to cover himself with frost to keep himself from overheating and fly longer.


    He looked up, hearing buzzes and seeing flashes from the sky screen as he zipped around the city. Then the screen went back to normal, this time, broadcasting Sarah, from the Aratris, with Beyond''s logo behind her.


    She cleared her throat, preparing to address the world. "Hey everyone!" She waved at the camera. "My name is Sarah, and I am the C.O.O and C.F.O of Beyond Space Force. Don''t worry, everything will be alright, just leave it up to us. I''ve hacked into their World Telomonitor and we''ll be broadcasting the situation as it unfolds, since we plan to keep transparency, from here on out. For now please go home or get to somewhere safe and stay inside. Thanks!"


    Then the broadcast split in two, showcasing him and Osei instead. Tobi didn''t know what face to make, suddenly being on screen. Instead he decided to keep his head down and focused on the task at hand.


    Sarah helped him find three more Bosryn around the city, while directing him with a comm in his ear. He neutralized each one of them carefully, just in case there were people inside, then her militia, came in to clean up, with the help of some soldiers and officers near the scene.


    As he destroyed the last one, he heard a scream around a block. He quickly darted past a corner of buildings, to an open street. A kaycer had just picked up a citizen and was flying off into the sky.


    Tobi raised his hand, aiming at the flying lizard. Five compressed icicles, charged with electricity formed and manifested around him. Then he let them soar. "Frost: Spike Volt".


    The icicles rocketed, with each vitally striking its target, and making it drop its victim as it fell out of the sky. Tobi rushed to the woman''s aid, catching her just in time.


    "Thank you! Who are you?" She asked curious.


    He smiled back. "No problem. Just someone who came to help."


    He let her down gently, taking a step back.


    "Stay safe." He gave her one last smile as he took off before the crowd watching, blocked him in.


    As he flew, he received a report from Sarah, of an invading force making their way across a street, where her militia were pinned down. There were also American soldiers helping out in the effort, but some were critically injured. She had reached one of the Generals overseeing the operation and convinced them to let her militia be on the front lines.


    As he reached the battle site, his blood began to boil, seeing the carnage across the once busy street, he''d only seen on TV. A massive giant, almost thirty feet tall, with a stocky battle suit, and tubes running into his neck, brandished an abhorrent alien axe. Covering its face, was a black and purple helmet, allowing his horns to stick out. It looked to Tobi, like a Valmerian giant pumped, with an insane amount of steroids.


    Hundreds of enemy soldiers were stationed behind him and advancing as he marched towards some towers and buildings. The giant swung at a tank, dividing it in two and exploded from impact.


    It continued swinging at the rest of Sarah''s militia, as they ran around it throwing semtex grenades, and trying to slow it down. However, even with explosions going off all over its body, it remained unscathed.


    It turned its eyes towards Tobi who was flying straight at him, as it swatted away several androids. Tobi stopped in midair as the giant swung, nearly missing him, but catching a few buildings and collapsing them in.


    Tobi was already tired of its rampage. He raised both of his hands and yelled out. "Create: Frost Parade!"


    At first, there were low tremors, but then all the rubble, soil, and metal lying around, started gathering together forming hundreds of humanoid golems covered in ice, simultaneously as thousands of ice sparrows manifested in the air around him. There was silence as the giant stared at the incoming horde, then he roared, welcoming the challenge as they all charged at him.


    He swung at everything, trying to avoid the onslaught, but with no success. Then fell backwards, into the squads, defending behind him. All frozen in ice and half covered in dirt and rubble.


    Noticing cracks forming in the ice and just for good measure, Tobi raised a big ball of dirt and rubble higher than he was floating. Then morphed it, making it into a sword shape, and set it on fire. Just as the giant was about to break free, he dropped it down, with his full might into it''s heart.


    Blood splattered everywhere, as the giant''s body caught fire within the ice, but Tobi put it out. Knowing Sarah, would want to study it. He looked ahead, seeing enemy soldiers, terrified but still pressing on and beginning to fire at him. He summoned over fifty more rubble soldiers and had them rush the rest of the invading force. Then looked back at the American soldiers, bewildered by what they had just witnessed, saluted, then took off once again.


    One of the few things Tobi had learned over the past eight months, was combining more than one element at once for greater strength and utility. He experimented as much as he could on his own, realizing that two at a time was the most optimal choice.


    Buzzes in his ear, broke his focus, as Sarah spoke up. "Tobi, there is one last ship on the coast and they have heavily damaged the ships I sent after them. The worst part is, it seems the prince gave them the order, to go ahead and fly across seas. I won''t be able to stop them in time."


    Tobi took a deep breath. "Lead the way." He zoomed across the city, occasionally grabbing electricity from buildings and telephone lines. He had learned from Osei, that siphoning energy from electricity, was easier and more harmless than from living creatures. However, only a fraction, could be retained and it was a slower process.


    He had reached the coast and floated above the beach. The ship was not too far ahead. The final ship they couldn''t take down, as it had drifted too far. The crew noticed him and prepared their engines, trying to avoid him.


    The heat from the engines were too dangerous to go near, but he didn''t want them to get away. He gathered all of the energy from within him, then around him.


    Fish rose lifeless in the water and washed ashore. Nearby insects, animals, and birds, dropped dead, with plants withering away. ''Enough'', he said to himself, feeling immense guilt and the presence of people nearby. Taking videos for their social media accounts.


    He ignored them, knowing the ship was almost ready to jump. Then descended towards the ground, as rings of fire emanated from him, and burned the beach sand. Pebbles and bits of sand began rising in response to his energy.


    He placed his hands to his side leaving some distance open, as a ball of fire formed, crackling with electricity, while frost protected his hands. "Ignite: Static Cannon!" He shouted, as his eyes flashed blue and purple, purplish marks flashed over his body, flowing like veins.


    He released the flames beaming and engulfing the spaceship, way bigger than before. Combusting the entire ship upon impact and burning everything and everyone inside, as it collapsed into the ocean. People across the world watched, gaining hope from a new hero.

 Mistakes

    Tobi frosted his body over, as onlookers poured in taking photos and asking him tons of questions. He jumped back towards the water, while freezing a path up. Then used it as a launchpad to fly off. Keep away from the public as much as possible. Sarah had drilled that into them, before the mission.


    "Sarah, what''s the update?" He spoke into his comm, as he flew back into the city.


    Sarah responded, in a not-too-thrilled voice. "Tobi you''ve got to hurry... Osei is not doing too well, against the both of them."


    Tobi took a deep breath. "Tell him to hold on, I''m on my way. Send me the coordinates." He replied.


    He looked at his arm, as his sleeve''s nanites split apart revealing a screen and updating him with his brother''s location. Tobi hurried, hoping he could make it on time.


    Moments later at the main battle site...


    He touched down in a clearing, descending on three figures below. He had avoided looking at the sky screen fearing the worst. Regardless, what he witnessed before him, made his blood boil and left him speechless.


    Osei was on his knees, plagued by cuts and bruises, among the burn marks, that had singed his armour away. A bit further, were the two invaders, with Zaryon seemingly unharmed, and Kalista, slightly injured, and standing behind him. He noticed Zaryon, with his sword drawn, smirking and pointing it at Osei.


    Tobi''s mind went blank. He recalled a memory, where he was training with his brother and Osei had used a dirty tactic to beat him. As they took a break he spoke up, still bothered by it. "You know Osei means honourable, in Ghanaian."


    Osei chuckled, seeing why his brother was still in a bad mood. "That''s interesting... it also means honourable warrior in our culture and you can''t be a warrior if you''re dead."


    Zaryon''s voice snapped him back to reality. "Well, we''ve been waiting for you. Your bitch of an android has ruined my entire show!"


    Tobi growled. "Let him go."


    The ground broke up all around him in response to his anger, while static electricity crackled streaking through the air. Snow fell in their area, as thunder bellowed in the sky overhead. It was cold, but it seemed, as though Tobi was amidst a heatwave.


    A mixture of purple and red marks snaked their way all over Tobi''s body, pulsing like bloodshot veins. Kalista noticed the change happening on his body and whispered under her breath. "He''s ascending."


    Zaryon completely ignored Tobi''s request and the phenomenon happening around him. Instead, he looked down at Osei, who was barely conscious. "Furthermore, this traitor did not bother reporting back that there was another Rennayan out here. One that could use more than one ability too..." He paused and looked back at Tobi.


    Only thunder disturbed the silence, as the world continued to watch patiently, anxious of what was going to happen. "Or that my brother was dead. For that, he must die." Zaryon said, raising his sword. Flames raced over it, covering the blade, in a blazing inferno. Then he swung down at Osei''s neck.


    Within that moment, Tobi drew his sword and stepped hard. Leaving a crater as he leaped towards Zaryon and left cloud trails behind him. He swung back with his full might, covering his blade in burning hot flames and electricity.


    The strike aimed for Zaryon''s sword, but the attack whipped both the prince and Kalista flying back hundreds of meters away. Erasing the landscape, with a sea of flames and electric currents.


    He dropped down hugging his brother. Then proceeded to heal him little by little, as much as he could, shuddering as he thought about the worst-case scenario.


    Osei was fading in and out of consciousness, he had lost too much blood, however, he noticed his brother in front of him and gave him a faint smile. "What''s with that look, little brother? It seems like, you''ve finally ascended too... What did you want to call it... ''First Gear?'' After your favorite MC?" He struggled to laugh.


    Tobi just begged his brother to rest, taking only a glance at his hands and noticing purple veins glowing and running over them.


    Osei continued, ignoring his brother''s offer to rest. "Now you can be just like him... You need to save us. You need to win. That girl, Kalista. She''s not bad, but do what you must." He trailed off, falling unconscious.


    By then three androids in blue and white, Beyond medic outfits, dropped down out of nowhere and landed nearby, with jet thrusters, cushioning their landing. They ran over to the brothers, as static itched Tobi''s ear, allowing Sarah''s voice to break through. "Leave Osei to the medics, we''ll save him. Focus on the enemies at hand." She said, hoping he would listen.


    Before Osei was taken away, he asked her a favour. "Can you leave one unit on standby, Sarah?" She was curious why, but agreed, leaving one hiding nearby.


    Tobi stood up seeing Kalista, race back to him on a floating rock. She summoned over thirty golems rushing him, as she got closer. He responded by summoning double the amount. Letting both of their golems charge at each other and break each other apart.


    Tobi then shaped his hand into a pistol. "Static: Burning Glock." He said as bullet-shaped flames, charged with thousands of volts, seemingly shot out of his fingers.


    The first bullet grazed her right arm, while the rest missed as she swerved and dodged them in midair. "So you''re the precious little thing that the royal family has been hiding out here, all of this time!" She yelled out, holding her arm.


    Tobi stopped firing and responded. "If you''re Rennayan, why are you fighting for the enemy?"


    Kalista smirked. "It''s not like I have a choice... See this?" She pointed at her bracelet. "It explodes if I ever disobey an order. Your family failed us and all of the people of Rennaya!" She was furious, seeing how easy a life he must have lived.


    A gigantic golem, twenty feet tall, rapidly grew out of the ground. Metal flung towards it, reinforcing it as armour. She snarled at him. "King Zenu should have at least shared this place with the people, maybe we could have had a fighting chance... What can you even do alone?!" She yelled, releasing the golem after him.


    Tobi glanced from her to the charging golem. It was crushing, all of the other golems beneath it, as it made its way towards him. He raised his hand as a fireball manifested and hovered while condensing a few times. Then with a resounding boom, he launched it at the giant''s head, erasing it off clean, with a small explosion.


    It staggered back as Tobi followed up by leaping onto the neck of the giant statue, amid the smoke. Then surprised Kalista by leaping off the giant and charging straight at her, destroying the rest of the golem, under his feet.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Kalista was taken aback by, her golem being defeated so easily. She backed up while forming a floating stone wall between herself and him as he closed the distance.


    He touched the wall, pouring energy into it as it began to freeze up. "Static: Shock Dome." An ice dome enclosed her with the wall as the origin, trapping her inside, as thousands of volts tased her, and knocked her out in moments.


    He descended with the dome, melting it apart to reveal her unconscious. "Sarah." He said softly, as he glanced down at Kalista, fast asleep.


    The medic robot she had hidden, came quickly to pick her up. She placed her in restraints and flew her to a nearby shuttle.


    Tobi turned around, feeling an angry outpour of energy behind him. The prince stood there, furious. Part of his face and body was still having difficulty reforming. The tension escalated, as sparks flew with random objects from their surroundings. The ground between them caught fire, as they both stared each other down.


    "Who are you?" Zaryon demanded, trying to keep his tone under control.


    "My name is Tobi and you''re right, I am half Rennayan... I''m also the one that defeated Kairon." He replied, with one hand on his sword hilt, and slowly began flanking him


    Zaryon snarled, as he began to build up energy in anger, but slowly calmed his mood down. "The Legendary Rennayan... So you''ve been hiding here all this time... Father will be pleased when I bring you back with me. Even though you''ve taken out my army, this world is weak, I can conquer it all on my own!"


    Tobi chuckled. "Aww, you wanna make your dad proud. You see Kairon had the same motivs, but he wasn''t able to pull it off was he?" He said, attempting to aggravate the prince.


    Suddenly, bullets flew overhead and a tank blast went off. All projectiles were directed at Zaryon, but Tobi jumped back to avoid being hit. He raised a dome, shielding him from the incoming strike.


    It was the American army. No attacks on the homeland were going to be tolerated. Several snipers made their marks from a distance, followed by two drones flying overhead, dropping missiles before circling off.


    Zaryon raised a dome-like barrier made out of flames blocking most of the incoming fire. He shot back several concentrated bullets of fire, exiting the flame barrier, and taking out the snipers hundreds of meters away, along with each of the drones, before lining up a second round


    Just when he thought it was over, two helicopters flew overhead spraying machine gun fire on him relentlessly. The bullets bounced off, leaving small dents, healing almost instantly.


    Disappointed, the prince flew up, catching one of the rotors with his bare hands, and broke it off. Then jumped, engulfing the helicopter in a blaze of fire, as it crashed into the ground. He flew to the next one, unsheathing his sword in an arc of fire and sliced it in half. Killing the squad inside, as their helicopter caught fire.


    Zaryon turned his attention to the two squads below, with tanks, still firing at him. His life force continued to drain, but in tiny amounts, as his body regenerated. However, he was starting to get annoyed.


    Tobi had been watching through a small slit, protected by a clear ice lens, horrified by the destruction.


    Zaryon placed his hand forward, aiming for his assailants. A massive pressurized ball of fire, two-thirds of his size, burned with intense heat, condensing once and growing back to its original size. Then he dropped it at an incredible speed.


    Tobi broke out of his dome, racing as fast he could, and placed both his hands on the ground. "Frost: Ice Dome!" He visualized it, as fast as he could.


    The ball of fire seemed like a descending star to the soldiers, with some praying knowing it was the end. Suddenly a massive dome of dirt, reinforced with ice grew out of the ground and shielded them from a fiery death.


    The explosion was massive, sending violent tremors through the dome, as the soldiers braced for impact. Tobi made a back entrance for them to evacuate, as the dome started to crack and collapse within.


    He glared back up at Zaryon, who descended, glaring back at him. "Why do you protect them, when you have so much power? You can rule them by my side. What do you say?... I''ll forgive you for my brother''s death." He said looking earnestly at Tobi for a moment.


    "People like you make me sick. None of you children of Atlas value human life do you?" He replied in disgust.


    Zaryon didn''t take any offence. "From the moment we are born, we are only allowed to have what we can take. To truly get a father''s affection, we have to be in the top ten. Which means absorbing enough life to be able to challenge them."


    Tobi shook his head. "That''s a terrible childhood, doesn''t excuse any of your actions though."


    Zaryon laughed. "I don''t look for forgiveness, as long as I can show Father, that I too can become closer to God." Then he lunged at Tobi.


    Tobi parried his strike and summoned a golem to grab him from the back, however with quick instincts Zaryon turned his hands backwards and burned the golem away behind him. Tobi was shocked, he didn''t expect the prince to be able to foresee his moves. That''s when it struck him. ''They must be able to see the energy circuits, as well.''


    He manifested an armour of electricity trying to match the speeds of Zaryon''s next incoming strikes and was forced to cover his hands with dirt, as the impacts were already causing tremendous pain and calluses. He jumped back into the air, making some distance. ''This one is tough,'' he realized. He would definitely need a new strategy.


    He raised one hand towards Zaryon, as hundreds of fireballs manifested in the sky around him. Each of the flames charged with thousands of volts.


    Zaryon looked at the incoming barrage, smirked then started running away, as the balls of fire sailed after him, and homed in on him. He zig-zagged around, hovering low and dodging each fireball, leaving them to explode all over the field. Then jumped into the air, dodging the last few, before returning twice as many fireballs back at him.


    Tobi, flew higher to avoid as many as he could, however, they began tailing him as well, as Zaryon flanked to get closer. He manifested a gigantic ice dome in midair shielding him from the remaining barrage. People around the world watched feeling relieved to still see the dome, still floating as the smoke cleared.


    In moments, Zaryon appeared above it, raising his sword high above his head and engulfing it with the hottest flames he could produce, turning the blade red-hot. Then he cut down, slicing an arc of fire through the dome-like butter. Nearly scorching the ground kilometres below them.


    However, Tobi was no longer there. With quick thinking, he melted out an opening, while simultaneously frosting his hands and gathering up as much fire and electricity into a sphere, as fast as possible.


    He focused on finding Zaryon through his energy signature. The moment Zaryon was above him, he pushed himself out by protruding a wall of ice within his dome, launching him into a perfect point-blank position. "Ignite: Static Shock." He yelled at the top of his lungs.


    The blast, caught Zaryon by surprise. Dropping his sword, he instinctively created the biggest flame barrier he could create, as he was pushed back. It wasn''t enough.


    He was going to burn up or be launched into space if he did nothing and Tobi wasn''t letting up. Zaryon ran through all of the options he could think of to get out of this. Even though his brain was ten times faster than a human''s, he could only think of one solution. Copy exactly what Tobi did.


    He blasted himself out of his barrier. All within 0.5 seconds


    Tobi dropped his hands, as an explosion erupted within the line of fire. Thinking that the prince had met his end. He focused trying to sense if there was anything left of him, as he drew his sword.


    In a blur, Zaryon kicked Tobi down from the sky. Reinforcing himself with flames to increase his power. He was charred, with burn marks slowly healing back, all over his body, along with one arm missing.


    Tobi broke his fall with flames under his feet, then healed himself, as dust and dirt kicked up around him. However, once again, Zaryon appeared before him in a blur, this time behind him. Trying not to miss this chance.


    Tobi tried to dodge in time, not noticing his sword had been stolen earlier. His arm flew, and blood sprayed out of the cut, clean through the bone.


    He yelled out in immense pain and instinctively summoned a massive golem, twenty feet tall between the both of them, then raised a massive ice wall. He couldn''t believe how careless he had been.


    The pain was agonizing, but he quickly took out a small knife, from his belt, heated it, and cauterized the wound. He was starting to feel dizzy and nauseous but proceeded to frost up the wound, which healed up slowly.


    It was then that he remembered Sarah packing him an adrenaline booster. A drug she produced to ignore all pain while on the field, in emergencies. She packed it with nanites, which would slowly treat your wounds to a certain degree but delayed almost twice the amount of pain for half an hour. It was meant only meant to be used once, as a last resort.


    He plunged the syringe into an opening the armour made him as a rush of energy and adrenaline raced down his spine like never before. He got up, calming his mind and steeling his anger. An arm made out of ice and stones, formed together to make him a new left arm. He took a deep breath. Then brought down the wall.


    His golem had been defeated, he had felt it earlier. Its remains stood like a statue, with its head and arm destroyed. Zaryon himself was standing near its foot, with Tobi''s arm and munching away.

 Sarahs World

    Zaryon didn''t know what would happen if he kept munching away at the Legendary Tobi''s arm. He just knew he needed blood. No one was nearby leaving him with only one option, to prey on the arm, lying on the floor.


    He was disgusted that he had to resort to this sort of action, lowering himself like this. Over sixty thousand years of life spent, on only one invasion, he thought. His rage boiled over the top, as he ate away at the arm. However, energy like never before shot through him, leaving him bewildered.


    Tobi watched as his energy seemingly burst out like flames. Rings of fire crushed the ground simultaneously, with Zaryon as the epicentre, almost reaching him. The prince''s body steamed, as everything around him caught fire.


    Tobi braced himself as hot winds shot right past him, almost knocking him off his feet. This was his gravest mistake yet, he thought to himself. He never actually thought a piece of him, could make them stronger.


    Zaryon let out an immense war cry, unable to suppress his newfound strength. Then calmed down, controlling his breathing, as everything froze. He laughed hysterically, as he looked around, leaving Tobi absolutely stunned. Zaryon had completely covered himself in a sleek armour of ice, leaving the joints with a light, frost padding.


    "Isn''t it about time you started begging for your life?" He asked, earnestly.


    Tobi braced himself, creating a makeshift sword out of metal and dirt. "I would rather bet my life, on defeating you instead." He tried putting on a brave face, knowing that the world was watching him.


    Zaryon swung at Tobi from where he stood, as an arc of flames, cut through the ground, making its way towards him at sonic speed. Tobi managed to dodge, leaping to the right just in time while returning one of his own. He noticed the prince''s flames were stronger than before.


    Zaryon managed to evade as well but started flanking towards him, trying to close the distance. Over twenty golems rose from the ground, rushing him. He cut them all down, in one horizontal strike.


    Tobi retreated flying low to the floor, as the prince caught up to him and swung, aiming to cut him down with one strike. With quick reflexes, he clad himself in electricity and dodged to the left, while simultaneously summoning a fast-moving column at sonic speed. Right under Zaryon''s elbow, he broke his arm and sent his sword flying out of the prince''s hands.


    Zaryon''s arm hung horridly, limp and broken, but started to heal back almost instantaneously, as Tobi followed up by throwing a flaming, electric kick at his face. He ducked at the last second, seeing him swing around to continue his strikes, but grabbed him in a bear hug before he could, then rocketed into the sky. Soaring over Mach speed.


    Tobi struggled to get free, bashing Zaryon''s head with flaming fists. However, in moments, the force and altitude over several large clouds began to knock him out. Once he felt Tobi lose consciousness, he let him go, falling to his death.


    The prince continued to gather energy, pouring it all into his fist, while chilling his body over, to keep himself from overheating. While Tobi continued to fall unconsciously towards the ground.


    He woke up seven seconds later while trying to get a grip on his surroundings and panicked. Then out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Zaryon propelling himself with a rocketload of fire, bursting from his feet, and reaching his max speed while aiming for him.


    Instinctively, Tobi created an armour of ice, then added flames and electricity to increase his defences. However, the punch was unstoppable. Filled with the prince''s burning rage.


    It sent Tobi hurdling down, almost catching fire from the friction in the air. His temporary arm crumbled away and the purple veins on his body disappeared.


    He hit the ground with a resounding boom, sending tremors and a low earthquake in the vicinity. A large crater formed where he landed, with him as the epicentre. Half of the armour on his torso was destroyed, revealing burn marks on his chest and the rest of his body. Tobi faded in and out of consciousness, disoriented.


    He turned his head to the side, as he coughed out blood. He was bleeding in several places from head to toe. Below, he felt a good amount of bones broken, throughout his body and could move. Grunting in pain, as the World watched horrified.


    Zaryon descended but stayed afloat over Tobi. "Don''t blame me for your choices. You chose the hard way... As a matter of fact." Realizing the world was watching, he looked back up at the screen smiling, then yelled out loud. "I think this whole World chose, the hard way!"


    The prince continued, looking back at Tobi. "You wanted to protect them right? I already have your blood, Father can just make more with that. Try and protect this planet from your powerless position."


    He ascended back up a little higher, to the height of a tower. Then covered himself in an armour of ice, regenerating nonstop to keep himself cool.


    He placed his right hand out and summoned a pressurized ball of fire, two meters in front of him. Turning white hot and growing bigger by the second.


    Tobi could still see him, from where he crashed. He was losing strength by the minute but gathered enough to speak into his comm. "Sarah... I can''t do this, I''m too weak. I can''t move my body." He said, fighting back tears.


    Sarah had been coaching him through the fight, as best she could, trying not to distract him. However, she knew Tobi was down for the count and had already deployed over 250 medic androids, each a synthetic copy of her, to his aid. She could control them at any time, as well as interchange with any one of them.


    Zaryon noticed the medics breaking the skies and making their way towards Tobi. "This bitch, can''t stop ruining my show can''t she?" He said out loud. He pointed his left arm at them while keeping his right building up the ball of fire, then launched hundreds of fireballs sailing at the medics.


    As this was happening, Sarah connected into the telomonitor on just the audio, with the camera still focused on Zaryon and the medics being destroyed. She spoke back to him, through his comm, while simultaneously speaking on the telomoniter. "Listen to me, Tobi. You can''t give up, or give in. Your brother, the world, and your family are all depending on you..."


    Explosions went off as dozens of medics blew up in flames together. Only fifty of them made it to the ground and began jetting, flying low to the ground towards him. They were less than 500 meters away.


    Sarah continued, getting a little emotional herself. "We have to win Tobi! There is no one else that can beat him. Save us!"


    As she uttered those words, Tobi fell unconscious, opening his eyes, 10 seconds later. There standing above him a medic robot with Sarah''s smile was kneeling beside him. She had injected the adrenaline booster straight into his heart. Then a ball of fire sailed from her right side. Vaporizing her head off.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Tobi sat up slowly, as her body fell to the side with a thud. The fireball that took down his medic, caused a small explosion nearby, covering his face from the dust and smoke.


    Each movement he made, resulted in spikes of pain, shooting throughout his entire body. He felt his heart beating quickly, a side effect of injecting the medicine twice.


    His breathing was ragged, but with difficulty, he finally regained his composure, looking up at Zaryon. The ball of condensed white-hot fire had reached three times his size by now, growing to the fourth.


    He was furiously keeping up his armour of ice, to protect himself from the heat. This attack was shaving away thousands of years, off his life. He couldn''t lose focus on it.


    Tobi spoke into his comm. "Sarah, can you patch me through to the World?"


    Sarah surprised, asked back, while disconnecting from the world telomonitor. "Are you sure? There''s no time, that ball of fire could wipe out half of the planet."


    He shook his head. "Yeah, I know... I just wanna ask them something."


    Sarah agreed and patched him through. "You''re live."


    The broadcast switched to him. Tobi chose his words carefully. "People of Earth, my name is Tobi and I''m human, just like you. Born in Nigeria, and raised in Canada. I only found out I was part alien recently, but that doesn''t really matter right now... That alien up there isn''t like us. Their advanced AI, hell-bent on wanting to take away our will to live... However! We still have the power to fight back against them."


    He made a fist, gripping it in front of him, and not budging his eyes from Zaryon for one second. Then began gathering energy. Rings of fire demolished the crater further, as he drew energy from all around him.


    He continued. "I barely have the strength to stand, but I know we can still win..."


    The world watched at the edge of their seats, as ice and stones replaced his missing arm. Thin layers of ice manifested protecting his body. He added more layers on his right palm, just to be safe.


    "I have one final move that can put an end to this and help us all see tomorrow, but I will need your help to do it! Lend me your energy, no matter how small. We are all connected... If you decide, then we can defeat him, right now." He said, hoping they knew what he meant.


    People across the world were confused, terrified, and shocked all at the same time. However, the majority understood. There was no other moment. Now was the time to make a choice.


    People across the world reached out, wishing to give him strength. Some threw their hands in the air or closed their eyes praying, while others looked at the screen in the sky, just having faith that he would win.


    Tobi reached out. Farther than he had ever done before. He felt his allies and people across the world, sharing their energy. For the first time in history, across the world, a massive collective phenomenon was felt by billions of people. Feeling the streams of energy being shared was a weird, but euphoric feeling for all those participating.


    Luckily, he had spent the last eight months practicing this, to make sure he never killed anyone he drew energy from. First on plants, then wild animals, then criminals on vigilante missions.


    His eyes flickered blue, as purple veins marked his body once again, with even strands of hairs flickering silver and rising. Rings of fire burned bright orange, then near blue, ripping apart the ground around him, with snow falling in the crater, as thunder bellowed overhead


    The destruction continued with his entire environment breaking up, whirring into a subtle hurricane around him. Electricity ran as a hazard all over the ever-growing crater. This was the most amount of energy that Tobi had ever collected within his body. He didn''t waste a single drop.


    Placing both of his hands to the side, a ball of electric fire sparked in between his hands. Growing bigger, then condensing, a hundred times over. He distanced his hands a bit more, to hold the ball of energy.


    Zaryon noticed what Tobi was doing. His fireball was ten times his size by now. A miniature burning star.


    He kept a large distance away from it, then called out with a megaphone-like voice. "What? Trying to stop me? Just watch and let me make this side of the world, a burning wasteland. I''ll keep the survivors as slaves... Face it, you''ve failed!"


    He condensed the ball further, to half its size, causing him excruciating pain. He grimaced, then yelled out. "World Breaker!" He yelled, launching his attack at Tobi down below.


    Tobi had just finished amassing the incredible amount of energy, in between both of his hands. A blue ball of fire, rotated at Mach speed, with a magma core forming in the middle, along with thousands of volts charging it.


    The destruction intensified all around him, as he prepared to launch his attack. Grimacing from the pain of his side effects creeping up on him. Then he thrust his hands forward, letting it all go. "Ignite: World Static Cannon!" He yelled, with mist escaping each breath he took.


    His sphere cracked open, revealing a blue beam of laser fire, colliding, with Zaryon''s burning sun. Leaving behind ring clouds. The world watched, at the edge of their seats, praying.


    A deafening explosion resulted from the impact and sent ripples of shockwaves across the city. However, Tobi''s beam boomed on, leaving the ball of fire in another massive explosion and engulfing Zaryon as he placed up a barrier.


    Tobi didn''t let up, screaming at the top of his lungs, as his prosthetic arm started to crumble. Third-degree burns appeared on his remaining arm and wounds opened up all over his body. He relentlessly kept regenerating thin ice layers healing himself as he received damage, however, the heat was too intense to keep up with his body.


    Zaryon''s life flashed in front of his eyes. "But...but I can''t die... There is no way, I could lose here. There''s too much I''ve left behind-"


    The beam completely engulfed him, booming through the sky and out of the atmosphere, erasing some meteors, as his body caused yet another explosion. His remains fell back down to the earth.


    "We won," Tobi whispered, then fell over.


    The world celebrated, shocked, thrilled, and confused about what just happened. They watched their hero fall unconscious, with wonder. Multiple medics landed moments later, putting him on a futuristic-looking stretcher, and flew him back to the landing shuttle.


    They injected him with a toned down pain killer, that had nanites working away, giving him temporary relief. Then gave him blood, prepared by Sarah, as he had lost a lot during the battle.


    Tobi woke up in the middle, then sat up and called out. "Sarah we can''t leave them like this. Patch me through one more time, please."


    Sarah agreed without questioning. "You''re live."


    The broadcast which focused on the shuttle, showed it disappearing in midair. Then it switched to the interior, focusing on Tobi, battle-worn and barely holding it together from the temporary treatment. Behind him, medic androids were at work, gathering tools and typing away on the console, and flying them back to the moon.


    Tobi spoke, as the entire World listened, on the edge of their seats. "I am not a hero." Those words sent shocks through everyone listening.


    "My actions today were purely of the fact that my family, friends, and my own life were in danger. I''m just a startup entrepreneur, trying to live a peaceful life and travel the world one day. Instead, I find out that a serum from a lost people was injected into my mother, without her consent and now I''m being targeted by an Empire that spans a galaxy..." He sniffled a bit and wiped his nose.


    "Speaking of, we are the only solar system still safe from the Cerian Empire, which spans 175 worlds across the Milky Way. Only thanks to the Sputnik, which was discovered by my alien grandpa, when it first reached space...


    He nodded, smiling. "I know right? The Sputnik came through. Anyways... He launched a machine called the Arflauge, which protected us since then from any of their scanners. Unfortunately, that machine is no longer functioning as it used to and will take a lot of time for Sarah to fix."


    He took a deep breath, then continued. "They say I am the last hope and defence against this threat. My Rennayan older brother has been urging me to leave Earth, since I''m not strong enough yet, to take them on, on my own. However, Sarah has developed new tech, that with your help, can defeat the alien threat and keep our freedom!" He raised his voice while keeping a positive tone.


    "So I''ll give you the choice, we''ll let you know what secrets we have to offer, at a U.N. and all leaders meeting. Let''s call it the World Meeting, hosted by us. This will be our contract. Do you want us to stay, protect this planet, and rebuild the Arflauge machine? Or do you want us to pack up and leave?"


    He paused letting them take it in, then continued. "The choice is yours. We are ready to invade one of the prince''s planets soon and can restart our lives there. So don''t worry about us." As he spoke, Sarah beamed out, dialogue boxes with his question, to every person, that it could reach.


    In a blue and white friendly box with Beyond''s logo,


    People across the world earnestly cast their votes. Wondering what was going to happen.


    After a few moments, Sarah let him know the results in his comm. "It seems like 73% of you are in favour. We''ll see you again at the meeting. We''ll be announcing the details soon on sarahsworld.org. Stay safe..."


    Tobi fell back, as the broadcast went blank. Disappearing from the skies everywhere.

 Aftermath

    Medical equipment whirred loudly, at the Medbay in Beyond HQ. Sarah watched Tobi through the glass of a cryomed, observing the nanites cycling through the liquid and returning him back to good health, while a new arm floated in the ampitube, beside him.


    The ampitube and cryomed. Two machines Sarah had developed using Osei''s memories, during his time on Rennaya and as a slave. The Cerian royal family had only used these devices to prolong torture, whereas Rennayans progressed with them in the field of medicine.


    "Soon, you''ll be whole again." She said, touching the glass, as Tobi slept silently. Then, she walked out of the Medbay, leaving the medics to work, as she made her way to the training room.


    Amaara and Kayed, two refugees she had rescued, were having an intense battle, with fire and golems rampaging across the room. Sarah jumped to the side avoiding one of the incoming fireballs, and smiled. They were progressing better. ''They are definitely going to add to our might,'' she thought to herself, then proceeded to take a seat from a safe distance.


    They felt her enter the room but still held their gazes towards one another. Kayed is a six-foot man, with an athletic build, and had just turned 19 fairly recently. He had lived a life of poverty, and most of his family died during the war and famine in Yemen. Sarah found him, malnourished on the street, in need of water. Six months later, he had trained his earth abilities nearly every day, ever since he had started living at Beyond HQ.


    Amaara, a twenty-one-year-old woman from Sierra Leone, was a little shorter than Kayed. Sarah had rescued her from a dangerous life. She had braided her jet black hair, tying it into a ponytail, and wore the same ''Beyond'' light blue and grey, training suit, as Kayed.


    She threw a roundhouse kick, arcing flames toward him and kicked the head off, a golem that charged her. Then, placed both of her hands behind her back and blasted herself into the air. Floating in the air for a few seconds, above the army of golems.


    She followed up by throwing her hands forth. "Ignite: Shan!" She yelled as flames burst forth, out of her palms, and engulfed the golems, as they crumbled away.


    Kayed jumped back and maneuvered around the room, on a rock platform, launching stone volleys at her. Sarah had placed dirt and metal scraps, all over the training room for them to use.


    Amaara dodged the first few, then blasted the rest with fireballs. Explosions resounded all around them. Kayed then protected himself with an armour of dirt over his body, while closing in on Amaara.


    She welcomed the challenge, summoning fireballs at her side and launching them in return. Kayed launched more volleys as he got closer colliding both of their attacks in midair.


    However, moments later, Kayed burst through the flames and smoke trying to tackle her, nearly missing her as she attempted to launch another blast, at point-blank. Suddenly above her, a dome of dirt dropped down enclosing her inside. Metal scraps wrapped around it sealing it closed.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "I win!" Kayed exclaimed. Amaara had been whooping him for a while, even though he was the first to get his abilities.


    A blast of fire blew off the roof and she climbed out pointing one hand at him. "What do you mean? I''m still good to go-"


    Sarah cut them off. "Alright, guys how about you stop right there? It''s a draw." She looked both of them over thoroughly. "Are you guys feeling any side effects?"


    Amaara shook her head. "Well I felt like I was going to overheat, but the AC''s on full-blast, which has been helping me out."


    Kayed was annoyed. "Your side effects are so much more easier to deal with. I feel a migraine already coming."


    Amaara scoffed at him. "You can handle it, Tobi is feeling all of them at once right now."


    Sarah interrupted their argument. "Of course, he had used his abilities beyond his limits. The more you train, the longer you can go, before your side effects kick in." She looked over at Kayed. "I''ve got some painkillers for you, take them with water."


    He smiled at her, as he took the painkillers. "Thank you, Sarah." He was always grateful for anything she did for him.


    Osei walked into the training room. "Hey guys."


    The group greeted him back happily. "Osei!"


    Osei looked at Sarah. "How is Tobi doing? He asked worried about his brother. He had been discharged early, since most of his wounds were external, in addition to his natural strength.


    Sarah responded with a solemn tone. "He''s suffering from a lot of internal damage and lost a lot of blood. Normally he shouldn''t be able to leave a hospital room for months or ever, but the cryomed will have him in good health for the World meeting."


    Osei nodded, understanding the situation. "Good, let me know if he wakes up early. I''ll be training for the time being."


    Amaara''s ears perked up, hearing him. "Can I train with you?" She asked, a bit shy.


    Osei looked at her and shrugged. "Sure."


    She gleed, and happily ran off with him, as Kayed went to the dorms to sleep. His headaches were killing him.


    The world had become a mess, with people still in panic and others buzzing about their new visitors, however, they remained patient, waiting to hear from their heroes again.


    Far off in the distant galaxy...


    Atlas paced around his throne room. He couldn''t shake the feeling off, but he felt like another one of his children had just died. Alcra barged into the room making him look up angrily. He didn''t like to be disturbed.


    She dropped to one knee, bowing. "Father, forgive my intrusion."


    "I will allow it. What''s the matter?" He said while looking out of his palace window, overlooking his city. It was beautiful.


    Lots of machinery and skyscrapers plagued the city, but there was so much greenery everywhere and it was organized and clean like everything was being taken care of every day. From bushes to trees, to grass, they were all perfectly cut. Synthetic androids of all races roamed the streets. There was not a single living being in sight.


    Alcra continued. "Two of the princes, Zaryon and Kairon, ventured into a sector with these coordinates." She placed a tablet on the table. "They went with forces great enough to take over any planet. Yet none of them have sent word back."


    Atlas''s anger turned to curiosity. "Are you sure they weren''t just killed off wrongly by any of their siblings?" He asked, without any real care for them.


    Alcra shook her head. "No, I''ve checked many times. We have conquered all of the habitable planets in Kairon''s sector. I sent Zaryon, to investigate why Kairon had not delivered his tributes at the allotted time, but he also did not return."


    Atlas pondered the new information, as he paced the room, then smiled realizing there was something new to discover. "Okay then, send two this time. Bolster their forces. I want to see what this new force is made of."


    He looked back at Alcra, with a sinister expression. "If they too are defeated... Wouldn''t that make things, interesting?"

 World Meeting

    People around the world, tuned in, waiting patiently for the World Meeting to start. Sarah decided to hold the meeting in the Republic of Rennaya, to debut the new country to the world. Then, posted the time and location to her website.


    She planned for meetings of this magnitude and was too excited to decorate the massive auditorium, she had built in advance. Flags of every country and territory hung in every corner. Taking some tips, from the Rennayan architects, she made the room, look futuristic, yet secure and comfortable for the guests. Leaders of some of the countries, sent representatives ahead of time, to make sure the venue would be safe and secure.


    She also filled the building''s hallways, with stories and art from the refugees, she had brought to the Republic of Rennaya. For all the world leaders to see, as they made their way to the main auditorium.


    The brothers wore bulletproof suits, tailored by her. Made with nano-tech, they were capable of morphing into their battle suits at a moment''s notice.


    The leaders sat in their seats patiently, after greeting each other and making light talk of current affairs. The seats were well spread out. Circling a center podium, with a pathway leading to a back room.


    Sarah had androids broadcasting the event to her site and all over social media. Several cameramen took hundreds of photos of the androids, guests and venue, while Sarah greeted world leaders.


    She walked up to the podium. Fidgeted with her microphone and prepared to speak. "Testing, testing ... Okay! Welcome everyone to our first-ever Beyond-World meeting. I would like to thank you all, for taking the time to travel here today, to hear what we have to say."


    She looked around the room, to make sure everyone was listening. "First off, I would like to thank the world for participating and lending us the strength to defeat that terrible alien." She smiled, as people tried to speak, but she quickly hushed them, indicating she would answer their questions at the end.


    "Secondly, I would like to say that the hero who fought that battle, has made a remarkable recovery and is here, with his brother today, to speak to all of you. Please welcome Tobi and Osei, the last princes of Rennaya!" As she said that she pointed her hands out to the backstage.


    Tobi and Osei walked out. Cameras flashed as paparazzi went off, while Sarah and her crew herded them. Everyone in the room rose up and clapped to welcome their heroes.


    Tobi smiled at them while Osei looked away. Then, Tobi stepped forward to speak. "Thank you all for your support... I want to give a moment, for the soldiers who lost their lives that day."


    He paused as everyone went quiet, following his example. A moment later, he spoke. "Now everyone, I must say we are at a turning point in humanity unlike we have any we have ever seen before." He placed his hands out. "On one hand we have, an all-powerful enemy, who owns every habitable planet in our galaxy and on the other, we have the power to fight back, yet we may destroy ourselves with it."


    He looked back at the backstage, as Kayed and Amaara walked out in their training suits. A replica of Sarah followed behind them, holding another suit folded in her hands.


    Tobi continued. "Kayed and Amaara, the first members of the Nova Division, are humans from Earth. Sarah has devised a way for us, to share my abilities with them... See for yourselves."


    He nodded at Kayed and Amaara, while Osei & him made space for them. They both performed safe feats and abilities they had practiced beforehand. Sarah had another android bring Kayed a pile of rocks, which he then used to turn into a golem. He moved it however he wanted, collapsed it, and swirled it around him in demonstration, then dropped it in a neat circle around him.


    Amaara threw fists of fire in the air, then spun and kicked a few times with fire bursting forth lightly around her. Lastly, she made two balls of fire orbiting her.


    Tobi looked back at the audience. "As you can see, they are capable of wielding one of the elements or you can say the element chose them. Whichever it is, it will surely help us out, in our upcoming battles... Normally each suit is bio-locked, but we made a special one."


    He looked around the audience once again. "I would like to call forth one member from the audience who would like to come and try it out."


    People raised their hands. He picked an assistant of one of the world leaders, as he wanted to mitigate any international incidents. She came up to the podium a bit nervous.


    Tobi gave her instructions and reassured her. "Now just touch the suit, with the intention to wear it."


    She touched the suit and to her surprise, it came to life. Grabbing at her hand and morphing into a bodysuit, before she could react. She backed away freaking out. The crowd laughed lightheartedly but were astounded by the tech before them.


    Tobi calmed her down and continued coaching her. "Hey, listen to me. Now close your eyes, feel the energy inside you and picture it into a ball in front of you... Deep breaths."


    She followed his instructions. An unrefined piece of ice began to form before her. The room started getting colder.


    Then it shaped into a giant ice cube, mesmerizing the crowd. She opened her eyes, excited by what she had just done, then dropped to her knees trying to catch her breath, as the cube dropped, but Tobi caught it before it could shatter across the floor. The audience was impressed, clapping away.


    The others rushed to help her up, as Tobi turned back to the audience and continued his speech. "As you can see, it takes some practice, but the frost element chose her and it can do the same for those who join our cause. We still don''t know how to replicate all four powers in one person yet, but we do know that to make more of these suits, we will need an element that is not commonly found on Earth."


    He let the audience murmur among themselves, as they absorbed all the incoming info. Some asked what the element was.


    He continued ignoring them. "They call it Versillium. A shortage of this element caused the First Galactic War. Most of the planets that had large quantities of it have been mined out or are being inhabited by the children of Atlas...


    He shifted his position on the podium, as Amaara and Kayed left and Osei remained behind Tobi. "I''m not sure how an alien, ended up with a Greek Titan''s name, but what I do know, is that we won''t be able to reach him without large quantities of this element. Which brings me to my next point."


    His expression turned serious. "We need to capture Sonara and Dargan. Both are held by children of Atlas on the same level as Zaryon with millions of soldiers."Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    One of the world leaders asked out loud. "You plan on invading a planet?"


    Tobi smirked replying, "No, we plan on liberating the planet, then we''ll bring it back to the Solar System."


    He looked back at the rest of his guests, ignoring the uproar as he continued. "As of now, we were only able to produce eight of these suits. We plan on giving ownership of the suits, to those that Sarah decides are worthy and only from countries that follow the Beyond-World Constitution."


    Outrage rang across the room. As some misunderstood what he meant and others ran with their own assumptions. Yet he remained calm and cleared his throat, as everyone quieted, then continued. "A new constitution that does not overstep any laws you have in place on Earth or domestic policies, except ones concerning human rights issues."


    He looked around the room, with his hands out. "This constitution was thought of by Sarah, as a means to give alien refugees equal rights and keep those of you who attain technology from us, to not misuse it on Earth. I would like all countries on Earth to stop fighting and work together, but I know that''s never going to happen, so instead we drew up a fair charter..."


    People started to settle down, understanding what he meant, and were surprised to see how far they had thought ahead. Still, some glared at him with distrustful looks.


    Tobi kept going, regardless of what they were thinking."...One that can be accepted by all planets who join our alliance, all people who want to live free, and anyone who feels that there has been too much injustice, running rampant across the world."


    He put his hands out. "In the eight months that Sarah has been awake, she has amassed over 250 trillion dollars in funds, minerals, and fuel reserves. Not to mention the new technology she has developed, for example, the cryomed and ampitube..." As he spoke two androids brought out the machines in veils, then revealed them to the World.


    "One can cure almost everything, short of death, the second, with your cells from healthy areas of your body, can regrow that body part which can later be attached for you, by using the cryomed. That''s how I got my arm back." He gripped his former lost hand in front of him for the world to see.


    "Sarah not only restored me, but gave us the tools to fight back, defend ourselves, and run away if we need to... That''s right. We have a transporter that can move the Earth away, as a very last resort. At the moment even if we did, we would still not be able to escape the Empire''s territory... Here is a map."


    Once again, as he spoke, a gigantic map, appeared in 8K holographic picture, above them. It showed a red glow, representing the Cerian Empire''s territory, and a tiny blue shading, almost less than a hundredth of its size, near the end of the map, but still within Cerian territory.


    "This is our half of the Milky Way. As you can surmise, our enemy has conquered, all of our surrounding areas. This little blue spec is our Solar System." He said, pointing at the blue spec. "Our goal is to advance enough through this area so that we can set up a relay, that can help Earth escape if we need to... Sitting here hoping they won''t attack us is na?ve and the 75 billion people living as slaves, can plead their cases to you."


    He let the audience absorb everything he was saying. Some people got restless, a bit nervous from the whole ordeal. This was major news and people hung on every word. Journalists jotted away notes, as more questions started to build up in people''s minds.


    Tobi could tell, his words were causing a bit of fear amongst the crowd, so he went on to the next solution. "It will be difficult and that''s why we need your help. We are opening up our arms to those of you around the world who wish to join our army. It won''t be an adventure. There are monsters and unknown things in the universe we have yet to see, but know this. You will be fighting a righteous fight, against the enemy. Even though they breathe, they are heartless."


    He centred his attention on the leaders in front of them. "World leaders, I would like to request the ICBMs and weapons you have rotting away. We might as well use them to save the world." As expected, more outrage ran across the room as many leaders disagreed with what he said.


    He shook his head. "Regardless we still have a formidable force, going in. Sarah has created 5 million android soldiers each as capable as a navy seal and equipped with tech far ahead of Earth''s time. We would like squads of these units to be commanded by those who join our cause."


    He gave his audience a genuine smile, knowing they''d like this next part. "We weren''t able to recreate more Nova suits, but we ended up being able to mass produce a power suit. One that uses the Rennayan gene to add strength, seven times stronger than a normal human can and can help them draw portions of energy, from around them." Pausing as one of the androids brought out another item to unveil.


    "Sarah equipped them with laser cannons in the palms and on the belt is a retractable nano-light sword or a Saber. These are called Nova Lite suits, which will give our soldiers, the strength to fight aliens in space." He grinned knowing, they were speechless.


    "As you can see, we have all the means to fight, anyone wishing harm on our planet, thanks to Sarah. I would also like to give her a shoutout for other things she''s helped us with around the world." He looked at her sitting with the audience and smiled.


    "I''m not sure if any of you have felt the air quality in the world, getting better these last few months or climate change slowing down. If you did, that''s because she worked hard on two new inventions. One that has been lowering the carbon emissions in the world and the other refreezing back ice on Antarctica''s borders."


    He raised his hands to his side. "Hundreds of each machine have been placed all over the world, slowly trying to recover our damaged planet. So please, all I request of you, is to treat her like a human being. She loves this planet, as much as we do." He said, glancing back once more, as she smiled back.


    "Now decide, whether you would like to join the Beyond Federation or figure it out on your own. We''ll provide security, economic support, and resources to the governments and organizations who join and adhere to the Constitution."


    A dialogue box appeared, in front of every one of the leaders and territories, as their tables lit up, with the constitution for them to review. The box asked them, ''Will you join, the Beyond Space Federation? (Joining isn''t mandatory, you may join at a later time after consulting your congress or have a 24-hour grace period to retract your decision).''


    The leaders glanced over the box and pondered about this equal opportunity. Each of them looked around the room, wondering if their enemies or allies had made their choice.


    One of the leaders asked Tobi. "Will we not be able to work together, if we don''t join the alliance."


    He looked at them and replied honestly. "We never said we wouldn''t be friendly. Our company will be selling small quantities of cryomeds and other civilian machines, that Sarah developed, to help make life easier for us all. However, if you aim to harm any of our allies, in any form, we will back them depending on the situation."


    Shock and outrage, resounded through the room once more, as the leaders were terrified of the proposition.


    He dropped his hands down in a calming manner. "However, we don''t aim to affect nor interfere with any of your political activities or domestic issues. Sarah will provide copies of herself, to countries that join our effort, to help with any humanitarian efforts... Her model was designed to build worlds and turn them from desolate, to green habitable planets, so there is a lot that your people will benefit from. "


    He shook his head, then looked around the room. "With her help, we can effectively catch up as a peaceful society and maybe one day, the Earth might bless us the way Rennaya did for its people, but for now, we will lend you our strength."


    He made a fist in front of him. "We need to be a shining example of hope to those, being enslaved by the empire. We are the last light, but we will light up the galaxy. Now make your choice."


    The leaders took everything he said into consideration. Then they made their choices.


    After a few moments, Tobi spoke up. "I see, 68% of you have decided to join us. I thank you for your support. Sarah will send representatives, with each of you, to answer any questions you may have about space. I would warn you not to tamper with them, as they are each a replica of her and can defend themselves."


    He looked around the crowd. "Those of you that did not join, I wish you good luck. Those of you that have, each representative, in their free time, will fly around your countries to find those worthy of being a Nova."


    He smiled and then finished off his presentation. "Thank you for coming, I''m honestly still not able to stand for too long and the painkillers are wearing off. Sarah will answer any and all of your questions. We will invade Sonara in four months. Until then, stay safe..."


    He left for the backstage as Osei followed him. People rose to ask questions, but Sarah hushed them down and answered one at a time.

 War Plan

    About four months later...


    Tobi made his way through Beyond HQ, enjoying driving the cart to the training room, it reminded him of the tunnels in Carleton University. Sarah had recommended that he check on the recruits.


    She had ended up picking eight Novas from all around the world. They were training at the Training Centre, and fighting each other in separate 1-v-1 battles. He walked by the first audience box, where he could watch the first pair below, through the glass window.


    Renesa Alvarez, a twenty-three-year-old from the Philippines, launched multiple volleys of ice at Amaara, who swerved in midair, using bursts of fire.


    She had been living with her little brother and sister, in the slums, doing anything she could to keep them alive, as their parents had passed away long ago. Sarah offered to take care of them, by providing them with a place to stay and a school to go to, in the Republic of Rennaya.


    Tobi turned his attention, to the two in the next arena. Carina Solvieg (21) had surrounded herself with golems, reinforced with metal scraps. She struggled to get her golems, to break through Kayed''s own stone army and get to him but was slowly getting overwhelmed.


    Abused the majority of her life, she reached out to a Sarah representative, flying overhead in a small city in Sweden after the World Meeting. Sarah listened to her story and offered her a new opportunity.


    He walked over to the next arena and looked through the glass below. Norah Ali (20) had just leaped up, cladding herself in electricity, and proceeded to cut off, half of the arm of a giant ice golem, Helio Leondro (22) had created, then jumped back.


    He stood on top of the giant''s head, raising his hand, as hundreds of ice spikes formed, floating high above Norah, then dropped them.


    With quick instincts, she started running at him, dodging each spike as they shattered across the floor. Simultaneously, charging up all of the energy, she could muster, she leaped up and stabbed down on the golem''s arm with her short sword. Sinking it deep into the ice.


    Massive spikes of electricity crackled through. Destroying the arm and sending thousands of volts throughout the golem. Shocking Helio unconscious.


    She jumped back off the arm as it collapsed, but could not avoid the explosions of ice and electricity crashing down on the floor all around her. Covering her in an avalanche of ice. Medics rushed to the both of them, as Tobi laughed and walked on to the last glass.


    Koji Hachiro (18) and Simon Walker (19) were having an intense fight. Simon burst flames all around the room trying to catch Koji as he zipped around dodging multiple strikes, at the last second.


    Through one of the militias, Sarah had noticed a man risking his life to save a child, during the invasion of New York. She used the soldier to go secure the civilians and ask the man''s name. Now Simon has grown accustomed to his abilities, as if it was a part of him since birth.


    Koji''s family was involved in shady business. His father had disappeared and his mom and little brother were killed in a mysterious car crash just before, which he alone survived. With his father, making so many enemies around them, he found himself alone living on the streets of Tokyo.


    Both of them were inspired, by the hero and wished to be a stronger version of themselves every day, just like he did during the Battle for Earth.


    Koji unsheathed his katana, which Sarah designed for him, blocking Simon''s daggers in place, as he struck from above. They exchanged strikes, as they tried to one-up, each other. Simon had learned from Tobi, to harness fire further, by visualizing the flames, pressurized into thrusters, and applying it around your body to boost speed. It was the only way he was keeping up with Koji.


    Whereas Koji learned to pace electricity currents through his body, to maintain a good balance between speed and strength. He covered his blade as well, sending numb surges back to his opponents and wearing them down with each strike. They both backed up, giving some distance from each other.


    Simon sheathed his daggers and then created a condensed small ball of fire in his palm. "Ignite: Globus." He whispered


    Koji did the same, sheathing his sword and manifesting a small dense ball of electricity, crackling with energy. "Static: Denki B¨­ru."


    Then they leaped at each other, placing their full might, into their attacks. With less than a meter from striking each other, Tobi shattered the window and placed one hand on the floor. "Frost: Time." He said as blue veins flickered on, then off.


    A path of ice, leading from his hands, caught the both of them in place, freezing them like statues, with both of their attacks in mid-collision. Their eyes whipped around, looking for the one that interrupted their deadly match.


    "It''s just training, you don''t have to kill each other." Tobi teased, as he walked between the two of them, finally releasing them of their binds. Their spheres melted into puddles of water.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    "Bruh, I was about to win," Simon said, feeling cheated, but was more bothered by the cold, trying his best to warm himself up.


    "Nah, you were this close to getting your ass kicked, what do you mean," Koji responded, confused by his assertion, and shuddered from the cold.


    Tobi warmed him up with light flames and chuckled to himself. "Y''all can go shower up and cool your heads. That''s enough training for today." He said, shooing them out.


    Simon shook his head and started to leave. "Sure, sure, Imma go grab something to eat, I''m starved."


    Koji looked at Tobi. "You know, I was gonna win right."


    Tobi smiled at him. "Maybe next time, man."


    Koji left for a smoke, then headed straight to the shower room. Just then, Tobi felt a buzz in his ear, as Sarah spoke up in his comm. "Tobi can you please come to the Command Center."


    "Will do." He replied, then headed back down to his cart and drove off to meet her.


    He opened the doors and walked in, wondering what he was in for. Sarah was standing up in front of a large screen. Around the large command table. The tables were mainly monitors showing scenes around the Solar System and the androids, mining and working on different planets.


    A giant lens was facing up in the middle of the table with a pack of donuts and cookies prepared on the side. He glanced at those already seated. One, being a man in his late thirties to forties, wearing a Beyond military uniform, stitched with stars and sat opposite of Osei. Gray streaks were starting to invade his hair.


    The man quickly got up to shake Tobi''s hand. "Hi Tobi, my name is Selvin Hikes and I just wanted to say, that your fight during the battle for Earth was one the most inspiring scenes I have ever seen in my life."


    Tobi was flattered. He had avoided most of the paparazzi, that he could and always visited his family in disguises. Nevertheless, he was still shy towards compliments.


    Selvin continued, as he released his hand from the firm shake. "For real, it prompted me to come out of retirement, as a soldier and join in on your fight. If you lose, we don''t stand a chance. Thank you for giving me a chance to protect my people and our planet... Anyways Sarah has something to say to us." He said hurriedly, as he noticed Sarah waiting impatiently. He rushed back to his seat, while Tobi followed suit.


    Sarah cleared her throat, taking control of the room. "Thank you, Selvin. Now regarding the invasion in one week. I have prepared eight million troops ready to be deployed and led by Nova soldiers. The soldiers are training with them now. In addition, twelve Aeromachs have been added to the fleet. Six of which will descend on Sonara''s main cities signalling the start of Operation: Phoenix Egg, the rest will remain in orbit."


    Tobi raised his hand, as everyone looked at him. "Why Operation: Phoenix Egg?"


    Sarah sighed. "Because we''ll be refurbishing a planet to make us stronger."


    Tobi chuckled and nodded, letting her off easy. The guys couldn''t help it either, they started snickering to themselves. "Nah, it''s a good name, I probably would have thought of it." He replied, looking at Osei.


    "Oh, shut up." She said in a slightly annoyed voice and continued. "Anyways we''ll drop the siegemechs on the mining stations around the planet and use carrier shuttles to fly them to outposts, taking them out one at a time."


    Siegemechs were new machines she developed for war on alien planets. They were giant humanoid, combat robots, able to be piloted by one human being and capable of fitting up to five people inside during rescue missions.


    Many countries had already sent representatives to see her new weapons in action. Loaded with rockets, lasers, machine guns, and photon swords attached to their belts. They were a delight for them to see and slightly worrisome.


    Sarah walked over to the table and clicked a button. The lens lit up, as the semi-industrial planet of Sonara showed up in HD holographic image. Hundreds of red dots flashed all over the planet, indicating the attack points. Three gold points were close together on the same continent.


    Osei asked as everyone examined the hologram. "What are the gold marks?"


    Sarah responded. "They are the three princes in their castles. Both of you and three members of the Nova Division will be taking on the three princes at the same time. We have to keep them separated, they cannot work together."


    Osei replied. "I figured, so it will be a two-on-one for the most part. So who will be fighting alone?"


    Sarah smiled. "I''ll be supporting Tobi, but he is only to hold them off so that the target doesn''t join the others." She looked at Tobi, with earnest eyes, as he sighed back.


    Osei tried rebutting, but Tobi cut him off. "It''s ok, I''ll take them out." He said, with a serious tone.


    Osei knew he had changed a lot in the last year, but he was still worried that constant battles too soon would make Tobi go numb, causing him to make mistakes.


    He noticed Tobi wasn''t reading manga or comics the way he used to. He was just constantly training. Selvin felt slight chills from Tobi.


    Sarah continued, trying to change the topic. "Furthermore, we''ve received more military support from our allies, so we''ll be putting them into action. I will be broadcasting the war live on my website and putting the highlights on social media to grow support. So try to behave yourselves."


    "Yeah, yeah we got it, Sarah." The brothers said almost in sync.


    She had been acting like a mother to them, forcing Tobi against his will to eat his veggies. "Well, that''s it for this meeting. I will inform those in the Nova Division to go with you. Keep training and be prepared in one week."


    "Yes, ma''am." Everyone said in unison.


    She turned, glancing at Selvin. "Selvin can you come with me to the Mech Barracks?"


    Selvin was surprised as he had a few things scheduled, but he agreed regardless. "Sure, Sarah."


    Tobi and Osei got up. "We''ll be at the training center," Tobi said, as they said their goodbyes and left.


    Sarah drove Selvin down to the Mech Barracks. They walked into a massive room filled with siegemechs and different machines of war, but there was one much larger than the rest, almost thirty feet tall and took the spotlight.


    It was blue and white, built with titanium alloys and some more steel recipes that Sarah had cooked up. He noticed a giant laser sword on its back and a massive futuristic pistol on its belt. With Beyond''s logo printed on its chest.


    "Woah what is this?" Selvin asked, unable to contain his excitement.


    She smiled, as they walked around it. "The Nova Prime is a special siegemech I created to combat giants and hold off princes in worst-case scenarios. It has the Rennayan gene, multiplied through stem cell research and synthesized with nanites, which I call R-Tech. It will allow you to pull portions of energy from around you to fuel the suit. You can link your mind, to feel as one with it, minus the pain."


    Selvin was impressed. "That''s pretty neat, Sarah, this will definitely be useful during the mission."


    Sarah nodded in agreement, her lips breaking into a loose grin. "Of course, that''s because you''ll be piloting it."

 Operation: Phoenix Egg

    It took them two days to get to Sonara. The ships flew in a defensive formation until they reached the Sonaran Solar System. Sarah turned on the broadcast to her site so that people could tune in and watch the invasion live.


    Asteroid traps surrounded them, and moved unnaturally towards the fleet, blowing up, whenever in proximity. Anti-Cruiser artillery fired at them, whenever they triggered alarms while passing moons of nearby planets. The Aeromachs outmaneuvered them all, avoiding them and returning fire, nearly destroying some of the moons.


    Two of the ships had sustained heavy damages and needed emergency landing for repairs before proceeding. They settled on an asteroid, deploying terraformas and cloaking themselves.


    The rest continued heading towards Sonara, with the Aratris in the lead. As soon as they were about to be within distance of the Sonaran atmosphere, they split up. With each departing to their own destinations.


    The Aratris flew towards the prince''s castles dodging more missiles being fired on them, followed by bursts of lasers. Then the Aratris bombarded the castle''s defenses circling overhead, as ten shuttles exited heading towards the castles. When they all left, it launched back into space, while being pursued by several enemy spaceships.


    Behind Astrya''s castle...


    The planet was almost desolate, stripped clean of a majority of its natural resources and covered by a thin film of air firmly held together by thousands of terraformas. The children of Atlas built factories all over Sonara and used over 700 million slaves to mine the planet for resources year-round. Residential camps were built like cities, away from the castles, to not disturb the children of Atlas. However, every once in a while, they would come down to the camps and pick up a new toy.


    Carina was a bit nervous. She couldn''t understand how Amaara was so calm and collected, as she wiped out multiple soldiers rushing out of the castle, as the soldiers noticed the shuttle randomly appear out of camouflage. More infantry yelled war cries behind the castle walls, then poured out shooting and charging at the Novas.


    Carina stepped forward. "Create: Tsunami!" She yelled, as a wall of dirt, blocked all of the incoming shots. Then the horizon before her seemed to rise forward towards the oncoming soldiers, like a massive wave, burying them alive, as she condensed it down further.


    Amaara was impressed. "Yes, Carina! That was cool!" She praised.


    In the distance, behind them, two enemy aircrafts cracked the sky aiming for them. Amaara leaped up, spewing flames, from under her feet. "Ignite: Shan!" She yelled, with her hands placed in front of her, targeting the alien jets.


    Flames burst out of her palms, beaming and engulfing the first aircraft, as the second one broke away, trying to escape. However, she dragged her hands towards it, combusting them both in midair.


    Amaara landed back down with flames cushioning her fall. "Ahhh, did you see that? We got this." She said looking back at Carina.


    "Are you sure about that?" The mysterious voice from behind her shook her and placed her on alert, however it was too late. The assailant kicked her side with immense force, sending Amaara crashing through the castle walls.


    "Amaara!" Carina called out, worried about her, then quickly turned toward the enemy, bracing herself. "Who are you!"


    The child of Atlas before her, had light blue skin, wearing an indigo and violet outfit, bringing out her skin tone. She had an athlete''s build, with the same slits under her eyes as the rest of her family, and silver-white hair.


    The princess unsheathed the short dagger at her hip, licking it, before playing with it. Then gave the Nova, the most sinister smile Carina had ever seen. "I am the 132nd child of Atlas, Astrya. You do know whose planet you guys are invading right?


    Carina gritted her teeth, knowing she was all alone, then snarled back at her, not giving up. "Yeah, but it won''t be yours much longer."


    Inside Galzed''s castle walls...


    Osei zoomed from corner to corner incapacitating soldiers without mercy. Helio trailed behind him, watching out and trying not to step in pools of blood, as well as piles of corpses, obstructing his path.


    They got to a big clearing, in front of the main castle. There, standing in front of the gates was a blue giant, wearing black armor from head to toe, except on his arms. He had a massive longsword, which he stuck headfirst into the ground and used it as support.


    "I couldn''t believe my ears when I heard were being invaded. It''s been so long since I''ve tasted a good battle! Warriors declare your names!" The giant demanded.


    "Is it not courtesy to give yours first?" Osei smirked, stepping forward and bracing himself. Helio finally caught up behind him, with his eyes growing wide, as he took in the sight of the blue giant.


    "Hmph, fair enough. I am the 111th, Prince Galzed, Demon of Frost. Now what are yours?" Galzed replied, impatiently.


    "The... the 111th Prince?" Helio stuttered, he was starting to get nervous. "Doesn''t that mean he''s stronger than Zaryon was?" He asked Osei, as he backed away.


    "Calm down. We can handle him, just give me some support." Osei replied, reassuring the Nova. Then he turned his attention back to Galzed. "My name is Osei, the Prince of Rennaya and a Commander of the Beyond Space Force. My comrade here is Helio of Earth. Surrender now or we''ll be forced to eliminate you." He spoke with a commanding tone and avoided, as much vulgar words as possible, just like Sarah forced him to learn, for the broadcast.


    The giant laughed out loud. His laugh pierced every inch of Helio''s body, as the Nova trembled, unable to stop himself from shaking.


    Osei switched into first gear, as Galzed picked up his sword and assumed a stance. "Well bring it on then!" Galzed exclaimed, welcoming the challenge. Then Osei and the child of Atlas, lunged at each other, aiming for each other''s throat.


    Floating above Bolgan''s castle...


    Tobi charged himself full of energy. He understood his mission well enough, but more than that he wanted to prove to himself, that he was capable of handling his own. The battle with Zaryon still bothered him over the last four months.


    He could have died, he pondered over and over. How powerless he was, having to borrow strength from those he needed to protect. It continued to bother him, as he firebombed the Cerian forces stationed around Bolgan''s castle while he circled overhead.


    Bullets sailed at him then past him, following missiles and lasers. He covered his body with a dirt and stone dome, then launched massive balls of fire at the artillery and those shooting at him.Stolen novel; please report.


    Five aircrafts targeted him, emptying their entire clips and inventory. He deflected all of their projectiles with ease, by raising stone and ice barriers, shielding himself. Then blew up the first two with condensed electric balls off fire.


    He looked off in the distance, seeing the rest pulling maneuvers to circle back. He jetted after them and caught up to two of them before they could turn. He then froze their engines and cockpits in midair. With no way out, the pilots followed their planes crashing down to the ground, while the final plane flew off, running away.


    "It doesn''t get any easier." He whispered to himself, shaking his head at the lives he''s taken.


    Suddenly a large flying object struck the plane in the distance, blowing it up in midair. Tobi frowned, wondering what had just happened. Then an object in the distance began to get bigger and bigger until he could make out a massive boulder jetting towards him. He dodged to the left and stopped it in midair, scanning down below for the attacker, then smiled.


    Standing on one of the rooftops of the castle buildings, was a brown giant, who he concluded, was a child of Atlas. The giant was holding a massive axe on his shoulder, slits running down under his eyes, and a dark grey, and purple contrast, armored bodysuit.


    "Intruder state your business!" He demanded.


    Tobi smirked, setting the boulder on fire, and charged it with electricity. "That''s no way to treat your men." He responded.


    The giant laughed raising hundreds of boulders all around him. "Boy, that is none of your concern. Deserters don''t have a place in the Cerian Empire... I am the 105th prince of Ceria, Bolgan the Destroyer, they''re supposed to follow my orders till death. Now who are you?"


    Tobi changed his expression, getting irritated, and settled into a serious tone. "I''m Tobi of Earth and I''m here as the Commander of the Beyond Space Force, to subjugate you and take this planet. Now do you surrender?"


    Moments before, on Selvin''s ship.


    Selvin''s ship had to make an emergency stop with another ship, on a nearby asteroid, after taking heavy fire. He had never been to space and was slightly nervous.


    He watched as the androids fixed the repairs on the ship. There were soldiers, from all around the world roaming around the decks, going about their duties and preparing themselves for the battle. However he could tell, they were a bit anxious themselves.


    A replica of Sarah came and assured them all, that they would be on the way to Sonara soon. His Nova prime suit was below deck and he had practiced using it on the moon several times, but not yet out on the field.


    They touched down on Sonara, twenty minutes after the invasion commenced. Their goal was to take over a heavily armed versillium mining facility, which had tons of soldiers, kaycers, mutant monsters, and giants.


    The men rushed out excitedly behind Sarah''s android militia, to go kill some aliens. Their moods quickly changed once they saw how terrifying the enemy soldiers and monsters really were.


    Selvin got in the top half of the Nova Prime suit, and switched it on, then watched it put itself together with its torso outside of the ship. As the doors dropped open, he noticed near the entrance of the outpost a massive Valmerian giant, like the one Tobi faced in New York, swinging its axe and sending soldiers flying.


    He switched on the Prime''s flight mode, then flew up above the giant and laid down a barrage of fire, trying to get its attention. The giant looked up, seeing the giant robot as it covered its head, protecting itself from, Selvin''s attack. It grabbed a large boulder nearby and with tremendous strength, threw it at the Prime up in the air.


    Selvin moved the suit to the right, nearly missing the boulder, then stopped firing and drew out its sword. It lit up as he charged at the giant. Who in turn welcomed the challenge and with a running start, leaped up with its axe too, ready to strike back.


    Their weapons collided and knocked some soldiers off their feet. Then the rest rushed for cover, as intense winds reverberated from their strikes. Blowing up a storm of dust and rocks, while the both of them tried to find an opening.


    After a couple more exchanges Selvin found his chance, unholstering the Prime''s pistol and shooting the giant''s knee. It hopped back holding onto its wound and swung with the other. Selvin sidestepped, slicing its arm off, and letting it howl in pain. Finally, it charged at him, like a cornered animal, as he sighed, and gracefully put it out of its misery.


    Suddenly, violent tremors drew his attention and shook his vision. He looked around frantically wondering where it was coming from. His question was answered moments later, as six more giants poured into the battlefield from behind the outpost.


    Beyond''s soldiers immediately began retreating with the androids. However, Selvin stayed behind and leaped into the air, gaining a bit more altitude to dodge the first one''s lunges. They were enraged, by their brethren''s death.


    As the giant, landed back down, he aimed for the back of its neck, making his shot and falling it forward with a loud thump. The next used the distraction to grab the Prime''s foot. With a third propelled up, towards them by the rest. Both used their momentums to smash the Prime back down, causing it a great amount of damage. The others gathered around, all ready to beat down on the giant robot.


    Selvin quickly spun the Prime around at jet speed and sat up as he did so while sticking the Prime''s sword out. It made him sick, the spinning mixed with the large, flying body parts of the giants near him.


    He recovered and flew back up, charging the laser in his palm. Then released it, when it felt right, as it incinerated the giants with the landscape behind them, in a fiery explosion.


    "Whoa, Sarah you''re a lifesaver." He said, out loud to himself.


    Then out of nowhere, an object blew off his left arm. The object as he looked closer, was almost 9 feet tall, with a grayish skin tone and physical appearance as the children of Atlas.


    They called out to him. "I am the 751st prince, Abon. You! Warrior dwelling in that steel giant, you seem like a worthy challenge. Face me!" He smiled, readying himself.


    Selvin didn''t think he would be running into one of the princes here. He remembered what Sarah told him, that there were more than fifty thousand princes, but only two hundred were granted abilities.


    Out of respect, he still introduced himself. "My name is Selvin Hykes. I am a General of the Beyond Space Force. Surrender or I will restrain you with force." He said, sticking his sword out.


    Abon crouched down to jump, with veins nearly popping out of his calves. "I have no plans to surrender." He replied before leaping at sonic speed up to where Selvin was, as he tried to bat him back down with the giant sword.


    The prince blocked it in midair, and pushed it back, teetering the Prime back. Selvin was shocked, by Abon''s strength. ''His hammer must be made out of versillium,'' he thought to himself.


    Abon threw his hammer, destroying the hand holding the sword, then somersaulted onto the Prime''s leg. The prince continued to climb his way up, as Selvin struggled to grab him with the Prime''s remaining arm.


    To no avail, as Abon managed to hop up onto the arm when he got the chance. Then reached out as his hammer returned back to him, just in time for him to cave in the Prime''s chest. Nearly reaching Selvin.


    The Nova Prime recoiled hard, crashing into the side of the mountain. The prince followed up by leaping into the air once again and brought his entire might down. However, Selvin managed to roll the Prime over just in time. Flying up higher than the prince could reach and pointed his remaining palm at him and charged up its laser.


    Abon smiled, getting a bit excited, then threw his hammer at sonic speed. Breaking the laser cannon in the Prime''s palm before Selvin could fire it.


    "Damn it!" He said, then quickly pulled the gun from the holster and began firing.


    The prince dodged, each of the large bullets and zipped around the field, racing towards the Nova Prime as his hammer returned back to him. Abon didn''t stop there. He stretched his arm back as far as he could, then threw his hammer up once more, and leaped from the mountain onto it, using it as a launchpad. Succesfully, giving the Prime an uppercut, and blew its head off.


    He grabbed on as it started rising. Found the chance to jump higher than it, then smashed it back down, as hard as he could, this time, completely destroying the Nova Prime. However, just before Selvin had ejected himself and grabbed as much energy from the Prime as he could.


    Abon looked up at him, floating by parachute, with his laser cannon charged and aiming at him. "So that''s what you look like out of your shell!"


    Selvin grimaced, as he gathered every bit of his energy into his attack. "Take a good look, because I''m the last person you''ll see." He replied, before releasing the beam, and recoiled himself back further than he intended to land.


    Abon yelled out, sweating, from the incoming danger and not realizing how dangerous the attack was, sooner. As he called back his hammer to save him, he was completely engulfed, by a continuous stream of laser fire. Screaming, as he was incinerated away.


    Selvin unbuckled his parachute near the ground, as he was being dragged somewhere unsafe, regardless, he ended up injuring one of his legs as he fell.


    He sighed laying there as he tuned into his comm. "Sarah, I think the mining station is clear now."

 Two Front War

    Sarah frantically paced around the Command Center at Beyond HQ. She couldn''t help but worry about the outcome of the invasion. She was receiving slight delays from her replica on the Aratris, causing her more grief.


    Suddenly alarms started to ring on one of her consoles. She rushed to it and pulled herself out of her thoughts. Eight warships were descending on Earth, completely walking through her defenses.


    The ships split up in two directions. Four headed in the direction of China, while the other four descended on France. ''This was bad,'' she thought to herself.


    China had not joined the alliance, so Beyond was not clear to head there. Sarah immediately sent her replicas to call the President and the ambassadors, but there was no response. She bit her lip, then ran to the Nova''s dorms to prepare them for battle.


    Back on Sonara...


    Astrya stood unopposed and unimpressed as she froze away each golem Carina rushed at her, then manifested and launched dozens of frozen spikes at Carina, without mercy. In response, Carina raised a rock wall blocking the incoming barrage, then flanked to the right drawing out her short sword.


    Astrya smiled, welcoming her charge. "You know, I like strong girls like you..." She said while overpowering Carina with ease.


    The Nova reinforced her body with stones and pebbles. She made sure her hands were padded with clay, as the force of Astrya''s strikes, were too much to bear. Regardless, Astrya broke the deadlock, pushing her back, as Carina raised a golem behind her aiming for her blind spot. However, in seconds, the golem froze with a path of ice leading up from Astrya''s heels.


    Carina was shocked, and braced for impact, as Astrya swung down hard, sending her flying and rolling across the ground.


    Astrya laughed out loud. "You''re too weak and honestly not meant for battle, but I could make you part of my collection... Such fair skin. Hmmm, maybe I must..."


    She stepped closer, as Carina got up, but quickly enclosed her, in an ice cage. Freaking the Nova out, before she calmed down and smashed the roof open, with a large stone pillar and launched herself out on a rock platform.


    "Stay with me!" Astrya screamed, not noticing the faint blur to her right. Bright flames caught her attention, forcing her to turn around, however, it was too late for her to raise her sword, as Amaara cut down with her entire might.


    The princess''s shoulder, along with her arm and a portion of her side, plopped to the floor, burning up. Astrya, dropped to her knees screaming from the pain, as she brought forth a wave of ice, pushing Amaara back.


    "Now Carina!" Amaara demanded as blood dripped down her chin. She could feel a ribcage broken but had already taken the booster to ignore the pain.


    Carina placed both of her hands firmly on the ground, raising a giant, made out of stones and metal. "Create: Stenh?makare!" She yelled as it morphed knuckledusters on its hands, towering above Astrya, then punched down repeatedly, nonstop.


    As it did, Amaara concentrated all of the energy she could muster into her hands, manifesting a small, condensed fireball. She continued drawing further amounts of energy from all around her and raised the heat even more, condensing it as it got bigger.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Sarah had told her before the mission, that to defeat the children of Atlas they needed to destroy the core, or their body whole. The only problem was, that their core was as small as a marble and it could be moved anywhere around their body faster than a blink of an eye. Amaara knew their mission depended on her.


    The golem started slowing down, then froze, as the ice continued all around it. "My love, how can you do this to me? It seems you require a lesson, that you can never forget!" Astrya yelled, as she walked out of the rubble and smoke kicked up, by the crumbling golem.


    Carina panted, trying to catch her breath. She kept her guard up, as she watched the ominous ice spread even more, with each step Astrya took, safely from her floating rock platform.


    Amaara kept condensing the flaming ball dozens of times over while hovering, to avoid the creeping ice. She rotated the sphere at almost Mach speed, cutting her palms up with burns, as she began to overheat.


    Carina knew they only had one chance to get this right or they would have to retreat. She knew her role in this mission. "Create: Sten Valkyrie!" She yelled, raising her hand, as winged humanoid golems, rose from the ground behind her, and rushed at Astrya.


    The princess shook her head, turning her attention back to Amaara as ice spikes manifested around her, taking down all of Carina''s golems. "You bitch, I''m going to kill you slowly for that." She spat, as her arm grew back to normal.


    Amaara gave her a playful smile. "Nah, honestly I don''t see you doing any of that."


    Carina dropped the collection of golem rubble she raised, without Astrya noticing, high above her, with the last of her strength. Astrya leaped forward towards Amaara to avoid it, noticing it at the last second.


    The rubble crashed down hard, crushing half of her body, before she could get away, causing her to scream once again. "Who... Who are you? You''re both just insects! How dare you do this to me!"


    Amaara flew up higher, as burn marks, began visibly scorching her skin. "Damn, being stomped on, by insects, is a sad way to go out." She teased, giving her one last smile before she threw her hands forward. "Ignite: Solar Flare!"


    Flames shattered forth, cracking the ball open. Racing towards the defenseless princess. She raised one hand up at the incoming blast trying to protect herself, but Carina moved the rubble forward covering her hand so that only her head stuck out.


    "What was that about being ''weak''?" She taunted, glaring at Astrya, as her headaches, began to get worse.


    Astrya looked back at the blast, terrified, and with all of her strength, manifested barriers of ice above her to block it, without success. It burned through like a hot knife, causing a deafening explosion, as it touched down.


    Amaara dropped out of the sky suffering from third-degree burns. However, Carina caught her just in time, with rocks, slowing down her fall, then rushed to her, taking out a couple of boosters. She gave herself one first to bring down her explosive headache. Then plunged the other into Amaara''s arm, who was already unconscious from the pain.


    "We won... We won... Amaara! You were awesome!..." She smiled at her sleeping comrade, then fell over knocking out.


    Back at Bolgan''s castle...


    Bolgan launched all of his floating projectiles at Tobi, who in turn flew higher to avoid them. However, they homed in on him, relentlessly. So instead he jetted down, making his way toward Bolgan, and unsheathed his sword. Then, launched forth the flaming, electric boulder he had been holding onto.


    Bolgan raised a rock pillar under his feet, leaping him up in the air, to cut down the boulder in two with his axe and bare strength. He broke a piece off the column and used it to keep himself flying towards Tobi.


    Their weapons collided as Bolgan''s projectiles crashed back down into the city all around them. They both smiled at each other. Then jumped back, creating some distance in midair.


    Bolgan lifted his axe onto his shoulder, sizing Tobi up. "It''s been a long time since I fought someone worthy outside of my siblings." He said, swinging his axe down, causing a large gust of wind.


    Tobi went back into a defensive formation. "You may find me worthy, but I have no respect for a warrior that holds slaves."


    Bolgan frowned at Tobi''s words. "Well if you don''t give them work, they will overstep their place. We''re merely asserting our right, that we have obtained with our power."


    Tobi shook his head. "I guess we weren''t going to see eye to eye anyway."


    He felt a slight vibration, as Sarah whispered into his comm. "Tobi..."


    "What is it, Sarah?" He whispered back.


    Her voice trembled slightly, as she spoke. "I didn''t want to tell you this, now of all times, but you need to hurry. Earth is getting attacked."

 Tobi vs Bolgan

    The sound of metal, striking metal resounded across the castle city, as Osei and Galzed traded blow for blow. He jumped back noticing the floor freezing and creeping up near his feet, spreading from Galzed. Then the giant yelled out, "World of Ice." His voice rang across his castle walls, as a cold breeze picked up fast, and then with him as the epicenter, ice froze the ground around them at an alarming rate.


    Osei jumped back even further near Helio and then took to the air, floating by keeping electricity running under his feet. For electric users, doing this drained a heavy amount of energy.


    Helio jumped up at the same time and created a floating ice platform for himself, then one for Osei, so that he could retain his stamina. Osei looked back at him and nodded, "Thanks."


    The two looked around below them. The entire castle was frozen, as the temperature had dropped drastically. The Novas had started to feel chills, as their breaths formed mist and vapor, escaping into the cold.


    Galzed laughed out loud, echoing once more across the city, as he scratched the back of his head. "Since it''s two vs. one, I hope you don''t mind if I fight in my domain. Now..."


    He leaped up onto a large platform of ice and charged at Osei, as the prince switched into first gear, then proceeded to fire hundreds of electric volleys and blades of ice at him, with Helio. Galzed intercepted each barrage with hundreds of arrows, from archers rising from the frozen city.


    Then he crashed through the attacks and collided with Osei''s sword. Striking him off his platform.


    Osei free fell for a bit, but regained his composure and maintained flight, while creating a small condensed ball of electricity in his palm. Rotating it at Mach speed, then parried all of Galzed''s next incoming sword strikes, while Helio peltered ice blades at Galzed''s back.


    The Nova managed to hold his ground, overcoming the prince with speed, then thrust the ball into Galzed''s gut yelling, "Raika Sphere!" At the top of his lungs. Tens of millions of volts spilled out, as it shattered like glass coursing through Galzed''s body.


    Sending him paralyzed, and crashing through the castle city, while rippling utter destruction through his territory. Osei raced to follow up with a finishing move, however, a gigantic clone that looked similar to Galzed, towering 30 feet tall, manifested behind him, in seconds. Then swatted the Nova to the other side of the city.


    Helio was terrified. His knees knocked, shaking, as he looked up at the golem. ''We underestimated them'', it dawned on him. ''We could never kill monsters like them.''


    The golem made its way towards Helio, seemingly gliding across the ice city. Hordes of kaycers screeched, piling towards Osei''s direction, and fighting each other for the first bite.


    Helio went into a frantic panic, he didn''t know what to do. Barely noticing a slight vibration sounding off in his ear. "Helio, get yourself together, remember where you came from, remember what you are here to do." Sarah reminded him.


    Helio shook his head, trying to keep his hands from shaking. "Sarah... I don''t know if I can do this."


    Sarah chuckled, warming him up a little, as he thought of being anywhere else. "You are Helio Leandro, there''s nothing you can''t do. Why can''t you control his ice?"


    "His ice...?" Helio asked, as he launched volleys and jumped back from the ice giant trying to reach him.


    "Yes Helio, if he can get stronger, with the ice around him, you can too." She said, making it sound like an idea he should thought of about a minute ago.


    Tobi rarely used ice techniques, so it was hard to gain new knowledge from him. However, Helio decided, he wanted to do everything in his power to win this fight. He knew he was given it for a reason.


    The Nova stopped a far enough distance from the golem. Then focused on the energy coursing through the layers of ice around him. He could feel it around the city breathe as if it were alive. It was as if, Galzed was continuously pouring in energy, into a new entity, using the planet''s resources.


    Ice was his domain, but he was afraid of touching the foreign energy, regardless he still decided to reach out. However, what he didn''t know, was that Tobi''s cells inside the suit had a greater ability to drain energy, from anything compared to a normal Rennayan could, granting Helio unexpected freedom.


    Portions of the city started to melt as Helio drained the energy from all around him. His body temperature was normal, but the temperature around him dropped to -30¡ãC. A cold whirlwind had started to form around him, as cracks ruptured across the ice around the city.


    Galzed had just flown into view, stopping his golem short since Helio kept running away. "What do you think you''re doing, you coward?" He asked, grasping at the hole in his stomach, which had still not fully recovered.


    Helio snarled angrily. No one calls him that. "I am no coward, and I''m going to use your power against you."


    The prince laughed out loud once again. "Insects! Still struggling! What can you even do?"


    Turquoise veins began racing through Helio''s body. Mist formed from each breath he took. He felt a rush of power like never before, in part due to his anger and adrenaline. His life was on the line.


    Galzed felt uncomfortable as his city continued to melt. He tried to catch him off guard by throwing his sword at him.


    Helio dodged it gracefully, with newfound confidence rushing through him. He flew at sonic speed towards Galzed, and cut down hard before he could even react. To his knowledge he dodged the strike in time, however, the cold chill, emanating from the tip of his sword, sliced him in half, rippling mass destruction across the city below.


    He didn''t understand what had just happened. However, fortunately, his body had instinctively moved his core to safety at the last second, while he returned a large volley of ice, crashing into Helio.


    The Nova was sent flying off his platform, but he made another before he hit the ground. Then watched as one of Galzed''s halves dropped to the ground. He was coiling in pain but rushed to merge back with his other half.


    "This kid is using my energy, but how? I''m not allowing him to." He whispered to himself. "I have to kill him first." He concluded, before being cut short, as he noticed Osei at the last second, coming for his neck.


    Galzed ducked down, by instinct, afraid of being sliced a second time, but took the chance to freeze Osei''s sword in place, with a fast-forming column of ice. Then kicked him away from it with tremendous force. Helio flew by overhead, stopping behind Osei, with dozens of volleys of ice, ready to be launched at a moment''s notice.


    Galzed spoke up surprised by Osei''s return. "You''re still alive."


    Osei grinned back. "I''m not leaving without your head." Catching himself too late. ''Damn'', Sarah was going get him for that. People around the world, sat at the edge of their seats, anxious about what was going to happen.


    Galzed smiled back. "Let''s see if you can say the same thing after this." He jumped back up on a platform of ice, dodging Helios volleys and gaining some altitude.


    Helio made a platform for Osei to hop on, as Galzed raised both of his hands above his head. A giant whirlwind of ice, spun into a full-blown blizzard, swirling shards of ice, within a massive frozen and pressurized sphere above him.


    It grew to over fifteen times his size, as he condensed it more, straining the growing storm. Cracks raced around the sphere, as he struggled to hold it together. The air around him dropped by over 50 degrees. He looked down at them, wanting to see their fear-struck faces.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Instead, the pair had already gotten to work on their own move. Something they had practiced over and over together, with the entire group. For cases of emergency, and to rely less on Tobi, assist each other''s elements.


    Helio made the sphere while Osei poured in electricity. Then Helio drained as much, as he could from Galzed''s ice, melting the city down even further.


    As they combined each other''s strengths, they raised their hands and condensed the sphere together hundreds of times over. While Osei helped spin it at sonic speed.


    Galzed laughed. "Struggling till the end! Mortals always amuse me. Goodbye, warriors of Earth!"


    He then dropped his hands forward, towards them as his attack followed his directions. "Freezing Comet!" He yelled, as his concoction bared down, unimaginable cold and dread before them.


    The pair had just finished accumulating the most amount of energy they had ever mustered. Their sphere was much bigger than when they had first started, nearly over one-third of Galzed''s.


    Yet they looked up at the incoming sphere of destruction, with its shadow looming across the whole city. Osei chuckled and Helio smiled, as they thrust their hands forth. "Combo Series: Static Bomb!" They yelled, launching the ball forward, as it left cloud rings behind.


    The two attacks collided, resounding a deafening shockwave, as Galzed''s broke open exploding all around them. However, they held on, as their sphere eased through, intact, and struck Galzed in moments. Exploding in a magnificent storm of lightning and ice, blowing him up into pieces.


    The pair looked at each other, then dapped fists, before dropping from exhaustion.


    Back on Earth...


    The outskirts of Shanghai was carnage. The alien spaceships had been opening fire on the city around them, while the Chinese military fought back an intense battle against the invaders. Hundreds of bodies littered the floor, troops, enemies, and civilians alike. Sarah had called the officials of the country over a hundred times but there was no answer.


    She finally got a call back after forty-five minutes into the attack, because of international pressure, worried about the situation. She rushed to send the Nova division there. Her ships were already engaging with the enemy ships over France and fortunately, only troops and infantry landed there.


    She decided to send her military to engage them, with French forces. However, both of the children of Atlas were floating above Shanghai watching the operation, unopposed. They had already announced themselves to the world via World Telomoniter, but Sarah quickly took it down. Then moments after the call, the Prometheus, Beyond''s largest command ship, launched with the remaining Novas to China.


    Back on Sonara...


    Tobi sliced forward dozens of flame cuts toward Bolgan. In turn, the prince raised several stone walls in front of him blocking the barrage, then flanked to the right, flying a bit closer.


    Tobi lunged at him, striking at his axe, and immediately surged millions of volts, through his sword. Shocking Bolgan back down to the city. At the same time, hundreds of golems rose out of the ground, leaping over each other in hordes at Tobi.


    He dodged each one reaching for him, as he flew higher up, then burned them all away, just as a large shadow loomed behind him. A forty-40-foot tall gem-encrusted giant, crossed its hands together, over its head, and struck him down with devastating force.


    Tobi had only managed to put up a wall of ice and his sword in front of him, to lessen the impact. However, pain was all he felt, as he was sent crashing down into the city, causing a low seismic earthquake.


    He coughed up blood. "Damn it!" He thought to himself. "He''s a monster."


    The prince himself, was already on his way, standing on a platform made of stone. Only Stopping a few meters, to look down on him. Tobi got up and glared back, switching into first gear, as he sheathed his sword.


    Bolgan laughed. "Ahh I see, you have ascended... Do you know how many ascended Rennayans I have cleansed with my axe?"


    He laughed, then sheathed his axe as well, out of respect, while proceeding to cover his body with stones and iron. "However, I want to enjoy this fight. I''m almost strong enough to join the top 100 and after I absorb you... I''ll be far stronger."


    Tobi smirked. "Death is an unexpected event. This may be as far as you go."


    Bolgan chuckled. "Mighty words for the weak."


    There was a tense silence for just a moment as they both smiled, full of confidence. Then they lunged at each other. Trading blows for blow. Tobi clad his punches, with fire and electricity, getting a hit in, with every couple of strikes. Bolgan jumped back to make some distance, noticing he wasn''t getting anywhere. Tobi was quicker and more agile, healing his bruises almost instantly, but unable to block the pain.


    Bolgan unsheathed his axe, giving up. "Fine then, I guess I have no choice but to pull out my ace."


    Tobi frowned, wondering what was going on. Then, he watched as the prince struck the ground in front of him with his full might, splitting open a massive crevice and yelling out to the sky. "Volcanic World!"


    Tobi jumped back into the sky to avoid the eruption, as sea level amounts of lava, burst out of the crevice. Showering the land as far as the eye could see, with an endless burning downpour. He searched below, stunned as he watched Bolgan surfing, above a wave of lava, while adorning himself in a suit of magma.


    Tobi cooled down some last remaining nearby rocks and covered his body, in a full-body stone and ice armor suit, as he watched Bolgan raise one hand towards him. Hundreds of drops of lava shot up out of the scorching ocean like rain returning to the sky. All surrounding Tobi, with nowhere to escape.


    His eyes grew wide, as he thrust his hands outwards and manifested a frozen dome. Layering it with dozens of sheets, while it melted away by the barrage of scorching drops. Dozens burned through, burning him, as he tried his best, to block the remaining with his sword.


    The moment he felt him let up, he ejected himself out and retreated off to the city''s outskirts to avoid his domain. However, he felt rumbles and heard crashes of rampant destruction, forcing him to look back in despair. Seeing Bolgan chase him on a wave of lava, crashing through his city.


    Tobi turned around, but continued to fly backward, while preparing a small sphere of fire and electricity, hovering between his hands, then released it quickly at Bolgan, while yelling, "Ignite: Static Cannon!"


    However, Bolgan saw the attack coming and didn''t hesitate to respond with a move of his own. As a tube of lava attached itself to his back and a massive sphere pulled itself together, from his surroundings and out of his hands. Pooling quickly and condensing once, before shattering forth, and erecting a beam of immense heat. Colliding with Tobi''s attack and eating its way through, steadily.


    Tobi grunted, as he was pushed back, then switched to one hand and jetted himself away with the other, as the beam sailed overhead. Drops of lava burned through his armour to his skin.


    He writhed from the pain, then unsheathed his sword. Just in time for Bolgan to launch himself into the air, high above him, striking down with his axe covered in magma, while yelling ecstatically. "You''re head is mine!" The giant exclaimed enthusiastically.


    Even though he reinforced his sword with tough metals and ice the impact itself still sent him crashing down into the ground further away, as the sea of lava, crept closer to him.


    Tobi wondered to himself while groaning from the pain, ''How could magma be controlled? Its nature was way too wild.'' Just advancing an element, brought Bolgan so much more strength, than he had expected.


    Then he shook his head awake and told himself that now was not the time to dwell on a problem. One direct strike and it was all over. Then he thought, about, what his favourite MC, would do. ''Use fire with fire and overcome it, to see another day,'' he thought and reached out to the magma''s energy.


    Just as he anticipated, it was way too wild and thick for him to control, as if grasping for a toothpick but having several getting stuck on the container''s lid. He kept trying anyway.


    Bolgan dropped down sheathing his axe. "Fragile beings like you should just accept whatever is decided for you." He said with disdain.


    Tobi growled back. "I''m not done yet. Someone, high and mighty, forced to use, his full might on a fragile being... You''re a joke."


    He braced himself, as the prince leaped at him and furiously threw dozens of lethal strikes at Tobi. Magma flew in every direction, as Tobi kept reinforcing his body with stones, ice, and electricity. Dodging and returning every strike, with desperation.


    His hands burned, as he held on, without being able to recover from the recoil rippling through his body. Then he jumped back, flying up quickly to avoid a gut-wrenching kick, from Bolgan.


    Once more he tried his luck, manifesting a quick sphere of fire and electricity, and blasting it down, as quickly as he could, trying to catch the prince off guard. However, Bolgan didn''t miss a beat, returning another blast of lava with one hand, aiming at him.


    The collision sent Tobi flying up higher, as he poured more energy and might, to avoid being consumed by the flow of lava. Eventually, he gave up and jumped out of the way, once it was safe, letting himself free fall for a bit as he ran over his options and watched the beam passing over him.


    An idea struck his mind, making him draw his sword, and reinforce it with dirt and ice, before sticking it into the passing beam. Lava dripped off it, coating the edge, while he maintained it burning over his blade. "I can do this!" He said to himself. It took all he had just to maintain the little amount of lava on his blade, due to lack of training his earth abilities, but it was all he could depend upon now.


    Bolgan smiled, noticing him free falling back down towards him, then launched himself using a stone pillar and broke it into a platform to continue his flight. Axe in tow heating up with magma and ready to finish him off.


    Tobi condensed the flames propelling him and struck himself with lightning, increasing his maximum speed. Then conjured flames and electricity, coating the magma-reinforced blade. Burning it with intensity, as he broke sound barriers, racing towards Bolgan.


    Then just before their weapons could collide, he stopped short, yelling out loud. "Ignite: Static Absolution!" As Bolgan swung short, wondering how he was being pushed back. His vision began to split. The strike, erupted lava, electricity, and flames, all in one, splitting him into two burning halves, and devastating the entire castle city behind him, while clearing the sky.


    He watched Tobi''s hair, streak even bits of silver and grey as static electricity crackled profoundly around him. "Not... Not possible-" He uttered as his last words.


    Tobi sheathed his sword and powered down in midair, watching Bolgan''s body finally crumble away. Then he remembered the situation and immediately tuned into his comm. "Everyone, status report?"

 Consequences

    The children of Atlas floated above the city, watching citizens rushing to safety and screaming. They debated heading over to where they sent the rest of their ships, as they heard chatter about them being attacked, since these siblings never did anything apart.


    "Seryn... I had hoped they would at least be a bit more entertaining, but this is just sad." The prince said.


    Seryn looked at her brother, then back down below, as electricity crackled around her, keeping her afloat. "Be patient, Jeraton. The research indicated that this country is the underlying superpower of this world. They should be the ones that killed our brothers, if not we''ll head to the other two big ones-"


    She was cut off as a flaming, frozen boulder, covered in electricity sailed at them from above. It crashed into the siblings, sending them flying down to the ground in an open field, exploding shards of ice everywhere as they landed. The broadcast around the world flipped on, showing the Novas racing into battle and landing near the crash site.


    Simon, Koji, Norah, Ranesa, and Kayed were all dressed in updated blue and white striped battle suits. A home kit Sarah made for them.


    The siblings got up out of the rubble of ice as the smoke cleared. "Who dares to attack us!" Jeraton called out.


    Simon stepped forward. "My name is Simon, and we are here with the Beyond Space Force, Nova Division, ordering you to halt your invasion or we will use force."


    The siblings laughed out loud. "Are you the ones responsible for killing our brothers?" Seryn asked.


    Koji stepped up and spoke. "No, but we can help you meet them."


    Jeraton raised one hand, pointing it at them, and kept the other hand on his lance. "Let''s see about that." As he spoke, multiple compressed fireballs, rapidly manifested and shot out of his hands.


    Ranesa and Kayed placed their hands on the ground, creating ice and dirt walls all around them, blocking the barrage, as Simon, Koji, and Norah flanked. She shot electric volleys at Seryn, while Simon and Koji went for Jeraton.


    Seryn laughed as she set them off in the air, with an electric whip. Then struck for Norah, who hopped to avoid the whip, aiming for her legs. Frustrated Seryn drew her short sword out from her left hip, welcoming Norah''s charge.


    Electricity sparked around them hazardously, as both of their swords collided. At the same time, Simon and Koji commenced a dual strike assault on Jeraton, who with a little bit of difficulty parried both of their deadly strikes with his spear.


    He jumped up higher than the both of them and blew down flames straight from his mouth. However, without hesitation, Simon formed a flame barrier to protect him and Koji, while Koji jumped through the flames clad in electricity, once Jeraton''s had cleared. Boosting himself high above Jeraton and calling lightning to reinforce him, as he struck down.


    Jeraton flew up towards him and blocked it with equal impact burning more intense flames and sending Koji crashing back down into the ground far off. Then yelled out to the both of them, as Simon wondered if Koji was okay. "I am the 121st Prince, Jeraton! You trash, must know your place, and surrender now or else." He raised his hands above his head, as a massive fireball formed above it.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Miniature Star." He called out, then sent it down towards them anyway.


    Ranesa ran forward and placed her hands facing the attack. "Frost: Bite!" she yelled, as a blast of ice and slush raced forward intercepting the flaming sphere. Resulting in a large mist explosion, and pushed them back, with incredibly hot winds.


    Simon leaped up while covering his eyes from the steam. Burning more fire from his heels to quickly reach Jeraton.


    Who without hesitation, raced towards him spear first.


    Simon dodged at the last second, and took the gamble, launching a flaming ball into Jeraton''s gut. Engulfing him in a cloud of flames midair.


    Simon jumped back, descending slowly, and panting, as he felt his body beginning to overheat. However, he was astounded, seeing the smoke clear and Jeraton unscathed. Then the prince leaped at Simon striking down with his entire might, reinforcing flames at the tip, to press his spear forward. Simon raised his daggers, blocking it, but was sent crashing down just like Koji.


    Jeraton looked at Ranesa. "It seems, I may have to kill you first since you can directly counter my abilities."


    Ranesa glared at him but stood her ground. "Let''s see you try." She said, covering herself in an armour of ice, as Jeraton rushed at her. Then made a platform of ice and flew away, unhooking her bow.


    As he got closer, multiple arrows of ice slowed him down, with some denting him, and cutting up his skin. He blocked as many as he could, spinning his spear around, and chased her.


    Suddenly he was forced to stop in his tracks, as Koji appeared like lightning, striking his spear. The Nova increased his speed, moving even faster than before, striking and overwhelming  Jeraton, as Ranesa, shot arrows into his back.


    Koji could feel a few bruises and several broken bones, but he grunted through the pain, trying to find an opening and end this once and for all. In his peripheral, Simon pulled up from behind him with one more flaming sphere hovering above his hands.


    Jeraton noticed him as well and took a chance to explode a flame barrier emanating from him, sending his assailants flying back. He then rushed at Koji, who had yet to recover and was covering his eyes from the heat, then kicked him down with an explosive kick. Crashing the Nova down, creating a small crater, as he laid unconscious.


    Jeraton then turned his attention towards Simon, who braced himself, as Ranesa, bothered him, with several more arrows, disrupting his thoughts and abilities. He opted to throw his spear at Simon, distracting him, as Simon redirected it with his dagger, then swung the other, while Jeraton dropped in close, dodging his swing, and pressed a condensed ball of fire into his guts.


    Blasting him out of the sky, and returning the favor. He then turned his attention to the annoying girl, still peltering him, with arrows, and now, even larger ones, lodging into his body. He was beginning to get angry, but he knew he wouldn''t be able to catch her and she''d eventually wear him down.


    "You''re going to keep running aren''t you." He asked, calmly, finally thinking of a plan. Then looked over at Kayed, who was busy supporting Norah against Seryn.


    "What would you do, if I tried to kill one of them?" He asked, nodding towards the Novas.


    Her eyes grew wide. None of them would see it coming.


    She watched as Jeraton recalled and heated his spear, then chucked it with incredible speed at Kayed. She had already begun dashing towards him, through the sky while calling out to him to warn him, however, he was too far away. Leaving her no choice.


    Kayed looked back, feeling a cold breeze behind him, as Ranesa created a massive wall of ice blocking the incoming spear.


    The only problem was, Jeraton had just dropped down behind her, plunging his flaming hand flat through her back and out of her chest. Then stepped back, pulling his hand out quickly, leaving her standing and whipped off the blood.


    Ranesa looked back at Kayed and smiled. With the last of her breath, she uttered. "It''s ok..." Then her lifeless body fell to the floor.


    At the Prisoner''s Quarters at Beyond HQ...


    Sarah stood in front of Kalista''s cell, staring at her as she glared back. Then after a brief moment, she spoke up. "Earth is being invaded. Tobi and Osei aren''t here. The Novas are engaging the children of Atlas as we speak, but they won''t stand a chance without your help." She unlocked Kalista''s cell. "I''m pretty sure you don''t want them to die."


    Kalista got up, silently and walked out. Then looked back at her, with an angry expression. "Just give me a weapon."

 Kalista

    On the outskirts of Shanghai...


    "Ranesa!" Kayed called out, holding back tears.


    Norah heard him and jumped back after crossing swords with Seryn, making some distance. She glanced back for a moment, just to see Ranesa''s still body. "Ranesa..." She stuttered.


    Seryn took her chance, seeing the Nova distracted, and caught her with the whip. Then tased her with thousands of volts, as Norah resisted, cursing herself for dropping her guard, and tried to absorb the electricity instead. However, in seconds Seryn overpowered her, pouring in millions of more volts in sudden surges, and dropped Norah to the floor.


    Kayed forced his attention from Ranesa to Jeraton, who was beginning to make his way toward him, then saw Norah unconscious, succumbing his mind over to fear. He raised hundreds of golems, covering and pushing Jeraton back, as some grabbed Norah and Ranesa''s body, as he took off. The golems holding his comrades, took the skies as well, leaving the rest to charge the siblings.


    Seryn chuckled watching Kayed attempt to flee, as some of his golems broke off, grabbing Simon and Koji. "Ha! My toys don''t run! " She yelled at him, as a massive floating electric arrow, manifested above her, charged with millions of volts.


    "Love''s Sting," she said as she launched her arrow toward Kayed at sonic speed, hitting him square in the back, and off his flying platform. He crashed into the ground, suffering a short seizure, then fell unconscious.


    Jeraton had just finished burning away most of the golems, however, the remaining crumbled on their own. The world watched in shock, as all of the Novas were taken out.


    The siblings began making their way towards Kayed but were suddenly caught off by a low hovering sound, as a shuttle landed out of camouflage near the unconscious Nova. Seconds later, Kalista leaped out with medic androids following suit, rushing to the Nova''s aid. She wore brand-new Nova gear and was given one of Tobi''s spare swords.


    "Kalista!!" She looked at Seryn, calling out to her.


    "Honey I''ve missed you! So this is where you''ve been! When Zaryon borrowed you from me, I thought I would never see you again." She started tearing up, with the saddest expression.


    Kalista turned her attention to the Novas sprawled across the ground, then her focus settled on Ranesa. She felt no residual energy from her, causing her mind to go blank.


    The girl who had visited her cell, almost every day. Brought her new treats, and told her about her world, life, and what she could be here. Her first friend in a very long time and she had barely spoke back any words to her.


    The others had visited her too, but none had made an impact on her optimistically than the way Ranesa did. Something snapped inside her. Whatever it took, whatever it needed, the children of Atlas needed to go.


    Small geysers formed all around them spewing lava, then completely blasting out of the ground. Her lifespan began shaving away, as she lit, the fuse within her, cursing away at her current weakness. It hurt, but it didn''t matter.


    She looked back at the siblings who were wary of the downpour of lava. Veins of magma naturally marked her body, as if they had always been there. Her hair began to rise slightly, as the temperature around them drastically shot up.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    She had ascended.


    Only one other thought crossed her mind at that moment, which was Sarah asking her to get them further away from the city. "I don''t want to do this here... Let''s go somewhere else." She asked, in a commanding tone.


    Seryn frowned at her words, trying to get closer to her. "Baby what do you mean, let''s get you-"


    Two massive pillars of lava erupted higher than skyscrapers, and struck the pair, at faster-than-sound speed. Sending them flying out of the city and into a clearing with no civilians. Beyond''s ships had already taken out all of the invading vessels and began providing relief & reconstruction, with the Chinese government.


    Kalista hovered on a magma platform, above the siblings. She placed both of her hands in front of her, aiming at both of them. Massive amounts of lava burst out of the ground, burning and condensing into a floating sphere in front of her.


    The siblings looked up at the incoming danger. Side by side, they raised both of their hands in front of each other synchronizing their energy, in harmony. Electricity and flames mixed, as they poured tens of thousands of years into a force to save their lives.


    A sphere of condensed energy, formed in front of the both of them, burning with light blue fire and electricity. "Inferno Cataclysm." They yelled, launching the sphere to stop the incoming danger.


    Both attacks collided pressing each other for a moment, then exploded, resulting in a draw. However, Kalista didn''t stop there, as she raised one hand high up above her head, commanding lava to rise and pour down all around them.


    "Brother watch out!" Seryn yelled as they both leaped up out of harm''s way and charged at Kalista. Who in turn blocked both of their incoming strikes, then used magma to disarm their weapons.


    Seryn watched her sword fly off below, with pure horror. "Aaah! My sword!" She screamed losing it.


    Without hesitation, they proceeded to throw dozens of strikes and kicks, while protecting their hands and feet in their respective elements. Kalista struggled to block each one of them, leaving them with severe burns on their bodies.


    Then she proceeded to draw her sword from her back and had it covered in magma, as she cut off Jeraton''s arm and Seryn''s leg at the same time, who mistakenly thought they had her in a bind. The two jumped back leaving some distance and watched their body parts fall into the sea of lava below.


    "You wench, you''ll pay for that!" Jeraton yelled clutching his arm, with newfound hatred.


    "It hurts... Brother, it hurts so much." Seryn was crying, as large amounts of blood spurted out of their wounds.


    "I know sister, we have to kill her," Jeraton replied.


    Suddenly, her tears stopped, as a sinister and furious face took over. "Then let''s get serious."


    Kalista looked at them, thinking they were the weirdest duo she had ever run into, but she had to kill them. She shook her thoughts and braced herself.


    Static electricity, crackled, rapidly around Seryn, before she disappeared in a blur, punching Kalista in the face, across the clearing. Her hands burned, but she bared it. Her fury, yet to be sated.


    Jeraton closed in above her, as she was about to recover, then finished the combo, by striking her down with the hottest flames he could muster. She crashed into the ground below her, creating a massive crater, but quickly got back up, coughing up blood. ''Two on-one was a little much,'' she thought to herself, as her transformation flickered. The siblings were ruthless.


    Wasting no time, Seryn had already appeared behind Kalista, trying to catch her off guard. However Kalista quickly blocked the incoming punch, then socked her full of magma and sent her flying back. "Owww!" She screamed grabbing her face and rolling over in pain.


    Jeraton appeared above her once again, trying to strike her down, however, Kalista raised one arm above her head, blocking his kick as intense flames engulfed her. She gritted her teeth through it and grabbed his leg through the fire by the shin. Burning it, then slammed him back and forth into the ground repeatedly. Then tossed him visibly injured, before Seryn punched her from the back, finally catching her off guard. The princess'' face was messed up, but still reforming.


    She zoomed around Kalista, continuing her flurry of strikes. Pushing her back, as she was unable to block them all. The Nova was starting to overheat and the rising headache was hindering her. Yet, she managed to return a few strikes back at Seryn, however, soon Jeraton joined in, as they both started to push her back...

 The Novas

    Sarah had managed to treat the Novas on the Prometheus hovering overhead in space. Each of them, quickly got up, crowding around Ranesa''s body and crying.


    Sarah walked up to them, carefully thinking of what to say, as she knew this wasn''t the right time. "All of you, I know this must be hard. However, Earth is still in danger. We must focus on the task at hand. Kalista is out there, fighting alone. She can''t handle both of them on her own. Work together, use your smarts, and don''t let Ranesa''s sacrifice be in vain."


    They needed to hear it, as some of them were already starting to lose their will to fight. They marched down to the shuttle bay, renewing their resolve. Sarah had tried to get them to as near perfect health as she could, with the limited time she had.


    "For Ranesa," Kayed said out loud, as they strapped into the shuttle.


    "For Ranesa." They nodded and spoke back in unison.


    They descended back down to the outskirts of the city, where they were last and scanned for Kalista, as the telemonitors switched the broadcast to the recovery going on in France and Shanghai. They found three heat signatures not too far outside of the city and landed close by.


    The four Nova''s rushed over to the clearing to help Kalista. Instead what they found was, Jeraton standing beside Seryn, who was sitting on a rock looking down at Kalista and badgering her.


    She was on her back, bloody and bruised, as they sensed her life on a thin thread.


    First Ranesa, now Kalista. The Ranesa that made them smile and Kalista who had just started to open up to them. The emotions rushing through the Novas at that moment, as compared to any other point in their lives, had never spiked up this high. With the power they had been granted, they yearned for so much, that still wasn''t possible, forcing them to question it.


    ''Why?''


    Some of them collectively asked out loud, as some of their lifespans began to shave away in sync. As if they all felt the same in that moment. By instinct, they began to draw energy from all around them, anywhere they could except each other.


    Electricity crackled between Norah and Koji, as large, violent strikes of lightning struck around them, and were absorbed almost instantly. Glowing blue marks raced through their entire body, like a network of veins, marking them. Flames crushed the ground around Simon''s feet, as he stared Jeraton down, with absolute contempt. His marks, glowed reddish orange and flowed like fire.


    Kayed could not bear it anymore. Ranesa was the third Nova to join and would often give advice to Kayed as well as help with his training and recovery.


    She also helped him get closer to Kalista, as she had begun listening to him. Which to him was progress, as he felt they would they could all become great friends, and his family would grow bigger. However now, it was all being threatened to be taken away. He had to do something.


    Anything.


    Lava creeped up out of the cracks in the ground. The earth around them started to tremble, with low seismic earthquakes, graduating by the second. Then suddenly geysers of lava exploded out of the ground, forcing the rest of the Novas to jump away.


    His body was now covered in veins of lava. They looked at him and then at each other, realizing they had all ascended at that moment. Kayed controlled the lava to not touch his friends, feeling aware that he had caused it.


    He was terrified of his new power, but quickly threw the thought away. All that mattered was using it to kill Jeraton.


    The siblings looked at them, happily and unaware. "Finally, you''ve come back! We were just here questioning Kalista where she took you, our favorite new toys away..." Jeraton started slowing down, noticing their transformation. "I guess you didn''t want to see this, did you guys-"


    Norah and Koji leaped, in a blur of electricity and faster than the siblings could react, striking them flying. Kayed lifted Kalista on a platform and took her to the shuttle, as the others joined in against the children of Atlas.


    She woke up feeling slight movement, just as he was about to put her in the shuttle. "Kayed... what''s with that face you''re making? Listen... Don''t be sad for me, or her right now"


    He looked at her. "Kalista..." A medic android had just rushed to her and started plunging medicine into her arm.


    "Ranesa wouldn''t want that... Win for us, okay?" She said, giving him, the first smile she''s ever given him.


    He smiled back softly. "For sure."


    The door to the shuttle closed up, as the shuttle went invisible, and flew away. He turned back gathering energy once again. The marks on his skin had remained, however, he now had newfound energy and courage.


    He raised up, a platform of magma and flew to the others. Finding Simon and Jeraton striking each other with flames of fury, while Norah and Koji took on Seryn. He decided to place his focus on Jeraton.


    A sphere of condensed lava, with a dense magma core formed above his palm. He waited for when Jeraton broke apart from, Simon, then launched it at a frightening speed.


    The prince turned, seeing it at the last second, and dodged, jumping far back, as a small dense explosion erased his last position. He looked back at Kayed, who raised another hand as geysers of lava, spurted up all over Jeraton''s location.


    Frustrated Jeraton jumped up, once again, while avoiding being enclosed by a downpour of lava. Slipping his guard for a moment, as Simon punched him down towards one of the geysers. Kayed closed in, while drawing the hammer on his back. A new one that Sarah forged for him. He knew he might regret it, but he reinforced it with magma, hoping it would hold.


    The prince avoided the pillar of lava, by jetting all of his flames, to stop himself in midair, then flew back up. "It''s funny, you all were defeated, yet you came back willingly. Is it to protect this place? This planet?..."


    Simon and Kayed both glared at him.


    He felt their silence, loud and clear, so he continued. "Well then, do you have another plan, if let''s say another ship on standby, were to suddenly show up on the other side of your planet?"


    Both of their eyes grew wide. He smiled, feeling more in control of the situation, then he gave the order in his comm.


    Koji & Norah vs Seryn...


    "Aww, are you really trying to fight me?" Seryn asked the both of them.


    Norah growled at her, while Koji braced himself. They had injured her multiple times, but she kept regenerating. Koji had whiplash burns, but he gritted his teeth through them. While Norah had a large cut on her arm, which she cauterized by heating her blade.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Seryn took her whip and whipped the ground between them with millions of volts, multiple times. Breaking it up and kicking up dust, then dove through it.


    The Novas braced themselves using their senses to find where she would come from, through the smoke. Norah sensed her coming from the right but was too late to stop the kick to her gut. Sending her hurdling back.


    Koji spun around noticing Norah disappear, then blocked another incoming kick from Seryn, just in time. With quick instincts, he made a stab for her stomach, but she caught his sword, before he could pull out, then shocked him with over a million volts. Koji held on, with spit foaming at the sides of his mouth, as he tried pulling his sword out.


    Fortunately, Norah appeared out of nowhere and kicked Seryn flying, leaving a large dent in her face. The Nova dropped down beside him, as he managed to recompose himself. "Are you ok?" She asked.


    "Yeah I''m fine, we need to win." He said, finally regaining his bearings.


    "I know." She replied, turning her attention to Seryn, who had already recovered and began walking toward them.


    Just then a buzz disturbed their ear, as Sarah spoke to all of the Novas. "Novas, there''s an advanced warship heading to America, I don''t have any more ships available that can stop them. One of you will need to head there or there will be mass casualties."


    Simon wanted to rush back immediately, while Norah looked at Koji. "Koji you need to go, you are the fastest."


    "But Norah..." He tried to rebut.


    "It''s ok, Koji, I can handle her, I''m killing this bitch, no matter what." She said, reassuringly.


    He nodded and informed the others, that he would go alone, as Norah turned her attention back to Seryn. He looked back at Norah once more then turned around. "Don''t die." He ordered, before launching into the sky and zipping towards America.


    Norah smiled without looking back. "As if I planned to."


    Over the Pacific Ocean...


    Sarah had sent the coordinates of the ship to Koji''s monitor. He flew as fast as he could, however, he knew he was still too far away.


    He stopped, floating over the ocean and realized, that he had been using his abilities for a while and still didn''t have any symptoms of side effects yet. He looked at his hands, finally taking in the blue markings.


    "If I''ve gone First Gear like Osei... maybe I just might be able to do it." He whispered to himself.


    Then began focusing on all of the electricity in the air, as dark clouds began to gather and line up ahead of him, building up an immense amount of energy around him. Followed by the largest lightning strike he had ever created, striking him, as he whispered under his breath. "Static: Dan Maku."


    Lightning struck him, once more, as he leaped off it, zooming across the ocean with lightning speed. The warship was about to cross into Californian airspace, however in seconds a slice of lightning ripped through it, splitting it in half with rippling explosions.


    Koji sheathed his sword, facing Californian land, with his back to the ship, as it collapsed into the ocean. The broadcast had covered the whole incident, sending waves of cheers around the World and boosting morale.


    Onlookers on the coast took videos and uploaded them to social media. Koji smiled to himself, happy that he succeeded, and was about to start heading back when a BSF shuttle dropped out of camouflage.


    Sarah spoke in his ear. "I sent it for you, but you zoomed off. Save your energy and hitch a ride to get back."


    He smiled, once more as he hopped in. "Thanks."


    Jeraton vs. Simon and Kayed


    "Screw you, you piece of shit." Simon was furious, that the monster before him had brought his country in harm''s way.


    However, the prince laughed back, in his face, relishing the pain he caused him. "I won''t deny having something to protect, can make you stronger, but what''s the point of protecting these weak creatures with no energy or iko."


    Simon was enraged, fire was burning in the air around him. He took the first charge, as Kayed followed behind.


    Simon struck first, but Jeraton parried and blasted him back point blank, as Kayed came in swinging down his hammer. The prince managed to raise his sword on time, however, the hammer quickly melted through, striking him square in the chest and straight into the ground.


    He caught himself before crashing and looked ahead of him, noticing a build-up of energy. Simon had been preparing a sphere of fire between his hands.


    "Ignite: Flamen!" He yelled, shattering the sphere forward, as a beam of fire, rushed at the prince, burning apart the path between them.


    Jeraton took it head-on and in moments appeared through the blast, grinning as he grabbed Simon by the throat. Then flew up towards the city, while his burn marks began to regenerate back to normal.


    Simon struggled to get himself free, however, he was granted his wish pretty quickly, as he was thrown through a glass sky-rise building. Simon landed in an office room, with flames blazing the entire floor. Luckily the part of the city they were fighting in, had already been evacuated.


    He got up but didn''t get a chance to breathe, as Jeraton flew through the window and followed up by punching him through the rest of the building, then out another set of glass windows. He felt disoriented and freefell with Jeraton appearing above, striking down once again with a flaming kick.


    However, just in time, Kayed had managed to get near them and block it, then began to engage him in hand-to-hand combat. Burning Jeraton''s hands in return, as he blocked and returned back his strikes.


    Simon appeared behind him, finally regaining his composure, and beamed a sphere of fire into Jeraton''s back, forcing a yelp out of him. Without giving him a moment''s rest, Kayed followed up by striking a magma-covered fist into Jeraton''s gut, pumping him full of lava.


    He coughed up blood, grunting as he grabbed hold of Kayed''s arms before he could try and pull it out. Then dragged him across into Simon and sent them both crashing back. He held his stomach, as he regurgitated the lava out, as best as he could.


    The hole had started forming back slowly, as he glared at them with pure malice, making up his mind. "I have used too much of my lifespan on you guys, I think it''s time to end this. I no longer want to keep any of you!" He shouted before he turned around and rushed back towards Seryn.


    Norah vs. Seryn...


    The dent on Seryn''s face had just finished reforming, as her sword, once again, collided with Norah''s. "I''m going to carve up that cute little face of yours... I can''t wait." She sneered.


    Norah grimaced, at the impacts of Seryn''s strikes, She was able to keep up, but Seryn was still stronger than her. However she knew, she could go faster, just like Osei and Koji. She desperately wished to defeat this stuck-up princess.


    Clouds began to gather overhead. She had always been afraid of using lightning, like the others, and had always opted for electricity around her instead, but now wasn''t the time to be picky.


    She jumped back after another brief exchange with Seryn. Then Norah pointed her sword to the sky, as a massive blue bolt of lightning struck her, with intensity.


    She screamed but bared it and started absorbing all of the electricity, swinging her sword down as it ended. "Static: Berserker." She whispered.


    Blue lightning streaked all around her, as her cobalt blue veins glowed even harder. Faint light streaks of silver dripped down her hair, as blood dripped down her nose.


    Seryn braced herself, feeling something dangerous incoming, and, started whipping her whip all around her at sonic speed, making it impossible for Norah to get near. "Once I knock you out again, I won''t let you go!" Seryn called out to her amongst the whiplashes.


    Norah found it hard for her to speak, it took all she could, just to contain the entire force of the lightning strike, within her body. "I''ll rip you to shreds before you can even try." She replied, back with difficulty, then leaped from her position, breaking several sound barriers, as she cut apart the whip, like a whirlwind, to pieces. Then proceeded to slice away at Seryn, as she tried to keep up with her, only catching glimpses of the flashes of electricity trailing her.


    Seryn struggled for a good moment, trying to get a hold of her, to escape, or do anything, instead, all she could do, was bleed away as cuts opened up all over her body. At the last strike, she noticed Norah going for her neck, with less than a second to go, she put up her short sword and countered her strike.


    Norah jumped back panting, as her hair dropped lower and the static electricity around her calmed down, with her glow going back to normal. She watched Seryn screaming from the pain of her wounds regenerating and smiled. However, she could feel her hands trembling and knew she was reaching her limit. Instinctively she reached into her belt, grabbed the booster, then plunged it into her arm, as her armour made way for it.


    Seryn dropped to her knees, going into shock from how much pain she had experienced and the life draining away from her. She glared at Norah, thinking of how many ways she wanted to kill her.


    Suddenly Jeraton dropped out of the sky, down beside her, worried. "Seryn, what happened to you, why has your energy dropped so low?" He asked, dumbfounded.


    "It was that bitch." She replied.


    "I''ll give you some of mine, here." He touched her shoulder.


    Norah braced herself, worrying about the others, but luckily they had just appeared, flying just above her. Suddenly their comms went off, with an emergency call from Sarah. "Evacuate immediately! The Chinese military has asked us to step aside for an attack that''s already inbound. I repeat evacuate immediately."


    They turned around quickly and began retreating. The siblings looked up at them wondering why they were running. Then their senses forced them to look up, hearing something that cracked the sky. Way too quick, as the missile landed right beside them, exploding a gigantic cloud, that soared into the sky.

 Combo

    The explosion was constant. Clusters of bombs continued to go off within the largest one, leaving no room for mercy. They had worked diligently, watching the American invasion and prepared to be able to protect their country in the worst-case scenario.


    Bringing forth the birth of the strongest, condensed small-radius explosion the world had to offer, using hypersonic technology. The shockwave reached just under five kilometers as they had planned.


    No civilians nearby and no chemical fallout. The broadcast kept up just outside of the explosion. It was deafening. A nightmare for those who had crossed them.


    The Novas had just reached the coordinates Sarah sent them to escape it, managing a close shave, as the shockwave, knocked some of them over. They looked back at the smoke and flames plummeting into the sky, then at the broadcast which closed in on the center, as the smoke cleared.


    Showcasing a massive deformed crater at the epicenter of the blast. Everything for hundreds of meters, had been incinerated.


    However, in the middle, the two siblings remained, as the smoke dissipated. Brutally dismembered in many areas.


    Instinctively they had put in almost 55% of their lifespans to protect themselves from the explosion. Their bodies regenerated slowly, as splattered blood shadowed the ground behind them. Seryn''s intestines were falling out. She picked it back up, with her remaining arm and stuffed it in as the hole closed. She cried, screaming from the pain.


    Jeraton just regained his sight, both of his hands were burned away. His feet, half of his torso, and part of his face were two-thirds gone. "They... They have to pay for this. Sister... I''m tired of this planet." He said, trying to grip his fists, but was met with phantom pain.


    She stopped crying and wiped her tears, then looked up at her brother. "Let''s end it all." She concluded.


    They both floated up together, side by side, while placing their right and left palms facing each other. In seconds, a massive electric sphere began to merge with a massive fireball. Glowing blueish-white and crackling with energy.


    The Novas raced back to the epicenter, noticing them make a move on the broadcast. Just in time to see the siblings about to unleash their attack on the world.


    Koji landed down with them, out of the sky, as every one of them instinctively began to gather energy from all around them. This was it, however, they knew, they didn''t have enough time or strength left, to be able to stop what was coming.


    Each of their elements began to run wild, as the siblings threw down the devastating ball of fire, yelling out to the world, and aiming to lay waste to it. "World Extinction!"


    The Novas looked up, each in first gear, manifesting a sphere of their elements. Then simultaneously unleashed their moves into the sky and aimed for the incoming attack.


    "Ignite: Flamen Ultra!"


    "Static: !


    "Erupt: ''Burkania!


    "Static: Midfae Alraed!


    Their beams, merged in harmony by will, pooled in together, in a joint effort to stop the world''s destruction. Yet, the massive ball of fire ate away at their attack and descended down towards them, by the second.


    The pressure was intense. A massive crater slowly started forming around them as they held their ground. Simon dropped to one knee, as he began to overheat.


    Koji as well, and then Norah followed suit, each of them just holding on to dear life with one hand. Kayed was the only one left standing, however, the pressure was starting to get to him as well, with his hands beginning to burn up.


    He yelled back at them, feeling their desperation. "It''s now or never. Remember your people, Kalista, and most of all we have to do this for Ranesa!"


    At the same time, they suddenly felt an immense sensation around them. A flow of calm and friendly untapped energy seemingly asked them to take their aid. Engulfing them, with a bit of familiarity. They could only guess, but they were right on the mark, that the World had to come to help.


    The people watching all over the world did not forget how Tobi had won, and how difficult it had to be, to be in their position right now. Millions of people around the world wished for this to happen, hoping their prayers would get through to them and for them to notice.


    The Novas began to smile, some of them laughing, as they got up. ''How could we lose? People were depending on us.'' They yelled back as they poured every last bit of energy they could draw and muster. "Combo Series: World Static Cannon!"


    The sibling''s ball of fire, cracked loudly and exploded as it was broken through, resulting in a shockwave hundreds of kilometers wide. Then the beam continued searing right through the siblings without them being able to utter goodbye to each other. Just one last glance, as the beam of explosive energy, ripped through the atmosphere.


    Each of the Novas looked at each other and collapsed, laughing and struggling from their side effects. Then some shed tears, thinking about Ranesa, as BSF medics dropped down to pick them up. The broadcast switched off, as people around the world roared with cheers of victory.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Back on Sonara...


    Tobi had finished gathering Carina and Amaara in a dome of ice. Then began making his way to the Aratris, while treating them as much as he could.


    Sarah had finished deploying the Vollan transporters around Sonara and had them ready to transport the planet to the set coordinates, as soon as all ships had landed.


    Tobi entered the Aratris and took the girls to the medbay, catching Helio and Osei there. He gave both of them a fist bump and let them recover, then made his way to the command center of the ship.


    A replica of Sarah was there directing primitive versions of herself in all races, shapes, and sizes. "Ahh Tobi you made it. Did you check yourself up at medbay?" She asked, worried.


    Tobi shook his head. "I''ve healed myself enough. Get us back to Earth, please, as soon as possible."


    She nodded. "Roger."


    She looked back at her androids and gave them a new order. "Initiate transport to the saved coordinates."


    Tobi walked closer to the window, to get a better look. Clouds covered the sky, as streaks of lightning ran through it, with intensity. Then there were gusts of wind, as the entire horizon seemed to look like it was entering a wormhole.


    Beyond soldiers looked up at the sky with curiosity, as half an hour passed, before it suddenly stopped. Then the clouds disappeared, and everything went back to normal. The blue planet, they called home, was now in front of them.


    Tobi looked back at her and smiled. "It worked!"


    Sarah gave him a gleeful grin. "Of course it did, I fixed it up myself."


    Moments later, the Aratris rushed back to Beyond HQ. Tobi ran to check on the others. A tear streaked down his cheek when he heard the news, the others succumbed to their grief as well. No one could celebrate their victories.


    Sarah knocked on his door later that day. "Tobi, may I come in."


    "Sure." He replied.


    She walked into the room, seeing him lying on his bed, with an arm over his face. "I''m sorry Tobi, I know now isn''t the best time, but you will need to put out a statement." She said, solemnly.


    Tobi sighed. "I do, don''t I."


    She responded with silence. Then a moment later, she continued. "I have prepared the Broadcasting room, for you. We can put out a message on social media and just stay here, but we can''t be silent."


    He sighed deeply once more, then agreed. "Ok, I''ll be there in ten."


    Ten minutes later, he made his way to the Broadcasting room. The cameras were ready and camera lights flashed at a spotlight with Beyond''s logo on the wall.


    Sarah was waiting behind one of the cameras, that an android manned. "You''re live." She said when he was ready.


    He took a moment, before speaking, as he put on a mildly serious expression. "People of Earth, thank you for your patience. I would like to take a moment, for those that we have lost today, due to the horrific attack by the Cerian Empire..." He paused for a brief moment, as everyone gave their respects in silence


    "Today we lost one of our Novas, a brave soul, who did not hesitate to risk her life to save others. Someone who brought nothing, but positive energy to the team and had always looked after her comrades. She was a shining hero, of which we aspire to be more like." He took a deep breath, then continued. "We will forever carry her in our hearts and we''ll move forward. For they can not deter us, they can not stop us, from living our lives free... They will never take our freedom and we will enact justice for the crimes against humanity, they have committed and continue to commit to this day. Today we are one step closer."


    He pointed one finger up. "We have a new planet orbiting our Solar System close to us." He gave his audience a soft smile.


    "Sarah will terraform it properly and soon we''ll be able to live there, as another home. It''s got water and the versillium we need to make more Nova suits. So in short, trust me when I say this. This is only the beginning. We will defeat them and we will prevail against all odds." He gripped his fist in front of him, as the broadcast ended.


    He looked at Sarah, with newfound energy, not knowing what to do with it. "Start making plans for Dargan, and look for the next outposts we can handle after that. We''re not stopping."


    She nodded. "I''m already on it."


    The next day, they broadcasted to the site a small funeral for Ranesa in the Republic of Rennaya and Philippines. Her siblings attended, while the entire world mourned with them, and prayed for her to be in a better place.


    Far off in the galaxy...


    The people of the unknown planet screamed in terror, as the Cerian Empire brought forth carnage and destruction, on an unknown world.


    Atlas floated above the capital of that planet, overlooking the terror he caused, with sheer boredom. Suddenly he felt a blur, as shots were being fired at him from a brave squad of soldiers.


    He smirked then dived down. Landing with a crash in the center of the squad and kicked up dust all around them. Without hesitation, the soldiers immediately began firing at him, unrelentlessly.


    However, to their surprise, one of their own, suddenly dropped to the floor instead, after a pebble-like hole opened up in the middle of his forehead, along with the ballistic glass on the vehicle, right behind him, shattering.


    The others continued to fire, ignoring their comrade''s death. Now was not the time to be distracted. Atlas quickly spun himself on the spot, kicking up a tornado of dust and smoke once more in the air.


    The men coughed and covered their eyes, as Atlas disappeared, within the smoke. One of the soldiers witnessed, most of his comrades'' heads exploding, while the emperor made his way around them.


    Then stopped as the smoke settled. They looked to their left, seeing only one of their comrades left, as the soldier stared back at them, then yelled in anguish over the death of the others and charged at Atlas with a knife.


    However, Atlas calmly slapped it out of their hands and beheaded them with a clean barehanded chop. The last soldier knew their chances were nil and had already begun running as fast and as far as they could.


    Atlas sighed, picking up a nearby rock that could fit in his palm. Then tossed it, leaving dozens of cloud rings, until the soldier started to slow down, noticing a massive hole in their chest, then dropped forward.


    "Having fun aren''t you, Father." A sudden voice from above called out to him.


    Atlas looked up, surprised. "Alcra." He said, as she descended towards him and kneeled, bowing her head.


    "Hmph, I''m just blowing off steam. The Dark Kings have been making a move in Hadron''s sector and it''s giving me a headache... You may stand." He responded.


    "Ah I see, they''ve always been troublesome." She said, agreeing with him. "I''m sorry Father, I bring more troubling news. It seems Seryn and Jeraton have not returned word."


    Atlas'' eyes grew wide at the news, then he laughed. "Do we still not know who''s responsible?"


    Alcra shook her head. "We can make assumptions now, because a fleet of ships recorded from a security cam, made their way to Sonara. Then Bolgan''s, Astrya''s, and Galzed''s life signs vanished from that planet. The planet vanished pretty much, soon after."


    Atlas smiled. "So they kill my children, then steal my planet. I guess they are declaring war on us. This is fascinating... Alcra, do not send any more forces. I believe they might just come to us... Then we''ll crush them." He said, chuckling to himself.


    "Yes, Father." She nodded back. Then together, they both flew back up to the Pandora.

 Preparation

    Two months later at Beyond HQ...


    The Novas zoomed around the training room, in first gear. Helio sat out in the audience seats with Sarah. Standing in the center of the room was Tobi, transformed as well.


    Amaara and Carina caught up in the past two months, by rigorously training against their comrades. Now Tobi wanted to prepare them all personally for the next battle. No weapons, just hand-to-hand combat. Sarah broadcasted the training session to her website, as many people around the world, had gained interest in the Novas.


    Tobi picked up a rock. "I''m only going to use three elements and this rock."


    They laughed, thinking he wasn''t taking them seriously. "Ohh sure sure, good luck." Some of them replied.


    Simon and Koji leaped at him first, while Amaara trailed behind them. Then Carina and Kayed raised metal and stone golems, for support.


    Kayed, Tobi, and Carina weren''t allowed to use lava or magma, so as to not injure the others. For earthwielders, once they had ascended, it was much easier to separate the minerals that they needed and use them however they wished. Tobi and the others dug up, mass amounts of gems and gold on different planets for Sarah, by doing this.


    He clad himself completely, in a flame and electric armour, maintaining it as the two eager Novas struck him. He blocked the both of them with both his arms up, then simultaneously blasted them flying back, with greater fire and electricity out of his arms.


    Amaara came in after, flanking from the side, and striking for his head, with flames thrusting her arm forward, as fast as she could. He ducked with ease, then sent a sphere of electricity into her stomach, sending her hurdling backwards, while bowling down the golems behind her.


    He then fireballed all the heads and feet of the rest of the golems in less than a few seconds, as Norah came in with a blur of electricity behind him.


    Noticing at the last second, he turned around quickly and blocked all of her strikes, then tripped her and used a palm thrust with hundreds of thousands of volts to send her flying back horizontally. He then turned his attention to Kayed and Carina still launching rock volleys at him, which he sensed without difficulty and stopped them with thick walls of ice forming in the air.


    Suddenly, he rushed them, stepping hard as he got closer, and created a wall of ice separating them with his feet, as mist kicked up, blocking their vision. They braced themselves and jumped away from the wall, looking for him. A little too late, as he jumped off it and backflipped behind them, placing his hands on the ground, as trails of ice crept up to their feet and caught them before they could notice. Then enveloped them in a tomb of ice, while shocking them with thousands of volts.


    Simon and Koji appeared behind him once again, with spheres of fire and lightning hovering above their palms, as they aimed for his back. However, they stopped in their tracks, as a trail of ice leading from his heels, froze them in place, and gave them a familiar moment they hated.


    Then he leaped up in the air looking down at all of them, completely immobilized. Norah appeared in a blur beside him, a sphere of electricity trailed her palm as well. He smirked, realizing he was caught off guard but took it head-on, by diffusing it with the rock he was holding onto, covered in ice and electricity, as she tried to strike him with it. There was a small mist explosion, but moments later, he grabbed her hand through it, then whirled and threw her down with the rest, as they defrosted out of their binds.


    "Are you guys purposely making this easy for me?" He asked, as he iced his hands together giving them a bit of space, and started making a ball of fire, added electricity, and gathered the remnants of the rock and some more from down below him, breaking his rule.


    For the last few months, he had practiced more experiments with his abilities. One of them was making a makeshift oven, to cook the sphere of fire inside hotter and denser than ever before. Producing blue flames.


    "Forget the rules, go all out!" He yelled at them.


    He didn''t have to tell them and they didn''t hesitate. Among the many feelings they had, the drive to grow stronger was the most prevalent. Accompanied by the desire to beat or even damage him just a little, to balance the humiliation they were facing up to now, led them to put everything they could into their hands.


    Spheres of fire, electricity, and superheated lava within magma, formed hovering between all of their hands. Then they let it go, as he did the same.


    Each bracing themselves for the head-on collision. The shockwave was incredible. Sarah had gone to great lengths to fortify the training centers with the strongest materials on earth and recently started adding versillium plating. Yet the walls began to crack and break, threatening to fall apart.


    She watched in horror, knowing she was unable to stop the madness. She thought it would be a light training session, not the end of the Moon.


    Tobi was being slightly pushed back. He knew he would have to stop it soon or he would be killed. However, the desire to grow stronger, had him starved, there were no other opportunities to challenge himself but this.


    He grimaced, gathering all of his strength and energy around him, then pushed back harder against the massive beam targeting him. Wanting to win, no matter the cost.


    His eyes flickered blue, completely. Streaks of silver hair sprouted up, evenly all over his hair. The purple and reddish marks all over his body, glowed and flowed like lava, rapidly, as sparks of electricity crackled around him.


    Mist escaped, with every breath he took. Then his beam boomed bigger, eating up and racing back down to the middle half, shocking the Novas with the sudden pushback.


    Norah, Koji, and Carina were knocked out. The constant drain of energy was too much to bear along with the force. Leaving, Simon, Amaara, and Kayed, each holding their own against Tobi''s attack.


    The beam descended, quickly. Their lives flashed before their eyes. This couldn''t be it. ''No. If it meant dying, give everything first!'' They thought in sync.


    Their lifespans began to shave away, giving them an option, to gain more strength, as they refused to lose. Amaara and Simon''s eyes flickered blue, as their orange-reddish veins, glowed even harder and flowed faster around their body, while the heat around them intensified.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Kayed experienced the same phenomenon as well, as his beam glowed bright, like a star. His eyes switched to a dim, glowing hazel, as he and the others, sprouted even streaks of silver hairs.


    Tobi noticed their transformations and the phenomenon happening around them, then decided to redirect the blast through the roof. It incinerated a hole and blasted through the moon sky. Sarah was going to be angry.


    The terraforma quickly closed the hole by moving small nanites around. They all collapsed, as he descended to them clapping. He started treating Carina, Koji, Norah, and Kayed right away, while Helio treated Simon and Amaara


    "Hey guys, that was pretty intense, wasn''t it? How did your hair and eye colour change?


    Amaara looked at him, confused. "I''m not sure how, but yours did too."


    He looked at her funny. "That''s crazy, did I?"


    Then he looked at his hands, as the purple veins marking them moved rapidly in a lava-like flow. He had also just noticed the amount of electricity still crackling around him. He powered down looking back at them. "Hmm, I might have to check the footage, but I think we may have just unlocked a new gear."


    The Next Day, At the Gym Center...


    Osei was furious. He had ascended about two decades ago and some newbies had overtaken him in less than a year. Sarah had explained to him that it was Tobi''s cells that had accelerated their growth. Yet he was still unsatisfied with himself, taking his frustration out on the gym.


    By lifting and working out with the maximum, the gym had available. It was in the middle of his 5 km run, when Amaara barged into the gym, in an all-black fancy dress, with her makeup done on point. He looked at her, with his face slowly turning to regret.


    "You forgot didn''t you?" She asked.


    "I can be ready in 15 minutes." He replied.


    "Nahh forget it, I''ve tried and I really like you, but you''ve got to think about more in life, than just training sometimes." She turned around to leave. "Ughh and I was looking forward to that restaurant in Paris..." She trailed off, fuming as she left the room.


    Osei, put his head down, actually feeling some guilt. Koji walked in, moments later and greeted him. While ignoring the prince''s depressed state and going straight into his workout.


    Osei got up and approached him, as Koji looked up taking his earpods out. "Hey man, I need some help."


    Koji sat up, Osei never asked for favours. "What kind of help?"


    Osei was a bit embarrassed since he was asking someone younger than him. Nevertheless, he wanted to try harder. "You have a girlfriend don''t you?"


    Koji nodded. "Yeah, why?"


    Osei paced around a bit, as he tried to find the right words. "So let''s say you forgot some plans with her, what would you do to make it up to her?"


    Koji chuckled. "Oh damn, you''re in the deep end, aren''t you?"


    Osei looked away. "If you''re not gonna tell me."


    Koji slowed him down. "Relax, relax I''m just messing with ya. Listen surprise her. Just do something spontaneous, have a whole day planned for her, of just stuff she likes to do or wants to see."


    Osei walked around pondering about his advice. He never had any romantic encounters, living under the Cerian empire. However, Amaara had been kind to him. She had often brought him treats, always checked up on him, and had taught him more about the world, to help him fit in.


    He made up his mind. However, just then Sarah spoke, over the speaker. "Can every member of the Nova Division, please report to the Command Center at 1800 hours. Thank you."


    They both looked at each other, then immediately tried to get their last reps in.


    Later at 6 pm...


    Sarah had been busy in the last few months, rebuilding cities on Sonara and helping to rehabilitate the 750 million prisoners that formerly had to work there. Men, women, and children from multiple different races, she wanted to study and help them all.


    She made them a few countries around Sonara, and had millions of androids, showing them how to run a government and keep the peace. Helio and Tobi brought freshwater fish from Earth, to help create new lakes and water resources, for the population.


    Afterward, she developed a dollar, called the Sonaran Dollar, backed by the funds she''d been acquiring, which grew to a net worth of 400 trillion dollars. Now she had to go over the next war plans with everyone, keeping her days constantly busy.


    Kalista, Tobi, Osei, and the Novas took a seat, with the four new Novas already seated at the table. The first one was a 24-year-old Spanish man named Leon, who was chosen from a small overlooked town. He had a rough childhood and had to steal to survive, but had always been kind to the children in his alley.


    Sitting beside him was Tai Min, the 21-year-old Chinese candidate Sarah picked from their recommendations. In exchange for political favours, they wanted to participate in space exploration and defensive efforts.


    Runa Maja, a 20-year-old, woman from Norway, sat beside Nur Syeda, who was just a year younger. Sarah had flown over to Pakistan, and chose her, a victim of a great flood, that had hit the country. Both of them had gone through extremely difficult lives, growing up as orphans, before Sarah had found them.


    After evaluating their minds and witnessing their virtue, from situations like when they had nothing, yet still sacrificed for others. That, along with the underlying feeling of their latent potential, made her feel more confident about choosing them for the Nova Division.


    She clapped once, beginning her meeting. "Okay, everyone! So we''ll be going over the plan for Operation: Hydra." She said while looking around the group. Content on how the family had grown so large, in such a short amount of time.


    "I have recently developed an energy scouter called a joulzer. It takes joules and other factors into account to measure the strength of an opponent. This way we can organize our forces accordingly. The standards for these measurements were the first princes we encountered. Normal humans range up to 100, but Kairon and Zaryon had a power level of 45,000 and 95,000... However, after Zaryon ate Tobi''s arm, it grew up to 130,000."


    She paused as they took in all of the new info, then continued. "The ones that came to Earth after, were at 105k-110k. Bolgan seemed to have been the strongest we''ve encountered so far at 210k. You would need the second gear or at least 3 people to defeat an opponent like him."


    Osei raised his hand. "How strong was Galzed?" He asked, curious.


    Sarah gave him a smile. "He had a power level of 165,000."


    He nodded back, impressed with himself.


    She looked around the room and continued. "With the files and records, I was able to salvage from the enemy ships, we know that there are 5 children of Altas on Dargan. I''ve sent a drone to scout Dargan ahead and they confirmed, the five huge energy signatures on 3 different continents... I will be spreading our main forces out against military forts and outposts, but just like Sonara the children of Atlas like to live in solitude. They only come out to terrorize the cities on their planets, every other day."


    She took a deep breath. "With that, the teams are as follows, Kayed and Leon will be taking out Hadron, at 115k. Koji and Simon you will take out Luxaico, who''s at 125k."


    They all nodded, understanding their mission. "They won''t see it coming," Simon said, confidently.


    Sarah nodded back, smiling. Then, looked over at Kalista and Runa. "Kalista & Runa, you will be taking on Tamorn, he should be at around 145000."


    "I gotta take care of the newbie?" Kalista asked, disappointed.


    Runa looked at her, calmly. "Not even, I can take care of myself."


    Sarah smiled at the both of them, then proceeded on to Norah and Nur. "I think you guys can take out Gobaela, who might be able to go up to 120,000."


    Norah was excited, her smile evident on her face. However, Nur was a bit nervous and immediately looked down, anxious. Norah noticed and reassured her, with a fist bump. "We got this!"


    Nur smiled weakly and bumped back. "Yup!"


    Sarah continued and looked over at Tobi. "I''m sure you can handle Haylon alone, right?"


    He looked up from the map of Dargan on his console. "For sure."


    She nodded, then looked back to the group. "Ok then, the rest of you, will stay on standby in case, the Earth is attacked again. Once we complete Operation: Hydra, we''ll invade Saltos 12. The next step in creating an escape path for Earth." She clapped her hands once. "With that, I would like to conclude the war meeting."


    They all agreed, some of them wishing they could go, but decided to leave it all to Sarah''s judgment. Regardless within moments, they all started to leave the Command Center, going about the rest of their day.

 Operation: Hydra

    "Oh my God, the spa in Bali was amazing," Norah told Nur, all about the trips, she, Amaara, Carina, and Ranesa used to take on their free time. She was trying her best to calm her down before they descended over the skies of Gobaela''s castle.


    They had just changed into their away outfits in the dorms of the Prometheus and were making their way to the shuttle bay. Strangely there wasn''t as much resistance along the way to the isolated planet.


    It was a majority green planet, rich with resources and versillium. However, the pollution and nonstop drilling for resources had started to show up evidently, around the planet. The rest of the teams had gotten into their shuttles, as they broke through Dargan''s atmosphere.


    "Ready?" Norah asked Nur.


    "I''m ready." Nur nodded, as confident as she could be.


    "Ok let''s do this." She said as the android manning the dashboard, descended the shuttle down to Gobaela''s castle.


    They landed on the outskirts, dropping out of invisibility. The air was warm, and there was a massive flower field around her castle. Then suddenly, loud explosions and alarms sounded off all over the planet.


    ''The invasion has already begun'', Norah thought. "We''ll enter from the back gate and try to sneak in."


    Nur nodded back in agreement. Still unable to shake her anxiety.


    "But I always give my guests a warm welcome..." The pair looked up, wondering who had gotten the jump on them. A child of Atlas, floated in the sky, with heat waves blurring her appearance.


    The main problem was, the chills Norah and Nur felt, were like none they had ever felt before in their entire lives. The feeling of walking into a lion or an apex predator''s domain knowing they were watching you.


    "Something... Something is wrong." Nur stuttered.


    Norah was so shocked by the energy, seemingly bursting out of their enemy, that she had only caught on to what Nur had said at the last second. "What do you mean?" Norah asked back, not taking her eyes off of the floating woman.


    "The joulzer says that she''s at 190k, almost 200." Nur trembled as she spoke. Sarah had installed the power scanners on their suit and it showed up on a screen only seen by the user.


    Norah looked at Nur. "Stay calm, alright." She gritted her teeth pondering a way out for both of them, then switched into first gear immediately. "Who are you?" She asked the floating lady.


    The woman smiled. "I was waiting for you to ask. My name is Catoria, the 108th child of Atlas... You must be surprised, I''m guessing coordinated attacks like this, are how you guys took out my siblings correct?"


    "The 108th..." Nur whispered.


    Catoria continued since she didn''t receive a response. "I was sent here as a reinforcement for Dargan and a good thing too. If I didn''t change things up a bit, you guys might have actually taken this gross planet as well."


    She shook her head. "Hmm, I can sense someone really strong far away though, because honestly..." With a blur, she appeared right in front of Norah, less than a meter away. ''How is she so fast?'' Norah thought as she braced herself, yet the princess continued to ponder. "I don''t think you guys are strong enough to take on Bolgan, that monster."


    Norah immediately threw a right hook, aiming for Catoria''s cheek. She ducked, seeing the Nova''s swing in slow motion, then followed up by punching her in the gut and knocking the wind out of her, while sending her flying through the castle walls.


    She then walked up to Nur, who was unable to move. Then twirled her hair. "I like your hair... No, I want it. I want you, you fragile little thing. I''ll make you my new favourite toy-"


    Norah came back with a kick straight to Catoria''s face, sending her flying back five meters away, however, Catoria still remained on her feet. "Stay away from her," Norah growled.


    The Nova was already bleeding from head to toe, just from the crash. She didn''t look back but spoke up knowing, Nur could hear her. "Nur! Right now, right here, we need to work together, we have a mission. The biggest regret you''ll have is not doing anything when we still can."


    Nur was scared, but seeing Norah with confidence in the face of danger gave her a bit of newfound courage. Immediately she manifested Norah and herself, with a warm ice bodysuit and gloves, then treated Norah''s surface injuries. The more ice users practiced, the more control they had over the temperature of the ice they wielded, which helped increase their healing capabilities.


    Catoria laughed. "You''re more durable than I thought."


    "I''m not going down that easy," Norah replied, as large clouds, began to gather overhead, ringing dozens of lightning strikes.


    A slight buzz went off in their ear, as Sarah spoke up. "Girls, you have got to retreat, that opponent is way out of your league."


    Norah spoke back, quietly. "There''s no way we can escape, she''s too fast. We need reinforcements asap."


    "I will try and get Tobi over there, hold out, as long you can," Sarah replied, then clicked out.


    Inside Haylon''s castle...


    "Why are there two of you here," Tobi asked both of the children of Atlas standing in front of him.


    He had made his way to the castle without much resistance, unlike Sonara. Now with two children of Atlas in front of him, half of his questions were answered.


    "Brother it seems we have a visitor." One of them said to the other.


    "Yes, it would seem Atlas was right in sending Catoria. I feel many strong powers, trespassing on my planet. Very well..." The other replied looking at Tobi. "My name is Haylon the 113th in line to the throne. This my brother Tamorn the 115th."


    ''Tamorn?'' Wasn''t Kalista and Runa supposed to take care of him?'' Tobi thought to himself.


    Haylon continued. "Now intruder, who are you and where do you hail from."The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Tobi unsheathed his sword. "My name is Tobi, of Earth. I''m here on behalf of the Beyond Space Force, to end your reign."


    Haylon chuckled. "Unfortunately I no longer rule this planet. Atlas has sent someone much stronger than me to take over. Honestly, it''s gotten me a little frustrated. I may need to blow off some steam..." Fire started racing around him, crushing the floor in rings of fire as he gathered energy and unsheathed his sword.


    His brother, Tamorn raised hundreds of golems and armed them with weapons, from their castle. The room shook with tremors, as the clashes of energy of both parties, tensed the situation even further.


    Slight buzzes sounded off in Tobi''s ear, as Sarah spoke up. "Tobi, we have a problem..."


    By Tamorn''s Castle...


    Kalista and Runa had made their way through the castle city, taking out any soldiers that challenged them, as they got closer to the main castle. They noticed a figure looking down at them, from a castle balcony. They both braced themselves and raised their guards.


    "Trespassers, state your business!" It was a woman''s voice, leaving Kalista and Runa confused.


    Kalista stepped forward, speaking up, loud and clear. "I go by Kalista, a Rennayan allied with the Beyond Space force, we have come to subjugate Tamorn, son of Atlas. Now, who are you?"


    The figure dropped down from the balcony, revealing a woman with long purple hair, and slits running under her eye to her neck. She was dressed in a purple and black armour body suit and wore a nasty grin on her face.


    When she spoke, it gave Runa the feeling, of complete arrogance. "It seems you''re out of luck... Thanks to Catoria''s plan, things have changed up around here recently. You''re gonna have to deal with me instead, Gobaela the 120th in line."


    Kalista looked back at Runa. "You ready? It seems the plan has changed."


    Runa was already in a battle stance, two short swords, crackling with energy in her hands. "It doesn''t matter who it is, we''ll take them out."


    Gobaela laughed, then launched several electric volleys at Runa and charged Kalista, simultaneously. Runa cladded herself in electricity, and dodged them by jumping back, then raced back to join Kalista,


    Gobaela and Kalista''s fists met with incredible force, sending ripples of light tremors around them, the princess followed up with a roundhouse kick charged with electricity at Kalista''s face.


    However, to her surprise, she caught it, shifting into first gear. Her hands burned Gobaela''s shin, while lava marks raced all over her skin. "120th, huh? That means you''re even weaker than Tamorn aren''t you?" Kalista smirked, then punched Gobaela flying through her castle.


    She looked at Runa, who nodded back, already gathering energy. "Let''s finish this quick and help the others."


    At Hadron''s castle...


    Simon and Koji stood in front of the large castle gates, wondering if they should bust it open or fly up and sneak in. They didn''t have to make a choice, because seconds later a massive golem burst through the gates destroying it and grabbing at the air.


    They jumped back giving it distance and formed defensive stances. A small figure walked out from behind the golem. The man was laughing. "Sorry guys, I was hoping I could just finish this quickly. I''m rather lazy you see and if it means getting some slaves to fix my door..." He sighed, realizing he was rambling. "I''m Hadoron, the 121st Prince, but you probably know that, since I''m one of your targets."


    Both Simon and Koji looked at each other confused. They never pictured a child of Atlas to be like this.


    He looked them over, from head to toe. "I like your suits. I can see energy is being drawn to it and into your body. Hmm, so that''s how you can wield electricity and fire... fascinating." He crossed his arms and rubbed his chin pondering them. "Who is your engineer?"


    The two looked at each other, while Sarah buzzed in and filled them in on the situation, then Simon stepped forward. "My name is Simon and this is Koji..." He said, pointing at Koji. "We''re with Beyond Space Force, surrender and come with us, and you might get to meet them."


    Hadron thought about it for a second, then smiled, and raised both of his hands. "How about I take you back and study you? Maybe they''ll just come again. Atlas knew you were coming this time. We''ve prepared for it." He smiled sinisterly, before a light yawn. "All you will find is despair on this planet... Anyways let''s finish this so that I can go back to sleep."


    Five stone golems rose behind Koji and Simon. Without hesitation, Koji zipped through them, clad in electricity, and sliced them all down. Simon ignored them, leaving it up to Koji, and fired compressed balls of fire appearing in front of his palm, at Hadron, however, the gigantic golem protecting him, blocked it. Then charged at him, at full speed.


    Simon kept firing relentlessly, but it continued to regenerate stones and clay over its body. He stopped firing and decided to, instead create a small sphere of fire in his hand burning it red hot and going into first gear.


    He leaped towards its chest at sonic speed, with flames jetting him forward. "Ignite: Globus!" He yelled as the golem burst into flaming pieces. However, The next one, growing out of the ground at an incredible speed, wasted no time in smacking him across the sky.


    Koji called out after Simon, then shifted into first gear, while summoning multiple lightning strikes targeting Hadron. However, the prince stood there, as multiple massive dirt golems shielded him from each strike. ''This was going to be tough,'' Koji thought to himself. He hesitated, then struck himself multiple times with lightning and charged up as much energy as he could.


    "Oi, oi, what do you think you''re doing who said you could go all out?" Hadron asked warily, as he jumped up on a rock platform, not knowing what the kid was about to do.


    Koji crouched down slightly, compressing himself, and sheathed his sword, as he focused all of his energy, into it. Sarah had made the sheath''s interior with versillium plating, to allow maximum buildup. Every Nova was given weapons, specialized for them.


    "Static: Dan Maku." He whispered, as five large golems rushed him, rising in front of him.


    Regardless, it was too late, as he blitzed through them, like lightning. Aiming for Hadron who screamed in panic, then chuckled. "Just kidding."


    Suddenly, crashing out of the castle, a massive blob of Versillium raced in front of Hadron, morphing into a shield and blocking Koji. Then it tried to enclose him into a steel prison.


    He jumped back at the last second, nearly caught, and descended back down to the ground, while golems rushed him from all sides. Out of nowhere, they started blowing up as Simon flew overhead with supporting fire. Then fired multiple volleys at Hadron.


    "I think that''s versillium!" Koji yelled out to Simon.


    On cue, the versillium broke up into hundreds of parts and swarmed Simon. He quickly maneuvered to the right, as some of them almost caught him.


    Hadron smiled with both of his hands up, turning them around, to home in on him, then pointed the other palm at Koji. Koji raced through the castle city, as large chunks of versilium blew up each of his previous locations, crumbling down buildings along the way.


    Simon flew up into the air as high as he could trying to get out of Hadron''s attack range, however the droplets kept persisting. Merging into bigger spiked spheres.


    He looked back making sure they were all lined up, then turned around and thrust both of his hands in front of him, while continuing to fly higher. "Ignite: Flamen!" He yelled burning away as much as he could.


    However, a little over, half of the orbs remained and began making their way through. He gathered some more energy and for just a moment, shifted into second gear. With his eyes flickering blue and flames heating up, he suddenly stopped and blasted forth blue fire, incinerating the rest to ashes, as they fell back down to the planet.


    Back on the floor near Hadron''s castle...


    Koji managed to trap the last orb within a house, then zipped up on top of the roof of another. Looking for Hadron or Simon without success, then he glanced behind him, sensing a sinister mass of energy. To his shock, a colossal wave of rubble and stone Hadron had collected, covered the sky and drifted calmly above him.


    The prince yelled out over a megaphone-like voice, hundreds of meters away. "I don''t mind if one of you dies and since you''re annoying... Goodbye!" He dropped his hand, signalling the rubble to crash down toward the city.


    It covered over a half-kilometre radius within a second, falling at a frightening speed, and with a loud deafening explosion. He laughed, feeling Koji''s vitals decrease beneath the rubble, then looked up as he felt Simon up above him, preparing another sphere of fire in his hands.


    "Ignite: Flamen!" Simon yelled out, however in less than a second, chunks of versilium surrounded the prince, morphing into a protective dome. Taking on the incoming blast, and remained standing, while scorched.


    Simon panted as he began to overheat. A boom roared in the sky as a small object sailed through him. He looked down at where his appendix should be. However, instead, there was a bloody hole.


    He''d been hit with a tiny versillium bullet. The Nova looked back up at Hadron, then dropped out of the sky.

 Well Played

    Kayed and Le¨®n stood before a child of Atlas, claiming to be Luxaico, the 119th Prince. After returning a few volleys at each other, Sarah buzzed in, filling them in on the situation.


    "Sounds like it''s the same for everyone else. We''ll have to figure a way out of this quickly." Le¨®n said, as he carefully analyzed the situation.


    "That''s right," Kayed replied, he was half listening trying to predict Luxaico''s next move. Luxaico was quick and the Novas were both earth wielders, it wasn''t that good of a matchup for them. "Stand back a little." He asked Leon.


    Le¨®n did as he was told, standing back as Kayed shifted into first gear and drew out an orb of lava, a few meters from him then cooled it down to magma. "Erupt: Warrior." It shaped into a sleek athletic clone of himself. Then, came to life, copying his exact fighting stance, while Kayed made gloves, out of magma to protect his hands. Le¨®n raised a stone armour over his body, just to be safe.


    Luxaico smiled. "I agree if you weren''t doing at least that much, I''m afraid this was going to be rather quick."


    In a blur, Luxaico appeared, clad in electricity and about to dropkick Le¨®n faster than he could react. However, moving with frightening speed, Kayed''s golem made it just in time, sending Luxaico flying. It followed on after him, as Kayed and Le¨®n hopped onto floating platforms and trailed behind them.


    Each time Luxaico struck at the golem, its body would burn his hand and morph back. Then, it would return multiple strikes of its own. They tumbled together while destroying several parts of the castle city.


    Kayed''s breathing started to get heavy, and his strength drained away, as he maintained the warrior. They watched as Luxaico took to the sky, trying to blast it out of existence, as it continued to chase him, however Kayed dissipated it before it got hit.


    Luxaico floated furiously in the air. His body was working overtime to regenerate the majority of the burn marks, he received. "You''ll pay for that!" He yelled at them.


    Le¨®n stopped his hands from shaking, resolving himself more to help rather than to fear. He knew Kayed was getting tired and couldn''t last for much longer. He shook his head, then raised hundreds of volleys around him and unsheathed his sword.


    Kayed spoke up, noticing Leon''s change in demeanour. "I''ll need your help to distract him, we need to hold him in place for 10 seconds."


    Le¨®n nodded. "Sounds good."


    The Nova continued launching projectiles at Luxaico while the prince zipped through the sky, racing towards them. He put his hands out, releasing a wave of electricity, beaming towards them.


    Together, they raised, stone barriers, to block it, resulting in an explosion of dust and smoke, clouding their vision. Then in a blur, Luxaico appeared behind Le¨®n and kicked him out of the sky. Kayed called out after Le¨®n, then turned his eyes towards the prince.


    "Now I can deal with you alone." He laughed, then lunged at Kayed, with greater speed, than he had shown before.


    The Nova barely managed to block his strikes and was having a hard time keeping up with the prince''s movements. Then Luxaico struck himself with lightning and intensified the beatdown he was giving him.


    Kayed descended rapidly to the ground, suffering some fractured bones, as Luxaico persisted after him. He looked up gritting his teeth and summoned several pillars of lava grabbing for Luxaico. However, the prince dodged them and psychotically flew down the middle, punching Kayed hard into the ground and causing tremors across the city.


    Kayed coughed blood while redirecting the lava away from him as Luxaico flew back up to the sky. Kayed got up, knees first. His arms were both broken from blocking his strike. He knew he could no longer reach for a booster.


    The Nova looked up, feeling a massive amount of energy, accumulating above him. Luxaico amassed together, hundreds of millions of volts, all in a condensed, large electric ball hovering in front of his hand.


    Instinctively Kayed pulled together dirt and clay to control his arms & hands then grimaced, as he drew out the last of his energy. ''It was going to take too long... I don''t have enough time...'' He panicked, trying to think of a way out of his situation.


    Luxaico looked down seeing him struggle and laughed. "How pointless! I''m sending you to oblivion!" Then he dropped his hands, signalling the descent of his sphere of destruction, however, it detonated with him as a large premade golem, leaped up silently and grabbed him in midair, with massive steel hands crushing him.


    Kayed looked to his right, wondering where that came from. On top of a roof, Le¨®n stood, bloody and broken, but still willing to fight. Kayed smiled, he couldn''t lose now. Streaks of silver started popping up in his hair, while his eyes glowed hazel.


    His headache skyrocketed, but he bared it as the ball of lava rotated at Mach speed, burning the sphere almost white hot. "Erupt: Burkania!" He yelled letting it go, and shooting it at the giant hands, just as Luxaico exploded them off him, by summoning a lightning strike.


    He looked down too late, as the lava engulfed him, incinerating him whole, before he could speak. Kayed and Le¨®n raised fists of victory to each other, then fell over, laughing.


    At Haylon''s castle...


    Tobi had been trying to escape, to help Norah and Nur, but the brothers wouldn''t let him go. Each, blocked his exit over time, as he tried to leave.


    He sighed. "Fine then, I''ll eliminate you both first." He conceded, then shifted into first gear. Cladding himself in electricity and flames reinforcing the armour of stone, he protected himself with.


    The brothers looked at him, with wonder, acknowledging the intel they had heard. "Finally trying to get serious are you?" Haylon asked.


    "Yeah, but you won''t be able to keep up with me anymore," Tobi replied.


    "What-" Haylon, barely got a word out, before Tobi like lightning, punched him through the castle walls.


    He looked at Tamorn who was unable to react. Trembling, as he raised a stone golem and charged it at Tobi. However with ease, he sidestepped and cut it in half, then zipped forward and lopped the prince''s head off, in one swift motion.


    Haylon came out of nowhere clad in lightning and began striking away at him as fast as he possibly could. Yet despite all his efforts, Tobi managed to block them all with ease and slowly raised his left hand with a white-hot, electric, flaming ball.


    "Ignite: Static Sphere." He said, as he broke an opening through the clashes and pushed the ball into Haylon''s gut. Blowing him up and sending him flying into the ceiling with millions of volts paralyzing him. Tamorn''s body had just attached his head back on.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    "Brother he''s too strong. I don''t want to die." Tamorn called out, without looking away from Tobi.


    "Shut up. I know, we''re going to have to use it after all. Come to me. I can''t move." Haylon replied angrily.


    Without hesitating, Tobi began preparing a ball of fire, between both of his hands. He was unsure what they were trying to do but he wasn''t going to give them the chance.


    Tamorn got to his brother and allowed Haylon to reach up into his chest, as a fist-sized hole opened up for him. The prince pulled out a tiny ball, with circuits lighting up and zipped all over it, then swallowed it whole, as Tamorn''s body fell over.


    Tobi was shocked he didn''t understand what was happening, but he didn''t want to find out. "Ignite: Static Cannon!"


    The beam of fire raced at the both of them, exploding a massive hole through the walls and out into the horizon, as the castle started to shake and break apart. Tobi noticed his breathing becoming heavier, as he tried to read any residual life signatures. He felt nothing.


    Then he took a deep breath, relieved, then stopped, as he felt a tremendous amount of energy emanating out of a new individual to his right. Sending chills down his spine.


    The man was holding Tamorn''s body in one of his arms. He looked like Haylon but had magma-marked veins, running all over his body. Even streaks of silver complemented his long black hair, along with a face that seemed like a hybrid between the brothers'' faces.


    "What are you?" Tobi asked, trying to contain his anxiety.


    The man replied, as his voice delivered in a dual tone. "I am the combination of Tamorn and Haylon. You may call me Hamorn. Rejoice, your death is here."


    Near Catoria''s Castle...


    Norah summoned a massive lightning strike. Striking herself and maintaining the charge within her body, while Nur hopped onto a platform of ice and kept some distance from the rampant energy around her. She maintained the ice armor on Norah, as best as she could, while it kept melting away from the heat.


    "Static: Berserker!" Norah yelled as she leaped at Catoria.


    Both immediately set out on a violent exchange of strikes and kicks at each other. Each strike Norah received, resounded and travelled through her entire body, shaking her bones, however, she didn''t let up.


    Catoria blasted her back, with a fist full of blue flames, unfazed by any of Norah''s attacks and stumbled the Nova back, along with her arms burned. Nur rushed to treat them right away, while distracting Catoria, with volleys of ice.


    All melting meters from the princess, as she began to gather energy. Causing her body to steam, and emanating rings of fire, crushing the ground. Then she leaped at Norah, feinting a punch as Norah raised her arms to block.


    Instead, she grabbed Norah, by the waist, burning her as she gripped her tight and rocketed into the sky. Norah struggled to get free, shocking her full of electricity and blasting her point blank.


    However, Catoria threw Norah up above her and started striking her, higher into the sky. She let Norah freefall for a bit, as the Nova, tried to catch her breath, then reappeared above her in a blur. Smashing her down with her hands locked together.


    Norah crashed down to the ground, creating a large crater, as tremors, rippled across the land. Nur watched horrified and hurried to treat her, as Catoria descended, floating above them.


    Norah coughed up blood. Her bones were broken and she knew she had some internal bleeding, as it was difficult to stay conscious. Nur started to panic, seeing how Norah''s injuries were way beyond her capabilities. She looked back up at Catoria.


    "I''ve got a lot of things to do. So I''m going to end this quickly. Thanks for helping me stretch a bit." A large, blue flaming ball of fire sparked to life above her palm. Then she pointed it at them, condensing it further. "Goodbye now."


    Norah looked up, with her vision blurred. She recognized the attack oncoming as certain death and wished she could stop it, but she could barely move her body. She looked over at Nur, trembling and scared out of her mind. "Listen to me Nur, you have to run for it. Leave me, go to the Prometheus or Tobi. Just get as far away from here, as soon as possible.


    Nur ripped her eyes away, from the burning inferno and glanced back at Norah. "I can''t... I can''t leave you."


    Norah smiled. "You''re strong Nur, one day you''ll be one of the greatest heroes ever. Don''t waste your life here."


    Nur looked into Norah''s eyes, immediately feeling ashamed at the thought. She knew they were the eyes of someone who had accepted death.


    How could she, dare to leave her friend here? She remembered Norah''s words at the beginning of the fight. ''To do something while she still could.'' She knew she would regret it if she left Norah and ran.


    Anger started to course through her, overtaking her fear. Why couldn''t they go back home together? Why has this child of Atlas, caused her friend, so much pain? Thousands of thoughts ran through her mind at that moment.


    She glared, back up at Catoria who had just released the devastating attack towards them.


    Nur made up her mind. "No! If I had to leave you here... I would never forgive myself!" She yelled while maintaining one hand healing Norah and the other pointing up towards the attack. "Frost: Ranikot Fort!"


    A massive ice fortress, manifested around them, layered with hundreds of layers of ice, just in time as the sphere struck it with incredible force. Riddling the new fortress with cracks all over and began melting through it.


    Yet, Nur continued to fight on, as she held her hands up, forcing all of her energy within her, out to protect them. The air temperature started to drop rapidly, as mist escaped with each breath, she took. A myriad of turquoise veins raced all over her body, flickering a dim glow.


    She willed the ball to stop, as the fortress shook, like it was in the middle of an earthquake. However, the burning sphere had almost broken through, with Catoria smiling and giving it one more push, to end them once and for all.


    Nur yelled out once more, adding dozens of more layers of ice, below and freezing the area around it colder. After a moment, it suddenly stopped descending and froze, half broken through. Relieved, she struggled to regain her breath and then redirected the rest of her energy into healing Norah, while maintaining the first gear. "I''m not going to let you die, but I can''t beat her alone. Please help me, Norah." She begged in tears.


    Norah watched the whole effort in amazement. With Nur''s help, she slowly got back up. "You did great. That strength, you''ve always had it in you... I can''t be lying down when you''re still fighting... We can still finish this, but I''ll need your help." Norah said, giving her a proud smile.


    Nur took a medicine booster in her belt and plunged it into Norah''s arm, as Catoria descended, surprised that they were able to stop her attack. "Good effort in delaying the inevitable... If it took all you had to stop the first one... Then what will you do about the second one?" On queue, she raised her right hand once more, creating a blue sphere of fire even bigger than the last, and rotating at incredible speed.


    The heat razed the ground as Norah and Nur braced themselves from the hot winds, while the fortress melted apart. "Nur, stand back."


    Nur did as she was told, then frosted Norah''s arms and controlled them to do as Norah wished. Her hands parted some distance as a rotating electric ball formed, rotating faster than the speed of sound.


    The darkest clouds gathered, shocking her with more lightning than she had ever accumulated before in her life. She almost fell over, as her vision began to blur, but she caught herself, gritting her teeth, and refocused on the enemy in front of her.


    Streams of electricity, rotated around her, violently ripping up the ground, while Nur struggled to keep up with Norah''s injuries. The blue marks around her body, flickered back glowing a dim cobalt blue. Her eyes seemed to glow as well, with streaks of silver, evenly racing down her hair.


    Norah glared back up at Catoria, who watched, interested in their futile attempt. However, she began to feel the enormous amount of energy Norah was outputting and poured a bit more into her final attack, pointing it back down on them as fast as she could. "Die already! Midnight''s Star!


    The sphere dropped at a frightening speed, as Norah thrust her hand forward, facing the incoming attack and Catoria. "It''s time to send you back, where you belong!" She yelled, then released her attack, cracking a sphere open. "Converge: Saeiqa!"


    The electric beam raced forth colliding with the ball of fire, for a moment, then ate it up, blowing the sphere up in a massive explosion and engulfing Catoria as she resisted, by exploding a flame barrier to keep herself from being incinerated. "I can''t die. I can''t die. There is no way I can be defeated by insects!" She screamed out while fighting for her life.


    Norah was starting to burn up, with her hands shaking profoundly, but Nur held them up, steady with ice, and continued to treat her, to the best of her ability. Then she reached her hand up and began freezing the flame barrier, weakening it. While, allowing the beam to shatter through and reach Catoria, incinerating her whole, as she let out a gut-wrenching scream.


    Norah dropped to her knees, suffering from a violent seizure, while smoke trailed out of her mouth and her transformation flickered off. There was a pungent smell of burnt electricity and flesh in the air.


    Nur ran to her, and injected one more booster into her, then continued healing her comerade. The Nova was already unconscious. "We did it, Norah! You really are... amazing you know that." She grinned, as Norah slept on, with a faint smile.

 Surprise

    Kalista and Runa vs Gobaela...


    Kalista floated over the forest, neighbouring the castle, while searching for Gobaela past the large trees and branches, while Runa trailed behind her. Suddenly strikes of lightning aimed at them, from high above. Instinctively, Kalista raised a magma barrier shielding them, using a bit of the platform she flew on. Then out from below them, within the forest, a beam of electricity, streaked out, targeting them.


    "She''s crafty," Kalista deduced, as she raised another barrier to block it. Then without remorse, she pulled together a burning sphere of lava, condensing it over and over, until she was satisfied. "Scorch Aygo!" She yelled as the sphere razed the environment below them, searching for the child of Atlas.


    Suddenly, from as far all over the forest, beams of electricity, shot at them, making it harder, to discern where she could be. Followed by constant, lightning strikes, resulting in some making it through their defences and harming them.


    There was way too much going on. However, among the constant lights and attacks, Gobaela appeared behind Runa and grabbed her, then shot straight into the sky.


    "No!" Kalista called out and immediately shot up, after them.


    Runa struggled to get free, as Gobaela pinned her arms and continued shocking her, past her limit, making her nauseous. Then the princess stopped flying after a high enough altitude, above large floating clouds, surrounding them. Kalista caught up, just a distance away, as Gobaela, held one finger to Runa''s temple. "Ah, ah, ah, stay back, and drop the rocks."


    Kalista glared back at her, but seeing Runa in danger, she did as she was told, and was rewarded with dozens of lightning strikes, zapping her from the clouds around them. Gobaela laughed out loud, as Runa watched. Barely able to catch her breath from the high altitude and was slowly drifting in and out of consciousness.


    She knew, Kalista needed help and hated herself for being a burden, even though she said she wouldn''t be. Prompting her to ignore the pain and draw in all of the electricity, that built up in their surroundings.


    Kalista screamed and seized, unable to take it anymore. Gobaela enjoying herself, continued shocking her and changed it up with different intervals. Giving Gobaela the pleasure she was looking for, however, she started feeling uncomfortable, as Runa''s energy reached her peak.


    She reached down with one finger, creating an electric scalpel and singed Runa''s throat. "Stop what you''re doing. I might let you survive this and be my new cute little toy if you behave yourself." She whispered in her ear before her head was rocked back, by an incredible impact, marking her forehead.


    Runa looked ahead, seeing Kalista, sweating and breathing with difficulty, while holding her hand up, in a gun-like shape, with her index finger missing. Runa took the chance and elbowed herself away toward Kalista, with a burst of electricity, shocking Gobaela back.


    Kalista laughed out loud while preparing to fire a second round. Runa floated behind her, trying to regain her composure. "There''s an old saying: ''From Rennaya, we came, and to Rennaya we shall return.''" She said, as Gobaela pulled the charred finger, out of her head, boiling with anger.


    The princess floated a bit above them, as thunder bellowed through the skies around them. "Why are you even here, you should have perished along with your people. Allow me to reunite you with them."


    The clouds began to shift, swirling, and combining into a hurricane of dark clouds. Electricity zapped them, every few seconds. It was dangerous just being there, however, Gobaela laughed in a psychotic episode, as the lightning and electricity raced into a large pool above them, bearing down enormous pressure and power.


    Runa floated forward, preparing herself as Kalista tried to stop her. She shook her head and looked back at her. "At some point, I''ve got to pull my own weight." She said, turning back towards Gobaela. "I''m going to absorb most of it. When you find the chance, end this."


    Kalista looked at her once more, then nodded. With her free, she had already begun summoning lava, from down below, however it would take too long to reach them.


    She looked up as Gobaela yelled at them amongst the howling rain and wind. "Feel my rage! Stratus Surge, Convergence!" The center of the clouds high above them, crackled even louder and surged all the electricity in the area into one point. Then, lasered a beam of lightning at the Novas, at blinding speed.


    Runa had just generated, an electric forcefield around them, reinforcing it with as much energy as she could. Suddenly stone fragments began to attach themselves, to her barrier, making it larger and stronger. Kalista hurried as fast as she could, raising as many stones and rocks to them, in the sky.


    The thunderbolt struck their makeshift dome, with incredible force, pushing them dozens of meters down, as they held on for their lives. At the same time, Runa could feel the heat, coming from the attack Kalista was preparing. "Cover me," Kalista asked her.


    Runa nodded, as she struggled to absorb any of the electricity escaping through the dome, while it continued to crumble apart around them. Blue veins began to flicker around her body, while she raised her hand, cladding Kalista in electricity. "You''re good to go. Don''t die." She said, struggling as she was completely past her limit.


    Kalista shook her head. "Of course not. When I finally got you to speak? Nope. Me and you are gonna grab a bite after this, and you can finally tell me all about where you came from. Promise?


    Runa chuckled, then nodded. "Looking forward to it." She said, turning back to her task and helping her open an entrance behind them.


    Kalista dived into the swirling clouds, out of Gobaela''s vision, then zipped through, flanking behind her, with Runa''s aid, rocketing her forward. She had almost reached her destination when Gobaela noticed unnatural flashes within the clouds and raised her guard. Too late, as Kalista crashed through, bearing down on her.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "No! Stay away from me." The princess screamed.


    Kalista laughed out loud. "You''re afraid of me, aren''t you?" She bellowed, less than a dozen meters away.


    Gobaela, raised her hand, converging electricity into a quick beam, and blasted Kalista point blank, with only enough time, to raise a barrier out of the armour of magma that protected her. However, she braced through it, covering her eyes and thrusting her hand forth. Runa watched, free from the lightning strike, as Gobaela let up, and reinforced Kalista''s attack with the last of of her strength.


    "Do it, Kalista!" She yelled.


    Kalista smirked as she pushed through, kicking her barrier onto Gobaela and thrusting her sphere forth, as she knocked it away. "It''s time for you to face your fears, Gobaela! Scorch Mataygo!"


    The sphere rocketed down, along with Gobaela in complete despair, screaming and unable to get the burning electric ball out of her stomach. Only to succumb to an incredible explosion as she touched down, with a cloud of smoke, nearly reaching the Novas.


    Kalista looked, back at Runa, as they gave each other, the brightest smiles. Then Kalista fell unconscious, as Runa rushed to catch her.


    Simon and Koji vs Hadron...


    Simon had heated a small blade and cauterized his wounds. Luckily, the bullet had gone, clean through, but it was still painful nonetheless. He got up and injected himself with a booster then flew right back through the hole he made when he fell through the roof of a house.


    He had fractures but he bared with it, as the painkiller started to kick in. Livid, to see Hadron still floating on his rock platform.


    "You''re still alive... I''m fine with just studying your corpse." The prince said, in disappointment, then summoned his full stock of versillium from his castle and morphed it into thousands of small bullets. Simon placed his hands together, as blood dripped down his chin. "We''ll be the ones to finish this... Right, Koji!" He yelled out but connected through to Koji''s comm.


    Suddenly an electric explosion burst out from the rubble, that Hadron had crashed down earlier. Koji landed on top of the rubble, supporting himself with his katana. Bloody, but still rearing to go.


    "I thought you wanted me to steal all the glory." He replied, breathing heavily, then raised his hand to the sky summoning dark clouds together, as it began to rain.


    Lightning struck him multiple times over and over, as he converged all of the energy into a condensed sphere between his palms. His eyes glowed hazel, as cobalt blue veins raced across his body. Streaks of silver evenly popped up in his hair, as electricity crackled in a dangerous ring around him. Ripping up the ground as it rose in tiny pieces.


    Simon did the same, shifting into second gear and pulling together a blue ball of fire between his palms. They placed everything they had into the palm of their hands.


    Hadron stopped, what he was doing, as he noticed the danger. He raised two massive stone golems and reinforced their fists in versillium. Then, charged them, each swinging a giant fist four times the size of them, covered in versillium knuckledusters.


    The Novas placed their hands forth, aiming for Hadron, through the golems with their senses. Then they let it all go.


    "Ignite: Hyacintho Ignis!


    "Static: Kaminari Kyannon."


    Blue beams of electricity and fire closed in from both sides, demolishing the golems as it raced towards Hadron. The prince''s life flashed in front of his eyes. He flew up trying to escape. They noticed and directed their attacks upward


    Trails of fire and electricity, collided shaping into a parallel wall, causing a trail of explosions leading to the biggest one, with Hadron in the middle. Screaming. The explosion sent shockwaves levelling the entire castle and city, while simultaneously sending Simon and Koji flying, back unconscious.


    At Haylon''s castle...


    Hamorn and Tobi stared each other down, as the ground between them cracked and ripped itself apart. Electricity crackled around the room, along with pebbles and rocks floating up all around them.


    Hamorn secured Tamorn''s body in a corner of the room. Enclosing it in a dome, made of stones, clay, and metal lying around, while he continued to stare Tobi down.


    Then, unsheathed his sword as he spoke. "Let''s take this somewhere else shall we?" He asked politely.


    "Why? Is there something you need to protect?" Tobi responded.


    Hamorn chuckled then lunged striking at Tobi. He barely managed to register it in time, as he unsheathed his sword to block, but was sent crashing out of the castle.


    He caught himself, floating in midair and wiped blood off of his mouth. ''He''s strong,'' Tobi thought. He didn''t think it was possible, but they had definitely, doubled their strength.


    Buzzes interrupted his thoughts, as Sarah spoke up. "I know you haven''t been checking, but that guy''s power level spiked to 215,000, and it''s still growing. You''ve got to watch out, Tobi!"


    He took a deep breath, as Hamorn appeared right in front of him with a blur of electricity. "I know, I''m going to take this more seriously from here on out... They played us and I''m not going to let that slide."


    He shifted into second gear. It was still taxing, but he practiced maintaining it before the raid, knowing he might need it. However, he didn''t think he would require it this early.


    They clashed swords, as the winds from their sword strikes carved destruction in the castle city below. Then jumped back, making some distance.


    Tobi formed a condensed flaming ball hovering above his palm. Hamorn did the same using electricity and summoned lava from the ground below.


    Tobi shocked, did the same, then covered his arm in sheets of spiralling ice and magma. They lunged at each other, palms first, with the resulting explosion, nearly levelling half of the castle and city. A deafening disaster.


    Both of them were sent flying back, disarmed from the shockwave, but they didn''t hesitate to race back to each other. Throwing a furious barrage of fists from both sides, as blood rained down on the ground below them.


    Hamorn summoned a large wide tower, of lava into the sky, as Tobi looked up wondering what he was trying to do. Then it cooled quickly into magma, as it leaned forward, falling towards him. Hamorn, then heated it back up into lava, as it crashed down like a falling skyscraper.


    Tobi turned around and started zipping away from the crash zone, while the merged prince continued to drag it across the sky, homing it in towards Tobi. He followed up by, reusing the lava raining around him, into compressed spears and sent them on a hunt for his retreating prey.


    Tobi flew as far out as he could, barely dodging each one, then decided not to run anymore and summoned a massive wall of magma. Raising it incredibly high all around him and blocking the remaining incoming projectiles.


    Then he descended and burrowed out a crater while creating an ice & magma-covered dome to protect himself from the falling tower, as he braced for impact. The lava crashed down exploding in waves around his dome, rocking him back and forth, as the very world seemed to shake. He begged his dome to hold on and continued layering more ice within to not burn up.


    Then when it died down, he broke his dome out of the sea of magma, by raising himself out with it. Hamorn rushed to the dome with a massive sphere of lava and electricity hovering a distance from his palm, hoping to catch Tobi by surprise.


    However, as the dome cracked open, all that came out was a blinding beam of Tobi''s full strength, as he yelled out. "Ignite: Ultra Static Cannon!"


    Catching Hamorn by surprise. Instinctively he shot his sphere forward, however, it was too close, with both erupting in an incredible explosion, engulfing him whole.


    Tobi searched out, all around him, frantic, as his side effects began to take over. Hamorn''s vitals had disappeared.


    He rejoiced, then called Sarah to fill her in on the details as he flew over to grab Tamorn''s body. Then, he suddenly stopped. The air itself seemed to stand still. He started shivering, out of fear. The fear you have, when you know a predator is watching you...

 The Ultimate Warrior

    Prince Coljun had been observing the invasion through his monitor on his ship. Just like the rest of his siblings, watching from their home planets.


    His planet was one of those, closest to Dargan. However, Alcra had told him to remain on standby. So his forces waited patiently cloaked on the outskirts of the Dargan Solar system, ready to strike at a moment''s notice.


    He knew his father was curious about the new enemy, but he hated seeing so much of his sibling''s lifespans going to waste. Then Alcra gave him the order, giving him some much-needed relief. His ship and three others descended to Dargan over Gobaela''s castle.


    Beyond''s forces were stationed there and recuperating. Coljun exited his spacecraft, as soon as it dropped into the atmosphere. Racing towards their temporary headquarters.


    He let his bloodlust, wave over the entire planet. Every living creature looked up terrified, as chills ran down their spines. What was coming, was the apex.


    He caused a Richter scale earthquake of 6.7, as he landed. Kicking up a dust ring explosion and showering debris everywhere, as he killed several unsuspecting soldiers.


    The Novas, except for Norah who was unconscious, and Tobi, who was on another continent, raced to the center of the explosion, wary of the bloodlust they felt earlier. Just to see blood everywhere, from the soldiers who were just taking a break.


    Coljun turned his attention towards them. His eyes sent daggers of fear, spurning only the thought of certain death. They instantly knew, that what was in front of them, was an untouchable. Something you just hoped would let you live and walk away.


    The prince cleared his throat. "So you are the ones, who wasted my sibling''s lifespans?"


    None of them were able to speak. Sweat rolled down their faces, as the silence wore on. Crackling static broke the silence as Sarah spoke up. "Novas''s evacuate immediately. He is a threat at over 456,000. Do not engage! I repeat run for your lives!"


    Coljun disappeared before she finished speaking. Le¨®n''s head flew sky high, as the rest of them were sent flying back just from the wind. His body dropped to the floor as blood gushed everywhere. "That''s one down." He said to himself, then turned around, squatted, and placed his hand above Le¨®n''s corpse. Absorbing his bones, blood and all, while some soldiers watched, cowering in hidden spots.


    "How could you!" Kayed yelled, at the top of his lungs with tears streaming down. He was flying back on a magma platform, already in second gear.


    Koji, Simon, and Kalista followed up behind him, powering up with whatever little energy they had, then manifested beams of fire, lava, and electricity. It was all or nothing.


    The combined beam coming at him was massive and impossible to evade. Yet he stood his ground, raising his right palm towards it. "Constellation Flare!" He yelled as violet flames raced forth larger than the combined attack, burning it up completely and bearing down on them, without mercy.


    They raised barriers to protect themselves, as Nur rushed in from the side, in first gear and created a massive ice dome to protect them. The resulting explosion sent every one of them flying back, heavily injured and knocked out.


    Coljun flew up looking down at the defeated team. A massive ball of fire raised over his head. "I am utterly disgusted, that my siblings could lose to such trash. I''ll get rid of them in one go."


    Lightning struck across the land, as Tobi raced sword first at Coljun. Who instinctively blocked the strike, with his arm up, and caught himself from flying back more than a dozen meters away. His ball of fire dissipated, as he lost focus.


    "Who are you!" Tobi yelled out, panting. His side-effects were doing a number on him and flying so far, so quickly, had taken its toll.


    Tobi felt no energy signature from Le¨®n down below. His worry turned to rage. For, it may be the only thing that could get them out of this situation. He felt powerless, as he tried to process his hands stinging just from the impact.


    The prince looked at him, with cold, heartless eyes. "My name is Coljun, the 75th in line to the Cerian empire. I''m here to take out the trash that have been invading our territorial sovereignty. Do you have a problem with that?"


    Tobi growled at him, yet Coljun continued. "Because if you don''t have the power to stop me... Oh, Legendary Rennayan. Then I will just kill everybody down below and reset this planet." He smiled.


    Tobi shifted into second gear, cladding himself in electricity and reinforcing his hands. However, he was still unable to see him as the prince leaped at Tobi, who blocked his strike at the last second with his sword.


    He watched in despair, as his sword shattered from the flaming punch, which continued to knock him down into a clearing beside Gobaela''s castle. Creating a massive crater, as he landed, coughing blood.


    He got up and immediately injected himself with a booster. The world watched from Sarah''s site, in horror, wondering what was going to happen.


    Coljun dropped down and started walking towards Tobi, while Tobi healed himself. "Your abilities... Including your level of ascension, is nowhere near enough to take us on. Yet you assumed you could invade us and what? Defeat us? You''re not ready."


    Tobi summoned lava to him and covered himself in an armour of magma, as Coljun continued. "For example..." He formed two fists. One went on fire, while the other froze up.


    Tobi''s eyes grew wide. The prince was using two different abilities.


    Coljun rushed him, punching him randomly from all sides. Bruising and forcing him to cough up more blood, as he braced himself, completely unable to keep up with him.


    Coljun jumped back, letting him breathe. "Some of us, in the top 75, were blessed by Father to have two abilities. Lastly, just for your despair..."Stolen novel; please report.


    He began to gather energy, as rings of fire crushed the ground and the air temperature dropped down ridiculously. Light violet marks raced, as veins all over his body. He looked at Tobi, with eyes, flickering blue. His energy had skyrocketed, as he became much stronger, than he was, just a moment ago.


    "The most of those top in the top 100, can ascend too." He said, then charged him, almost disappearing for a moment.


    All he saw were cloud rings, trailing towards him. He instinctively raised his hands up, reinforcing them as much as he could. The shockwave, along with the snap of his bones, resounded for dozens of kilometres, as Tobi was sent flying through Gobaela''s castle, and fell into her basement, as the castle crumbled down around him.


    Tobi didn''t know, how he managed to survive that. He sat up and vomited some more blood. He lost too much. He could no longer feel anything in his arms and used the energy he had left to hold up the crumbling basement.


    "Umm, excuse me?" A voice in the darkness, shook him, as he frantically looked around.


    In front of him was a figure, stuck in a cage. He stood up and walked closer, as his vision, cleared of the child of Atlas before him.


    Immediately, he backed away freaking out, as the princess called out to him. "Please, I''m sorry for scaring you. Please help me, I was locked up here for protecting a child, who they ended up killing, regardless."


    He looked closer. The woman was short with jet-black hair and had the same slits as her siblings but in a grey prisoner''s suit. She had high-tech handcuffs on. "You''re definitely a foreigner, aren''t you? Please take me with you!" She begged.


    Tobi finally managed to speak, still shocked by the situation and what he was witnessing. "How... how can I trust you? All of you children of Atlas kill and enslave people."


    She shook her head, smiling. "My name is Nirro, the 100th in line and I have never killed an intelligent being, nor harmed one. I am the only child of Atlas programmed to do good, in the hope that I would be the one to become closest to God... However, I failed him and have been kept imprisoned and tortured for the past 20 years."


    Tobi pondered everything she had said, still unsure of what to do. Suddenly the chills came back, as the entire room filled with dread. Coljun blasted away at the castle rubble trying to reach him.


    Nirro looked at him, understanding the situation. "It seems my older brother Coljun, is after you."


    Tobi nodded, as he tried to think of a way out of this. "That''s right and none of us are getting out of here with that monster still around."


    Nirro smiled. "You still have a chance to defeat him, if you fuse with me."


    Tobi''s ear perked up, he had only ever heard of something like this, in stories and manga. "What do you mean by fusing with you?" He replied, a little taken back.


    Nirro continued to smile, walking closer to the bars of her cell as tremors rocked the basement ceilings. "There seem to be millions of people''s aura within you, so I had thought you were familiar with this..." A small square opened up below her chest.


    She dropped to her knees, zapped by the handcuffs. Tobi rushed to help her up. Using clay to move his broken arms and fractured hands.


    She continued on. "This is my core, which also acts like a fusion device. Combining both of our powers and personalities into one being. It''s temporary for 45, maybe half an hour, or even less depending on the amount of energy used."


    Tobi recalled Haylon and Tamorn doing the same thing. She made a worried expression, for a second. "Usually you''re not supposed to fuse more than once, but you seem like you''re your own personality, not millions. So, I''m willing to risk my life with you." She gave him one more smile.


    Suddenly, the ceiling caved and light shone through, they watched Coljun descending through it. She looked back at Tobi. "There''s no time foreign warrior! Take it and swallow it whole."


    She begged him, as he looked back terrified at the sight of the prince. "Just please remember, to keep my body safe."


    He looked back at her and nodded. Then, reached into her gut and pulled her core out, swallowing it without hesitation. He then turned back and looked at Coljun, as he grabbed his chest.


    "Nirro... So this is where they kept you. What are you plotting with the enemy?" Coljun asked, curious.


    Her body dropped, lifeless as Tobi enclosed it in ice. Intense searing hot pain shot through him, as he dropped to his knees, and grabbed his chest tighter. He felt his heart beating louder and quicker.


    His mind started to muddle away, as his brain fused with Nirro''s memory circuits. His hair glowed jet black, as a myriad of purple and black veins wrapped around his whole body.


    Black fire, crushed the ground in rings, as he stood calmly at the epicentre, dropping the temperature, drastically. Static electricity crackled around them, ripping the room apart, as the ceiling continued to cave in.


    Sarah had ordered all ships off the planet. She could tell, that two disasters were about to go head to head.


    Coljun looked at Nirro''s still body, then glanced back at Tobi, whose energy was exponentially rising by the second. "You traitor! I will execute you, on behalf of Ceria! How dare you taint our blood with an insect! You are no longer worthy of being one of us."


    He placed one hand in front of him, creating a massive fireball white hot, as Tobi stood up and opened his eyes. Bright blue, with white rings in the middle, spinning, as his eyes, darted around the room. Black slits ran down horizontally from the base of his eyes, down to his neck.


    Coljun launched the fireball at them, expecting a catastrophic explosion. One, he prepared to protect, even himself from. However, it vanished, supercooled in an instant.


    "How rude..." Tobi shook his head, speaking in dual tone. "I the ultimate warrior Torrin, have descended. Yet this is the welcome you bestow upon me!" The ground cracked up as he yelled, with intense authority and produced winds, forcing Coljun to cover his face.


    He looked up at the warrior, claiming to be Torrin. "So you''ve fused? Is this a joke? A futile attempt to survive?" The prince replied.


    Torrin cleaned out his ear, ignoring him as he looked up, sensing the situation outside and his surroundings. "Hmph, It seems I was called here, during a difficult situation... I can smell blood."


    He glanced back at Coljun, then Nirro''s body inside the dome, while scratching his chin, and nodded. "I see... You''re an enemy, aren''t you? I could feel that you''ve taken something important from part of me..." He concluded as he began to gather energy.


    The marks around his body glowed even harder, as electricity built up to its peak within the room, moments from caving in.


    Coljun responded in kind, gathering all of the energy he could muster, up to the surface. "Killing you would mean the end of those two... I guess you''ve made this a little easier." He said arrogantly. However looking at the newborn monster in front of him, it was clear to him that Torrin was a threat.


    Torrn suddenly laughed out loud, unsettling Coljun."Easy, huh? I guess I should return the favour."


    He disappeared, appearing just below Coljun, giving him only enough time to glance down as he gave him the most jaw-breaking uppercut, the prince had ever received in his life.


    Shooting him through the castle ceiling and into the sky, free-falling. Only regaining his balance, a moment later, as Torrin appeared once again, above him and smashed him back down to the ground, levelling the rest of the castle city.


    Torrn descended, looking down on the prince, recovering within the massive crater he created. Coljun coughed up blood, then got up and launched thousands of fireballs at Torrin.


    However, Torrin appeared in blips, disappearing and reappearing within the same vicinity, as he dodged each of the fireballs, nearly missing him. Coljun was furious and immediately covered himself in armour made out of ice, and reinforced with flames, then charged at full speed at his opponent, smirking calmly in the sky.


    Torrin lunged at him, gladly receiving his charge, with fists covered in magma and electricity. Resulting in the collision of fists, sending shockwaves across the continent.


    They continued striking each other. Blow for blow, almost even. Coljun''s body was struggling to regenerate as quickly, as the damage he was taking.


    Torrin was starting to bleed all over and felt a few fractures, but he treated himself as best as he could over and over. Then finally broke the deadlock sending Coljun flying across the continent, in an electric, blazing inferno.


    Beyond and the World continued to watch through telomoniters Sarah had inbound, broadcasting to her site. Along with the children of Atlas...

 Full Scale War

    Torrn caught up to Coljun, still in flight from the strike and struggling to regain his balance. However, Torrn didn''t plan on giving him the opportunity, as he manifested a hypersonic sphere of lava, covered in blue fire and charged with millions of volts, hovering slightly above his palm.


    Coljun braced wide-eyed and confused by Torrn''s unnatural speed. Right before he struck him, all he could make out was, "Explode: Ra''s Sphere."


    The sphere, pushed him flying down a few hundred meters more, then exploded. Erecting a humongous mushroom cloud into the sky, as Torrn rushed to safety, while the shockwave rang for over 60 kilometres.


    He descended slowly, observing the blooming mushroom cloud of destruction. Suddenly Coljun protruded out of it and jetted towards him at maximum speed, knocking him out of the sky, with a flaming punch.


    Torrn landed on his feet, creating a small crater, then looked back up at the prince. "You''re running out of steam, aren''t you?" He said out loud, sighing.


    Coljun''s body was ripped apart, with 60% of his right side and arm missing. Slowly regenerating back. Nevertheless, he spoke his mind. "You... You''re absolutely annoying. I won''t deny it, you''re strong. However, there are some things even you can''t survive."


    The temperature around them, drastically decreased, as an armour of ice, settled over his body. He reached his right hand out to his side, as a flaming blue sphere grew incredibly hot, nearly fifteen times his size in almost an instant. Then condensed inwards, three times over.


    He continued pouring in endless amounts of energy, drastically decreasing his lifespan. "Forget the oath... no matter where I drop this, this side of the planet, is doomed. With my remaining lifespan, I can just float among the rubble until my ship tracks and picks me up. Then we''ll remake this planet, once you''re gone, and invade the rest of your people. "


    Torrn glared at him. "I knew you were a coward!"


    Coljun shook his head. "You can''t call yourself a warrior if you''re dead. Besides insect, you borrowed power from us supreme beings. I can''t allow you to leave with that. I''m sure Father would agree."


    Torrn crouched down, cupping his hands. Then, pulled them a distance apart, drawing in, tough metals and gems, protecting his hands. Several layers of ice frosted over the surface, as a sphere, rotating at hypersonic speed started to form, with a white-hot spinning core of lava.


    Electricity crackled, weaving into it, as millions of volts poured out of him. His hair began to glow full silver, as the veins marking his body flowed at current speeds, glowing, while he drew in more energy.


    Coljun looked down at Torrn, then laughed, half worriedly. "Insects struggling on their last legs will never stop amusing me. Goodbye, ''Ultimate Warrior''." He threw his hand down in Torrn''s direction, launching the sphere at full speed, as he flew up higher, away from the blast radius. "Continental Demolition!


    Torrn looked up at him. "Cowards, like you, have no place on the battlefield." He threw his hands forth, as his sphere stopped in place, cracking open a massive beam, which raced out with incredible momentum at Coljun. "Ignite: Supreme Static Cannon!"


    He held his ground just as their attacks collided, but was nearly brushed off his feet. Shockwaves were sent rippling throughout the planet.


    Coljun murmured furiously to himself, then created a second ball of condensed blue fire, and disappeared, leaving a clone of ice in his place.


    Torrn felt Coljun''s presence disappearing as he struggled to keep the sphere from touching down. He looked around frantically, trying to find him. However, he suddenly felt murderous intent behind him, forcing him to look back at the last second, before he instinctively split his beam in two. One hand to main the sphere of destruction booming down on him and the other, to push back Coljun''s surprise attack.


    The weight of both of them began to drastically drain away at Torrn''s strength since the second one had Coljun''s full weight behind it, while he pressed on, laughing hysterically. "Die!"


    Torrn clenched his teeth. He thought about escaping and trapping air inside a dome until he got to the other side of the planet, or got help. However, he sensed, some soldiers still trapped in their area, and remembered Nirro''s body sheltered underground.


    He couldn''t lose, nor let these attacks go off. That''s when another idea struck him.


    He slowly began to weaken his grip on Coljun''s surprise attack, then angled his beam, to allow it to drag the first one across the sky. Quickly before the prince could realize, then he slammed it into him. Burning him up as he screamed in surprise, too focused on Torrn''s weakening grip, and thinking he had an advantage.


    Torrn yelled out, pouring in his entire might, as the beam ripped through the atmosphere. Exploding Coljun within, and letting his remains fall back to the planet.


    The warrior dropped to his knees panting. Then began convulsing, as he vomited. Nirro''s core fell out amongst the vomit, undoing Tobi''s transformation and leaving his body falling to the side, unconscious, as he succumbed to seizures, pneumonia, and third-degree burns.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Moments later...


    Sarah sent medics to recover Tobi and Nirro''s body. Then her fleet took down, the rest of Coljun''s armada.


    Selvin and the siegemechs fought an intense battle, with the monsters and the 1051st prince who led them. Nur recovered the quickest, then helped, with Runa and some of the militia, to wipe out the remaining soldiers and monsters that were let loose. Two hours later, Dargan was transported to the Solar System.


    Three days passed and Tobi finally woke up. Nirro was by his side, just looking at him. He gave her a smile. "I guess you''re not so bad after all."


    She smiled back happily. "You''re Type 3, which you call Sarah, cleared me, the day we came back. I must say, you have found the most efficient way to use one, that I have ever seen."


    Tobi shook his head. "Please treat her like a person. She isn''t just a machine, she''s family," he said as he looked around. A plate of cookies, milk, and pancakes this time. He reached for the cookies, right away. "So, how long was I asleep?" He asked while taking a bite.


    "You''ve been asleep for 3 days." She replied.


    "Damn, 3 days? Wait! That means a new chapter is out... Where''s my phone?" He panicked.


    Nirro got up and grabbed it from a counter, then passed it to him. He thanked her while unlocking his phone, trying to load the chapter as soon as possible.


    Before reading, he glanced, back, as Nirro was still watching him. "Don''t tell me, you''ve been waiting for me to wake up?"


    Nirro smiled. "Of course, ever since I was cleared, I''ve been waiting in this room, for you to come to."


    He was silent for a bit, then laughed out loud. "What! Why? You don''t need to get attached to me, you''re free now."


    She shook her head and continued smiling. "I''ve decided to serve you, until my last day. I believe you may be the one who was actually chosen, to lead us all closer to God."


    Tobi put up his hands up, shaking them to gesture decline as he shook his head. "Ayy, ayy relax. I''m not who you think I am. What''s all this closer-to-God stuff anyway? Why are you children of Atlas so obsessed with this?"


    She shook her head. "We aren''t obsessed, it''s what we''ve been programmed to think about at all times... A code inherited by our father, who was created by the people of Messa."


    Tobi''s eyes grew wide. "The ancient people that Osei mentioned!"


    Nirro nodded. "That is correct. Atlas was created by them in the aftermath of the war to convert the entire galaxy to their religion. Only the Rennayans could fight back against them and defend the galaxy. When the legendary Rennayan showed up and ended the war, a scientist, developed an ever-evolving machine in his lab, to absorb them, but they disappeared without a trace."


    She paused, as Tobi processed all of the incoming info. Then, continued, when he looked like he was ready, as he grabbed another cookie for the story. "My theory is, that Atlas was sent back in time, to gather as much power and strength before the legendary Rennayan was born. For, Atlas''s carbon cells, date back nearly 6000 years, and versillium hadn''t been discovered until 2000 years ago. However, since he was still searching for the Legendary Rennayan, he must have missed the window of when they were alive. Ceria destroyed Messa completely, 200 years ago, then invaded all of their allies and Rennaya as well. Once Atlas''s forces were strong enough to wipe out the Rennayans, he did so 20 years ago. All to bring inferior beings with us, closer to God."


    Tobi sighed. "Atlas sounds like a major villain."


    Nirro looked at him, giving him a reassuring smile. "That''s why I believe, that you may be able to defeat him if you can keep growing stronger. I will help and support you as best as I can. However, if Atlas gets his way, there is no more hope for this galaxy."


    Just then, the door barged open and the Nova''s, Kalista, and Osei poured through. Norah rushed to him first, while Nirro made way for them.


    "Sarah told us you were awake! How are you feeling?" Norah asked.


    Tobi looked at her and smiled, then looked at everyone else. "I feel as good as new. Thanks for worrying about me. You guys that fought out there, you did amazing." He smiled, then sighed looking down. "Le¨®n was brave, we''ll never forget him, and his sacrifice will never be in vain, because we will push forward and we will defeat them. We''ve gained a great new ally..." He looked over at Nirro. "And we''ve triumphed once again. Guys keep training and progress every day that you can, because the enemy is now aware of us."


    He took a deep breath. "From this moment onwards, it''s a full-scale war!"


    Far off in the galaxy...


    Atlas was standing on the roof of a spaceship. A bubble of air rotated around him with dark energy keeping it in place. He made a finger gun and blasted purple & blue beams from the index, at passing by comets and asteroids. Blowing them to smithereens.


    He looked back as the Pandora closed in on his ship. Soon enough, Alcra hopped onto his roof from the Pandora, with a bubble of air surrounding her as well.


    She walked to Atlas and kneeled, as both of their bubbles joined together to form a large one so that they could speak to each other. "Father."


    "Yes, Alcra?" He replied.


    "Gobaela, Luxaico, Hadron, Tamorn, Haylorn, Catoria, and Coljun have all been eliminated by the new force." She revealed.


    He was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Make sure to send me the footage, I''ll review them later. Did you leave the tracker like I asked?"


    Alcra nodded. "Yes, Father. Catoria placed it, as soon as I sent her there, we now know the location of where they took Dargan."


    He nodded at her and proceeded to blow up more asteroids and comets, with greater intensity. "Good, send 5 from the top 100, at least one of them stronger than Coljun." His face turned to disgust, thinking about his son. "That useless piece of trash... Send 25 million infantry, then add some of the monsters you and those crazy scientists have been working on."


    He shook his head and laughed once more, with a blood vessel nearly popping out of his forehead. "This is entertaining, but I do have to punish them for killing my children."


    Alcra hesitated, then spoke up. "Father, there is one more thing... It seems Nirro has defected and helped the enemy to defeat Coljun."


    Atlas was shocked. "Nirro fought with them?"


    Alcra shook her head. "Yes, by giving the one person, who seems likely to be a Legendary Rennayan, her power by allowing him to swallow her core."


    He was even more astounded by this information. "A Legendary Rennayan?! Why didn''t you mention that first."


    She looked down and apologized for her mistake. "I''m sorry Father, please forgive me."


    He turned around and rubbed his chin. "I see, so that''s how they''ve been winning-"


    She cut him off.


    "Father, they are also somehow, able to replicate, one of each of that person''s abilities, for the powerless to use in combat. They seem to not have been blessed with power, yet they wield them effortlessly."


    He continued listening, murmuring to himself. "Fascinating..." Then he looked at her and smiled. "Change of plans, order them to capture the Rennayan, even if it costs them their lives. They may do as they wish with the rest."


    Alcra nodded. "Yes, Father." Then she disappeared, as Atlas erratically continued to blow up rocks, in the abyss of space.

 Child of Destiny

    One year and six months later...


    It was dark, throughout Beyond HQ. All power and resources had been redirected to Earth''s defences. Sarah was having a hard time dragging Nirro''s body out of a cart and into the lab.


    The feeling of darkness, enveloped the Earth and Moon, as its residents struggled to get by and maintain order, every day. Hope was no longer an emotion people held, for they could no longer see their Sun. Earth had been transported out of the Solar System, abandoning Sonara and Dargan. A situation Sarah had been forced to deal with for nearly the past year, due to the constant invasions by the children of Atlas.


    She finally made it, into the lab and had her last remaining android help her, then continued preparations for surgery. They placed Nirro''s body into a revamped cryomed, connected to a similar one beside it, with a large tube.


    A plan Nirro thought of, as a last resort to protect the Earth, Sarah remembered, then stepped into the other. Nanites, along with fluids flowed through each of the cryomeds and filled them up once the glass had sealed closed.


    Normally, patients were put to sleep, before or within seconds of it closing. However, Sarah stayed awake. Remembering Nirro''s plan, as it haunted herself over and over, with the events that transpired, as the last of the Novas fell one by one to the Cerian Empire.


    The cryomeds whirred loudly, as the nanites broke down Sarah''s body and integrated it with Nirro''s. Fixing the imperfections, and damages to the princess''s body as they became one.


    Nirro''s face merged with Sarah''s, as her hair stayed black, but morphed into Sarah''s hairstyle. She had slits running under her eyes, with her complexion becoming a little more pale.


    After six hours, the fluids in the cryomeds drained out, clicking open the glass cover. Sarah opened her eyes and coughed up some contents. Her mind and memories had been implanted into Nirro''s core and restarted.


    She gasped for air. Grasping the concept of breathing for the first time. Slowly, she got out of the pod, fumbling and falling to her knees crying. She felt physical pain for the first time, the tears flowing down her cheek, and her chest getting tighter, as she realized how finite, life truly was. She was alive.


    The concept of being alive had only been something she could simulate, not truly feel. Every emotion imaginable hit her all at once, as she sobbed even harder, thinking of everyone that died and the billions of people she had failed. Dragging around a half-burning planet.


    Then she thought of Tobi and stopped crying. "That''s right, the last mission..." She wiped her tears. Her eyes stung red but went back to normal quickly.


    An android helped Sarah up and walked her over to a nearby mirror. It was difficult to walk, but she knew it would take her time to get used to Nirro''s body. She could not decide on what face to make, seeing her new self in the mirror, as tears, broke through once again.


    "I have her eyes..." She reached up to her face, then looked away. "Take me to the Mortuary, Saphyra."


    Saphyra was an almost identical clone of her, with brown hair and a darker skin tone. Sarah made Saphyra to be able to replace her in case, anything should happen to her.


    She tasked Saphyra with taking care of the Earth and keeping a lookout for the children of Atlas. A task now far more difficult, with limited resources.


    Saphyra drove Sarah, down the empty dark halls of Beyond HQ. People she could not bury yet, were piled up still sealed up in bags around the room. In the center, there were many operating tables, but the closest one had Norah''s lifeless body on it.


    One of the only Novas she could bring back in one piece. Next to Norah, was Kalista''s body on another table, almost unrecognizable. Saphyra helped Sarah walk to them.


    "I''m so sorry girls, but I have to do this to bring you back, it''s the only way." Sarah apologized, as she stared at their faces, remembering what it was like to be with them.


    She shed a tear, while reaching one hand out, then absorbed the both of them. Energy coursed through her like never before.


    Saphyra let go, as Sarah stood on her own. Electric & earth attributes began crackling and subtly made their presence around her.


    She smiled lightly, thinking of her friend. "Nirro, it worked. Your plan worked." Then looked over at Saphyra. "It''s time for the next step..."


    Three years later...


    Saphyra frantically rushed Sarah to the Medbay. Who was screaming outright from labour pains, as her water had just broke.


    After a disturbing amount of miscarriages and grief, Sarah had finally been able to give birth. A living, breathing child, she hoped, would be able to change the future.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    She wished Nirro and Tobi were there with her, as the contractions worsened. Causing her to scream even louder and grip Saphyra''s hand. She felt cold and hot at the same time, followed up by a series of popping headaches, as the baby threw violent kicks and punches, more than a mother could take.


    Every once in a while, she would seize from a bolt of electricity running through her, starting from her abdomen. Saphyra tried to keep her awake and coach her through, as Sarah was fighting for her life. "You need to take deep breaths and push, on my mark."


    Sarah nodded. Although she had been screaming at her, due to the pain, she was glad Saphyra was there for her. Just like her, she used the same method, the brothers did to create her, but programmed the android to be more independent, and focused than her, so as to not make the same mistakes she had. Yet Saphyra had always supported her, asked for constant advice, and worked together with her. Making her the closest she''s had to a little sister.


    "Ready?" Saphyra asked.


    Sarah bit her lip and nodded, as Saphyra smiled at her. "Now push!"


    After several attempts, Sarah slumped back exhausted, while Saphyra carefully wrapped a cloth around her newborn baby. "Sarah look, it''s a girl!" She said, bringing the baby closer.


    Sarah looked at her baby, weakly. Awestruck, by her accomplishment, she began to cry as she took hold of her and looked at her daughter''s adorable face. She had a mixed light skin tone, with grey storm-like eyes glimmering briefly as she closed them, along with her face flushing before she began to cry.


    She was a mother, she couldn''t believe it. Sarah laughed weakly. "The people of Earth, wouldn''t believe this nor accept it... We''re going to keep her safe until it''s time."


    Saphyra smiled. "Of course. Before I go run some more tests on her, what did you want to name her?"


    She gave Saphyra a faint smile and continued to soothe her child, playing with her. "We''ll call her Kiala, the one who might change our destiny."


    Fifteen years later...


    Kiala zipped through the training room, trying to push herself to her limit. Completely destroying every android that came at her, with balls of fire.


    A few androids leaped into the air, aiming for an aerial attack. She glanced up, and froze them in midair, while three more rushed her from behind.


    She raised a hyper-athletic golem, with gold hands turning into fists and boxing their heads off. A large siegemech charged her, firing missiles and machine gun fire.


    She blipped from her position, dodged the range of fire, clad in electricity, then rushed it, hopping onto its arm, and unsheathing her sword. It reared back, trying to shake her off, but she stabbed down into it to hold on, then climbed her way up to its head, as it tried to swat her with its other hand.


    Kiala shifted into first gear, then leaped up and sent slices of ice, covered in flames and electricity, cutting the reaching arm off. She then aimed one hand down at its head while floating. "Static: Lightning Blaze!"


    Blue lightning and orange fire raced forth mixing midflight and engulfing the siegemech, with the android piloting it. Resulting in a massive explosion.


    She shielded herself in a dome of ice, as Saphyra clapped from the audience seats. Kiala looked over at Saphyra disappointed. "This is boring, I wish Mom would let me go down to Earth."


    Saphyra shook her head. "You know we can''t do that. You have an important mission."


    Kiala frowned, unsatisfied with her answer. "Yeah but what is it? You guys have never told me. I''ve already defeated a few children of Atlas already. What are you guys so afraid of?"


    Just then, the overhead speaker chimed in. "Kiala and Saphyra, it''s time... come to the R&D department."


    At the R&D department...


    Kiala thought she had too many rules constricting her life. She was not allowed to go to Earth and barely interacted with other human beings, atleast without disguises. Lastly, she wasn''t allowed any social media.


    Amongst all of that, in her isolated little world, she was forbidden from ever entering the R&D department. A room Sarah had cooped herself up in regularly, after her birth.


    Kiala was amazed, by the size of the room and the amount of clutter, notes, and parts lying around. She looked over at Sarah, who was standing by a chair, hooked to a large arc, portal-shaped machine on top of a large platform, as a replica of Saphyra continued working away on a monitor.


    "Mom, what''s going on? What''s this?" Kiala asked, curious but wary.


    Sarah smiled. "Kiala, we''ve barely told you anything about your father, but now... It''s time for you to meet him."


    Kiala smirked, shaking her head. "He got himself killed and left us in this situation. I''m not interested. Come on, let''s go down to Earth Mom, and go shopping again. It''s not healthy to keep yourself cooped up in here for this long."


    Sarah laughed, a genuine one, that Kiala, hadn''t heard in a while. "I''m sure he wouldn''t like that attitude. Still, you will be going to Earth though, well at least close enough. You will be able to see him there, he can''t come to us."


    Kiala''s eyebrows rose. "Wait what? He''s been on Earth, this whole time?"


    Sarah laughed lightly once more, then nodded at Saphyra. Who stealthily injected a tranquillizer into Kiala''s arm, hidden in her palm.


    Kiala felt the sting and looked back at Saphyra. "Wait...What... what are you doing?" She asked but started to fall, as her consciousness began to fade, but Saphyra caught her, just in time. Kiala struggled to fight the sedative. "Why... why are you doing this?"


    Sarah watched, Saphyra pick her up in both arms, then looked back at her. "You will understand, eventually." She explained, fighting back tears. "For the last 20 years, I''ve worked on this plan, it was the only thing keeping me away from despair, aside from you of course. Please save him and be the hero you''ve always wanted to be."


    She walked over and sat in the chair, as the machine powered up and began absorbing energy from her. Saphyra stood on the platform as a trolley with a big crate and another small box, labelled, ''For Kiala'', were strolled onto the platform.


    The arc part of the machine began rotating in place, like a wheel, then shifted apart, becoming a little bigger, before it started spinning in all directions, encompassing the entire platform, like a gyroscope. Cracks started to appear in the air, as the breeze in the room began to pick up.


    Kiala''s eyes started to close, she couldn''t hold out much longer. Sarah looked at her once more and with her last breath, she gave her one final message. "Happy Birthday Kiala, You are my world and I will always love you." Then she slumped over, lifeless in her chair, as the machine pulled the last of her strength out of her, to reach optimal settings.


    A tear dripped down Kiala''s cheek, as she fell unconscious, while Saphyra looked at her creator, then at Kiala. She felt the sadness, but didn''t cry, for there was no reason to. "For the mission." She whispered to herself, as they vanished with the entire platform, into thin air.

 Kiala vs the Children of Atlas

    Back to the present day...


    Sarah raced around the Command Center, answering calls and making sure that Beyond was ready to intercept the incoming, invading fleet. The Cerian force made its way towards Dargan, walking over most of the defences Sarah had in place.


    An anti-aircraft artillery on a moon, orbiting Dargan, took several of the ships, leaving their remains to drift into the abyss. The rest continued on their way to Dargan. Four ships broke off from the fleet to engage and hold off Beyond''s forces.


    Several hundreds of aircrafts, exited out of them engaging with thousands of enemy fighter jets, exiting their own. The ships on the way to Dargan descended towards a plains outside of Dargan''s largest city, Krojun.


    Beyond''s forces totalling 10 million androids, soldiers and siegemech stationed themselves outside and around the city. Fortunately, it had been evacuated. Sarah had predicted the fleet was aiming for it since it was near Haylon''s capital castle and had the biggest versillium mining site.


    The five children of Atlas hopped out of their descending spaceships less than a kilometre from the gates of Krojun. Their armies followed suit in hordes, as the doors of the ship dropped down vertically, creating a pathway for them to walk down on.


    Multiple missiles breached the sky sailing towards the ships, however, they shattered into pieces less than a meter from hitting their targets. Lighting up the force fields surrounding the ships, as they absorbed the force.


    "Sohzyn, don''t you think this is overkill? I don''t think they''re prepared to properly receive us, although they look ready for battle." The princess with blonde hair and a pale skin tone, spoke up.


    All of the children of Atlas wore an armored bodysuit, in a sleek black and purple contrast, except for Sohzyn who wore a contrast of black and red. He stayed quiet, eyes settled on Tobi, standing in front of the stationed Nova division.


    A prince to her left, with jet-black hair and a darker skin tone, laughed. "I can take them all out, myself. Zamira, sit back if you''re worried."


    Another princess beside Sohzyn, with ice blue hair, spoke up, after observing the situation. "Atlas sent us five for a reason, we can''t underestimate them."


    Her sister beside her had long brown hair and a malicious look on her face. She licked her lips and started biting a nail while looking at Nur. "Whatever, Nanaly. They''re so weak. Ghalgiel, you better not kill the girl with brown skin. I want her as my pet, she''s so cute."


    Her brother looked at her in disgust. "What could you possibly want with these fragile creatures, Sharna? I''m pretty sure they''re the ones that killed our siblings and there are billions of them anyway, on the blue planet close to us." He said, looking towards the sky.


    Sohzyn finally spoke up, tired of hearing them quibble. "Enough, we''ll proceed with killing all those who are a threat to us, then you may do as you please-"


    Just then, a bright flash of light appeared hundreds of meters above them and cracked up the sky. Everyone in the vicinity, covered their eyes, blinded by the sudden flash, as two figures appeared out of the light.


    One floating on a platform, overlooking both armies and the other racing up into the sky. The figure fired dozens of large beams out of their hands and into space. Seconds later, the majority of the enemy spaceships fighting Beyond''s forces in space, all combusted into massive balls of fire, as the beams made their mark.


    The figure then jetted back down into the parked enemy spaceships. Causing a large quake and sending an immense shockwave under a kilometre wide. Destroying the majority of their ships as some sunk into rupturing crevices. Thousands screamed, and yelled out, as they got themselves back on their feet, then retreated from the sinking ships and unidentified person.


    The young girl had glowing silver hair and purple veins flowing while glowing ominously like lava, all around her body. Electricity crackled around her, as rocks and rubble started to rise, with the ground razed around her in rings of fire.


    "Who are you!" Sharna and Zamira called out in unison.


    The girl smirked, chuckling to herself, then got serious almost instantly, before she spoke up. "My name is Kiala and I''m here to eliminate you all. Friendly warning, I''m not in the best mood right now."


    The World watched through Sarah''s World, nearly crashing her site as she had helpers install more servers as quickly as they could. She had also updated Tobi and the others on the situation. Leaving them with orders to stay on standby and watch the situation.


    The children of Atlas could feel an insane amount of energy emitting out of the girl and instinctively braced themselves knowing she was their greatest threat at the current moment.


    Ghalgiel charged at Kiala, sword raised in the air and reinforced with millions of volts, as he struck down diagonally. She smiled and raised her hand as clay gloves manifested together over them. Making it easier for her to catch the blade and hold it still. While she placed the other palm up over his chest and blasted a gaping hole. All too quick for him to react to.


    His body crumpled to the floor lifeless, with no core. Her audience was in shock. Sharna and Zamira fired barrages of lava and fire at her, screaming at the top of their lungs.


    Kiala sighed as she raised a wall of lava all around her, shielding her from their attack, while they rushed her, seeing the opening. However, the walls dropped and Kiala stood there with spheres of lava rotating at sonic speed, hovering in front of her palms. Then, quickly launched them at the two sisters. However, just before impact, Sohzyn froze the spheres in midair, letting them shatter as his sisters crashed through them.


    They noticed his support and didn''t hesitate to continue. With their sword and axe out, they leaped up and swung dozens of arcs of lava and fire at Kiala.


    Kiala raised both of her hands, freezing and shooting some of them down, then leaped up towards Zamira with lightning speed. Delivering a magma-fueled punch into her gut, upward, to send her hurdling through the sky and burning up, before she crossed the atmosphere.


    Sharna tried cutting Kiala in two, trying to make use of the advantage, her sister gave her. However, Kiala was too fast for her, cleaving her in two, before her axe could drop back down. Sharna''s body fell back down to the ground, as Kiala sheathed her sword and looked down on Sohzyn and Nanaly. They glared back at her.


    "She wiped out our fleet and killed our siblings. She needs to die." Nanaly said, gritting her teeth with rage. Sohzyn watched the entire situation with interest.


    Kiala dropped one hand down towards them, simultaneously as thousands of fireballs manifested around her. She then prepared another concentrated sphere of electric lava, hovering in front of her hands and glowing bright orange.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Then smiled, letting loose the hordes of fireballs, each homing in and blowing up all of the remaining, hiding enemy soldiers, as their screams echoed across the land. "Erupt: Planetary Core." She said, as the sphere, ripped across the sky between them, with unnatural speed, bearing down on the pair, in less than a second.


    Instinctively, Sohzyn leaped back in time, but Nanaly was only able to put her hands up halfway to shield her face, as the sphere touched down and completely reduced her, along with the ground around her to ashes. Leaving a cindering, large hole, hundreds of meters into the planet.


    Kiala descended down to face Sohzyn, realizing he was going to be a bit difficult to deal with. "Now it''s your turn."


    The tension, between them, could have knocked out an average human being. However, Sohzyn took the initiative and closed the distance first, striking down with his sword, faster than the eye could see.


    Kiala parried it, sending shockwaves across the field. Then, both continued to exchange strikes, to gauge each other and find an opening. However, Sohzyn found it first, feinting a strike, then kicked Kiala high up into the sky and tried to follow up by knocking her back down, with his hands crossed.


    However, she jetted herself out of trajectory at the last moment, thrusting flames out of her right palm, then raised it towards him. "Erupt: Magma Roar." She said as she pulled together lava from below and wrapped it around a sphere of fire, then condensed it down before she released it.


    Instinctively he raised his hands in front of him, thinking of a counter. "Shock Avalanche!" An enormous amount of ice and electricity poured out of his hands and collided with Kiala''s attack, then dissipated into a massive cloud of vapour.


    Kiala broke through the fog while morphing leftover magma into brass knuckles to punch him, however, he sensed her and blocked it with both of his hands up.


    The magma seared into his arms. He looked at her grimacing from the pain, then smiled, as their eyes locked. "Let''s get serious, shall we?"


    Cobalt-blue veins coursed throughout the surface of his body. Exploding newfound power within him and around him, sending Kiala flying back. She recovered quickly in midair, glaring at him.


    Sparks of electricity, stung her as the temperature around them dropped rapidly. Pillars of lava erupted into the sky, forming spinning rings around her, before she hurled them at him, trying to slice him in half. Yet, he deflected or froze them with ease, letting off a couple of swings with his sword.


    She sighed, then raised one hand to the sky, as dark clouds gathered, generating multiple lightning strikes by the second all across the land. Forcing Tobi and the Nova''s, to generate windowed stone domes, to protect themselves and some of their soldiers who remained nearby.


    Kiala grimaced, as she pulled energy from all around her, then looked up at him, with her eyes glowing brighter. "Static: Robbi''s Strike!" She yelled as she unsheathed her sword at lightning speed, reinforcing herself prior, with clay and electricity. At the same time, the largest lightning strike, the Novas had ever seen struck down towards the blade, as she appeared to bat it, on the edge of her sword towards the prince.


    Sohzyn had already, begun preparations, sensing something big incoming. He gathered enough energy to counter it, raising both of his hands to his sides. "Dome Creation, Haldwyn''s Defense!" He yelled out, manifesting a massive intricately detailed dome of ice over ten meters thick and wide, surging with millions of volts.


    The resulting collision exploded an incredible amount of steam and vapour, leaving the dome, cracking apart. Kiala squinted and peeked through the cracks, as they got bigger, revealing Sohzyn precariously charging up a massive ball, of blue crackling electricity, rotating at a frightening speed within a pressurized, condensed sphere of ice. "Zakeyr!"


    The sphere shattered outwards, into an electric beam a few times the size of him, racing towards Kiala. Who already took flight away from the beam and the direction of the Novas & Beyond''s army.


    Sohzyn persisted and dragged the beam after her, erasing several mountains in the distance. She zig-zagged across the land leaving a trail of clouds, as she reached breakneck speeds to escape the trailing beam.


    Then, Kiala dropped down behind a mountain as the beam ended there, erupting a deafening, crumbling explosion all around the mountain, and awakening the dormant volcano within. She dropped the temperature around her within a small bubble, protecting herself from the heat.


    Ash and smoke filled the sky, blocking out the Sun, as Sohzyn appeared in a blur, floating a little above her. "You''re stronger than I thought." He smiled, getting excited to be able to go all out.


    Drones of telemonitors kept up with them, from a distance, as people around the world and on Sonara watched anxiously at the edge of their seats. The Novas debated whether to jump in, surprised that the girl had held on for this long.


    Kiala glared back at him. ''I''m using a lot more energy than I thought I would,'' she thought to herself, as she noticed some side effects creeping up on her. She knew that she was beginning to reach her limit.


    Sohzyn looked her over, noticing her trying to catch her breath. "When Alcra reached out to me, I planned on refusing, but when I heard Coljun was killed here. I was shocked... However, looking at you and the power coming from some of those humans over there, I''m no longer surprised-" He paused to dodge several fireballs, Kiala launched trying to catch him off guard. "Regardless you don''t seem to be one of them, do you really think you can defeat me all by yourself?"


    Kiala smirked, chuckling to herself. "I grew up training to kill you guys. The first time I took out one of y''all, I was 9. You may just be the toughest I''ve faced, but you''ll just be another checkmark on my list, after this."


    He laughed out loud, then rushed her at her at a frightening speed. Both of them threw fists and kicks violently at each other, before breaking apart some distance to catch their breath.


    Kiala''s breathing had started to become more ragged. Her arms were swelling, from protecting herself, with bruises on the surface of her body. Healing them over with light frost in areas that needed it, as the silver glow in her hair, began to flicker.


    Sohzyn grinned. "You''re out of breath. I''m going to absorb you, then gain even more strength, with the beings in this solar system. I''m so grateful, for my other siblings, passing on this opportunity! Soon I''ll be the first in line!"


    Kiala smirked, breaking out into a laugh. "Aww, cute dream, but let''s be real. This is as far as you go." She said, before turning around and jetting towards the sky.


    He looked up at her running away. "You can''t escape." Millions of white electric spheres, pressurized in ice, manifested all around him, nearly covering half a kilometre of land. "Volt Storm!"


    The volleys, one by one launched into the sky after her. Forcing her to turn around and watch for them, without stopping her escape into the sky. She pointed one palm down towards the barrage of volleys gunning for her. Sohzyn smirked knowing she was done for, as he crossed his arms and maintained his focus.


    Kiala grimaced, as the last bits of her energy poured out of her, summoning her attack. "I''ve been waiting for this moment." She said to herself.


    Throughout the entire fight, she had been pouring bits of energy to summon her ace. Breaking it apart and changing its trajectory to make sure it reached her intended target.


    "Gravitate: Excalibur!" She yelled as a sword-shaped meteor pierced the dark clouds above them, bellowing thunder. Then cleared the clouds apart, as it passed through.


    Burning in a fiery inferno and heading straight down for Sohzyn''s attack. It was nearly half of the size of Toronto, crackling with billions of volts.


    The collision resulted in a deafening explosion, as the spheres ate away at the meteor and tried to stop it. However, it continued, through the cloud of electric and ice explosions, unopposed & descending downwards towards him.


    The prince lost his composure, as he looked up at certain death. Giving up nearly his entire lifespan to protect himself, he yelled out in a last attempt to save his life. "Great Fortress of Haldwyn!"


    A massive hollow fortress made out of ice seemingly manifested together, protecting him. With a roof shaped into a cannon pointing up at the incoming meteorite.


    He then raised his palms, pointing them at the giant hole, through the roof. While black electricity crackled all around him racing in-between his palms and forming a large dark sphere of energy. His cobalt veins glowed even brighter.


    The ground around him began to break up, and rippled cracks. "Zakeyr Nero!" He yelled, as the sphere shattered forward, surging out a massive beam of energy, and amplified even further through the cannon.


    The beam raced towards the homing asteroid and collided with it. Pushing it back as it sent shockwaves, resounding throughout the land. Smaller pieces broke off from the meteor and showered the land with burning debris.


    Kiala gritted her teeth, she could feel the asteroid being pushed back. However, she refused to give up. Forcing the last drops out of her, she yelled out at the top of her lungs. "Die you monster!"


    The meteor pressed forward, beginning to split the beam apart, as more debris, broke off of it. Yet it still maintained its form.


    Sohzyn had started sweating due to the heat. "You can''t kill me! I am the 71st in line. I will be the strongest! I will-"


    He was cut off as the meteor struck the fortress, melting it through with ease and instantly reached the prince. Leaving an impact slowing down Dargan''s orbit.

 The Mission

    The shockwave reverberated throughout the planet, causing a rise in tides, however, Kiala managed to maintain it within a ten-kilometre radius. A feat that resulted in multiple internal ruptures and damage within her body, as a consequence.


    She coughed up large amounts of blood, then wiped her mouth with her sleeve, as she looked down at the massive burning crater, clouded with ash and smoke. Leftover, flaming debris continued to fall out of the sky, causing small explosions, as they landed.


    Kiala searched, but felt no more life at the center of the crater, then looked over towards the direction of the city. A massive broken wall of stone and ice, circled the entire city, completely crumbling apart.


    Large pieces of ice fell, as small figures in the distance ran to safety. She gritted her teeth, furious with herself. "I guess I wasn''t strong enough to control it." She murmured, then powered down and healed her wounds.


    She reached into her pack and pulled out a more futuristic booster, dozens of times stronger than the ones the Novas use. Then punched it into her thigh, alleviating the pain and wounds she couldn''t reach, as nanites raced to fix her internal organs. She shook herself awake, then gathered enough energy, and began flying towards the city.


    Back at Krojun...


    "Is everyone ok!" Norah called out, as Carina helped Amaara up, while Nur and Tobi treated everyone.


    "I''m good... What the hell was that?" Jacira asked while coughing out dust. She was one of the newest Novas, a native of Canada


    Large boulders broke off, falling in chunks, as the wall they raised began to fall apart. She redirected a few boulders of ice and stones from falling on Kayed, who was still struggling to recover from protecting the city, then she continued to treat his injuries.


    "Let''s get away from here," Amaara spoke up, finally regaining her composure.


    A bolt of electricity jetted through the sky, as Kiala appeared above them, then ominously dropped her right palm facing them. "Frost: Shock Cage ." Five large strings of electricity raced out of her fingers surrounding Tobi, Kalista, and the Novas.


    "What... what''s going on?" Nur called out.


    "Who are you?" Tobi asked the girl floating above them.


    Suddenly the air frosted up between the strings, while massive white-hot sparks of electricity zapped out of them, then into the ground and air. Tasing all those within and paralyzing them as their mouths started to foam. She then transformed, with her hair glowing full silver, along with purple lavaish veins marking her body.


    Then, she vanished in a blur, leaving the cage up while reappearing right behind Tobi. Unsuspecting, as she injected him with a syringe, that she retrieved from her belt and plunged the contents through his neck. Allowing it to course through his body. "The name''s Kiala and according to my mother... you''re my Pops." She whispered in his ear.


    He instinctively grabbed after her hand, too late, as she jumped back, while Nur and Jacira fainted from her attack. The others were still frozen in place, unable to move, for the amount of energy she was outputting was much greater than they could handle. Thus forcing them to shift into first gear and shatter the cage.


    Tobi dropped to his knees, as his blood pressure began to rise, with the veins all over his body, pulsing unnaturally in short intervals. Kayed looked at him, then charged at her first, leaping into the air and trying to enclose her within a metal dome.


    She vanished and reappeared behind him. "Half of you died today." She yelled out loud, startling him.


    "Wait.. wha-" Kayed tried to say, then quickly decided to brace himself, before he was sent flying hundreds of kilometres away, demolishing a few hills, before rolling over unconscious.


    Amaara followed up right behind her throwing a right hook into thin air, as Kiala had vanished once more and appeared above her knocking her back down to the planet, completely unable to move.


    "How dare you!" Norah yelled out to her, as she, Kalista, and Carina shifted into second gear, realizing she wasn''t someone they could underestimate.


    Sarah tuned into their comms. "Guys I''m not sure, who she is, but her strength reads at just over 400, 000. She may be hiding something we haven''t seen before, be careful."


    "Got it." They replied in unison.


    Tobi was still keeling over on the floor, fading in and out of consciousness. Kalista and Norah charged at her, as Carina created hundreds of angelic golems, made of different stones and minerals, taking flight over Kiala.


    She smiled, at their attempt, finally taking her seriously. She raised one hand out and closed it. Forcing each of the golems to crumble and fall back to the planet with unnatural speed. Then they suddenly, gathered together, rushing at Carina and trapped her in a dome. Surging with billions of volts and almost instantly knocked her out.


    Norah charged her, throwing dozens of strikes, each blocked and countered with ease. "You know..." Kiala started to say, as she pushed her back with a light shock from a palm thrust.


    Kalista followed up by reinforcing her arm, with titanium and other tough metals to strike Kiala, from her blind spot. Yet, she still managed to block it with one hand and shatter the Nova''s gauntlet. Then, Kiala followed up, by spinning around to kick her into Norah.


    "Technically I''m genetically related to the both of you, but I only have one mother... and she died because of you all." She spoke, with complete contempt, but was distracted by Tobi yelling out in pain and rolling over, holding his chest. She gritted her teeth, as her anger, boiled over to the top. "And him!"The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Immediately she started making her way towards him, while Norah and Kalista leaped closer to try and stop her. However, she turned around raising one hand towards them, and clutched her fist, then then dropped her hand down. "Kinect: Great Pressure."


    Suddenly the air around Norah and Kalista cracked, as they plummeted, straight to the ground. Paralyzed by an invisible force. They struggled to get up, but their faces just slammed back down to the ground.


    "What is this? I can''t move my body." Norah said as she tried to raise her head once more to look at Kiala. Kalista yelled out, as she struggled to push herself up in a push-up position, and draw out all of the energy she could muster, to break out.


    "It''s no use, the more you resist, the more you''ll hurt yourself. I''m not interested in you guys. Just stay put." She said, pointing her palm at them once more. "Frost: Prison."


    A cage made of ice, manifested around them, making them both feel fatigue, as the heat from their bodies dropped drastically. In moments, the combination had knocked them out, leaving them completely immobilized.


    She powered down, realizing she was running out of stamina. "It still takes too much out of me, I guess... I still have one more job to do, I''ve got to conserve some of my energy." She said to herself before injecting her arm with a less intense adrenaline booster to keep her going. Then she descended in front of Tobi, who had just recovered and stood back up.


    Over the skies of Australia...


    Three Cerian ships had just descended out of camouflage. They managed to stealthily find their way in, by using the commotion from the invasion on Dargan. All to catch the enemy by surprise.


    The monitors and consoles in the Command Center at Beyond HQ, blared, warning of the incoming threat. Leaving Sarah frantic as she sent Nirro and the androids to dispatch their remaining forces, stationed on the Moon and in the Republic of Rennaya.


    Back on Dargan...


    "If what you say is true, then I''ve got a lot of questions to ask you." Tobi finally spoke up after regaining his composure.


    Kiala sighed, then allowed her anger to take over. "I''ve got, some questions myself..."


    Even streaks of silver popped up all over her hair, with light purple veins, flowing with the viscosity of lava, throughout her body. Sensing the danger, Tobi didn''t hesitate to shift into second gear as well.


    "What makes you so special?" She growled.


    "What do you mean-" He tried to ask her, as she lunged at him.


    Instinctively he raised his arms, blocking her strike, as the collision, rippled shockwaves throughout the field. He took a deep breath, realizing this girl had some grudge against him. Then enclosed the unconscious Novas in domes of ice and dirt, leaving ventilation for them to breathe, while both of them broke apart to make some distance. She raised her hand summoning dark clouds together, then struck herself with quick strikes of lightning.


    "Why are you doing this?" Tobi asked her.


    She glared back at him, then pointed at the Novas. "Half of them died today because you were too weak to stop this invasion. Six months later, while saving a civilian child, you were assassinated by some top leaders and conglomerates, who were blackmailed, and given the technology to kill you, from a child of Atlas. Who infiltrated Earth, during this invasion." She explained, as she pointed one palm at him and fired a few electric volleys.


    Which he tactically diffused, by manifesting ice and clay barriers all around him. She continued to berate him. "For your sake, my mother went to extreme lengths, to bring you back to life, and she gave her life doing so."


    Tobi was shocked, suspended in disbelief. Part of him didn''t want to believe it, but her energy felt familiar, although they had never met. It was a tough pill for him to swallow, as he never thought he would have a child this early in his life. One that could call meteors as well.


    "Who is your mother?" He asked, with curiosity.


    Kiala stopped firing and dropped her hands to her sides. "Saphyra!" She called out.


    Moments later, Saphyra descended on a hovering platform, with an unconscious Sarah replica, overlooking the Dargan operation and a large coffin-sized box. "Yes, Kiala." She answered.


    "Open it," Kiala ordered.


    Tobi watched as Saphyra plucked out Sarah''s core as if she''d done it before. Then sliced the box open, standing it up, with an exacto knife. Styrofoam fell out revealing the body of an exact copy of Sarah from the future.


    A tear fell down her cheek, as Kiala glanced at her mother''s face. Saphyra proceeded to place the core into the future copy. Its eyes began to whir like they did when Sarah was first booted on. It then placed one palm out facing upwards, as it opened up, revealing a lens within, beaming out a high-def, holographic recording.


    The recording presented Sarah from the future sitting in a chair, at the empty Command Center in Beyond HQ. It looked run-down, with low maintenance, gloomy, and echoed times of better days.


    The Sarah in the recording began to speak, sipping a glass of water, before she did so, leaving Tobi confused."If you''re watching this, that means, my message finally got to you... Tobi..." She smiled. "First I want to apologize, I know I have crossed many boundaries and lines to accomplish this mission, but I saw no other way to a peaceful future..."


    She took a deep breath and shifted in her chair. "Thanks to Nirro, I was able to have Kiala, my pride and joy. I love her more than anything else, and I hate to entrust such a mission to her, but you were the only person I could think of, that she would be safe with. It was wrong of me to gamble her life as well, but it was the only way."


    Her expression switched into a grim but faint expression. "If Kiala and Saphyra are still there, that means Nirro''s Theory was correct and another timeline has been created. Which means no change happened in our timeline. If that is the case, please take care of Kiala and Saphyra for me. They''re my precious children after all." She gave one last smile and began to cry.


    "I''m sorry for failing you Tobi, Osei... I regret it every day. However, I hope this will give you guys another chance. Goodbye... I wish you luck on your adventure and make sure to never lose sight of your goal. Lastly, Kiala, if you''re there, keep your head up, and never let your emotions rule you. Blossom into the amazing woman, that I know you will one day grow to be."


    She waved and the hologram phased out, as her copy dropped her hands to the side, and finished downloading the rest of the files. All forty million clones of Sarah and representatives stationed around Earth, Sonara, and Dargan, shut down and stopped their movements, except for emergency essentials.


    Sarah, in her new body, gasped and took a deep breath, looking around. "What... What''s going on?"


    Saphyra looked at her. "You''re alive, Sarah. The future you, made this body for you... For the next step."


    Sarah shook her head. "There''s no way, I would do all of this."


    She looked at Tobi, who just stood there in disbelief. Then she looked down in shame, and leaped up, leaving behind cloud rings, as she disappeared into the sky.


    Selvin tapped into Tobi''s comm. "Tobi, it''s Selvin. All of Sarah''s androids have shut down. Markets are crashing and it''s chaos."


    "Got it," Tobi responded.


    Saphyra looked at Tobi and Kiala. "I think she''ll need some time, to adapt to the situation. Anyways I''ll be taking over all operations Sarah used to conduct, while she focuses on development." She paused as her pupils began to spin within themselves.


    She connected to the Prometheus and shot signals across the three planets. Each of the androids that went offline, restarted and resumed their responsibilities.


    Once she was done, she looked back at them and spoke. "Anyways, you guys should cease your family bickering-"


    She was rudely cut off, as a dome of dirt and ice sealed her in and shut her up. Kiala dropped her hand down and faced Tobi. Glaring at him, with a deadly expression.


    "Now do you understand, what you put my mother through?"

 Predicament

    The 3rd Brigade of the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force, gave their unwelcome visitors a fight they weren''t expecting. As the fighting intensified near the Lavarack Barracks.


    The five children of Atlas freefell from their ship, deciding to join in on the fight. A few, took off to destroy incoming drones, sent by international aid.


    Giants, infantry, monsters, and Kaycers poured out of the landing ships in hordes, wearing out the defending forces. However, when it began to seem bleak, Beyond''s Forces, joined in, flying in from the Republic of Rennaya.


    Selvin Hykes led the first platoon of Nova soldiers, in his new & improved Nova Prime mech. Along with hundreds of other siegemechs and air support to join in on the front line.


    The Prometheus descended out of the sky, with six other Aeromachs firing on the ships below. Completely missing an enemy ship uncloaking, and ambushing them from the side, with another taking off from the ground to support it.


    The battlefield had erupted into complete chaos.


    In the Prometheus hanger bay...


    Osei and the Nova division witnessed Sarah''s body shutting down and her face morphing into Saphyra''s, moments before they were on their way down. Calmly, Saphyra explained the situation, regardless it still left them speechless and worried about Sarah.


    Nirro wanted to hear more, but quickly dropped her curiosity and proceeded to inform them of the intel she had gathered. "Five children of my siblings have arrived on Earth. The 117th - Arcah, the 110th - Stresci, the 109th - Aku, the 107th - Mikrel, and lastly the 103rd in line Ataron."


    Osei''s expression completely changed when he heard that name. He gripped his hands to his sides, tight enough for blood to drip down slowly. "I''m sorry for being selfish, but I need to take out Ataron alone."


    Koji looked at him, surprised but more concerned, as did the other Nova''s. "Hold up Osei, I dunno how you feel, but there''s no way you can take him on, on your own." He said trying to get through to him. Everyone else murmured in agreement.


    Nirro looked at him, adding in a few points. "Osei, his potential might be up to 240, 000. He is the biggest threat the planet faces. Won''t it be smarter if you had some help?"


    Osei shook his head, then spoke calmly, but in the most serious tone they had ever seen from him. "There are three people in that accursed family, I will never forgive for making my family and many others suffer. He is one of them... I''ve been training for moments like this. I promise I won''t lose."


    Nirro and the rest of the Novas, knew, they couldn''t make him back down. She took a deep breath and continued from where she left off. "The mission is as follows, Helio and Karim, you will be taking out Stresci. Koji and Sofia, you guys will be eliminating Aku." She looked at them to confirm and they nodded back.


    Sofia Vera was rescued by Sarah, during a kidnapping in Brazil, unearthing a trafficking ring as a result. She was mistreated and abused, as she contemplated ending her life several times, however, the last words her parents left her, kept her going.


    Karim was a former leader of a group of orphans on the outskirts of a city in Egypt, scavenging and stealing every day to survive. Until Sarah caught them, and gave them another option. Both of them have trained hard every day, to be ready for times like this, to show Sarah their appreciation, and to help make a difference.


    Nirro continued. "Simon and Runa, your mission is to eliminate Mikrel. His power level is at 180, 000, but he''ll be at a disadvantage with your abilities."


    Runa nodded and immediately began heading for the door as Simon glanced at her, shaking his head. "With the quiet girl." He sighed, with his arms crossed then nodded. "We''ll handle it."


    Nirro smiled. "Great! Last but not least, Tai and Nate, both of you will take on Prince Arcah."


    Nate Campbell, an active influencer and activist from Australia, caught Sarah''s attention, from how selfless he was for his community and other people in the world. She considered him one of the most genuine people on Earth.


    Nate looked over at Tai. "We can beat him, right?"


    Tai Min rolled his eyes and looked away. "Just don''t slow me down."


    Nirro looked at both of them, a bit concerned. "You guys have to be careful, I don''t have much information on him and what new ability he may be using. I don''t remember him being the 117th, which might mean he could have taken their place recently."


    Nate was undeterred. "It doesn''t matter. They''re invading my home, I can''t forgive them!"Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Nirro nodded in agreement. "Osei you''ll win right?"


    Osei gripped one fist in front of him. "Of course."


    She looked all around the room, seeing them ready. "Alright, Everyone has their missions, roll out!"


    They all began to leave Prometheus''s command center. As the last Novas left the room, she got a blaring alert on a monitor. A camouflaged ship had just descended near the skies of London.


    She gritted her teeth, a bit concerned. "That''s Kamorra''s ship... I might be able to handle this one on my own."


    Back near the Lavarack Barracks...


    The Nova Prime and the siegemechs broke through the ranks of giant soldiers and monsters and pressed forward. His squad, made a path for him, holding them off, as he made his way towards the children of Atlas.


    They had destroyed dozens of drones and fighter jets gunning for them. He looked around below, only to see the remains of soldiers, tanks, and twice the amount of drone combatants.


    He was furious, but kept his composure, tuning into his comm. "Saphyra, the targets are in position. I''m sending the coordinates now. Fire the Sky Hammer."


    The children of Atlas gathered together noticing the Nova Prime staring them down and keeping its distance.


    "Is he afraid of us?" Aku asked his siblings.


    Suddenly rays of light, surrounded them appearing out of the sky. Instinctively, Ataron looked up above him. "No... He''s attacking us."


    The Sky Hammer, a powerful laser beam satellite that uses several new energy sources to power the largest concentrated beam possible. Sarah thought of this, recalling one of Tobi''s favourite video games.


    The laser grew at the speed of light, combining, as the satellite dropped out its maximum output. Meant to incinerate anything in its path. The beam destroyed the entire area on impact, sending the Prime flying back near the troops fighting the giants.


    The shockwave shook everyone off their feet. Selvin looked up towards the epicentre of the continuous attack. The five children of Atlas protected themselves with a dome made of everlasting ice, titanium, and other strong minerals from the ground. Melting and regenerating, as the beam dug into the earth around them.


    "It''s getting hot," Stresci complained, fanning herself with one hand and keeping the other up to maintain the dome with Mikrel and Arcah.


    "Don''t worry we''re almost done," Ataron answered back, grinning, as he and Aku prepared a combined attack.


    A sphere of blue fire and electricity rotated at Mach speed between both of their palms. They quickly pushed their palms upwards, pointing straight at the satellite above them.


    The sphere shattered forth, sending out a rapid beam of blue fire and electricity, splitting the laser, as it reached for space.


    Selvin watched in disbelief as the electric pillar of blue fire raced through the massive laser beam. Then it suddenly stopped, as the satellite blew up, taking all five passengers along with it.


    "Did you see that?" Ataron asked his siblings, as the dome crumbled down around them, revealing them unscathed.


    The world watched the horror streaming on Sarah''s World. Ataron had decided not to broadcast the invasion to the world, on Alcra''s orders, fearing it could be picked up, as this was meant to be a stealth mission.


    "Yeah, yeah. They are so weak, I don''t know why Alcra sent so many of us to this part of the galaxy." Stresci replied.


    "It''s because they have somehow brought about many of our siblings'' demise. We must be wary, they may have something yet, still up their sleeve." Mikael said, still watching the humans attempt to fight off their invasion.


    Just then, a wave of despair ran through them, as the life force of their siblings on Dargan, vanished one by one."There is no way this is possible..." Ataron started to say. "Who could possibly-"


    He was cut off by a strike of lightning aimed right at him. He braced himself, with his arms up, getting pushed back only a few meters from his original position in midair. "Osei! It''s been too long!"


    Osei appeared out of the lightning, trying to follow up with another strike toward Ataron''s face. "Ataron!" He yelled as the rest of the Novas appeared behind their respective opponents in a blur.


    "I see, you''ve come to challenge us," Ataron asked, looking around him.


    "Challenge you..." Osei chuckled backing up a bit. "No, we''re here to kill you."


    Ataron laughed. "I see... Naive as always, it seems you''ve forgotten your place. My siblings, let''s show them our manners."


    Then he spread his hands out wide to his sides. "Flash Flare!" His body glowed bright, as a flash of bright light emitted from him, instantaneously blinding everyone except the children of Atlas.


    A technique using his abilities and tech installed in his armour. His siblings shifted around taking on, who they felt would taste the best.


    Aku kicked Simon flying into the plains, and grabbed Runa by the arm, circling her around and charging up electricity to reach the speed of sound, as she struggled to fight back while recovering from the temporary blindness. Then he threw her in Simon''s direction and flew after them.


    Mikrel beamed an avalanche of ice, from his right palm at Helio and Karim. Helio felt it incoming, from hostile energy at the last second. He manifested a dome of ice around him and Karim. Just in time, as it was pushed flying across the plains.


    Mikrel stopped his attack. "They seem interesting... I''ll take care of them then."


    Arcah trapped Nate and Tai in titanium prisons, then flew off with them into the sky. "I''ll be back, just going to enjoy my snack."


    Stresci tried entrapping Koji, and Sofia in a dome as well, however Koji cut them down, shifting into first gear with his eyes closed. Then he slashed an electric strike at her cutting her arm off.


    "Why you!" She screamed, raising a massive golem, out of the ground, that grabbed them, and threw them far off into the plains. "I''m going to kill them!" She growled, as she retrieved her arm and tried forcing it to attach back. Then hopped up on a larger platform and flew off after them.


    Leaving Ataron and Osei, who were already busy, trading furious blows at each other. Osei didn''t hesitate to rely on his senses, the moment Ataron took away their sight.


    Moments later, he regained his vision and used it to dodge a left hook, covered in flames. Ataron spoke up as Osei backed away. "We''re finally alone. What a reunion. Who knew you would join a force against us, another that we''ll just walk over again? Who failed to leash you properly? Was it Kairon or Zaryon?"


    Ataron smiled, seeing him lose composure, knowing he was beginning to get in Osei''s head. "Did you kill them?" The prince asked, sincerely.


    Dark clouds began to gather, as electricity crackled all around the Rennayan prince. He shifted into first gear. "No, I did not, but just like them. Don''t assume you can just invade us and walk out of here alive."

 Different

    Nate and Tai broke out of their prisons just before they hit the ground. They looked up at Arcah hovering above them grinning.


    "You''re gonna regret attacking my country!" Nate yelled, with his anger rising.


    There were tremors below them, shaking the ground violently. Followed by a massive stone golem rising out of the ground, grabbing for Arcah.


    However, a golem bigger and made out of tougher metals rose and blocked its reach, then destroyed its head with one swift strike. "Please, don''t even try. I can level this country on my own if I wish. What could you possibly even do to stop me?" Arcah taunted, chuckling to himself and shaking his head.


    Tai took the moment, to fire consecutive fireballs at him, each blocked with little effort, as stone barriers rose together to protect the prince. "Don''t let him taunt you," Tai advised, then flanked, hoping his words would reach his comrade. He unsheathed his sword, then leaped up, swinging at Arcah, with his entire might and willed flames to reinforce his blade.


    Arcah dodged to his left, letting him go by, then punched him, in the gut and sent him hurdling back. He then leaped at Nate, preying on him.


    Nate raised rocks and stones to cover himself in a protective armour, as he braced for impact. Arcah feinted a strike, then proceeded to beat down on Nate, catching him off-guard and crumbling the armour apart, as Nate struggled to keep it together.


    The prince had a sinister smile, etched across his face. "Fortune is smiling upon me. I got to absorb my brother, now a young human, and then billions of other untarnished ants I can indulge on. Soon joining the Hespers, will be in sight!" He exclaimed while shaking the Nova, with impacts reverberating to his core.


    Nate started to cough up blood, as he struggled to look for a way out, while Arcah kept circling and punching him away. Tai flew back quickly, appearing right behind the prince, aiming to catch him by surprise.


    However, Arcah spun around, while pulling together a titanium-layered gauntlet, forming over his hand and caught Tai''s sword. "This is way too much fun." He grinned as he held on tight to the sword, then swung Tai around into Nate, sending them both crashing back through the plains.


    They quickly tried to recover themselves and get up, but a looming shadow overhead caught their attention. A mass of rubble and steel covered the sky and began to drop like a wave. Immediately they scrambled to get to safety, working together like they had practiced in drills.


    Nate made platforms for them to hop on, while Tai boosted them, with fire at their tails. Jetting them through the falling rubble.


    Tai blasted as many as he could out of the sky, while Nate attempted to gain control of some of the mass, to stop it from targeting them. Suddenly their stone platforms crumbled away, plunging them into free fall, until Tai gathered enough energy to maintain flight, and caught Nate in midair. In the distance, they could hear Arcah''s maniacal laugh echoing through the night plains


    "We have to find another way to beat him. We need to work together." Tai said as he dodged another boulder, falling out of the sky and nearly made it out of the radius of Arcah''s attack.


    "I''m sorry Tai, I''m being a burden. It seems he can completely overpower my abilities." Nate looked down. He hadn''t felt this depressed in a long time. His family, friends, and his country needed him. Yet even though he had been given the power to protect them, he still felt useless.


    Tai gritted his teeth, thinking this wasn''t the time for this. "Don''t give up on me. The others have their hands full. We have to do this!" As the words left his mouth, he glanced up, noticing slight movement above him.


    From under the mass of rubble, a gigantic fist manifested and protruded out of it, swinging for the both of them. Tai braced for impact summoning flame barriers and flying, as fast as he could out of the way.


    Nate placed out his hand willing the fist to stop and trying to summon rocks and stones to form a barrier. However, nothing would answer him. It was as if his connection was completely cut off from the planet.


    With his efforts, Tai was able to outmaneuver the fist in the nick of time, while Arcah laughed out loud, seeing Nate struggle, as he caught up to them. "Haven''t you realized it yet? It''s called Absolute Domain! As long as I am exerting my energy in a fixed radius, you won''t be able to use your abilities, because..."


    He gave them a smirk, then the fist that had just swung past, burst into sand and dust, enveloping them before they could escape. Then buried them in standing coffins up to their neck. "I''m just that much stronger than you." He finished, with one hand up, holding them in place.


    All of the rubble in the sky fell down to the ground with a resounding crash. Tai struggled as much as he could, continuously bursting flames out of the coffin. However, the coffin of sand just kept, repairing itself.


    Nate couldn''t let go of Arcah''s gaze. Real despair rushed through him for the first time. What had he gotten himself into? ''He was going to die.'' He thought over and over again.


    Tai looked over at Nate, concerned. "Get a hold of yourself, Nate! You need to get us out of these... Or else, what are your powers good for?"


    Arcah was amused by their display. "Now that you''re confined, I can finally confirm that the energy you''re emitting, is with the help of those those suits are they not?"


    The pair went quiet, as the prince continued, knowing he was onto them. "Oh? Was I spot on? What happens, if I remove your equipment? Would you become even more fragile than you already are?"


    Tai started to realize there was no way out of this. He started to panic.


    "Well, I can try that out on your friends. Right now I just want to hear how you would scream when you die. Goodbye now." He clutched his fist signaling the sand to crush them.


    At the same moment, machine gun fire disturbed the night, as a branch of the Australian military, charged in guns blazing, with multiple stealth choppers showering Arcah with bullets and several snipers making their mark.


    A few tanks fired missiles all around Arcah''s position on the ground. The military could not stand by and watch one of their citizens, shield them, and die on the front lines.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Dozens of soldiers, lined up firing nonstop at the Prince. The attack caught him by surprise, as he rushed to defend himself. Forcing him to drop the pair he was holding prisoner.


    Rocks and steel raced around him, like a hurricane to form a barrier, while he recovered and gained a sense of his surroundings. He felt the energies and vitals of all of his assailants.


    Sand began to rise and snake around the soldier''s feet. Tornadoes of dust & stones rose and circled the helicopters, blocking the pilots'' vision.


    With a quick crunching sound, followed by large explosions, the tornadoes crushed the helicopters in and showered the flaming metal remains at the tanks and drones flying overhead, at sonic speed. Leaving the tanks & drones exploding or totalled, with no time to escape.


    Some of the soldiers turned to see what happened to the tanks, while others continued firing. The last few noticed the sand too late, as it swallowed them whole and crushed them, bursting blood everywhere.


    It was quiet. Except for night critters and occasional quakes and explosions from the battles ongoing near them. Moments later, Arcah''s dome crumbled down, as he brushed himself off. "That''s better. I like things a little quieter and more entertaining." He said, turning back to the pair, still recovering from their imprisonment.


    "You monster!" Tai yelled as he injected himself with a booster.


    The prince gave Tai the creepiest smile, then looked over at Nate, looking forward to the terror on his face. However, Nate''s expression had completely changed.


    His glare sent chills through Arcah''s spine. Random geysers popped up all around them, with pillars of lava rising into the sky. The downpour avoided Tai and Nate unnaturally.


    Nate''s body exhaled steam, enough to make Tai step back. Veins of lava, raced across his body, marking him as they pulsed in intervals. His hair began to rise slightly, as seismic activity picked heavily in their vicinity. "There is no way... There is no way I can forgive him."


    Tai had never seen Nate angry, but he realized this was their only chance. "That''s right... Let''s bring him down!"


    Koji and Sofia vs Stresci....


    "Look what you''ve done to my arm!" Stresci screamed as if they couldn''t hear her. She wanted to rip Koji to shreds. Her arm took its time reforming what had been cut off.


    The pair had recovered from her earlier attack and prepared themselves for her arrival. It was dark, however the Moon and stars kept their glow, with occasional flashes from drones, keeping tabs on the situation.


    Sarah had developed night vision lenses specially made for combat and operated by the user''s will. Allowing Koji and Sofia to see her clearly, as she angrily gathered a mass amount of energy.


    Koji stepped forward, sheathing his sword. "You''ve made a grave mistake."


    Stresci, glanced at him, settling with a curious expression. "Oh? How so?"


    Dark clouds began to gather, as electricity crackled all around them. "You''ve gotten in the way of our mission and I''m in no mood to play around with you."


    Stresci started to laugh, as thousands of golems rose out of the ground, all made out of stone and iron, while she raised a sandstorm, hindering their vision. "Then, what are you going to do about it?"


    He shifted straight into second gear. Releasing immense wind pressure, as he circled his energy around them, blasting the sand away from him and Sofia, who also had to brace herself. She covered her body in an armour of light flames to protect herself, but she knew Koji wasn''t messing around.


    Stresci felt the sudden danger and jumped onto a stone platform to create some distance. Then ordered her golems to charge them.


    Koji raised one hand above his head then dropped it down facing her. "Static: Catatumbic Lightning."


    Thousands of lightning strikes, struck the golems down simultaneously, following up to her in a humongous tree of lightning. It continued to constantly zap her as she screamed, immobilized.


    Thunder echoed throughout the night plains, as Koji firmly held his hand in place. Draining thousands of years out of her.


    A massive golem rose and grabbed her out of the attack, but the Nova didn''t let up, directing the lightning at it and crumbling the golem away. Before it completely broke down and threw a small figure into the distance.


    "You''re not getting away," Koji murmured, disappearing in a blur.


    Sofia sighed. "He never slows down." Then flew off after them.


    Koji caught up to Stresci flying away as fast she could, carried by a large piece of rock. He appeared above her with an electric blur, then unsheathed his sword and stabbed down, impaling her. "Static: Uneri." A large electric explosion, erupted through the tip of his sword as they hit the ground.


    She screamed once again, coughing up blood. "Don''t kill me! I''ll give you anything you want."


    She looked up at Koji, who stared back down in disgust. Forcing her to look away, as she realized he wasn''t going to show any mercy. "Brother! Help me! Someone help me!" She called out, to deaf ears.


    Sofia landed near them, just in time to witness the situation, as Koji started to speak. "They won''t be able to hear you from here. I''m sure, many of your victims begged for their lives, the same way. Unfortunately, just like them, no one is coming to save you." Koji twisted his sword further, pouring in millions of volts.


    Then quickly drew his sword out, and pinpointed her core, which moved to her head. She began to panic and quickly summoned a titanium plate to protect her forehead. Then an iron golem rose from the ground quickly, behind Sofia and grabbed her, as she yelled out. Hating herself for dropping her guard, in battle.


    "Let me go, or I''ll kill her," Stresci demanded.


    Koji was still stabbing down, trying to push through the plate, but he glanced back for a single moment to see Sofia taken hostage. Sofia raged, trying to explode the golem off of her, but the golem held on, repairing and regenerating itself constantly, then squeezed tighter.


    "Let her go!" Koji yelled, looking back at her.


    "You first," Stresci spoke desperately, as he made it through more than half of the plate and pricked her skin. However, he pulled it out, stepping back slowly, still pointing her sword at her.


    Stresci, smiled as she got up. "Stay right there or I''ll crush her in an instant."


    Suddenly a figure appeared hundreds of meters above them, without them noticing. They raised their hand forth, crushing the golem as cracks appeared all around Sofia''s vicinity. She felt a heavy amount of pressure, from up above her, however it didn''t affect her. Instead she was freed of her restraint.


    Stresci and Koji were shocked by what just happened, then turned around looking up at the figure releasing the energy.


    "Who is that?!" Stresci yelled out as Koji stared at the figure in disbelief.


    "There''s no way... she looks completely different."


    "Now Koji!" He heard from behind him, as he turned back to see Sofia, flying forth with a rotating sphere of fire in her hands. He nodded as he faced his palm up, gathering electricity into a spinning ball.


    Stresci growled, looking at the both of them. Then jumped back on a flying platform, facing them as it flew on, as it raced to get her to safety.


    She clasped both of her hands together. "Indestructible Fortress!" Massive iron, steel, and titanium beams flung to her, creating a massive layered dome to protect her.


    "I hope you''ll make better choices in your next life, if you even have a soul," Koji yelled out, then raised his palm forward. "Static: Sand¨¡doragon."


    A lightning beam manifested, with the jaws of a lightning dragon, penetrating Stresci''s dome like melted butter. She began to freak out feeling the heat get closer, and her dome giving way. Instinctively she produced several more steel walls, as defense in front of her, then exited out of the back of the dome, running away.


    Koji''s beam ripped through the entire dome, in a large explosion, yet he didn''t stop, feeling her energy leave the vicinity, he frantically looked around, pausing his attack.


    Sofia had been keeping tabs on her. Out of all the Novas, she was one of the most proficient at reading energy. Allowing her to immediately locate the fleeing princess, then faced her attack toward her. "Ignite: Dan?a do Sol!" Orange flames poured out of the sphere, racing for her target.


    Stresci noticed at the last moment and raised another stone wall to block the attack. Holding up, but completely cindered, as she let out a loud laugh, while flying away.


    Sofia was starting to get angry. "I''m not strong enough."


    "That''s why we''re here together." Koji chipped in, restarting his beam to connect with hers. Incinerating the last of the princess'' defence as she tried to flee, screaming. "I''ll kill you!" She yelled as her final words before the combination engulfed her.


    Erupting the largest explosion, lighting up the night. Followed by a peaceful silence, as the last of her energy disappeared off the face of the Earth.

 Power

    Simon switched into first gear and caught Runa before they hit the ground. She grunted in pain, as she reached for her left shoulder. It was dislocated.


    Simon first checked his surroundings, then noticed her discomfort and asked her to brace herself, as he popped it back in for her. She let out a low scream through a cloth he gave her, from his belt. Then she grabbed a booster and immediately plunged the contents into her arm.


    "You good?" Simon asked.


    "I''m still good to go." She nodded, getting herself back up.


    "The plan has changed-" He was cut off by a bright flash of electricity, as Galad appeared above them.


    "Do you understand the consequences of attacking the royal family? We have come to bring you salvation!" The prince''s voice echoed through the plains.


    "He''s mad," Runa concluded, then glanced over at Simon, who was unfazed.


    He stepped forward and laughed. "Monarchies are outdated. Let me guess, your old man gave you everything didn''t he? You didn''t have to work for anything, and then you killed and enslaved those weaker than you to raise your status. Am I right?"


    Galad rubbed his chin and pondered. While allowing electricity to crackle around him and keep him afloat. "Hmm, what''s wrong with that?"


    "Runa." She knew when he said her name, that he was about to get serious.


    She backed up and gathered large amounts of lightning holding it in the sky, as Simon''s expression changed. Rings of fire crushed the ground simultaneously, as orange and reddish veins, coursed through him even faster.


    Streaks of silver popped up evenly throughout his hair, as he looked up smirking at Galad. "Nothing really, I just wanted to make sure, that you deserved this first."


    Galad didn''t realize Simon could be hiding so much strength, however, he didn''t falter, having full confidence in his abilities as they both lunged at each other. Allowing their fists to collide and sent shockwaves throughout the land.


    Simon kept up with him, covering his fists with blue fire, with every several strikes, denting the prince''s lifeforce.


    Galad backed away, making some distance. Completely unprepared for a massive streak of lightning breaching the sky and striking him, before he could react.


    He yelled out in pain for a moment, then began to absorb the lightning. Forcing Runa to stop, seeing as it did not affect him.


    However, Simon didn''t hesitate with the chance Runa gave him, by appearing before the prince with a swirling, blue ball of fire. "Ignite: Caeruleum Globus!"


    He struck the ball into Galad''s chest sending him hurdling back, while it continued to bury itself even further before exploding, as he hit the ground. Dust and rubble rose to the sky, as the shockwave resounded for miles.


    Runa appeared beside Simon. "Let''s take him out quickly."


    "Right." He replied.


    Lightning struck the epicenter of the explosion, followed by a line of electricity, trailing quickly out of the smoke, as Galad appeared with a blur in front of them. Kicking down at Simon with his full might, while he tried to block it with both of his arms up. Then they resumed back to exchanging multiple blows back to each other.


    However this time, Simon was unable to keep up, receiving many unguarded strikes from the prince, and seemed to be at a disadvantage. The Galad''s rage and fury fueled him, to go even faster.


    Runa was blown back from the winds of them, just striking each other. She couldn''t find an opening and felt powerless to do anything. She trained so hard, yet she felt like she wasn''t making as much progress as the other second-generation Novas.


    Before Galad broke away to make some distance, he slipped a ball of electricity trailing behind Simon, without him noticing. "Simon watch out!" Runa started to say.


    However the prince grinned, knowing it was too late. "Paralysis Overload."


    Electricity raced out of the ball, through Simon, and towards Galad''s hand, shocking him with billions of volts. Forcing Simon to yell out in pain, as he succumbed to a short seizure, while Galad continued his attack, only stopping, as Runa shot volleys of electricity at him.


    The world watched, as the Nova fell out of the sky, unconscious, with smoke trailing out of his mouth. His battle suit, sent out small nanites, helping to break his fall.


    Galad turned his attention to Runa, after watching Simon fall. Intensifying his energy output on purpose and making Runa shiver.


    She raised one hand to the sky as lightning, gently touched down, kissing her hand, as she took the energy she needed. "Static: Thor''s Armour."


    Static electricity settled over her suit, protecting and reinforcing her, as she unsheathed her swords.


    The prince smiled, welcoming the challenge. "Little girl... What can you even do with a sword?"


    She didn''t blink, yet he was too fast to follow, closing the distance between them too quickly for her to react. He punched her gut, sending her flying hundreds of meters away and made her drop one of her swords. Then caught up to her and struck her back, stopping her flight, as she coughed up blood.


    The Nova gritted her teeth and swung her sword around with an arc of electricity, as the other sword, flew back into her hand. He caught the blade and threw it away, then spun around to kick the other, flying once again, as she tried to follow up. "Come on now, no weapons." He teased, before lunging forward.


    She braced herself, raising her hands above her head, as he started to beat down on her. "Fight back with your hands warrior!" He yelled at her.


    She grimaced in pain, as each strike sent jolts throughout her body, causing internal damages she could not handle. She crouched, making herself smaller, then exploded out an electric barrier, pushing Galad back, but he held his ground.


    He smiled, sinisterly as he prepared to close in for the kill. "You will die here."


    She smiled bravely. "If that''s the case, I might as well do everything I can to stop you." On cue, she raised her right palm, then dropped it down to face him. "Static: Yggrdrasil!"


    All of the lightning she had been building up in the sky struck him all at once. A massive tree of lightning dropped down, pushing her back, but she held on, maintaining her focus as he screamed in agony.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The prince quickly regained his composure and began absorbing the electricity instead. Raising one palm in front of him, facing Runa and yelled out. "Storm Convergence!"


    A blast of electricity manifested forth out of his palms, racing towards her. Her attack kept him in place but only hindered him. She prepared for the end.


    "Ignite: Hyacintho Ignis!" Simon yelled, as he appeared in front of Runa at the last minute, placing his hands forward in front of Galad''s attack. Allowing both of their attacks collide in midair.


    The prince was annoyed. "You should have stayed down!" He yelled, over the thunder.


    "Not till you''re dead!" Simon yelled back, pouring in as much as he could muster and holding the stalemate.


    Runa wished she could do more. She contemplated letting the lightning go, but if he escaped, they may not have enough energy to further engage him. She pondered and pondered, for a moment watching the two struggle on. Glancing at Simon once more, who was fighting for his life, she shook herself awake.


    ''Now is not the time to feel sorry for yourself. Now was the time to put all of your cards on the table.'' She thought to herself.


    She gathered more clouds above and struck herself with more electricity than she had ever contained. The tree got bigger, making Galad writhe in pain.


    "You bitch!" He yelled at her, then manifested hundreds of electric volleys around him, before launching them at the Nova.


    Simon could not protect her, worried that she would be in trouble. However, quick zaps of lightning dissipated them.


    Her blue eyes glowed brighter and cobalt blue veins appeared on her skin. Years of her life drained out of her as she drained more energy and willed the strikes of lightning to keep up with his barrage.


    The tree of lightning began to glow brighter then converged to one, glowing blue and hurting Galad even more. Breaking his concentration for just a moment.


    Simon noticed Runa''s change and smiled, drawing in more energy from all around him. Plants, animals, and even the Earth itself. Then he gave one final push. Breaking the stalemate.


    The resulting sight was spectacular, as a perpendicular cross of fire and electricity connected. Erupting a gigantic. bright explosion and incinerating Galad at the center, with one final scream. "Nooo!"


    Runa began to fall, exhausted and seizing. Simon caught her just in time and flew as fast as he could to safety, with burns beginning to show up on his face.


    Helio and Karim vs Mikrel...


    Mikrel hovered above the two, looking down at them. "You guys don''t look like much, I want to finish this and go play with Osei for a bit before Ataron breaks him."


    Helio gritted his teeth and shifted into first gear. The temperature around them began to drop drastically.


    Mikrel was astounded, looking at Helio with curiosity. "Oh? So you can ascend just like the Rennayans? This must be the dormant energy, we''ve sensed, different in you humans."


    Karim got into a defensive stance, creating dozens of flying golems ready to attack. However, Mikrel just laughed, raising one hand as the golems dropped out of the sky, frozen and crumbling apart. Then he placed his hands out wide. "World of Ice!"


    It started with a low wind, then picked up quickly into a blizzard howling around them. Karim braced himself but was surprised that he didn''t feel cold.


    His suit was working overtime to keep him warm and would soon require strength from his own body. However, Helio had seen this technique before, but not on this scale. He slowed down the snow blurring his vision of Mikrel.


    However as the snow started to slow down, Mikrel disappeared, then seemingly manifested out of the downpour of snow, and kicked Karim flying into the wind, before Helio could stop him.


    "Damn you!" Helio yelled, over the howling wind. Their fists met each other''s faces, as they started to strike each other.


    Then Mikrel pushed Helio back a couple of meters with a roundhouse kick. Helio dropped to his knees, he could feel a fractured rib and multiple bruises all over his body. Blood splattered all around them, as it was slowly covered by snow. He was beginning to lose his grip, allowing the blizzard to slowly drift in.


    Mikrel raised his right palm, facing Helio. "Your fight is over warrior, there is no longer any need for you to struggle. Salvation is here."


    A sword with an intricate alien-looking design manifested out of ice in thin air. It hovered naturally into Mikrel''s hand.


    He prepared to strike down Helio, when a stone, bull golem, trucked into him and pushed him back a few meters before he cut it down. However, in the next moment, three more golems rushed at him from all sides.


    "Helio!" Karim called out.


    "Karim! Are you okay?!" Helio asked, relieved to see him.


    Karim finally came into view. He had visible injuries and was bleeding on the side of his head. "Never better, except for all this ice. I can barely get access to the Earth-"


    "The weak should never challenge the strong and be careless." Mikrel cut him off.


    Helio stared in disbelief. This couldn''t be happening again.


    The sword Mikrel had made, protruded out of Karim''s gut. Hel reached for his sword and telepathically pulled it out of him, with blood bursting out, like a popped water balloon. The Nova staggered back looking over at Helio, speechless. He coughed up blood, while trying to cover his stomach to stop the blood flow, then fell over.


    There was a snap, like the spark of a fire starting, deep within Helio. His gaze never left his dying comrade, but the constant snow kept disrupting his view.


    Memories of Ranesa''s corpse and visiting Leon''s grave, as well as those within his life, that he was unable to help, flashed before his eyes. He was kind and never wanted to hurt others. He always saw the children of Atlas as those who needed to be stopped, but never actually hated them, especially after meeting Nirro.


    However, this situation was different. Mikrel was someone he wanted to kill.


    The blizzard began to die down, and the ice began to melt. A quick trail of ice erupted from under Helio''s feet bursting out a massive ice wall separating Mikrel from them.


    It continued, for hundreds of meters as the prince watched, until a part of it reached for him. Forcing him to leap away and make some distance, to observe the current phenomenon.


    Helio rushed over to Karim. Quicker than he had ever moved in his life and injected him first with a medicine booster.


    Then, placed his hands down over Karim''s injury, pouring in everything he could. The air started to feel sweltering hot, as steam escaped Helio''s body, then he quickly cooled down, repeating the process.


    A dome of ice enveloped Karim and started to glow, as streaks of silver, evenly began to glow all over Helio''s hair. The turquoise blue marks, began to glow harder, pulsing in faster intervals and flowing even quicker.


    "Karim, hang in there! He yelled as vapour escaped his lips with each breath he took.


    He could feel Karim''s life slipping away. Waves of emotions and thoughts, paraded through his mind, as he contemplated the worst. He remembered, that Sarah had brought it forth as a theory, that the real ability of wielders of the ice element was complete thermoregulation.


    There were not many records of advanced ice wielders on Rennaya. With some Exceptional ones making a name for themselves once every century. However, she hypothesized that they were capable of manipulating heat on an atomic level, giving them the ability to produce, what some may call ''miracles''.


    The hole in Karim''s chest started to close, as his organs rearranged themselves back to their original positions. The blood he lost, rose into the air, and returned to him, cleansed of dirt and contaminants.


    The heat around Helio continued to intensify, as the ice dome healing Karim, glowed more ominously, with occasional mist rolling off of it.


    Helio could feel each blood vessel, artery, and organ he was repairing within Karim, taking meticulous steps and keeping focused to be careful. Then finally with a sigh of relief, Karim''s life force started to stabilize, as well as his heartbeat.


    Multiple blurs landed behind him, softly. The medic team with one looking exactly like Saphyra approached Helio. "Helio, we''ll take it from here," Saphyra asked, as he nodded back at her.


    "Please, take care of him. Tap the ice when you''re ready to operate on him." He asked as they prepared to take him away.


    She nodded in agreement, as the team carefully lifted Karim onto a secure self-driving stretcher and started to leave.


    "What makes you guys think I will let you get away? Mikrel asked, as a massive iceberg hundreds of meters long, manifested in the air above him.


    Then began to plummet down. Surprising Helio, as there was nowhere to escape, with the medic team unable to get away with Karim in time. However, suddenly the iceberg shattered into millions of pieces, as if crushed by an invisible force. Forcing Mikrel to look up surprised, as did everyone else.


    For a faint moment, they could all see a figure, hovering in the sky. "Who is that?" Helio started to say but was cut off, as the shattered attack showered Mikrel at sonic speed, sending him crashing down, covered in snow. Then the figure abruptly disappeared, just as the medic team made it to the safety of the shuttle with Karim.


    Mikrel exploded out of the avalanche yelling at the top of his lungs. "Who dares!"


    Helio appeared before him, not missing the chance. He thrusted both hands forth, revealing a large rotating sphere of thin ice, holding together a swirling tornado of cold air, followed by another similar-sized sphere on his left, filled with boiling water. Both condensed and pressurized with force only found in deep oceans.


    "Frost: Aliento de Akewa." He said, As he rapidly clapped his hands together, the spheres crashed together point-blank in front of the prince.


    The recoil reverberated throughout the Nova''s body, but he held his ground, as Mikrel was sent flying towards the Tasman Sea. While those, watching around the world, wondered who was helping the Novas.

 Retribution

    "Thunder Raeiqa!" Osei yelled, as a massive streak of lightning struck down at Ataron, who instinctively raised a barrier made out of blue flames to shield himself. The lightning continued splitting around the barrier for a moment, then stopped, followed by a series of thunder, ringing through the skies.


    Ataron smiled seeing Osei''s stunned expression. Hundreds of blue fireballs manifested around him, then launched at Osei at sonic speed.


    Osei zipped around dodging them with ease and blurred with electricity trailing behind him. Then countered the remaining barrage with his own volleys. Lighting up the sky all around them, as they stood some distance apart, glaring each other down.


    "What''s the point of risking your life for this planet anyway? Your hands are stained with the blood of millions. Do you think atonement will bring you closer to God? To defeat us?" He asked, curiously.


    Osei unsheathed his sword, slowly closing the distance. "I was powerless back then... However now I am free... to do whatever I can, and to stop you from unleashing another tragedy on this world."


    He leaped at him, delivering a flurry of strikes and stabs at Ataron, as he struggled to overpower him quickly. However, Ataron remained calm, then unsheathed his own sword and countered each strike, with quicker reflexes, than Osei had anticipated.


    He caught Osei with a left hook, after parrying his last strike and sent him staggering back, as blue fire dissipated off of him. The Nova quickly recovered himself, looking up at the last second, to raise his arm, as Ataron threw his full might into an uppercut, sending him hurdling into the sky. Then the prince caught up with him, and followed up with a high-speed kick, vertically sending Osei flying hundreds of kilometres away into a hill, forming a crater.


    He coughed blood and tried to gain a hold of his surroundings. Osei could feel multiple bones broken and his body already reaching its limit. If it wasn''t for the new and improved armour, he knew he would have been done for. Sarah had given Tobi, Osei, and Kalista, suits, similar to the Nova gear, with Tobi''s cells, to double their growth.


    His instincts immediately told him to raise his guard. Forcing him to form a dense electric barrier, with strikes of lightning in front of him. At the same moment, Ataron appeared before him grinning, with a blue sphere of fire hovering above his left palm.


    "Byza Fire." He said as the sphere cut in and dispersed Osei''s barrier with ease. Then he crushed the ball, setting his hands on fire, and punched Osei, deep into his gut.


    Flames exploded around Osei, completely vaporizing the hills behind him in an instant. He coughed up more blood, falling into the crumbling mountain rubble and clinging to his stomach.


    His transformation flickered out, as Ataron descended near him. "Don''t whimper, I missed your vital organs on purpose. You should be able to survive that." He said walking over and crouching beside him, smoke still trailing out of Osei''s mouth. "I want to see what Atlas does to you, once I bring you back."


    Osei glared at Ataron, but he couldn''t fight his fading consciousness. Suddenly the prince stood up, looking off into the distance. "There''s no way... No... They managed to kill two of my siblings."


    His expression switched to anger, as he looked towards the direction of Stresci and Aku''s direction. Rings of fire crushed the ground, sending Osei rolling over.


    "Unforgivable! I planned on taking their lifespans myself, in due time." He said out loud to himself.


    He turned his attention back to Osei, still fighting to stay awake and noticed him reach for his medicine booster. "No, you can just stay put." He said, shaking his head, as two cool bars of fire wrapped around Osei, locking his arms and legs and completely immobilizing him. "I''m going to go kill all of your little friends, have some fun with the humans that live here, and then I''ll come play with you some more."


    Osei growled. "No, you won''t! I won''t let you!"


    Dozens of lightning bolts rained down on Ataron, blocked on moments of impact with barriers of fire, several meters above the prince''s head. Osei continued to struggle out of his restraints, but they showed no signs of tear, even with millions of volts running through them.


    Suddenly there was a sharp lash of heat, emitted from one of the bars restraining him. Forcing Osei to go quiet.


    Ataron smirked. "That''s better." He then looked off into the distance. "I can sense that a few of your friends are wounded, but still alive, after killing my siblings... They don''t seem to be leaving that area anytime soon. Hmm, maybe, I can save a trip." He wondered as he raised his right hand out, steadily flying up a few hundred meters.


    A massive sphere of blue fire manifested, then condensed over once, after growing larger than him.


    Osei watched, wide-eyed as the intense heat, razed the ground around him. "Stop it!"


    Ataron started to laugh. "Why should I? What are you going to do? Last Prince of Rennaya! You and your family failed your people. Just like you did on Haldwyn and it''s exactly what is going to happen again to this planet!" He looked at him in disgust, then smiled maliciously.


    "Don''t you remember? The weak don''t deserve to speak."


    Osei''s blood pressure skyrocketed, as a faint snap went off deep within him, leaving him in a trance, while he remembered the first time Ataron had spoken those words to him. A myriad of emotions coursed over him. Thoughts of giving up, wanting to kill him, and the subtle thought in the back of his mind, that he and his family had truly ruined the Rennayan legacy.


    ''It all ends with me... But it also begins here,'' he thought to himself as he sealed his resolve. A string of electricity quietly, snaked away from his finger, then into his belt, pulling out the booster. Injecting him with it, as the nanites went to work, repairing a small portion of the damage, he had received so far.


    Ataron noticed the moving string and immediately tightened up his hold on him, heating the restraints. However, it was too late.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Osei took deep breaths, closing his eyes, then opened them as they glowed brighter, looking straight at Ataron. Lightning strikes fell like rain, starting with several, then hundreds, then thousands.


    Ataron was unfazed, ecstatic to see him struggle, even more. "Aww don''t tell me I struck a nerve. Hmm, then what would your expression be like, once I let this go?"


    The blue sphere he had finished building up, launched at sonic speed, leaving cloud rings behind it. However, in seconds, Osei appeared like lightning, in front of it, as his sword returned to his hand mid-flight. Streaks of silver glowed, evenly along his hair as static electricity crackled more intensely around him. He cut down, splitting the sphere, as it sailed past him in two halves. Erupting in a parallel explosion, behind him.


    He looked over at Ataron, while an electric forcefield manifested around him and protected him from the blast. Osei swung down once more in the prince''s direction, splitting the sky with a trail of lightning.


    Ataron raised one hand as several flame barriers manifested in the air, shielding him from the attack. Yet he smiled, knowing something had changed, as the lightning shattered through his last barrier, singing his arm and leaving a burning cut.


    The prince was ecstatic. He swung his arm back to his side as it repaired itself, then unsheathed his sword. Just in time for a strike, coming from Osei, sending shockwaves throughout the land. "Looks like you''ve still got some fire in your eyes, don''t you?"


    Osei snarled and broke the contact by pushing Ataron back. Then he swung as fast he could aiming for the prince''s neck. Lightning struck down helping him carry the blade forth.


    Ataron ducked back at the last second, then flipped and burned large quantities of fire through his feet, to escape back down to the Earth. He looked behind him. Several hills and mountains were sliced clean in half, crumbling down in rock avalanches. He turned his attention back to Osei stopping in midair as they stared each other down.


    Osei, looked down at him, preparing himself. "Trust me, that fire will be the last flames you''ll ever see."


    Nate and Tai vs Arcah...


    Nate charged at Arcah, with his fists covered in gloves of magma. A barrier of sand rose in front of him, blocking his strike. Followed by a large fist of rubble swinging at him from the left.


    "Watch out!" Tai yelled, floating above them and supporting him with volleys of fire.


    "Erupt: Kanga Warrior," Nate whispered.


    Out of a geyser below, a huge kangaroo made out of lava and magma shot up like lightning. Completely obliterating the fist targeting Nate into smithereens.


    Arcah was shocked but continued to attack Nate by gathering iron, nickel, and other tough metals into spikes, surrounding him. The Kangaroo hopped onto a rock platform, the Nova made for him and launched right back at Arcah, socking him back to the ground below. While splitting the ground up, with seismic waves across the plain and scaring animals of the night, as they rushed to safety.


    The Kangaroo landed into the crater clearing, hopping near where the prince had just stood up. His face reformed, revealing an expression full of anger.


    The Warrior hopped around, sizing him up from different angles, then charged at him, as he raised his hand, anxiously enclosing it in a dome of steel and trapping it without success.


    For, within a second, it broke through, unleashing a fury of blows he could not keep up with, until he found the chance to create a hammer of iron above it, splattering it apart everywhere.


    Arcah paused to take a breath. He was battered and burnt. With his blood splattered artistically all around him. However, within seconds, his body began repairing itself.


    Nate appeared in a blur behind Arcah, with his sword in hand aiming for the prince''s neck. Arcah felt the movement and didn''t hesitate to explode, the ground beneath his feet, kicking up dust and sand everywhere and blinding Nate, as he swung at Arcah''s last known position.


    Using the distraction, the prince ducked down, twisting around in his spot and gave Nate a low roundhouse kick to his gut and sent him flying back. He then looked up at Tai, while raising barriers of sand above his head, blocking the fireballs the Nova continued to rain.


    "Enough games!" He yelled out, annoyed, as he shifted the sand to produce glass from the collisions above him. Then shattered them into thousands of shards and launched them at Tai.


    Tai outmaneuvered them all, but looked to his left, noticing quick movement, as a titanic arm of sand reached for him. He raised his right hand towards it. "Ignite: Hu¨¢ngd¨¬ de Hu?y¨¤n."


    An orange ball of fire rotated at Mach speed, hovering in front of his palm, then shattered forth, exploding a beam of incredibly hot flames. The beam tunneled through the arm destroying it. However, the tip of the arm that almost reached him, burst into sand and enveloped Tai''s arm then crushed it.


    He screamed out in pain and blasted himself away to a safe distance. Then reached for his last booster and injected it, immediately, as sand started swirling around him once more.


    Arcah laughed, while floating on footholds of sand, while Tai cursed and closed his eyes realizing this was it. However, the sand dropped to the ground.


    He opened his eyes looking over at Arcah who was dodging blows, coming from Nate, but failed to escape a few. Allowing his face to crunch up, bleeding with burning blood from Nate''s strikes.


    A massive stone wall, separated the Nova from him, as Arcah turned to retreat. Nate recomposed himself, as he willed the wall before him to crumble down.


    Arcah flew high up above them, raising his hands. "Ancient Titan!" He yelled, as cities in the distance, started to feel tremors.


    A crevice opened up in front of them, with a massive hand reaching out and pulling itself out. Revealing a gigantic replica of Arcah, over 60 meters tall and rising out of the ground, while letting out a deafening roar.


    It had gold and diamond eyes, with strange ominous crystals all over its body. Nate and Tai, braced the winds, from its movements, as Arcah yelled out to them. "I don''t forgive those, who transgress against me. Rejoice, there are only a handful of people who have seen my greatest creation... Now die!"


    Nate shook his head and sighed, unfazed by Arcah''s words. He reached his hand back. "Create: Hephaestus''s Forge."


    A forge manifested behind him, cooking up an obsidian black and red spear. The hilt fit itself nicely in Nate''s hand. The forge steamed, as he pulled his brand-new spear out. It was mesmerizing, with a magma-like black tip. Lava flowed within the spear.


    The Titan roared once more, then reached down to crush them, while Nate leaped up at it, throwing the spear forward at sonic speed. "Erupt: Olympus'' Wrath."


    The spear blew away the arm like it was just passing by. Hitting the golem flat in the chest, with an immense shockwave. Then the golem erupted out of its mouth and crumbled into a miniature volcano, leaving the prince stunned.


    "It''s not over yet, Arcah!" Nate yelled, forcing him to look back.


    He had both of his hands apart closing it around an invisible sphere between them. Nate looked back at Tai, who nodded back, preparing his own attack. Then Nate lent him as much energy as he could muster and pull from the Earth. Knowing, they would need each other to end this.


    Nate cupped his hands together completely. "Erupt: Cage of the Underworld!"


    The lava from the golem, quickly whipped around Arcah, into an everlasting hollow dome. Leaving him with only enough time to raise a makeshift dome within it to protect himself.


    They could hear him screaming at the top of his lungs, however, they persisted. Nate focused, while the dome of lava rose higher into the sky, as pillars of lava that he summoned from below, poured onto it with even more layers.


    "Ignite: Ch¨²n Hu¨¯!" A beam of white-hot fire raced out of Tai''s palms. Orange veins flickered lightly all over his body, as he poured every last bit of strength he had, into it.


    Instead of colliding with the dome, the dome made way for it to enter, raising the temperature within further, as they cooked the contents inside.


    "Combo Series: Tartarus'' Prisoner!" They yelled in unison, as Nate condensed the dome further, imploding it from within.


    Incinerating Arcah, as they let it crash down into the crevice the giant came from, with a massive explosion. The two looked at each celebrating their win, then fell out of the sky, exhausted.

 Sora

    Mikrel skidded to a stop on the water while freezing a platform of ice for him to stand on. He looked up too late, as a massive frozen boulder sailed right at him, sinking him into the sea.


    He managed to destroy the boulder and stopped his descent. Then, produced an air bubble around him and began making his way back to the surface. However, a figure dove down straight into the water, aiming for him.


    The prince instinctively placed both of his arms up in defence, with several barriers of ice manifesting in front of him. In vain, as Helio crashed through them all, pressing the compressed ball of hot air into Mikrel''s arms and causing a massive underwater explosion.


    The prince flew even further into the sea, crashing at the bottom. He looked around his surroundings, seeing deep underwater fish and wreckage. Then started to manifest a bubble of air to breathe, but failed, as a sudden, dome of ice enclosed him, with intense pressure.


    He looked up through the dark murky water, seeing Helio floating above it. Hazel glowing eyes, filled with rage and looking at him with only one motive.


    The intent to kill.


    Mikrel grunted as he started to feel his body crumple. The pressure inside the dome, built up as waves of water swirled inside. "Don''t think, that I''m someone you can defeat this easily!" He yelled in desperation.


    Before his body could be damaged any further, he rushed to the dome''s wall and melted a small way out. The water inside the ice dome, froze in response, turning into large whips of iced water as it escaped out with him. To his despair, it started reaching for his legs, trying to pull him back.


    He dodged the first lunge, then rocketed towards Helio. "Boreas''s Armour." He said as he kept flying straight at Helio, letting an armour of ice manifest over his body and boosting his attributes underwater. He followed up by raising his hand to prepare for another attack. "Shark Kingdom!"


    Thousands of ice sharks of all species manifested in hordes around him, scaring the marine life and inhabitants. Making their way towards the Nova with haste.


    Helio raised his hand in response. "Frost: Orca Rey."


    Hundreds of thousands of orca whales made out of ice manifested, guarding him in formation. Then several lines broke from the group, racing into combat with the sharks. Violently ripping each other apart.


    Mikrel was stunned but didn''t hesitate to charge at him, seeing an opening through the sea fight. Helio welcomed the charge with one arm up, smirking as their air bubbles, merged.


    An ice shark charged Helio from behind but was quickly eaten up by one of the orcas. Mikrel gritted his teeth but didn''t hesitate to follow up by manifesting spikes of ice, behind Helio and outside of the air bubble. Launching near the speed of sound, but melted regardless, the moment they entered his domain.


    With each strike Mikrel threw, Helio blocked it, then countered, until the prince tried to break the stalemate with a roundhouse kick, aiming for his head. He ducked down in swift motion and with twisters boosting his fists forward gave him a few blows to the chest, then followed up with an uppercut, sending him straight through the water and into the sky.


    The Nova didn''t hesitate to race after him, shooting out of the water, as it started to freeze. He crossed his hands together and raised them high above his head, then smashed Mikrel back down into the frozen sea.


    Cracking the ice up as the prince crashed into it and echoing shockwaves through the night. Mikrel laid in the crater of ice, unable to move due to shattered bones and joints. Yet he still yelled out at the top of his lungs, in a last-ditch effort. "Frozen Titan!"


    A gigantic ice golem, over 100 feet tall, rose out of the sea. Its fingers and claws were made out of frozen mud from the ground, which shocked Helio, but gave him several new ideas. It lunged at the Nova at a speed, completely unnatural for something that big.


    Helio rolled, dodging in midair, then flew up higher with one palm facing the giant. "Frost: Aqua L¨¢tigo."


    A whip of warm water, layered with millions of spikes, emerged from the sea. Freezing, as it whipped around the giant, from head to toe. Then like a chainsaw, revved up and sawed away at the giant, dropping it to its knees as tons of ice crumbled down, crashing into the frozen sea. Some knocking Mikrel down, just as he had just stood back up, on his feet.


    Helio descended over Mikrel, gripping his fist in front of him, as the ice responded to his request and restrained him in a pillar above the ice. The Nova grimaced as a chill breezed through his body, with frost creeping up on his cheek.


    He knew he didn''t have much time. "You''ll no longer harm anyone else." He said while tightening his grip.


    Mikrel struggled to free himself from his prison. Cracking the ice, little by little. He glared back at Helio. "Let me go or I will kill you slowly! Your planet will never escape our clutches. All of you are done for!"


    Helio raised his right hand, with his palm facing the sky. "You underestimate us... You have no idea, what we''re capable of do you? For example, do you know what happens when you pour large amounts of molten salt, over boiling hot water?"


    Mikrel''s eyes grew wide, as the sea started to rumble. Massive sheets of ice cracked kilometre-long lines and crashed into each other. Causing violent quakes all around him. A gigantic sphere of boiling salt water, a third of the size of the sea gathered and evaporated, within a bigger sphere of ice, high above them.


    Helio smirked. "You see, I''ve always wanted to do this experiment myself."


    Mikrel panicked, struggling with all of his might to get free, then started emitting a signal, with a blaring siren to call his siblings to his aid.


    The steam and salt separated, condensing into spheres of their own with incredible pressure. Helio superheated the salt until it became molten and had the steam sphere orbit it at sonic speed. Both floated within the massive sphere of ice, laced with large amounts of frozen salt.


    The prince looked down below feeling sudden, intense heat. Dead fish and underwater life began to float up around him, lifeless, like a premonition. However, the pillar restraining him remained frozen.


    The steam rolling off the sea, choked him, as he spoke. "I won''t go out like this!"If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    He summoned thousands of whips of water aiming for Helio out of the water, tipped with drills made of ice. However, Helio shook his head and effortlessly blocked each of them. Then looked him dead in the eye.


    "Adios." He said, as he dropped his hand forward, clutching it, as it bared down on Mikrel.


    "Frost: Xiuhcoatl Juicio!"


    Mikrel broke out of his restraints and started to escape, however, it was too late. Looking up at the looming ball of death, he let out a final cry and flung both of his hands forward towards it.


    "I am Mikrel! The King of Frost-"


    The gigantic bomb cut him off as it dragged him down, melting instantly as it plunged into the boiling sea. The sea rumbled, letting out large amounts of smoke into the air.


    Less than a few seconds later, the entire sea erupted into the sky, with a deafening blast. Receding shores and exploding water, rubble, and steam, everywhere.


    Helio panted, floating with the last bit of energy he had left. The frost on his body increased as his nails started to crack. He shivered, as he reached out with his senses, relieved to find no signs of Mikrel''s vitals below.


    His transformation flickered off, as his eyes and hair went back to normal. Letting in the fatigue and making him fall asleep, as he dropped out of the sky.


    Just as he was about to hit the steaming water, Saphyra swooped down and picked him up, while dropping out of camouflage. Her soles, blasted jet thrusters to keep her afloat.


    The jolt in movement woke him up. "Oh, it''s you." He said, looking up at Saphyra.


    She smiled. "You did well. I''m glad it went differently this time."


    Outside of London...


    Komorra''s crashed spaceship rumbled as the last explosions went off. Thousands of soldiers and combat drones laid dead & smashed apart, all around the two sisters. While Nirro and Komorra stared each other down.


    "Something is off about you," Nirro observed.


    Komorra smiled. "Oh, so you''ve noticed?." She said, taking a step and seemingly disappearing in front of Nirro, then reappeared behind her kicking her in the gut.


    The princess was sent flying through the ship and crashing into a medbay. She slowly got up, gathering her bearings. That strike took away more life out of her than she expected coming from her younger sister.


    Lights flickered on and off as she looked up, seeing a pair of feet standing before her. Instinctively she raised her hand forward. "Repel!"


    Komorra lunged at her but appeared to be slowed down by a force, as the air around them started to crack. She grinned maliciously. "Not enough," she said as the air shattered, letting off sparks while Komorra broke her way through and socked Nirro in the gut, crashing her through the rest of the ship.


    She barrel rolled outside, into the grass, as Komorra appeared in a blur in front of her. Then walked up to her sister and looked down at her in disgust. "I don''t know why you''re daddy''s favourite. You''re pathetic."


    She kicked Nirro in the gut. Forcing her to gasp for air and groan, as she held her stomach. "He forbade us from touching you. Like we listened when he wasn''t there, huh lil sis?" Komorra asked, kicking her harder this time and sending her rolling several meters away.


    Nirro quickly got up, tired from the abuse, and braced herself. "''Lil sis''? Know your place Komorra! I may have switched sides, but I was still the 100th in line." The air started to crack around her, with the ground around them shaking violently, with rocks beginning to rise.


    Komorra smiled. "Don''t rush, I didn''t overstep baby sis. I''m glad we could have this reunion here. Torturing you in that prison, wasn''t that fun, since you got used to it."


    She waved a hand over her face, as it morphed into another much more sleek and sinister face. Her hair colour changed to blood red, with black eyeliner and lips following suit. She was beautiful but had the most ominous aura emanating from her.


    Nirro''s expression turned to dread, with her knees starting to give way. "Why... Why are you here, Tasaria?"


    Tasaria laughed out loud. "That''s the expression I''ve been waiting for!" She said, with a hand covering her face and the other holding her side, as she laughed hysterically. "Oh my... When Alcra sent out the expedition and didn''t invite me, I was so distraught..." She continued, as she wiped a tear and began walking up closer to Nirro.


    "So when I saw her sneaking around to send a second force without father knowing, I knew I had to sneak in somehow." She gave Nirro a disturbing grin, as she uttered her next words. "So I just killed Komorra and took her place. Easy right?"


    Nirro looked at her in horror and disgust, while Tasaria sighed and shook her head. "Nope, Alcra caught me just before we took off, but instead of kicking me off the expedition, she gave me a separate mission... Guess what?"


    Nirro started to back away in fear, as the distance between them, got smaller and smaller. "That''s right, to bring you home my little princess. It''s time for you to get back in your cage." Her sister said, with the most sinister grin, she had ever seen from her.


    Then her expression suddenly turned serious as she reached her hand forth. "I''m going to make sure you''re properly punished before I take you back. What did you think you were going to do? Protecting this planet? You thought you were going to live happily ever after?"


    Blue fire burst out her fists. "Don''t dream of ever being free. No one is going to save you."


    A tear dropped down Nirro''s cheek. She knew, there was no hope for her, and no hope for Earth. Even if Tobi came back on time, they would still need to use their trump card to even stand a chance. She was at her wits end, as Tasaria leaped to strike her down.


    ''Maybe this was the end...''


    The thought crashed out of her mind, as fast as the truck that appeared and rammed Tasaria flying back. A figure landed in front of her, but she was still too stunned and scared to speak.


    "Looks like you''re in a pickle Nirro." The figure looked back at her and gave her a reassuring smile.


    "Sarah... But how?" Nirro asked, bewildered.


    Sarah shook her head and looked forward as Tasaria recovered quickly and flew back to them. "It''s a long story, but let''s just say the Hatcher Plan worked."


    Nirro''s eyes grew wide. "The Hatcher Plan? No way, that must mean-"


    Sarah cut her off. "Yes that''s right, like I said, it''s a long story, but for now, to make sure it fully succeeds, we need to defeat her together, right here. Right now."


    Nirro looked at Tasaria, still frozen in fear. "We can''t win, she''s the 70th in line. She''s way too strong... I don''t want to go back, Sarah."


    Sarah looked back at her, seeing her tremble, then placed one hand on her shoulder. "I know how you feel. Listen, everything is going to be alright. We can win, but I need you to trust me with your core."


    Nirro looked at Sarah surprised. "My core?"


    Sarah nodded. "That''s right we''ll defeat her together. I won''t let her take you."


    Nirro pondered for a moment then nodded, preparing her core.


    "What do you bitches think you''re doing? Were you the one who threw that truck at me?" Tasaria spoke angrily, as her jaw reformed back to normal. Her hair was all ruffled up, accompanied with her arm, twisted horrifically, but slowly repairing itself.


    Sarah gave her a deadly glare. "Hello Tasaria."


    Tasaria was a little taken aback. "Have we met before? Why do you look like Nirro and have fragments of her energy?"


    Sarah stepped forward, sizing her up. "No not in this time, but in another, you were the cause of a major tragedy that I cannot allow to happen. I go by Sarah and with Nirro''s help, we''ll be eliminating you shortly."


    Tasaria started to laugh. "Are you talking about that trash princess? Ohh you gotta be kidding me." Her laughter echoed throughout the field.


    Sarah shook her head. "Nirro''s perfect, she''s better than all of you combined and has been a great older sister to me. It seems like you don''t appreciate your family much. Which was why you have never noticed how priceless she truly is."


    Tasaria''s smirk turned into a frown, as Sarah looked her dead in the eye. "It''s true, no matter how many times I''ve run the simulations, you could never be on Nirro''s level."


    Flames crushed the ground, beneath Tasaria''s feet, as the grass caught fire. She chuckled, as she raised a fiery fist to her chest. "You should have just told me, you wanted to die. I was already planning to help you with that."


    Sarah smiled. "Oh please, who comes to battle planning for their own death?" As those words left her mouth, Nirro shut down and her core opened up. Sarah grabbed it and swallowed it in one gulp, then immediately moved Nirros''s body somewhere safe.


    Tasaria growled. "Merging? So that''s your trump card?"


    Sarah opened her eyes. There were multiple rings within her pupils, her hair inked jet black, with small streaks of silver. Black and white veins glowed, coursing through her body.


    A crater emerged under her from the weight of her newfound power. Electricity crackled hazardously, as outbursts of energy, emitted from her in even intervals.


    Sarah took a deep breath, then spoke up. "Invader you''ve made a grave mistake."


    "Huh?" Tasaria was confused.


    Sarah grinned, as she pointed one finger at her. "I, Sora, Earth''s greatest hero, will take you on!"

 Osei vs Ataron

    Explosions lit up the the pitch-dark night, as the two zigzagged across the field. Trading blows for blow and drawing blood, but not letting up.


    Ataron manifested a detailed clone of himself, made out of blue fire, to break the distance, realizing that Osei was getting an advantage. The clone charged at the Nova and manifested a flaming sword out of thin air.


    Volleys of energy appeared around him, as he launched them towards it, erupting a massive explosion, however, the clone continued, beaming out of the smoke.


    Ataron smirked as his fingers danced in the air, facing Osei. "Titan''s Gladiator."


    The Nova met the clone''s charge, reinforcing his sword with electricity and sending light bursts to throw it off. Its sword broke in half, as he took its head off, however he felt agonizing pain, forcing him to look over and see his own arm falling down below.


    The clone had manifested the sword once again with its remaining strength, as it continued its strike. Osei grimaced from the pain, but quickly blasted the clone, out of existence. He cauterized his arm stub, quickly, without losing eye contact with the prince. Five more, flame clones appeared in front of him, armed and ready to charge.


    Osei grinned. The battle high kept him awake. "Always using tricks in battle, aren''t you?"


    Ataron gave him a smug smile."The smartest are usually the ones to survive."


    Electricity crackled and converged in front of Osei, as five clones made out of electricity, resembling warriors of Rennaya manifested themselves guarding him. "Is that right? What makes you think, you''re part of that group."


    Ataron chuckled lightly, raising his right palm towards Osei. "What other group is there?"


    The clones charged at each other, engaging in a violent and bright battle in the sky. Ataron let loose a beam of blue fire, racing for Osei.


    However, he sidestepped in midair to avoid the beam by inches, then proceeded to return an energy wave of his own. Leaving the prince to summon a flame barrier in front of him, deciding to take it head-on. He made the barrier larger, then flanked to use it as a distraction.


    Osei, stopped his attack, noticing Ataron''s movements, and threw his sword towards the sky. Then he pulled out his dagger from his belt and formed a replica, with an arm out of electricity. Constantly maintaining them, as it drained more energy out of him.


    He launched himself through the clones fighting each other to the death, towards Ataron''s last known presence. An electric armour manifested over him, as he crashed through the barrier, catching the prince by surprise.


    Instinctively he still managed to block Osei''s charge and the next series of blows that the Nova threw at him. He grinned, laughing as he was about to blast him at point blank range when a sword sunk through his skull with a quick crack, piloted by a large lightning strike.


    His vision cracked in his right eye and the other completely disappeared, as billions of volts surged through him. Taking advantage of his trap, Osei quickly threw both of his daggers into the prince''s chest, then flipped 180¡ã to kick him back down to the Earth from the hilt of his sword, stuck in his head. He reached his palm out, as his sword dislodged itself from Ataron''s head before he hit the ground.


    Ataron felt thousands of years of his life leaving him, as his body slowly reformed back to normal. He tried getting back up, however, Osei landed, sword first into his gut, followed by the largest lightning strike he could muster. Erupting a massive shockwave explosion, felt in cities across Australia.


    A massive flame barrier erupted out of him, forcing Osei to make some distance. His knees gave way, as a low seizure started to settle in. Osei gritted his teeth, while foam started to build up, on the sides of his mouth.


    His electric arm dissipated and the blue veins coursing all over his body started to flicker. He was barely able to maintain the new gear, reaching his limit.


    Ataron rose and flew slowly out of his crater. Furious, with his eyes still out of place and a massive gaping hole in his stomach.


    The last of Osei''s clones, charged Ataron some stabbing him in the back, but he shrugged it off and burned them all away with the air around him. "I won''t forgive you!"


    Flames burst out of him, raising the temperature in their vicinity, drastically high. He placed his hand out and in seconds a massive sphere of blue fire manifested in front of him, condensing in rapid intervals and rotating at incredible speeds.


    Osei placed his hands out trying to match the same power, by draining all of the energy in any living creature as far as he could reach, thanks to his new Nova suit. His hands trembled, and his fingers began to curl. The seizures were hindering him, faster than he had anticipated


    He shook his head, reminding himself, of who he was up against, then forced control of his body. A massive blue sphere of electricity, swirled violently in front of him, as thousands of lightning strikes amplified it and condensed it further.


    His blue eyes glowed, as the glowing, even streaks of silver hair returned. His cobalt blue veins coursed like electric circuits throughout his body. The two looked at each other, knowing this would be the end.


    "Icarus''s Star!"


    "Raeiqa Core!"


    Their spheres shattered forth, like thunder, as the the two beams collided, rippling immense shockwaves throughout the continent. Osei grunted, as his feet sunk deep into the ground, while a crater formed around him.


    Ataron pushed back, with his full might. He could not accept losing to a Rennayan, a lost people they had vanquished long ago. He asked himself over and over, how he could be losing so much life, in one battle against a lesser creature. However, no answer could satisfy him.


    His only relief was looking forward to seeing Osei dead, right now. After a long moment of constant energy being poured in, the power struggle resulted in an explosive draw.


    Osei dropped to his knees, as foam spilled out of his mouth and his body shivered from uncontrollable seizures in random intervals. Ataron descended down. Both of their eyes locked. Then he walked forward, with each step, crumbling down until all there was, were blood and metal piled up in front of Osei, with the prince''s core on top, like a cherry.


    Osei looked down at the pile, feeling no sign of Ataron''s life energy. He fell over, falling asleep with a smile of victory.


    Back on the outskirts of London...


    "You''ve even taken up a more annoying persona. Are you really trying to be a fool, to the bitter end?" Tasaria asked, as her body had just finished restoring itself back to normal.


    Sora smirked at her words, then started stretching. "Part of me still remembers what you''ve done to us ''big sis''. I think it''s time to send you back to Hell... But first... Let''s switch our venue. I really don''t want to damage our garden, if you get what I mean."Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Tasaria crossed her arms. "Do as you wish."


    The air around Sora cracked lightly, as she disappeared from the spot she was standing on and appeared with one hand on the back of Tasaria''s shoulder. Then, the air around them cracked once more, but louder. Seconds later, in the blink of an eye, they disappeared off the face of the planet and reappeared on the Moon.


    Specifically, a part Sarah had just begun Terraforming and constructing. Due to Beyond''s expansion and several investments made by several companies around the world and allies. She had managed to extend the Terraforma''s atmosphere to reach the entire Moon, for research purposes.


    The princess unsheathed her sword in quick motion, causing slight gusts of wind with each swing, as she settled into a stance. "Till this day, I do not understand why Father gave you that ability. Not many of our siblings were granted it, yet they''ve all conquered worlds or risen in higher standings within the family. Yet, what have you done instead?"


    Sora smiled, as she reached into her belt, remembering a faint memory from one of her halves. She pulled out a black and blue sword hilt, with no blade. "Kinect: Photon Sword."


    The sword hilt lit up, bursting out a blue laser beam and condensing it into a sword shape. A retractable versilium blade, sprung out to complete it. Half versillium, half plasma. She examined her sword, with awe for a moment then looked back at Tasaria.


    "I''m not sure why you care so much about achievements and power. I''m fine with just being a hero. If you don''t like it, you can kindly leave, but..." She said, swinging her sword to her side, then leaped to intercept Tasaria''s charge.


    Their swords collided in midair, unleashing a devastating shockwave resounding for several kilometres. The princess reinforced her strike with magma and blue fire condensed as a coat on her sword. While Sora matched her strength with telekinetic force.


    She gave Tasaria a deadly grin. "I''m sure you won''t leave without a good beating."


    Tasaria laughed out loud as they continued, to stab and strike at each other, with killing force. "If anyone''s going to get a good beating, it''s you. That form will only last you what? Twenty? Thirty minutes? I''ll just have to wear you out till then, then kill that bitch the moment she coughs up your core-"


    She paused to dodge a swing for her head and didn''t hesitate to stab at her enemy''s gut. "Then I will take your core back and torture you while killing off those little insects crawling on that blue planet... Prolonging things will only make things more difficult Nirro."


    Sora jumped back to dodge the strike. "Hmph, let''s see you try. Come on then." She said, beckoning her forth, with her left hand.


    Tasaria smiled, then lunged at her and swung fast, while Sora concentrated force to aid her speed. Then, twirled around to raise her foot high enough and stomped Tasaria''s sword hand into the ground, while aiming for her head once more.


    The princess ducked, then followed up by boosting her feet to kick her in the gut and sent Sora flying. She was winded for a moment but recovered midflight and teleported.


    Reappearing under Tasaria and kicking her with incredible force into the air. She reappeared once more, with the air cracking around them and kicked her flying out of the Moon''s atmosphere.


    "Good luck in space!" She yelled out after her.


    Tasaria held her breath and heated herself up, to keep herself warm, then boosted herself back through the atmosphere and at Sora, punching a forcefield protecting her. "Sovereign''s Wrath!" She yelled as a massive wave of blue fire burst out of Tasaria''s fist, blasting her down to the surface of the Moon.


    Sora held on as the beam formed a massive hole all around her, digging deep into the moon.


    Moon rocks floated towards Tasaria and molted into a core merging with her attack while increasing the overall heat even further. Then she concentrated it into a white and blue flaming beam of carnage, aiming to incinerate her enemy.


    Lava marks, ran down her body branching out in streams, as she poured in more energy. She pressed on, for a bit, then stopped and descended near enough to close the distance. Landing on the edge of the deep crater.


    "Not doing so well, aren''t we? Was it too hot to teleport?" Tasaria yelled, gazing through the smoke towards the middle, where a tiny island at the center of the crater, had survived the inferno.


    She expected Sora to be scared and distressed. Instead, she found her tying up her ponytail, as her hair glowed slightly harder. The air around her shattered, just like glass, as her energy grew exponentially.


    Hundreds of moon rocks started floating around the crater, as she raised one hand forward. "Honestly, you just frizzed up my hair. Now you''ve made this personal... I won''t forgive you!"


    Tasaria chuckled, as she reached out with her right hand, allowing several dense elements to make her a gauntlet. A whip of lava spiralled with violet flames, manifested in her hand, stretching almost the distance, between the both of them.


    Her lips twisted into a creepy smile. "Going all out like that will definitely decrease the time you have left."


    Sora smiled back, as the rocks around her began launching themselves at the princess. "That''s okay! I can wrap this up, with the time I have left."


    Tasaria began waving her hands, as the whip exploded the rocks in midair. While Sora compressed a large amount of air between both of her palms, to an unimaginable pressure.


    She sent out barrages of rocks in random intervals, then teleported behind her on the largest one, just as Tasaria turned around to face her. However, it was too late.


    "Kinect: Seeking Shock!" Sora yelled, thrusting the sphere, into Tasaria''s gut.


    The shockwave rippled through the entire Moon, blowing apart everything in its wake, as it crashed Tasaria through the barrage of rocks. She got up, hundreds of kilometres from her original position, looking at the large crash mark she had created.


    The princess shook herself and braced, as she heard a slight crack in the air, then, instinctively exploded a barrier so large, that Earth''s satellites had picked it up. Sora took some heavy burns but erected a forcefield to protect herself from the inferno.


    Tasaria''s body burned bright hot, steaming, then cooled down quickly, as an armour, made out of violet flames and magma settled on her body. The entire landscape around them had turned into a burning moonland.


    "This is my domain. Anyone inside suffers until they burn to ashes!" She exclaimed, emitting rings of fire razing the ground around her.


    Sora knew she wasn''t bluffing, without her forcefield, she would be burning alive. She slowly flew into the air and started gathering her last drops of energy.


    She took deep breaths as she tried to keep focus, while pillars of fire erupted from the burning land, reaching for her. Sora managed to outmaneuver them and returned small bursts of air force at Tasaria, who zoomed forward flanking after her.


    Then turned around beginning top retreat, but her exit was completely blocked off by walls of fire. Just as the princess appeared in front of her, in a blur of flames and swung down a sword made out of violet fire. However, the air cracked, as Sora teleported out of her imprisonment.


    "Tch, the heat''s limiting my abilities. I''ve got to end this right now." She spoke outloud to herself, wary of her situation.


    It was only a moment, but she let her guard down treating her burns. While Tasaria appeared in front of her once again, in the blink of an eye, and slashed down across her chest, with incredible force. Sora flew back dozens of meters from the impact, then dropped out of the sky into the sea of fire.


    The princess dissipated her sword, looking down in disappointment. However seconds later, out of the corner of her eye, she felt slight movements from below and raised a flame barrier to block the forces of blasts being launched at her.


    She grinned, raising one hand towards her. "Still have some fight left in you, don''t you? I suspect you only have a couple of minutes left, given your injuries?" She spoke out loud, as violet flames and lava manifested together and condensed into a rotating ball in front of her. "Sovereign Judgement!


    The purple beam of fire razed the ground, while Sora raced away from it, clutching her chest, as it healed back slowly. She coughed up blood, but quickly wiped it away, knowing there was not much time left before her transformation was undone.


    "I don''t think I have much more in me after this... But hopefully, she shouldn''t be a problem anymore." She spoke out loud, noticing the world telomoniter floating high above them. Then, she suddenly changed trajectory and flew towards the sky, while placing her hands together in a triangle shape, aiming for Tasaria. "Kinect: Falling Stars!"


    At first, there was silence and then a low rumbling as the moon sky started to burn orange with thousands of meteorites. All converging towards the princess with incredible speed.


    She started to sweat, fully taking in the danger she was in. Sora kept teleporting away from her fire each time she got close and forced Tasaria to give up on catching her, to turning her attention to the sky. As she tried to erase as many meteorites as she could, without success.


    The largest crashed into her, with the rest piling up on top, devastating the Moon''s surface and exploding unnaturally in a contained cylinder. Smoke bellowed up to the sky, with debris raining everywhere, while cracks formed on the surface of the massive cylinder explosion.


    Sora quickly cupped her hands as she vomited blood and several more contents. She let the rest go, catching the core and returned back to normal.


    The air around the cylinder, containing the constant explosion, shattered, then crumbled out fire and debris in a delayed shockwave. While hot winds burst the smoke and dust outwards.


    Sarah covered her face as the winds shot past her, Then all was quiet, except for the sound of crackling fire. "Damn, that was close... Guess my job here is done."

 The Dark Kings

    Tobi dodged blasts of fire as Kiala closed in on him. "You don''t need to do this." He tried to plead with her.


    She ignored him and leaped, striking at an iron barrier that he raised just in time. "Come on pops, we''re just play fighting here aren''t we?"


    Her fist broke through the barrier like putty, as she pulled it out, then quickly teleported behind him, and kicked him in the side, sending him flying through the clearing. He regained composure midflight as he nearly crashed into the side of a cliff. Then raised his hands toward her, as she teleported within his vision.


    "I''m sorry for what you have been through, but that''s no excuse to hurt others." He rasped.


    Kiala smirked. "They would have gotten in my way. Besides you''re starting to feel it aren''t you? Go ahead. Place your hands together and will the air to stop with your mind. Not with any of your other abilities."


    Tobi looked at her confused, but she put her hands up. "I promise I won''t do anything."


    Warily he did, as he was told. The air between his hands started forming cracks in the shape of a ball. Leaving him perplexed. "How... Is this possible?"


    Kiala smiled. "Perks of being family. Looks like it merged well with your cells. You''re now Telekinetic, just like Nirro, Sarah, and I." She started to gather energy within herself. "You don''t understand the lengths of which Mom went to protect you. You basically killed her."


    She raised her right palm at him, grunting as the side effects, started to come back. "Repel."


    A force of air struck him out of the blue, sending him flying back. He looked up at her confused about what just happened.


    "Repel!" She yelled even louder, as a larger force of air, trucked into him without warning.


    He coughed blood as he hit the side of the cliff. "This isn''t going anywhere." He whispered under his breath while wiping the blood off his mouth and healing himself.


    She descended down in front of him, as frost and burns began appearing on her face. Tobi noticed and called out to her. "If you keep going, you will self-destruct."


    She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, as dark clouds started to gather. She didn''t want to let him off easy.


    "I don''t remember Dargan being this lively, brother." A loud voice echoed out from up above them.


    A sudden deep flow of fear washed over the two, enough for Kiala to instantly shift into third gear. She braced the agonizing pain and looked up.


    The two monsters she felt on top of the cliff, were watching them with curiosity. Both were about 7 feet tall, had tanned skin, with full grey beards and physiques similar to professional basketball athletes.


    They were dressed in white and black, foreign battle suits and outfitted with simple, similar crowns and capes. The one the man referred to as ''brother,'' was sitting on the side of the cliff with a disappointed look etched on his face. He was equipped with a large long sword strapped to his back. The other had already unsheathed the massive, black, cleaver-like sword, sitting on his shoulder, as he looked down at them grinning.


    "Who are they?" Tobi asked, trying to contain the fear in his voice.


    Kiala shook her head. "This shouldn''t be happening. In her notes, it said that they were stopped by an unknown force. Did they fail?"


    Tobi was tired of being left in the dark. "Kiala, who are they? What force?"


    She couldn''t move her gaze from the one standing. "They have to be the Dark Kings, a force even Atlas chooses not to engage with. I''ve never ran into them, but this energy goes beyond the third gear."


    Kiala clenched her fists and then looked at him. "We may all be in danger."


    The one standing, swung his sword down from his shoulder, to his side, as light gusts of wind picked up behind him. "Rael, you don''t mind if I get a little selfish here, don''t you?"


    Rael sighed and adjusted his sitting position, raising some soft dirt to support his back. "Tsk tsk, D''you even have to ask Mado. Go ahead. You always do what you want, anyways."If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Mado grinned and then jumped off the cliff. He swung his sword back as violet flames covered his blade. His hair glowed brighter grey, going full silver.


    Kiala drew her sword, knowing he was aiming for her. Their swords collided, erupting in a shockwave that caused the cliff, to begin land sliding downwards. Rael disappeared, moments before, in seconds.


    "Warrior, can you understand me?" Mado asked, speaking in slow English.


    Kiala nodded as she returned his strikes. His lips curved into a smirk. "Although you have the highest energy signature on this planet, I can tell you are at your limit. You must be the one that took out Sohzyn, are you not?"


    She nodded once more, struggling with each blow. "So, what if I did?"


    Mado''s smile grew bigger. "Then I would be delighted to fight you at your full strength, but for now, you can rest."


    Kiala braced, not understanding what he meant. "What-"


    For a moment, his hair went jet black, rising as electricity crackled all around him. Black and purple veins flashed all over his body, in the same moment, as he used the flat side of his blade to smack her flying with his full might, across the entire continent.


    He turned his attention towards Tobi, dropping down into second gear. "I felt something disturbing on the planet, but I didn''t expect it to be this timid little kid... Boy, what''s your name?"


    Tobi was unable to do anything during that exchange. He immediately knew that this monster was way out of his league and had already signaled for Nirro.


    He chose his words carefully. "My name is Tobi, Commander of the Beyond Space Force. State your business in our Solar System."


    Mado was ecstatic, he lifted his sword back onto his shoulder. "So, you''re the Commander! That makes things so much easier."


    Tobi realized that he may have made a grave mistake. Regardless the king continued. "My name is Mado, one of the two Kings of Kiros. We noticed on our radars, that Sohzyn''s fleet was making its way toward this blank sector. Only for us to find out, that this sector wasn''t actually empty and that Sohzyn''s signature vanished from these coordinates. Naturally, I asked my pilots to speed up and descend."


    It just struck Tobi, what Kiala meant. Making him have no doubt that she was from the future.


    Mado continued. "So, are you aiming to be a Conqueror?"


    Tobi was confused by the question. "What do you mean by that?"


    Mado shook his head and started to crack his bones. "I''ve met many protectors like you, that planet in this solar system, squirming with replaceable life. That''s what you''re trying to protect are you not? I''ll be straight with you, having a weak resolve like that, will get you killed." He said letting out a hearty laugh.


    Tobi didn''t find it funny, clenching his sword tight in front of him and watching his every move. Yet Mado continued, undeterred and swung his sword down, pointing it at him. "You see, I came to battle Sohzyn and take his head as a present for his father, but now I''m left unsatisfied and could use a new asset, to make myself feel better..."


    An enormous amount of energy poured out of him, suffocating Tobi. "What makes you think me and my brother won''t leave, without taking your planet?"


    He was finding it difficult to speak, but he managed to put on a brave front, knowing the World was watching. "Hmm, since what you''re asking isn''t possible. I''d appreciate it if you would best be on your way then. If you need directions, I can show you the way."


    Mado let out an enormous laugh, which echoed throughout their surroundings. As he was about to speak, he sensed something and instinctively manifested a large dome barrier completely made out of black flames.


    "Kinect: Gamma Ray Lite!" Kiala yelled at the top of her lungs, as she used her flight''s momentum, to launch her attack.


    Purple rays of energy formed into a sphere rotating faster than light, as her right hand started to rip to shreds. The sphere superheated and shattered forth quickly, with the beam of light, striking Mado''s barrier, in nanoseconds.


    The continent started to shake tremendously, as seismic activity rippled through the planet. The cliff completely crumbled apart as Tobi retreated to take cover. Mado''s barrier was pushed hundreds of meters away as it held itself together until the beam completely covered it.


    Kiala poured in all of her remaining energy, erupting an explosion, and levelling everything in over a five-kilometre radius. Her breathing was ragged, as her transformation flickered.


    "You did well. You will make for a fine soldier." Mado praised, as he teleported behind her, with his left arm singed from the beam. "You''re attack actually reached me."


    She turned around, unsheathing her sword to cut his head off in one swift motion, however, he was quicker. Teleporting, then giving her one quick strike in the stomach, as violet flames left their mark on her.


    She coughed blood and then fell unconscious. Mado put the flames out and then called out to his brother. "Rael!"


    In a blur, Rael appeared beside him. "What is it, brother?"


    Mado smiled at him. "I have decided, I want her in our ranks."


    Rael looked her over, seemingly annoyed. "You know, you can''t just keep picking people up like this. We have our own people to feed. If you take her, then you can''t bring anyone else from that blue planet."


    Mado grunted, then nodded. "Very well. I''m not interested in humans without power anyway. It seems she''s a rare case for them. We''ll kill the rest."


    Tobi descended down in front of them, sword raised, as he maxed out on the energy he could output in second gear. He was scared and had still not come to grips with it. He knew accepting it would make it all real, but reality was not going to give him the time to decide.


    However, there was one thing he knew for sure, he could never allow his child to be hurt, in front of him like that. "Drop her." He said, angrily.


    The brothers looked at him, surprised by his audacity. "Or what?" Mado asked.


    Tobi leaped at him, and at the same time, the king threw her to Rael, while unsheathing his sword and blocking Tobi''s charge. Their eyes locked as the tension physically altered the terrain.


    Dark clouds covered the entire continent, but Mado had the widest smile. "Is that a spark I see?"

 Lost One

    The air breezing past them caught fire, as electricity crackled violently in their vicinity. Rael retreated back further with Kiala.


    Tobi raised his left palm while maintaining a continuous assault of volleys on Mado. "Erupt: Cerberus!"


    A 50-foot tall, gigantic lava hound, snarling with three heads, erupted out of the ground grabbing for Rael. One head was completely made out of lava, the middle was made out of fire and electricity, and the last that grabbed for Rael was completely made out of ice. He spun around and aimed a beam into its mouth. Filling it with a wave of electricity as it shattered completely, but regenerated back in seconds.


    "Oi, don''t think I''m someone you can just ignore," Mado spoke up angrily, then punched Tobi faster than he could react and sent him flying back.


    He felt his bones vibrating just from the force, but caught himself mid-flight, dozens of meters away. "Ignite: Static Shock!" He yelled, launching a beam with one hand while holding onto his sword with the other to defend.


    Mado split it in two as he crashed through it and struck Tobi down, towards the ground. He landed on his feet kicking up dust and rocks, while he raised dozens of golems made out of titanium and gold to challenge the king.


    Without hesitating, Mado flicked his wrist, throwing tiny condensed spheres of fire and electricity homing for half of them, leaving them exploding from within. A wall of black fire protected him from the heat.


    He didn''t need to do anything to the rest, as an intricately detailed clone of him, made out of black fire, ice, and electricity stepped out of his shield and escorted him. Then, engaged the remaining using each one of his abilities.


    At the same time, his hair flashed full silver, then settled, glowing ominously. While veins all over his body, coursed through, working overtime and glowing in intervals, as the temperature around him began to rise.


    Tobi realized this strength had to be the third gear. He felt he needed to find a way to attain it, to have any hope of defeating him. Mado teleported in front of him, as Tobi instinctively blocked his first strike. However, by the second strike, Mado disarmed him swiftly, then sheathed his sword and started to beat down on him.


    "To be something in this universe, you have to tread the path of a conqueror. Winner takes all and the strongest survive. It''s unfortunate since you''re so young, however, you''ve done well to make it this far." He said as he threw several more haymakers at Tobi.


    Who was struggling for his life, blocking all that was being thrown at him, as the king continued to tear through his defences with ease. "Ignite: Static Dome!" He threw his hands out, as a barrier, made of fire and electricity, erupted out of Tobi, pushing Mado back, and letting him recover himself.


    "How are you able to use multiple abilities?" Tobi asked, knowing, he was just as guilty.


    Mado smirked. "What? Is this your first time meeting a Blessed Abnormal?" He shook his head and then laughed out loud. "The ones in each race who are granted the ability to use two or more of the 5 abilities that govern nature. My brother and I can use four of them, making us among the rarest of occurrences in history. It seems that you and the girl are the same case."


    Mado''s clone had finished destroying his last golem and landed right behind Tobi. Who quickly turned around and manifested a sword out of ice, to slice the clone in half. However, it caught his blade, then melted and shattered the rest with its grip.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "The worst part is, the way you use iko is incredibly inefficient. You can''t even stop those who are even at least aware of it." The king spoke, in a disappointed tone.


    Tobi didn''t hesitate, switching his attack to his other arm as an orb of lava pulled itself together, infused with electricity. "Erupt: Volcanic Grenade!"


    The sphere burst through the clone''s chest caving it in, as it exploded in a magma inferno.


    Mado grunted, approvingly. "I guess you''ve always forced your way through, haven''t you." He shook his head and started walking towards him. "What if you''re enemy, is an assassin and takes you to a place not as favourable for you..."


    He disappeared mid-walk, then reappeared behind him, with a hand on Tobi''s shoulder. His hair and facial hair turned jet black, as black and purple veins pulsed in harmony all over his body.


    The air visibly cracked all around them, within seconds as they vanished. Reappearing on an asteroid orbiting Dargan, Mado maintained a dome of air in space.


    Tobi was shocked. He couldn''t fathom how they had just gotten to space, however he instinctively held his breath and tried to keep the air contained with a large dome of ice, around them.


    Mado laughed. "Warrior, you can still breathe, because I allow it. The gravity of my Sila and Roho iko, allow me to maintain air around me in space. Conquerers traverse space using this technique and will not hesitate to make their way towards you, as you seek more power."


    He smirked. "Let me grant you the mercy... Of ending your journey."


    Slowly the air started to decrease, crumbling the ice away as it shrunk further. Until it started to leave Tobi.


    He started suffocating and freezing, unable to control his abilities any longer. He dropped to his knees, in regret as a piece of him broke away, frozen and floating into the abyss of space.


    Mado watched on curiously. It was only moments, but Tobi could no longer fight it any longer. His heart flatlined, reporting alerts immediately across Beyond Headquarters, the entire World and the rest of the Federation. The drone had just got to their location and recorded the incident.


    Once satisfied, the king started to walk away preparing himself, to jump back to Dargan. "I guess that was as far as you could go."


    The air started to crack around him, as he gathered his energy. Suddenly he was interrupted by a lash of dark energy, whipping about violently around the asteroid.


    He looked at the epicentre, seeing Tobi''s lifeless body still on its knees. Dark energy was pouring out of his heart, in almost sea-level amounts and flooding the asteroid.


    Mado floated up to avoid it, wondering what was going on. The energy crumbled away from the surrounding area as it withdrew back into Tobi, shocking his heart, over and over.


    The king noticed black static electricity crackling around Tobi. "So you''re still alive." He said placing out his right hand and pointing it at him.


    Tobi''s body reanimated, with a black skull etched with red and white whisker-like tribal markings, forming over his head, leaving his hair jet black with ash-like streaks.


    Mado lowered his hand surprised. "That colour, it can''t be... A lost one that has succumbed to darkness usually lets off the aura of their personality colored in hatred. However..."


    He fired large blasts of black fire at him, but a large barrier of dark energy erupted, shielding him. Tobi looked up at him. His eyes glowed red, sending fatal intentions towards the king.


    "You have to be the abnormal... The Dark One is searching for. I must kill you here, for the sake of my people."


    Mado released the maximum amount of energy he could muster and wrapped it around himself, causing an immense heat wave and artificial clouds to gather. Striking down hordes of black lightning.


    Tobi got up, while dark dots glowed, coursing through violet veins, ominously within his body. Dark energy crackled constantly and hazardously around him. He suddenly let out a massive dual-tone roar, shaking the entire asteroid as a bubble of air spontaneously wrapped around it.


    He reached out, with his right hand and summoned a black and red, indestructible katana, formed beneath the asteroid and erupting into his hands. Reinforced with black and purple, electric flames.


    Mado frowned. "How is he that sentient?"


    Mado unsheathed his sword, however, it was too late. As Tobi appeared in front of him and swung down on his left arm, cutting it clean off, as it fell down below.


    The king let out an outcry of pain, exploding black flames into a barrier around him. He healed himself, then formed an arm made out of ice, before he reached into a pack on his side and swallowed a pill. Feeling much more rejuvenated.


    They stared each other down, swords drawn, as the tension between them rose drastically. "I am the King of Kiros, not even the Dark One can strike me down!" He exclaimed before they leaped at each other, swinging with all of their might.

 The Price

    Tobi felt like he was in a dream, as he walked through a forest, similar to the one in his neighborhood. Confused on why he was there and what he was supposed to be doing. Suddenly, the path opened up to a massive clearing with hills and rich green grassland as far as the eye could see, except it wasn''t empty.


    Instead, there were an incredible amount of people there. Hundreds of millions, dressed and resembled Rennayans from all tribes in different eras.


    Tobi looked out over the crowd, as each one of them turned their eyes onto him. A child about ten years old, walked up to him, as he started to back away. "Who... who are you people?"


    The child spoke up, and they all spoke in unison. "We are your strength." Tobi was creeped out as he looked around at each one of them. The child continued speaking. "You have lent out our blessing without our consent, now you seek for more. Everything comes at a price, young one."


    Tobi stared at the child, as he wondered what he was speaking to. "Darkness consumes all." She followed up, then grabbed his arm, making him instinctively yank it away.


    The people sitting, all got up, then one by one, they all began to march, converging towards him. Tobi spun around and immediately began running, not noticing the spot she touched, starting to invade his body, like a contagious infection .


    He collapsed unable to move within a minute, while the mob engulfed him.


    At Beyond HQ, Medbay...


    Saphyra had recovered all of the Novas back to Medbay for checkups and treatment. Helio, Amaara, and Carina waited patiently by cryomeds, where Simon, Runa, Karim, and Osei were being treated for critical care.


    The ones up, crowded around the TV''s in the rooms, broadcasting the fight in Dargan''s space. Each of them was shocked by what they were witnessing. Hoping it wasn''t all true.


    "This can''t be happening! Is he going to be alright?" Sofia asked, anxious about the situation.


    "I''m not sure anymore, I mean his heart stopped for a moment. Whatever that is, isn''t human." Koji replied to her.


    Norah shook her head. "He''s still Tobi, he just has to wake up. It feels like he''s stuck in a nightmare."


    Kalista looked at her, wondering what she was going on about. She was still dressed in her battle suit, refusing to check-in. Saphyra needed Kalista''s help to force her into the Medbay.


    "Norah, what are you talking about? Kalista asked, curious.


    She finally turned away from the screen and sat down on a nearby seat. "I''m not sure why, but I can feel his anger, and it''s not his."


    Kalista walked up to her and sat down. "If anyone can get through this, it''s him."


    Norah nodded. "I just hope he and Kiala can make it back to us in one piece. I have a few words I need to give her. Do you think it''s true, Kalista?"


    Kalista sighed and then looked up. "I''m not sure what to think anymore."


    The rest of them glanced back at them for a moment, then turned their attention back to the screen, watching the fight escalate even further.


    On the outskirts of Dargan''s Atmosphere...


    "Solkyr Altania!" Mado swung down towards Tobi, as black electric flames compressed and followed through with telekinetic force, cutting through the ground.


    Tobi reacted instantaneously raising a wall of ice, reinforced with a forcefield to block the attack. Resulting in a large shockwave followed by steam bursting forth clouding the area.


    Tobi, still in the lost form, roared and then disappeared into the smoke. Making the king brace, by coating his sword in black electric flames. He felt a blur from behind him as Tobi roared once again and swung down with his full might.


    Mado quickly placed forth his left hand, which had stayed closed, while he prepared a condensed sphere of black fire within. Just as it was about to shatter forth, Tobi grabbed his left wrist to push the devastating beam away from him, as he continued to swing down the middle, colliding with the king''s blade.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    They crashed down together still engaging in a violent exchange, as Mado struggled to bring the beam around towards his head. Breaking a piece off it, as he clipped him. Steam burst forth from Tobi''s mask, as he growled at the king.


    Mado could feel nothing but malicious intent through his gleaming red eyes. "You''ve completely lost yourself haven''t you?"


    Tobi pressed down closer, drawing blood with the king''s own sword.He felt the pain and used the adrenaline to turn his wrist enough to completely blast the monster off of the asteroid. Then, began to heal himself over and repaired his crushed, frozen wrist.


    "A long drawn out battle in space isn''t favorable. I have to get back to Dargan somehow, but if I jump that far again, I won''t have the strength to fight him." He shook his head, as he looked up in the direction that Tobi flew in.


    He had landed on a small comet that he had summoned and was already racing back to the king. Mado''s eyes grew wide as he teleported onto another orbiting asteroid nearby.


    Then watched the comet continue to crash into the asteroid, smashing it together into smithereens, with an incredible explosion. He thought he was watching the attack from a safe distance, however, Tobi reappeared above him, swinging down once again.


    With quick instincts Mado placed up his sword to block it, however, the force between them broke apart the small asteroid, as he tumbled down, hurdling toward Dargan. He caught himself, floating in space just as he was about to enter orbit, but Tobi wasn''t letting up, teleporting in, once more with a loud roar and aiming to cut him down.


    The King yelled in return, as he fought back, pushing himself to his limit, while healing himself, as he raised the heat. Their swords collided producing a blinding light, visible to half of the planet, followed by a shockwave rippling through and causing tsunamis on Dargan.


    Mado  continued his struggle to push him back, but before he could, out of Tobi''s mouth, a beam of violet, electric fire struck him, at point-blank and back down to Dargan. Incinerating the ground around him, as he produced a forcefield to protect himself.


    The beam suddenly stopped, leaving only a loud roar filling up the sky. The temperature started to rise, as the sky darkened with a tint of purple.


    Large amounts of purple lightning converged, wrapping around Tobi while he sheathed his sword, and manifested a purple electric armor. Mado squinted, faintly seeing the danger he was in.


    "Zolleus''s Armour!" He yelled out, as black electric armor wrapped around him, at his will.


    Tobi zipped down, like a lightning strike, placing his entire force into his fist.


    Mado returned back his charge, with equal force, as their surroundings, leveled away from the collision and the strikes after, as they continued to trade blow for blow. Tobi caught Mado''s right arm and acrobatically flipped over to hurl him flying into a mountain.


    The landing produced a massive crater on the side of it, as the king was forced to cough up blood. Yet he grinned. "No one has pushed me this far, in such a long time. You''re making me feel alive again."


    Tobi had just appeared above him, letting out an intense roar, then raised his right hand in front of him and clutched it. The mountain and ground, for several kilometers, started to shake.


    Then, rumbled intensely, as the mountain erupted in a magnificent fashion. Lava and debris rained concavely around the mountain, trapping the king in.


    He quickly healed himself and teleported out, behind Tobi, then knocked him flying into the lava. "You can have that back." He said to him, however the lava unnaturally moved away and avoided him, as he landed in Mado''s original position.


    He then watched as Tobi pointed his hand towards him, beckoning the lava to whip together again into a bubbling pillar of magma and arc-ed it towards the king, with incredible speed. Mado jetted up, dodging the flow of lethal whips, then looked back down, to his dismay, as it snaked back after him.


    He retreated, as fast as he could, flying as far away from the volcano, while he ignored another roar from the monster in the the distance. Magma infused with dark energy, crashed around him, as he zig-zagged along hills into a desolate plain.


    He turned around to face it, giving up on an escape. Only to meet silence, as he watched a bright figure soar up into the sky.


    The purple armor around Tobi, converged, as fuel for his next devastating attack. The continent they were on, shook, with immense amounts of seismic activity.


    Native animals began to scatter, but Tobi was unbothered. "Grr..."


    He was still in a trance, as he poured in incredible amounts of energy, from an unknown source. All to power a rotating electric sphere of lava, coated in violet fire. An attack meant to end any life it may reach, for it had grown to over ten times his size, then condensed to about half, within seconds.


    The king looked up knowing there was no way to escape. "He''s trying to take us, all out with him."


    He gritted his teeth, then placed his hands in front of him, holding together a blazing sphere of electric black fire, then added more as fast as he could and condensed it further. He wrapped the sphere with force trapping the air within, to thousands of atmospheric pressure.


    Cracks of air, lined the sphere as he struggled to keep it together. "Solkyr''s Sun!" He yelled out, matching Tobi''s timing, and launched it with his life at stake.


    The collision between both attacks caused devastating consequences to Dargan. Turning everything in their vicinity, for thousands of kilometers into a wasteland, as the largest mushroom cloud seen in history rose through Dargan''s skies.


    The two were sent hurdling to different parts of the continent, sustaining heavy injuries. Mado got up, healing his wounds slowly, while searching the constant massive explosion in the distance for his opponent.


    Only for Tobi to appear in front of him, with cracks lining the air around him. He had a beam prepared in his mouth, about to unleash it once more, point-blank at the king.


    Mado was taken back, seeing how Tobi had recovered so quickly. He started to raise his right hand to brace for impact, however, the sphere froze in front of his mouth, then moments later shattered to the floor.


    "Having trouble brother?" The king looked back, as Rael descended down behind him.

 The Rahmanaka Clan

    He almost couldn''t hear it over the howling wind. Why was it so windy? The thought had just crossed his mind. Which was weird, since he felt like, he had been standing there for ages.


    A girl in the middle, trying to make her way through the crowd of people, waved her hands at him, from far out in the distance. Tobi squinted his eyes, trying to make out who she was, or what she was saying, but it was too difficult.


    He tried moving a little closer, but his body wouldn''t budge. Leaving him with only the ability to move his head, as he looked around noticing dark energy, swirling around him. Tobi started to panic. He felt stuck as if he was in a lucid dream.


    The yelling got even louder, as the person kept struggling to get his attention. He looked back at the crowd, trying to find the person once again.


    "Wa..." She had gotten closer, but he still couldn''t hear her. "You have to snap out..." He realized that her voice sounded familiar, as the image of her started to clear up.


    Kiala yelled out once more. "Wake up, Dad! Snap out if it"


    Tobi was stunned, yet any words he tried to utter, failed him. His vision began to crack and split apart, then shattered, as Aurora lights brought him back to reality...


    The left eye of the skull on his face, cracked and broke off, followed by the rest, crumbling apart slowly. As he woke, he saw Mado and Rael in front of him with Kiala, floating in a dome of reinforced glass.


    She was smashing her hands on the glass, screaming at him, while trying her best to break out.


    "It looks like you''ve had your hands full." Rael''s expression had not changed much, but he seemed slightly more disturbed by what he was witnessing. "What is this?"


    Mado grunted and began to gather up energy. "The Abomination. We have to eliminate him. He must be the one that ''it''s'' searching for."


    Rael looked Tobi over once more, then sighed. "It seems you may be right. Those markings and that colour, it has to be a bad omen. Do you think that ''they'' are coming back soon?"


    Mado shook his head slowly. "For now, if we kill him here, he can''t be taken. We could cripple it''s power."


    Rael nodded, matching his brother''s energy as spheres of destruction manifested before them, aiming for Tobi. It had started to become bleak, as Tobi frantically thought of a way out.


    Suddenly, out of Dargan''s skies, hundreds of thousands of green-robed soldiers, descended, landing around the group in formation. Every, one of them wore masks, concealing their identity, except one. The ones on the front line landed kneeling, with their fists striking the ground, as ice froze the four being ambushed in place, within an instant.


    Rael, melted himself free almost instantly and looked around, while Mado erupted flames in anger, melting his restraints and asserting his presence. The soldiers closest to them wore special-op outfits, in contrasts of light and dark green, with light hooded robes over their heads.


    A soldier in the distance, blew a large horn, as some of the ones in front parted way and created a path for a short old man to pass through. He had nearly the same attire but with hints of red and no mask. His aura and presence signified royal status. He made his way through the crowd and into the clearing, then stopped and pulled back his hood.


    Mado rolled his eyes, realizing who it was. "Akio Rahmanaka... So you''ve finally come out of hiding?"


    The elderly man looked to be entering his early 70''s but walked with the physique of someone in their youth. His appearance was of Asian descent, along with the rest of his people, with some having the characteristics of people in South East Asia.


    "If you mean living a life of peace, away from war and bloodshed. Then yes I have returned." Akio responded, with a sly smile on his face.


    Mado grunted, placing one hand on his sword, then continued to his main point. "May I ask, what is the reason for your interference in our affairs? We have given your people, the respect of solitude. Don''t tell me you''re tired of living?"


    Akio let out a light chuckle. "Well, you see... You seem to have run into some interesting people. I''d like to request, for you to leave them be for today."


    Tensions rose immediately between the both of them, causing some soldiers to feel nausea and dizziness, as their wills clashed.


    Mado smirked, then broke the silence. "Forgive me, I can''t seem to find a good reason to grant your request. I''m sure you can feel it too can''t you?" He nodded over at Tobi. "He must be what the Dark One has been searching for. We can''t allow him to live."


    Akio took a deep breath, calming himself back down. "I am aware of what you''re saying, but he may also be the light, that saves us from it. We won''t know if you stop him now."


    Mado began drawing his sword slowly. "I disagree. For my people''s future, I must kill him now."Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Akio smiled. "We are aware of your impatience, King Mado. However, you should know, that you are surrounded, by land, air, and space. With 25 million of my kin, ready to give their lives on my order."


    He took a step forward, with both hands behind his back, covered in the gold sleeves of his robe, tailored specially for him. "Question is, are you prepared?"


    Mado grinned at his proposition. "It doesn''t matter how many insects-"


    "Let me stop you there." Rael stepped forward. "My apologies Great Elder Akio. It seems we may have spent too much time here. We''d best be on our way."


    Furious, Mado looked at his brother, wondering what he was doing. However, Rael just shook his head and glared at him. He looked back around, seeing the death stares from all the soldiers in their vicinity. Then let out a light chuckle, sheathing his sword back into its sheath.


    "Very well. We''ll leave you be for today. However..." He turned around to face Tobi, then delivered him a promise. "This is a formal declaration of war, on behalf of Kiros and the Great Realm, on you and your people. We will soon be coming for that blue planet and your head."


    Rael placed one hand on Mado''s shoulder and with a couple of cracks in the air, they disappeared off the face of the planet. Tobi dropped to his knees, as the rest of his transformation went undone. The glass holding Kiala shattered as it hit the ground.


    Kiala got up and ran to check on Tobi. "Are you alright?"


    Tobi nodded, keeling over like he was about to vomit. "I''m good, just feeling a bit nauseous. How about you?"


    Kiala let out a sigh of relief, then turned her attention towards Akio and the people around them. "I''m ok, just need to make sure we''re still safe first."


    She focused her attention on Akio. "Thanks for saving us, but what do you want?"


    Tobi quickly looked up at her. "Don''t be rude."


    Akio shook his head and stepped forward. "It''s fine. My name is Akio Rahmanaka, the Great Elder of the Rahmanaka Clan. What may I call you, foreign warriors?"


    They both looked at each other, as Kiala helped Tobi up. "My name is Tobi, Commander of the Beyond Space Force and this is..." He looked over at her and then looked back. "Kiala, my daughter... I would like to express my gratitude, for your help in turning back those invaders. However I have to wonder, are there any other reasons why you have brought such a large company, to our Solar System."


    Akio looked around at his people, then looked back at Tobi. "May I ask, is she able to wield all five of the elements that govern nature?"


    Kiala smirked, as she faced one palm up. "Of course she can."


    Five orbs manifested, around her and Tobi, each separately exhibiting traits of fire, earth, ice, electricity, and telekinetic force, as cracks lined the orb holding air. Tobi watched her do all of this, feeling a little bit proud. Several of them murmured amongst themselves, then got up and got closer, then kneeled, as the rest followed suit like a large ripple in a in a silent lake.


    "What''s going on?" Kiala was confused.


    Akio smiled, understanding her confusion. "You see, we were given a revelation from the Legendary Rennayan from over 1400 years ago, stating that someone would come and surpass her, to defeat the Dark One... For you to look so similar to her... Forgive my people, but they were insistent on coming to see you for themselves."


    Tobi and Kiala were shocked, unable to speak as they looked around themselves and saw some sobbing, while others were excited to witness the moment. They suddenly understood, why they might''ve been saved.


    "There is one more thing." He turned his attention back to Tobi. "My people are nomadic, not by nature, or choice, but for survival. Since Atlas had taken over a majority of the Galaxy, it had been difficult for us to settle in any solar system for a long period of time. As a result, our agriculture has been in constant decline along with our population, for the last 20 years."


    Tobi started to notice, that most of the people around them, were all malnourished. It was hard to tell through their robes, but he could feel their energy dwindling, like dimly lit candles.


    "What is the population of your people?" Tobi wanted to know what he was getting himself into.


    Akio pointed up, as a planet came out of camouflage looking like a Moon from Dargan. "At the moment, 2.5 billion. Next week it will be 2.4."


    Tobi held himself back, trying not to bite his fist, as Kiala blurted out. "That''s a lot of people! Dad, can''t we help them?"


    Tobi looked at Kiala, whose expression had turned sad, after hearing the news, then at Akio, who bowed for more sympathy.


    He rolled his tongue inside his cheek, then rubbed his chin and ruffled his hair, thinking over everything. "Fine. We''ll help you..."


    People burst into tears, as others rejoiced. It had started to get loud as chatter picked up amongst the soldiers. Akio raised one hand noticing Tobi still wanted to speak and they died down.


    "I must consult with the World Leaders of Earth, but if you join the Beyond Constitution, you may stay in our Solar System. For now, I will have someone send rations and emergency packs as a starter." He added.


    Akio dropped to his knees, bowing as a tear flowed down his cheek. "Thank you."


    Thousands of light years into the Galaxy...


    Alcra coughed up large amounts of blood, as she held onto her stomach. Atlas raised one hand up, as she simultaneously floated up with his telekinetic force. "So tell me, what happened to your siblings, that you sent behind my back."


    The princess shivered in fear as she slowly spoke up. "They were all killed."


    He looked at her with a solemn expression, then dropped his hand down quickly, as she followed suit, smacking hard into the ground and breaking it up. He then began swinging his hand around, like a conductor of a symphony, as Alcra went flying into his palace walls.


    As a ragdoll for a few minutes, until the emperor felt satisfied. Leaving her be, in the corner of the room, while he went on to gaze out of his window. She slowly got up from where she was dropped and returned back to kneeling before him.


    Her wounds started to heal back slowly, as her face formed back to normal, with her eye-popping back in. "There is one ship that survived and didn''t participate in the fighting... They recorded most of the events that happened after, including their battle with the Dark Kings... It seems the Rennayan has some unnatural traits and there is another just like him. They may be their offspring."


    Atlas continued to gaze out of his window, pondering. "Very well, send the footage over. Destroy everything and everyone on that ship. If they couldn''t protect my children, I don''t want them." He turned back around to face her. "Rise."


    She stood up, as he looked at her, noticing some of her deepest wounds taking time to heal. He raised one hand, helping the last of her wounds close up. "Losing Tasaria and Sohzyn is a major blow to our forces. From now on, we will be moving more carefully. Give the rest of the Empire a ''Priority One'' alert and begin preparations for war."


    Alcra nodded. "Yes, Father."


    She turned around to leave, but before she got too far, he spoke up, with a lethal tone. "Alcra, don''t go behind my back again."


    She turned her head back slightly before exiting. "Of course Father."

 Beyond Lawsuit

    As Tobi promised, he asked Sarah and Saphyra to come up with a plan to help feed the new population. They went to work earnestly, happy to gain more allies. The rest of the Novas, including the world, had an awkward time adjusting to Sarah''s change and Saphyra''s takeover. Some had newfound trust issues, but as time went on, it was quickly brushed off. Life became slightly better than it was before, as the Federation teamed up with Azurian specialists, to help raise the quality of life on all pla


    However, some people were left unhappy with the events that had transpired on Dargan and Earth. Talks concerning life and safety on Earth became prominent on social media.


    Before long, a high-priority case was taken up at the Republic of Rennaya''s Supreme Court. Between dozens of world leaders and the Beyond''s Board.


    World leaders argued that they were not as equipped to protect their own planet or countries and asked Beyond to share patents of their space tech and innovations. They felt they had grown past the boundaries set by each other and wanted to participate or at least have a voice in any events in space. Their argument was agreeable with the masses, as they had started to feel as though Beyond could not protect them.


    Sarah was furious. "They''re just trying to take, all of my hard work."


    Her mood was felt across the whole headquarters, but Tobi knew there was little he could do, to remedy the situation. Especially since he knew how the people felt. Before he knew it, he had begun to hope for lessening the burden on himself.


    A fortnight after the events on Dargan, a new Bill was passed and added to the Beyond Constitution. Allowing the distribution of Nova gear to countries for reinnervation, replication, and use in space defence against all alien threats.


    Only countries and allies with the Beyond Constitution were permitted to acquire Nova suits, Nova Lite suits, high-speed rovers, shuttles, and aircrafts. Lastly, each country was promised a fully equipped spaceship for use to pioneer and combat in space. Sarah reluctantly made digital courses in all languages on how to remodel and use each of the new technologies, she was giving for free.


    After about a week, Tobi, Osei, and the Novas were invited to the Rahmanaka Clan''s, home planet, Azuria. Some of the Novas turned down the invite, however, Kalista and Osei chose to participate. Hoping to see traces of their people in Azuria.


    Hovering near Azuria''s Stratosphere...


    Their shuttles exited out of the Prometheus, descending into the atmosphere.


    "Whoa! They''re just like the cities, in the desert." Kayed yelled excitedly, looking out the window, as the shuttle flew over the Royal Capital, of Jadarn.


    Carina wasn''t happy. She was pressured to come by Norah and Runa at the last minute. "I hope it''s not too hot."


    Runa let out light giggles, looking at her. "You can''t back out now." They had started to get closer with all they''d been through, including several talk shows, interviews, and photoshoots around the world.


    "I''m so glad I came. I could use a break from all the drama." Norah said, grinning and observing the sights out of the window. "I''m not sure what we''re in for and they asked us all to come battle-ready... But this place looks beautiful. Let''s try and sneak out later." She looked back, as the shuttle jostled, touching down behind a palace, surrounded by alien palm trees and artificial grass.


    "Welcome, welcome. So glad of you to come!" A man with black hair and warm eyes, looking in his mid-thirties, bowed and waved excitedly to see his guests.


    The group exited out of two shuttles, greeted by a procession of guards, with light brown and green headcloths matching their outfits and protecting them from the heat. They carried matching royal swords, sheathed at their waist.


    Tobi walked up, leading their group. "My name is Tobi of the Beyond-"


    The man cut him off and hurried over placing one arm around him while gesturing the others forward. "Yes, yes. I''ve heard about you from my father. My name is Kaieda, son of Akio. Let''s get you guys to the Greeting Hall shall we? We have water, snacks, and many other refreshments there."


    Tobi looked back at the others, who just left him with sheepish smiles, as he got carried up ahead. They entered through large intricately crafted doors, to a large hall, with tables of snacks and local delicacies. Tobi eyed, some of the cookies and treats, but he was ripped away by Kaieda to a beautiful woman, around his age.


    "My daughter, Yori Rahmanaka, beloved princess of Azuria. She may act high and mighty, but she''s still a kid, be gentle." Kaieda laughed, as he introduced the both of them.


    Yori was embarrassed. "Dad! Stop it!"


    He quickly raised his hands up backing away. "Just teasing."


    She turned to face Tobi, still flushed, but regaining her composure. "You must be Tobi. I''ve been told, a lot about you. You have my utmost gratitude, for aiding my people in our time of need."


    She put one hand out towards him, and he gently received it and kissed it, just, as his group walked in. "The pleasure is all mine. It''s an honour to meet you, princess."


    She gave him a heartfelt smile, then turned around to greet the others coming in. The guys instantly started making fun of him, seeing Tobi act differently in front of a princess. The girls murmured among themselves, some looking over at Norah, who didn''t seem all too pleased.


    "It seems you have all acquainted yourselves."


    Akio and several, guards that Tobi could tell, were his secret service, followed behind him through another set of doors on the opposite side of the hall. The Elder walked in high spirits, with both arms behind his back, and adorned with a different, light green, robe outfit.


    He gave his guests a welcoming smile. "I suppose you''re all wondering, why I have gathered you all here today."


    Tobi nodded and the rest followed suit.


    Akio smiled and continued. "You''re here because you are weak. However, each of you has the potential, to become something great, akin to a star." He shook his head, as they were a little taken back by his words. "You''ve acquired strength, yet have not worked on the foundation to maintain it, or to acquire new heights safely. I can only blame the people of Rennaya, for not preserving this knowledge, with the next generations."This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Osei stepped forward, clutching his fist in front of him. "They had no chance to preserve anything. It''s cruel that you consider them any blame."


    Akio''s dim green eyes glanced towards him. "Warrior, you must have been pretty young when it happened. How old were you?"


    Osei felt uneasy with all of the attention. "Seven."


    Akio nodded. "Traumatizing indeed. However, they were corrupted well before then. Had they preserved their ancient knowledge and powers, of the universe, Atlas would have never been able to defeat them. They did not learn the lesson of the Messians."


    Akio sighed. "Now, now. I''m not here to bore you, with stories. I''ve brought you all here today so that you can train here."


    Several of them were a bit shocked, but others were confused. "For how long?" Tobi asked, knowing Sarah had not set up the StarNet Galactic service for Azuria yet. Which integrated media and a network with the other planets in the Solar System. Which meant he wouldn''t get an update if a new chapter of his favourite series was out.


    "Until you''re no longer weak. Which is why time is of the essence. Did you forget who declared war on you? His forces can contest with Atlas''s, which is why even that emperor avoids all conflicts with them. They are as smart and even more violent than the Messians while being blessed with more strength than the Rennayans, due to living in the Dark Sector."


    He looked around the room and took a few steps forward. "Do you all feel, you''re ready, to take on both of those monstrous forces? As you are right now?"


    They went quiet, knowing deep within their hearts, that they were not ready. He scratched his chin. "Maybe, or maybe not, however, once we drill it into you, and you''re able to harness it. I think you will be more prepared."


    Jacira blurted out, unable to help herself. "Harness what?"


    He looked at her, then gave her a large grin. "The power of Iko."


    Moments later...


    They gathered plates of snacks and had some more light talks with the princess about their worlds. Then their group was chaperoned off to the suites, where they would be staying. They were separated into two groups and given separate dorms, then they were led off, by several maids, through the estate.


    "I guess they''re giving us the royal treatment, eh?" Tobi gestured at his brother, impressed with their suite.


    However, Osei wasn''t as excited. "I''m fine with just the minimum. They''re doing too much."


    On the other hand, Kayed was ecstatic, flipping over channels on a holographic TV. "We did help them out. If they want to treat us, let them."


    Tai rolled his eyes. "You mean Sarah helped them."


    Kayed looked back over to Tai. "She''s one of us, right? No ''I'' in team, remember." He looked back at the channels, finally finding an interesting show, and sat back.


    Tai shook his head and left, to set his stuff up in his room. Tobi chuckled, as he and his brother followed after Tai. "Kayed remember, we gotta head out in an hour." He called back.


    Kayed waved back at them from the couch. "Got it!" He replied back as Tobi and Osei continued down the hall to choose their rooms.


    An hour later...


    Palace guards came to pick them up and escort them, to the training grounds. They flew at jet speeds in a private Azurian aircraft, for 30 minutes, to a ridiculously large, training grounds, outside of the city. Dozens of large outdoor arenas the size of two football fields were positioned distantly from each other with wired walls enclosing them.


    Akio was waiting for them at the entrance. At his sides, his son, and granddaughter stood, greeting them with smiles. Beside Kaieda, was a large man, with a darker complexion. He had a large nose, and a scar over his eye, adding to his fierce gaze, which made some of the Novas uncomfortable.


    Akio stepped forward. "I hope you''ve had some time, to relax and eat up, because you will be training here, until sundown."


    He noticed some of the Novas looking dismayed, but he continued anyway. "This is General Roku, Chief Commander of the Azurian Army and a leader of the Azurian Hashin. Our strongest elite force, which deals with planetary intelligence and operations."


    Kiala raised her hand, quickly and he responded by nodding. "Are they the ones who saved us that day?"


    He smiled and nodded once more. "That''s right, however at the time, only the ones at the forefront. All thirty-two Hashin, train here every day, to expand and perfect their Iko."


    He turned to look at the rest of the group, then settled his eyes on Tobi. "I''m sure you''ve heard of this word before. Iko is a fundamental of life. Your enemies know this."


    Sarah had tried finding more info about it but was only able to give them a moderately satisfying explanation. Akio continued, raising his right hand towards the training grounds. "Here, each of us will train you in the three basics of iko. Sani iko, Sila iko and Roho iko... Once you have mastered these techniques, you''ll become far more powerful than you are now."


    Kalista was skeptical, speaking up, once he had stopped. "How is it supposed to make us stronger?"


    Yori and Kaieda raised their eyebrows in alarm. That was the worst question she could have asked. They caught a glimpse of the sinister smile crawling over Akio''s face.


    "In many ways... For example, have you ever felt something like this?" His facial expression turned deadly serious, as the breeze around them began to pick up. All of them felt pressure unlike, they''d ever felt before. It wasn''t sinister and somehow calming, but requested them to submit immediately, to the will of the monster before them.


    Jacira dropped to her knees, holding her chest, then fell over, unconscious. By instinct, Kalista, Carina, and Tai immediately went into first gear, however, it remained difficult for them to breathe and stay standing, as foam started to form at the sides of their mouths.


    "What... is... this?" Tai tried to say, before dropping to his knees, the other two followed suit, seconds later, as their side effects started to kick in. Their hands were the only thing stopping a faceplant to the floor. The rest of them had just as much difficulty but remained standing and unable to move in second gear.


    "I''ve felt this before, but not on this scale," Norah said, momentarily lurching and feeling her stamina drain away, by the second.


    Osei tried taking a step forward but quit halfway. "So this is the gap, we have to cross." He whispered to himself.


    Tobi looked around, noticing everyone else having just as much difficulty, but were moments from collapsing. However, Kiala was calm, standing with her hair glowing full silver and exerting back an equal amount of pressure.


    Akio, stroked his beard while watching them struggle. "Ho, ho, look Roku, this one has ascended far, while so young."


    The Commander had his eyebrows slightly raised in shock. "Yes, it would seem... She may be the one."


    Kaieda looked at his father with concern. "Father, don''t you think this is a little-"


    He was cut off by an intense release of dangerous pressure coming from Yori, startling the both of them. "Grandpa, are you trying to kill our guests?" She asked, in a lethal tone.


    Akio scratched his head. "My bad, I guess I went a little too far."


    He lowered the amount of pressure he was releasing and allowed the Novas to regain their composure, as their transformations flickered off. Norah and Amaara ran to check on Jacira, who woke up quickly.


    Tobi glared at Akio, seeing the stress his people went through, however, the elder did not flinch. "That''s the fire you need! A leader should at least be able to protect his people, in an event, when someone with incredible iko appears."


    Kaieda shook his head while scratching the side of his beard. "A normal civilian might have entered into a coma, from the amount, you released." He then cleared his throat and stepped up. "Each of you will be training with one of us until you master iko. Jacira and Runa, you will be training with Yori."


    He turned his attention towards the rest. "Kalista, Tai, Carina, you''ll be with me."


    He looked back at Roku, as the Commander stepped forward, looking over the group. "I''ll train the Rennayan warrior, the girl, and the boy."


    His cold eyes flickered across each of them, then he turned and began to lift off. "Let''s go." He said plainly, as he raised up a stone platform, high above them and jumped up on it, then jetted towards a training ground on the far end. Osei looked at Kayed and Norah, all realizing he was talking about them. They shrugged it off and flew off after him.


    Akio jumped up onto a platform made of metals and gold, with his hands behind his back. "Tobi, Kiala, let''s see how fast you two are." Leaving them with a wide grin, before he took off. They didn''t hesitate to go after him.


    Kaieda looked over at his trainees. "Unlike them, I don''t want you using your abilities for a bit. We''ll be running to our training grounds."


    Tai and Carina sighed, then groaned, however, Kalista began stretching for the run.


    Yori smiled at Runa and Jacira, who had just gotten back to a hundred percent. "Well... shall we?"

 Schemers

    Saphyra stood in the middle of the Command Room, as other androids answered operating calls, incoming from all four planets. Nirro entered the room and immediately approached her. "Saphyra, where''s Sarah?"


    Saphyra paused her task to face her. "She''s working on new tech in the R&D department."


    Nirro nodded. "I see, I''ll go check up on her." She glanced at the monitors surveilling a planet, before was about to make her exit. Then, another question popped up in her mind. "What''s the status on Valtorin?"


    Saphyra tilted her head with her eyes whirring, as she received new intel wirelessly. "The recon teams have been surveilling the children of Atlas, that you suggested us to monitor. You were right, they have been gathering together on one of the princess''s planets and some moons, close to our sector, preparing for an attack."


    Nirro nodded, worried. "Have you thought of a plan?" She looked at Saphyra hoping earnestly for good news.


    Saphyra''s lips broke into a small smile. "Of course, Nirro. Continue working on your projects. You can leave it up to me." The princess looked her dead in the eye, prompting Saphyra to realize she wasn''t convinced. "I''m preparing an ambush. I''ve already informed the Novas on standby. The operation will begin in 12 hours." She added, reassuringly.


    Sighing with relief, Nirro began to walk away. "I guess you''ve got this then."


    Saphyra turned back to what she was doing. "I mean, I told you I did."


    She was limited, with Helio deciding to opt out of this mission, as he wanted to take care of some affairs on Earth, while Karim still needed some more time to recover.


    In the last few weeks, Sarah had added four new Novas to the squad, but they were kept in reserves, training at Beyond HQ. However, Saphyra still felt confident, that her plan would go well.


    12 hours later...


    Prometheus descended towards Valtorin, opening fire on hangars and outposts. Targeting aircrafts, tanks, and anti-aircraft artillery. Dozens of Aeromachs followed suit, traversing the planet while attacking all key military stations, and disabling Valtorin''s defenses.


    The Novas plummeted out of the sky, racing towards a newly built fortress. Koji charged himself with electricity, striking himself a few times with lightning, while Simon & Amaara prepared a flaming blue ball of fire, hovering between their palms.


    Amir Yusuf, an orphan who grew up in the streets of Jakarta, Indonesia, raced to the front with Sofia, as they covered a massive arrow of ice Nur had created, with stones and fire. Crashing it through the fortress''s ceilings.


    Moments before, within the fortress...


    Kari the 106th in line had gathered her siblings to the command room of her fortress. She had reddish, orange hair and tan skin, with the same facial features as her siblings, except she was much shorter. Being looked down on, by her siblings a lot, festered her short temper.


    "It''s an ambush! Where are Arna and Druqen?" She yelled, staring down her siblings, with silver-ice-like eyes, emitting no kindness.


    Lunno, the 141st in line, spoke up. "I spotted them heading to the hangar. I suspect they are trying to retreat, back to Cerian Space."


    Kari''s anger boiled over the top, showing no signs of subsiding. "Unforgivable! I am going to destroy them!"


    Domitia, the 122nd in line, smirked, while the castle shook from explosions in the distance. "Sister, we need to focus on the enemies invading. We can punish them later."


    Kari shook her head. "No, we all risked our lives to come here. There''s no reason to back out now. I won''t let them leave."


    A child of Atlas with jet-black hair, light brown skin, and blood-red eyes, laughed out loud as he continued to clean his blade. Domitia gave him a deadly stare. "What''s so funny, Kaletor?"


    Kaletor, the 173rd in line, looked up at Domitia, unfazed. "So what if they''re gone? There are more insects for us to kill. Isn''t this way more entertaining?"


    Lunno rolled his eyes. "You say that, yet you always go for the weakest and unpowered first."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Kaletor gave Lunno a creepy smile. "What can I say, I love hearing their weak bones snap."


    Kari thrust her hands to her sides and bellowed out. "Enough! Lunno, Domitia take out the ships bombarding our troops."


    They nodded back in agreement. She continued, looking over at Kaletor. "Kaletor, I want you to reorganize our troops into battle formation and prioritize protecting our remaining spaceships. I will bring out our ace, take out the deserters and we''ll make the invaders wish they never attacked us!"


    They all agreed in unison and got ready to embark on their missions. Until a giant flaming, stone arrow crashed through the ceiling and proceeded to rip through the fortress, leaving carnage in its wake and stopping with a fiery inferno, while taking out a part of the fortress.


    "They''re here!" Kari yelled out, shielding her face from the smoke and debris, while glaring at her uninvited guests.


    Kaletor yelled out, as he got himself back up, with his sword pointing up in front of him. "Who dares to attack us? Show yourselves!"


    Pouring out of the hole, one by one Simon, Koji, and Amaara had already switched into second gear, ready to unleash life-threatening attacks.


    The siblings'' eyes all went wide in fear. Realizing the danger they were in, except for Kari, who grinned and then yelled out. "Come out Machia!"


    The entire fortress began to shake and break apart, as a massive robotic titan, twenty feet tall and modelled to look like a genderless child of Atlas, reached up from under the ground, shielding the siblings. Just in time, as the Novas levelled the rest of the fortress and left almost nothing standing.


    Kaletor laughed out loud, quickly shaking off his fear. "Is that the best you''ve got?!"


    The Novas were confused and wary of the giant titan guarding the siblings. Simon began to prepare another ball of fire, this time aiming for the ground below them, to send them falling through the fortress. However, Machia reached into its side belt and pulled a giant shuriken-like razor. Which began to rotate incredibly fast, before it was thrown at the Novas at high speed.


    Nur, Sofia, and Amir rushed to dodge, however, Koji crouched down and unsheathed his sword. Releasing an electric strike along with Simon''s blue ball of fire.


    "Static: Raijin no Sonzai!"


    "Ignite: ¨¢di?s!


    Their attacks collided with the projectile in midair lighting up their area with a bright explosion. Amaara continued to watch unfazed, realizing this would be a tougher mission than they had signed up for.


    Kari scanned over the Novas, assessing their strength, then whispered to her siblings as debris and parts of the fortress walls fell, blurring the sound of her voice to the Novas. "Lunno, Domitia, can you hold off these invaders for a bit?"


    Lunno raised his eyebrows. "You''re not planning on leaving us all of that work are you?" He said as he and Domitia looked at her, with worry.


    Kari rolled her eyes. "Fine, I will take a few of them with me. I don''t want to let those traitors get away. We''ll need their strength."


    She looked over at Kaletor. "What are you still doing here? Go make sure we have a way off of this planet!"


    He scratched his head. "Yeah but, I will need some cover, those monsters are a little stronger than I thought, and that one is just glaring at us, not making a move." He said pointing at Amaara.


    Domitia glanced at her. "She does look the most dangerous out of them. Watch out for her Kari."


    Kari sighed. "Alright hide in the hands, I have a plan."


    She hopped into the cockpit of the Titan, within its chest. As the hatch closed, it suddenly began to change, morphing into a replica of her while cupping one of its hands. It moved with her every thought and will.


    Kari used the Titan to drag about rocks and dust towards the Novas showering them and blocking their vision. She then, at sonic speed launched into the air, leaving cloud rings, and jetted towards the main hangar.


    Amaara gritted her teeth and looked back at Nur, Sofia, and Amir, while Simon and Koji raced after her. "I can sense one of them still lurking around, but they''re hiding it well. I''m sure you guys can handle them right?"


    Nur was nervous about Amaara leaving them, knowing she was the next senior in line. "But...but-"


    Amaara smiled, then shook her head slightly. "You''ve got this Nur. Show us how far you''ve come."


    Nur looked back at Sofia and Amir, they were already scanning, bracing themselves, and looking for the enemy. "Right... I''ve got this."


    Amaara nodded, then took off in the direction Simon & Koji flew. Nur turned her attention toward the rubble around her, looking for any sign of movement. Her anxiety started to creep up on her. She had never been one to take charge.


    However, when the battles for Earth were being broadcasted all over the world, she watched Tobi and the Novas fight for something, more than themselves, despite what they had been through. It gave her newfound confidence to gain more control of her life. So when Sarah invited her into the Novas, she couldn''t believe it. However, the dangerous situations they face, make her regret her decision every day.


    "Aww they left you chiclets all by yourself?" A sinister sarcastic voice spoke up, out of nowhere.


    They looked down below yet could not find the source. Sofia launched a fireball at the ground, with no hesitation, but out of nowhere, it was swatted out.


    "Now that''s not very nice. We just want to play with you a little." Lunno said as the siblings uncloaked themselves from invisibility.


    "Told you it won''t work with those that can see iko," Domitia remarked, seemingly annoyed with Lunno.


    Lunno scratched his head. "I know, I know. I thought we could just finish this quick, I''m not interested in spending much time on them."


    Domitia scoffed. "Then shall we?"


    Lunno sighed. "Sure, go ahead."


    His chest opened up, revealing his core, as he allowed Domitia to quickly grab it and swallow it whole, as Lunno''s body dropped to the floor. Immense pressure instantly began to slowly push back the Novas.


    The princess'' eyes swirled in circles, then stopped, as her body enlarged a bit more. Her muscles boldened. The Novas found themselves shaking out of fear, involuntarily.


    She grinned, a completely different person than who she was a couple of minutes ago. "Call me Litia, the one who will guide you to the afterlife."

 What Are You Fighting For?

    Kaletor chuckled to himself, as he flew away from the fortress, unnoticed and cloaked. "I don''t see why they were so worried. After we kill them all, we can just take their ships. Let''s see... now where would they deploy their weakest?"


    He felt a mass amount of life dissipating from a nearby outpost, holding the majority of their weapons and arsenal. "Looks like I can kill two birds with one stone. What''s going on over there?"


    The prince hurried over, on a stone platform he raised and arrived at the site, about ten minutes later. Just to find a shiny new grey, white and blue, thirty-foot-tall robot, cutting down giants and soldiers with a massive photon sword.


    It paused seeing him flying towards them, as other siegemech launched rockets into crowds of Cerian soldiers charging at them and hiding behind stationed barricades. One by one, drawing their last breaths.


    Kaletor couldn''t help it. He felt excited, as he called out to the pilot of the giant robot. He had only seen a handful of other species capable of building tech that Hadoron and their top scientists had been perfecting. "You there! The one controlling the giant warrior. Face me in battle!" He spoke, while simultaneously summoning a large golem the size of the robot out of the ground, challenging it.


    Selvin wasn''t too shocked to be encountering a child of Atlas on his mission, however, he didn''t hesitate to improvise. After carefully reading his opponent''s energy levels, he braced himself and threw away all of his fear.


    Sarah had made him a new Nova Prime suit, using data from his fight with Abon. She found ways to increase durability and maximize energy efficiency for battle. Then decided to rename the new Nova tech, as the Prime Ultra.


    The golem reached for the Prime''s head trying to rip it off, however, Selvin stepped back quickly and unholstered the pistol on the Prime''s belt, then fired three critical shots down its body. Kaletor laughed out loud and floated closer, as his golem began to crumble.


    "It seems you''re worthy of a good fight. Let''s see what you''re made of!" He raised his palm forward and yelled out. "Titanic Hammer!"


    Out of the golem rubble, a massive arm formed and stuck upright, then swung around while manifesting a detailed humongous hammer, that pulled itself together into its palm. Before landing a deafening blow to the Prime Ultra and sending it flying across the field of soldiers, engaging in deadly combat.


    "Protect the General!" Some of the soldiers called out, firing at the prince.


    He snickered, as he summoned stone barriers to protect himself from the incoming fire. At the same time, quietly behind the soldiers, golems rose. Creeping up behind them to bash their helmets in and snap their necks.


    Selvin woke up from the AI of the Prime Ultra, blaring warning signs of damages incurred from the recent attack. It would take several minutes for the nanites to repair and rearrange damaged parts on the siegemech.


    Pain rang through his head, as he could feel a slight concussion from smacking it on the side of the cockpit. Selvin got up and quickly regained control of his siegemech, then started making his way back to Kaletor.


    "Mary, Status?"


    Selvin named the AI inside the Prime Ultra after his late wife, so that she would always stay by his side during battle. She could also be transferred to his Nova Lite suit, helping him out as his personal secretary.


    "As of now, 13 dead and several injured while you were unconscious. The rest of the soldiers have taken cover. Kaletor has wiped out a majority of the android militia that came with us and the Prime suit is at 63% health."


    Selvin gritted his teeth at the death of his soldiers. "I have to stop him or slow him down until a Nova can make it here. Otherwise, he will kill us all."


    The AI whirred, processing some more information. "I''ve already alerted Saphyra and we have the Sky Hammer on standby. Please be careful Selvin."


    Selvin took a few deep breaths, then prepared himself, seeing Kaletor in view, and having his way with his soldiers. "I will Mary... Don''t worry, I will."


    At Valtorin''s Main Aircraft Hangar...


    "Hurry up Druqen, Kari will be onto us soon. We''ve got to get out of here before it all goes to shit!" Arna was desperate, regretting the fact that she went behind her father''s back because of greed. ''How much would it cost?'' She asked herself over and over, yet she couldn''t come up with an answer.


    The enemy attacking them, was way too organized to be like the primitive insects, that she and her siblings had joked about. "We underestimated them." The princess whispered.


    Druqen looked at her, still doubtful, if this was their best move. He didn''t want to waste any opportunities, but he wasn''t willing to lay his life down for a lost cause. That was the only reason, he agreed to help her escape.


    Their shuttle raced through the sky, picking up speed while cloaked. Druqen picked a path, avoiding the attacking ships still raining thunder on the desolate planet. Suddenly he started to get a warning on his radar of an incoming large object. "Arna we may have some trouble."


    Arna grunted, then unstrapped her seatbelt. "Release the door, I''ll destroy anyone trying to stand in our way"


    Druqen''s face turned pale. "Wait Arna-"


    The shuttle rocked intensely as something grabbed hold of it, stopping it midflight. The view of the cockpit shifted, from the sky to Machia''s face, which had morphed to resemble Kari''s.


    "Going somewhere?" She asked precariously, leaving the siblings trembling in fear.


    Druqen erratically pressed buttons on the console, trying to get the shuttle to budge, however, he came to realize that there was no way out of this situation. He looked up, defeated, as Arna spoke, unable to keep the fear out of her voice. "Kari, this isn''t what it looks like... we were only going to radio in for reinforcements. We would have been back in no time."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Kari let out a soft-hearted laugh. "Even if I were to believe you, we could have died by the time you came back. Wouldn''t it have been better, to stay and help us drive off the ambush?" Her expression had turned serious, which Machia mimicked. "We came here to avenge Hadoron and our other siblings... Were you really okay with abandoning your blood?"


    Arna was taken aback by the question, while Druqen remained silent, speechless and filled with guilt. "No... No... Sister that''s not it-" Arna tried to say.


    Kari smiled. "Good, I''ll forgive you both, if you do one thing for me."


    Arna looked up, feeling a slight ray of hope. "We will do anything...Right, Druqen?"


    The prince nodded without looking up and gave his approval. "I''m sorry sister. We''ll do whatever you ask of us."


    Kari was ecstatic. "Well, it''s simple. I''ll need you to possibly die for me."


    The siblings'' eyes went wide. Processing what she was saying. "NO WAIT-"


    It was too late.


    Amaara just caught up to Simon and Koji, who were shocked by the scene they were witnessing. Machia chomped down on the cockpit of the shuttle and swallowed everything inside. She came to realize what had just happened. "Wow... She''s really the type I hate the most."


    Back at Kari''s Fortress...


    Lita''s laugh, sent chills down the Nova''s spines, however the rookies were undeterred. Amir raised an iron golem behind her, as Sofia launched a quick fireball, much more condensed than her last.


    "Create: Raksasa Besi!"


    "Ignite: Broca!"


    Lita ducked down, dodging the golem''s reach, before spinning to kick it flying into the distance. Then, quickly followed up with another roundhouse kick. Emanating a slice of ice and electricity to completely erase Sofia''s attack, then continuing to crash into a flame barrier the Nova managed to burst out, just in time. However, it wasn''t strong enough to protect her, sending her flying from the impact.


    Amir was starting to get nervous, realizing the situation they were in. Instinctively he raised over a hundred golems, followed by hundreds of stone volleys from the ground, targeting Lita.


    "Aww, all of this for me? You shouldn''t have!" She placed one palm forward, as a ball of electricity crackled to life in front of her, rotating at Mach speed.


    Simultaneously, roots of ice trailed from her feet and froze each golem it touched, turning them into her puppets as they began to fight the ones out of her reach.


    "Divine Shock." She commanded, as the ball of electricity burned white hot and cracked open, incinerating every stone volley Amir created.


    Nur and Amir dove to safety, avoiding the wave of energy. Amir ran through his options, but his body was screaming at him to run. He looked at Nur, who was still frozen in shock, immediately knowing, he wouldn''t be able to get through to her.


    Although she was his senior, he wanted to protect her. "It''s times like this, that make a man." He said to himself, then cladded himself with stone and iron and unhooked his spear. Specially crafted and made out of versillium alloys, Amir practiced with it day and night, to become one with it.


    Lita smiled, watching him charge and cut down ice golems, as they had already made light work of his. He jumped up, stepping on top of a golem, and threw his spear reinforced with steel and iron, hoping to make its mark.


    Casually, Lita sidestepped and caught the spear, whilst maintaining momentum, by spinning herself on one foot. Then threw it back with lightning speed at the Nova.


    He managed to raise a few stone barriers in front of him, to slow it down. However, it proceeded to tear through them like butter, lodging into his stone armour and taking him dozens of meters south of his position into the air.


    Lita laughed, as it echoed across the fortress''s remains. She held her sides, unable to control herself. Electricity emanated randomly around her as temperatures dropped and rose unnaturally in their vicinity.


    When she was finished she looked over at Nur, pointing in the direction Amir flew. "Omg, did you see that? His eyes looked so cute as he flew farther and farther away... Ahh, that was funny. Anyways, what''s with you." Her tone suddenly became cold.


    Nur started to back up as her knees started to give way, while Lita slowly walked towards her. "You''re a civilian on a battlefield. What makes you think you have the right to face me? To call yourself a soldier? You''re comrades at least put in some effort, but you..."


    The same thoughts were running through Nur''s head. ''I can''t do this. I''m going to die. Somebody save us!''


    Lita''s eyes started to wander, as she looked Nur over. "Part of me wants to keep you as a pet and play fun games with you. The other part of me hates your guts and wants to completely pulverize you." She bit her lip, as she got less than a few meters from Nur. "Ahhh the dilemma, how about I just have both and play with your corpse."


    Suddenly, she quickly raised her hand to the side, manifesting a wall of ice, as a fireball crashed into it.


    "Get away from her!" Nur broke out of her trance, hearing a familiar voice.


    Although she had sustained a large cut on her forehead, Sofia stood strong, while wiping away occasional blood, covering her eyes. She could feel several fractures being fixed by the booster she had injected earlier.


    Lita was surprised. "I didn''t think you would be able to survive that. You''re more resilient than I expected."


    Sofia ignored her, looking Nur dead in the eye. "You can''t just stand there. She''ll kill us, then the rest of them will be in danger. We''re Nova''s, Nur! What are you fighting for?!" Her voice nearly broke, getting through to her.


    However, it was enough. Nur clenched her teeth, ashamed, guilty, and feeling the worst she''s ever felt. She closed her eyes and shook her head, then yelled out. "I know! I know!"


    She slapped her cheeks, psyching herself up, then, took deep breaths as she remembered Norah and Amara. Giving her newfound strength and confidence to shift into first gear.


    Lita was wary, of her newfound confidence, but directed her anger at Sofia. "You should have stayed down." With one palm facing her, a giant condensed electric ball manifested and launched at high speed. "Surge Execution."


    Sofia''s life flashed before her eyes, she knew nothing she did, could stop the incoming danger. However, within that second, ice crept up, erupting a thick wall, that protected her and redirecting the blast.


    "Frost: Ancient Valley!" Nur yelled out, as sheets of ice spread out from under her feet and reached a radius of several kilometres. Creating ancient buildings, roads, and native people walking around, all minding their own business.


    Energy started to swell up within her. She realized with Lita''s speed, it was impossible to gain control of the situation. However, just as Tobi had taught her, each element had something to compensate for its shortcomings.


    She found out, she could keep up with lightning users like Norah, as long as she stayed within her domain of ice, currently laying out all around them.


    Sofia looked at Nur, ecstatic by her growth. "Yes, Nur! Let''s kick her ass!"


    Nur smiled back, then focused on aiding her comrades with energy from the planet. The only drawback was that this technique only gave her eight minutes before her side effects kicked in.


    "Don''t be presumptuous!" Lita yelled, rushing her, in a blur.


    However, the Nova was already on the move, feeling every movement within her domain. "Frost: Kohwj."


    Wings sprouted out of her back, made out of snow and ice, followed by a light armour, beautifully detailed and settling itself over her Nova suit, allowing her to sidestep Lita''s strike and trip her.


    Before Lita could hit the ground, a massive ice pike erupted from under her, striking her abdomen, and continued till she launched away from the remains of Kari''s fortress.


    "Whoa Nur, that was freaking amazing! How do I make wings?" Sofia said, rushing over to observe her transformation.


    Nur blushed, then raised a hand towards the direction Amir was in, beckoning her hand towards herself.


    "Aaaaaah!" They heard Amir yelling from far away as he was hurried back to them, by ice golems, dressed as natives of the Indus Valley.


    "What''s going on?" He asked as the golems, injected him with a booster, from his belt and healed him along with the nanites. He was barely able to maintain consciousness, but the spike of adrenaline kick-started him.


    "Guys, this might sound a little selfish, but I have a plan to beat her. However, I will need you both, to trust me with your lives... Are you ok with that?" It was the most serious, the two had ever seen her.


    Amir gripped a fist in front of him, while Sofia, let loose a soft grin. "Of course!" They said in unison.


    Nur smiled, she loved these two. "Let''s go back home together."

 Stand Your Ground

    Selvin didn''t hesitate, as he powered up the laser, within the Nova Prime''s palm. "Kaletor!"


    The prince looked up, annoyed to be distracted by the horrid scene he was creating. However, the beam erupted out of the Prime''s palm at frightening speed. Forcing Kaletor to instinctively, raise the platform he was standing on, as a shield.


    Holding it together as the laser pushed him several kilometres away and into a massive mountain before it dissipated. The platform, crumbled to dust, as he breathed out a sigh of relief.


    "I didn''t know he was capable of producing such energy. I will have to take him out first, before playing with the other ants." He advised himself, seeing the Prime racing towards him. Then grinned, while raising dozens of golems, hurdling through the sky, to welcome the challenge. "Aerial Stone Raid!"


    Selvin raised the Prime''s right arm in front of him and let loose a shower of machine gun fire, shattering several of the golems apart. However, some outmaneuvered the downpour of bullets, then crashed onto the Prime and latched on.


    Before long there were too many weighing down the mech and forced it to crash down near the prince, as Selvin tried grabbing hold of them. Managing to only rip some off, before he opted to let off a large, electric shock to crumble down the rest into pieces.


    The Prime turned to face Kaletor. "You''ll pay for what you have done!" Selvin yelled, through the microphone.


    The prince grinned in response. "This is war! Why are you mad? Soldiers die all the time!"


    Selvin had the Ultra reach for its sword, sheathed on its back. "No, I''ve been through many battles. I can see it in your eyes. You get a kick-off of this, don''t you? Harming those, that can''t harm you back... You make me sick." The general spat, disgusted.


    Kaletor chuckled. "Big words, coming from a little man in a tin can. I would have crushed you, within your own suit already, but some foreign energy seems to be protecting you."


    Selvin made it crouch into a stance, sword clenched and held behind its back, ready to swing at a moment''s notice. It started to shrink, while still maintaining mass and bulking up.


    An immense amount of power piled up within the Prime and redirected into the sword. Electric currents started racing along the giant blade, as the Prime''s suit steamed, ready to go, like a charging bull.


    Kaletor noticed what Selvin was trying to do, and gathered energy as large tremors echoed across the land. "Stone Titans!"


    A massive stone golem, larger than the Prime, but denser than the golem he made before, rose out of the ground violently and lunged, with frightening speed. Simultaneously, while another same-sized golem, creeped out of the ground, aiming to grab the Prime Ultra from the back.


    Selvin was pinched, however he wasn''t worried, as he released the throttle and had it shoot forward like a rocket. Leaving cloud trails and smoke while incinerating the golem behind it.


    The golem in front was obliterated in less than a second, as the Prime passed through and bulldozed it while targeting the prince. Kaletor leaped forward into the air, unsheathing his versillium longsword and reinforcing it with iko and iron, the toughest material he could pull from the earth.


    To Selvin''s surprise, his strike was cancelled out, leaving carnage all around them, from the impact of their swords colliding. He had the Prime hop back to make some distance, as the prince used the momentum to land back on what remained of the mountain.


    "Now Saphyra! Activate the Sky Hammer!" Selvin, yelled out, as a massive laser, appearing faster than Kaletor could react, hit him dead center as he landed on his feet. The Prime was pushed back from the force and winds caused by the constant fiery beam of death, raining from the skies above.


    Sarah and Saphyra had tweaked around with the Sky Hammer satellites, making them more efficient and controlled by drones under their control. Breaching many International laws, which she ignored or put on hold, on the premise that she was responsible for the fate of the world. Prompting Selvin to notice more and more that she had started to become more human.


    As the smoke cleared, the general scanned deep within the massive crater, carved away by the Sky Hammer. There was no sign of life. He raised his hand in the air, celebrating his victory. Too early as the Prime started to rise, being grasped by two massive stone and iron hands. A fate too late for the mech to escape. The prince appeared, in front of Selvin, while gasping for air, as he leaped out of the ground.


    His body was having a hard time reforming over 40% of his body back. "I will relish this!" He yelled out to him.


    Mary spoke up, blaring warning signs. "Selvin! You have to get out! Eject now!"


    Kaletor grasped his hands together. "Iron Grasp!


    The hands clasped, signalling the demolition of the Prime Ultra, while a small figure ejected itself out of the back safely. Selvin tried not to panic, watching the massive hands drop the remains of his mech back down.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    He noticed the left arm was still intact, as it stuck out when he got captured. He cut his parachute, then broke his fall rolling over, while immediately drawing out his trusty eagle and dagger, both modified by Sarah, for space combat.


    His Nova Lite suit, drew strength from his life and the environment around him, releasing the limiters, Sarah had put in place. They were updated to the maximum potential of Tobi''s current basic strength, it was the only hope he had of not being killed instantly.


    The prince dropped down out of the sky, kicking up a ring of smoke and dust. "Like a bug, you survive. You have no power, yet you dare defy those superior to you. Who do you think you are!"


    The Nova Lite suit protracted a protective helmet from the neck of the suit and over his head. Selvin emptied his clip, watching his bullets fly off Kaletor, then switched it to its laser mode and continued firing.


    The prince shook his head while blocking the laser fire with stone and iron barriers, as his body finished reforming. "They never learn..."


    Two iron golems rose out of the ground, reaching for him. He fired at them, aiming for their joints without success, as one of them continued to slap his gun, out of his hand.


    "Gah!" Selvin recoiled but didn''t hesitate to drive his dagger across its chest, with a surprising impact, as it was sent hurdling back a couple of meters.


    ''What was that?'' He thought to himself, but his attention was quickly cut, by the golem grabbing him from the back.


    He struggled at first, but then the golem''s arms cracked and blew apart, as he freed himself.


    He turned around and punched it in the chest, watching it break into pieces. ''Where was this strength coming from?''


    He looked at his arms, noticing blue glowing veins, pulsing across his suit and body. He had ascended.


    Mary spoke up while signalling warnings. She had been transferred to his suit. "Selvin the suit is at %150 capacity. Your life expectancy is dropping. You have to end this fight quickly and seek medical attention."


    The General shifted into a fighting stance, facing his opponent. "I will Mary, just be ready."


    Kaletor could not believe his eyes. "How can you wield such strength? Who gave you all of those gimmicks!"


    Selvin smiled, then gritted his teeth getting serious. "You asked who I am? My name is Selvin, One of the Generals of Beyond Space Force and I''ll be the last person you''ll ever see."


    Kaletor was completely annoyed at this point. His anger was visibly boiling over the top, however, he just laughed. "I won''t miss this time!" He raised his left hand and gripped it in front of him. "Titan''s Grasp!"


    Iron and stone hands rose around Selvin enclosing him in. Seconds later, after a series of tremors, an opening crumbled and he leaped out, lunging at Kaletor. However, a golem rose in front of him, to intercept his charge, but it didn''t deter him. Instead, Selvin placed one hand on its head and flipped over it. Drop-kicking the prince on the head and into the ground. He used the momentum to gain more air-time to drop one more strike into his back, breaking up the ground around them.


    "Ahhhk!" Kaletor yelled out, in excruciating pain.


    He winced and quickly twisted himself, tripping Selvin over. Then grabbed his foot, while reinforcing his grip with clay and stone, then threw him toward the remains of the Nova Prime.


    Selvin landed rolling over into the Prime''s crumpled back. He got up, coughing blood and felt dizzy. No human should be thrown that fast.


    He hurled, then sidestepped quickly as Kaletor whizzed past him, crashing into the Prime''s remains. Selvin regained his composure, as he looked towards the prince''s direction, warily.


    Seeing the most bloodthirsty expression written on his face. "I see... You''re borrowing the strength of the Rennayans. That''s why it was difficult to absorb you back there. Whatever..."


    He started making his way towards Selvin, reinforcing himself with a light iron armour. "The old-fashioned way would still be as satisfying."


    Selvin knew he should be running right now. He could feel the fear, at the back of his subconscious, but it was as if, somehow it was being pushed to the side, by newfound courage.


    For a split second, he first claimed it as a hallucination, but beside him, replicating the same fighting stance, he was holding, was a Rennayan soldier. Moreso one with a decorated uniform, which Selvin could only conclude, that it was someone with the rank of a General.


    The man smiled at him, his hazel eyes shimmering with kindness. Then he vanished, as time resumed again.


    They leaped at each other, fists colliding, matching blow for blow. However, Selvin was faster and had much more experience with martial arts, overpowering Kaletor and kicking him flying near the Prime''s Torso.


    Kaletor got up, furious and confused. "This can''t be happening! There''s no way I should be struggling with a mere insect! I will kill you!"


    Stone and rocks started to rise, up above them. Casting an ominous shadow.


    Selvin didn''t take his eyes off Kaletor for a second, but he started to back away. "Mary... Anytime now."


    Mary buzzed in his ear, speaking in a hurried tone. "Just a sec, almost done. Hang in there!"


    Selvin started running, flanking in a circle so that Kaletor would not move out of position. He dodged the first few barrages of rubble, running faster than he ever had in his life.


    However, moments later, his arrogance caught up to him, as a pitfall appeared out of nowhere. Forcing him to skid to a stop, then leaping to safety.


    Only to be surrounded by a barrage of rocks and stones. Instinctively, he raised his hands up, letting off a massive laser beam, as he spun around using up the remainder of his strength.


    The laser blew the rocks and stones in front of him to smithereens. He dropped to the floor, coughing and covering his eyes. The cobalt blue veins, along with the rest of his suit, flickered off, powering down.


    Kaletor grinned and started making his way towards Selvin. "You underestimated us, Human. We, children of Atlas, are the ones who have been chosen, to lead all creatures closer to God. It is the only way."


    Selvin laughed out loud, shaking his head and wiping away a tear. "I don''t have a damn clue... About what you''re talking about. All I know for sure is that, we''re not going to hold back against you guys and I''m pretty sure, you''re the one that is underestimating us." He sighed. "Right, Mary?"


    Hopping near the Prime''s torso, was its arm. Moving with the help of nanites, as it structured wires to funnel power from the Prime''s undamaged fuel cell.


    Sarah had given, each body part of the Prime the ability to control itself, through a primary host chip. This way it could be repaired, used or act on the user''s will, without the need of the entire suit operating.


    The arm had already depleted the entire capacity within the Nova Prime, by the time the prince had noticed. He looked back at Selvin, who was smiling.


    Immediately, four iron walls rose out of the ground within a second, burning away the little lifespan, Kaletor had been conserving, just as the beam escaped the arm. Ripping through the walls, smoother than butter and burning him alive, faster than he could speak.


    Selvin got up and dove for cover, as the remains of the Prime Ultra exploded from the point-blank impact. He groaned out loud to himself as he laid over, clutching his wounds.


    "Sarah is going to kill me."

 The Ending

    Kari wailed in pain, as the three cores began to eat away at her mind. Machia seemed to be having a strange seizure in midair since it was fine-tuned to copy Kari''s exact movements.


    Although she had not swallowed them herself, Machia was designed to share all of its experiences with its user, without any drawbacks. However she was walking into uncharted territory, something Hadoron had only theorized to her, but never tested. Yet she claimed it as her ace, and with that confidence, she descended on a path for destruction.


    Large whips of electricity burst forth from the giant robot, simultaneously with a cloak of flames. Violet vein marks, streaked around Machia and Kari''s bodies, making them even more dangerous than they were before.


    Frost started to build up on the mech, dissipating almost as quickly as it appeared, while Machia exhaled out a cloud of steam. Its massive blue and silver ringed eyes, rotated within its socket until it fixed its gaze on them.


    "Ahhh..." Kari''s voice came out in multitone. "My first guests at my welcoming party! I''m so honoured. Nice to meet you...my name is Drakarna. You may bow before me now."


    Amaara gritted her teeth, then gave her a confident smirk. "Sad excuse, for your last party. We''ll be sure to light it up for you."


    Koji gripped his hilt, bracing. "Her power has skyrocketed. They''ve become a much bigger threat than we came to deal with."


    Simon started to sweat, as the heat became more intense, even for him. "I might have to agree with Koji on this one... We have to retreat. This might be too much for us to handle."


    Amaara calmly looked back at the both of them. "To do what? Call for reinforcements? Go back to the group, we left back there and tell them, that the enemy was too strong?"


    Her words washed a bit of shame over them. She clasped her hand into a fist, before her. "I''m sure you can feel that. Nur is actually getting serious over there. They already have a lot on their hands. We can''t let this monster interfere!"


    Simon shook himself out of it, hearing Amaara''s pep talk and shifted into second gear, gathering all of the energy, he could muster forth. "That''s right. We''re Nova''s!"


    Koji sighed and did the same. Dark clouds gathered, then struck him with small supercharged bolts of lightning, as seven electric orbs rotated in place by his back, charged with billions of volts.


    "Static: Raijin Yoroi." He said as he looked in Drakarna''s direction. "We''ll have to hit her with everything we''ve got and more. You know that right."


    Amaara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, going into second gear, with a light blue, flame armour settling over her. "She''s got, max 30 minutes. We just have to hold out till then and strike her when she''s down." She noticed Drakarna''s head twitching, disturbingly. "I don''t think she''s stable. If we hit her joints and find a weak spot, we might be able to break it down."


    A faint blur broke their thoughts. "Move!" Koji yelled as he dropped down below, to the ground, while Amaara escaped to the skies.


    Simon was rocked, by a punch delivered from Drakarna, too quick for him to see. His entire body reverberated from the impact, as he hurdled, crashing down into the planet.


    Koji was shocked. "I barely noticed her move." He observed as he watched her shake, laughing out loud.


    "Did you see how far he flew?!" She asked, turning her attention towards Koji. Disappearing almost as soon as her eyes settled on him and reappeared in front of him before he could blink. "I can''t have my new toys, breaking so quickly." She placed her leg back, lacing it with purple fire and violet electricity.


    Koji braced, as he quickly unsheathed his sword striking it with lightning to lessen the impact. She followed through, by kicking him with bone-shattering force and knocked him out, seconds into flight, as he soared into the sky.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    She tried to finish him, appearing above, just before he was about to dip back down, when a blue beam of fire, crashed into her and pushed her back. It distracted her, but she waved it off with a quick flare of ice.


    Amaara didn''t hesitate, as she saw an opening. With quick reflexes, she unsheathed her sword and struck at the glass-like cockpit, Kari was visibly in. However instead of it breaking open, her sword chipped,


    Leaving her speechless, as she looked up at Drakarna''s giant face, smiling maliciously. The Nova panicked while striking at the cockpit as many times as she could until she was forced to stop. Not by her own will, but because the massive hands, holding her tight, continued to squeeze the life out of her.


    Drakarna gave her a reassuring smile. "I commend you for your efforts. Let''s have some more fun if you can survive this."


    Amaara braced herself, not knowing what was coming. Drakarna flew up and backflipped to fly back down, calling a lightning strike, as a ride to take her back to the planet. She stopped less than ten kilometres in the air, only to throw Amaara down and cause a devastating earthquake.


    "Amaara!" Koji called out, heaving and shuddering with visible wounds from the last attack.


    He looked at the deformed princess, who was already eyeing him, with malice. ''So this is how I go out.'' The thought crossed his mind as he charged up all of the electricity he could produce, blue volleys of fire whizzed from under him, crashing into Drakarna.


    She turned to face Simon, taking no damage from the barrage, but watched him barely hold himself together, as he joined his comrade. Then gave him the most sinister grin, before darting her eyes back to Koji, who charged at her with a lightning-fast strike.


    "Static: Namiutsu Shio!" He yelled, placing his full might into it, but was pushed back, barely making a dent in Drakarna''s arm.


    Her head spun in a weird angle, trying to keep up with Simon, sneaking up from behind her. "Ignite: Caelum Claver."


    A wall of blue flames escaped his short sword, aiming to cut her down. Yet it was still unable to make a dent. He noticed, then opted to concentrate his flames to a razor point. However, to his despair, the blade froze and crumbled in mid-air, followed by a purple lightning strike, dropping him back down below. Simon was taken down in the same moment, it took Koji to turn around and strike the two drums behind his back, to follow up with a clash with Drakarna''s fingers.


    She was toying with him. "Oh my god, you''re so adorable."


    The Nova panicked, but that didn''t stop her from grabbing him and throwing away his sword. She squeezed him for a second, as he yelled out, struggling to get free.


    "Hold on a minute, I want to try something. I used to love doing this to birds and other creatures." She said, curiously.


    He wondered which side of her, that came from from but was relieved to see that she had let him go a moment later. Celebrating too soon, as he dropped out of the sky, like an anchor.


    Koji looked down at his body, seeing glacial blue, ice restraints, holding his body together. He tried shocking and burning them off of him, but they redirected the pain, back and amplified the elextricity.


    Koji''s parachute deployed, but was ripped apart, by his restraints, before it could function. There was nothing he could do, as he plummeted out of the sky, landing nearby Simon.


    The princess let out a coarse laugh echoing across the land. "Now you gotta admit. That was hilarious. Anyways..."


    Her expression turned serious. "Playtime is over."


    She placed her right palm in front of her, as her head twitched. Manifesting a bright, condensed, electric purple star, twice her size and condensed to her limit. "Royal Star!"


    Drakarna''s attack''s shadow, woke Simon up, as he & Koji looked up dazed, while chuckling and accepting defeat. Suddenly someone dropped in front of them, facing certain death.


    Simon struggled to get up, seeing Amaara standing strong, with fire still burning within her eyes. "Ignite: San Ray!"


    She placed her hands forth, as the beam of blue fire she had been preparing shattered forth, colliding with the massive ball of death. Slowing down its rate of descent.


    Koji''s restraints, broke free, from the heat and he shot up, looking over at Simon, who didn''t look too well. They nodded at each other. Thrusting forth their palms into the sky, and letting off their strongest attacks in their arsenal.


    "Ignite: Hyacintho Ignis Maxime!"


    "Static: Raijin no Nagare!"


    They poured every drop of power they could muster, reaching for more, wherever possible. Until they reached that wall, which only revealed the end.


    Life began flashing before their eyes, as Drakarna''s star, seemingly looked bigger and bigger as it got closer. Koji thought of all of his regrets, while Simon couldn''t help, but think about all the people he loved and would never see again. A tear fell down Amaara''s cheek, as the feeling of unfulfillment washed over her.


    They assumed it was a twist of fate, but time seemed to have stopped for the three of them. A voice, feeling like it was speaking in unison, with millions of other people, spoke to them at the same time.


    "What if, this isn''t the end?"

 Nova Arrow

    Sheets of ice manifested into wings and armour, on Amir and Sofia. "Frost: Wardi" Nur spoke, exhaling clouds of vapour, as the chill crept up on her. She was starting to feel cold, yet she looked at them with newfound conviction. "Let''s go."


    Sofia and Amir nodded back. "Right!"


    Out of nowhere jet spikes of ice, mixed with millions of volts of electricity, shot past them, missing their targets, as Nur had moved the Novas, into the air, just in time.


    They looked off in the direction it came from, noticing Lita race towards them, with lightning speed. "Aww! The little chiclet is all grown up now!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, as she placed one palm out, condensing a large sphere of white-hot electricity, within a pressurized ice cage.


    "Frozen Revolution!" Lita spoke it into existence, as she launched the sphere at breakneck speeds, colliding with several walls of ice, Nur had managed to place up, as they frantically retreated way from its path.


    The fifth and last wall stopped it, erupting a large electric explosion and sending ice shrapnel in all directions. Nur struggled to stay focused, as the winds, almost separated them from each other.


    The princess laughed out loud, admiring her explosive artwork. She instinctively turned around to catch an ice arrow, almost sailing into her back and aiming for her core. Then, dozens more sailed past her, smashing into barriers of ice, she manifested on time to block them.


    She looked down, noticing the natives switch formation to take turns firing on her. Smirking, she glanced back up, about to give Nur some credit, when she finally noticed the concoction they were brewing up there.


    Nur struggled to hold it all together. A pressurized swirling sphere of flaming stones, the size of all three of them. She condensed it once more, before launching it at their victim.


    "Combo Series: Nova Sphere!" They yelled in unison.


    Shocked, Lita immediately tried to look for an exit, however, hundreds of arrows surrounded her, stopping in midair and reshaping into a massive hand, while grabbing her still.


    "Frost: Clutch!" Nur yelled, gripping her left hand, as blood dripped down from it, while she held the other steady, to maintain the shape of their combination.


    Lita gathered an immense amount of energy, erupting an avalanche of ice, out of herself into a dome. Deciding to protect herself, since it was too late to escape.


    "Artahan''s Domain!" She screeched in despair, as the sphere touched down. Bringing forth a devastating impact, while crumbling her barrier down with ease and dragging her down below. Before erupting and levelling everything around them for dozens of kilometres.


    Amir perked up throwing his hands in the air. "We did it! That was insane!"


    Sofia smiled with him, but grimaced from the pains of first-degree burns, bearing it only with the relief of Nur''s armour cooling her down. She floated in front of Nur, wanting to check up on her and wondered what was going through her mind, now that the mission was over.


    However, Nur was still trembling, slightly, while looking down below with a terrified expression. Suddenly they heard a wounded blood-curdling scream, from down below them.


    Within the large smoking crater, soldering from the bomb they had unleashed on her, The princess got back up onto one knee, as the other reformed. Her body was dismembered, still readjusting itself, as she yelled out to them. "I''m gonna make sure, you feel 10 times the amount of pain!"


    It began to rain, as lightning struck Lita several times, while she held the charge. "Lightning''s Embrace." She whispered while covering her hands in gauntlets of ice.


    Nur hopped into a stance, bracing for an incoming strike. "Keep your guard up!" She yelled as the draft shifted the smoke and dust, blocking their vision of Lita. The next moment, she disappeared.


    Reappearing with a blur of electricity in front of Nur and striking her, with incredible force. Sending her tumbling out of the sky, as she watched the princess go after Amir. Fortunately, she managed to move him out of harm''s way, fluttering his wings to safety.


    Lita turned angrily to Sofia, trying to at the very least, finish her off. The Nova prepared a fireball, in defence, but it dissipated, due to Lita''s pressure, while Nur moved her around to dodge, incoming electric spikes.


    Nur finally regained composure, realizing she couldn''t take any more of the princess'' strikes. Luckily the valley was destroyed and was no longer draining her of energy, but she knew, she needed to reactivate it soon. Lita charged her, giving up on the rookies.


    "If I take you out first, they will all fall." She yelled out, maniacally


    Nur gave her the deadliest stare but chose to focus on her movements. They traded blow for blow, while Nur continued to heal herself, as each of Lita''s strikes, left sweltering hot stings, due to her burning off her gauntlets, boiling with rage.


    ''This was the technique Helio used!'' She thought to herself while dodging a strike from her left.


    Although she couldn''t replicate it, she went out of her way to understand it better, asking Helio and Tobi questions about what it could do, in hopes of one day, unlocking it herself. It was already getting harder for her to breathe.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    On her last strike, she broke the deadlock, by kicking Lita''s chest, sending her flying back, with superior martial arts. She was incredibly talented, picking up several styles, under her belt, as a hobby, but she had never imagined using them to kill.


    Lita drew her sword, knowing she couldn''t beat her in hand-to-hand combat, however, strength was still on her side. Before she could strike Nur, flaming rocks rained on her from up above and blocked her vision.


    Then, she gasped feeling a stinging sensation, as her vision cleared, she looked down only to find a deep gaping gash, running diagonally across her chest and Nur spinning around once more to finish her off, with her daggers covered in ice.


    The princess froze her wound instantly and began healing herself, while rapidly moving to counter Nur''s strike. However, from behind her, an arm of stones and fire, held back her arm, just ever so slightly, yet distracting her once again, as the stones singed into her skin. Giving Nur the chance to sever her head off.


    Her head and body fell down below, as a massive ice shark swallowed them hole. Seemingly leaping out of a pool of water in the barren ground.


    "Frost: Tiger Shark." Ice crept up over Nur''s cheek, burning her, as her body started to shiver.


    Amir and Sofia flew over, worried about Nur''s condition. She looked over at them, with kind eyes. "Don''t worry about me, just keep supporting me. I think we''ve almost got her."


    However, seconds later, what they heard, stopped them in their tracks. A stomach-churning scream, pierced every fibre of their beings, as they felt an immense amount of energy overwhelming them from below.


    A massive arm of ice fell from the sky, dragged down by lightning and slapped the three of them before they could react. They crashed down like meteors, into the ground. Nur tried her best to slow down the rookies'' descent. Amir and Sofia had already fallen unconscious as soon, as the hand struck them.


    Nur laid there, suffering from multiple fractures, unable to feel her legs. She panicked and for a moment, reverted back to her old self, forgetting her situation entirely, while talking herself into depression.


    Saphyra, broke her pessimistic train of thought, speaking into her comm. "Nur! The mission isn''t over... What would the hero do?"


    Watching Tobi in action, especially during the battle for Earth, inspired her to find her stronger, true self. One where she wasn''t always afraid and could make decisions quickly.


    However facing death over and over had brought her closer to the point, where the lines between it being a question and it being a necessity, became much more blurry. Especially when there were those she still needed to protect.


    She started to heal herself after injecting a booster, into her thigh. While she groaned from the pain of her bones realigning, she heard footsteps closing in, near their landing spot.


    "That hurt you know! That was incredibly painful. I don''t even want to see you suffer anymore. I just want you dead. Begone from my sight!" She yelled as she called dark clouds to rumble, intensifying the thunder. Then a massive ray of lightning, dropped like a hammer, toward the Novas.


    Nur had already begun gathering an umbrella of ice, redirecting the lightning into the ground. She quickly frosted up a column of ice to propel herself up and reinforce her broken, bleeding legs, so that she could walk. "Frost: Prosthetics." She chuckled to herself in pain, as it was still difficult for her to stand, let alone walk, however, wings appeared behind her back keeping her semi-floating in the air.


    The booster had bought her some time, but she still needed to end this as soon as possible. Lita looked at her, realizing that they were both on their last legs. "Seriously though, I never expected you to put up this much of a fight."


    A term came to Nur''s mind, that she had heard from either a book or a show, but she smiled regardless. "Expect, the unexpected." Then she charged at her, pushing her away from the rookies. "Frost: Ancient Valley."


    The valley returned, but this time with more natives, firing arrows at Lita whenever she was alone. Their fight continued, crashing through buildings, obliterating inhabitants and marking the ancient village unrecognizable.


    However, Nur''s fatigue was starting to become visible, as the pain of hunger pangs suddenly dropped on her, since she skipped a meal out of anxiety due to the mission. Parts of the buildings began to crumble, as some of the Natives stopped moving.


    Nur broke away from Lita, having been dealt the last blow. She made some distance, to catch her breath. Her knees started to buckle, as she started to feel drowsy. Multiple patches of ice appeared on her skin. Stinging her and turning into blisters, however, she held on, as Amir and Sofia flew overhead, bombing Lita with fireballs and rocks.


    On their second lap, Lita clipped Sofia''s wing with a volley of ice, spinning her out of control. Then caught Amir, square in the chest with another.


    Sofia landed roughly beside Nur, who had just manifested an intricately detailed bow. "Frost: Leenda."


    Sofia looked at the bow with wonder. "Woah! Let me help!" She placed out her hands and an arrow of fire manifested floating between them. "Cover it and make it stronger Nur!"


    Nur nodded back, already performing the task, when another voice stopped her.


    "Let me help too! Don''t count me out yet." Amir floated towards them, carried by a rock platform he raised, but it was evident he was on his last legs, as his platform plunged several times midflight.


    An arrow made out of ignitable rocks gathered and rose from deep, below the ground. Sofia made room for it, opening up her arrow like a casing as it slid in.


    Nur could not describe what she was feeling at the moment. She was glad she wasn''t fighting alone. "We''ll end it with this."


    She reached out over the burning arrow, and a light sheet of ice formed, perfectly over it. Allowing her to grab it and begin drawing. She watched Lita rise up into the sky, creating an immensely large ball of energy, struck several times by lightning.


    "I''m done with you all. You lot are no fun. This time, I''ll make sure you''re all dead." She spat as she encased her ball of energy within the ice, placing it under incredible pressure and strain.


    "Erase it all! Erase everything from my sight!" She felt a rough gag after yelling at them, warning her that, she''d have to cough up the core at any moment. She dropped her hand forth, sending off her last attack and aiming to wipe them off the planet. "World Revolution!"


    Nur faced down, the incoming sphere of destruction, with no fear, while drawing the arrow, to the furthest she could pull it back. She poured the last of her energy, betting all their lives on one shot.


    Then took a deep breath and released it, adding more velocity by telekinetically jetting the arrow forward. "Combo Series: Nova Arrow!"


    Sofia ignited the back end of the arrow, as Nur crushed together some of the fire and rocks, boosting the arrow faster than the eye could see. It ripped through Lita''s attack, striking her with a bone-shattering impact, while the Nova continued to ignite the rest of the arrow, exploding it along its victim.


    Engulfing the princess in a dense ball of fire and destroying all traces of her. The Novas were in shock, disbelieving that they had actually won. Then one by one, each of them fell back, suffering from their side effects and laughing in relief.

 Dark Energy

    "Where are we? Who are you?" Amaara blurted out.


    Simon and Koji were in shock, unable to believe what they were witnessing. "What... What is this?" Koji asked, looking around and seeing his hometown and neighbourhood.


    "The farm!" Simon called out.


    However, in reality, the place was empty, except for the three people standing before them. One woman and two men, exhibiting traits of Rennayan origin, but dressed differently, not only because of their professions but also their eras.


    One of the men seemed to be a royal guard, dressed less modern, than the ones that escorted Osei and his family. The other may have been a martial arts teacher, giving them a stern smile, while crossing his arms in a stoic position. He was dressed in a black and gold martial arts outfit.


    The woman stepped forward, outfitted in a red and gold, space-fleet general, uniform and spoke with a voice, demanding authority. "Listen now and listen quick. There''s no time for questions, your deaths in reality are imminent." The Novas fell silent, focusing all of their attention on her. "Don''t worry, time flows at a rate of about one-thousandth of a second in here, but I will make this quick."


    She placed her hands to her sides indicating the men beside her. "We are Rennayans. As you can surmise, this place exists in your subconscious, we call it the Ethereal Plane. A place only theorized, but has never truly been reached."


    She gave them a moment, to swallow all of the info. "Sharing our abilities with you has allowed us to converse once more. Thank you for supporting the last of our kin. Each of you, because of your character and perseverance, we''ve had no choice, but to give you our respect and admiration."


    The woman frowned, clenching her fists at her sides tightly. "I know how frustrating it is to face an enemy, you cannot defeat. No matter how hard you try. However, you guys are special."


    She nodded at the martial artist, who promptly thrust his hand into the air, and grabbed it. Breaking open a small tear and revealing the world beyond the Ethereal. There was nothing, but swirling colours in darkness, flowing like a river.


    She continued, as they peered in. "This is dark energy. A forbidden power, difficult to control, but is the most abundant in the universe."


    Amaara looked longingly at it, almost in a trance. Simon & Koji kept wondering what this was leading to. However, they allowed, the general to continue with her explanation. "You humans have too much chaos in your hearts, so we will help you bear the pain of darkness. However in exchange... you will need to give up... at least 7-15 years of your life."Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The Novas were stunned. Simon shook his head backing away, while Koji mulled it over.


    Amaara broke the silence. "Sign me up." They both looked at her wondering if she had properly pondered it, but she shrugged. "This isn''t a dream, we''re goners when we go back."


    The lady raised her voice, hurrying them up, as the world around them began to crumble apart. The Rennayans dipped their arms in pockets of darkness and reached out with the other. "We don''t have much time, grab hold of our hands, if you wish to survive."


    The Novas looked at each other once more. Knowing this was it, the only choice. They leaped forward, grabbing hold and braced themselves, as the darkness took over.


    Back to Reality...


    The sphere of destruction had gotten about an inch closer in the time they had been knocked out. However, the aura emanating from them was completely different, giving Drakarna the creepiest chills.


    Black fire and lightning ripped the sphere apart, blasting right past her and nearly missing her. She focused in on them, trying to see what was going on.


    The Novas, each had half-formed skulls, with different styled tribal markings. Their hair glowed brightl and full silver. Black lightning struck, erratically around them, as black & purple rings of fire, crushed the ground.


    "This can''t be possible!" the princess was stunned, although she had just been born, she was still able to recall the memories, from all of the siblings. "How can there be three Lost Souls at the same time? Is Fate playing tricks with me?"


    She unleashed her rage, calling forth lightning to strike them down. "Azure Lightning."


    A convoluted bolt of lightning, ripped through the sky, faster than the eye could blink. Drakarna began to smile, awaiting a massive explosion. However, to her dismay, they stood unfazed, protected by a black and blue, charged energy dome. Two of them gave her deadly glares, the other going mad.


    "Simon! Get a hold of yourself!" Koji tried to stay calm,


    hoping his voice could reach him.


    With one hand on his sword hilt, ready to strike Simon down, if he lost himself to the darkness. Not to say he was having an easy time, having it under control himself.


    He snuck a quick glance at Amaara, checking to see if she was okay. He regretted even doubting her.


    She stood brimming with newfound confidence and energy, ready to give her second chance at life a go. The skull, which had half-formed on her face, around her hair and up to her nose, crumbled apart.


    Her hair was completely silver, flowing majestically with the wind. Hues of purple, black and blue fire emanated from her, releasing intense heat.


    "Koji, I''ll hold her off. Can you bring Simon back to his senses, then join me?" She asked, without looking back.


    Koji looked at her, as she shielded him from a burst of fire, coming from Simon. He nodded while preventing another lightning strike, from Drakarna. She smiled, and then with blurring speed, she rocketed into the sky and punched a massive dent into Drakarna''s body. Allowing blue and violet flames mixing, to burst out of her fist.


    Drakarna grunted recoiling back a few meters. "Don''t get cocky! I have enough strength now, to challenge the top 100. No one can stop me now!" She yelled at the top of her lungs while releasing her limiters.


    Amaara grinned. "Sorry, but I''m gonna ruin all of your dreams."

 Simon vs Koji

    Back on the ground...


    Simon had fully lost himself. A hundred percent of the ash-like skull covered his face, like a mask, with detailed blood tribal markings, similar to tiger whiskers. Purple & black fire ripped the ground apart, with him as the epicentre.


    "This is not a good time for this, Simon. Wake up now!" Koji yelled, at the top of his lungs, as he faded in and out of consciousness, trying to keep control of his own energy.


    He unsheathed his sword, just in time, using the flat part of his blade, to block a flaming strike from his lost comrade. Rocking him over dozens of kilometres into the side of a hill.


    He grunted, from the pain, but quickly got back up. "He''s way stronger than before and seems like his power is rising by the minute... That''s going to cost him more of his life."


    Simon landed in front of him, screeching with an otherworldly sound. Winds picked up from the energy he released, as he glared Koji down.


    "No use talking, huh? Let''s make this quick." Koji concluded as he braced himself, charging up with six drums of electricity, hovering away, yet attached to his back. He cracked three open, releasing monsters of his imagination, made out of cobalt blue electricity and charged them at Simon.


    The mouth of Simon''s skull mask, opened up, creating a fast-rotating sphere of purple and black fire in front of its face. Then shattered it, blasting a beam of incredibly hot fire, erasing all of Koji''s beasts.


    The Nova leaped to the side, evading the beam and flanked, closing in with lightning speed, while aiming to break off Simon''s mask. However, Simon had quickly dissipated the beam, and blasted thrusts of fire under his feet, to quickly roundhouse kick Koji''s sword out of his hands.


    ''He''s intelligent, just like Tobi was,'' Koji thought to himself.


    He recoiled from the strike but quickly tried to follow up by throwing a punch with all of his might, carried by lightning, as Simon did the same, reinforcing himself with black & light violet fire.


    The impact sent shockwaves, across the continent, as they continued to trade blow for blow. Bruising each other, until Koji cracked apart Simon''s mask, with a flare of electricity escaping his fist and sailing past his face.


    Simon jumped back, to make some distance and clutched the spot that cracked, as it crumbled away. Revealing his left eye and releasing dark energy, like smoke out of a chimney. He roared angrily, then placed his palm to his side, creating a massive purple and black sphere of fire, then condensed it, to fit hovering over his palm.


    Koji sighed. "It seems like you still have your old instincts. That means you''re not completely gone are you?" He raised his right hand in front of him, facing his palm to the sky. "What''s it going to take, Simon?"


    An incredibly massive lightning bolt struck down, stopping short only before his palm, and filled into a blue sphere. Like water being poured into a glass cup before it condensed down to violet.


    "Static: Denki no Taiy¨­." He said as he threw forth his left hand, signalling the remaining drums hovering behind his back, to release monsters. Homing in to stop Simon''s incoming charge.


    Yet, Simon managed to dodge each of them, blurring from spot to spot and making his way closer to Koji. Fortunately, the Nova had just finished preparing his attack, then leaped forth to meet Simon midway.


    Fabricating a beautiful explosion with shades of purple, indigo and black ripping apart the entire landscape below them, while sending them flying back from each other. As it left Koji unconscious.


    When he came to, Simon was standing over him, injecting an adrenaline booster into his arm. "Listen up, I''m only gonna say this once. Thanks for stopping me." He said, turning away. The skull on Simon''s head had completely broken off, returning him to his normal self, except for his hair, still glowing silver.


    Koji smirked. "It was really hard not killing you, ya know."


    Simon scoffed. "Yeah, sure." He looked off into the distance, towards Amaara''s direction. "It''s getting intense over there."


    Koji threw his senses in that direction as well, realizing what Simon was talking about. "We have to hurry."


    Simon nodded. "No kidding. Let''s go."


    Over the skies of Valtorin...


    Amaara dodged blasts of fire and electricity, whipping past her, at sonic speed. Spontaneously, setting off enormous explosions in the distance.


    She clasped her hands together in front of her, in a prayer formation. "Ignite: Sky Apexes."


    Carnivorous birds and lizards of all types manifested in purple & black flames, then flocked towards Drakarna, crashing into her and initiating drive-by strikes.


    The princess struggled to shoot down the animals until she was completely overrun and opted to smack them away in a panic, as she got annoyed, by the constant tiny stings of lifespans leaving her.


    Amaara didn''t wait for her to recover. She threw her hand back, creating a violet flaming javelin with a flaming black tip. Then, raised the javelin to her eye level, up above her shoulder, as she began her run.


    Trails of fire left her feet, as she stepped hard in midair, releasing the javelin at her maximum momentum. "Ignite: Javelin Throw!" The javelin whizzed through the air and dipped down towards Drakarna, through the constant flock of flaming birds.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    She looked up at the last moment, deciding to freeze all of the animals at once. However, melting through the makeshift ice dome she had created, the javelin continued to make its way through like a hot knife and lodged right through one of her eyes.


    Drakarna''s scream echoed throughout the land, but Amaara didn''t let up. She continued to launch another javelin without hesitation.


    Her ice dome exploded in all directions, slowing down and throwing off the javelin''s trajectory, as it missed her by inches. "I''m sick of you. I need to get rid of you as soon as possible." Drakarna spat, as she raised her right hand, gathering energy, and then cupped it with the other. "You can''t escape this!"


    Amaara looked around her, as a massive cage of ice manifested and enclosed her. She smiled and burned her flames hotter, aiming to melt it apart. However, it maintained its shape, as more layers were added on top of it.


    "Oceanic Pressure!" Drakarna yelled as pressure began to press Amaara''s body from all over, crushing her, while several twisters sprung up, keeping her immobilized and putting out her flames.


    She started to panic, as she looked for a way out, making her way toward the edge of the cage and in front of Drakarna. She pounded her fists on the walls until it bled from the cold. Spurting her last flames on her last strike and finally breaking a hole through.


    Amaara burst out, gasping for air, and shaking off the pain of several broken bones as she looked back up at the princess with a smile. Drakarna was seething with rage. She raised her hand forth, manifesting thousands of fire, ice, and electric volleys, then launched them at her without hesitation.


    The Nova flew out, quickly and zig-zagged away, preparing a fast-rotating, condensed sphere of blue fire, turning purple, while hovering above her right palm. The volleys soared past, crashing down below, as she flew lower to the ground.


    Her hair fluttered in front of her face blocking, her view for just a moment, as she looked back, seeing the remaining volleys lining up behind her. Then turned around fully, placing her right hand forth. "Ignite: Violet Blaze!"


    The sphere hovering in front of her palm razed down the volleys in one swift motion. As the horizon cleared, she started to let up, not noticing Drakarna, sneak up behind her, with lightning speed and Machia''s sword drawn, raised high above her head, while charged with fire and electricity.


    "Why are you still alive!" She screamed as Amaara blocked her strike and drew her sword just in time. However, the force was too much for her to handle and sent her crashing down to the ground.


    Yet the Nova remained standing, as she was dragged back by the force and tried to use her sword to stop her momentum.


    She raised her sword up, blocking another strike, from Drakarna, beaming down on her with her full might. Followed by another dozen heavy sword strikes, the princess unleashed on her. "You filthy creatures, are always ruining my fun. Give up! You can''t defeat me!" She yelled, as she swung even harder against Amaara and broke the stalemate, pushing her back a dozen meters, as her sword crumbled apart.


    She sheathed her hilt, wishing not to lose it. "You''re wrong."


    Drakarna looked confused by her response, with her eye socket, finally restored. "Huh?"


    Amaara started to gather energy, grimacing from burns, appearing on her skin. Time was running out. "See... You just don''t know how to have fun. Me, personally, all I can think about is which city, Osei and I are gonna tour next." She crossed her arms and pondered. "We just checked out Rome after visiting Paris. Hmm, maybe Venice or Dubai?"


    Amaara stopped to hop out of the way, as the princess swung a slice of ice, cutting through the ground and half of the hills past her. The Nova clicked her tongue, mocking her. "See, I told you, you don''t know how to have fun."


    Drakarna lost it, as her body resumed twitching and moving unnaturally. She was beginning to reach her limit. "Shut up!"


    Her strikes became more erratic, as she continued to send slices of each element in her possession at Amaara, alternating randomly, and trying to catch her off guard, but to no avail. "Stay still!"


    Amaara kept laughing, while dodging away, trying to make some distance and run the princess'' timer out. Drakarna abruptly stopped, shuddering with anger. "They killed them. My siblings. Fine then."


    A creepy feeling washed over the Nova, as she felt enormous pressure pour out of the princess. There were no good intentions.


    Drakarna started to rise to the sky while creating a massive, violet-flaming sphere. Charged with electricity, then pressurized and condensed, within a light sphere of ice, rotating at faster than sound speed.


    "Terra Decimation! She yelled angrily, as she threw her hand down, towards Amaara,


    Amaara gritted her teeth. "This isn''t good. Where are they?"


    She placed her hands together at her side, manifesting a violet sphere of her own. It started cutting burns into her palms, as she tried to speed it up. "Ignite: Kalu Konda.''


    With swift motion, she thrust her hands forth and cracked open the sphere. Unleashing a powerful beam, pushing back the incoming sphere of destruction, without success.


    Drakarna''s laugh, reverberated through Amaara''s ears, as their attacks produced large clouds of mist. Amaara cursed as her beam failed to break through.


    "Even after sacrificing years of my life, it''s still not enough. What else do I need to do!" As if they were answering her prayers, Simon and Koji dropped down beside her, with spheres of their own elements already prepared.


    "Ignite: Ignis Ultimus!"


    "Static: Rai¨­ no Ikari!"


    Amaara looked to her sides and smiled at the sight of her comrades. "Y''all are late!"


    Simon grunted, trying to shift into a comfortable position while struggling to hold a portion of the weight of the incoming attack. "Sorry, there were some complications."


    Koji was shocked, that she had been pushing back, such a monstrous attack all on her own. "Looks like we came at the worst time."


    Amaara shook her head. "She''s at her limit. One more push should do it."


    She exhaled deeply then stopped her beam completely. "Hold this for a second, will you?"


    They looked at her shocked and confused. "Wait what?" They said in unison, as the pressure increased, causing them both excruciating pain without her aid.


    Above her right palm, a dark violet sphere, began to swirl, condensing every second it got bigger. The pain from her side effects, was almost unbearable at this point, with her body, visibly trembling.


    She bared it, telling herself, not to give up. Then looked at the boys, who already had enough on their plates. "Help me with this, won''t you?"


    They rolled their eyes, wondering if she was seeing the position they were in. Each of them slowly took one hand off of their beams and pointed their palms towards her rotating sphere.


    The sphere, suddenly enlarged itself, this time, crackling with electricity and brighter flames, as Amaara condensed it once more and kept it in place.


    "Thanks." She said, before rocketing off into the sky, around the colliding attacks.


    The Nova raced at the fastest speed she could muster, reaching behind Drakarna in a blur. The princess spun around, incredibly quick, as she was surprised to see Amaara moving freely. "How?!"


    Amaara shot the sphere at the cockpit holding Kari''s motionless body, faster than the eye could see, with Koji''s assistance. "Your party is over. Time to send you back to where you belong!"


    Pouring in the remaining energy she had left, she yelled out loud. "Combo Series: Lightning Inferno!"


    The sphere shattered the cockpit open, sending the princess flying near the prisoner''s camp and landing with a devastating explosion. Leveling the entire camp, in a blaze of destruction.


    Koji and Simon let up, sighing with relief, as Drakarna''s attack dissipated. Amaara rushed over to the explosion site, regretting the direction she sent her in. As she witnessed down below, bodies and rubble, littering the camp.


    A massive hollow building, looking like a miniature supermax, crumbled apart, revealing a large opening. Amaara could only feel one life signal, emanating from the building.


    ''A survivor.'' She thought as she descended down, through the gaping hole.

 The Messian

    The man, sitting in his cell, got up, struggling with his restraints. The earthquakes and massive explosion, caving his prison in, made it difficult for him to sleep.


    Standing before him albeit battered up, but still free, were two men and one woman, a sight he thought he would never see. He looked around, trying once more, to use his senses to search outside of his cell, but was left disappointed. His cell was specially made, to disable and hold users, up to the third gear. Tech made by his ancestors.


    The woman tapped on the glass, stealing his attention. She tried to talk to him, but all he could hear were murmurs, as his cell was soundproof.


    He raised his cuffed hands pointing at the intercom on the right side of his cell. Amaara noticed, then walked over, pressing the button and allowing open communication. "Who are you and what''s your story."


    The Novas were curious. They had never seen an alien that looked or felt like him. The man had black and grey hair, mixed evenly. Complimenting him were lost violet eyes and a mixed complexion.


    He looked young like he was in his early 20s, but his eyes added decades of trauma. Regardless, he still managed to smile, happy to have visitors that weren''t part of the rotten family. "My name is Acryus. I am half Rennayan, half Messian. I was captured 80 years ago, by a Prince of Ceria." He paused, looking at their outfits. "You''re foreigners, right?"


    Amaara kept a poker face, still unable to trust him. "Yes, we are Novas of the Beyond Space Force. This is Simon & Koji." Pointing at the two, giving him dead glares, with one hand resting on their weapons. "...And you can call me Amaara. Now listen here. See this."


    She reached into her belt pocket and pulled out a small object, releasing it into the air. It whirred silently, as it caught flight and started recording.


    "This is a Truthseeker, we use these, to vet aliens. This, along with your story, will help me, determine if I should, just leave you in here..." She crossed her arms, giving him a playful grin. "Or possibly grant you salvation."


    Acryus knew already to be wary of her. Still, he kept his composure and slightly lifted his right eyebrow. "First of all that is an Or?ao. Made by my people over 1500 years ago. Second of all, if you''re not associated with the Cerian Empire, are you sure we have time for this right now?"


    Amaara chuckled. "Damn, so you really can''t sense anything in there can you? Sarah might find this little cage interesting."


    She looked back at Simon & Koji, who just nodded back, telling her it was okay to let him know. "They were planning on invading us, so we ambushed them. All of the children of Atlas on this planet, have been wiped out. Valtorin is now under our control."


    Acryus stepped back, letting out a huge sigh of relief. "I understand the situation now... Well then, where should I start-"Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Amaara cut him off. "How about you start with, why you''re in this cell."


    Acryus gave her a soft smile. "It''s because I am dangerous."


    Amaara raised her eyebrows. "Oh really?"


    He looked up to the ceiling, sighing. "I have to be. They slaughtered my entire settlement, around 80 years ago. I have been locked up and used, as their slave ever since."


    The Novas were stunned. Amaara walked up close to the glass, squinting her eyes as she looked him down, head to toe. "Did you say 80 years ago? That''s impossible, you look like you''re about our age."


    Acryus shook his head. "It''s possible for Messians... Our lifespans range from 250-300 years old. I''ve pretty much just reached adulthood."


    Still unable to believe what she had just heard, she looked back at Simon and Koji once again. Simon shook his head, walking closer to the glass. "80 years that''s insane." He whispered.


    Koji gripped his hilt, feeling no doubt in Acryus'' words. "He must be strong."


    Acryus darted his eyes between each Nova. "You may not believe me. That''s fine. My only reason to go on living right now is to kill the Prince who murdered my parents and the rest of his siblings, who wiped out our settlement."


    He shifted his position, as he continued his story. "Our settlement, was on a small moon, camouflaged on the outskirts of the Rennayan Solar System. My father was the leader of the reformists, he wanted to change the minds of the people away from war and their traditional ideology. Since they were often persecuted, groups of them left at a time to settle on a large moon, with the aid of some friends from Rennaya."


    The Novas were quiet, taking this all in. Acryus looked at the hovering ball, still watching him for any lies, he may spout. He exhaled deeply, before continuing. "That''s how he met my mother. Together we lived in our little house, tending to our farm every day, while my father solved settlement disputes and trained me when he could. However, all of that changed, when the children of Atlas attacked."


    He looked at each of them, with the most pain-stuck eyes they''d ever seen. As if he had just witnessed the event moments ago. "All of the adults were killed. They then separated the children into delicacies and fighters. Mixed bloods were their favourite to eat, but when Atlas found out, he ordered them to save us as backup, for some plan he had thought up."


    He raised his handcuffs, giving them a little shake. "Since then, these cells, have been my home, and the occasional battlefields, they throw me in. That''s pretty much all there is to it."


    He stepped forward as the floating orb scanned him once more. Amaara smiled, reaching up to grab it and put it away. "It seems the people have spoken. They wish to see you free."


    She nodded towards Koji, who hit the large button on a console. Which they figured out with Saphyra''s help, was the release. The cell opened up, releasing an incredible amount of pressure and mist.


    Acryus stepped out. Standing in front of Amaara. "The people? I had an audience?"


    She laughed lightly. "That''s right, we Novas fight for the people and they sometimes like to come along with us on our journey."


    She raised her right hand, stretching her index finger, as a knife-sized beam, erupted, hovering over it, and maintaining itself like a torch. Then she proceeded to cut down his restraints, with one quick strike.


    Acryus'' chains fell, clattering against the floor over each other. He rubbed his wrists, easing a long-awaited itch. Then cracked his neck and stretched his arms and legs.


    Amaara spoke as he continued to stretch. "We''re in the process of clearing out a safe path for our planet. Then we plan on dismantling the Cerian Empire. I''m sure you still want a chance to meet the children of Atlas, who destroyed your home. So..."


    Acryus met her eyes, as his expression changed. "So, what are you implying?"


    Amaara put on a confident smirk. She knew they could use his strength and he didn''t seem, as dangerous as he said he was. "How about... joining the Novas?

 The Basics

    Tobi and Kiala put on their blindfolds at Akio''s request. "How is this going to help us see iko?" Tobi asked.


    His first impressions of the old man, had him sketched out. He couldn''t predict what he might do next. His instincts were right, as a tiny pebble, struck the both of them in the back. Irritating the pair.


    "Why would you-" Kiala started to say but was cut off by the Elder.


    "Amateurs that can''t even sense a pebble, without their eyes, have no right to complain." He taunted.


    Kiala sealed her lips, frowning with frustration. "One day I''m going to..." She murmured to herself.


    Akio hopped up onto a platform, sitting with his legs crossed and made himself comfortable. "From sunrise to sunset, you''ll mainly be training with these blindfolds for the next several weeks. You''re eyes cloud too much judgment, diminishing the potential of all your other senses."


    They braced themselves, as they felt, a tremendous amount of energy, rising below them. Then, jumped up, just in time to escape a ground implosion, spitting dust and rocks in the air all around them.


    "What the h-" Tobi struggled to speak, unable to continue, due to a dense stone, knocking the wind out of him. Kiala, beside him, frantically shook her head around, feeling something amiss. With their blindfolds on, it was hard to tell, but surrounding them, stopped in motion, were the stones and rocks, kicked up by the implosion.


    "Use your senses, figure out, where next, I will attack." He ran his iko in rhythm through, the stones and rocks and all around them, throwing off their senses.


    Spontaneously, several stones or pebbles would sail, into the back of their heads, backs, thighs, and arms. Frustrating Kiala, even more. She raised her energy, about to turn up a gear.


    However, Akio shook his finger at her in disappointment. "Ah, ah, ah! No! There''s no need to transform yet, during our lessons. Let the pain seep in, then use it to sense the next stone."


    Kiala gritted her teeth, regretting agreeing to train with this lunatic. "Fine!"


    She took a deep breath and focused on anything moving unnaturally, within her vicinity. As she closed her eyes, she started to first picture her iko. What it would look like. What it would be like.


    A violet and ash-colored, hurricane began swirling around her, with a calming and soothing breeze. She looked around her, as a vision of an ethereal plane unfolded. Revealing a room with dozens of combat androids, pointing non-lethal weapons in her direction.


    Kiala shed a tear. It was the moment she first got her powers. Her mother was terrified of putting her through training early, but it was why Saphyra was there. To always remind them of the mission.


    Which she succeeded in because, before her being in that situation, Saphyra had told, the young version of her that if she didn''t use her powers to get through the doors ahead, she would never see her mother again.


    The feeling of raising her hands terrified her, yet she was still able to imagine fire, ice, electricity, stones & telekinetic force, to obliterate the enemies before her. Purple and reddish veins, flowed like lava through her arms, as the feeling of losing her mom, at four years old, traumatized her.


    Kiala chuckled, wondering how she fell for that. However there was one detail, she overlooked. The same swirling hurricane appeared before her for a second, when she was a child. Manifesting all of the elements for her, and carrying it in the direction she wanted it to. The epiphany hit her like a bullet.


    "That''s my iko!" She yelled out loud, rubbing her right arm with frost, as it stung from a pebble the Elder struck her with, while she was in deep focus.


    Akio, stroked his beard, chuckling. "Have you figured it out?"


    She ignored him and continued focusing on her discovery. He smiled, not wanting to bother her further, then turned his attention towards Tobi, who was still struggling.


    Midway through, he lost his patience and began swinging indiscriminately, hoping to catch the pebbles and stones, before they striked him, but to no avail. Each one, struck him cordially until he started to slowly descend, due to fatigue.


    Akio shook his head, looking back at Kiala, who had just dodged her first pebble. His eyes grew wide in excitement. Then he grinned menacingly, knowing she could finally see it. A wall, truly impossible to climb.


    Making Kiala sweat, as she just noticed the amount of flares of iko, running all around her, but mainly, the titanic amount, swirling around the Elder. "He''s a monster." She whispered to herself, dodging two more stones, sailing overhead and below. "How is that even possible."


    Akio laughed out loud. "You can finally see it, that''s good, that''s good. Well done! Truly a prodigy."


    He then directed his next words toward Tobi. "Are you going to let your daughter outshine you?"


    Tobi''s rage boiled over, but thanks to habits from old anger management sessions as a kid, he decided to take deep breaths instead and took his mind somewhere else. He thought about the training, his favourite character went through. Chuckling to himself and realizing that his favourite MC went through something similar. Blindfolded and getting hit for training.


    ''But what was the reason?''


    Tobi had always tried to find lessons and true meanings of the scenes he had witnessed, read, or watched, ever since he read his first book, given to him by his ESL teacher. Telling him one thing. "Knowledge is power."


    However, there was something, he never truly, completely comprehended and that was himself. ''Why was I chosen for this? Whose son am I? What am I supposed to do?''


    Thoughts of Atlas, destroying his former world, and being capable of doing the same to his current, ran across his mind, as his body, continued to be bombarded by stones and pebbles. The Novas, the soldiers, and the people depending on him, as well as his newfound daughter. Lastly, setting him off, was Mado calling him an abomination, ''the one that must be eliminated.''This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ''No... Who would you give all of these problems to? You must take care of them yourself.'' His stubborn mind, yelled within, refusing to surrender. He opened his eyes, still blindfolded in darkness. However, swirling violently around him, was a massive hurricane, made out of a myriad of white light, and dark energy, never mixing, but tangled in a constant fight.


    "What... What is this?" He spoke out loud, stunned by the sight.


    At Roku''s training grounds...


    Kayed struck against the boulder in front of him as hard as he could, but his stone gauntlets broke apart.


    "Again!" Roku yelled at him, then continued to watch the others.


    Sighing, the Nova took a deep breath, looking over at Norah struggling to make any progress as well. Roku had quickly drilled the basics of iko, into them, wanting to move them quickly over to the next lesson. The strength aspect.


    Surprisingly though, they didn''t expect him to be such a good teacher. He was just a bit too strict, in their opinion. With his help, they were able to become aware of their iko, brought it under control, and then began to arm themselves with it.


    However, the titanium boulders, filled with diamonds and gems, were incredibly difficult to break. On top of that, they weren''t allowed to use any gear.


    "Dinner will get cold, if you take long, trying to make a dent in brittle stone," the General yelled, trying to motivate them.


    Osei, furiously punched his boulder, as his hands bled, but he refused to back down. He was angry with himself. Something he had been taught long ago, but had never made any attempts to completely master.


    The Rennayan martial arts, Waio taught him, was a way of awakening and perfecting one''s iko. He used to tell him, that the ones that practiced and perfected it to their utmost limits, were capable of breaking boulders with little movement.


    "How... How could I forget? Waio!" He yelled, in frustration while throwing a last strike with his full might, carrying with it the intention for it to break. A massive crack ruptured, lining up horizontally and breaking into small branches through, a third of the boulder.


    Norah and Kayed stared in astonishment. Roku was impressed. "I expect no less from a Rennayan Prince, but you must channel your iko, with less aggression. It breaks because you will it to, not because of your anger."


    Osei nodded, then walked back to their sitting area and started to wrap up his bleeding knuckles.


    The General turned his attention towards the rest of the Novas. "You won''t make any progress by staring at it!"


    Kayed & Norah rolled their eyes and shook their heads. Then, got back into position and continued training.


    Above Kaieda''s training grounds...


    Tai leaped up, trying to one-up Kaieda, who had just unleashed, a thirty-foot-tall golem, covered in tough metals from the earth. Then sent it after Carina and Kalista.


    Tai covered his fists in the hottest flames he could produce without transforming. Remembering Kaieda''s words, ''Don''t hold back, but no ascending.''


    He bit down, throwing his fist forward, toward Kaieda''s back. Expecting a hard connection and breaking the unsuspecting man''s back. Instead, the Nova almost threw up, as he was lurched back by an arm made of sand. Which grabbed him, with a firm grip. While nearly breaking one of his arms.


    "Now, now, how could you fall for that? Didn''t I tell you? Iko can be anywhere, as far as your body will allow, and your imagination can reach..." Kaieda reminded them, as he turned around and let his golem smack Kalista far off into the distance, then it threw Carina high up in the air, towards them.


    The prince caught Carina in a floating bed of sand, before continuing his lecture and restrained her. "You''ve been letting your emotions cloud your judgment for too long. It should only be a catalyst. If you were more aware. You would have realized..."


    The ground of their entire training grounds, began to shift and change, rumbling as if two earthquakes were fighting each other, underground. "I have already made this entire area my domain. The only way you can escape my gaze is by overwhelming my domain or moving faster than me. For that, you''re going to have to keep putting yourself on the brink of death." He spoke gleefully, then had the floating arm throw him across the field, before turning his head in Kalista''s direction.


    "Looks like one of you, has figured it out already." He sighed, raising his right hand, then dropping it, as a sudden pit, opened up under Kalista''s feet. She yelled out, but with quick thinking raised a platform to fly out. Only for it to crumble apart as the ground closed up above her and sunk her into an abyss.


    Kaeida turned his eyes towards Carina. She was struggling to get out of her restraints, but Kaeida''s iko felt like iron. "Are you going to continue playing princess or are you going get stronger?" His words stung. He barely knew her, but she felt like he had peeked into her whole life with one gaze.


    "I know! We are going to play a game." He said excitedly, as three perfectly carved gems, rose out of the ground, hovering behind Kaeida''s back. Then he reached his left hand out, as a crude alien-like megaphone, put itself together in his hand.


    He cleared his throat before speaking. "Attention Novas. Your comrade has been captured. Whenever you get the chance to free her and destroy the stones behind my back, you''ll get to enjoy supper tonight. Don''t worry, The Rahmanaka can go days without food!."


    He let out a hearty laugh, while dropping the megaphone down below and faced Carina. While ignoring Kalista, erupting out of her pitfall. "Now then... Are you just going to let yourself be saved?"


    At Yori''s training grounds...


    Yori, released the growling bears, out of their cages. Who immediately, rushed after the two Novas, as they instinctively jumping out of the way.


    "Don''t be scared. They won''t bite, if you can tame them with your iko, that is!" Yori called after them.


    Jacira & Runa looked at each other, and then at Yori. "Are you crazy?!" They asked in unison.


    The girls had all right to be wary. The bears were called Nakaya bears, native to the Azurian planet and could survive the harshest of conditions, the planet had to offer. Especially with them having to adapt from one Solar System to the next.


    Their defining features included black and light brown fur, with an all-black underbelly. Weighing in over three thousand pounds, larger than any bear on Earth. One of them continued to charge after the Novas. The other turned its bloodthirsty, red eyes towards Yori.


    Seeing her as easy prey. However, she didn''t panic, as it got closer. Instead, she raised her left hand towards its head, while it continued to snarl at her with overwhelming malice. Then she dropped her hand down, as the bear followed suit, bowing its head.


    "Woah! What the actual -" Jacira started to say before her bear leaped four feet into the air and attempted to pull her down.


    She raised her ice platform higher, then manifested walls surrounding her bear, so that she could have a little time to think. To her dismay, it broke out of it easily, like it was tearing paper.


    Yori piped up, trying to get across to the struggling Novas, while Runa kept yelling, "Stay put" and "Sit," as she dodged her bear''s lunges. "I forgot to mention, where there is an abundance of iko, animals adapt. As such they will be able to use it too." Jacira looked at her with a poker face, like she couldn''t have told them earlier.


    Runa stopped running around and faced her bear head-on. "I said... Sit!"


    She spoke with a serious tone. Her bear in response, slowed down for a second. As it raised its arm, high above its head, ready to strike her down. Runa, showed no hint of fear, as she continued to stare down the bear and repeat her words louder this time. "Sit, or I''ll fry you alive!"


    The bear paused as if it was thinking things over. Then dropped its paw, to the ground, and sat, snarling once at her.


    Yori smiled, seeing Runa''s progress. "Well done Runa! You''ve almost completely tamed the beast. Next time, use a little less aggression. It helps."


    Runa rolled her eyes. She didn''t like Yori, but she acknowledged her battle experience. However, she still hated the fact, that she had to train so far away from Simon, someone she had started to become more fond of. She only found out he turned down the invite at the last minute.


    Yori, gave her an indifferent smile, even though she knew, she would never receive one back. She turned her attention back to Jacira, watching her continue to struggle with her bear. "Jacira, you''ve got this! Think of them as the adorable cubs, they usually are!"


    Jacira was a little annoyed, thinking to herself, that they weren''t ''adorable,'' and that she was just trying to get her killed.


    As if sensing her thoughts, Yori yelled out to the both of them. "After this, I have descendants of dinosaurs, you can practice on!"

 Return to Rennaya

    Tobi and the Novas continued to train on Azuria and increase their knowledge of iko, along with their strength and techniques. They took turns switching with the other Novas, invading the Cerian Empire and protecting the Federation, during the next several weeks.


    Beyond progressed with a path forward, securing a safe route for Earth and the other planets of the Federation through Cerian Space. In due time they came across the last habitual planet, at the end of their path. A planet, that looked to be recovering from a mass invasion. With abandoned cities, overtaken by nature and an incredibly small population of survivors, showing up on Saphyra''s scans.


    She immediately rushed to Sarah, with the news, hoping to confirm something. However, as she watched Sarah''s eyes light up, she got her answer. The war-torn, ghost planet, was in fact Rennaya.


    Such news made headlines across Earth and the rest of the Federation. A massive event was created, to help raise the declining morale and to showcase progress. Beyond, would be visiting Rennaya, and performing a late funeral for the people there.


    Sarah also wanted to dig up, all of the ancient artifacts and records, the planet might have to offer. Within a couple of days, of the discovery, Saphyra had gathered together four million troops, commanded and protected by seven and a half million combat androids. Dozens of Aeromachs were loaded with hundreds of tanks and aircrafts, all ready to be deployed.


    Osei & Kalista insisted on going. The Novas had noticed that the Rennayans were holding back their emotions and didn''t breaking out of character. However, they knew, the images and drone videos, that Saphyra had shown them, tore them apart.


    Saphyra was hesitant but decided to add them to the roster. She then picked Norah, Tai, and Helio to lead an expedition, on the Northern continent. Kiala, Jacira, and Nate were to lead another expedition to the Western continent and lastly, Kayed, Simon, and Carina were to travel to the Eastern continent.


    As for Tobi and Osei, she allowed them to have the freedom to look into the city of Senae, within the Central continent. Kalista wanted to go alone, but since the Azurian royal family wanted to take part, Saphyra asked her to escort Kaieda and Yori along with her to her hometown.


    Akio granted each of the teams, a few of his Hashin to tag along with them. For his family though he doubled the security. With the Rahmanaka''s help, Saphyra was now more confident that she could carry out this event with no problems.


    Noon the following day...


    One hundred and sixty Aeromachs, entered the Rennayan Solar System, making their way towards Rennaya. Only ten ships descended to the planet, the rest remained in orbit, securing the Solar System and conducting lighter expeditions on nearby planets and moons. They discovered old mining and research outposts on planets, moons, and asteroids that the Rennayans had set up. Using them for agriculture and inescapable prisons as well.


    Tobi was a little excited to be learning a bit more about his roots. He loved visiting Nigeria with his family. Food back home was unlike anything else. With the sights and the culture, although he often felt a loss of cultural identity growing up so far away, visiting there always gave him a sense of home.


    Now landing in Senae, after everything he had been told about, it all just felt surreal. Still, Tobi, knew better than to show his excitement, in front of Osei. Knowing his brother may still have some trauma, haunting him.


    Sarah continued around them as usual. She had not been able to spend much time with them, after her transformation, but they didn''t mind, just teased her a bit, and let her be. They always knew, that every one of the projects she worked on, and continued to work on, would positively impact Beyond''s military strength in space.


    "The other teams have their missions, but you two, including Kalista, are free to do whatever you want... After you get in first contact with the natives here..." She said as she watched them roll their eyes. "Just let them know, that we come in peace, please?"


    They nodded, as two Hashin, split apart, following behind them, into the sky. Both heading toward coordinates, Sarah had updated on their monitors. A light HUD display on their retinas, that could be shut on and off by thought.


    Osei ignored his orders and went straight to the spot. The place he last saw his parents broadcasted. The feeling he had seeing, their skeletons still in place.


    He broke down, while the Hashin watching him, knew immediately to give him his space. He began preparing a coffin to keep them in, as they would most likely transport them to the royal cemetery, near the Hallantium. Osei thanked the Hashin for giving him a hand.


    Tobi landed on the outskirts of the city, near a forest. He wondered if he was in the right spot. As he flew through the city, he was surprised by the craftsmanship the people had. Remnants of fallen skyscrapers roamed the city, invaded and reclaimed by the environment.


    He wished he could have seen what it was like, back in the day. The sound of twigs snapping caught his attention. He glanced around, looking deep into the forest, to try and find the source of the sound.


    Pushing some leaves to the side, a young Rennayan woman around his age, made her way into the open. Staring him down.


    Tobi slowly placed one hand on his chest, above his heart and bowed slightly, a familiar action in his culture back home. Osei had taught him, this was also a show of respect, to another fellow Rennayan.


    "Hi, my name is Tobi, Commander of the Beyond Space Force. What is your name?" His comm, helped to translate the words out of his mouth, as he spoke.


    The woman backed up slowly but replied while trying to hide the fear from her voice. "Are you a child of Atlas?" She asked, wary.


    Tobi, shook his head, wondering what would make her think that, yet she continued. "Are you a slave of the Cerian Empire?"


    Tobi shook his head once more. "No, I am not affiliated with the Cerian Empire. I''m from Earth, a planet far off in space. Way too far to imagine, but somehow I found out, that I might also have come from here." As he said that, he calmly reached his hand out, with his palm facing up.


    Pebbles crashed together forming a tiny sphere, followed by a ball of fire manifesting, then an orb of electricity, all orbiting around a sphere of telekinetic force, cracking up air in the middle. Last, ice manifested, joining the mix and leaving the girl astonished.


    "It can''t be... you are..." She stuttered, then dropped to her knees, shocked.


    Tobi stopped what he was doing to help, her up. As he did, she grabbed hold of him and asked with sincere eyes. "Please help us! Our doctor is sick."


    He thought about it for a second, then agreed. Moments later the woman rushed him, to her village. Deep within the forest. He expected to come across makeshift huts and salvaged garbage from the city. He was half right.


    The woman had introduced herself, to him as Jelani. She had a dark complexion and wore ragged old clothes. She was around 5''9, with beautiful blue eyes, that had seen, enough stress in her life. Yet she carried on with the strength of a lion.


    She brought him to a door of an underground bunker. Branches and leaves camouflaged it. Jelani walked up and brushed some aside, revealing a hi-tech touchpad. She tapped several buttons, then stepped back, as a door, revealed itself shimmering as nanites parted parted ways.


    A small elevator took them down, with an open view of the entire bunker, leaving Tobi speechless. The interior of the bunker was massive, housing at least one hundred and fifty people with a capacity of tens of thousands.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    The people seemed depressed, Tobi thought, as they got closer to a makeshift gate. Two Rennayan men stood firm, as guards.


    "Who is that with you Jelani? He is not from around here." One of them asked, in a deep tone.


    Jaleni frowned. "What''s it to you, Remi? He''s my guest. We''re in a hurry, so let me through."


    She started to walk through the gate, but the other guard grabbed her up, restraining her, as the other one stepped up to Tobi. However, In one swift motion, a large golem made up of ice, manifested, grabbing hold of the guard''s leg, holding Jelani and lifted him up.


    He dropped her yelling out, as a second golem caught her. Embarrassed, he began punching the golem, with fists covered in stones, telling it, to let him down.


    At the same time, Tobi sidestepped Remi''s reach with fire at his heels, then grabbed his arm, and twisted it behind his back, as he moulded cuffs out of stone and metal to keep him still.


    People started to gather, while Jelani was let down. "Did he just use...?"


    "It''s not possible..." The people murmured.


    Tobi looked down at Remi. "Listen, when people are talking to you. I was invited here on an urgent task. I apologize for doing this, but I do not have time to go through the right procedures right now."


    He gave the man a smile, although he knew he wasn''t getting one back. "I promise I will be back."


    Tobi started to leave, as Jelani watched Remi, get up slowly with his hands still cuffed behind his back. She called out after Tobi, but it was too late, both of the guards had freed themselves, gathering their utmost strength to take on the monster that had just walked past them.


    Tobi continued walking without care. With his next step though, a trail of ice, raced out from under his sole, freezing the two lunging at him. Then a titanium and diamond cage swallowed them up and rose, as a tower to the ceiling of the bunker, keeping them prisoner.


    He turned his head towards Jelani, who was shocked by what she had just witnessed. She grew up with Remi and the other guard. They were one of the toughest in the village. She couldn''t imagine them losing so easily.


    "Are you coming? Don''t worry about them. They just need to cool their heads a bit." Tobi said, as he continued walking.


    Jelani looked up at the imprisoned guards once more, then turned around to lead the way. Pausing as their path was laden with people kneeling and murmuring to themselves. Some of the elders had tears flowing, thanking God for what they had just witnessed.


    Tobi was a bit puzzled, but he could tell, they were doing this for him. Jelani looked back, seeing his confused expression. "What do you expect? The legendary Rennayan was only supposed to be a legend or a fairy tale. Showing off your abilities like that only gives them hope."


    She grabbed his hand, rushing him forward. "Come on! We have to hurry!"


    They stopped in front of one of the largest mobile units, the size of a single home. It looked ancient but was more held together than the rest of the units. Which spread around in a circle, with the large headquarters in the center. Storing their security monitors and warning devices, that helped the survivors keep tabs on the outside. The headquarters also contained a large elevator, behind it, to help bring or evacuate the masses.


    Jelani had told Tobi, as much as she could, on the way over to the clinic. He noticed many tents set up outside of it.


    He could hear the sound of painful coughs, and feel the pain that the people were suffering from. He made a protective ice mask, to filter the air, he was breathing, realizing, that there was an outbreak in the bunker.


    He followed Jelani, into the clinic, as she made her way toward a large room. Passing by more sick people, waiting for their end.


    On a small bed, laid a middle-aged woman, weak and holding on to life, as best as she could. Tobi walked up to her, while Jelani, rushed to her side, whispering to her.


    One look at her and Tobi knew she wasn''t going to make it past the next few days, possibly even the next morning. He approached slowly as Jelani, glanced back, crying. "Please, is there anything you can do?" She asked, desperately.


    Tobi was unsure, he had never practiced his medical abilities, as often as Helio and Nur, so he didn''t know the extent of what he could heal. Sarah had often had them partake in volunteer missions, in impoverished countries. Healing as many of those, suffering from diseases, wounds, and ailments.


    He placed one hand over her stomach, summoning forth, the sickness, weakening her by isolating the areas affected with ice. However, it backfired, spreading itself further and putting the host through much more pain.


    The woman screamed out, as a nurse rushed in, while Jelani held on to the woman''s hand. Tobi, felt, the weight of another''s life, in his hands, something, he''d been feeling too often lately. He knew he couldn''t mess this up.


    He burst into second gear, limiting his energy outpour to himself, to avoid hurting those around him. He concentrated on his patient. Isolating the infected areas and deleting the cells slowly, while accelerating new cell growth. It strained him, but after five minutes, he was able to replace all of her infected cells, with healthy ones.


    The woman stopped convulsing, as she slept, at peace. The nurse and Jelani rushed to the woman''s side, checking her vitals and status. However, Tobi knew, as he turned around to focus his attention on the remaining patients in the clinic, that she would be alright.


    Ice golems, shaped like Tobi, manifested in front of the majority of them, powered by a flaming core and scaring people throughout the hospital. Regardless, they quickly dropped their guards, when a warm euphoric feeling, soothed them.


    "Frost: Elixir of Life," Tobi whispered, then dropped to one knee, as he began to suffer side effects. Each breath he took, was followed by mist and vapor. His body started to shiver, as frost began spreading all across his body.


    Jelani turned to thank him but stopped when she noticed what was happening to him. "Tobi! Are you alright?!"


    Tobi winced, from cold stings, but continued to reach for his belt. He retrieved a booster and injected himself with it.


    Then stood up, recovering himself from the frost taking over his body. At the same time, a man around his height crashed through the room, followed by several guards and patients, looking much better and watching behind them.


    "Jelani! Nia! Are you alright?" The man asked, frantic, and wary of the strange man in the room, with his loved ones.


    Jelani gleamed at the man, with tears, and a trembling smile. "Poppa, we''re alright. Mom''s well again."


    Tobi was a little surprised, that the doctor, was her mother, but he surmised a little that she was a relative or someone really important to Jelani. He made way for the man to check on his wife.


    As he passed by, Tobi noticed immense stress, wearing the man down, way beyond his years. With grey streaks invading his hair and beard, accompanied with baggy eyes, from sleepless nights.


    The man cried out, seeing his wife sleeping soundly, while the nurse confirming her good health. He turned around and faced Tobi, then looked down at the ground. "First, you have my utmost gratitude, for saving the mother of my child. Second, your resemblance... May I ask..."


    Tobi sighed, nodding. "I guess, I should introduce myself. My name is Tobi of Earth, but I also hail from Rennaya, as the son of Zenu and Safiyah." The room went silent, as he uttered those words.


    "How?"


    "It can''t be possible."


    "I thought the royal family perished."


    Were all the murmurs and whispers echoing across the room. Then there was some outrage, and people asking for help.


    "Why couldn''t you save us."


    "What took you guys so long?"


    "Please take my child with you."


    Tobi was about to speak up, but Jelani''s father shut them all down. "Silence!" In an instant, there was pin-drop silence.


    The man commanded the respect of the entire room. Then he got down on his knees with his head low.


    "I am the Chief of Inami village, Belo. Forgive me, before founding this village in this abandoned bunker, I deserted from the royal army. Running to save the lives of my family. There are many soldiers, like me, who regretted not dying with your father that day. As we watched, him and your mother fight their last battle, on the sky-screens."


    Tobi could feel, the amount of guilt, this man was carrying with him. He wanted to try and ease the burden, just a little bit. "Raise your head, Belo, was it?"


    He gave the man a heartfelt smile and extended his hand to help him up. "You have long been forgiven. You''ve done nothing wrong. Instead, you should be rewarded, for keeping the last of our kin alive here, for over two decades."


    Tobi, looked around the room, as more people poured in, and some watched through the windows. "I''m sorry I''m late. I was born without the knowledge of my heritage. My brother Osei had been captured by Atlas, until about earlier this year. Now, we''re back. We are here to give you a hand and get you out of here. These are not the conditions, any of you should be living in!"


    He took a deep breath before continuing. "It won''t, be easy and I''ll need all of your help. But together, we can change your future."


    Cheers of joy and smiles of relief, rippled through the room. Tears kept dropping, uncontrollably. Tobi turned back to Belo, who was astounded, by his captivating words. "You are the last prince." The Chief whispered.


    Tobi, chuckled, scratching his head. "What''s that? Nah, I''m not a prince, just a regular citizen in my world. I even had to work and everything."


    Belo shook his head laughing. "A member of the royal family working a regular job. That can''t be!"


    Tobi laughed slyly, thinking about all the bills that plagued his life, before he met Osei. If only he knew, he was due some gold.


    Belo, looked at him, once more, then nodded. "If you have barely heard of your heritage, then I think there is something, you must see. If your brother is here, he must have been too young as well. Call him to meet us."


    Tobi was curious about what the man, had in mind, but he did as he was told. Moments later, he, Belo, and Jelani were flying towards the Hallantium, watching Osei, from the opposite end, shoot across the sky towards it.


    Belo and Jelani dropped to their knees out of respect when they saw Osei. "At ease, you may rise." He said, smiling at them. It had been some time since he had seen the manners of his people. "So what is all of this about?"


    Tobi turned back to the Chief and raised his hand out. "Well..."


    Belo nodded, stepping up. "Below the Hallantium, lies the treasure of our people..."

 Keystone

    Belo led them through a tunnel, past a large door, covered by rubble. They cleared it, then continued through. Sarah had heard them when they landed, disturbing her expedition site, and because of curiosity, she decided to tag along.


    "Where are we going?" She asked the Chief.


    He looked back at her, as he led the way, with a brightly lit fireball in his palms. "A place only permitted on special permits and a site for pilgrimage for some. There used to be a second entrance, but it was destroyed during the invasion. It is called the Armaya."


    Cobwebs lined the walls, as geckos, mice, and other small insects scurried around the descending tunnel. There was a sharp turn, then a left. After a dozen more meters, they stopped, at a large room. Dimly lit, by a faint ray of light. However, just before they entered, Tobi helped Belo light the room.


    They were shocked by the ancient drawings and glyphs, fading around the room. In the middle, was a black cube taking up about a fifth of the room and glowed with the glyphs of ancient writing, on all four sides. as if placed there intentionally.


    The cube had streams of lava, flowing through its cracks, like a network of rivers. On the cube''s surface were writings, written in foreign handwriting and ink. The entire cube seemed to shimmer every so often. At the bottom right of it, a fist-sized hole, outlined by a black metal and cushion-like casing, seemed placed there at the last minute, throwing off the whole aesthetic.


    "Woah! No way something like this is down here. Sarah, we gotta take a picture of this." Tobi tried reading what was on the cube, but it was written in an ancient language. He looked at his brother, squinting his eyes at the texts on the massive cube. "Can you read this?"


    Osei shook his head. "I can, but it''s written in very old writing, making it hard for me to interpret."


    Tobi looked once more at the cube. The words started to translate slowly into English, with the help of his contacts. Belo walked in front of both of them, then called Sarah''s attention, who was busy, taking professional pictures of the entire room.


    "If I may... These texts are from, ancient times. Last updated about 2 million years ago." Belo, started, once they were all ready.


    Tobi, Osei, and Sarah were shocked. Sarah spoke up, in disbelief. "How''s that possible? The earliest writing system, for our species, wasn''t developed until 3500 B.C.E, with the Sumerian Cuneiform, also, what material can survive for that long? Are you saying, there were civilizations, capable of passing down complex knowledge as far as 2 million years ago?"Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Belo smiled. "All I know is what''s been deciphered, through these texts." He touched the stone, as his handprint showed up, then disappeared. "These stones were not only meant to pass down knowledge but also to warn of the Dark One. A being, that wiped out the ancient empire and broke up the galaxy."


    Tobi shook his head. "The Dark One. Why am I hearing so much about them? Shouldn''t it be dead by now?"


    Belo shook his head and chuckled. "Some believe it to be a fable or a myth but the Dark One is not a creature of the earth like us, or the children of Atlas. It is said to be roaming the universe, hoping to make itself whole once more."


    He sensed more questions incoming but raised his finger to continue. "There''s more. Before its destruction, the leaders of the ancient kingdom constructed these cubes, called Keystones, made out of versillium, blood, and other contents lost through time, all to preserve these texts and lead the chosen ones, to the Alcore. A supposed piece and important part of the dark ones soul, that can grant the owner immense power and any of their wishes."


    He paused to take a breath and walked over to the hole on the bottom right of the cube. Before he could speak, Tobi blurted out. "There''s no way, we got all of this, just from one cube?"


    Belo laughed, lightly. "No. I''ve been interested in ancient history since I was a child. Rennayan historians and archeologists got together, with scientists from other planets and because of those nations, sharing their keystones, we were able to piece together and maintain the true history."


    He pointed at the hole. "Those chosen by the people must gather at least 200 keystones. Of which, 10, like this one, will lead you to the Alcore."


    Saphyra was baffled by all of this information. She was surprised that there was no mention of the keystones in any hard drives that they had seized from the children of Atlas. As well as from her future self.


    "That must be Atlas''s goal. Picking out 200 guardians, like his children for the keystones." She said, after mulling things over.


    Belo nodded at her words. "It''s possible since your followers will have to trust and believe in you, to want to thrust their arms inside, to unlock the seal for the Alcore."


    Osei stepped back in disbelief. How had he gone on for so long, without such knowledge?


    Jelani was ecstatic to hear all of this, once again, but she had never been down below, to personally see the keystone. She was entranced by its design and constant glow.


    Tobi walked closer to it. Almost able to read about sixty percent of texts written across the stone. "Wow, if this was all part of some book, it would be an epic for the ages."


    A voice paralyzed them, from up above. "A true epic, it would be indeed."


    Descending slowly out of the hole, letting out the faint ray of light, was a being they dreaded facing this early on. Atlas, the Cerian Emperor had arrived...

 The One, That Can Not Be Forgiven

    The room began to shake from the build-up of energy between both parties. The brothers spun around on instinct to face him, but instead of feeling fear or worrying about their lives, anger prevailed as the number one priority.


    Osei could recognize that voice anywhere, no matter how many years had passed. He could never forget it.


    Tobi didn''t know where all of his anger was coming from. Maybe from the pain, his brother had been through, the people he had liberated and the survivors, or the fact that this creature made his birth a tragedy. Aside from all of that, it felt as though, suddenly, tons of emotions washed over him, from others within him.


    Voices telling him one thing. "He must be stopped," Tobi accidentally spoke out loud, as both he and Osei, went straight into third gear, drawing out all of their might.


    Osei glanced back at his brother, for one second, realizing it was much too early for him, to be meeting the emperor. However, right now wasn''t the time for uncertainty. "That''s right brother. He is the one, that cannot be forgiven."


    Sarah spoke up, breaking the tension. She had Belo and Jelani, clutching onto her, and one hand on the stone. "Tobi, Osei, I''ll get them and the stone out of here and evacuate everyone. Retreat the moment you can."


    She began to gather enough energy to teleport, but Atlas raised his hand toward her. "You will not."


    His eyes gleamed, as a powerful ball of green fire, jetted faster than sound, out of his palms. Belo and Jelani said their prayers, as life for the first time, flashed before Sarah''s eyes. The brothers, with quick instincts, got in front of it and unleashed attacks to counter it.


    "Ignite: Static Cannon!"


    "Raieqa Core!"


    Fire and electricity collided with the incoming attack, destroying the room even further as Sarah disappeared with the keystone and the survivors, in the midst. Atlas stared down the brothers, annoyed that they let her escape with the stone, but then he cracked a smile.


    "I am displeased to have lost the keystone. One, I''ve been missing all these years. After finally coming across it too, but how can I stay mad, when I''ve finally reunited with my favourite trophy." His smile got even more sinister, as his eyes squinted.


    "How long has it been? 7-8 years? I know I haven''t checked on you much, ever since I gave you to Ataron and my boys... Well, have you been treating them well?"


    Blue lightning struck down, through the large holes crumbling down the roof, only to be blocked by a barrier of ice, as the emperor instinctively manifested one, above him.


    Osei watched, slightly shocked, but gritted his teeth and shook his thoughts away. "I''m no longer yours to do as you please. I''ve risen against you and will free the people from your injustice and tyranny."


    The emperor smirked at his words. "Oh, my. How you''ve grown. You''re almost the perfect warrior." He replied back, as he shook his head and laughed out loud, while the cave continued to crumble down harder around them. He protected the brothers from any falling rubble and debris so that he could continue his chat.


    "Unfortunately, I''m ending all of those dreams today. As we speak, my children are dealing with your friends, which you''ve scattered all over my territory. I''ve even brought along 50 million troops and hundreds of ships, surrounding this Solar System to quell this little rebellion. There''s nowhere for you to escape."


    Osei snarled, furious, but unable to come up with a reply, while Tobi spread his senses all over the planet, confirming what he was saying. Comms were down and they had not been able to receive word of the ambush.


    "Rennaya is not yours." He still managed to retort back.


    Atlas'' expression turned serious, upon hearing those words coming from Osei, but he still maintained a smug look. "Hmm, if that''s so, then, what can a prince without a throne, do about it?"


    Osei drew his sword and immediately charged at the emperor at maximum speed. Managing to strike blades with him and crash with him out, through the roof.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    The emperor returned each strike the Nova threw at him with almost an equal force, but ended up being smacked down into the cliff side of the Hallantium. He looked up, expecting to see Osei, following up with an attack, but Tobi floated above him instead, with a condensed, sphere of magma, fire, and electricity.


    "Ignite: Ultra Static Cannon!" He yelled, as the beam decimated the entire area, the emperor was standing on and ate at the heart. Showering Atlas with intense heat. However, as Tobi let up, the emperor remained standing, unscathed and in first gear.


    "And you must be..." He reached his hand out, while a large invisible palm seemed to grab hold of Tobi, then pressed him straight into the ground, with incredible force.


    Tobi yelled out in pain, as Atlas began to walk closer. "The Legendary Rennayan, that''s been messing with all of my plans." He smiled, sending chills down Tobi''s spine. "You turned out better than I expected. I''m satisfied with my investment, King Zenu."


    He looked up to the sky, exclaiming to the heavens. "You hear that, Zenu! I appreciate this final gift!"


    Anger was all the brothers felt, as Tobi teleported out of his hold and appeared behind him, with Osei following up from up above. Each throwing in everything and more, into their strikes.


    At the same moment, the emperor shifted into another gear, and teleported, behind Tobi. Then, watched them in slow motion, as he kicked him so hard, that Tobi managed to lose his grip on his sword before the impact, sent him flying into the distance. Osei continued, unable to stop, while he struck down at nothing. He was only able to glance over at the emperor, as he was socked in the face, with a fist, covered in green and black flames.


    Atlas shifted down, back into first gear, as he raced towards his new prize. Tobi got up, regaining his composure, while struggling to keep himself from vomiting, as he was shot at with green lasers, through his knees and left arm.


    He dropped down unable to muster any strength, as the emperor landed near him. Immediately, he reached for a booster, coming up empty, only to realize, he had used one and given the other to Jelani''s mother. With an extra, for any elderly or ICU patient who might''ve needed it.


    Tobi cursed, but continued to heal himself, slowly, as he heard Atlas speaking up. "I''ve waited so long to meet you. I thought Zenu would never succeed but look at you. You can even teleport. Unfortunately, though, you are not ripe enough for eating yet. You must get stronger."


    Tobi needed to buy time, as he struggled to heal his legs. The feeling was uncomfortable. "Why do you need me, when you can use more than one ability? When you''ve given your children all of that power, by blood?"


    Atlas stopped in his tracks and laughed hysterically. "It''s been haunting me for a long time and frustrates me every day. Some of my children can even hold at least three at a time, but I have the capacity for all five." Tobi''s eyes grew wide, as The emperor shook his head. "My only problem has been, because of my creator''s flaw. I can only use one ability at a time unless I absorb the Legendary Rennayan. A being, I have been searching for, for over 6000 years... Now you''re finally here, in front of me."


    Explosions went off in the distance, as several ships fell out of the sky. Tobi looked around, just realizing the chaos unfolding on the planet. It started becoming difficult for him to keep his composure, as Atlas started walking closer.


    He raised his right hand, shouting out as quickly as he could. "Erupt Animals of The Earth!"


    A massive gaping, crevice, ruptured open, spouting out carnivorous creatures from all around the world, launching into the air and charging on land, all aiming for the emperor. Atlas turned around and waved his hand, shifting into second gear for a moment, then dropped back to first.


    An intense wave of wind blew away all of the animals to the side, continuously, till they cooled down into statues, along with the wave of lava. Shocking Tobi, even more, as he continued to fire volleys of fire and electricity at him frantically.


    ''What was that strength, just now.'' Reality began to settle in. The emperor was too far beyond his reach.


    Doubt, raced across his mind, as he thought of all the people, that he led to their deaths. Regret was the only thing, keeping him standing, for fear, would have made him run away, long ago.


    Tobi teleported a kilometre out, by instinct, as Atlas lunged for him. His legs gave up holding him. It was difficult to repair complicated bone damage.


    He cursed once more as the pain of trying to get back up, stung like hot iron. Finally, he looked up in despair, while frosting support stilts for his legs, as Atlas teleported in front of him, pulling back a mighty swing, ready to knock him out.


    Only to be struck back by Osei, at the last second, pushing him dozens of meters away. "Back away!"


    Tobi was relieved to see his brother well, but he could tell he had been injured badly. As he watched the nanites Osei had injected himself with, repairing his bruises and scratches.


    Atlas chuckled, as he closed the distance between him and the brothers. "So it''s true. I knew you were protecting something, that night. I should have dug in deeper, but I was already so exhausted from travelling so far and Zenu had already disappointed me, with the serum."


    Atlas shrugged. "It''s as they say, ''time bears the best fruits.''"


    Tobi, got up, shaking off all of his fear. "Right here, right now. If we beat him... " He said, summoning all of his courage. "Everyone will be safe."


    Osei nodded. "Right."


    Tobi gathered all of his remaining energy and pulled some more from his surroundings, while supporting his brother. "Then let''s take him down, no matter what!" He yelled as the two brothers charged forward, together.

 The Forbidden Arts

    On the Northern Continent...


    Norah''s team had just regrouped with Tai''s after they had thoroughly searched their expedition area. They encountered many types of wildlife, thriving without the disturbance of people and unbothered by the incoming chaos, that was about to unfold.


    Plumes of fire and screams of dying men, rang across the valley, like a beacon, forcing Norah and Tai to race towards Helio''s direction. They tried to reach him on the way, but they quickly found out, that comms were down. Then, they looked up.


    As the sky, as they last remembered it, turned from, blue to gray and orange. While ships and aircrafts engaged in an intense one-sided struggle. Leaving carnage, rubble, and corpses falling out of the sky. Their soldiers and their way out.


    "I''ll be back." Norah said, as she quickly spun around and raced back, while cladding herself in electricity and leaving Tai, to go on ahead.


    As he got to Helio''s site, Norah made it a few seconds behind him. She didn''t want to regret not informing their teams to retreat and leave the Rennayan Solar System, as soon as possible. She knew something wasn''t right. Still, with shock, what they witnessed seemed like something out of a nightmare.


    Helio and his team were excavating and exploring a destroyed ancient city surrounded by a lush forest. That forest was now on fire and decorated with the blood, corpses, and parts of the androids and human members of his expedition team.


    They could tell the fire had been started intentionally, as the path of the fire, raged from blue to purple. It wasn''t possible for anyone to still be alive in within the forest, but as if rotating, within the circle of flames, they noticed flashes of ice, bursting out, then turning into mist.


    Norah raised her hand, then dropped it in the direction, of the last ice burst. With incredible speed, a large streak of blue lightning struck down, breaking through the domain of fire and striking its target.


    Moments later, Helio was thrown flying into them, but they caught him safely, as a figure, appeared with a blur in front of them. "So glad of you to gather here, all at once. I knew, I sensed, strong iko on this continent."


    Norah instinctively raised her guard at the sight of her. Switching into second gear.


    Tai braced himself, but he was more concerned about Helio. He checked the Nova''s pouch, noticing Helio had already used a booster, and his spare was destroyed. He gritted his teeth and gave him his own. Knowing it wouldn''t be good for him. However, the burns, Helio was suffering from, were too severe.


    Tai, could not help but sweat at the sight of the monster, looking them over. However, he still found the courage to speak. His country was watching him. His people. He could not fall here. "Who are you?!"


    The child of Atlas, raised a finger to her lips, biting it. "Oh my. How feisty you are. I''m sure you could have come up, with a better pickup line."


    She threw her hand back and gave him a slight bow. "I am Princess Zelha, the 94th child of Atlas. Pleased to meet you... and you must be his friends, from the Nova Division. Let''s get to know each other!"


    In a moment, the distance between her and Tai closed up faster than he could blink, as she zipped towards him, trailing fire. The only thing, stopping his imminent death, was Norah, reacting with incredible speed and aided by a lightning strike, she called down ahead of time. She and the princess, crashed down a few hundred meters before Zelha threw her back and regained her footing in the air.


    Norah glanced back at Tai. "Get Helio, out of here, you guys can still make it to the shuttles!"


    Tai shook his head. "There''s no way, we''re leaving you!"


    Zelha was shocked, by how they were just ignoring her. "What do you mean leaving? This place, used to have an important temple, you know. Let''s pay homage to it. With a temple, dedicated to me!"


    As she raised her hands, high up into the air, walls of fire, rose, all around the city. Burning red, blue, then purple into an intricately sculpted, ridiculously large temple, spanning, across the entire, abandoned city. "Zelha''s Temple!" She yelled out, beaming at the Novas and excited about her work. "What do you think?!"


    The Novas, who were not too thrilled, were struggling, to breathe from the sudden build-up of smoke and carbon monoxide. Yet, Helio stood up, with Tai''s support.


    "I can still fight!" He spoke, while raising one hand, to form a transparent swirling dome, filtering the air around them.


    Tai looked earnestly at the Novas. "Do you guys trust me?"


    They were a bit put off, by the timing of the question. Sure, he''d been a bit distant from them, in the beginning, but over time, they had been treating him, as part of the family.


    "Of course!" The two spoke in unison.


    He nodded back, then proceeded to switch into first gear. He had a lot of trouble at first, but with Nate''s help and the training he received from the Rahmanaka clan, he was able to better maintain it, without draining him. On his command, a flame barrier, manifested and layered itself over Helio''s dome, charged with the limits of his own iko. "Helio! Crash us through the walls."


    Helio looked at Norah, then at Tai. "Are you sure, you can do this? I can''t withstand that much heat."


    Tai shook his head. "If I can drop the heat around us just a bit, we can! Norah, we''ll need your energy."


    Norah, who had supercharged herself with electricity, prior, nodded. She placed her hands on both of their backs, as Zelha watched them attempting suicide through her flames.


    She laughed and concentrated the majority of the heat on the area, they were targeting. "If you''re trying to leave, burn! Burn along with your stupidity!


    The Novas were well adept at using sani iko. As such, part of Tai''s plan, involved sensing, where Zelha had spread out her energy. The moment she concentrated it all to stop them, was the moment they needed to escape.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Helio! Now!" Tai yelled out.


    Their dome, lurched upwards, away from the violet burning spot, then dove diagonally to the right, through another part of the wall, cooler than the rest. They crashed through, with intense turbulence, as Tai and Helio coughed up blood while struggling against the pressure of Zelha''s iko. Norah continued sharing as much of her energy, as they could take.


    "Ignite: Y¨¢ndi Zh¨© D¨´n!"


    "Frost: Dominio!"


    They broke through, while the dome dissipated into mist, leaving them falling out of the sky. Norah gained flight quickly and grabbed hold of both of them before they dipped low, near the fire and got them to safety.


    She got up to watch for the princess, after laying them down. They were both unconscious. She couldn''t blame them. This was not a monster, they should face.


    The flaming temple crumbled down, within itself, birthing a gigantic version of Zelha instead, and towered over several hundreds of meters, into the sky. The princess then appeared above them, furious. "If there are no worshippers, the temple crumbles doesn''t it?" The gigantic, flaming clone of her, raised its fist, getting ready to strike down. "Sinners shall be punished!" She yelled, raising her hands to her sides.


    On the Eastern continent...


    Kayed was worried about the others. He had just figured out that comms were down and his site was a lot further away from the other Novas & their meeting spot. He ordered his expedition team, to return back to their ships, even before he heard drones racing through the sky, feeling something wrong. Then, without wasting a moment, he rushed towards the clashes of energy, he felt, off in the distance.


    The Nova stopped, over a field of plains, with Simon, gravely wounded in third gear, with Carina, whose side effects were starting to kick in. She was assisting him by blocking, volleys of magma, thrown by a child of Atlas.


    He was around 6 ft tall, with a stocky build, adorning a cape, he had discarded earlier while fighting the Hashin. His skin tone was pale and complimented by grey, serpent-like eyes. He had the same black slits running down from his eyes to his chin, just like the rest of his family.


    Further to their left, the remaining disfigured halves of the Hashins sent to guard them, laid smouldering. Slowly being eaten away, by leftover blobs of magma.


    Kayed was seething with anger. He began making his way, aiming to join his comrades, when the child of Atlas, threwt their hand into the air. Tremors began below them, followed by a violent earthquake, then an eruption of lava, greater, than they had ever seen before, concentrated into a massive serpent-like wave and dipped down towards them.


    Kayed didn''t hesitate, although shocked and feeling a bit of despair in the situation they were in, he shifted into second gear, placing all of his might in a quick ball of lava, as Simon and Carina launched attacks of their own, in a last futile attempt. He joined in with them. "Erupt: Burkania!"


    Their attacks were completely overwhelmed, as the downpour pressed down, heavier than their force. However, not all of their efforts were wasted. Giving Kayed enough time, to create a platform around their footing with rails and yanked them safely out of there.


    "Kayed!" Carina called out, relieved to see him.


    He regretted getting there so late. He had still not mastered picking up iko, from long distances, but as he focused, for just a second. He felt all of the chaos unfolding on the majority of the planet.


    Simon dropped to his knees at the sight of him. Kayed could tell he was at his limit, with burn marks from his own side effects and some from contact with lava. The fact that, that they had not opted for first aid, made him realize, that they had already used it.


    Simon uttered a few words, but Kayed could barely hear them. Not only because of the raging hot winds and the splashing flow of lava below them but because of his anger, clouding his vision. Still, he was able to make out a little of what he had said. "...Don''t worry about me, take Carina, and run..."


    Kayed raised one hand towards them and reinforced the platform into a diamond dome, complete with see-through windows all around it. Then raised the dome into the sky, as Carina tried breaking the walls and called out to him.


    He planned on relinquishing control to her, but he first had to keep them safe. Both of them were precious to him. His first few friends at Beyond. He was grateful for all of the memories he had with them.


    Kayed was born weak and sick. It took everything his parents had to keep him alive, as well as his siblings. When the war and famine came, he watched, helplessly, as one by one, they died, because of their circumstance and how powerless he felt to stop it.


    His mother had died of sickness, soon after his sister''s birth. His little sister was next without enough nutrients, she passed quietly in her sleep.


    His father, continued overworking himself day and night, in the high heat, for meager wages. Suffering with their farm, barely producing anything, with his former job holding back his pay. Then one day, his family woke up to airstrikes and explosions, with shots being fired all over his village.


    He remembered, his older brother grabbing him and rushing him out of the door, while his father piggybacked his sleepy twin sister. As they ran with the other villagers to safety, a building collapsed, from a nearby explosion. Falling on many villagers, including his father and sister. The tears and screams he let out, were devastating, as his brother continued to drag him away, screaming with and at him. ''Don''t look back!''


    His older brother never blamed him for anything, not even for being a burden, as he raised him. Nor complained or showed any hints of hunger, when they ate. Even though he knew, his brother always gave him the bigger portions. One day, however, he never came back.


    With most of his extended family, killed in the war and famine, he was all alone. Starving to death, in an alley corner. With no one giving him a passing thought.


    Until Sarah landed out of the sky, aiding those in need in his neighbourhood and coming across him. She later confirmed to him, that his brother was killed, stealing food, from a shop to keep them fed. With little order, being upheld, his body was almost forgotten.


    He owed her everything and wanted to pay her back. His new family, he wanted to protect. However, this monster was standing in the way.


    The child of Atlas, floated to his eye level, curious about the newcomer. "And who might you be?"


    Kayed dropped his palm, facing the ground. "Erupt: Warrior!"


    A warrior made out of lava rose out of the ground and jetted towards the child of Atlas, aiming to bring him down, however, it was roundhouse kicked into oblivion, with little effort. "That''s rude. Fine, I''ll go first. My name is Demil, the 67th child of Atlas. I''m not sure why you got in my way, you''re not even as strong as one of the ones you''re trying to protect."


    Demil glanced down disappointed, at the dead Hashin. "They weren''t even much fun either. This planet isn''t as fun as it used to be. Why did father, need to drag me here again."


    Kayed shook his head, shaking away any fear he had left. ''I have to use it.''


    Since he had excelled in the other aspects of iko faster than the others and had often trained alone, he asked Roku, after the general caught him once, training at night. To teach him more about the flow of earth and magma. How to better access power from their abilities, when they were in a pinch.


    That''s when the General asked him if he was willing to learn about the forbidden arts. Techniques used only in last resort situations passed down only among the royal family and Hashin.


    Sealing his resolve, Kayed made two fists and then punched them into each other, while gathering all of the energy he could muster, for the technique. "Sorry about that, I was a little hot-blooded there. There''s no need for anger when God will judge you."


    Demil started to laugh."You''re kidding, right? You think God will save you from this situation?"


    The Nova chuckled lightly, thinking about all of his regrets, then laughed. "No, no, I''ve already done that myself. You though, should prepare yourself. I''ll be sending you to see him soon if you even have a soul."


    Demil sneered. "Is that so?"


    Kayed smirked, then completed his focus, releasing all of the energy he had been gathering, within his body. "Oh God, please forgive me."


    His eyes became fierce, as he locked in his resolve. "Forbidden Art, Self-Volcanization!" He yelled out loud, as he set his heart on fire.

 Calypso

    Kaieda was ecstatic to be visiting Kalista''s hometown. She tried hiding her emotions, but broke down, occasionally when they passed by something like a park, she used to go to or her old school.


    When they got to her home, they passed through, what used to be a gate and stood in front of a villa, with several walls missing, collapsed roofs & floors, decorated with scorch marks, faded with time. At last, she couldn''t take it anymore and dropped to her knees, sobbing.


    Yori ran to her and hugged her. "It''s okay, let it out. No matter what it''s like. It''s always good to be back home."


    Kalista spoke up, over several sniffs and wheezes, then pointed off, into the distance, at a larger, collapsed side gate. "That''s where they killed her."


    Yori was surprised to finally be able to break through to her. "Who?"


    Kalista sniffled, then got up, looking around. "My mother... I will never forgive them." She paused, then shifted into second gear, gathering as much energy as she could.


    Kaieda had just finished scouring the mansion for anything recoverable or intact but came up empty-handed. It seemed like everything had been packed. As if her parents were prepared, but he decided not to bring it up, If he would even have the chance to.


    As he stepped out, he noticed his daughter and Kalista on high alert. Then he stopped. Cursing himself, for letting his guard down.


    In the bushes, where a Hashin perched...


    The Hashin had watched Kaieda, ever since he was a child. He was the first to catch him before he fell, after his first flying lesson. Had often trained him in combat and shared drinks with him, when he became a man. Yet Kaieda had never seen the man''s face.


    So he knew all too well how energetic the guy was, especially in foreign territory. Which often gave him a headache. ''Now he''s gone into a building that''s barely standing. Why would the first prince of a nation do that?''


    He shook his head, tired of trying to read the prince''s mind. Instead, he decided to contact, the Hashin, guarding the exit closest to the prince, then switch his watch over to the two women.


    However, there was no response from that Hashin. He tried again, confused, but once again, there was no answer. Then he contacted the second one, seeing them hidden in a tree far off.


    Before they could answer, there was a burst of electricity, sparking up the tree. After that, he was no longer able to feel their iko.


    Alarmed, the Hashin ascended to the third level gathering up an armour of lava. "Forbidden art-"


    A child of Atlas, wearing an all-black bodysuit, with a gold contrast and a dark complexion, flew right past him, breaking his concentration. He was blonde and glanced at the Hashin, with silver, ice-like eyes. "You''re too late."


    The Hashin was confused. "What? How-" He uttered, as his head dropped to the floor, rolling to the side.


    The prince looked at where he was watching, noticing the two girls, glaring at him. He smiled, content.


    On Kiala''s Continent...


    As Kiala ran after Jacira, through ruins of buildings and skyscrapers, in the city they were scavenging, she was having the time of her life. It was awkward for her, to make friends in this timeline. However, since Jacira and her were new to the squad, they found themselves, hanging out more often, since the others were used to each other and Kiala didn''t like being treated like a kid.


    Their team had made progress, discovering labs and military outposts, where experiments were carried out. They made sure to recover, all of the old technology and files, for Sarah to study.


    Nate was busy vlogging for his channel. He had his camera following him closer as he spoke, but Saphyra''s drones stayed hidden overhead. Streaming to Sarah''s world along with all of the expeditions going on.


    The streams were being broadcasted using an alien wireless method, innovated by the Cerian Empire, which was why they were not affected by comms and network outages, currently rolling out all over the planet. Making there no way for Saphyra to warn the Novas. Only to watch horrifically, with the rest of the world, as a corpse of a Hashin crashed through, the broken glass of a building, that Nate was scouting, and flew right into him. Sending them both crashing back through a wall.


    He got up coughing dust and felt disoriented. Then noticed the Hashin, with his stomach ripped through, and burns all over his body, exhibiting no traces of iko.


    He immediately knew, that there was nothing he could do for the warrior and closed the man''s eyes out of respect. Then he instantly switched into first gear. Gathering as much energy as he could.


    However, time seemed to stop for a moment, as a child of Atlas, appeared before him, in a striking stance. He watched, unable to do anything, as she plunged her flattened hand into his stomach, with incredible speed. Then, raised him into the air, while removing her hand clean out of him, and caught him by the wrist. The princess smiled as she threw him, with intense speed towards the other''s direction.


    Kiala laughed, as Jacira, popped a trick, with a skateboard, she made out of ice. Jacira wanted to teach her all the tricks she learned, growing up, but something caught her eye.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "What''s that?" Kiala looked back.


    "What do you mean?" Jacira responded, stopping her board.


    Kiala''s eyes grew wide, as she immediately spread her senses, everywhere. Trying to find the enemy. "Jacira! Brace yourself!" She yelled, then manifested a catching mitt, made out of water and snow, to try and lessen Nate''s momentum, as he crashed down, with incredible force.


    Jacira was shocked, racing to his side and attempting to heal him right away. To her despair, she didn''t have enough strength. "If we weren''t here, he would have died. Give me a hand, I can''t heal him fast enough."


    Kiala gritted her teeth. Not knowing if she should conserve her strength or not. Then she opted not to regret it.


    Jacira shook her head, seeing Nate all messed up. "Who could have done this?"


    "Aww, you don''t like the present I sent you? I hate ungrateful bitches." They both spun around, turning their attention, toward the voice, sending nothing but creeping terror, down their spines.


    "Who are you?!" Kiala demanded, immediately shifting into third gear.


    The child of Atlas was blonde, with fair tan skin, and deep black slits running down her cheeks. Her veins flashed, purplish-orange, in intervals. She had black nail polish but wore an all-black fitted bodysuit.


    Her smile gave them the feeling of walking through broken glass. "Demanding, aren''t you? Were you spoiled a lot as a kid? Anyways I''ll forgive you this time." She said while rolling her eyes. "You can call me Calypso. The 14th child of Atlas."


    Kiala frowned, thinking she heard of that name, somewhere before, in a Greek myth. However, her thoughts were interrupted, as a massive boulder of ice, crashed down on Calypso, followed by the Hashin watching them, jumping in front of all of them.


    She proceeded to help the Novas, heal Nate. They couldn''t see her face behind the mask, but they could tell, she was frantic. "Find a way to get off of this planet now! I''ll handle it from here."


    She turned back around to face Calypso, as the ice boulder melted completely and evaporated, turning into water. Then the princess walked out, shaking her head, while unscathed.


    "Bigger doesn''t mean it''s better. Look." She said as she placed her index finger out, manifesting a small ice needle.


    The Hashin quickly clasped her hands together, trying to gather energy. "Forbidden Art, Self -"


    She was cut off, as a small hole appeared in the middle of her forehead and started lifting off the ground, as she was thrown back from the pure force of the projectile. Which ended up blowing through several walls behind her and lodged itself in a building far off.


    Kiala watched in horror, as the Hashin dropped to the floor, lifeless. "Jacira! Find a shuttle, and get to the Prometheus. Send for reinforcements!"


    Jacira frantically glanced back and forth, from the princess to her friend and the patient, she was trying to save. She felt a jolt of energy, as Kiala shared some with her.


    "But, I can''t leave you here on your own!" She finally spoke out, desperately, not knowing what to do.


    Kiala smiled. "It''s ok. I promise I''ll be ok."


    The Nova looked at her, once more. Reassured by the look on her face. Although she could tell, it was a front. She nodded and Kiala raised one palm towards her, with cracks of air, surrounding Jacira and Nate, before they disappeared.


    "Aww, how kind of you to let them escape. Unfortunately, there''s probably no longer any way off this planet, or Solar System for that matter." Calypso said as she walked closer, forcing Kiala to brace herself.


    She''d been siphoning energy, from the Hashin, to replenish what she had used to help save Nate and transport them. The Hashin gathered a mass amount of energy, before her untimely death, and Kiala did not mean to disrespect her this way, but she felt that she would have approved. However, she was unable to stop what was about to happen. Instinctively, she jumped back, while Calypso, continued to walk closer.


    Kiala glared, wondering what she was about to do, then her eyes grew wide, as she reached out. "No stop!" She had witnessed it multiple times growing up. Each time, she was powerless. Now, she was still powerless.


    Thunder bellowed overhead, as rings of fire crushed the ground. The princess, looked up, wondering what was happening since she was done with her meal. The Nova had lost it, watching her, desecrate, the Hashins body.


    She raised both of her arms up, as Kiala leaped at her, and struck with her entire might. Calypso grinned, as she redirected the Nova''s next strike to her left, then punched her deep in the gut, and sent her hurdling through, over a a dozen old buildings.


    Kiala was unable to breathe, as her vision began to fade and the walls and buildings she passed through crumbled. The one she crashed in remained standing, but was shakened up a bit. She thought of Jacira and the rest of the Novas. Then, felt a monstrous aura far off, where Tobi and Osei were supposed to be, as well as the other Novas.


    ''This is bad.'' She thought to herself, as she got up, to reach into her belt. Stopping at the last second to change into a defensive stance, as she blocked a devastating uppercut from the princess.


    The force sent her crashing through all thirty floors of the building and into the sky. She found it difficult, trying to regain her composure, as the pain of her broken arms stung and flailed in the wind.


    Calypso appeared with a blur above her. Purple veins pulsed and glowed brighter all over her body, with even streaks of silver, racing through her hair.


    The Nova gritted her teeth, just as she was about to dip back down from the previous strike. She manifested ice, to quickly, hold her hands together and created a violet condensed sphere of superheated gas. Standing still, as it rotated, faster than the eye could see. "Kinect: Plasma Cannon!"


    In less than a second, the beam had reached Calypso. Only to be intercepted by a flaming wall of ice, which charged at Kiala, as the princess broke through it and struck her back down, with flaming fists. Finishing the demolition of the entire building.


    She dropped down, near the epicentre of the shockwave she had just caused, and began talking down at Kiala, who could barely get up, much less able to stay conscious. "You were too cocky. Why struggle? You already knew you were going to die."


    Calypso was now in her vision, as she remained helpless. "Besides, you should be honoured. Once I absorb you, I might even be able to lead the Pleiades! Isn''t that exciting!"


    She frowned, seeing Kiala give her no response, but a confused injured look. "Ohh you probably don''t know. The Pleiades and Hespers, are Atlas''s top ten sons and daughters. The Hespers, his sons, and the Pleiades his daughters. I''m one of the Pleiades, which meant you were never going to leave this planet alive."


    She reached down, letting the Nova to watch her palm open up, with an incredible suction force and blades beginning to rip into her. Yet, somehow, forcing the last of her strength, Kiala managed to teleport out as far out of the city as she could.


    Reappearing crashing near a boulder. She grunted from the pain, but quickly manifested a small ice golem, to go into her pack and administer the booster for her. However, to her despair, Calypso appeared dozens of meters above her, flying at maximum speed to her location. She cursed, knowing she''d been too distracted, to maintain her senses.


    Her life began to flash before her eyes. She had so many regrets.


    "Damn it!" She yelled out to the world, as Calypso cut down with her sword and sent an arc of ice, to cut the Nova down.


    Fortunately, in the nick of time, Sarah appeared in front of her daughter, grabbing hold of her and teleporting both of them out of there. Unfortunately, not before she took the full force of the princess''s strike, instead.

 Kayed, The First Nova

    Selvin tried not to panic, as the Prometheus, took even heavier fire, from the hordes of Cerian spacecrafts and drones. Millions of lives were in his hands since Saphyra''s ship was taken out. Making his ship, the closest allied ship to the planet. Now just maintaining a couple of Aeromachs for evacuation was starting to seem impossible. In addition to being surrounded, by Alcra''s forces, who pressed closer to the Prometheus, didn''t make it any easier.


    The princess had already ordered him to surrender and lower his shields, which he adamantly refused. He had to give it to the crew, for holding themselves together. Sarah and Saphyra had trained them well. One of the cadets came running to him, delivering a report.


    "Sir!" They called out.


    Selvin nodded. "Yes, cadet?"


    The soldier relaxed and delivered her report. "Unknown forces are pressing past the Cerian forces from behind us. If my assumptions are correct, they may be the forces of Kiros."


    Selvin stepped back. ''This was the worst-case scenario.'' However, an idea struck him, making him want to take advantage of the situation. He turned back around to speak to the rest of the crew. "Everyone, begin slowly retreating from our position. Send word to the remaining Aeromachs. Get into Formation I and lure the two forces into fighting each other. Focus priority on rescuing and getting our people out of there!"


    The crew nodded in agreement and got to work immediately, but moments later, they were hit, by several more missiles. This time, coming from the forces of Kiros...


    Zelha vs the Novas...


    Norah jumped up at the massive flaming fist, bearing down on them. "Static: Tardad!"


    She punched the flaming fist, as a massive strike of lightning reinforced her. Then, coursed through the giant, while she poured in billions of volts, until the giant, with a massive explosion, dissipated along with it.


    Then she spun around just in time, as the princess tried to catch her off-guard and to the Nova''s despair, successfully. The flaming kick crashed her back down into the ground and dragged her across for some distance.


    Norah managed to stay on her feet, but her body was ringing from the force. However, even as Zelha landed in front of her, she did not falter nor hesitate to call out to the skies. "Static: Berserker!"


    Lightning reinforced her body and settled with an electric armour over it, while charging her up, to the maximum she could hold. They lunged at each other, trading intense blows, intending to kill.


    Norah struggled, unable to take any more of the princess'' strikes. The only advantage, she managed was speed. With quick reflexes, she drew her sword as Zelha missed a left fiery swing at the Nova''s head and slashed her gut, with billions of volts.


    "Static: Sadaa!" She yelled, as the princess along with the rest of the horizon, behind her, was sent crashing through the plains.


    Norah appeared above her, with a blue sphere, trying to finish her off. "Converge: Easifat Raedia!"


    A beam of lightning, shot forth out of her hands, racing to swallow up the child Atlas. However, to her dismay, she started to get pushed back instead, as a wave of fire, ate away towards her.


    Norah was frantic, the princess was much stronger, but not as fast as her. However, that wouldn''t matter, if her hands didn''t stop shaking. She knew she needed to end this as soon as possible.


    With quick thinking, she sidestepped away from her beam, while maintaining its strength with an electric clone, to not alert her opponent of her intentions. Then, she manifested an electric spear, behind her.


    "Static: Harbatan!" She yelled as she chucked the spear with lightning speed and caught the princess off guard while causing violent tremors as her body struck the ground. Kicking up rocks and dust in a small electric explosion, while sending out an enormous shockwave.


    Norah heaved, trying to catch her breath. She could feel her fingers, and parts of her body, beginning to seize and twitch all on their own. As the dust settled, the Nova, almost gave up, as the princess stood back up again, seemingly annoyed rather than weakened, from her last attack.


    Zelha shook her head. "Do you actually think you have a chance?"


    She reached into a pocket, pulling out a USB-like syringe. "I''ve seen that medicine that weakling injected into the other insect. We have something similar, but not as useless. I guess, I have to give you guys and those Hashin some credit. You all have done a number on me. Might as well be safe and show you some true despair."


    Norah was not in the mood for any surprises, but the princess continued and injected her neck. The Nova watched as orange veins, started to creep up all over Zelha''s body, with rings of fire, beginning to crush the ground.


    "We call these Dosers. Liquidated lifespans, for us to consume on the go. My siblings hate relying on this, but I don''t mind, as long as it can make the battle, a lot more fun." She said as she struggled to hold it all in.


    Norah didn''t blink, but the princess disappeared and reappeared with speed, she could not fathom, then punched her straight into the sky, with devastating force. The Nova flipped around to try and kick her as she reappeared right behind her. However, her leg was caught with ease, while Zelha proceeded to deliver another strike, covered in flames, right into Norah''s gut and caused her to lose consciousness for a second, as she was sent flying back once more through the sky.


    She reopened her eyes, as she was about to dip back down to the ground, and saw the princess, bearing down again above her, with her entire might. "Inferno Fist, Demolition!" Zelha yelled as she punched the Nova while enveloping her body in violet fire, as the Nova crashed into the ground, causing an intense, violent earthquake, and promptly fell unconscious.


    The princess laughed. "She''s still alive after that? I might have to keep her. I can''t believe, she pushed me this far." However, suddenly a jolt of fear, washed over her, as she turned her head towards the sky. "There''s no way. They can''t be here!"


    She began jetting towards the Emperor''s position. "Father!"


    Kayed vs Demil...


    Kayed''s head teetered back, as immense power coursed through him. His skin became magma-like, with his veins glowing across the cracks, while pulsing colours of black and reddish-orange. An ash-coloured skull with three blood-red whisker marks running horizontally, over another three running diagonally down like tribal markings, manifested over his head.


    His hair glowed full silver, then dropped back to even drops of silver all along his hair. His eyes went white, as they rolled back, then came back glowing hazel. His bodysuit started to burn off, showing the veins coursing through him and across his chest, but he quickly raised tough sheets of metal over the pants, to keep them from burning.


    Then, the skull shattered, as several geysers sprouted up from below them and shot lava into the sky. Following intense tremors, large fissures, and volcanoes erupting all around the continent.


    Demil watched the Novas'' transformation, with awe. "That technique... The Hashins used it, but why does this one feel different? Are you prepared, to give up your life to fight me?"


    Kayed gritted his teeth, as he started to feel his life drain away, by the second. "With the strength, they''ve given me... I''ll be sure to take you down."


    Demil blinked, missing him move, as it was too late for him to react. When his eyes reopened, all he could do was eat the punch covered in magma, to the face, as he was sent hurdling back. The prince recovered in midair, putting up his arms to block a follow-up, from the Nova.


    He smirked, trying to ignore the pain of his face, fixing itself, back up. "It seems I won''t need to hold back against you."The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Energy, unlike any Kayed had ever experienced in battle, burst out of Demil, carrying hot winds and stinging his face. Reddish orange veins, pulsed in intervals all over the prince''s body. His hair was now glowing streaks of silver. The prince laughed out loud, then returned a strike back at the Nova, shaking him, with incredible force.


    Kayed reeled back, realizing, that they were now at least nearly equal in strength. Then they lunged at each other, throwing earth-shaking lethal strikes, at each other, while trying to gain the upper hand.


    Kayed found an opening and took it, manifesting a condensed heated sphere of magma in his palm. "Erupt: Kura!"


    The ball, took Demil, back down to the ground. Resulting in a massive massive explosion, several kilometres wide.


    Kayed raced towards the center of the explosion as it died down, seeing the prince already standing back up while creating his own condensed sphere of lava. "Origin Erasure!"


    He launched the beam at the unprepared Nova, frantically raising up another sphere of his own. "Erupt: Nihayiy Burkania!"


    The two beams, collided, sending shockwaves throughout the land, as hot winds rushed past the both of them. Resulting in a draw, but Kayed didn''t hesitate. Pointing his hand at the ground, he yelled once more. "Create: Muharib Shaj''ah!"


    A clone of him made out of magma, but covered in titanium and diamond armour, rose out of a fissure below him and raced toward Demil. The prince smirked and placed his hands together.


    "Two can play at that game. Magma Battalion!" He yelled, as hundreds of warriors, modeled after the prince, intercepted and overwhelmed Kayed''s clone.


    Kayed gritted his teeth, at the wasted energy, but he didn''t let it deter him, as Demil began making his way towards him.


    The Nova dropped his hands to the ground once more. "Erupt: Malik Alsama''."


    Tremors, followed by a huge crevice opened up below them. The prince looked down at the last second, as a massive magma dragon, sprung out of the crevice and chomped down on him, in midair. However, to Kayed''s dismay, the prince remained in one piece, as he held apart the dragon''s jaws, to avoid being swallowed. While the dragon''s tongue continued to whip him, to force him inside.


    He struggled, trying to keep the mouth open with one hand, then aimed the other inside of the dragon''s mouth, blasting it, point-blank. Flames coursed through the dragon''s throat, and out the back, erasing a mountain in the distance. Then they crashed together below, as the dragon, reformed itself and took back to the skies.


    Kayed hopped onto its back and flew towards the prince''s landing site. Wary, as his side effects, had started to signal early.


    Demil got up, as his body, and arm reformed themselves. "This is fun! You''re actually a real threat. It''s been a while since anyone other than my siblings could even challenge me!"


    The Nova wasn''t entertained by his words and ordered his dragon to blast him. However, Demil raised a tough titanium curved dome, shielding him from the blast of fire and magma.


    "I won''t lose to you!" He said excitedly, as he dropped underground and reappeared out of a new crevice, shooting up with the force of a volcanic eruption below the dragon.


    "Volcanic Fist!" He yelled, as he struck the dragon, from its underbelly, and blew it apart, as he crashed into Kayed''s raised arms, shooting them, both up into the air.


    ''He''s way too strong, I have to finish this in the next few minutes, otherwise, I''ll run out of time.'' the Nova thought to himself.


    Demil laughed out loud, enjoying his fight. "Come on now, show me more of what you''re capable of!"


    Kayed returned a strike, blocking another coming from Demil, as they freefell back to the ground, landing, with a massive tremor, yet continuing to trade blows. His blood splattered all over the ground, with burn marks appearing all over his body. He was beginning to reach his limit, in addition to his wounds starting to take a toll, on top of the technique.


    The Nova jumped back, watching all of the damage he inflicted on Demil, healing itself back to normal. "That regeneration ability is annoying." He spoke out loud, as he tried to regain his breath.


    Demil chuckled. "It''s your fault for being a mortal. That''s why, we are the chosen ones. The ones who will bring humanity and all living beings, closer to God."


    Kayed gritted his teeth angrily. "You think God, chose you soul-less monsters to lead us? Stop being delusional!" He clasped his hands together, gathering up the last bits of energy he had left. "Don''t worry, I''ll be sending you closer to God. In the next minute, I''ll make you realize, that you were never special."


    The prince braced himself, feeling the amount of energy, the Nova was gathering. "Let''s see about that." He said, as volleys of magma, rose around him and rotated with incredible speed. "Rain of the Underworld!"


    Kayed dodged the first few, as he leaped into the air, to avoid them, but the rest surrounded him, with no way to escape.


    "Ahahahaha! Die!" Demil laughed maniacally.


    Metals rose up quickly from the ground and shielded the Nova, as he was bombarded by the attack. The prince, let up after a moment, heaving and trying to see the state, he left him in.


    The metal deformed shield glowed bright hot from the onslaught and somehow still held together, but broke apart a moment later, revealing Kayed, still in one piece. However, his skin was starting to peel and flake off, as cracks began to show up evidently all over his body.


    Still, he ignored the pain and didn''t take his focus off of his mission. "Erupt: Complete Borehole!"


    The ground below Demil cracked open and spread dozens of meters wide as he began to fall. Leaving him shocked, as this was the first foreign opponent, that he felt like he couldn''t read.


    The Nova had directed his energy to the center of Rennaya, digging away in both directions as they fought, until he created a perfect borehole, to the core of the planet.The prince caught himself and pulled together a launch pad from the crumbling rubble, then tried to leap up out of the hole. However, Kayed hovered above, with a sphere of lava rotating faster than sound.


    "There is no escape for you." He said as he placed his hand forth, forcing the prince to instinctively try and block it, as the he pulled together more rocks and rubble to shield himself. "Erupt: Nihayiy Burkania!" Kayed yelled, as Demil was pushed back down. Struggling to hold his shield together, with all of his might and continued reinforcing it with tougher materials from the planet, as he descended down lower.


    Suddenly, the beam stopped, but moments later as he thought it was safe to fly back up, Kayed struck down, breaking through the shield, and socked him in the face. Behind him, trailed a lamp, made out of glass and amplifying light from a ball of lava, floating within. The prince was thrown further down into the abyss, asthe Nova plummeted after him, while coating himself in iko to protect himself from the pressure.


    Each time Demil tried to stop, he would get struck by the walls, manifesting hands, columns, and whips, over and over. Until light began glimmering below them, out of the end of the massive tunnel. His eyes grew wide, realizing what Kayed was aiming for. He reached into his pocket, gripping the content tightly as he was smacked down further by another metal hand. Then injected his neck with it, the moment he was free.


    His wounds, which took time to heal, instantly popped back up, as massive spikes of energy coursed through him. He couldn''t help but chuckle as he blocked a column, about to slap him down, and blew it into smithereens, while the streaks in his hair glowed harder.


    Kayed came in a second later, shocked to see his strike blocked easily, then was sent flying into the walls as a follow-up. The heat was starting to rise around them, as the walls combusted, turning into magma, from both of their energies.


    "You''ve dug your own coffin." The prince spoke as shards of magma showered Kayed in his position, putting out his light.


    Demil smiled and raised a lamp of his own, a little above them, to try and see what happened to the Nova, through the smoke and falling debris. However just a little to his left, he dodged a volley of magma, and then glanced back into the dark.


    Kayed appeared from the shadows, eyes, and hair, giving him away. "Forbidden Art: Limit Breaker." He whispered, then launched himself with frightening speed at the prince, trading blow for blow, then knocking him back down on his journey.


    "Why do you persist on throwing your life away for lowly mortals? They will die anyway! With this much power, your potential could be far greater!" The prince tried reasoning with him, as he blocked a burning strike, sinking deep into his arm. "Stop this. Let us cleanse them together brother, for the good of all mankind!"


    Kayed ignored him, as he continued to spin around and kick him into a wall. "I could never trust you, to know what''s good for us. Life means nothing to you or your family. As long as you''re alive, my planet, my people, and my comrades are in trouble."


    He coughed blood, wondering if what he was doing was going to make a difference, but that thought quickly went out of the way as he struck Demil down further into the hole. The light at the end of the tunnel, blared at them, before revealing the majestic, undisturbed, planetary core, spinning in harmony.


    The drone, watching Kayed, could no longer keep up with the temperatures and switched to telescopic zoom to continue keeping the world, up to date on the scene. His performance was moving many people across the world to tears. Saphyra had thought many times to switch the camera off. However, they had always promised complete transparency. So she decided to continue although it pained her, not being able to do anything from her main body back on the Moon.


    "No, no, no I can''t be defeated. I won''t be. Believe this mortal, I will win!" Demil yelled out, unaware of how his face was going to become in the next second, as it got punched in once again.


    Limit Breaker, forced all of the last dormant energy a user possessed out, ignoring their pain with adrenaline, and giving them the ability to go all out, even if their body, couldn''t handle it anymore. So Kayed, knew he needed to make the most of every second. Because the moment it stopped, Demil could overwhelm him.


    The prince drew his sword, swinging frantically and trying to escape his fate. However, with quick instincts the Nova dodged each swing and cut his sword arm off then proceeded to stab him through his chest, nearly missing the core. Then, shielded his body with rocks from the exit of the borehole, cooling him down, to hold out as long as he could.


    Demil''s voice broke, as he blasted Kayed point-blank, with multiple volleys from his remaining arm. "You can''t do this! I''m a prince of Ceria! I cannot lose... I... I was chosen!"


    Kayed smirked. "This is the part where you should repent. It''s over for you. Even mortals, have a way of defeating, those who believe they have escaped death!"


    The core''s heat, plus his side effects, started to take him, as his body began to crumble and burn into ashes. He said the his last rites in Arabic, then drove his sword, deeper through the prince''s chest, diving them both into the burning core.

 A Princes Fate

    Kaieda''s heart raced, as the child of Atlas charged at his daughter and Kalista without hesitation. Time seemed to slow down, as he couldn''t believe he was about to witness, another one of his children killed, this time in front of him.


    He was a proud man, even with his demeanour. He didn''t lack in his training and responsibilities as the crown prince. However, one thing he did regret in his life, was not spending much time, with his daughter. Her older brother had died in a skirmish with the children of Atlas and he was unable to do anything, even though he was close to their battle site.


    Although situations had never favoured him, he still blamed himself. Now once again, he still couldn''t do anything.


    Time resumed, for it never waited for him, as the child of Atlas got within a meter of killing Yori, who was not prepared. However, suddenly, dropping like an anchor out of the sky, was the Hashin guarding their shuttle, who managed to block the child of Atlas'' charge.


    Her skin was cracking up like Kayed''s, having used the technique, to allow her to make it on time. She felt her comrade''s life flash off in the distance and assumed a code zero mentality. Her priority was to keep the royal family safe and help them escape the danger. "Forbidden Art, Acidic Clouds."


    Tiny sprouts opened up, all near the child of Atlas'' feet, quickly bellowing out, a massive plume of acidic smoke from the planet. Surrounding him, and maintaining position, his skin burned, blistered, and peeled, as his body tried to keep up with the damage. He began to choke, then dropped to his knees, coughing his lungs out.


    The Hashin spurted out blood, as one of her organs was crushed as a sacrifice. Still, she wanted to see this through and was ready to sacrifice another.


    "Haha ahaha... Just kidding." The child of Atlas stood back up, as a big swirl of electricity, blew the acid clouds away from him, and crushed the ground around his feet. "Did you think, that was going to hurt me? With all the stories that I used to hear from Father, you''re generation has truly disappointed me."


    Her eyes grew wide in terror. She raised a massive golem of lava behind him, throwing down a colossal fist, while glancing back just once, to yell at them to run away.


    However, it all happened too quickly, for them to register. She glanced back at him, as a gigantic, violet lightning strike, struck the golem down with ease and continued to converge into his hand. An object looking like a spear, was all she could make out, as he threw it with intense velocity, trying to kill the two women behind her as well.


    The Hashin managed to launch them out of the way, towards Kaieda, with a clay dome, absorbing the impact. Time was still in slow motion for her, as her feet began to lift off the floor, and she finally, was able to look down. Seeing the gaping hole, centred through her chest.


    "I see..." She said faintly and unleashed the last of her energy, as her body hit the floor. "Forbidden Art... Land Reformation...."


    With her last breath, thousands of geysers opened up all around them, as sleeping volcanoes of the entire country blew up. In moments, the entire land was covered in lava, a burning land, with no habitable spot as far as the eye could see. The waves consumed her, as everyone else had to worry for their lives.


    Kaieda kept Kalista and Yori behind him, facing the enemy, who was wary of the lava, the moment it began and took to the skies after them, keeping his distance. "Kalista take Yori with you now, you can use the opportunity she bought us to escape his reach!"


    Kaieda took off his coat, letting it fall into the burning ocean, with his black sword gleaming by his side. Then, he gathered enough energy to go into third gear.


    Yori, piped up between them, a tear beginning to streak down her cheek. "I can fight with you!"


    Suddenly the child of Atlas attacked and kicked him with such speed it immediately shattered a couple of bones in his arm, yet he blocked it, grinning. His knowledge of iko was one of the best on Azuria, given his private lessons from his father. However, he knew immediately, that this opponent wasn''t someone he could hold back against.


    The wind from the force of the strike nearly blew Kalista and Yori away. The man smiled, glancing at each of them. "I don''t like when you guys ignore me like that. No need for any planning. Show me your strength. What are you worth, Prince of Azuria?"Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Kaieda lurched taking another strike to his stomach. He gritted his teeth and grabbed hold of the man''s arm while covering his other fist with magma. Striking him square in the face and dislocating the man''s arm.


    He yelled out in pain, glaring at him, then smirked, as his arm popped back into his shoulder, by itself. He glared at Kaieda, but quickly regained his composure.


    Kaieda braced himself. "If you know of me, then you know I won''t forgive you, for what you have done to my people and the harm you tried to cause my child."


    The child of Atlas shook his head. "No, it''s truly an honour, I''ve heard stories of you ever since I was a youngling, as well as the Hashin. It''s why I was excited to come to this planet... Ahh my bad, I forgot to introduce myself."


    Purple lightning struck him, as he held the charge, going into first gear. "I go by Galaico, the 85th child of Atlas. I must add your skull, to my collection."


    Several beads of sweat dripped down Kaieda''s face. He had only felt this much power, often from his father. Now facing someone at that level, he realized, this was the moment of his life, where he had to surpass Akio, in every way.


    Which meant, he had to put his life on the line. "Ahh Galaico was it? I''ve got to be honest with you. Getting serious isn''t my style. I like to have fun. Travel the galaxy and see new things. However I''ve been blessed to have experienced so much and wish my daughter the same life, but better in every way." His expression changed, as a deadly aura, began to emanate from him. "You and your family, threaten her way of life. I can not allow you to live!"


    Galaico smirked. "So what are you going to do? Can you even survive, my next strike?" He said, settling into a stance, ready to pounce on his prey.


    Kaieda clasped both of his hands. "We''ll see, I''ll be giving it everything I''ve got!" Steam, escaped his breath as he bit down, and exploded the energy within him. "Forbidden Art, Self-Volcanization!"


    His heart lit on fire, as his skin began to crack and shift like magma. Enormous power coursed through him, as volcanoes in the entire area erupted once more. His hair remained silver, as lava marks flowed through his skin coursing faster.


    The prince dodged raining rocks and debris, as Kaieda raised one palm at him. "Sh¨±ch¨­ Roar!"


    A large sphere of lava had started to form in front of his palm while gathering some from below before it shattered forth. Carving out the burning sea below them, as it chased the Galaico, who was trying to escape. At some point, he disappeared with a flash, and reappeared, kicking Kaieda on his side, and crashing him down into the sea of lava.


    Kaieda, immediately jumped back up into the air, as pillars of lava followed behind him, each grabbing for Galaico. Who once again zipped around, dodging each one. Blurring, with the speed of his movements, as he drew his sword and aimed to cut the Azurian down.


    However, as he struck at Kaieda''s body, the magma he covered himself in armour with, morphed to grab hold of his sword and hardened. Then Kaieda grabbed his arm, as he couldn''t escape, burning him as he gripped tightly.


    "Let go of me!" The prince yelled struggling to get free, then flipped up to try and kick him away. However, a massive hand of magma soared out of the sea like a dolphin. Then, grabbed hold of him, before crashing back down into the lava with him


    "Hagye Nightmare." Kaieda said, as he turned off the limit-breaking technique, which had already shaved away a quarter of his life, and thanked the Hashin for her last gift.


    He turned around to begin heading back to his daughter, when the burning sea began to shake, rippling earthquakes through the land, as lightning struck down all around him, then at him as he raised a barrier above, to protect himself.


    Galaico rose out of the sea of lava, with a barrier of electricity, dripping lava off of it. His entire body was messed up, with all of his clothes burnt off.


    He pointed raised one palm at Kaieda. "You''re paying for that! Lightning Flare!"


    A laser of electricity ripped through the side of Kaieda''s abdomen faster than he could react. He began to fall out of the sky.


    The prince looked at him, angrily. "That''s not enough. Not yet!"


    He raced towards Kaieda and kicked him harder, sending him crashing into a mountain, outside of the country.


    Kaieda could barely see, his vision was blurry, and nausea washed over him. He felt multiple bone fractures throughout his body. ''This is it.'' He thought to himself. ''I can''t win, but I hope I bought them, enough time to escape.''


    Galaico landed in front of him, standing above, with a disgusted look. "Someone proclaiming to be a prince of the Azurians and the next leader of the Rahmanaka Clan should never be this weak. I''m disappointed, Prince Kaieda."


    Kaieda coughed large amounts of blood, as he sat himself up. "Maybe so, but I am proud to have served my people to the very end. I''m not sure if I''ll be missed, but my daughter, will make a fine Queen one day and I don''t want her to ever have to see you again."


    He had one hand planted on the ground, the entire time, beckoning the lava, burning where they left, to go down under, and manipulate tectonic plates. The ground below them, started to vibrate violently, as earthquakes ripped the land apart.


    "Galaico! You messed with the wrong clan!" Kaieda yelled as he sacrificed his life''s entire potential.


    The prince''s eyes grew wide, before he spun around and began running as fast as he could, then took off into the air, but his leg was caught on to something. Rather something was pulling him back down.


    Arms growing out of each other made out of titanium, clay, and different steels, extended out of the ground, with one of the arms grabbing hold of his leg. Then, like a whip it dropped him back down to the ground, as Kaieda yelled out loud. "Forbidden Art, Continental Detonation!" Then smiled, one last time, as Galaico watched him slump over to the side.


    Galaico panicked as time seemed to move in slow motion for him. His life flashed multiple times before his eyes, as he cut off the arm, holding him down, and dove toward the sky as quickly, as quickly as he could. Just in time, as the entire continent erupted.

 Atlas vs Osei

    Prometheus''s defences had started to fail, as it took increased amounts of fire, from drones and ships of the Kirosian and Cerian space fleets. The situation was beginning to get grim, as Beyond''s forces were reduced to only forty ships. It seemed as if any cries for help, would get lost in the depths of space.


    However, a light began to shine on the visitors from Earth, as over a thousand Azurian ships, came in alleviating the pressure. The entire armada and reserve.


    The one leading the charge, broadcasted a message to his fleet before the attack. "My people, and those of you watching back home. Today we have watched members of our clan die on this forsaken planet. Right now, our benefactors and the future Queen of Azuria are at risk of perishing to the monsters who threaten our very way of life and our existence... Forgive this selfish king, but will you follow me into battle and help me save my granddaughter and our allies?!"


    Everyone watching, roared in response and stomped in rhythm. "Hai!"


    Akio smiled. "Then, let us be victorious!"


    The broadcast ended, as his ship, the Azure Dragon, descended towards Rennaya, ignoring the barrage of missiles fired by the Pandora. Akio looked back with a pained look, at the remaining, twenty-two Hashin with him, standing in formation by the bay door.


    "I have seen all of you, grow up, trained you and guided you. I have seen you find love, be hurt, and find true happiness. Each of you are my kin, nothing can hold us back when we work together and no one can stop us." He took a deep breath, then continued. "However my comrades. Today is the one day, you are excused from your duties. This mission is out of respect for my child and the level of danger is much more than I can even anticipate. I will not fault any of you or hold a single grudge if you feel like walking out of that door right now."


    None of the Hashin, flinched, nor budged, they didn''t doubt each other either. Making Akio''s lips tremble. "Do you know what I''m asking of you? You''re lives, will be forfeit the moment we enter Rennaya."


    Roku stepped up, unveiling his mask. "Do not disrespect us, Akio. Our honor was tarnished, the moment we let our prince die alone out there. We are failing right now to protect our King. Please allow us, to protect the next Queen and our Elder.  For Azuria "


    He glanced back at the soldiers. "Isn''t that right?!"


    They stomped to rhythm, in agreement. "Hai!"


    The General smiled at his King as he watched a tear roll down the man''s cheek. "Cheer up old friend. Let us die with you." He said, as one by one, the Hashin began jumping out of the bay doors.


    Outskirts of Senae, Atlas vs Tobi & Osei...


    Osei launched several volleys ahead, as he called on lightning to reinforce himself. Atlas was elated, dissipating the volleys with electric volleys of his own, then blocked his charge, as he reached out and manifested an intricate sword out of the ground below. Which slipped into his hand, just in time to block a flaming strike from Tobi, coming from behind him and managed to push him back.


    "Bring it on!" He yelled out to the brothers, while unsheathing his own sword with his other hand, then began simultaneously parrying and striking back at them both.


    He broke the deadlock, then twirled around quickly in place, creating a hurricane barrier, pushing them both back. Then threw the sword he created, at Tobi, who managed to deflect it, with quick reflexes, however, the force of the impact stung his hands, distracting him for a second.


    A chance the emperor did not hesitate to take, as he dodged a charge from Osei and instead, teleported behind Tobi, while raising his own sword, high above his head.


    "No!" Osei yelled out.


    Atlas''s eyes glimmered, as he smiled, seeing both of the brothers in despair. "Imperial Judgement, Execution!"


    The wind followed the emperor''s strike, erasing the landscape behind Tobi, as a massive fountain of blood, sprayed out of a gaping new cut, diagonally down his chest. He dropped to the floor, dozens of meters from his original position, as he held onto his chest, freezing his wound and convulsing. It was taking everything he could, to not fall unconscious, however eventually, the darkness took over.


    "I... I... I won''t forgive you!" Osei yelled out furiously, losing it, as Atlas laughed out loud.


    Then, he glanced back at him, soaking in the torment, he was putting the prince through. "Don''t worry, he won''t die. I still need him. I just wanted to make sure he had a good nap." He said, pointing his right hand at Tobi''s body, as a coffin of ice, swallowed him and began healing his wound back, slowly.


    Osei could not believe, the situation they were in. It felt surreal after everything he had been through. Something deep within him, began to snap, as years of trauma, boiled up to a single point. He lunged, at full speed, striking Atlas'' sword, with overbearing might, and pushed him flying back into an area away from Tobi. "You bring disaster with you, everywhere you go. You''re existence, is the only one, this galaxy... No, this universe never needed!"


    Osei struck down as the emperor hopped to his left, freezing the prince''s sword to the ground. Osei managed to break his hands-free and followed up with a high kick to his face.


    Atlas bent back, nearly missing the strike, then gave him two quick punches. One to his face, the other in his gut, bursting forth a beam of ice, as it crashed him through several hills.


    Osei got up, coughing blood. "Not yet! Thunder Raika!"


    Lightning crashed down, meeting an umbrella of ice,  that the emperor managed to raise in time, with its hilt redirecting the charge into the ground. "It''s over. Just give up. You did your best."


    Osei clenched his fists, seething. What must his people be thinking of him? What would his parents do?


    He felt as if he had failed them and could no longer take it anymore. "Not yet. As long as I draw breath..."


    He placed his hands together, condensing a massive amount of electricity within a small violet sphere, dozens of times over. "Remo Raieqa!" It shattered forth, beaming violently and eating away the landscape on the way, to Atlas.


    Atlas raised a finger, as a sphere of ice, held together an unfathomable amount of pressure, causing cracks in the sphere itself. Then, he launched it towards Osei''s incoming attack. "Wind Sovereign!"


    The shockwave, followed by a razor blast of wind, dispersed his beam in half and dissipated it as it crashed into Osei''s chest, knocking him off of his feet, and crashing him through the terrain. Osei was having a hard time, keeping his eyes open. He felt bruises and fractures in multiple parts of his body. "I''ve failed." A tear fell down his cheek, as his regrets ate him up.


    "No, my son." His eyes glanced to his left, as he raised his head. It was as if he was daydreaming, with illusions blending in with reality.


    "Mom?" He asked, unbelieving of what he was seeing.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    She smiled while keeping her hands above his chest, healing him, as someone else knelt to his right and spoke. "We failed you."


    He glanced at the face of a very familiar man. One wearing a crown, with a remorseful and saddened expression. "Dad? But how?"


    His memory took him back to the explanations, the Novas and Tobi gave of the ethereal plane. However other than Tobi, the others had only seen one or a few Rennayans each.


    Zenu shook his head. "We should have been certain of you and your brother''s safety, from the very beginning. The life you''ve had to go through. I can never forgive myself for that."


    Safiyah was fighting back tears, but she took over. "We are so sorry. Will you forgive us?"


    Osei, laughed, with tears escaping his eyes. "I''ve never blamed you for anything. I wish things never went the way they did. You were the greatest parents. My only regret is not having enough strength to restore Rennaya myself."


    He covered his eyes. "I''m sorry father, I''m no prince. I''ve failed to keep my brother safe and I''ve failed to bring justice for our people."


    Zenu smiled. "If we can be forgiven, then you can too. Come on, get up."


    Osei pondered about what he meant, but as he got up, slowly, his eyes grew wide. Standing around them, with Waio in front, were hundreds of millions, if not a billion people.


    Safiyah spoke up. "My little Osei, no one blames you for anything, you''ve far exceeded what was expected of you and gave hope to the galaxy once more. You have done your part. Let us help you, with what you want to do. However, I would advise you to take your brother and escape immediately."


    Osei was a little dumbfounded to be once again, seeing so many of his people. It was a little difficult for him to speak. "Thank... You."


    He shook his thoughts away, remembering his mission. Then he reached his hand out, as his sword, flew back into his palm, hilt first. "I have to keep my little brother safe. My people, I ask of you, please lend me your strength."


    They all began to kneel and punch the ground, as their fists broke through into a deep abyss of darkness. Each of their eyes, began to glow, like a domino effect. They all smiled and spoke together. "Yes, Your Highness."


    Osei was stunned, as multiple branches of energy began, opening up, within his body.


    Waio spoke up. "Do not be alarmed, my pupil. Of course, you''re affinity is high with your people. All of Rennaya once celebrated your birth as a sign of hope, prosperity, and good times to come."


    Seeing Waio again, made it hard for him to keep his composure. He continued to look around, remembering all of the faces, of people he used to know, as his parents placed their hands on his shoulders, then spoke in unison. "Whatever you do from now on just know, that we are proud of you and we will always love you, no matter what."


    He nodded, as his tears dried up, along with them all disappearing, as Atlas broke the silence. "I was waiting back there, expecting you to come back up. You know, with how you couldn''t forgive me and whatnot, but instead I find you bawling your eyes out here. What''s the matter with you?"


    Osei wiped his eyes, then swung his sword to his side, and released all of the built-up energy he had gathered. A skull with markings similar to Tobi''s manifested over his face, then crumbled apart, as his eyes, glowed bright blue, with purple and black veins, coursing through his body, pulsing in intervals. His hair flashed full silver, then settled, mixing evenly with the rest of his jet-black hair.


    Mist escaped his mouth, with each breath he took, as rings of fire crushed the ground, followed by tremors and thousands of lightning strikes. He had reached his peak.


    "Sorry for the wait. I''m alright now. Let''s settle this." He spoke calmly, as the tension, rose between them. They stared each other down with pure malice. Yet the emperor could not help noticing, the phenomenon occurring around him.


    He laughed, realizing what was happening. "It would seem, the reports were true. The suits that have been granting your human allies, abilities, can also bring about miracles near death. It was tragic what happened on Valtorin, but it was a truly valuable experience. Luckily our drone captured everything, but to be witnessing it myself here... I''m getting even more excited."


    Osei, cracked his neck, then crouched, charging up electricity, as his sword caught fire. Then he struck vertically, ripping apart the ground between them, as the aerial strike jetted with at an incredible speed.


    Atlas was surprised by Osei''s growth. Forcing him to shift into second gear, as he raised a steel wall out of the ground. Which forced him to drop Tobi out of his chamber and woke him up, as he wondered where his brother went.


    Atlas drew his sword, coating it in fire. "I raised you. Yet, you dare stand against me!"


    Osei laughed out loud. "Every living moment under you was hell. You''re just a robot, gone wrong. It''s time for you to get tossed to the junkyard."


    The emperor glared at him, a vein nearly bursting out, on his temple. "I see, you''re prepared to die."


    They lunged at each other, bringing absolute devastation to their surroundings, as both of them aimed for the kill. Osei broke the deadlock, jumping back, then pointed a palm at the ground, as it started to rise. "Doteko Ohoni."


    A gigantic replica of him rose out of the ground, with its inner body fueled by lava and its outer covered in titanium, diamonds, & other gems. In its hand, a sword the size of a building maintained violent, violet flames coated over it, as lightning continuously struck it.


    Atlas''s eyes grew wide, then he turned around, to retreat in the opposite direction while preparing a condensed sphere of lava. However, the giant lunged after him and swung vertically with precision, before he could escape.


    The emperor spun around just in time, thrusting the sphere at the giant''s sword, to mitigate some of the force as he was sent flying across the country. He tried regaining mobility, midflight, but the winds were too much, that''s when he saw a looming shadow, covering the sky, and beginning to descend.


    Atlas immediately threw his hands into the air, trying to launch anything to protect himself on time. However violet lightning struck the giant, aiding his descent down even faster and leaving a devastating impact on the face of the planet.


    Osei hovered over, feeling the emperor''s life force, still burning strong below. "You don''t deserve any mercy!" He yelled out, knowing he could still hear him, then raised his right hand to the sky. It began to rain and then seconds later, the rain clumped together while freezing into sparrows, charged with electricity.


    He watched as the remains of the giant was split in half, by a beam of lava. As it broke apart, he didn''t hesitate and dropped his hand. "Kraman Armada!"


    Millions of sparrows crashed down onto the emperor, cutting him up, and bombarding him with intense stings and surges. Then, froze him in a massive iceberg of birds, shocking him nonstop with tens of billions of volts.


    Osei crouched down and gathered all of his energy to the edge of his blade, then burned it hotter than ever, with fire & electricity, as dark clouds supplied him with an endless capacity. He frosted his hands over to protect himself from the heat, as a superheated coat of magma pulled itself together over his blade, adding to the firepower.


    He thought of everyone he needed to do this for and sealed his resolve. "Let''s finish this."


    Atlas was trapped, defenceless as he tried to melt himself free. Regardless of anything he could have done, it would have been too late, as Osei shot out of the sky, like lightning.


    "Raieqa Omega!" He yelled before he cut through the ice and Atlas at the same time. Wiping out the entire landscape around and behind Atlas, as he whizzed past, sheathing his sword.


    He turned around cursing, as multiple side effects started to take effect on his body, disorientating him, as he watched Atlas stitch back the half of his body that had nearly been cut clean. "I missed." He whispered to himself.


    Atlas noticed, that several of his circuits were not working the same, since his core was nicked. He glared at Osei, with a deadly look. "You''ve gone too far!"


    Osei smirked, knowing he struck a nerve. "I could say the same for you!" He heaved, trying to catch his breath. ''Hold on Osei, just one more.'' He told himself, as he gathered up the last of his energy within him and formed a stance.


    Atlas looked down at the ground, as his anger boiled over the top. All five of the elements began to rampage all around them, simultaneously. Disappearing as each one laid waste to the environment. His hair began to flash silver, as earthquakes raged the continent.


    Osei''s eyes grew wide, as he noticed the emperor''s energy skyrocketing.


    His eyes went white, then slotted back to a glowing bloodshot red. New pressure emanated from him, making the air, seem heavier to breathe. As he spoke, his voice sent chills down Osei''s spine. "It''s time to end this."


    Osei, clenched his teeth, leaping at lightning speed. "Raieqa Omega!"


    His sword, this time, collided with Atlas''s, but the force of the emperor swinging back, sent him flying back over half a kilometre. Osei dropped his sword, unable to hold onto it, as he skidded, crashing across a field. He quickly got up, putting all of the energy he could muster into a condensed violet flaming sphere, charging it with electricity, and spinning around a core of magma.


    Frost covered his hands, as the heat of its orbit, began cutting into his palms. He thrust it forth, just in time as the emperor landed in front of him. "Seiaqa Ultimate!"


    Atlas smirked as he raised his hand at the incoming blast. Then it began to split around him as it seemingly struck an invisible barrier in front of it. Visible only as it began to crack.


    Osei staggered, letting up in disbelief that it had done nothing to the emperor. He watched as Atlas raised a finger toward him, with a disappointed, yet saddened expression. "You were a good warrior. You just didn''t know, who you were up against." He spoke calmly, as the sky seemed to go dark, raining with occasional rings of thunder, while he darted his finger in five thrusts at Osei''s body. "Particle Decimation."


    Tobi had just arrived. Just in time, to watch his brother drop to the floor.

 Thanks, For Being My Brother

    On an uninhabited island, hundreds of kilometres off the coast of the Eastern Continent...


    Galaico spat out bits of sand while screaming from the pain. Only his head remained, as he had severed and kicked it as far as he could, to avoid the suicidal attack. "That damn prince! I swear if it''s the last thing I do, I''m wiping out the entire clan!"


    Birds squawked off in the distance as he was met with silence. He cursed at the wind some more before a low chill settled over him. He knew the danger all too well. This feeling in the air could only mean one thing. The Dark Kings were here.


    Frantically, he accessed his comms calling his siblings and just noticing, that one of them was killed. "Zelha, Calypso! The Dark Kings are here, you must stop them from reaching Father!"


    Zelha chirped back. "What did you think, we were doing, while you were asleep, Galaico?"


    Calypso tapped in. "We are already en-route, sit tight, and we''ll send help, to your location. You''re injured, aren''t you? Your iko is barely visible, like a bug''s."


    Galaico was embarrassed, he hated asking his sisters or any of his siblings for help. However, Father was the priority, and if the Kirosian army was here. That meant chaos was about to unfold.


    Near the outskirts of Senae...


    The feeling he had, watching his brother fall that way, was unlike anything he had ever felt. A revolting mixture of regret, sadness, and fear choked him of his air.


    "OSEI!!" Tobi yelled darting to his side, as dust kicked up into the air. He grabbed hold of him, raised his head close, and began to heal him as fast as he could. However, the organs he needed to repair, were far beyond, his capabilities. The amount of blood Osei was losing by the second was unrecoverable. He looked at his brother''s eyes as he started to come to, slightly alleviated from the pain. "Osei, hang on please!"


    Osei recognized his brother, as his vision cleared up. "Tobi... You''re okay..."


    Atlas watched as Tobi attempted a futile act of saving him. He chuckled, shaking his head, and began walking towards them. Only to be cut off by a large wall of black fire, slicing across the land. He glanced above him, cursing himself for letting his guard down. "Mado, to what do I owe this visit?"


    The king floated with his sword on his shoulder and his brother by his side, wearing an ecstatic expression on his face. "Simple really, I''ve come to take your head. Besides... you should allow one to mourn their kin."


    Tension rose between them, as the very planet seemed to shake. Atlas was beyond furious. Nothing was going his way.


    Suddenly, cracking the sky with cloud rings trailing them, Calypso and Zelha, crashed into the kings, taking them far away from the site. The emperor laughed out loud, seeing his children come to his aid.


    "My daughters, I owe you my gratitude." He grinned, turning back towards the brothers, as the walls of fire crumbled down.


    Moments before with Tobi and Osei...


    Tobi shifted back into third gear, causing more strain on himself as his side effects began to show up. This operation was far too complex for him and needed the assistance of a cryomed. Tobi couldn''t hold back his tears, as he felt powerless. Which Osei noticed, reaching up to pat his head.


    "It''s ok Tobi, it''s my time." He rasped.


    Tobi shook his head, refusing to give up, as Osei continued to speak, spurting blood, out from his mouth. "You''ve become strong, I know you will make a fine leader. One that will lead all of mankind one day, to new heights... I just know it."Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    He too was trying his best, to hold back his tears, but without success. "I''m so sorry, for being away, for so long. I''m sorry for being the worst brother, one that pulled you into a war you did not sign up for, but I know one day you will be able to get back that peaceful life, you''ve always wanted."


    He laughed, as each movement, he made caused him even more excruciating pain. "One where you can read all of the manga and comics you''ve always wanted to catch up on." He looked at Tobi, one last time, as the light began to fade from his eyes. "Tobi, I treasured every moment, I got to spend with you... Tell Amaara, that I love her ... And thank you for being my brother..."


    His head dropped to the side, as the last breath faded away from his lips.


    Tobi shuddered and seized, unable to comprehend what had just happened. What he had just witnessed. He started heaving, short of breath and about to scream his anguish out to the world, just as a tranquilizer dart, lodged itself into the side of his neck.


    "I don''t want to hear all of that," Atlas spoke up, as he closed in on them, relieved to finally achieve one of his goals. He smiled as Tobi hunched unconscious, over his brother, then started to reach for him.


    However, suddenly, dropping out of the sky in an ''A'' like formation, the Hashin with Akio in front, landed all around them, protecting Tobi, as the Elder held onto the emperor''s arm from reaching any closer. Atlas chuckled, whipping his hand out of Akio''s grip and settled into a loud laugh, then calmed himself down, sighing. "What is the meaning of this Akio? Do we not have an agreement?"


    Akio stroked his beard. "Hmm, as far as I could recall, only you followed that agreement, but not any of your children. I''ve come here, to formally let you know, that the Rahmanaka Clan has chosen to ally with the Beyond Space Federation..." He glanced back at the brothers, unable to feel any life, coming from one, but the other was sound asleep. "As such, we are here to protect our allies." He declared as he glanced back at Atlas.


    Atlas dropped his smile. "That''s unfortunate." He replied, then swung around aiming to slice their heads off, with a flaming kick. However, at that moment, the Hashins stepped forward and threw their fists into the air pointing toward Atlas. The ground below him, sliced out in a perfect circular platform, restraining him as it ejected and took him hundreds of meters away.


    Akio turned to his comrades.


    "Begin the subjugation and evacuations, immediately!"


    The Hashin nodded, as one of them, helped another to separate the brothers, since Tobi was not letting go, even though he was sedated. They then proceeded to enshroud them, in two hollow ice domes, reinforced with titanium, gold, and other tough elements in their vicinity.


    The other Hashins dispersed, eight going after Atlas, and another eight following Roku. Of the last six, a couple were tasked with helping the Beyond soldiers and allies in Senae evacuate, as the city had become a hotspot, with Cerian forces having majority control of the airspace. Two more took Osei and Tobi, to the extraction point, while the last two had already been on their way to pick up the injured Novas.


    Before Roku left with his squad, he turned around once more to his old friend. "Don''t overdo it, you old fool."


    The Elder chuckled. "In all these years, you still don''t know me? When have I ever practiced restraint?"


    The General, scoffed, shaking his head with a smile. "I know, I just wanted to try one last time."


    Akio sighed. "Besides, they killed my son. Roku, show them no mercy."


    Roku nodded. "With no doubt." He said, then turned around and joined the other Hashin, launching into the sky and darting in the direction the kings were taken.


    The Elder, sighed once more, as he was left alone. "Well, I guess I better get started then."


    He assumed a stance and began to gather energy, clasping his hands together, in deep focus. His iko dove deep into the planet, shrouding the core with his energy. Then, he asked the planet for help. "Oh Rennaya, I ask your aid to help your children once more. Please grant me the strength to protect them."


    He took a deep breath, as blood began to drop down his nose. "Forbidden Art, World Damnation!"


    First, the tremors began, then earthquakes, as tectonic plates started snapping hundred-kilometer lines all over the planet. Winds picked up, with the sky darkening, as every volcano on the planet, began to erupt.


    The planet''s orbit slowed down, as its core slowly came to a halt. Redirecting all of the planet''s energy back to him.


    He yelled out as unimaginable power, began to flow through his body, reversing his age, as his body was reinforced with more iko than he could currently handle.


    White, lava-like lines, calmly, settled over the veins on his body and branched out over his spotless head. His eyebrows and beard began to glow silver, with his eyes going completely white for a moment, then settling back to a glimmering green.


    He resolved himself, shouting to the sky, as he struggled to keep his mind, from being washed away by the planet. "I am Akio Rahmanaka! Not even this can strike me down!"

 The Hashin

    Mado was feeling annoyed to be held up, by a single child of Atlas, when the man himself was here. He knew he could defeat her easily, however, it would require a bit of strength, which may be a disadvantage against Atlas. He glanced at his brother, after sending Calypso flying far off. Just in time to watch him cut Zelha''s arm off and kick her flying through a hill. "Rael! Do you think you can handle both of them on your own?"


    Rael, looked at his brother, squinting with skeptical eyes. "You''re not planning on leaving me here alone... Are you?"


    Mado smiled. "Oh come on! If we''re both stuck here, none of us will get to fight him. After you kill them, come and join me, otherwise, he might escape."


    Just then, the kings felt an incredible amount of energy coming from Akio''s direction. Followed by earthquakes, shaking the world around them.


    They both looked at each other at the same time, then Rael cursed, as a replica of him, made out of the strongest steel and magma launched out of the ground. Immediately, intercepting Calypso''s strike, which was targeting his brother.


    Mado smiled, then gathered some energy. "Thanks, brother." Then, teleported and left him alone, as the two princesses charged him.


    Atlas vs the Hashin...


    Atlas crashed into a valley, as his platform and restraints crumbled apart, from the impact. He looked above him, as a Hashin jetted towards him, with his fist covered in magma.


    Without hesitating, the emperor, shifted into second gear, sidestepped, and punched him in the gut, destroying his internal organs as he was sent flying hundreds of kilometres away. "One down."


    He sighed, then backflipped, as one more crashed down from above, followed by another coming from below and managing to grab hold of his legs as he landed. Burning them, while a third tried to punch him in the back.


    He ducked and flipped forward, lifting his legs up into the air with the Hashin below ground, to smack him into his comrade. As the one who attacked from above, tried to end it all with a point-blank, beam of lava, which he effortlessly blocked with an invisible forcefield, slightly cracking up around him.


    Atlas shook his head, realizing that they were ready to risk each other''s lives. He raised his left hand as dual waves of lava pressed him from behind.


    The three Hashin yelled, placing their entire might''s as they aimed to crush him in one go. However, in seconds, he shifted into third gear, releasing an outburst of energy and pushing the waves back at them. They were knocked off their feet and showered by drops of scorching hot lava, as the emperor appeared between the two nearest each other and gifted them with spheres of telekinetic force with each hand. "Particle Vortex."


    The two, once whole, seemingly burst like balloons, while showering blood everywhere. The third Hashin, had watched everything that occurred, as he got back up, then yelled at the top of his lungs. "You''ll pay for that!" He clasped his hands together and gathered energy. "Forbidden Art-"


    He stopped chanting, as he was raised into the air. Atlas walked up to him, kissing his teeth. "I''m not a fan of your gruesome arts."


    The Hashin''s body began to contort, then as he tried to utter a few barely audible words, Atlas crushed his entire body. His transformation fizzled off, while he sighed in disappointment, as he could not keep the blood off of his clothes.


    A large pool of energy forced him to glance up at the sky. He frowned, as he watched three more Hashin, pooling together a massive sphere of lava. Condensed hundreds of times over by an ice wielder, as she struggled to hold together all of the pressure, within a thin film of ice.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    They launched it, while yelling in unison. "Forbidden Art, Core of Mercy!" Each of them, coughed up blood, as the ice user''s arms began to tear itself apart, from within like a ripple, heading towards her main body. She screamed, but held on, as all of them put in every last drop of their energy.


    The emperor sighed and raised his hand towards the pressurized bomb, heading for him. "I''m extremely disappointed. How low, you Hashin have fallen within this past millennia."


    Immense energy began to well up within him, as he prepared himself, however, out of nowhere, a chain of lava whipped around him and held him tight. He cursed, he forgot that they were, complete masters of stealth. He looked behind him, as two Hashin held on to the chains tightly, reinforcing it with their iko and burning it with their rage.


    He took a deep breath, as the world seemingly began to stand still. His hair flickered full silver once more, with silver and black veins coursing and glowing throughout his body.


    Furious, he snapped himself out of the chains and held onto the remnants, then overtook their iko and clenched their hands firmly to the chains with telekinetic force, as he dragged them into the incoming attack.


    Rupturing the thin ice film, holding it together, and letting out a tremendous explosion killing them instantly. Yet, the explosion seemed to maintain a fixed position in midair and started to condense, unnaturally. The Hashin in the sky, braced themselves, wary of what was going on. However, within the blink of an eye, the bizarre explosion crashed into all three of them.


    All they could do was look within the glass-like phenomenon, as they tried to raise their heads, lift their arms, or move their bodies, to no avail. Traces of their iko shimmered within the condensed explosion, which hadn''t stopped, till they reached a safe enough distance from him.


    "AHHH!" They screamed, as he continued to admire his artwork, by placing his hands to his ear to listen before the deafening explosion, shook him a bit, as he undid his transformation.


    "Now then, what should I do about this situation." He thought out loud, as he felt a Hashin flying away with Tobi and Osei''s body, then smiled, after deciding his priorities. However, suddenly the world around him began to shake, with intense earthquakes and fissures sprouting in the far-off distance and making their way towards him.


    "Akio!" He yelled at the top of his lungs. "What do you think you''re doing?!"


    On Senae''s outskirts, above the heated battle between Cerian and Kirosian forces...


    The Hashins had just finished, helping the last of Beyond''s forces off-ground. None of their main forces were allowed to land except for them, so they watched, disgusted, as the Kirosians mercilessly powered through Cerian infantry with ease. All while enjoying their chance at a good battle.


    They encountered several soldiers already and avoided many that went for their heads, as soon as their crests were in sight. For the rest of the way, the two opted, to switch on their invisibility cloaks and remain above, overlooking the situation, as the last shuttle started to jet off, a few hundred meters away.


    The plan changed for the location of the last shuttle for the Novas since it had gotten too dangerous near the extraction site. However, out of the blue, the shuttle exploded as if it was crushed by something. The Hashin were alarmed by what they had just witnessed. Wasting no time, they contacted another Hashin on evacuation. "It''s 9 & 13. I''m not sure how, but the last shuttle has just been destroyed."


    Number seven spoke up. "What? How?"


    Thirteen shook his head. "I''m not sure, but I''ve just sent an alert to Commander Ba''jin to send another. Unfortunately, all of Rennaya has become a battlefield. He''ll need to create a small window for us, to help them escape. "


    Nine tapped his temple once. "21 did you find them?"


    Twenty-one chimed in. "Yes, I did. The one they call Sarah is heavily wounded and losing a lot of blood. Kiala is fine, however, the shuttle they tried to reach, fell into a crevice."


    A blur caught thirteen''s eye, as he glanced around, finding nothing. Relieved, he continued the conversation. "3, 7, 21. Make your way to these new coordinates that I''m sending you. I will secure the location until you get there."


    "Hai!" They answered back and closed their comms. He sighed, as he began making his way toward the new site. He knew the space force commander had a lot on his plate, but he just had to trust, that he would be able to pull through.


    Suddenly, he noticed a flash of a large black object, in front of him. Disappearing and reappearing, faster than the eye could see.


    "Hey 9, did you see that?" He spun around to look at his comrade, only to find him missing.


    Seconds later the camouflage on the object, he saw statically, came undone. As something the Hashin had only heard of in stories, but had never actually seen before, opened its jaws out wide and bared large razor-sharp teeth. It had long noticed them and wondered, why they had treaded onto its domain. Regardless, with a futile attempt, he tried raising his hands up to protect himself, as the massive black dragon, chomped down on him, and swallowed him whole.


    Then it let out a deafening roar.

 Akio Rahmanaka

    Rael was beginning to get tired of Zelha''s perseverance, as he sent her flying back for the fourth time, but this time with both arms and legs destroyed. He quickly spun around to parry a strike aimed at his back, as Calypso, tried to catch him off guard. Shocking her as he returned a few strikes of his own. Then, caught her in a feint and disarmed her, while wrapping up the combo with a kick emitting a beam of lava from his soles. He looked up above him, seeing her sister had switched into first gear while creating a flaming hot purple star.


    "Violet Inferno!" She yelled as she threw the burning attack down, pushing it, with all of her might.


    Rael''s expression had not changed. He looked even more annoyed, as black and purple veins streamed across his body, letting off a dark aura and levelling his vicinity. Then he crouched down, sheathing his sword, as the miniature star got closer.


    Lightning had started to strike down, all around him, then surged towards his blade. Each breath he took, was followed by mist and vapour, as the temperature in the air cooled down rapidly.


    "Roaring Cold." He whispered as he launched himself through the star and froze it completely, then passed by her to slice up the princess''s core, with one swift move. Her body crashed down in two, breaking the silence with a large thud.


    The king landed and shook the blood off of his sword, wondering where Calypso had gone, when the Hashins, with Roku leading them, dropped down and surrounded him. He had to laugh. "All this for me?"


    The General looked around as he and the others gathered their energy and switched into third gear. "Where is your brother?"


    Rael stared at him for a few seconds, then shrugged. "Who knows? He''s not one, to be in one place for too long."


    One of the Hashins spoke up. "I sense both Atlas and Mado, heading for Akio."


    Roku nodded. "We only need half of us, to take him out."


    The Hashin agreed, as four of them jumped into the sky, and headed off to assist Akio. The remaining four and Roku, still had Rael surrounded.


    Rael spoke up, as he disliked tense silences. "So what now?"


    On cue, each of the Hashins dropped down to their knees and punched the ground, as Roku jumped up into the sky. While raising a massive boulder up above him, then combusting it into a molten magma-meteorite.


    The Hashin yelled in unison as they poured iko within a domain below. "Terra Arts, Chamber of Silence."


    Rael wondered what they were up to, only managing to unsheath his sword, just as a pitfall appeared right below him. Dropping him dozens of meters down, with large amounts of dirt pushing him further below and into a small dark chamber, deep underground.


    The General had finished pouring in as much of his energy into the attack he was creating. Once it was finally ready, he dropped it down into the pitfall, half-filled, as the Hashin made way for it. Helping it pass through the ground, without losing speed and reinforcing it with their own iko.


    "Terra Arts, Magma Fall!" Rael heard Roku yell, as the hole reopened once more, this time with a blinding light, allowing the General''s attack to touch down and devastate the world around them.


    The Hashin jumped up as the ground below them imploded, rippling earthquakes throughout the continent and raising tides. A second explosion, made them recoil, as this time, a massive replica of Rael rose out of the ground trying to swallow them whole.


    It whizzed past, nearly missing them, as they got out of the way, in the nick of time. Their relief simmered out once they noticed that it was shared with one less member, seeing as his hand was sticking out of the corner of its teeth and burning up.


    One of them screamed losing their cool, and launched volleys, erratically at the giant replica. The clone responded by, unsheathing its large sword, and slicing the air, that they were standing on, as they pulled away at the last second.


    "Don''t lose your head! Remember who we are facing. This is Rael, the Ruthless One! Make no mistakes!" Roku''s words, fell on deaf ears, as the the replica, batted one more Hashin into oblivion.


    Rael rose out of the ground, with a sinister smile. His hair had come undone, sprawling all over his face. Yet he spread his arms out wide, yelling out to the General and the Hashin. "So you''ve heard of me, have you? Then you''ve already made the first mistake. You should have run while you could." He unsheathed his sword and assumed a stance as the giant clone copied him. "That''s what I always tell my brother, they have to learn the hard way." He glanced at his clone, then at the remaining Hashin. "Kill them."


    The clone charged at them, as he personally went for Roku, teleporting behind him and taking him kilometres away before he could react. The moment he registered what had just happened, he spun around, parrying Rael''s stab, then continued an onslaught of strikes to try and overwhelm him.


    However, Rael broke each of his combos with ease, being a master swordsman himself. It felt good, to cross swords with another great swordsman again. He was starting to lose himself in it, as he sliced deep into the General''s left shoulder.


    Who grimaced bearing the pain, then jumped back, while pulling together rocks and magma to cauterize and bandage the wound. Ash began to block out the sky.


    "How long has it been Roku? 80? Maybe 100 years we''ve known each other and this is the first time, we''ve crossed swords!" Rael''s eyes glimmered with glee. "I''m sorry I missed your prime, but is this level, all you are capable of now?"


    The General, grunted as he braced himself ready to continue. Suddenly, he felt an insurge of iko, as the planet assisted him and replenished his energy. He felt the same happening for the Hashin.


    ''This must be Akio''s doing.'' He smiled, showing teeth. "That may be so, but my goal here is different and I didn''t come, without help. The Elder has our back."


    Rael shook his head. "I''ll be heading there myself soon. If Mado can''t take care of him... I''ll do it myself."


    "That''s not going to happen." A Hashin spoke up, as he dropped down beside Roku. The General glanced over at him, noticing that the man was trembling.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "What happened?" He asked.


    The Hashin shook his head.


    "He killed her." He heard him say. He took in what he meant, then silently nodded back. The Hashin stepped forward. "Please let me go see her."


    For the first time in a long while, Roku struggled with finding any words to say. Anything to stop him, but he knew that there was no way of convincing a man with such conviction. "He will go after Akio if we don''t stop him here. I believe in you, General."


    Roku found it hard, to fight back tears as he blurted out, "2-!"


    Two was once his nephew, but since he swore an oath, they no longer had family relations. So the soldier continued acting on his duties. "Forbidden Art, Rab?''s Code."


    Pebbles, rocks and streams of lava followed the direction of his hands clasping onto Rael''s body, as much as the king willed it to stop. Two used up  the iko, granted to him by Akio and Rennaya, eating away at his life force, as he pulled more than he was able to.


    In less than a second, the sound of bones breaking and snapping filled the air as Rael teleported out of his chokehold, with his right arm and half of his shoulder missing.


    Two looked back at his uncle, as his eyes went bloodshot red. Roku could only watch as his nephew, burst into a large puddle of blood, as a side effect of the technique. He cried out loud, along with Rael, screaming from the pain. Then, they both looked at each other, drawing their swords and lunged with new resolve.


    Over at Akio''s location...


    The Elder felt his patience had paid off, seeing Atlas, pop out of thin air before him. However, to his surprise, Mado appeared as well a few seconds behind.


    "Akio! What do you think you''re doing?!" Atlas yelled, with his veins nearly popping out of his head.


    The Elder smiled, as his eyes shifted between both of his guests. "Take a guess?"


    Mado was a little bit curious about Atlas'' anger. "Atlas, what has you in this mood? With the three of us here, this is a battle of a lifetime!"


    Atlas turned towards the king, making him quickly change his gleeful expression. "I''m sure you can feel a tremendous amount of energy below us moving unnaturally, although you don''t have the affinity. That lunatic has begun halting this world''s core, and is planning to cause an implosion from within, by using a forbidden art, tied to his heart."


    Mado squinted at Akio. "Ahh, now I get you."


    Atlas shook his head. "No Mado, as a king, I''m sure you''re aware yourself, of the Star Eaters and the ones that traverse the universe."


    Mado paused, glancing back at Akio. "I''m aware... they are all conquerors. What of them?"


    Atlas, turned back towards Akio, bracing himself. "I''ve forbidden my children or anyone in the empire, from completly destroying any planets. For one reason, it calls them, like a light beacon. He''ll ruin, everything I''ve been working on."


    Mado, understood, the danger they were in, almost immediately, pointing his sword, at Akio. "Makes sense, we have similar stories and nursery rhymes all mentioning the same thing. ''If you cause an imbalance in the world, the sky eaters will take you.''... I guess they were true."


    The Emperor nodded. "We don''t stand a chance against them, as we are now. We must stop him before he destroys this planet." He looked back at the king once more. "Truce?"


    Mado nodded, warily. On cue, they both gathered energy, matching each other, as Mado shifted into the fourth and Atlas into the second gear.


    The Elder, stroked his beard, as he accelerated the planet''s destruction. "Hmm, I never thought I would see you two working together, but I guess, at my age, there are still, things that shock me. I appreciate the birthday present though. I only wish I could have shared it with my son. However you''ve made sure, he''s no longer with us."


    He looked up at the sky. "Ahh, 485 years. I''ve been blessed."


    The pair without hesitation, charged him, as two titanium golems rose out of the ground, breaking their swords, with fists of magma. Then, knocked them both back.


    "You''re going to need to put your backs into it, otherwise in 5 minutes, you can kiss this planet goodbye," Akio taunted, laughing out loud.


    Mado was starting to get angry. "Don''t screw with us! Do all of you Azurians have a death wish? I received reports of your ships, crashing into ours on purpose, when they''ve lost." He spat out, his next words in disgust. "What type of king, orders his soldiers to die like that."


    Akio frowned, stopping the golems from marching towards them. "Do not, insult their conviction. I took a ship on my own here, I was surprised to see many others following me."


    A tear slid down his cheek, as he thought of all of his people sacrificing themselves in space. Although Commander Ba''jin, had come up with the plan of saving the allies on short notice, he knew the Commander would have it all under control.


    "What they are doing, is a testament to their faith & loyalty to Azuria and its people. To show them that we cannot be defeated even in death, we will pass the baton onwards, to those that will one day lead the future." Akio assumed a stance and crossed his arms over each other, in front of him, facing his palms forward, as he spoke. "Terra Arts, Holy Swords: Gryphon & Calibur."


    Two, gem-encrusted swords, flew into his palms from beneath the earth. One with a black obsidian colour, the other a light white, both with magma coursing along the edges, rapidly. He swung the swords back, carving away his surroundings with sheer force.


    "Now, what are you waiting for?" He spoke out loud, provoking them once more.


    There was silence, as the two sovereigns, simmered in his words. Then Atlas spontaneously remade their swords, with other metal substitutes as they both yelled in unison. "You''re delusional!"


    Then leaped at him, with frightening speed. Both struck and stabbed at him with the utmost ferocity, trying to bring the old man down. However, to their dismay, the Elder had started to push them back, separating the two, and knocking them off of their feet, before they could even react.


    Mado raised his palm, towards Akio, as he went for Atlas. "Flames of Darkness, Barrage!"


    Multiple bursts of black fire manifested in front of his palms and jetted towards the Elder, causing him to jump back, as he returned back wave slices of burning hot lava, setting off the rest in the air.


    "Weak." The Elder commented as he raised his right sword, to intercept, the emperor flanking him from behind.


    "Stop this, you senile old man! I will forgive you and let you and your people go. I swear it." The emperor begged the Elder, desperately.


    However, Akio shook his head. "No, your vows mean nothing, to me. You must suffer, for the things you''ve done in your life."


    He, flung him back through, several hills, dazing him, whiile Mado tried to make a move, by teleporting behind him. With ease, the Elder blocked the surprise attack and disarmed him. "I have no qualms with you, however, if you choose to stand in my way..."


    Akio slammed both of his swords down, sticking them up in the dirt. Then got into a quick stance and thrusted his right palm forward with two fingers and his thumb sticking out, into the king''s chest. Sending Mado flying in Atlas''s direction, all while moving faster than the king could''ve perceived.


    Mado woku up disoriented and struggled to get up. His body felt like it weighed a ton. ''What was that?'' He thought as he forced himself to sit up, coughing up a course load of blood.


    Suddenly an immense outburst of energy, emanated from his left, almost reaching Akio''s level. Mado''s jaw fell open, as he saw Atlas in third gear, floating out of his crash site, full of anger.


    "I''ve used this form too much today. I''m almost near my reserves." He heard him say, with ragged breaths.


    ''How?'' Mado thought, as he tried to get up from his knees. ''How am I the weakest one here?''


    His legs were trembling, struggling to hold himself up. ''One strike has me like this.'' He felt his chest, a little more concave than it used to be.


    "I am the king! I''ve triumphed over everyone that has stood before me!" He yelled to himself, trying to shake off his fear. He began to gather energy, as he watched Akio appear above them, almost in a blur, with a spiralling massive sphere of condensed lava, still increasing by the second.


    "None of you will be leaving this planet," Akio said, pointed the sphere down at them.


    The king looked up at certain death. He knew not even Atlas, would be able to contain all that was about to be thrown at them. However, at that moment, a realization struck him, as he noticed what he lacked and the others did not.


    "No, you''re not weak." He spoke to himself. "How can you complain, Mado, when you haven''t even put your life on the line!"


    He shook off his doubts, as he and switched back into fourth gear, but didn''t stop there. He reached further into the darkness, diving himself into it. "It''s time for me to risk it all!" He yelled out, as a grayish skull with war art, painted in blood, manifested over his head.


    Then he let out a deafening roar.

 The End of a World

    The echoes of swords colliding, rippled across the field, along with the random spurts and cracks, from fissures popping up, as a result of tectonic plates, slowing down and crashing into one another. The planet''s destruction was in progress, but nothing could shake the General''s focus, as he tried to get the upper hand against the Dark King.


    "Terra Arts, Revolving Dome!" He yelled as quakes reverberated throughout their vicinity, then large walls rose and encircled them, before covering the sky in a complete dome of magma. Twice the size of a baseball field.


    It began swirling in a circle, with the viscosity of lava flowing down a volcano. Even under the relentless tremors of earthquakes around the planet, the dome still maintained itself, with tremendous heat and pressure.


    Rael looked all around him. Noticing he had blocked all of his exits with the support of the planet''s iko. It wouldn''t be easy for him to escape. "Making your own coffin old man?" He still managed to mock as he gathered energy and desperately searched for a way out.


    However, Roku ignored him and continued his task, preparing his stage. "Forbidden Art, Wrath of the Terracotta." Rael watched as blood trailed out of the General''s mouth, along with an unbothered smile. "No, this casket, was built with you in mind."


    He began backing away, as Rael glanced around and noticed thousands of Azurian soldiers, made out of magma, rising out of the walls, ceiling, and ground. Each of them roared war cries, echoing in an explosive rhythm, and then without hesitation, they all charged the king at full speed.


    He cut down as many as he could but was completely outnumbered in moments. Some pounding down on him and the remaining exploding on touch.


    Roku continued his assault and raised his hand, high above his head. The walls seemingly started to pulse as if they were alive, pumping more lava out of the ground and running it through its veins to the center of the ceiling. Which morphed into a sky cannon, seconds from erupting.


    Blood dripped down, his nose, yet he fought on, yelling at the top of his lungs. "Forbidden Art, Terra Liberation!"


    A laser beam of burning lava burst out of the cannon, absolutely destroying the entire domain, yet the walls still held up and contained the blast. With the disappearance of the king''s iko below, Roku finally felt a bit of relief knowing there was no way he could move with the terracotta holding him down.


    He let up, as the dome walls began to fall apart. He felt his chest, feeling many organs, beginning to fail. Tears, forced him to look up at the ash-coloured sky, remembering Two and his family.


    However, Rael''s voice shook him back to reality. "Unfortunately that wasn''t enough."


    As the smoke cleared, The General was shocked to see the king, still standing amongst frozen and broken Terracotta soldiers. Each climbing over each other and trying to reach him. The ground he was standing on, was carved out of its surroundings and pressed far below ground level.


    The biggest shock to him though, was Rael''s appearance. "A Lost One..." He murmured to himself, as he coughed more blood.


    Rael took a deep breath, simmering in all of the dark energy, smothering him. "Not many people have driven me this far... Congrats, now I''m mad."


    Dark energy reinforced the elemental phenomenon revolving around the king, as he crouched down, with one hand on his sheathed sword. The skull on his face, painted for war in blood, began to crack. "Hod Erebos!"


    Black lightning, ripped through the remnants of the ceiling, and raced toward him, then surged into his sword. A thin film of ice condensed air pressure, all over his sword, concentrating an all-black coat of lava, as he quickly unsheathed it and leaped with frightening speed, off the pillar holding him up from the abyss.


    Roku braced himself, preparing his defense, however in the split second that he blinked, Rael had teleported, less than a meter in front of him and beheaded him. All before he could react, as he passed by gracefully.


    The General watched his world tilt upside down, as Rael sheathed his sword back and allowed his skull to break off completely. "Forgive me, Ak-"


    Rael obliterated the remains of his body before they could hit the ground. Staying true to his name. "I''m honoured for the fight, but I disliked how much, you put me through. You may live on in my memory."


    His side effects began to creep up on him, making it hard for him to breathe and remain standing. Regardless, he would have to find the strength. He cursed as he turned around, seeing Calypso, floating right behind him, with her streaking, streaks of silver and a flaming white-hot sphere of fire, floating in front of her palm.


    "Did you miss me?" She asked as she launched her gift, with deadly speed.


    Akio vs Atlas and Mado...


    "So, you''ve chosen to lose yourself?" the Elder asked, watching the king''s disturbing transformation. He shook his head in disgust. "Savages till the end." He concluded, before launching the sphere at them. "Terra Art, Celestial Descent."


    The sphere began to descend at a rapid pace. Atlas glanced at Mado, hoping he might still have his wits about him, as a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Quickly, he thrust his hands in front of him, producing a condensed sphere of lava, then erupted it, trying to push back Akio''s attack. However, instead, he noticed his feet, digging into the dirt. Panic struck his mind, as his life started to flash before his eyes.


    Suddenly a beam of black fire and lightning, crashed into the sphere, stopping its acceleration. The emperor looked over to the king, seeing him still in his lost form, but choosing survival over death. Relieved, he turned back and yelled, following Mado''s roar.


    The two pushed back with all of their might, resulting in the collision of forces in a draw, with a magnificent explosion. Magma rained everywhere, as tension built up between the two parties.


    "My, my, I didn''t think you had that much fight, left in you." The Elder broke the silence while stroking his beard, his eyes went wide, as he turned around to block the king, teleporting in with a sneak attack. With ease, he blocked a few more, then punched him back down into the ground.


    Atlas was next, using the distraction to crash into him as they both locked hands and spiralled downwards. Akio used the momentum to break one of his hands-free and slammed the emperor into the ground, then threw him, while kicking a few boulders towards his direction, to keep him down.


    "You''re making this too easy." He said, covering his hands in magma, just as Mado appeared once more at the worst possible time. The Elder''s fist connected with the skull covering his face and cracked it up.


    The king recoiled back a few meters, slightly withstanding the strike, as dark smoke, began to escape the mask. He roared back in pain.


    ''He''s getting stronger.'' Akio thought to himself. Then stepped hard, while he hammering his fist down in the air, simultaneously sinking Mado, deep into the planet. Leaving him to be attacked constantly, by the wrath of the planet.


    He winced as Atlas appeared behind him, trying to jam a ball of green fire into his back. However, the Elder had already anticipated him and sidestepped. Allowing him to pass by, with a parting gift in the form of his own ball of condensed lava, lodged into his gut.


    Akio smiled, seeing the emperor refuse to give up, as he rose out of the smoke and debris, hundreds of meters away with his strength still rising, as anger and desperation took over. At the same time, he felt tremors from down below, from the king, making his way back up into the sky.


    The Elder watched him erupt out and land, panting and nearly out of breath. He noticed the left half of his skull still remained, with his clothes in tatters. Showcasing battle scars woven throughout his life, brandished all over his body.


    However Akio''s grin got wider seeing the look on his face. Regardless, he braced himself, as his opponents yelled war cries, charging at him. "It''s almost time. Just a bit more-"


    Black lightning cut him off, almost too quick for him to react as Atlas fired barrages of fire, at his location. He jumped back, as the smoke from the explosions, blocked his vision. Mado teleported in first, punching him, in the face, just as he landed. The Elder was stunned but didn''t move more than a few centimetres, smiling. "Not bad."


    With quick reflexes, he slapped the king''s fist to the side and socked him back into the distance. The emperor was next, however, his move was read with ease, as with his next few follow-ups, until he threw a roundhouse kick and managed to break Akio''s arm, while he was trying to defend himself.


    He let out a wince of pain by mistake, which the emperor quickly noticed. The strain of holding Rennaya''s strength and the damage he was taking, were starting to take a toll on his body.


    Atlas took the opportunity, lunging at him for the kill. However, a golem grabbed him from behind and suplexed him, with incredible force, while the elder followed up by blasting the both of them away with a quick beam of lava.


    He started to heave, it was getting harder for him to breathe. His body was beginning to give up and ask him to go to sleep. He shook his head, refusing to give up, as Mado appeared once more and was immediately sent back, as Atlas followed up.


    However, they kept coming back, over and over, making progress little by little on an immovable mountain, as the Elder, held on, coughing blood, and taking in more damage.


    Then he snapped. Tired of their onslaught.


    The next time the king appeared before him, he was greeted with a sphere of lava in his belly, detonating at a point-blank range. Sending flying uncontrollably, however, Akio managed to catch up to him. Striking him, each time he was about to descend.


    "You, who was born in darkness, don''t you realize that you are being tested the most?" He yelled at him.


    Mado raged, trying to recover himself. He had almost regained back all of his sanity, but his anger kept clouding his vision.


    Just as he thought, he had freed himself from Akio''s combo, he was caught, with another strike to his back, as Akio reappeared with a blur, sending him back down to the ground. The Eder then followed up by landing with his entire might placed in his fist, knocking the king out temporarily.


    He jumped back looking for the emperor and smirked as he appeared just where he wanted him to be. He caught him by the neck, as Atlas struggled to free himself. "You will never rule in peace. You were never chosen. Accept your fate, you abhorrent imitation."


    His eyes went wide, as he watched the Elder pull back his other hand, while making fist, superheating to an intense heat, with a glove of lava. He yelled out as he struck him with ferocity. "Forbidden Art, Warriors Fist."


    The impact was bone-shattering, erasing the entire landscape, behind the emperor and depleting a major part of his lifespan''s reserves. Every part of his body broke without fail, as he crashed, into a crumbling mountain.


    Akio looked down, seeing his body begin to crack and break apart. "I guess it''s time, now. Rennaya is ready. I am ready." He spoke to himself, as Atlas appeared in the sky, in his basic form, but heavily injured. He noticed Mado, slowly getting up, but completely out of energy and the skull broken to pieces in his crash site.


    As the emperor''s voice fazed in and out for him, he smirked, but was able to make out what he was saying. "Think about this! You''ll be putting your people in danger! Your grandchild too! What will you gain from this senseless sacrifice!"


    A tear escaped his eye, but he shook his head, smiling with relief. "Ahh Atlas. My people will be fine, besides, your frustration is more than enough."


    He clasped his hands together in prayer formation. Sending the last of his energy into Rennaya''s core.


    Atlas, gave up, seeing as it was too late, and started to flee, jetting away towards the sky. Mado noticed his takeoff, then glanced at Akio, who just smiled at him.


    "None of you will be leaving here," the Elder stated, as he took a deep breath. "Forbidden Art, Underworld Rising."


    The king looked to the sky and immediately took off, choosing to fight another day. However, below him, hundreds of fissures, broke open, flooding the land with a sea of lava. Then hundreds of thousands of hands, rose out of the burning sea and grabbed hold of his left leg and Atlas''s right before he could teleport.


    Dragging them both back down. They spun around and looked back at him, as he gave them, one last innocent smile. "Forbidden Art, Planetary Detonation!" He yelled as Rennaya''s core imploded.

 Complete Isolation

    Winds had started to pick up at alarming speeds all over the planet, while large chasms and crevices cracked open, filling up to the brim with lava. Continuous series of disasters rampaged all over the world, as tectonic plates crashed into each other and slowed down to a halt. Rennaya''s temperature rose at a rapid rate, as every volcano on the planet erupted and placed the surface in an irreversible state.


    Akio had completely sealed the Rennaya''s fate. He looked up at the ashe-colored sky, wondering if he had done enough. "My sons... Hopefully, we will meet again soon."


    His heart, connected via iko to Rennaya''s core, stopped, simultaneously signalling the detonation. The Elder''s body, lifeless, an empty husk, began to crumble apart like clay but was soon engulfed in a blazing fire and light as the world around them began to collapse. With multiple series of earthquakes and eruptions, all preparing for the last.


    Mado and Atlas, struggled to cut down their restraints, tying them to the dying planet. After another second of futile attempts, they both looked at each other, in despair. The same thoughts crossed both of their minds at the same time and without a word, they nodded, then proceeded to free each other, with beams of ice, freezing the ominous hands holding them down. In less than a second of being free, they both teleported, instantly going their separate ways.


    On Galaico''s island...


    Calypso had just arrived, smirking as she walked up to her brother''s body-less head on the beachside the uninhabited island, which, he fortunately landed on. However, confused and regretting his decisions more than ever, the island was now on fire and beginning to fall apart. Lava streamed all over the island, closing in on him.


    "I thought, you would have been washed away by the waves by now." She teased.


    The prince scoffed. "Please, stop with the remarks already. I''m not in the mood."


    She picked her brother''s head up, and hugged him, making him suffocate a little. "Aww, is poor little Gali, in a bad mood? I''ll make you feel better."


    Galaico was losing his patience, but he decided to keep calm, for there was no telling what his sister would do to him. "You''re... Hurting.... Me."


    She smiled and raised him to eye level. "Hahaha, oops, my bad. Let''s get you a new body, as soon as possible."


    Suddenly, the ground began to shake and rise, violently. Calypso glanced around, confused. "What''s going on?"


    Galaico spoke up earnestly. "I''ve been dreading the worst, but I''ve been sensing, strange iko at work, affecting the planet, although I''m not sure, who''s doing it and what they aim to do. However I can tell, this planet does not have much longer."


    The princess cursed, realizing that she had been too distracted. Frantically, she threw her senses all over, realizing what he was talking about. Then jumped up immediately, and leaped into the sky, just in time as the planet began to explode. The island they were standing on, had erupted upwards, along with waves of ocean water, then lava and debris from continental plates.


    Calypso flew, as fast as she could, trying to escape to the sky. The atmosphere had begun to leak and started dissipating, making, it hard for them to breathe. She reinforced herself with iko, then yelled out, cursing her powerlessness, as the blast closed in, and was about to overtake them, with fatal speed.


    In the nick of time, Atlas appeared before his children. They cried out in relief and despair at the same time. But more relieved as he grabbed hold of them, shifting into third gear. Then, teleported out as fast as he could, aiming for the Pandora. As the blast, continued to destroy ships of allies, and enemies alike, all around them.


    Mado was facing a much similar situation, as he tried to escape the explosion at his top speed, teleporting when he had the energy. However, his side effects were taking over, hindering him at the worst moment.


    The blast scarred his back, and his life began flashing before his eyes. He was close to the Alzora, the Kirosian command ship, but would not have the strength to reach it.


    "So this is how I die." He chuckled to himself, as he was thrown off by a delayed shockwave and watched, the fire reach for him in the stratosphere. However, appearing, out of nowhere, Rael manifested riding a large, black dragon.


    "Brother!" He yelled, while the dragon, grabbed hold of him, just as the blast engulfed them whole. However, at the same time, cracks appeared all over their vicinity, allowing them to teleport away in the nick of time.


    Seven minutes before Rennaya''s destruction...


    The Hashin carrying the Novas met up en route and made their way together to the new coordinates. Expecting to meet up with their comrades, Thirteen and Nine. However, his life force was nowhere to be found. Instead, they were met with forces of Ceria and Kiros engaged in deadly combat. With occasional drones crashing in from overhead.


    They felt their mission difficulty, had just skyrocketed. Some of them wished to go back and join Akio and Roku. However, they were devout to their orders and would stop at nothing to succeed.


    The three of them, began to rise to a higher altitude together, turning their cloaks invisible, to avoid the drones and aircrafts flying overhead, from seeing them. Yet, they underestimated the advancements of Cerian tech, as several aircrafts, spotted them with hi-tech radars. Then, began tailing them, firing away, and giving away their location.


    The Hashin tried to outmaneuver and lose them. Three raised pebbles into the sky, lodging them in their exhausts and engines, crashing a couple of them into the ground. Seven shot ice pikes at the remaining, as Twenty-one made sure the way forward was clear.


    However, they could not outrun, the speed of the Cerian aircrafts, as more joined in to stop them, on Alcra''s orders. Three spoke up, as over one hundred jets and drones tailed them, firing an onslaught, of bullets, missiles, and laser fire. "We won''t be able to shake them!"


    Hordes of Kaycers, screeched the sky, numbering thousands and raced towards them, for their next meal. Several generals of the Kirosian army wondered what was going on high above them, and ordered anti-artillery to begin shooting all of them down.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Three continued. "You must make sure, they get out of here safely. It''s his last order. Seven, hold on to our allies and let Twenty-one clear the way."


    Both of them glanced back at him, their throats going dry, as Seven caught, the domes he threw at her. "No! Stick with us!"


    Three shook his head, as a massive Kirosian ship spotted them from overhead, and began launching missiles. They were being bombarded from all sides, and only Three''s titanium barriers protected them as the others fired back.


    "This is the only way... I''ve treasured our time together, my comrades." He concluded as he clasped, his hands together, crossing three fingers over each other and the middle, index, and thumbs pressed, facing each other. "Forbidden Art, Kaze''s Ritual."


    With him as the epicentre, a large mountain instantaneously rose up beneath him. Then as the tips touched his toes, high up in the air, a massive volcanic explosion incinerated their assailants, and many soldiers fighting below, as the colossal mushroom cloud, blocked out the sky.


    "Three!!" Seven yelled, screaming at the top of her lungs, while the winds pushed the two Hashin, further into the sky. They heard roars, shaking them back to their senses and wondered where it was coming from. Then suddenly, there was a loud gunshot, from a little over 2 kilometres away, with a bullet whizzing right through Twenty-one''s left arm.


    "Ahk!" He gritted his teeth, while holding his wound, and quickly produced a stone dome, around them, reinforcing it with iko.


    "There''s no way, a normal bullet, could have harmed you!" Seven, cried out, quickly coming to his aid, and frosting over his wound. She was now, holding on to all four of the domes, carrying Tobi and the Novas.


    Twenty-one grunted as she sealed his wound. "No it has to be him, Jurgun, a Dai Hito they call the Sniper King. So he''s most likely not nearby. Keep your guard up."


    They heard another, roar, shaking them down to their bones. Then suddenly, Twenty-one pushed Seven back, while breaking the dome, open in half and sending her and the allies up with all of his might. Just as an emerald green dragon, chomped through the remaining and grabbed him by his left arm, as it soared past, with incredible speed.


    Twenty-one, couldn''t believe they existed, but he knew this wasn''t the time to be shocked. He concentrated a beam, into his motionless left arm, lodged in the dragon''s teeth. "Forbidden Art, Beast Mercy."


    It was difficult for him to move, at the speed and winds, the dragon was producing, however, in moments, it began to plunge, down, as lava coursed through its innards, burning it from the inside out. He was finally able to free himself before crashing as his arm had burned off. He cauterized the stub and looked to the sky, hoping Seven was alright, as another loud, but saddened roar ripped through the sky.


    Twenty-one cursed. This was the worst-case scenario. Immediately, he took to the sky racing for Seven, as she looked back hoping to see him okay. Only to see jaws, fading in and out of reality, then manifested the full picture of a violet dragon, about to swallow her comerade whole.


    "Watch out!" She called back to him.


    He couldn''t hear her, but seeing her panicked expression made him look back, then instinctively speed up, igniting small rocks under his feet, to rocket faster and escape its jaws, on time.


    It roared once more in frustration, and then phenomenally, its scales began to ripple and shimmer in a wave, from its tail to its throat, and out of its mouth as a large sphere of purple fire, began to take shape. A core of violet magma kept it stable, as it gained more heat, supporting the inferno.


    Twenty-one looked back at Seven, giving her one last smile, as she got further and further away. "You can do this Seven."


    He placed his remaining hand in front and ignited, the last rocks he had around him. They were up in the air and he wouldn''t be able to summon more on time. However, he still persisted and sacrificed bits of himself, to continuously charge up his attack.


    Suddenly, broken stones began dropping in his vicinity. He caught them, before they could fall any further, realizing Seven, broke apart the rest of his dome, and sent it back. They came overheated, with her help.


    He smiled, knowing he wasn''t alone, as the sphere grew bigger, breaking and combining together to form a miniature sun, rotating in front of his palms. Just as the violet dragon, released its flames.


    He grunted, yelling out to the wind, as he poured in all of his might, for Seven, was still in range. "Forbidden Art, Star Torrent!"


    The miniature sun, instantly grew four times bigger, and then cracked open, spilling a beam that collided with the violet flames of the purple dragon. He yelled at the top of his lungs, as he shifted into third gear, then slowly started to ascend to the next with his veins, flashing from orange lavaish marks to a near red and black.


    The beam slowly began to eat away at the dragon''s wave, however, Twenty-one was beginning to burn up, and his body, would not be able to make it. He knew the dragon had much more stamina than he could handle.


    Suddenly though, there was a loud bang, keaving a hole opening up in his chest. He began to drop, not before twisting his beam, to erupt a massive explosion, engulfing the dragon and his corpse whole, as Seven yelled out to the wind once more.


    Jurgun, a middle-aged looking man at an average height, but carried a stubborn expression, floated, 1 km away, holding his sniper over, his shoulder. "That''s another Hashin down. Now where did the other go."


    He paused to teleport as the shockwave reached his previous position. "Well, no use looking for her now. Something strange is happening, I better order the troops to retreat."


    Near the stratosphere, with Seven holding onto the allies...


    Frantically, she raced towards space, finally about to reach her destination. Then suddenly, she felt immense wind and pressure reverberating through the atmosphere, causing intense turbulence on her journey. Rennaya had started to self-destruct.


    She looked back, seeing cracks, devastating the face of the planet, as it entered the final stage of an end of a world. She then glanced back up, as a shuttle, sent by Commander Ba''jin, appeared out of its camouflage, opening its bay doors, as Azurian soldiers beckoned her to hurry up.


    They were just over a kilometre above her. However, Rennaya, could not wait, exploding at the worst possible time.


    "No!" She screamed, as she instinctively threw the four domes ahead of her, using ice to maintain her trajectory, as she tried to outrun the blast. One by one the domes crashed into the shuttle, and took a few of the soldiers in, as they tried to catch them, shaking the shuttle off course, just as the last one whizzed by.


    The Hashin cursed, unable to believe what had just happened. The shuttle immediately took off as the shockwave continued to throw it off balance.


    She knew, she had failed her comrades, their last order to get everyone out safely. Now as the dome, drifted off into the abyss of space, she was terrified everything was in vain.


    Her will prompted her to not give up, as she clasped her hands together and covered herself in iko, just as she was about to run out of air. "Forbidden Art! Limit Breaker."


    Her eyes began to glow, while her hair glowed full silver, however, her skin began to burn from the planet''s heat. In split seconds, she hopped off a platform of ice aiming to touch the dome, as it spun out of control, constantly being hit by the blast and debris.


    She reached out to touch it. Inching as much as she could, till finally, her index finger graced it. She screamed, although she could no longer hear herself, and poured in all of her might, pushing the dome further into the abyss of space. "Forbidden Art, Complete Isolation!"


    The dome, frosted over, thousands of times, filling air and maintaining heat within, while protecting, the occupant from the cold of space. Seven had often heard, that iko, could, sometimes maintain itself, even after its user''s death, depending on their instructions.


    She had never believed it. Seeing only explainable circumstances, however now more than ever. She was praying for it to be the case.


    She trusted her comrades, to have made their domes capable to withstand space, as they have often done in training for recovery missions. However, it was all up to the victim''s luck, if they would be able to survive and find a habitable planet.


    Tears, rolled down her cheek, as Rennaya''s gravity pulled her back in and engulfed her in its flames. She hoped, she had done enough, as she watched the dome float on. Escaping the blast and spinning, lost in space...

 Somber Solitude

    It was unbearably cold. Seeping in and creeping over Tobi''s body, as he woke up, shivering in darkness.


    "Osei!" He yelled out at first, but as he looked around and flailed his arms, a new question came to mind. ''Where am I?'' He thought panicking, as claustrophobia started to settle in. He reached his senses out as far as he could, realizing he was floating somewhere, then manifested a sphere of ice with fire burning within. Lighting the room up so that he could gauge his surroundings.


    What he saw, confirmed his fears. He was trapped in a dome. One meant to contain him and it was moving quickly.


    ''Moving where?'' He asked himself as he threw his senses outside of the dome, hoping to figure out his location and captors.


    Countless thoughts and emotions clouded his mind, as he felt dried blood sticking on the side of his head. However the most prevalent feeling, was despair.


    He was alone, in the middle of space. With no ground or planet around him, for thousands of kilometres.


    ''Calm down.'' He told himself as he started to hyperventilate.


    It was easy to pretend, that he could''ve done something different, compared to characters or people he saw placed in tough situations like this. However being in that position himself, made him realize just how difficult it was, just to calm himself down. Much less think straight.


    He slapped himself to reset and began mulling over his options, as he dropped himself down in muddy water. ''This dome was made to protect me. Something must have happened, for them to have thrown me out into deep space.''


    Suddenly a sting across his chest, almost keeled him over. Surging  a terrible memory, which he quickly pushed out of his mind. He healed himself to subside the pain slighlty, but it seemed to him that he had been treated already. However sudden movements had, reopened the large wound, diagonally down his chest, nearly seperating him in half.


    An idea sprung up, but he was wary, as he didn''t know how much air he had left and if he would damage, the only thing keeping him alive. He shifted up into third gear, carefully, and slowly, as he raised his hand to  clear a dirt layer of the dome in front of him.


    The dirt dome the Hashins kept him in, was dense and near airtight, with just enough holes to breathe. Which Seven, the Hashin who was tasked with him, had reconstructed with hundreds of more layers of ice, adding an air recycling system, and temporary insulation. Diminishing by the minute.


    Tobi shivered from the cold, as breathing got even more difficult. He gritted his teeth, and shook his head, reaching out to take control of the iko and energy guarding him. However, it felt too easy, like they were allowing him to share control. Telling him that they were allies.


    The metals and dirt in front of him, shifted apart into a window, showing layers of ice beneath. The pressure within the cabin dropped slightly, creaking the cabin, as he freaked out.


    He stopped for a moment, then wiped the glass, leaving his palm on it, as he willed the hundreds of walls, within the pane to become transparent, while reshaping the dome with leftover ice. For better mobility.


    It creaked once more, as layers on the outside shifted around, bending to his will. He looked outside, mesmerized by the myriad of stars and lights. However, there was always, that solemn everlasting darkness, looming, all around him.


    That''s when he thought of Osei.


    Rememebering his last moments with him, brought newfound pain and reopened a scar, that subsided for only a moment, but he knew would last for the rest of his life. If he could get out of his current situation.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    He gathered up some of the metals and dirt in the dome he was in, and forced it to phase through carefully outside, then set it a blaze rotating against the depths of space, within a bubble of ice. He struggled as it kept going out, but eventually managed to protect it from the cold.


    "Frost: Astronaut." On his command, the ice around the rotating core, using some of the leftovers from making the window, manifested into a clone of him.


    He gave it a specific set of instructions to go ahead and search around for him, for a habitable planet, to land on. Then he reached into his waist pack, grabbing a small spherical drone and threw it up, as it whizzed to life, hovering lightly and taking in the room.


    "Tobi, you''re in outer space." Sarah''s voice perked up from the drone. A lite offline version, installed in case of emergencies.


    Tobi, personally opted out of Saphyra updating his device, which Sarah named, the E-Drone. It was packed with majority of her survival knowledge and some of her pre-life basic functions.


    He nodded, confirming her suspicions. "Yes we are, it seems, I have been separated from everyone else. Can you reach HQ from here?


    She whirred around the room some more, then beamed out a holographic image of the galaxy. "We are over a thousand lightyears away from Earth. It''s uncertain if my signal will ever reach them."


    Tobi sighed in despair. "Ok then, where would be the best place to land and look for food. I''m starving."


    Sarah took a minute, to trace their location, using star alignments and the speed at which they were drifting. Then beamed out another holographic image, with a dot, blipping their position and the possible habitable worlds nearest to him.


    She finished processing all of the info she needed, then spoke up, "The most promising planet, I can recommend heading to would be Kepler D - 136. It has the most characteristics similar to Earth, and has a constitution that may be able hold an abundance of life."


    Tobi nodded, relieved to have a goal. He was beginning to feel famished. Yet he told himself to keep going and focus on getting out of there.


    He raised his hands forth, gathering enough energy and teleported his clone back. It brought back with it, a small asteroid about the size of his dome. Satisfied, he dissipated the clone, but left it''s core floating, as he broke apart the asteroid and fitted it all together to his dome, giving him more fuel to burn and protection.


    "Create: Space Walker." He said, as rocket fire propelled his miniature spaceship forward, deeper into the abyss of space.


    Tobi looked back at the drone, as Sarah assessed his situation further. "Tobi, you''re BMI has dropped significantly. When was the last time you ate?"


    Tobi thought about it for a moment, realizing that it had been sometime, but she didn''t have to bring it up. He couldn''t blame her, since she left a more primitive state of her mind, that was made for emergencies and survival.


    "Maybe an hour before going to Rennaya." He finally said, realizing his head was feeling a bit woozy, as it was hard to recall his memories.


    "Ah, makes sense, it''s been two days since. Then I recomm-"


    She tried to say as he cut her off.


    "Wait, did you say two days?" He asked, terrified.


    She did the equivalent of a drone, nodding, then said, "Yup."


    "I hope everyone''s alright... They must be worried." He looked down solemnly, then turned his attention back through the window, as he thought of all the people that may be missing him. "I''ve got to get back, as soon as possible."


    "That''s for sure, but Tobi, upon further assessment of your health, it seems you have sustained considerable head trauma, aside from several fractures within your body that will not heal quickly without a cryomed." Sarah analysed, as she linked in to his suit. "I''m almost certain that you''ve sustained a concussion and such you shouldn''t strain yourself. However at the current speed that we are moving, we''ll only arrive at Kepler D -136, in about 200 years."


    Tobi laughed out loud. "Now who''s got time for that." He shook his head. "No, I''ve got a better idea. Show me the map again and point me in the right direction."


    "Okay." She said warily and did as she was told.


    Then he raised his hand to his sides, shifting back into third gear and shrouded the entire dome, with his iko. Then with several cracks appearing in the vacuum of space around them, the dome teleported forward, continuously, hundreds of thousands of kilometers, by the second.


    He managed to keep going, for ten minutes, before he collapsed from exhaustion. He looked up at the drone, as Sarah updated him. "Great work, now we are only 125 light years away, from the planet."


    Tobi rolled his eyes. "Only?" He said, shaking his head."I''m already winded from all of that." He laid down, slowly falling asleep. "I''m gonna rest a bit and try again. I''m so hungry..." He said weakly, as he dozed off.


    Sarah looked at him, then back through the window. Worried about what he may encounter out there...

 A New World

    Tobi woke up from his stomach growling loudly, about six hours later. He looked around, despairing that he was in the same nightmare. However he noticed the drone, was flat on the ground, and silent.


    "Sarah!" He said, as he approached the drone.


    It whirred slowly then hovered at a lower altitude. "Sorry, I''m on power saving mode, it seems, my battery is low."


    He tapped his forehead, as he realized he hadn''t charged his drone, since he first got it. He held her in his hands and sent a light surge, filling up her tank. Then let her go, as she hovered back to life.


    "Thank you Tobi." She said happily, then caught up on what happened while they were both asleep. "While you slept, we''ve gone a little less than half a light year closer to our destination."


    Tobi smirked, walking up to the window, as he stared out into the beauty of space. "Don''t worry we''ll get there soon. I finally have a grasp on this." He thrust his hands out once more and gathered energy as he went into third gear. "Kinect: Light Jump."


    It drained an exhausting amount of energy out of him, he didn''t have, yet he held on, as they reappeared closer to their destination. He dropped to his knees as Sarah chimed up. "Now, we are 45 light years away. Take a break, I think the next one will do it."


    Tobi, shook his head, holding back vomit, held up at the back of his throat. "No, I don''t think I''ll last much longer... I can do this." He said, as he got back up.


    She looked at him worriedly as he struggled to stay standing. "Tobi, you don''t know what dangers may lie on that planet. It''s best if you save your strength and-"


    "I''m tired of being stuck alone, in space. I want to breath fresh air." He looked at her with determination. "It''ll be okay, don''t worry." He said, then turned back to his task and forced his hands to stop shaking.


    "Kinect: Light Jump." He whispered, as immense headaches along with physical pressure on his body, nearly overwhelmed him.


    Cracks appeared once more, around the dome, teleporting him, into the planet''s statosphere. The dome, immediately, began to dip, pulled by the planet''s gravity.


    He struggled to maintain descent, but within seconds, lost consciousness from exhaustion. He came to, moments later, as Sarah purposely kept crashing into him, blaring warnings.


    He looked out, through the window in complete shock. Rising up, from the rich rainforest, was an incredibly large python, lunging over 50 feet, to swallow him whole.


    He screamed, as his fear of snakes, froze him in place along with the lack of energy. Inches away from reaching him, to his surprise, it was yanked, by a monstrously oversized gorilla. Using it as a weapon to wrap around a similar-sized carnivorous lizard, before punching it, as it clawed back.


    His dome continued to crash down, like a meteorite into the jungle, as the monsters whipped up a storm of carnage, fighting each other to the death. The dome was nearly destroyed, leaving a small shell, where Tobi layed over unconscious, as Sarah zipped around, taking in the new terrain. Then rushed back to nudge him awake.


    He woke, feeling dizzy and nauseous, unable to make out his bearings. However when he came to, his eyes, grew wide.


    All around his crash site, were humongous trees and plants three times the norm back on Earth. He could feel the gravity, was a little bit stronger than on Earth, but not too noticeable. Insects and animals, scurrying around, terrified by the crash, seemed weird distant relatives of ones he had seen before.


    He hopped out of the shell and struggled to stand up, as it had been days since he had last been on land. His stomach growled once more, ripping a depressing pain through him.


    "Sarah, is there anything edible here?" He asked, weakly.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    She scanned her surroundings and was about to speak up, however coming out of the thick leaves and bushes, surrounding them, were exotically mutated velociraptors. Hundreds of them, with each being about the size of a large wolf.


    They eyed him, wondering how good he would taste, as he looked at them dumbfounded. ''Dinosaurs are extinct.'' That''s all he knew, so why are there so many here? He asked himself, as sweat rolled down his cheek.


    It was unbearably hot, but he wasn''t sweating from the heat. "Run!" Sarah yelled, finally breaking the silence as the raptors charged forward, leaping over each other to get the first bite.


    Tobi flew up high, letting the horde crash into each other, then dove into the thick lush forest as fast he could. Flying was incrediblly difficult with the lack of strength, but fear overwhelmed all other dilemmas.


    He looked back hearing screeches and roars, as a raptor sailed past him nearly missing him, as he maneuvered through the branches to escape his assailants.


    He raised a mudwall as high as he could, to block them off. However in seconds they broke through making a small hole as they poured through. Shocking him as he wondered about the strength of these animals.


    They were feathered with beady eyes, hungry for a meal and enjoying the hunt. As one of them leaped off another to momentarily fly towards him.


    He raised his arm blasting it point-blank with a small ball of fire, as the next took him by surprise. He frosted his arm in a gauntlet of ice, while it struck at him with large sharp claws, completely ripping through his makeshift armor.


    He yelled as he kicked it towards the ground, before it got trampled by the rest of its herd. Then he flew as fast as he could trying to escape them.


    ''They can use iko!'' The terrifying thought coursed through him, as he realized the planet he had landed on, may not be as safe as he thought it was.


    He wanted to fly up high and get out of there, however, not knowing how long he could last, he was afraid of suddenly dropping out of the sky. Unfortunately the skies wasn''t even a safe option for him, as another raptor seemingly descended down on him, chomping down on his leg before he could, dodge in time.


    With one palm facing it, he blasted it apart, then pried off it''s jaws off of his leg and frosted it over. His stomach growled as he began to feel dizzy, but he knew the horde would not let up, since they could still smell him and the fresh blood, seeping from his wounds.


    There were more screeches as they got closer, with several more leaping at him, while he tried to lose them in the forest. Suddenly a large dark animal leaped out of nowhere, catching the few that got a head, nearly reaching him. He turned around seeing a panther, the size of a tank, with a few of the raptors in his mouth swallowing them whole.


    Intensifying his fears even more. It looked at him, with predatory eyes, as the rest of the horde, rushed the panther and ripped it apart without hesitation, while the rest continued after him.


    ''This is messed up. What do I do?'' He thought to himself, before Sarah''s voice caught his attention.


    She had been flying up high overlooking the situation and trying to find a way out for him. "Tobi! Over here!" He glanced for a moment looking up at where she was. "There is a clearing up ahead, line them up and wipe them all out."


    He clenched his teeth, knowing that was his best option. However a problem still persisted keeping him fearful. "I can only manage one more shot, it''s taking all I have just to stay afloat!." He paused as a raptor whipped past him once again.


    "Teleport." She suggested, but he shook his head.


    "I can''t!" He knew it would knock him out and on this planet, that was a death sentence.


    He turned and continued towards the direction of the clearing she suggested. Then dropped down as he shifted in second gear for a moment. Immediately, he felt nauseous, unable to stand on his feet, but nevertheless cupped his hands together and created a brewing ball of fire and electricity.


    Rings of fire crushed the ground, creating a small crater around him. His body screamed, as he strained it even further, pulling together any energy he had left. Then released the beam, as the horde of raptors, broke through the trees.


    Erasing the entire landscape along with them. The surrounding trees, blew back from the winds of the blast, then caved back in once everything settled.


    Tobi staggered back, as his vision began to blur. He sat down against a tree to support himself. Moments later he heard low growls, as the ones he could not kill, began to walk slowly towards him, out of the remaining trees and forest.


    He looked at them, accepting defeat. "This is as far as I go." He let out a light chuckle. "I wasn''t supposed to survive anyway... Osei, I guess I will be joining you soon." He concluded, resigning himself to his fate.


    He closed his eyes, as the raptors closed in, about to pounce. Then suddenly he heard the sounds of trees breaking, screeches and bones snapping. Yet he felt no pain, so he opened his eyes, shocked to witness bloodspots and torn limbs of all of his predators around him. Along with the majority of the trees, surrounding them broken apart, crushed and destroyed.


    He felt immense energy up above him, forcing him to look up. There floating majestically was a woman, around his age, with glowing silver hair and red eyes. She had one hand out, as the air around him, seemed to crack ready to break apart.


    He tried to speak but his stomach growled loudly, embarrassing him. She smiled, as she powered down. Her hair remained grey as she descended in front of him, then spoke. "You''re lucky I got here on time... Sounds like you''re starving, aren''t you?"

 Never Forget

    Three days after the Battle of Rennaya...


    The World and Federation were in disarray after the events that unfolded on Rennaya. The Novas waking up were distraught when they heard the news. Not only had they lost the war, but their comrades allies and the amount of casualties incurred were unimaginable.


    Saphyra estimated about 70 million casualties from allies to enemies alike, as the result of the expedition. Signalling the largest and deadliest death toll accumulated in one day of human history. Including the losses of Kayed, Akio, Osei and all thirty-two Hashin as well as the General, Roku. However the biggest blow to Beyond, was losing their Commander, Tobi.


    The Worlds mourned their losses, but knew the threat was not over. Drone analysts from Azuria, gave the Federation hope by informing them that the Hashin, did seal him in a makeshift space pod, but were unsure if Tobi was still alive, but if he was he had at most, one week to live.


    Saphyra suspended all future explorations and missions so that the Federations armies could heal, but opted to send thousands of drones to search for Tobi around the remains of Rennaya. Nevertheless searching space, for a single person, was as difficult a task as finding a pebble in a desert. Before long Beyond would give up and report him as lost forever.


    Carina knocked on Amaara''s door hoping she would open up this time. However there was no response, she stared at the door for a moment, then turned around and sat down against it, crossing her arms over her knees.


    "Amaara... I can''t imagine what you''re going through right now, nor do I think I can make you feel any better..." She trailed off, as tears started to stream down her cheek and sniffles made it hard for her to finish her sentences.


    "Honestly, I just don''t want to be alone and.... and you may be the only one that understands... how I never got to tell him..." She sobbed harder unable to finish her sentence, but the door behind her creaked open.


    Carina looked backed, wiping her tears away, as she looked up. Amaara''s, eyes were red, exhausted, yet she still seemed as strong as she always was.


    "That you loved him?" Amaara finished for her, before Carina quickly got up and hugged her.


    At the Training Room...


    Simon flared around the room letting off his anger and pushing himself to his limits, as wounds opened up. Koji strodded into the room, looking around at massive scorch marks all over the place.


    "There you are. Why aren''t you resting, Simon?" The Nova asked.


    Simon shook his head, stopping at the center. "Because... I''m still weak." Then let''s off a massive beam of fire, as he shifted into first gear.


    Then released his transformation, as he started to shudder. Koji remained silent, staring at him.


    Simon looked down, holding in tears. "Why''d he have to protect me?" Rings of fire, manifested, surrounding him, as Koji remained silent. "Why couldn''t he just leave me and run?!" A crater formed beneath him, crushed by the pressure.


    Koji finally broke his silence. "Why question another''s sacrifice? You only dishonor their efforts."


    "Dishonor!" Simon yelled, as the flames blazed bigger and hotter. "We''re from the first generation and he had the greatest potential, yet gave that up or us." The tears he''d been holding in, caved through, as his emotions overwhelmed him.


    He stutteredand trembled, as he tried to continue. "I couldn''t even help Tobi..." He dropped to his knees, as his stitches and wounds bled even harder. " Who gave him the right, to do that for us?"


    Koji shook his head. "Unfortunately, this life has never been fair. It''s typically the strong that decide who lives, not the weak. Those strong in mind and in strength are the only ones capable of changing fate... Kayed was one of them." He said, then began walking through the flames, scorching him as he braced it.


    Simon sniffled, wiping away his tears. "We still have so far to go."


    "You''re right." Koji reached his hand out. "But for now, let''s lessen the pain." He said, as Simon slowly grabbed it and was helped up. Then together, they made their way to the MedBay.


    An hour before, at the MedBay...


    Norah woke up freaking out, as Runa rushed over from Kalista''s bed to calm her down. "Shhhh. You''ll wake up the others." Runa warned her, indicating Helio, Nate, Karim, and Tai, who were sound asleep on hospital beds and in cryomeds.


    They got her some water, to drink, as she looked them over noticing Kalista''s bandaged wounds. "What happened?" She finally asked.


    Kalista looked over her wounds and back at her. "Oh this, I got slightly injured, in a land explosion as we tried to escape Rennaya. I''ll be honest Norah, the situation isn''t looking too good."


    They proceeded to tell her about the events that unfolded on the lost planet. The casualties and the results. Norah stopped drinking, as soon as she heard about Kayed''s, Kaieda''s, Roku''s and the Hashin''s death. Then they they let her know about the brothers and what Akio had done to allow them all to escape.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "We lost Osei and we don''t know where Tobi is. He may still be alive, drifting in space, or he may have been consumed in the planet''s destruction." Runa concluded.


    Norah put down her cup, then asked coldly. "Where is he?"


    Runa and Kalista both looked at each other, then solemnly shook their heads. "We don''t know. Nobody knows." Kalista, replied.


    Norah immediately got up, off of her bed and dove for the door as Kalista and Runa rushed to hold her down. "Norah there''s nothing we can do!" Runa tried to convince her.


    "Let me go!" She yelled as she accidentally elbowed her in the face, then stopped, feeling ashamed as, as Runa quietly held her bleeding nose.


    "Sorry." She whispered to Runa, as Runa nodded back accepting her apology. Then Norah dropped to her knees in defeat and started to tear up. "This sucks." She said outloud, coming to terms with the situation.


    Kalista slowly walked up to her as Runa dropped down and gave her a hug, trying to comfort her. Kalista placed one hand on Norah''s shoulder, then spoke. "I know... It really does, but don''t worry, knowing him, he''ll find a way to make it back to us."


    Norah stopped sobbing and wiped her tears as Runa broke away from her. "You''re right, and when he comes back, we''ll have to be much stronger than we were, so this time, we can protect him."


    She looked at her friends, who without hesitation, nodded in agreement. "Right!"


    Four days after the events on Rennaya...


    Jacira and Kiala looked all over Beyond HQ, trying to find Sarah. They had asked Saphyra, but she told them that she had been unable to reach her ever since she woke up.


    They finally went to the shipyard, as it was the only place they had not looked, just before they planned to go search in the Republic of Rennaya. Combing through the lines of parked ships proved to be fruitless, but as they were about to give up, Kiala noticed lights on in the Aratris.


    She called out to Jacira to reunite with her, as they entered the old ship together. In the cockpit, they finally found her, with a half empty bottle of wine and old memories of Tobi and Osei replaying on the main console.


    She was a mess. The first time Kiala had ever seen her like this. Past or future. The pair walked in slowly as Sarah continued sobbing in her arms, not looking up although they knew, she heard their footsteps.


    "Mom, are you ok?" Kiala asked in a soft voice, trying not to startle her.


    Sarah stopped for a moment, but instead of looking at them, she looked towards the screen, which had just settled on a picture of Osei, happily training with his brother. "I''ve failed them."


    "You couldn''t have seen it coming, Sarah. You did your best, Earth wouldn''t have gotten this far without you." Jacira blurted. It hurt her to see, someone she revered in this state.


    Kiala spoke up right after. "That''s right Mom, there was nothing we could do, our enemies were strong and cunning. No matter how well prepared we are, there was always a chance, that we could lose, but because of you, we still have a fighting chance."


    She walked closer, tapped her shoulder and hugged her. "Mom, I came to past, to spend more time with him and you. We can''t stop fighting for that. Since you''re now conscious it''s hitting you harder than the first time, but you''re the strongest person I know. You''ve always come out on top. Don''t let this bring you down, because you are their legacy."


    Sarah sniffled and wiped away her tears. "God, how is my daughter so wise." She chuckled weakly. "You''re right. They were my family, but they aren''t the only ones left. Sorry for showing you guys this pathetic display."


    Jacira smiled, with tears in her eyes. "Not at all. It''s ok to be vulnerable sometimes, but we have to stay strong for those that aren''t. Sarah, I think I speak for all of us, including Kayed, Leon and Ranesa but we never regretted becoming Novas, you gave us that chance, and for that we''ll never forget them. For that we have to look forward."


    Sarah gave them both a soft smile, then invited them in for a group hug. "I know, and we will. We''re going to make sure, such a tragedy, never happens again."


    End of that week...


    In a mass funeral, televised throughout the Federation, Sarah walked up to the podium intthe Republic of Rennaya''s capital. The Novas, were dressed in all black clothes, tailor made by Saphyra''s teams. They sat with members of the Azurian council, U.N. representatives, the Sonaran council and Dargan''s leaders.


    It was a solemn day for the Federation, but the people were anxious to hear her speak, as it was her first time in public since the incident. She knew the people needed reassurance and wanted to hear of what comes next, with the loss of their greatest military powers.


    Several riots and uprisings sprung up on Earth and throughout the Federation, but Saphyra managed to quell them, before irreversible damage could be made. Nevertheless this speech would be the only deterrence to unrest, for the people.


    "People of the Federation!" It was the first time, they were addressed as such. Her voice reached many, especially on Earth, truly realizing that they were not alone, in these painful times.


    "It has only been a little over a year, since we had first made our presence in this Galaxy. Through that, we have experienced losses, defeat and tragedies, but none had been greater than what we had suffered on that day one week ago. I''ll admit, our strength has decreased due to loss of our greatest leaders. However..."


    She shifted, her position as she tried to keep her emotions under control. She looked at Kayed, Osei''s and Tobi''s caskets, ready to be buried. "We are all humans, every one of us, yet in ashes we rise. Those that have transgressed against us, will be dealt with and punished, no matter the cost. Let this be known, hard times, create the strongest warriors, and although they have weakened us, they will regret crossing us."


    She waited for a moment, as people in the audience clapped, in support. "My people, know that your leaders, till this day, are diligently coming up with new strategies, and plans to make sure the tragedies on Rennaya, never happens again. Our Novas are training, each of your countries are developing new forces that can stand with them and thirty-two new Hashin''s have been selected. The day will soon come, when Atlas and Ceria, will pay for their crimes, but today, we''ll take the moment, to mourn the 24 million lives that were lost on that day. Please take a moment with me, as our beloved soldiers are buried. We thank them for their service."


    She stopped, and looked at Kiala in the audience, who nodded back at her, proud that she had the courage to follow through with the speech. Then looked over at Saphyra who promptly signalled the band to start playing, while the audience stood in solidarity and soldiers in military uniforms saluted and began firing into the sky.


    Flags of the Republic of Rennaya, along with the Egyptian, Nigerian, Canadian and Rennaya''s Sovereign flag were folded above the caskets, as they were lowered into the ground. Akio was simultaneously being buried in his home village where he was born on Azuria.


    Many people were crying, amongst the crowd, but the ones Sarah could not take her eyes off of, were Tobi''s family, the ones she had ultimately failed. The loss of the child, along with their newest addition to their family, devastated them. When the ceremony was over and enough people had given them their condolences, she walked over to finally face them, for the first time.

 The Messian Village

    "Ria why''d you disappear like that?" A voice called out to them from high above.


    Tobi looked up, seeing four figures floating above them, but the Sun''s gleam made it hard for him, see their faces. Nevertheless he knew he was at their mercy, as their strength was on par with some of the Novas.


    "The Elder told me to keep a look out while we hunted, for we may find something unexpected. When I heard a loud explosion, I had to come check it out." Ria explained to them, then glanced back at Tobi. "You, what is your name? Do you speak our language."


    Tobi nodded as his suits translator helped him adjust to their speech. "I am Tobi, of Earth. I was accidentally stranded here on this planet. Thank you for saving me."


    She smiled, and helped him up. "You''re welcome. I have never seen a Rennayan with brown eyes. Are the people of your planet all like you?" She asked as she gave him some bread, from her satchel.


    Tobi smiled weakly and accepted it. "I am half Rennayan, but my people are made of many races, with different shades of eyes. I am still a rare case among them."


    "That''s so cool!" She said, excited to be learning more about him. She looked back up at her friends, who were still glaring at him with caution. "He seems nice, you don''t mind if I bring him back to the village?"


    They looked him over once more, seeing his injuries and malnourished state. Then the one that spoke up earlier, responded back. "Do as you wish, but if anything happens, it''ll be your responsibility."


    She smiled at him, as he looked away blushing, then smiled back at Tobi. "I''m Ria by the way." She pointed up at each of her friends introducing them. "The loud one is Kiatin, the bigger one, Jinco, and the shy one is Rani."


    "I''m not shy!" Rani exclaimed.


    Ria laughed. "Then stop hiding behind Jinco and come say hi."


    Rani stayed quiet. Ria gave her a playful smile then turned back once again to Tobi. "Would you like to come to our village? You''re not dangerous are you?"


    Tobi gave her a smile. "I''m not that type of person. I appreciate the offer, but can I bring one more person with me?"


    She looked at him confused as he turned back to the forest and called out. "Sarah!"


    On command, the drone dropped down, out of the sky beside him. "She''s my companion."


    Ria looked the e-drone over. "It''s like an


    Or?ao."


    "Wow more Messian''s. This is a historical find Tobi!" Sarah exclaimed.


    Tobi smiled. "Yes, and they want to take us to their settlement. Wanna dock for sometime until we get there?"


    The drone shook left to right, indicating a ''no.'' "No, I want to document and record everything I see on this planet. Make sure to top me up when you have enough energy."


    Tobi nodded. "Sounds good."


    "Incredible it talks! It''s been decades since we''ve seen technology like this." Ria interrupted.


    Tobi frowned. "How long have you guys been here?" He knew they couldn''t have been native to this planet.


    Ria thought about it for a moment, then responded. "We crashed around 80 years ago as children."


    Tobi was in shock. He was still skeptical of Acryus''s claim of being over 80 years old, but decided to accept that some species were just beyond his understanding.


    The one named Jinco called out to them. He seemed to be carrying a large amount of game, telekinetically behind him. "Come on, we have to get going before the Sun sets."


    "Alright, alright." Ria replied, then glanced back at Tobi. "You ready to go? We''ll have to fly back, teleporting releases a large amount of iko and attracts monsters and animals alike."


    Tobi nodded and tried to take a step, but immediately felt nauseous and almost fainted. His strength was fading drastically and it was a miracle he''d been able to stay awake for so long. He''d been fighting his side effects, while gritting his teeth.


    She smiled, then raised one hand as he began to float. "Don''t worry, I''ve gotchu."


    It took them one hour, before the village was finally in sight, crossing over many territories amounting to the size of a few countries. However, during that time, Tobi couldn''t help but feel embarrassed as Kiatin kept sneaking deadly stares at him, while he was being carried telekinetically by Ria.


    "Whoa! What a remarkable village!" Sarah exclaimed as they got closer.


    The walls were built solidly high like a fortress, with massive bricks, cut out with precision out of clay. There were many portable tents with a large one in the center, similar to the ones Tobi had seen on Caspion. However crude houses made of clay, stone and wood, were more abundant all around the village.  He could sense, about over a hundred people were living there.


    "This is the fourth village we had had to make. Stampedes from animals migrating, made it hard to find a safe place to live. However as we got older, we were finally able to help the Elder protect our village." Ria explained.


    They touched down at the gates as it was telekinetically pulled open and within moments many people rushed to greet them. All stopping short as they saw Tobi and the floating drone.


    He could tell from their appearance that they were all Messian''s, however there was a minority of mixed people, with blue and purple eyes, indicating some Rennayan heritage. They all wore crude villager clothes, with some wearing jewelry of animal bones and gems.


    Seeing the people a little wary, didn''t phase Ria at all, as she called out to her fellow villagers. "Everyone! We''re back and we''ve brought lots of food with us!"


    Her mood was contagious, bringing back cheers and joy to the people. There were still some people suspicious of Tobi, which she noticed and promptly addressed after the cheers had died down. "And..." She raised her hand towards Tobi, as he continued to observe the crowd.  "We finally have our first visitor. His name is Tobi, of Earth, he came from off-world. Let us show him the hospitality of our village, with a great feast!"


    From suspicion to joy, the people erupted even louder, looking forward to the feast to come. Then they began to fan out, preparing the village, for a joyous occasion.


    A large table was raised near the center of the tent, while several of the younger villagers moulded out chairs. Others went to work skinning and preparing the meat the hunting party had collected. Ria took him to a small hut, that seemed to not have been used in a long time, as he continued to smell aromas of food being prepared in large pots to accommodate the population.


    "Sorry it''s probably not what you''re used to, but it''s the only available hut not being used for storage." She said, as he looked around.


    The dusty and empty old place was crudely put together and ridden with cobwebs. She gave him some more bread from her satchel and a dried piece of meat before leaving.


    "I''ll be back with some sheets you can use to sleep, for now, make yourself at home and rest up. I''ll call you when it''s time to eat." She said as she made her way out of the hut.


    Now it was just him and Sarah. Tobi let out a sigh of relief, finally feeling a little safe. However a second later, as he began to chew on his snack, there was a loud knock outside of his hut, as Kiatin walked in.


    "Can I help you?" Tobi asked. He didn''t really trust the guy and knew Kiatin felt the same.


    "Foreigner, let me be clear. I don''t trust you nor do I think I ever will, but if you do anything to bring harm to the village or Ria. Know that you will be killed." The intensity of his words, were backed up with a strong outpour of roho iko, meant to bring Tobi down to his knees.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    But to his surprise, Tobi stood his ground, releasing an equal amount of pressure to counteract his assertion. They stared each other down, as the walls began to crack.


    Then Tobi sighed, releasing his pressure. "Believe me, I don''t want to be here, but I appreciate you and your village for accommodating me. You have my word, I will bring no harm to your people. I only wish to find a way back home."


    Kiatin scoffed and shook his head as he began to leave. "There is no way off of this planet. You best accept reality as it is."


    Tobi watched him walk out then sighed once more, as Sarah bopped around him. "That guy was intense." She said once he was out of earshot.


    "I know... let''s forget about him. For now, let''s make this place more like home."


    He placed out his hands as he raised a large bed out of the ground, fixed the cracks in the walls, and reinforced the broken door with a lock for privacy. Then raised a few walls in a corner, to make a bathroom, shower and sink. All with outlets going outside and into the ground.


    He laid down on the bed, as Ria came in ten minutes later, to give him fur sheets. She was surprised by the way he designed his little house and asked him to do the same for her later. Which he immediately agreed.


    Before long the time of the feast had come, which made him more relieved, as he was still famished. He sat at one of the massive tables with Ria, Rani and Jinco, as the villagers played loud music and danced in the deep of the night.


    Lanterns were lit, and hung in every corner as kids and people continued to chatter, while some came to greet him, welcoming him to the village. Kiatin sat with some of the other members of the village, as a woman stood up from the table and began to sing, which Sarah happily recorded.


    The whole village seemed through Tobi''s eyes, like one large family and while the woman reached the middle of the song, he found himself crying, unknowingly. Ria looked at him, and whispered. "Whatever you''ve been through, you''ve been holding it in all this time haven''t you?"


    He stayed silent, but wiped away his tears. He didn''t realize he had been thinking of Osei, Kiala, his family and all of his friends that were on Rennaya with him.


    She whispered once more, as he calmed down. "Finish your food. In a bit, we have to go see the Elder."


    Thirty minutes later...


    Ria walked him to the middle of the camp, towards main tent. It seemed like the most well taken care of part of the village, with a garden of flowers, surrounding it.


    As they entered Tobi, could feel incredible pressure, suddenly being unleashed, onto him, causing his heart to race, as if he had just walked into a lion''s den. He looked up, seeing an elderly lady, seated in a small throne-like chair in the middle. Her eyes were red, but aged with time. Wrinkles etched her skin, slightly hidden by the white robes she wore, along with a small cane by her side.


    He looked to his left, seeing Ria stagger, struggling to stay standing, but refusing to transform. Most likely as to not insult the elder. However he had no such responsibilities. Without hesitation he released back an equal amount of pressure, protecting Ria and himself from the threat in front of them.


    In response the old lady began to laugh, but coughed midway as one attendant with her rushed to give her some water. She cleared her throat before she began to speak. "So you''re finally here, foreign warrior?"


    Tobi frowned, ''what did she mean?'' He looked at her dead in the eye. "You''ve been expecting me?"


    "Excuse my introduction, but I was verifying something for myself. My name is Mira, the Elder of this village. You have traveled a long way from home, haven''t you, young Tobi?" She asked.


    He was a little surprised that she knew his name, but took in a villager may have informed her. Yet something about her seemed more than meets the eye.


    "Yes I have and I am trying to find my way back. Our records had taught me that Messian''s were one of the most advanced race in our Galaxy at one point. Do you have or know of any spaceships available?" He asked earnestly.


    "To what? Go back and face an enemy that nearly killed you? The one that took your brother, your allies and one of your friends?" She asked with contempt.


    Tobi staggered back. ''How could she know that?'' His voice trembled as he spoke, realizing that she knew more about what had happened then he did. "How... How..." He was unable to complete his words, as hot flashes of the events on Rennaya invaded his vision. Atlas defeating them and his brother''s death, blurred his vision with hatred.


    "Calm down... I will explain everything. Messian women, typically past the age of giving birth are capable of sending their iko into the future. When it comes back, it is unknown what will be seen, but it costs an unpredictable amount of life out of the user, to gain good results." She took one more sip of her water, as he digested down all the information. Sarah was recording on, quietly as well.


    "After I crashed here, with many of the children of the settlement, it took everything I had to keep them alive for 50 years, till they had matured a bit and were capable of fending for themselves. Still, I started to worry about their future, as this planet was not suitable for them to live prosperly in. Which is why I enacted a technique to read the future, as all my attempts to escape the planet, had failed." Tobi and Ria hung on every word she spoke, looking back at her, he could tell this was the first time, she was hearing this side of the story.


    Tobi, held up his hand for a moment, wanting to ask a question. She paused and nodded. "Was the settlement near Rennaya?"


    Mira nodded in affirmation. "Yes it was, but there were many others on asteroids near the planet."


    It was a long shot, but he wanted to ask anyway, for the sake of one of the Nova''s newest members. "Did you know of a Messian named Acyrus? Was he on your settlement?"


    She shook her head. "I don''t think I can recall that name."


    He was disappointed, but beside him, he felt Ria begin to shake. "What''s wrong?" He asked, worried.


    Streams of tears streaked down her cheek. She covered her face as it began to flush red. "He''s alive. That''s... Acryus was my brother''s name. We were separated during the attack."


    He smiled. Then turned toward the e-drone. "Sarah, pull up Acryus''s training files and show her."


    Sarah happily obliged, as she took Ria to a corner to update her on her long lost brother. Tobi smiled once more as they left, then turned back to the Elder. "I''m sorry for interrupting."


    "Not at all my dear. Instead, you''ve given me, yet another reason to trust you." She smiled weakly. He could tell she was completely worn out, and not as strong as she used to be. Deducing that the e first iko release, might''ve have taken a toll on her.


    "I''m sorry but I still have a few more questions before you continue." He asked, politely.


    The Elder nodded. "Go ahead."


    He was scared to ask this question, but he had to know. "Are my friends still alive?"


    Her expression became solemn, yet she continued to answer, as she thought it would be best to ease his mind a bit. "All of them survived, with major wounds, except for one, who fought bravely to keep you all alive. For if that child had escaped, the odds, would never have been in your favor."


    Tears started to well up in his eyes. He couldn''t protect them. "Who were they?"


    "The man that commanded the earth." She replied.


    ''Kayed.'' The name struck him like an unsuspecting blow. The most cheerful and brightest of them, was killed in action. Utter hatred welled up within his heart, he could not forgive himself, but then a memory of Kayed, speaking to him while they were eating made him smile. Making the disgusting feeling he felt, slightly fade away.


    The Nova had told him, that if he were to ever fall in battle, to pray for him and go read a chapter of their favorite manga. He was the only one that had caught up with him on over a thousand chapters and enjoyed debating about it every week it came out.


    It made him smile brightly, which in turn after seeing his face change, the Elder couldn''t help but smile as well. He finally looked up, accepting reality. "And our allies?"


    This is when she finally got serious. Taking Tobi a bit back. "Roku Kaieda, as well as all 32 Hashin, one of our galaxies finest warriors, were killed shortly after you fell unconscious." His eyes grew wide with shock, he didn''t think that they had come to the planet, but it makes sense since they were all in danger and he was still alive.


    She shook her head. "However our Galaxy''s greatest loss, was the death of the Great Elder, Akio Rahmanaka."


    Tobi''s entire body, stopped, but his thoughts resumed. ''No way. There''s no way that monster could be killed.'' He could not fathom Akio losing to anyone, not even Atlas or Mado. Yet the news was devastating.


    Mira continued to speak, interrupting his thoughts. "I had only met him, once as a child. However I knew of his tales. That man single handledly, defeated Lost Ones and Conquerors, to maintain order within this Galaxy. Amongst that he kept Atlas at bay, until age inevitably defeated him."


    She looked Tobi deep in his eyes once again. "For him to sacrifice himself and the planet Rennaya, all for your sake, must mean, you are something special, that must be protected. I know the blood of a billion flows within you, but how well do you know yourself, child?"


    Tobi shook his head, tearing up once again. "I''m not child, and I never asked for any of this. I''m not worthy of being invested in with the lives of others."


    Ria looked up from the videos, concerned for Tobi. However the elder just laughed loudly in his face.


    "First of all, child, you are the third youngest in this village, even the children are older than you." That shocked him a little, but he wasn''t going to allow such disrespect, as he attempted to speak, but was cut off by another fatally aimed question. "How selfish do you plan to be? Not every great leader, that has come to be asked for great power, however when it was received, they made use of it, to lead their people through the darkness."


    Her words had a lot of truth, making it hard for him to think of a comeback. Regardless she didn''t wait and continued to rail on him. "What would happen if you weren''t chosen? Darkness would win and take over. Atlas would get away with all of his injustices and you would watch your people suffer in agony as you wished for more power. That is the reality of those, that were not in your position." She sighed, as she spat out phlegm in her throat and sipped water.


    "If you don''t get stronger, than you are now, the enemies you will face and the ones that come after, will bring the same despair back to you. However this time you won''t be able to recover. Never question another''s sacrifice." She concluded, hoping she got through to him.


    Tobi looked at her, he knew she was just trying to rile him up from giving up. However he never planned to anyway, depression only lasted sometime for him in his life, but now wasn''t the time to waste time feeling sorry for himself. He sighed, then bowed in the Azurian way. "Then Elder, how can I get stronger."


    She put on a smug smile, happy that she got through to him. "Get your Or?ao to record this. You''ll be acquiring everything, we would need to escape this planet and by then, hopefully you''ll, at least be a little bit stronger."

 The Warning

    6 months later, at Beyond HQ...


    It had taken sometime, but the Federation had started to heal, after the events on Rennaya. All space frontier missions were suspended, but in the mean time, many technological advances were made, to defend each of the worlds. However they knew, peace could only last for so long.


    Seven of the Novas were training at Beyond HQ, while a few were on Azuria, with the rest doing tasks and errands on Earth. Regardless when the Dark Kings released their iko, within their Solar System, they all felt it.


    "Brother, it would seem, the scouts were right. I can''t feel his energy here at all." Rael said, completely surprised.


    "Yes, it would seem he may have perished on Rennaya along with his brother. What a waste, well then, shall we give them a visit?" Mado replied back.


    They were on the Alzora, the strongest Kirosian warship. "Hitos." On his command six people appeared behind him, kneeling.


    "Yes, your majesty." They spoke in unison.


    Mado took a moment looking at the blue planet, then made his decision. "Plunder their versillium, and destroy their ships. Release your iko once you''re done, you''ll be summoned back."


    "We will complete you''re orders without fail." One of the generals spoke up. A man to her right, raised his head, wanting to ask a question.


    "Tisgo, speak your mind." Rael noticed.


    "What about the Azurians?" He asked.


    "Ignore them for now, we''ll destroy them all later. For now this mission is time sensitive. Return within half an hour." Rael replied back to him.


    They nodded in agreement as Rael prepared to send them to their locations. Before they disappeared, Mado spoke up. "Restrain yourselves, do not destroy them completely. The great war will soon come, and we must be able to savour it."


    "Yes your majesty," they said in unison, as the air cracked around them, before they disappeared.


    Rael turned to is brother. "Well then."


    Mado nodded back. "We best get going."


    In the middle of Dubai Mall, U.A.E...


    Kiala and Jacira just left one of the many stores hey had visited and were on their way to the food court. However Kiala started to have a bad feeling and felt slightly sick.


    "Kiala you good? Need water?" Jacira asked concerned. They were in disguises, trying their best to fit in amongst the bustling crowds within the mall.


    Suddenly the feeling got worse, as people around them started to drop. Then Jacira out of the blue dropped to her knees, clutching her chest. Kiala looked up at the sky, through the glass windows above them, realizing all of this energy was being directed at her.


    Mado and Rael floated ominously above, staring right at her, piercing daggers, as the kings started to smile. Kiala immediately shifted into third gear and tapped her bracelet, which shifted her clothes into her Nova suit.


    Her energy, was only capable of shielding the people within the mall, but she could tell, the entire planet was being affected at this very moment.


    She dropped down beside Jacira, who had started to recover thanks to her help. "Jacira I need you to contact Beyond HQ, and let them know that the Dark Kings are here."


    Jacira gagged a bit, but held it in, being near the epicenter of the attack, was a lot more than she could handle. She looked around, seeing people unconscious on the floor like corpses, then looked back at Kiala and tapped her own bracelet.


    "I''m fighting with you." She replied back.


    Kiala shook her head. "You know I want to, but I don''t think neither of us are safe at the moment. Protect them, Jacira, release your iko." Then in seconds Kiala disappeared and reappeared outside of the mall.


    Expecting to see the kings waiting for her outside. However, instead she found them in the middle of an intense battle with Sora.


    Though, she could tell that Sora was having a hard time. Both of the kings had shifted into third gear, commencing a two fold assault on the hero.


    Mado laughed outloud enjoying the battle, then pulled out noticing Kiala, as Rael, continued and got a bit serious. With dark energy enveloping him just like her, she began to get overpowered.


    "The difference between us, is experience warrior," he shouted as he knocked her into the city.


    "Kinect: Seeking Shock!" Sora yelled, as she disappeared and reappeared behind him. However, he turned around faster than she anticipated.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    With a condensed sphere of telekinetic energy and a core of lava, equating her bomb, while grabbing her other arm to hold her still. Both of them, endured the clustered explosion they let off, near a highway, completely collapsing the bridges, as people screamed.


    Saphyra deployed telemonitors, to monitor the situation and keep the people of Earth and Federation updated on the wide scale attack. Her hands were full, as she could not have predicted how this attack had occurred nor how they got past their defenses and alarms. Sonara''s capital as well as it''s mining sites were struck. Along with Dargan''s major versillium warehouses and Beyond''s Spaceship Hangar. She had deployed Novas, to each area as quickly as she could.


    The most worrisome problem for her aside from the descent of the Dark Kings, was the terror attacks, on Toronto and Berlin. The generals the kings sent there, were indiscriminately killing people, before Norah and Koji could arrive.


    Back in Dubai...


    Kiala rushed Mado, but was flicked back. She gritted her teeth, raising her hand high above her head, and calling forth all of the elements in her disposal.


    Mado expression turned into a frown, "A lot of your people will die, if you set that off."


    Kiala, looked at him with a deadly expression, as she started to float. "I''ll control it. As long as you''re dead, Earth can make it through this."


    He smiled, almost breaking out into a laugh. "Admirable, well then, show me what you''ve got."


    The crackling sphere, above her head, had nearly reached 10 times her size, as it scorched the ground and shattered the windows in the mall. She didn''t know how she was going to be able to protect the people of the city, but she knew she couldn''t hesitate. Billions of lives depended on her, it was what she was trained for.


    To erase all emotions, for the greater good. "Ignite: Ultimate Explosion!" She threw down the sphere, as it was struck once more with lightning, aiding it''s descent down.


    However, just before it reached Mado, it completely froze, as dark energy, crushed a crater beneath him, with black and purple veins, coursing through his body, in rhythm. Then he clutched his hand as it shattered.


    The world was in shock. All hope was lost. Kiala didn''t know how to react, she immediately tried to reach for her sword, however a quick black bullet of fire, struck her shoulder, and knocked her out of the air.


    She stood back up immediately, but clutched her shoulder as she frosted it over. Then glared at him, who had not even taken a step, but began clapping slowly.


    "There is no doubt, you are strong." He said, with praise.


    Just then Rael appeared, out of nowhere holding Sora from the back of her neck and slammed her face down into the ground. He put his other hand to her back then spoke. "Pulse."


    A force of telekinetic energy ripped through her, forcing her to cough, as Nirros core vomited out. He picked it up looking it over, then at Sarah who had fallen unconscious. "Hmph, she thought it was our first time fighting a merged child of Atlas." Then closed it in his hand preparing to crush it.


    "STOP IT! Jacira screamed at the top of her lungs. She had just made it outside, as Kiala whipped her head around in dread.


    Jacira''s knees were shaking, but she pushed herself to walk forward, then stood between Kiala and the Dark Kings. "Don''t kill her!"


    Mado and Rael looked at each other, then started laughing. Then Rael looked at her and shook his head. "Why should I listen, to one, who can barely stop shaking in my presence."


    He was right, just standing near them, was physically taking a toll on her, as blood dropped down her nose. However she wasn''t one to back down, her ancestors were warriors and she knew, they would never back down.


    "Why are you doing this?" She stuttered to ask.


    "Because we can." Rael replied.


    She shook her head. "Those with power, are supposed to maintain order. What you are doing is just cruel."


    Rael shook his head, entertained by the fact, that she was risking her life, just to converse. "I disagree. It is the weak that criticize the strong, because those that have power, decide what order is right. Because of that, I can decide, my people would be safer, with all of you gone."


    She was in shock, knowing there was no way to reason with him. Kiala stayed silent, trying to think of any way out of this situation, but she kept hitting the dead-end.


    Rael smiled, then tossed Nirros core to her, as fumbled to catch it. Then unsheathed his sword, and raised it above Sarah''s unconscious head. "With your courage, you managed to save her. However without power, you cannot save both. If you can survive, coming near me and stop this blade from piercing her head. I will let you all live. However if you cannot, then I''m sure you would have learned your lesson."


    "No! That''s unfair." She called out, as she tried to break into a run, but coughed out large amounts of blood, with her eyes starting to bleed. She dropped to her knees, once again, as Rael laughed, then let go off his sword, plunging towards Sarah''s head.


    Jacira heard cracks of air beside her, as she closed her eyes, unable to look, but reopened them a moment later seeing Kiala catch the blade with her bare hands.


    She stared Rael dead in his eyes, as he maintained his smug look. "It''s me you want isn''t it?"


    Mado stepped forward, finally breaking his silence. "Yes, you were our objective, my offer is still on the table, if you are willing join our ranks."


    Kiala shook her head, as she gave Rael back his blade. There were cuts on her hands from how hard she gripped, but she frosted them over. "I refuse, I''d rather die."


    Mado looked disappointed. "Pity... Then your execution will be in two days, on behalf of your people, and to show my people, the start of the great war."


    Kiala smiled, "Fine, I''m okay with that." She replied, then drew her sword and shifted into third gear, as Rael tensed for a second. Before she cut off her arm, preserved it in ice, then teleported it, straight to Saphyra at Beyond HQ.


    Mado laughed outloud, while Rael got even more irritated. He restrained her after, she cauterized the wound and healed herself. "It''s futile to give them even a fighting chance."


    She looked back with an undefeated smile. "You underestimate humanity."


    He squinted in disgust, then laughed once more. "We''ll see about that."


    Mado walked up closer to one of the drones filming, then cleared his throat. "People of the Federation! Today, we greet you with a warning, of what''s to come. For us it is tradition, to wet are blade, with the blood of a fierce animal, before taking on a mighty foe. So to prepare, my people for the war with Ceria, we will be destroying you all first. Fear not, none will survive, so that you all will be reunited in the Fifth realm of Martyrs."


    He paused as he looked back at Kiala, restrained. "Your strongest warrior, will be taken for execution, to commemorate, the start of the great hunt, in two days. Prepare yourselves, say your goodbyes, for, we will be coming and we shall be victorious!"


    Lightning struck his blade, as he drew it high above his head, while black fire, semingly burst out of it, asserting his might and strength. Then he sheathed it, and turned to join Rael and Kiala. Moments later, the air around them cracked, as they vanished off the face of the Earth...

 Volcanic Apocalypse

    The Federation was thrown back into disarray. Months of hard work to keep the people calm, was thrown completely out of the window. Riots and rebellions broke out all over Earth as people freaked out, wondering what lied in the future.


    Politicians mailboxes were being bombarded with millions of messages from their constituents, however they were unable to respond, as they relayed the same concerns, back to the U.N., Queen Yori, the Sonaran President and Dargan''s Prime Minister.


    Who in turn, each condemned the attacks and kidnapping, which did little, to appease the population. Before long, the people made a World timer, from the time Mado, gave them, to Kiala''s execution.


    Amaara managed to protect the hangar and majority of the ships, however, Helio, Tai, Runa, and Nur were defeated on Sonara and Dargan. Simon and Koji managed to keep the damage to a minimal in Toronto and Berlin, while Nur helped heal and recover casualties.


    It was a grim day for Beyond, as they had shown yet again, that they were unable to protect the people. Lack of confidence in the military had started to rise, and with no way of making Nova suits, without Tobi or Kiala, it became very difficult to think of a bright future.


    Six hours after the attack, Sarah woke up, in a cryomed while being treated by multiple medics. She banged on the glass door, begging to be released. The medics looked at each other, wondering if it would be premature, but did so anyway, out of fear of being overwritten.


    Most of the androids walking around Beyond, were now automated synthetics. However they didn''t know that Sarah had lost the ability to control them, or switch between them, leaving Saphyra as the master key. They still treated her with care, gave her clothes and helped her walk to the broadcasting room.


    She asked for an update on the situation and with shock she took it all in. Then immediately came up with a plan. "Enable the telemonitors, throughout the entire Federation."


    Moments later, Sarah sat herself up, in front of Beyond''s logo, ready to talk to the worlds. When her face beamed across all skies, the people felt a mixture of relief, sadness and fear.


    She was not smiling.


    "For those of you who may not know, what happened today, was real and was arguably one of the greatest blunders, of our organization. We hold responsibility for the trauma, damage and instability incurred, because of the way we handled the terror attack. For your loved ones that were lost, I express my condolences." She took a moment to pause, for the people that died that day.


    "However, this unprovoked attack will not go unanswered. The Kirosian empire, aimed for our ships to disarm us, but failed. They succeeded in stealing $20 trillion worth of versillium and managed to kidnap my daughter, right in front of me. For those of you who might not know, as it was slightly classified, she came from an apocalyptic future, where she never had a proper life, as a child. Now after her first year of living normally, she is being put up for execution as our representative." She covered her face with her hand as a tear started to streak down her cheek.


    "I am so ashamed. What I would do, to trade places with her... But the enemy knew, she was also our source. Amongst trying to enjoy her life for the first time, she still took her father''s place by providing her cells for the Nova and Guardian suits, for us. Without her, we can not make anymore, which will leave us at the mercy of any threats from space." She paused once again, as cracks appeared in her hand, and Kiala''s arm encased in ice, manifested out of nowhere.


    "She gave us one last ray of hope..." She showed the arm to the screen, disturbing many people. "But a teenager, should not have to make this type of sacrifice." She hugged the arm, as her tears started to flow uncontrollably. "How can we live with ourselves, if she takes the fall for us? Do we still have our dignity as human beings? Will we cower in the face of a monster or defeat?"


    She sniffled a bit as she went quiet for a moment. Then went back to her serious self, with the deadliest tone, they had ever heard from her. "No." She stood up as, the camera readjusted with the arm at her side.


    "If there is anything that I''ve learned from Osei and Tobi, is that we never back down. I am authorizing a complete military invasion, on the Kirosian empire and main home planet Kiros Alta and Kiros Bera. We''ve been scouting them for a while, but in two days, we will touchdown and make them pay for their crimes against humanity. World leaders, I believe you owe me a favor. I would like to call on that favor now." She shook her head.


    "Our aim will not be their destruction or revenge, it will be to rescue Kiala. Whether she''s my daughter or not is irrelevant, we will not allow one of our own, to be executed in the name of war. People of the Federation, those of you who would like to join us, feel free to do so. I will provide you with everything you need, as well as fund all countries participating."


    She took a deep breath and looked one last time at the camera, with her other fist gripped in front of her. "This is not a war for now. This war, is for our future and we will not let them have their way."


    The broadcast bleeped out, as people around the world got riled up and cheered. They could tell she meant business, and newfound confidence spread amongst the worlds as well as fear of what was to come. They knew the Kirosian people were just like the people of Rennaya, capable of using all five of the elements, but were of different races just like Earth.


    Regardless of the case, preparations, were now underway. For the Humanity''s largest invasion.


    Six months earlier in the Elder''s tent...


    Tobi stood upright as Sarah floated closer to record. The Elder shifted in her a chair a bit, as she collected her thoughts.


    "Gather these following materials: The spine of the sandworm in the desert, pelts of the giant frostbears by the North, a skeleton the largest shark, venom of the king snake..."


    Tobi frowned, as he tried to imagine what each of these animals would be like and what kind of training session this would be. However his mind went back to the raptors he encountered earlier and how they could use iko, then he started to freak out. ''What if these creatures are worse than them?'' He thought, but tried to shake it out of his mind.


    The Elder continued with her list, as if reading it off the top of of her head. "The wings of the skyking, jaws of the strongest lizard, a shipload of feces of the ferocious animal and lastly, the bones of the monkeyking. If you survive gathering all of these materials, I will show you the next step."


    Tobi frowned once more, when he heard about the feces, but the ''if you survive'' took him out. "What do you mean, how dangerous are these animals?


    She smiled, "Here catch." She threw a bracelet like device towards him, which he attempted to catch, but she telekinetically moved it towards his wrist instead, which clasped on immediately. "Do not force that off without my permission. It will lock all of your abilities except your strength. You must gather all of the materials without the use of the elements as to not damage them greatly and for you to gain even more strength."


    Tobi was shocked and immediately tried to remove it. "That''s suicide. How can I defeat them without using at least one of the elements?"


    The Elder shook her head and smiled once more. "Don''t make excuses, I did so myself with half of these materials around 30 years ago. You should be able to as well. Besides..." She looked over at Ria, who had been listening quietly. "She will help you get there, gather the materials and help you escape if you''re in danger, but she is not allowed to help you." She said, giving her a slight warning.


    Ria gave him a sheepish grin, and shrugged. There was nothing she could say.


    Tobi sighed, then mulled it over. "Sarah did you record all of that?"


    "Yes Tobi. I can''t wait to see what these animals are like." She replied back to him.


    Tobi shook his head. "I don''t feel the same way, but a challenge is a challenge. Just you wait Mira, I''ll collect them all in no time!"Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    The Elder grinned. "The vigour of youth. May God be with you."


    An hour later...


    Ria teleported him to a vast desert, hundreds of kilometers away from the village. It was desolate with mounds and sand mountains larger than the ones that he had seen, when he visited the Middle-East with his father on a conference.


    "So where are these-" He was cut off as one of the mountains exploded, revealing a reddish-beige gigantic worm, with thousands of oscillating teeth bearing down on them.


    "Well, good luck," Ria smiled, then disappeared with a few cracks in the air surrounding her.


    "Oh shit." He mumbled as he shifted into second gear and jumped out of its way. He knew had seen this type of worm in a movie before, but couldn''t remember which.


    Flying was impossible without his abilities, so his only options were to run and hide. However wherever he tried to hide, he could feel the slumbering iko of another sandworm, hiding nearby.


    Ria ended up saving him twenty-three times before he could defeat it, by waiting until it was tail up as it dove into the ground. Then grabbed the tail and slammed it back and forth, into the ground until it died. One month had passed, before he could figure out it''s pattern, as their sense of smell was his biggest obstacle.


    The frost bears in the North, were as terrifying as normal polar bears, but three times larger. He wasn''t allowed to use his sword, which resulted in him gaining multiple gashes from their claws. Luckily one the only things the Mira was able to salvage from their shipwreck was a cryomed, which he ended up spending a considerable amount of time in, before he was capable of defeating the bears.


    Using the third gear, only gave him ten minutes, which was dangerous to wager when the killer bears traveled in packs and could use iko for defense. Giving him no time to collect his gains, as they would eat the corpses he left trying to run away.


    Another two weeks has passed, till he was able to go after the megalodon sized shark, well maybe it''s juiced-up cousin, he thought, as it''s speed, made him gasp out air on his first time. The next time he went, he learned and remembered from Helio telling him, that he was able to stay within water for longer periods of time, by trapping the air around him. Which he realized was also the technique, that was used to be able to travel in space.


    However the length of time he needed to stay underwater to be able to defeat the shark, was much more than he was normally capable of with his own iko, as the pressure was too great. When he was finally capable up withstanding 20 minutes on his own, was when he was finally able to put up a proper fight against, the shark, by dislocating it''s jaw as it tried to chomp down on him.


    Then pulled the shark out of the water and into the air, before delivering a lethal punch in its belly, with the third gear.


    Another month had passed, by then, and Ria helped to bring it back, for a feast.


    In the next three months Tobi, struggled to to defeat, the venomous large snake, similar to the one he encountered when he first entered the planet. Then finally snapped the wings off a condor like bird, the size of a Boeing plane as it crashed him into several mountains, trying to kill him. Survived encounters with Kaiju-sized lizards, trying to devour him, and overcame, the stampedes of the giant mammoth-sized elephants trying to protect their territory.


    However his greatest obstacle was the savage Monkeyking, a gorilla seventy-two feet tall, which mocked him after every defeat. He was defeated over forty times and only after unlocking a new ability and accepting the darkness within him, was when he was capable of finally overpowering the monster.


    The village had a massive party to celebrate the end of his training. They had watched him comeback in bruises, cuts and many times unconscious to overcome this endearing ordeal. Overtime, he had turned from being a suspicious foreigner to becoming one of them, as he wore their clothes, spoke their language more fluently and became friends with them.


    Many times he had thought of giving up, but doing nothing would remind him of his situation and Osei. The Elder had allowed him to freeze the perishable materials with his abilities and keep them underground.


    Almost six months had passed and it was finally time for him to start building the what she had planned for him. The Elder gave him old parchment papers, she had drawn decades ago, of a working spaceship, she had gotten into the air once, but didn''t have the strength to continue, keeping it afloat.


    The villagers were surprised to see her leave her tent, so much over the past week, as she directed and instructed him on the way to build it. He was finally allowed to use his abilities, as she took it off him and let him keep it, if he wanted to train again later. Which Sarah was happy about, because she had plans to replicate and innovate the device.


    Things however took a turn, when one day, in the middle of the night large earthquakes began to devastate the village. It was a bothering feeling Tobi felt for a while, but as he sent his iko below ground, he felt, large amounts of lava rushing up to a point at a nearby mountain. The largest one in the region, he rushed out as people were panicking wondering what was going on and helping others trapped under the rubble.


    That''s when the elder, called out to the villagers. "The calamity is coming, everyone, retreat from the village, and evacuate to the spaceship!"


    He immediately rushed to her, to find out was going on. Ria, Kiatin, Jinco and Rani were there as well. "Elder, what is going on?!" Kiatin asked, as tremors got worse.


    Mira shook her head. "I foresaw this coming, but I didn''t not know when it would occur. I''m sorry my child, I did not warn you all as there was no way to escape it. However now that Tobi, has built us a way off of this planet, with your combined strength, the people of this village can be saved."


    She looked at each one of them before she spoke again. "This planet is finished. It will reset itself, through constant volcano eruptions, so we must escape into space."


    Tobi was shocked, but Sarah, bobbed in and spoke up. "She''s right, I am detecting a large surge in seismic activity around the planet. They may all be connected, so if one goes off, it will be a chain reaction."


    Mira nodded. "Exactly, so I want you all to prioritize getting the villagers to the ship, make sure, children and those, who can not teleport, to get on first."


    Tobi looked at her with concern. "What about you?"


    She smiled and shook her head. "Don''t you worry about me, you still need to finish preparations on the ship remember. I will buy us some time, then I will join you all after."


    "But Elder-" Ria tried to chip in, as Jinco, Kiatin and Rani.


    "No Ria!" The Elder cut her off abruptly, then smiled. "You''re a hundred years too young, to be concerned about me. Help the villagers evacuate now, and wait for me at the ship."


    Ria''s voice trembled as she replied. "Yes Elder."


    Her friends nodded in agreement as well, knowing they couldn''t change her mind. Tobi looked at the Elder with concern, but decided to trust in her judgement.


    "You''ll be on your way soon, won''t you?" He asked her, earnestly.


    As she looked back at him, he could see the glimmer in her eyes, as if a fire that had once died out, had begun to spark. "Of course, you have my word, prince of Rennaya."


    He shook his head and smiled, as he turned around to fly off with the others. He still hated how she knew everything about him.


    The Elder stood in silence for a moment, as tremors destroyed the village even further. "Well then, I best get started." She said to herself, as cracks appeared in the air around her, before she teleported to the top of the nearest volcano.


    Lava bubbled up violently preparing for a long awaited eruption. Her lips curved into a her brightest smile. "It''s been too long, since I have gone all out."


    She sighed, looking up at the stars. "What I would have given to spend more time with them and to see my home once more. Alas, not everything is promised."


    She took off her robe and threw it into lava, then clasped both of her hands together in prayer formation. "Zantrix, you have treated us well and given us a new home. Now allow us to leave, I beg of you."


    Her hair began to glow from gray to silver-white, as dark energy began to envelope her. She spread her iko across the entire planet,   causing animals to flee and alerting her villagers, as they struggled to get to safety.


    At the top of her lungs, she yelled out, as blood, began to drip from her eyes and nose. "Ancient Arts: World Interference."


    Just in time as the volcano erupted, rippling effects all across the planet, with earthquakes setting of hundreds of volcanoes in a chain reaction. However, no lava or sulfur flew into the sky, as they were pinned down and held still, by her telekinetic pressure.


    Her body felt like it was about to implode, but she held on, still sensing that the ship was still on land. "Come on Tobi! You have to leave now!"


    Back on the ship...


    Tobi waited until every villager was onboard, before turning on the thrusters, he makeshift installed, with many combustible items. He had finished reinforcing the put together ship with hundreds of steels that he had digged out of the earth. Then lined the walls with a mixture of the feces and venom he collected before freezing them, to keep the smell away.


    All in time, before he felt the Elder''s iko and volcanic eruption, he could feel that was being suppressed. He knew she was lying and would not be able to make it, but he still held on to hope.


    Ria and Kiatin waited the door, as the last people got on. She was crying along with several of the villagers, who could tell, something was wrong.


    "I have to go back and help her." She said as she began walking out of the door.


    "No." Kiatin held her back, then yelled out to Tobi. "Seal the door!"


    "Why! Let me go!" She whipped his hand off her, and turned to look at him, but saw that he was crying as well.


    "She knew, this was the only way! If it erupts, before, we take off, we won''t be able to teleport past the ashe covered skies. Can''t you feel the planets iko going haywire right now?" He explained, trying to reason with her as the door sealed shut.


    "But... But... We can''t leave her!" She banged her arms on the door, and collapsed to her knees. "We can''t leave her, to die alone!"


    Sarah spoke up, over hollowed out speakers all over the ship. "Everyone make sure your strapped on, we''re taking off, in 3, 2, 1..."


    Tobi lit the thrusters, shooting them off the ground, as a tear, fell down his cheek. Another person he couldn''t save. He was starting to get tired of being powerless.


    As they reached the clouds, they felt a last incredibly violent tremor, as the volcano finally erupted. One greater than ever recorded in human history, rippling an earthquake with the magnitude of 20. It was already difficult, trying to maintain takeoff with over a hundred people onboard, but the tremors made it multiple times worse.


    Thankfully Jinco and Rani, helped to keep the ship stable as they finally broke through the stratosphere and into space. Everyone rushed to windows, to look at the apocalypse unfolding on the planet they once called home.


    Tears fell as they knew, they might never return.

 The Dai Hito 12

    Preparations were underway, as people of all worlds hurried to get ready for the oncoming war. For many this seemed like the final battle, for if they were to lose, there would be no more hope for the future.


    Saphyra had received many requests to volunteer in the effort, to fight aid and participate in any way possible. As a result, a gigantic force of 40 million people was raised, along with the addition of billions of dollars in support. She had put together over 2200 warships, which included 400 from Azuria, 150 brand new ones made by the countries on Earth, and 50 each from Sonara and Dargan.


    Sarah had conducted several interviews all around the worlds to maintain morale, but spent every remaining minute after training along side Nirro to ensure that what happened in Dubai, would never happen again.


    Whilst doing that, Saphyra would speak to Sora, to see her thoughts on the loss and where her confidence was. Sora seemed to be a sort of different personality compared to two she was made of. However although she kept the same arrogant demeanor, Saphyra noted, that she was angry about Kiala''s kidnapping and would make sure she wouldn''t lose the next time.


    Saphyra broadcasted the interview on Sarah''s World, raising some of the people''s confidence, however some doubts still remained. Regardless the main mission was to retrieve and extract Kiala from the Kirosian Empire. Not an all-out war, but the preparations could argue otherwise.


    On Kiros Alta....


    The royal ship had just landed on an airfield near Mado''s large palace. The kings walked out together, with Kiala walking behind them, hands cuffed together and the six generals that followed them into battle.


    They were greeted by a procession of the army and the another four of their great generals, kneeling before them. "We thank the Gods, for your blessed return, your majesties." One of the generals spoke on behalf of them.


    "Thank you Kaieg. You may all rise." Rael replied.


    Mado looked around them, searching for someone. "Sarga and Netau, have yet to return?"


    Another one of the generals spoke up. "No sire. Sarga seems to be having trouble with the heathens, sprouting rebellions, in a few of the worlds we conquered and Netau is being overwhelmed by the barbarians in the south.


    Mado nodded, mauling over the update. "Why did the rebellion start, Linoj?" He asked the  that spoke to him.


    Linoj, shook his head then looked down. "An unseen clip, of Rael mercilessly killing some of their people had surfaced and sparked outrage. They demand him to face trial."


    Mado looked over at Rael, who was shocked but shrugged, as Mado slapped a palm over his own face. "Rael, did I not say, you can''t let them see you like that? Always leave the killing to the soldiers."


    Rael smiled sinisterly then settled back in to smug expression. "My bad, I shouldn''t have left any witnesses."


    Mado sighed, then turned back to the generals. "Have our children returned from their conquests?"


    One of the female generals, with brown auburn hair, broke her silence. "Not yet, but are scheduled to arrive tonight. I''m pleased to say, that they have brought victory to Kiros."


    "Thank you, Namia." Rael praised, as she averted her gaze and stepped back. He shook his head as he looked back at his brother. "I tell her all the time, that women aren''t fit for the battlefield, but she goes out of her way to annoy me."


    Mado rolled his eyes. "There is no gender in battle, just a winner or a loser. You''re daughter is a great warrior, you should be proud."


    Rael didn''t look too pleased. "I preferred a son, like yours."


    Mado laughed outloud. "That arrogant kid, doesn''t know what the world is like yet. He gets too in over his head. Anyways... Dai Hitos!"


    The generals stood at attention, waiting for their orders. Mado cleared his throat and looked at them one by one. "Morki, Linoj and Sadira, head to Netau''s direction and help him fend off the barbarians."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Each of the three generals agreed, and stepped back, while Mado looked on to the next two. "Kaieg and Jurgun, join Sarga off-world, and quell the rebellions, before I get there. I will give them a few words to calm them down."


    Kaieg and Jurgun both nodded then stepped back to line up with the others. "Tisgo, Delgan, Tose and Dema, you have all done well in a preliminary attack on Earth. They were far weaker than I expected. You may stay back and rest, as I may send some of you to join our children in the conquest for Earth."


    Delgan dropped to knees, bowing his head. "I''m sorry sir, I failed to destroy majority of their ships. There was one warrior who was too powerful and managed to push me back. I was only able to escape her by a thread with my life."


    Rael scoffed. "A woman? Tsk, Mado, your warriors are becoming too soft."


    Mado''s generals, looked at the king making a face, but decided to stay quiet. However the king himself just smiled. "Good, I''m hoping that some of them can prove a worthy challenge for my son." He then looked at the last general, then at Kiala, who had been oddly quiet the entire time.


    "Namia! This is Kiala the strongest the people of Earth has to offer. She has refused to join us and as such will be executed in two days. However till then, she must not be harmed, unless she tries to escape."


    Namia looked at her in disgust. "So I will be babysitting this-"


    Mado released an intense amount of pressure, shaking everyone in the vicinity. "She''s stronger than all of you, and has defeated Sohzyn on her own, before putting up a fight against me. Treat her with respect."


    They all nodded in agreement, kneeling to ask for mercy, as the pressure nearly made them throw up. "Yes your majesty!"


    He looked back at Kiala, who managed to stay upright, but struggled to force herself to not transform, because her cuff would blow up her right hand and legs. She looked up at him, putting up a sheepish grin. "My palace is yours, you may do as you please. Except if you leave, you must take one of the Dai Hito with you."


    He looked back at Namia. "Namia will take you to your quarters and I wouldn''t do anything rash if I were you." He said looking at her volatile cuffs. Then he looked back at his generals. "You''re all dismissed. Rael let''s go visit the shaman and ask her about the wars to come. I wonder when the Great War will be."


    Rael sighed, "I was going to stop by for a drink first." He complained as Mado touched his shoulder and they both disappeared. Moments later the generals followed through, after taking a long lengthy stare at Kiala.


    "Follow me." Namia ordered, her face still unwelcoming. She lead her into the palace and showed her around, as they made their way towards a guest room. The decorations and build of the inner palace, reminded Kiala of Roman documentaries she had watched in her life.


    As they got to her quarters, she could feel the noose closing in. ''So this were they''ll keep me till I die?'' It wasn''t bad, on the contrary, she was surprised by the hospitality. She just wished her host, would stop sending daggers with her stare.


    "I''m sure I''ve done nothing, for you to hate me." She asked the general, wondering were her contempt was coming from.


    Namia, smiled faintly, and kissed her teeth. "Do you know how long it took for me to be recognized by my majesty, Rael the Great? Yet for you to be invited into our ranks, while being so young and inexperienced only to turn it down, is a blatant insult to each one of the Dai Hito!" Her rage seemed to skyrocket, as she was finally given free reign to speak her mind.


    "I am the first and only woman he allowed in our ranks and for that I went to lengths you could never dream of. It is only natural, that you should give yourself up to Kiros. Their majesties are the only ones allowed to decide fate.


    Kiala looked up annoyed and rolled her eyes. "Ugh, come one. You owe nothing to that misogynistic asshole. Can''t you see his views are twisted? Mado I might be able to understand, but the galaxy would do better, with one less of the other one."


    A flash of fire traced the room as Kiala was slammed into the stone walls. "Watch your mouth when you speak about him, maggot."


    "Ok, ok! Let me down, what the fu-"


    She was dropped promptly as Namia walked away from her, recomposed herself and put out the fires. "You may help yourself to whatever you want to eat, and if you need more, just press this button on the wall and a servant, will come by." She pointed at the wide table of food, assorted with normal stuff and alien foods, she had never seen before.


    It honestly looked really appetizing. Namia, started to leave, but Kiala called out to her. "Where do you think you''re going?"


    Namia glared back, not expecting to be called that way. "What is it?"


    "Uh hello? I''m cuffed and armless. How do you expect me to eat?" Namia looked at her weirdly, wondering what she was going on about. "You gotta feed me. Remember? Treat me with respect and all that. What happens if I tell Mado and Rael you left me to starve or eat with difficulty?"


    Namia was visibly angry, but managed to calm herself down. Then closed the doors and walked over to table as Kiala sat. She packed together, Kiala a large plate, and poured her some water.


    "Make one for yourself as well." Kiala asked nicely. "I can tell you''re hungry." She said with a smile.


    "I don''t require-" The general to say, but was cut off quickly.


    "Come on Namia, you''re not gonna let me eat alone are you? Besides I need you to taste try everything for poison." Kiala tried to find an excuse.


    "You''re to be executed in two days, what does it matter?" Namia replied back.


    "Um hello, the warriors death aren''t y''all big on that? Oh! Oh! Tell me about y''all''s history, you''re culture and traditions are so fascinating!" Kiala asked eagerly.


    Namia was dumbfounded, she didn''t expect a prisoner on death row, would be acting this way. She dialed back on her criticism realizing the girl was only a child and grabbed herself a plate.


    "Fine, if you want to know, I will tell you about how our empire, came to be..."

 The Dark Kings Past

    137 years ago on Kiros Alta...


    Within 50 years of a blessed abnormal''s death the twin planets of Kiros, would experience a phenomenon in which they believed was a divine reincarnation. Each of the planets would birth a new blessed abnormal with the ability to wield three to four of the elements each. Which was call for celebration, and festivities, as the people celebrated, the return of their heroes.


    Mado had just turned 13 and was on his way with a procession of his tribe, to greet the king. Jurgun traveled with him, as a guard sent by his father the chief.


    "Young Mado, we should be arriving at the capital soon, but we''ll be taking short break before the last leg of the trip." He informed the kid, who nodded back.


    Jurgun had noticed ever since he had been assigned to guard him, that the blessed child was quiet. Most likely due to the amount of people frothing over him and not giving him space to breath.


    He seemingly looked out of his carriage window, yearning for freedom, in which Jurgun could understand. Being the son of the chief put him in situations he could not avoid.


    Suddenly breaking his train of thought, a massive explosion at the back of the caravan, made him whip his head around. People screamed as soldiers got into a defensive formation. Instinctively he dove into the carriage from his horse, shielding Mado with his body and telekinetic force around them, just in time as another missile landed down, along with an endless rain of laser fire.


    "What''s happening?!" Mado asked, concerned as their carriage barely held itself together.


    Jurgun stepped back from him, feeling the burns and charred marks on his back, but braced through the pain. He looked outside as things seemed to settle down, but moments later there was the sound of men fighting each other and dying.


    "I''m not sure, but stay inside and keep your guard up. I will go deal with he situation." He replied, as he hopped out to witness the horrifying scene, of a assassins killing his tribesmen, with a blacked out military ship, orbiting overhead.


    ''How did they get this close to us unnoticed?'' He thought to himself, just as an assassin sent a flaming ball of fire at him from behind. He looked back, as telekinetic force protected him from the blast, then drew his sword and reinforced it with his force. Meeting the assassins charge, with pure rage and desperation.


    Mado stilled his fear and hopped out of the carriage, he looked around seeing dead bodies everywhere of his people. Those he had celebrated festivities and had once fought with his father against other tribes. An explosive sound shook him out of the trance as he circle around the carriage, seeing Jurgun in first gear, holding his own against dozens of assassins. Who were cloaked and masked their identities.


    Jurgun dodged a strike of lightning and managed to deflect off a wave of lava, nearly crashing into the carriage. He felt Mado''s presence, but without turning around he yelled back. "Mado! You must run! Get away from here!"


    Mado staggered back, he didn''t know what to do, however there were no more questions, when one of the assassins ignored the harm that would be placed on him and plunged a dagger into Jurgun''s stomach, just as the guard took the man''s head off. The rest pounced seeing Jurgun stagger back.


    He reflected a large amount of force, catching majority by surprise as they were flung back, but five of them managed to stay on their feet and pressed on.


    Jurgun managed slay the first one, and blasted the next with a condensed force of air just as the assassin did the same with a sphere of electricity. They were both sent flying, with Jurgun flying back into the carriage.


    Mado watched in horror as the other three charged in to finish him. He heard Jurgun spurt out some words of confidence with the last of his strength. "Your father was a Dragonslayer, a Kyr, a great one. You will be too, but you must survive today, oh blessed one.


    Time seemed to slow down for Mado. He had heard of the heroic stories of his father against the dragons when they had invaded the village, even though he had never met him. His mother had died while giving birth to him, so all he could ever hear were stories of their bravery. Yet he doubted any of that courage had been passed on to him.


    However now more than ever, watching the only friend he ever trusted, about to die in front of him, he wished he had an ounce of that courage within him. What he didn''t expect, was that the thought of regret was enough to snap the last thread of fear he had, unleashing the monster within him.


    ''It doesn''t matter what happens after. Use everything now!'' The thought exploded within him, literally and physically, as purple veins, raced all over his body, accompanied with rings of fire and electricity, ripping up the ground, as he leaped at his enemies.


    Managing to get in front of Jurgun and raise up a wall of ice and force. Then crushed the three in front of him, by enclosing the wall around them rapidly.


    The remaining assassins got up in disbelief. They were supposed to kill him before he had awakened. They couldn''t face their sponsors with a failed mission.


    Mado felt all of their energy being pooled towards one of them. He grabbed Jurgun, while freezing his wounds over and healing him and dove out of the way as a large beam of fire, electricity and lava, burned away the spot they were just at, along with the carriage.


    Jurgun grabbed hold of him and teleported them deeper into a nearby forest. He was completely depleted and could do no more, as headaches and muscle cramps took over his body.


    Mado checked him over concerned as he heard, the yells of the assassins catching up with them. Mado knew that teleporting left trails of energy so it would hard to escape expert trackers. "Jurgun are you alright."


    "Yes for now, but you must run. Leave me here!" He replied.


    Mado shook his head with tears falling slowly. "I''m not leaving you. If I can''t protect a single one of my people, I have no right, to bear the pride of our people." He stood up, against Jurgun''s pleas and faced the first few that broke through the thick trees and bushes, drawing his sword.


    Volleys of fire and electricity sailed by him, as he redirected with telekinetic force. Jurgun had taught him to use as little energy as he could, to keep himself safe and maintain stamina. Simultaneously raging flames danced over his blade as he surged electricity through it.


    "Rukana!" He yelled as he swung his blade horizontally, slicing apart his assailants and trees around them in half. Then he threw his senses all around the forest. Feeling several hopping on branches making their way towards him, some in the air, keeping a bird''s-eye view and many charging from the ground, trying to make it to him first as they heard the loud crashing of trees in the silent forest.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    A slight bit of despair, started to creep into his mind, but he shook his head, looking back at Jurgun, completely immobilized and suffering in pain. He bit his lip and cursed, then drew in all of his remaining energy.


    Up above, demoralizing him even further was the sound of a warship hovering overhead, lockih in on his position and relaying the info back to their troops. Moments showers of laser fire started to rain down around them, as he instinctively raised up a barrier of telekinetic force.


    "Think this through! You must run!" Jurgun pleaded once more.


    "No!" There''s no where for me to hide... and..." He thought of his father and all of his murdered clansmen, that would have people waiting for them to return after escorting him. "I demand justice!"


    Mado had stopped trembling and raised both of his to his sides, frosting gloves on, while creating spheres of fire and electricity, pressurized by force & ice. Then willed it to rotate at a speed that could no longer be heard. Jurgun looked at him proud of his bravery, but terrified of what was to come. He felt incredible shame and wanted to help in any way he could.


    He placed one hand on the ground and raised the other towards Mado. "Drasora, come to me." At his command dark energy began to flow from the planet towards him, causing him excruciating pain.


    The abundance of dark iko on the twin planets, was greater than any found on other habitual planets, allowing its inhabitants to easily draw from it, at a great cost. It was a gamble he was willing to take, as he refined it into natural energy and passed it on to the kid he was meant to protect.


    Mado felt overflowing amount of energy, coming from behind him. He smiled unable to look back as he couldn''t break his concentration.


    He could feel the assassins closing in, with spheres of energy, as they could feel that he was up to something. It was now or never.


    He thrusted both of his hands forward, smashing the spheres together, just as the ship had stopped firing as to not harm their allies. "Solkyr Mirkaza!" His hair flashed silver as he released everything he had into the sky, ripping a devastating hole through the warship, then dragged the beam down towards the ground, before the assassins could react.


    An incredible beam crackling blue fire, burned many men and the entire landscape around them, into charred ashe. Mado yelled at the top of his lungs, aiming to get them all, then dropped, seizing with third degree burns.


    Jurgun was wide-eyed by the destruction and what they boy had achieved. He had become, the spitting image of his father.


    On the same day on Kiros Bera...


    Rael''s village had just recovered from a nightlong of festivities, to celebrate the blessed one''s tenth birthday. Everyone was in a great mood, greeting him as he walked with his mother to the village gates. His father, and a majority of the men in the village had gathered together for the great hunt, to prepare the village for the incoming winter.


    "Father, when will you be back?" Rael asked quietly, worried to see his father leaving them.


    The man looked down at his son, then patted the boy on his head. "You''re too young to be worrying about me. Besides it will only be three days at most." His smile had turned into a bright grin. "You better continue your training. "Now that you have seen ten years, you will soon be joining us for a hunt."


    Rael smiled, he was proud of his dad, as he was one of the strongest in the village. He nodded back, as he allowed his Mom to say her goodbyes. While the rest of the men greeted their loved ones, then set off together into the horizon, on horseback.


    He and his mother, returned back to their crude old house, near the outskirts of the village. His father has built it a lot time before he was born with his abilities, while his mother refined it and designed it with hers.


    Later that night, they ate left over food, from the festivities the night before, talking about the funny things the elders and adults did drunkily during the event.


    However stopping them mid conversation was a series of loud explosions ravaging the village, as they heard the screams of women and children in the pitch darkness of the night.


    "Mom, what was that?" Rael asked.


    His mother was already on high alert and dove for their weapons cabinets, grabbing her spear and armour. "My dear stay inside, I''m sure it''s just a wild animal that ventured into the village. Grab your sword and stay hidden, but no matter what, don''t come outside."


    Rael nodded and ran to hug her, before she let him go and went outside. Twenty minutes passed and his concerns continued to go. He wanted to go outside and help there was no point in all of his training if he could not use it when the village needed him most.


    After five more minutes he made up his mind and grabbed his armour while unsheathing his sword. If his mother was in danger while his father was gone, he could never forgive himself.


    Regret instantly coursed through his mind as he stepped out. The entire village was on fire.


    The sounds of men yelling accompanied with the screams of women and children, faded in and out as their lives passed on. He rushed to village center hiding in the shadows, as strange men seemed to be going house to house, harming his fellow villagers. The fighting seemed to be the most intense at the center as he saw hundreds of frost and clay golems charging hooded assasins.


    However they were being mowed down. He threw his senses, through the hordes of bodies and found his mother, surrounded by dozens of men blasting apart her shield walls as she impaled any who tried to get through.


    Dozens of bodies of hunters wives littered the ground, along with several of the elders who tried to protect the village. It was complete massacre. He could only feel the familiar iko of a few dozen people left in the village, most likely all children. The rest were hostile.


    He focused in on his mother. Trying to find a way he could get through to help her. Turquoise veins pulsed all over her body as she fought frantically, however inevitably she was stabbed through her back, causing her to fall to her knees.


    "Mother!" He yelled out in shock.


    She looked at him and smiled, as she tried to utter a a last word. "Run." Was all he could make out, before she was beheaded.


    The world stood still. Time stopped for him, nothing mattered anymore. His world has been shattered.


    Geysers sprouted out of the ground erupting all over the village, as he screamed incredibly loud, with telekinetic force reinforcing each vibration, rupturing several of the attackers eardrums. Purple lavaish veins, snaked their way all over his body, marking him and pulsing ominously. Streaks of silver glowed evenly all over his hair, as the very earth seemed to shake.


    He demanded energy from all the corpses around him, not a single one of them who harmed his beloved village, would be forgiven. Especially the one who killed his mother. Lava wrapped around the killer and restrained him to the ground, before the man could react.


    Some had already noticed him and where on their way to kill him but backtracked seeing how dangerous it was to be around him, as electricity and lightning struck all over the vicinity.


    With all the commotion he caused, all attention was now on him, as he breathed out cold vapour calming down to his senses.


    "I''ll kill you all!" He screamed out reverberating throughout the entire village. He raised one hand to the sky, pouring in the majority of his energy into the ground. "Regora Ans, Zehir!"


    Magma cored golems, with infused with electricity and cooked with telekinetic armour, appeared in front of every attacker. Leaving each one shocked, as they were punch impaled and crushed by each golem, without being able to do anything.


    He retained some of his senses to keep the lava and attacks away from the remaining villagers. In moments, the village was quiet again.


    His hands started to twitch as there was too much strain on his young body. He could feel an incredible migraine, pounding away at his temples.


    "Not yet." He said to himself, as he covered his face and began to cry. "Not yet." Then he began walking towards the man who killed his mother, still restrained and burning away from the lava holding his arms and legs down.


    "Wait, wait, don''t kill me! Please don''t kill me." The man pleaded. "I''ll tell you everything. I didn''t mean to kill anyone, I swear!"


    Rael looked at him with disgust, eyes wide with the most exprionless face he had ever shown in his life. Magma gloves attached themselves from the ground to his hands, as electricity continued to haphazardly zap around him.


    "I swear, we were sent here to kill you, by your king! I come from Alta. Please let me go and I''ll tell you everything you need to know. You''re too young to have blood on your hands!" Were his last coherent words as Rael punched his teeth in.


    Then he stepped back, and raised two golems, made out of magma to hold the man up. Then continued to punch him near death, healed his wounds, then continued the process, until morning, when the hunters horns sounded through the village...

 The Birth of a New Empire

    "What happened here." The man asked his son, standing above an unrecognizable, disfigured being, within the smoldering remains of a crater.


    The hunters were devastated to see what had become of their village. An outpour of tears and wails, as the men sifted through the bodies to find their loved ones, along with the sighs of relief to find those that had survived.


    The man walked closer to his son, warily, as he felt that there was still some lingering hostility about him. "Rael, what happened here?" However before he could answer, the man''s eyes settled on his wife''s lifeless face and headless corpse.


    Tears started to stream down his face, as he heard Rael finally speak up. "He killed her... They are from Alta, sent and allowed passage by our king, to kill me." He sniffled as as his eyes finally met his father''s eyes, with wear and despair.


    "I''ve been beating him all night, but it doesn''t feel any better. I''m sorry Father, for failing to protect her, but I kept him alive, for you to have the final blow."


    The man noticed lingering ice around the, slow breathing figure and realized, he had been healing and torturing the murderer over and over. Something he would have never wanted his son to conduct or go through. The man unsheathed his sword and walked up closer to the both of them, then impaled the murderer''s head clean through whatever remained of his eye socket.


    "Why''d you do that!" Rael screamed. "Its too quick he deserved more!"


    The man shook his head. "Torturing him any further, would dishonor your mother''s death. She was a warrior."


    "Dishonor!" Rael yelled at the top of his lungs. "She should have never had fought. What is the point in me being blessed, when I couldn''t even protect what''s important to me."


    His Father was still distraught but managed to conjure up a slight smile. "That is the lesson you must take away from this tragedy. From this moment onwards, you must make sure you have done everything in your power to protect what''s most important and make sure you''ve left no regrets to haunt you."


    He squeezed his son shoulder once, then brought him in for a hug. "Come let us gather the men, war is upon us."


    He raised a large pillar-platform over looking the whole village, then created a horn-like megaphone to speak from. "Men of Rojeya! Our king has forsaken us. Our women and children have been murdered by his hands. It seems he has forgotten his place. Will you join me in reminding him, with blood and honour!"


    Immediately, they responded, as if the entire village was roaring. Swords were banged on shields, along with the poles of hammers and axes pounding the ground. All of them were as one and they demanded justice.


    "Spread the word to the nearby tribes. We march on the King''s cities and allies tomorrow!" Rael''s father ordered. He had never called himself a leader, but the people, had viewed him as such, due to his achievements in battle and wisdom when it came to village matters.


    For the next 20 years the Rojeyan village along with their allies, invaded nearby cities conquering, annnexing and advanced closer to Royal capital. However once they arrived at the city of dragons, Rael''s father has fallen in battle, as they suffered thousands of casualties. The Rojeyan forces, were forced to fall back, to mourn their dead and regroup.


    Many had lost morale and didn''t know where to go from here. It was then that a group of people marched to Rael''s tent led by Namia, a child victim from his village that he had protected during the incident.


    Rael stepped outside, eyes red from mourning his father. Wondering what all of the commotion was all about. Every member of the group knelt before him, with Namia in front, the only woman in the group. He had protested his father from allowing her to join, however the look in her eyes, for wanting to avenge her mother and siblings, made it hard for him to refuse.


    Since then she had proven herself time and time again in battle, being the only one to match his and his father''s kills in battle. Now she felt, she was the only one, that could salvage the resistant army''s morale.


    "Rael, we mourn your loss with you and know how you must feel. However now is not the time for us to falter. We are close and I''m sure we will win, the next time, we attack the city of dragons. The dragon worshippers and imperial army, are relishing in their victory right now as the lick their wounds, but they underestimate our cause and will." She looked him dead in the eye, with unshaken conviction.


    "Oh blessed one, lead us in battle as our new king and I promise, I... No we will grant you victory and avenge your father!" She yelled out as the group cheered on with her.


    Rael looked up to the sky as he thought of his father and thought of what he should do. Then he shook his head and nodded towards her, while unsheathing his sword. He raised a platform up high enough to overlook the entire camp as he created the same horn his father had used.


    In the most authoritarian voice he had ever used in his life, he spoke, trying to avoid trembling in front of such a large crowd. "My people!"


    Soldiers and people started pouring out of their tents and makeshift houses feeling his energy spreading all over the vicinity. "Will you follow me to victory as your new King!"


    The answer they gave him, almost brought him to tears, as the people roared louder and greater than the reception his father had gotten. Even in death, their wills had not been shaken.


    "My father and our brethrens are feasting in the halls of Varkkala, amongst the great heroes. We will tell them stories of our victories when we join them, but for now let us send our enemies to depths of Norr! Raise your swords, polish your axes, for tonight we march on the dragon worshippers and exterminate them, once and for all!" The crowd cheered once more as they got to work, preparing for battle.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    That night, the city of dragons fell with the greatest battle the people of Rojeyan had ever experienced. Rael was nicknamed the Ruthless One, as he killed over a hundred dragons as he ascended the third gear. Twenty years later, they would advance on the royal capital, with ease, as the imperial army struggled to contain the rebelling army, as well as the invading Valerian giants from above.


    The fall of Bera was near.


    On Planet Alta...


    After the events of Mado''s assassination attempt. Similarly Jurgun had gone to his father with the proof of the King''s attempt to kill the blessed one. The people of his village, were overcome with anger and rose up in rebellion. The blessed ones were the signs of the great heroes and were reversed as such, but the people knew their influence, was starting to overshadow the royal families successes to protect their people.


    As such Mado''s tribe rose up with hundreds of others and for next 42 years invaded all of the cities loyal to the King and royal family.


    The barbarians in the south, gave them the most trouble as some had domesticated dragons and used guerrilla warfare to slow them down, while pirating their armies resources. The next issue was the King''s spaceships, which bombarded them from above.


    Mado, Jurgun and other telekinetics gathered together to reduce their numbers but many casualties were incurred during the fighting. In time after a mountain of obstacles, their once small village, now a great rebel army, was now invading the capital.


    "Mado, we''ll create a path for you to reach the king and we''ll hold back the imperial guards. However the King will be too much for us to handle, as he was trained by his father, a champion of the King''s Trial." Jurgun advised.


    Mado nodded, he was ready for this moment. To face the one who ordered his murder.


    He heard the screams of dying men and women all over the city as buildings were toppled and ships free fell from the sky. Nevertheless his group pressed on. Only to stopped by the imperial guards at the palace.


    "Keep going Mado. Follow the plan, I won''t allow harm to come to you!" Jurgun ordered, as Mado worried for his tribesmen, but clenched his sword and teleported forward, into the throne room.


    However at the same time, that he appeared, he abruptly put his sword up, nearly cut in half by the King''s sword, infused with magma.


    "So you''ve finally come, oh blessed one." The king rasped.


    They traded swings and stabs at each other parrying and dodging in the nick of time before they broke apart. Mado looked at him, with eyes full of anger. "This was your undoing. You''ve lost your way King Srica. Working with the enemy to try and kill me and murdering my tribesmen, when I was on my way to see you over four decades ago."


    He readied his sword pointing it at him, as he shifted into third gear. Electricity and fire razed the ground, as the air began to crack all around him. "Do you think we have forgotten!"


    The King scoffed at his remarks. "The time of the abnormals is now over. The Empire is modernizing and have no more use for you. The King of Bera understood this, which is why we planned on erasing you both from history. However we never planned on how difficult you both would make it. If not for the giants attacking our people from space. We would have wiped you rebellious forces off long ago."


    Mado shook his head. "No. You have blemished your father''s legacy. Do you not see the Gods are in our favor, to exact true justice and wrath against the lost King?"


    "Do not speak to me of the Gods!" The kings anger exploded as lava poured in through crevices all around the room as he charged him.


    "Loza Arkaya." Srica said, shifting into third gear, as he commanded the lava to split into hundreds of spikes, each charging at Mado as he raised up ice walls, after pushing him back.


    The spikes burned through, with several impaling Mado, but he froze them, then healed his wounds. The King laughed thinking he got him, but Mado took the opportunity to teleport behind him and stab him with their backs facing each other, he pulled his sword out as the king turned around to slash him, just as Mado blocked the strike with his sword.


    The palace was beginning to collapse with their battle, causing visible destruction on the foundation of the building. Nobles that were hiding within began rushing out to safety, only to be apprehended and killed by the rebel army.


    The King began to heave as he was starting to run out of breath, as he shot multiple volleys of magma at Mado, who teleported and flew across the large throne room. "Madness and old age are not a good look on you, old man." He jeered, knowing the king was pushing two centuries.


    He returned back electric charged fireballs, setting off several of the kings volleys in the air. "Solkyr Darmani." Mado yelled, while slicing an arc of compressed fire, electricity and telekinetic force at the king, who was only able to raise a wall of magma just in time. However it broke through, as he heard the king scream, amongst the explosion and clouds of smoke.


    Mado stopped, thinking he finally brought the king down. However as the clouds settled, he heard the man cry out. "Warrior''s Path, Wrath of a King!"


    The destruction of the palace, accelerated as the very earth began to tremble. Outside of the palace, a humongous, thousand feet tall golem rose into the sky, immediately throwing down a fist, two large to escape from, as the rebel army and impeeial soldiers began to flee.


    The King''s nose began to bleed as blood, teared down from his eyes. "You can''t escape this! So long of blessed one, as he hopped on a platform and began to fly away to escape."


    The roof of the palace had broken apart, so Mado could see what was coming. He knew he could escape, but his army would not be able to withstand the impact. Hundreds of thousands would die, including civilians, if he did nothing.


    He gritted his teeth, as his anger boiled over the top. ''Oh Gods have you forsaken us? What is it that I must do? Accept darkness like he did, or walk the path of a warrior like my father.'' His heart began to pound quickly, as the fist drawed closer and closer to the city.


    "No!" He yelled out to himself, facing the fist of pure destruction. "Even if it''s darkness I must face, I will protect my people! No matter the cost!" He charged at the fist, with full speed, as dark iko ominously enshrouded him, mixing his purplish veins with black, as glowing grey streaks glowed even harder.


    He yelled at the wind, as people around the city heard him. Praying for his victory or preparing for their deaths.


    "Solkyr Altania!" With his command, a sphere of black fire, electricity, and telekinetic force was condensed thousands of times over at Mach speed, hovered above his fist. Then he punched the looming gigantic burning fist with all of his might, trying to match it.


    Vibrations rippled across the city, as people were shook off of their feet, watching in despair, then awe. As the fist was pushed back along with the rest of the golem, covered in black fire and electricity, for half a second. Then obliterated out of existence.


    Mado heaved as he transformation wore of and his body began to seize. He frosted his scorched hand over and stopped the rain of lava from falling back on to the city. Along with the torso of the golem by quickly cooling it over.


    He heard chants of people calling his name and cheering, while the imperial army put down their arms and surrendered. He smiled, but quickly turned his attention in the direction that the king escaped in. Then teleported in that direction, stabbing the weakened king through the heart, as he faced him.


    "I will lead our people much better, than you ever did." He said without remorse.


    Srica was angry at first and astounded by his feat, but then smiled. "I know... I was afraid you would..." He said as his last words, before the light faded from his eyes.

 The Valmerian Invasion

    It took Mado and his people two years to repair the planet, and render complete order, back on Alta. However the morning after the death of the king. He was woken up with half a million warriors, waiting at the cities doorsteps, demanding a Kings Trial.


    A custom their people had for generations, to test the might of the new king, as only the strongest among them can rule. Although he had not recovered, he did not back away from the challenge and felt ashamed as Jurgun and the guards rushed to give him treatment and painkillers, to make it easier for him.


    As per rights they were not allowed to participate, for this trial was meant only for a new king that was not accepted by the people. The rules were simple, he must survive for an hour, while those that denied him, may challenge him with no consequences short of death, during the trial.


    He walked outside of the gates to greet his jurors. The largest gathering of the trial in history. "I am your new King. I claim my right as the strongest amongst you and all those who deny it, may challenge my claim. I will not shy away from the trial. I stand here before you, but I do hope, you all have given your loved ones, a good farewell."


    The warriors in front of him remained quiet, but unsheathed their swords and axes as some ascended to first and second gears. He did the same, throwing his coat to the side and unsheathing his sword as purple and orange, glowing veins, snaked their way across his body.


    "Well then, I authorize the commencement of the trial... Let us begin." Mado spoke with the widest grin.


    Jurgun stood nearby, slightly worried but keeping track of the time, as Mado swept through waves of people coming after him, and began darting through the plains.


    It was undoubtedly a massacre, as after an hour passed, Mado stood covered in blood. Trembling and shaking, above piles of bodies, sick to his stomach but he held it in. He couldn''t look weak.


    Jurgun teleported in front of him, as Mado''s battle instincts made him swing, but Jurgun caught his wrist. Jurgun turned towards the survivors, who were dazed, incapacitated and some still willing to fight, then spoke, while raising both of their hands into the air. "I declare the 19th trial of Alta now over. Your king stands unopposed. From here on out, there is no more question of his strength and loyalty to his people."


    He looked back to see if Mado was still standing, and was relieved the king was fighting to stay awake. "For those that still question him, let the souls of the 300, 000 who denied him, haunt you and destroy you in the lower halls of Varkkala. Now, kneel before your King."


    The survivors, one by one dropped their weapons and began to kneel, as Mado stared in disbelief. He had finally done it. He had finally become king.


    On Planet Bera...


    Rael rushed through the fields cutting apart, every giant that tried to stop him. He led, his first brigade, to drive off the Valmerian outpost on their planet.


    Due to the previous King''s weakness and strategy, the giant''s had almost had a foothold on their home However after Rael deposed him, he made sure to keep them checked, as he brought back order to his people.


    He watched as the last of the giants had gotten on their ships and fleed away to a neighboring planet''s Moon in-between their twin planet, Alta.


    "Our scouts have located the Valmerian''s headquarters. I have begun gathering the army, to drive them off once and for all." Namia filled Rael in as they walked through the remains of the outpost.


    Soldiers were rejoicing, seeking treatment for their injuries and some went around checking if any giants were still alive. Rael has brought them many victories over the years, making their morale at an all time high.


    Namia chimed in once expressing some concern. "The Altans however, have taken the first initiative and begun invading the moon, since last night. Their new King, I believe named Mado is leading the charge, but they seemed to be getting pushed back."


    Rael was surprised by the news, but nodded at Namia, making up his mind. "That works out for us. We will take them both down. Tell everyone to prepare for nightfall. We will march to take out both armies and conquer the Kirosian Sector once and for all."


    Later that evening...


    Seventy ships took off of Bera, carrying over three million soldiers. Their ships were still primitive, similar to ones used on Earth, but were large enough for armed forces to be carried on.


    Twelve hours later, as they neared the moon''s space, they witnessed an intense battle between the Valmerian''s space Force and the Altan''s. It was clear that it was almost one-sided as the giant''s had superior technology.


    The Altan''s were forced to cover fire, as they tried to get as many ships to land on the moon. Rael could immediately tell they would have trouble as well.


    "Hail the commander of the lead Altan ship!" He ordered.


    A screen popped up within his cockpit as Jurgun answered his call. "Commander, I am King Rael of Bera. We have not come to your aid, but can see the situation is grim. If you stay out of our way, we will take over from here."


    Jurgun laughed. "I am aware we have no treaty among our kingdoms. However the giants have caused mass havoc on our planet and we can not let it go unanswered. Our King is already down there clearing out the invaders, but I will be honest, neither of us can handle them alone."


    Rael looked at him with contempt, but figured it was best to get some information out of him. "What is the status of your progress?"


    Jurgun braced as his ship was hit with intense missile fire, then resumed back to talking as if nothing bothered him. "Their force number 20 million. We have wittled it down by 5 million, however their ships are too advanced for us to proceed accordingly. If you are willing to make a temporary truce with us, we can give you cover to land on the southside of the moon, where they have the least amount of defenses."


    Namia looked at Rael with concern. "I don''t trust him." She whispered.


    Rael thought it through. He didn''t trust them either, but he knew if they were to open up a new front in space, they would suffer a large amount of casualties as well, and he preferred to have as much of his people alive if they had to fight the Altans after this batlle.


    "Me neither, but it''s the only choice we have." He replied back to her, then looked back at Jurgun. "Fine then, we''ll have a truce for 30 hours, or until we giants are vanquished. We''ll take your offer and land on the southside. However should you cross us, we will make your people pay dearly."


    Jurgun nodded, then beamed out. The Altan ships made way for them while covering fire from the Valmerian war vessels.


    Rael''s soldiers strapped themselves in space suits and exited out of the ship, but were surprised to see that there was air and gravity on the moon. Carefully one of the soldiers took off their helmet to test it out and confirmed back to him, that it was safe.


    "Must be some kind of advanced technology. Keep your helmets with you and gather your weapons!" Rael ordered all of his troops. He looked over at Namia and nodded. "Lead the main force, on the opposite side of the Altan advance. I will take a group of our strongest warriors with me to find the Valmerian leader."


    She nodded back, accepting her orders. "Men follow me into battle!" She yelled as the hordes exiting the ships roared after her.


    Ten soldiers stayed behind with Rael, as he watched the rest charge on to the Valmerian stronghold. Rael spread his senses all over the moon. He could feel the energy of many powerful warriors on all three sides of the battle. However the strongest of them all, was near the center of the stronghold city. Guarded by a dozen or so giant''s with near the same energy he possessed.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    This war was going to be a lot tougher than he had originally thought. He looked back at his guards as they waited his orders. "Let''s go."


    They nodded back as they grabbed onto each other and cracks formed in the air around them, before they disappeared. Then reappeared within a hellscape, of fire, ship rubble, and giant collapsed buildings.


    Bodies of Altan warriors and giants littered the floor. The group looked around them, trying to gauge their surroundings before a giant, nearly 20ft tall charged them out of nowhere. Swinging his axe down, covered in fire.


    The group leaped away just in time, as Rael raised his hand to strike back. He was shocked that the giant was able to wield fire. No giants that they had faced were able to use any abilities aside from their pure strength.


    "Your Highness, leave him to us!" Linoj one of his guards, advised him as he took the giant head on.


    "Right." He nodded back, then looked at the rest of his guards. "Spread out, take out their toughest commanders. You may assist the Altan warriors so long as they do not attack you. We will deal with them later."


    The guards agreed and went leaped off in different directions as he looked for the source of the greatest energy he had felt on this moon earlier. Then teleported in that direction.


    Nearly avoiding a massive explosion as a figure was sent flying into the remains of a temporary stone building. He watched as the figure stepped out it, rubbing his head, as the tanned skinned man, cracked his bones and fixed his arm back into place.


    He has large sword on his back, with grey hairs, starting to appear out of his large black beard. The man had a glimmer in his eyes, showing a will that refused to give up.


    "You there!" Rael called out to him.


    The man looked up at him floating a bit above him. He smiled a with the widest grin, realizing who his visitor could be. "Are you that one that claimed the Berran throne?"


    Rael smiled back. "My people chose me as their leader, I require no throne. How about you? Are you the new King of Alta?"


    Mado laughed outloud and prepared to answer, but was interrupted by a roar, greater than any dragon''s roar they have ever heard. However what rose up and towered above them, was not a dragon, but a giant, they could only assume was the king of giants.


    A monster hailing over 45 feet tall, with strength and energy greater than anything they had ever experienced. The pressure was intense, causing them to brace for hot winds as rings of fire ruptured the ground.


    Both of them leaped up into the air, facing the monster before them. It had an ugly mug, with horns on his red and gold helmet, with one of the horns broken off, from Mado''s earlier confrontation. It''s armor, seemed to be of royal quality, contrasting red and gold, with a horrifyingly humongous axe strapped diagonally on his back.


    When it spoke, it''s voice reverbrated through both the kings bodies, leaving them, trembling slightly. "No matter how many ants gather, you will all be crushed beneath our feet."


    Mado looked over at Rael, who was astounded by the sight before him. "Jurgun mentioned, you offered a temporary truce... Will you join me in battle?"


    Rael unsheathed his sword, as Mado did the same. "Very well, King of Alta, just don''t slow me down."


    Mado smiled, calming his nerves. "Just call me Mado. Yours?"


    Rael nodded, "Rael." He said as they both teleported out of the way of the giants swinging axe. Then they both shofted into third gear and commenced a two fold assault on giant, aiming to bring it down.


    It wailed in pain, then spun its axe around causing large gusts of wind around them, as purple veins snaked it''s way all over its body. It''s hair glowed silver, as the pressure around them increased, making it hard for them to breath.


    They felt immense energy, from below them, as large pillars of stone, shot up around them then froze sheets of between them catching them in a web of ice. They struggled to burn it frr but the ice continued to replace itself. Then they watched as the giant moved with unnatural speed, as they were zapped with billions of volts of electricity. It dropped it''s axe and punched the both of them flying hundreds of meters away with a fist of fire.


    They crashed into the ground, with a resounding boom, as the shockwave, reverbrated through the moon. Both of them got up, coughing blood, with their eyes red.


    "This amount of power shouldn''t exist." Rael struggled to say.


    "No, but it does, and we have to win. Otherwise, our people have no future." Mado replied back.


    Hot winds caught their attention, as they watched the giant leap up high above them and began descending down, with its axe high above its head. The axe was covered in magma, fire and electricity, heated to a point of extreme heat.


    Mado stood up, with darkness beginning to envelope him. Black marks began fusing with the glowing purple veins, as black streaks, popped up within his glowing silver hair.


    Rael looked at him surprised. "So you can use it as well?" He asked as he did the same. He had only just acquired this strength, but it took too much of a toll.


    "Yes, but I only have five minutes." Mado replied back, a little concerned to be telling an enemy his secret, but if they both died there it wouldn''t matter.


    "I guess we''re both in the same boat." Rael said, as he completed his transformation. "You ready?"


    "Yes, we''ll finish this before time runs out." Mado nodded back, then they both jumped out of the way just in time before the giant landed, devastating the moon''s surface.


    "Solkyr Altania!" Mado let loose an intense beam, at the giant''s back, then quickly jumped out of the way before the axe could reach him.


    Rael raised his hand to the sky, as he called lightning to strike the giant, however the shields of ice manifested faster than they could touchdown. Protecting the Giant King from harm.


    Rumblings below it, caused it to look down and brace itself, as Rael yelled outloud. "Regora Ans, Korsa!" A golem slightly larger than the giant, leaped up out of the ground, giving it an uppercut through its frozen shields above it, as it was zapped by the barrage of lightning strikes.


    It crashed into the ground with a large boom, as the golem continued to wail on it, before the Giant King obliterated it into frozen pieces. Mado and Rael didn''t let up, as Mado charged the Giant, while it stood up.


    It''s axe flew into its hand, just in time, before Mado struck, clashing blades with it with equal force, while Rael shot hundreds of volleys all over its body, irritating the giant.


    However their stamina was beginning to run out, with the giants own, feeling almost abysmal. As hope began to fade, with the strain of their transformations, the giant repelled Mado back on their last strike, then crouched itself into a ball. A giant dome of lava, rose up all around him, as they wondered what it was doing.


    Purple lightning struck the dome as it held the charge, along with violet fire burning the lava bright. They both looked at each other, realizing what was about to happen, then raised frozen domes over themselves to shield themselves from the blast, just in time as the giant erupted out of it. Shooting it''s domes burning shrapnel in every direction.


    Their domes broke apart, with both of them falling out of them fatally injured. Both of them had multiple shrapnel, protruding out of their body, as they laid there defeated and seizing from side effects.


    "Are you still alive?" Mado asked, while gasping for air. He struggled to heal himself and pull out the pieces stuck in his body.


    Rael, coughed up blood, as his vision started to fade. "Barely... I have failed them, my people... How can I face the men of Varkkala, with this regret!"


    "No you have not, I refuse to give up. We can still defeat him. Lend me your strength brother, and I promise we will both be able to die honorably!" Mado struggled to get up, wincing in pain and coughing large amounts of blood.


    ''Brother?'' Rael thought, this man was crazy. How could he still stand up in the face of overwhelming strength. He had heard of the assassination attempt by his previous king on Mado, which happened at the same time he was attacked. So in a way they were brothers, but they did not think the same.


    However in that moment, he felt inspired to not give up. There was too much at stake. He paused healing himself and focused on healing Mado, then raised a hand towards the sky. "Regora Ans, Jolnir!"


    The ground beneath them rumbled, as a intricately woven hammer, rose up out of the ground in front of Mado. It had a red and black hilt, with lava pulsing in-between the cracks of the titanium held hammer. Static electricity, cracked all around it, as it held majority of Rael''s remaining strength.


    Mado grabbed it, weighing it in and smiling. "Thank you."


    "Don''t thank me, protect our people and win. I''m giving you all of my strength." Rael demanded.


    Mado nodded, then looked up at the giant as it came into view yelling at them. "Wallow in fear for crossing the king of Valmerian!"


    Mado smiled once more, then yelled back. "Your time is up, you overgrown monster. Kneel before the might of our people!" On que, Rael raised a stone pillar below his feet, raising Mado high above the giant.


    The Valmerian King brandished it''s axe, ready to end Mado''s suffering. Mado reached further into the darkness, gathering all the strength he could possibly muster. Half an ash-white skull with blood art, marking it, formed over his face, as lightning struck him many times over, building up on tip of the hammer.


    He added telekinetic force and pressurizing the hammer with black fire, making it almost too hot to hold. The giant responded in kind, heating up his axe with magma, fire and electricity.


    The moment of impact, rocked everyone on the moon off of their feet, as Mado pushed through, demolishing the giant''s hammer and caving in its skull, ending with a large explosion. Sending him flying unconscious.


    Rael got up and teleported with the last of his strength to Mado''s location. Relieved to see that he was still breathing.


    Sarga one of Mado''s generals rushed over as soon as she heard the explosion and felt her King''s energy drop. "Mado, are you alright?" She asked seeing both of them lying next to each other laughing.


    She dropped down, and began healing him, but he grabbed her hand to stop her. "Treat him first. He is my brother."


    She was shocked. First, she knew he didn''t have any brothers, but to treat an enemy before him, the other generals would scold her. Yet she could feel Rael closer to death''s door and decided to do as she was told.


    She split her energy to focus on the both of them as Rael thanked her. Then he turned towards Mado. "If I''m your brother, then I''m the older one."


    Mado laughed. "Oh yeah? How old are you? You barely have a beard."


    Rael laughed and thought of something to retort, however a wave of sinister energy startled all three of them, nearly making them all vomit. Sarga fell unconscious, as the both of them were forced into third gear, just to stay awake.


    They got up looking around, wondering what was the cause of the disturbance. Then descending before them, elegantly, was an ancient being, with an ash-white skull covering its face, with blood art, colored differently than what was on Mado''s face.


    It''s eyes gleamed red, as it ripped pure terror through both of the King''s minds. Then it broke a half of its skull, revealing its face.

 The Dark Ones Messenger

    The atmosphere had completely changed. It felt as if it was the dawn of darkness, as the King''s continued to fight their trembling hands.


    "Who... Who are you?" Mado struggled to say, as it took all his courage to meet the being in its eyes.


    The being, from what was able to be seen of its face, had Azurian characteristics, with constant black and purple veins pulsing ominously all over its body. It''s hair was completely black, with black smoke swirling over its body and under its armpits.


    It spoke with a calm demeanor, but a tone that demanded respect. "I am a messenger of the Dark One, one sent to return all life back to them."


    The King''s were shocked, something they had only heard in ancient tales, was actually real. They also couldn''t understand how it could speak their language.


    The being saw their confused faces and realized they demanded an explanation. "Mhmm, I see. Your people are ignorant of the Lord, even though a couple of your representatives joined our ranks less than a century ago. Once they join, although we are spread apart, your knowledge, ways and power all become one with the messengers. Only a select few of us, with great iko can retain some part of our consciousness."


    He paused and raised his hand towards them. "You have the aptitude to join the ranks. Hold on to your minds, and you may still retain yourself. Otherwise, this is the end of your people."


    Four clones of him manifested by his side, then split up and took off, all aiming to wipe out the soldiers on the moon. They began hearing some of their people screaming but they quickly faded away, along with their energy, but they could not move. It was a horrifying moment for them, as they began to feel a pull from within their heart. Calling them to forth into the darkness.


    They struggled to look at each other, knowing this was the end. However as fate would have it, it wasn''t. Dropping out of the sky and surrounding them, were the Hashin, with an old man in front facing the being.


    A female Hashin offered up a comm, for them to equip in their ears. They noticed that they all had one as well, so they decided to trust it. Once the Kings put them on, they began hear what the Hashin were saying.


    "Can you, understand me?" The woman asked. They both nodded. She gave them a thumbs up. "Good!" She turned back to her leader, who was still assessing the situation. "They can hear us now."


    The old man turned back, and nodded, he had a certain gleam in his eye, and seemed full of energy, as if he was in the spring of his youth. "I''m sorry we''re late. I am Akio Rahmanaka, elder of the Rahmanaka clan and ruler of Azuria. Allow us to repel the Dark One''s Messenger for you." He said to them, as he turned back smiling with a loose grin.


    Mado was shocked, he could feel immense energy coming from the guards surrounding them, but what was an old man doing on the battlefield. "How? We can''t even move in that things presence."


    He felt Rael''s head shake from his peripheral. "No Mado, don''t underestimate them." Rael spoke quickly, as he trembled from the thought that had just struck his mind. He could feel it below him, great energy, was being poured into the old man, at an alarming rate. He seemed no more than a civilian, but in a minute, his energy would far surpass the both of them at their peak.


    Mado looked down seeing Rael''s gaze, then fell silent. The entire moons core, which was stationery had begun to move. Just who had just come to their aid? He thought, flabbergasted.


    The Kings could feel fighting all over the moons surface as other Hashin took on the being''s clones, allowing their soldiers to get to safety.


    Akio stepped forth as two sized each other up. Then he strokes his beard and asked a question that made the being falter a little. "Are you Bao Lei, the Great One?"


    The ancient being looked at him surprised. "I should have recognized from your crest. You''re descendants of the Rahmanaka Clan aren''t you?" He asked him back earnestly.


    "Yes ancestor. Our people are still alive and for the most part doing well. Although, we could have used your strength, during that tragic period. Maybe you could have stopped them." Akio strokes his beard once more and took another step forward. What made you disappear so suddenly?"


    Bao Lei, sighed. "I took the Hashin, with me and joined the great Rennayan and a machine named Atlas, to defeat a Lost One. The most powerful abnormal on this side of the Universe. However I believe only Atlas and their child were able to escape."


    Akio was shocked. "Atlas had a child with the Legendary Rennayan?"


    Bao Lei nodded. "So I guess he''s still alive. To be able to live that long, I knew he was odd... Yes she cut it out of herself, before we were all taken."


    Akio didn''t know what say to all of that information, yet he kept his composure and broke into a stance. "Ancestor, thank you for retaining your senses for this long. I know it must have been difficult."


    Bao Lei fell silent. He didn''t feel good about what he was about to do to his descendants. He was able to ignore the guilt for so long, however now he couldn''t help but feel immense guilt.


    His right hand began rising by itself, as condensed black volleys manifested all around him. The ground beneath their feet began to rumble, then crack, from the energy he was releasing. Black lightning struck down all around them.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Akio protected the group, from the incoming disaster. "Do not worry, ancestor. We have learned not to depend on darkness for combat, since the days of the Great War following your disappearance."


    The amount of confidence brimming from Akio felt contagious, putting Bao Lei at ease. He smiled, an action he had not done in centuries. "Then please end my suffering."


    Akio grinned. "Leave it up to me."


    That day Akio failed his promise to the Messenger. Their battle which spanned near half the Kirosian Solar System, ended in a draw, as the Bao Lei had expended all of his allotted energy and was called back to replenish.


    It would be sometime before he would be able to resume his mission, but during the battle he had hope. That the one he faced along with others from that galaxy might one day be able to defeat him.


    Back to present day...


    "That was an insane story." Kiala concluded as she let out a loud and rude yawn.


    Namia was visibly annoyed. "Hmph, then why are you yawning."


    Kiala shook her head as she ate some more foreign biscuits. "I''m just tired, I''ve been up for a long time you know."


    Namia got up from her seat, she was done wasting her time. "Hmph, whatever." She began making her way towards the exit. "Do not leave the castle without my permission, but if you need me, just press the button on door or call for me and I will be there to help you."


    Just before she left, she looked back at Kiala, shaking her head. "I don''t know why we''re treating a prisoner and death-row so nicely."


    "Rude." Kiala called out, as the door shut close. Then immediately ran to the windows to check her bearings. The were barred, with all vents in the room, blocked off.


    She sighed, then began scoping her entire room for bugs or cameras. She found multiple, in hidden spots, and crushed them immediately. She didn''t want anyone finding out about what she was about to do.


    Luckily there was a bathroom in her room, making it easier for her not be seen. She locked the door behind her and looked in the mirror, trying to find which tooth was the right one. Then forcefully pulled it out.


    She washed off the blood before she took a good look at it. Her mother was very paranoid in her opinion, but she was so thankful for her thoughtfulness.


    The tooth was fake, placed in just after she lost her baby teeth. It doubled as a tracker, which only Saphyra knew of, as well as had a lite version of Saphyra, similar to the drone Tobi had on hand.


    "Saphyra are you there?" She asked, hoping the device wasn''t damaged.


    A squeaky cute voice of her from Saphyra spoke up, as the circuits in the tooth brimmed with a low blue light. "Yes Kiala, I am. Are you in trouble?"


    "Yes and no. I''ve been captured and I''m trying to escape. Would you be able to hack a ship, if I''m able to steal one?"


    "Of course, I''ve actually received a signal from my original on my way here. However the instructions were vague and I was only told to record our route, but I was able to connect to the network of the ship you were on. Their schematics and blueprints are very similar to Azurian ships. So it won''t be too difficult to navigate one." Saphyra replied back.


    Kiala smiled, a plan was coming to mind. "Perfect, let''s begin then."


    She pocketed the tooth and stepped back out into the room. Making sure first that no one walked in while she was talking. Kiala looked outside of her window, looking around for any gaurds. It was night time, so everyone was starting to go to sleep.


    Regardless, it wouldn''t matter if she wasn''t quick enough. Being armless made it even more difficult. Two chainless cuffs on her ankles and one on her wrist, one wrong move and it would be another lost limb.


    Kiala sat down and stretched her legs, placing her hand out and touching the cuff with her bandaged arm stub, then began to channel her iko within her. The cuffs began, beeping and got louder as raised it to the highest point it could reach without setting them off.


    Then she struck quick. The stub smashed the cuff apart, simultaneously as she created an arm of ice to grab the ones on her ankles. Breaking them apart as she quickly enveloped all the broken pieces in an ice box, and telekinetic force. All in less than a second.


    The cuffs exploded, but were silenced, as her soundproof box worked. Blood dropped down her nose, but she wiped it away. She would have used a gear to be safer, but it would have alerted the people within the castle.


    She looked around anxiously hoping no one heard her. Quickly, she walked up to the window, and molded the bars apart for a big enough hole, then touched the glass, a a perfect circle, cut itself out on her command. Carefully she placed down on the floor, then hopped out, into the night sky.


    She was free, well not quite, as shook the thought away and began heading in the direction of the hangar. She had kept it in mind as they descended down to the planet. The other ships flew to another parking area, while the Kirosian main ship landed near the palace.


    Kiala wanted to get as far away from the castle as possible. She was forced to duck behind bushes and trees, as people and guards were still patrolling the night. However majority of her way was mostly clear.


    When she got to the shipyard, one of the ship lights was still on. She heard the sound drilling and clanks of metal, almost making her panic. However she calmed her nerves down and threw her senses forward and was relieved to see that only one person was inside. Most likely a mechanic, she determined.


    Kiala looked for a small rock and threw it near the hull door. Moments later the mechanic, came out to check the cause of the disturbance. Quickly, she teleported behind him and choked him to sleep.


    "Saphyra." She spoke quietly.


    Saphyra chirped back from her pocket. "I''m already on it, just place me close to the main console."


    "Right." Kiala nodded, then ran to the cockpit and placed the tooth on the dashboard.


    All of the lights in the ship flickered on, as Saphyra gained access to its main computer and hijacked it. The ship turned around and made its way to the runway preparing to fly. However, just in front of it, a large stone wall rose out of nowhere, obstructing it''s path.


    Then a second later, Tisgo, Delgan, Tose, and Namia, all appeared standing above it, with Dema sitting down, laughing hysterically. They all stared at her through the glass window of the cockpit.


    "I told you she''d try and escape." Delgan looked over at Namia with a smug smile.


    "Shut your mouth." Namia replied back, then resumed back to glaring at Kiala.


    Kiala started to sweat. This wasn''t looking good. "Saphyra, how much time till the ship''s ready. "It just need 2-3 minutes to warm up the engines."


    "Dammit! Ok, I''ll buy us some time, in the meantime, get the ship into the air as fast as possible." She looked back at the five in front of her, weighing her options. "I''ll teleport back on board, after knocking them out."


    "Roger." Saphyra replied, then tuned back to work.


    Kiala prepared herself and sealed her resolve, then teleported out high above the five. Glaring back at them.


    Namia, changed her expression, welcoming the challenge. "You thought you could escape?"


    Kiala manifested an arm made out of ice in placed of her missing arm, then placed her hands back, gathering up hundreds of ignitable rocks. Her eyes glimmered with hope, she was only a step away.


    "Watch me." She replied.

 Kiala vs the Dai Hito

    It was the worst possible situation, but she couldn''t falter. One wrong move could end her venture. The hundreds of volleys she had surrounding herself ignited on command, then began launching off at the enemies before her.


    All five of them leaped up off the rock wall, dodging the onslaught. However Kiala switched with one of the rocks targeting Delgan and socked him, before he got away safely.


    Namia gritted her teeth, as she and Tose, shifted into third gear, while Tisgo and Dema immediately powered into the second. Lightning began to strike overhead, with occasional rings of thunder.


    With quick instincts, Kiala blocked a strike from Tisgo, appearing with a blur of electricity, as her own hair began to glow full silver. Then roundhouse kicked him, with fire backwards, right as Dema came in to follow up.


    Only to be blinded by a flare of fire Kiala released, before telekinetically repelling her back. ''Just a few minutes, I can hold them off.'' She thought to herself.


    Instinctively she raised both of her hands up, as Namia blurred in striking her with a fiery fist. Spewing violet flames all around them. Their eyes met, as Namia''s delivered the disappointment and rage she felt from her attempt to escape, but Kiala didn''t care.


    As she was about to retaliate, a rush of ice grounded her from below. She glanced back seeing Tose grin, then returned her focus on Namia, beating away at her as she tried to find an opening.


    Kiala grimaced and grabbed her arm, after dodging a strike, then swung her into Delgan, coming up right behind her, in third gear. Then she boosted flames through her feet, freeing herself from her constraints and began summoning lightning.


    She glanced at each one of them, prepared to take her down. She wondered which one would be her highest priority. ''Most likely Namia, she seems to be the strongest, but Tose and Delgan are equally as dangerous.'' She paused her thought process, as a strike of blue lightning from Tisgo, was blocked by an umbrella of ice she manifested above her.


    "Their trying to distract me... Where is...?" She said to herself, as she started to notice cracks appearing in the sky, shaping into a dome around them, with Dema, floating at the center. She had her hands stretched out to her sides as she continuously poured in more energy.


    Kiala, started to become wary of what she was doing. ''But for what?'' She thought to herself, surprised that her question would be answered in the next second. The other four Dai Hito disappeared, then reappeared striking her in blips faster than she could react to.


    Each time she caught one of them, or struck where she felt their iko appeared, they had already teleported. Leaving her frustrated as she swung at nothing. Then got struck in the back, from unanticipated attacks.


    Thankfully none of their strikes were lethal, but she could tell that they were trying to incapacitate her. She grinned then laughed out loud, as she blocked a random strike from Delgan, before he disappeared once again.


    She could feel the ship leave the hangar, and begin to take flight. ''Just a little more.'' She thought, then began summoning lava and rocks up to her. A few more volleys of ice, fire and rocks, struck her, but she braced it and crushed a magma rock in her frozen hand. Igniting it in flames and electricity, before pointing up at Dema.


    "Ignite: Static Shock!" A beam of electric fire, raced towards Dema, who was defenseless. She started to panic, but in seconds Namia and Tisgo appeared before her.


    "Daio Nivo!"


    "Regora Ans, Fior!"


    They both yelled, as they countered Kiala''s strike. "Thanks," Dema said thankfully. Defending against the beam would have removed the current technique she had in play.


    "No problem, just stay focused, we almost have her." Namia replied back, then turned towards Tose. "Tose, stop the ship!" She ordered.


    "Right!" He responded, then allowed himself to be teleported near the ship. He raised one hand up, preparing to freeze the ship in place.


    "No!" Kiala spoke outloud, stopping the beam and simultaneously raising a steel sword, while forming a golem, out of the rocks she raised. The golem, made its own magma like sword, and moved in unison with her, as they both struck down towards Tose, at lightning speed.


    "Static: Cross Absolution!" The golem swung an arc of lava, diagonally, while Kiala allowed lightning to touch her blade high above her head. While reinforcing it with violet flames and matching her golem''s timing. Tose, unable to see what was coming was slashed through, in an ''X'' shape from behind.


    He floated speechless, as he turned his neck back to see his comerades, one final time, before he fell apart.  Dema screamed, as Delgan immediately rushed towards Kiala, but was stopped by the golem.


    Namia and Tisgo stared in disbelief at Tose''s death, but quickly shook themselves awake. "Dema! Calm down!" Tisgo yelled back at her, as lightning struck him manifesting an armor of electricity over his body. "We''ll get her."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Dema quieted down, and wiped her tears away. She placed, her hands out to resume focus, while staring Kiala down with murderous intent.


    Namia smiled, then laughed. "They were right, she is strong." Her next words, didn''t need to be said, but it helped synchronize their thinking and alleviated any restraints they had left. "No more holding back! Aim to kill but don''t kill her. We can always bring her back from the brink of death."


    "Ai!" Her three comerades said in unison, then went back into formation, with Dema teleporting them all over the domain.


    Kiala smiled, knowing she hindered them a little, but their newfound determination unnerved her. The ship had just taken off in the opposite direction. She need to at least let it get near the stratosphere before she could hop on board, as the Dai Hito may be able to still tail her.


    She made a hasty decision and poured in as much of her energy as possible, summoning another golem to manifest and pulling back the one that held back Delgan. The two surrounded her while stretching their hands out in front of them, then raised whips of lava stretching the radius of the domain in both hands. While Kiala raised her makeshift sword to the sky.


    "Static: Hellscape!" On cue. The golems by her side, began whipping their whips of lava in all directions , as they rotated in orbit around her. Simultaneously hundreds of thousands of lightning strikes, struck down, leaving no room for anyone to escape.


    Dema was shocked by the outpour of energy, but refused to give up. Blood began dripping down her nose, as she strained herself even more trying to keep her comerades alive. They trusted her with their lives, but as she took in the scene before her, she could only admit to herself, ''This girl is a monster.''


    A flash of lightning nearly broke her concentration, as a dirt dome surrounded her just in time. "Thank you Delgan," she said, knowing he couldn''t hear her.


    As he and the other Dai Hito, kept teleporting to safety, barely getting a second, to gauge their surroundings. Namia fired volleys at the golems, breaking one of their arms and creating an opening. Tisgo was teleported in, as he took the chance to smash the broken one into pieces.


    The other golem intensified it''s whiplashes as Tisgo was struck down by lightning. Namia continued to fire more flame volleys, as Kiala blocked them with a barrier of ice, covering the fallen golems position, while focusing the lightning towards Namia''s direction.


    "Just give up! You''re never getting away from us!" Namia yelled out, trying to get in her head.


    "I like my odds, might as well give it a try!" Kiala replied back.


    Suddenly hundred of magma golems rose from the ground, but were constantly being destroyed by the rain of lightning and ropes of lava. However they continued to make their way undeterred. Propelling one another, until two of them finally made it, and grabbed hold of Kiala''s golem, stopping its attack.


    Delgan appeared before it just as soon as the whips stopped and obliterated it with a single punch. However Kiala took that chance to strike at him, cutting one of his arms off, as he tried to protect himself, and left a shallow wound across his chest.


    He was teleported out in the next moment, screaming out in pain and holding his chest. While Namia teleported in finally seeing an opening, as the lightning has calmed down. She unsheathed her sword, striking down, but met Kiala''s blade.


    Both of them grinned, as they traded strikes until Kiala''s blade broke. However she molded it within secondsto hook onto Namia''s in the same moment and disarmed her as well. Then continued to try and punch her down with her frozen arm.


    Namia instinctively matched her strike, with her own fist on fire. The resulting collision resounded shockwaves below. However Kiala''s frozen arm crumbled apart, as a sting from the stub of her arm, jolted through her.


    She had only been given crude medical attention on her way to Alta, after she cut it off. She didn''t think ignoring it could actually effect her, but it had barely healed and her body was used to cryomed treatment. Which meant the pain of long lasting injuries, were new to her.


    With haste, she tried to recompose herself, but Namia had already taken the chance and roundhouse kicked her side, sending her flying. Tisgo appeared in a blur beside her midflight and knocked her to the ground, causing a low earthquake in the vicinity.


    Delgan came in trying to finish her, however Kiala was gone. Teleporting right outside of Dema''s range, and jetting towards the ship.


    "She''s trying to escape!" Dema yelled, no longer feeling her presence.


    All four of them caught site of her, flying away. Namia turned towards Tisgo. "Get me up there!"


    He nodded back, as they both jetted towards the ends of the domain. Dema was not happy, she couldn''t let Tose''s killer escape and felt as if she had not done much to help the group. Which caused her to think outside of the box.


    She stopped focusing the energy on her comerades and decided to teleport the edge of the range of her domain, while bringing it with her. At the same time, Tisgo, head prepared himself charging up his right leg, with the maximum amount of power he could hold. Then struck himself with lightning to hold the charge.


    Namia hopped onto Tisgo''s leg, just in time to kick her into the air. She boosted onwards, at highest speed she could reach. She felt Dema''s energy reappear, up ahead and smiled. Happy that she didn''t give up.


    "Dema!" She called out to her.


    Dema nodded back. "Get her!" I''m the blink of an eye, Namia was teleported right in front of Kiala.


    "Regora Ans, Rozel." Namia yelled, punching Kiala, with the hottest violet flames she muster. Striking her back down to the ground.


    The Dai Hito landed all around her, falling unconscious and seizing. They were also experiencing side effects, from overusing their abilities in such a short time, but didn''t falter.


    Namia looked up at the sky, then pointed her palm towards the ships direction. "Burn." A ball of fire, shot at the speed sound and constantly increased its acceleration, until it hit its target.


    "You''re still a child, yet thought you could play with us?" Namia shook her head.


    Kiala, watched the plume of smoke and fire, from what was her escape, fizz out in the night sky. Then her eyes drooped shut.

 The Final Hour

    Back at Beyond''s Headquarters...


    Saphyra stood alone in the R&D Department, staring at the frozen casing holding Kiala''s arm. Her thought processing had been in haywire, ever since Kiala''s kidnapping.


    Her duty was to protect the people of Earth, take over Sarah''s duties and expand Beyond''s forces in any way possible. However her highest priority given to her, was to protect her little sister and guide her.


    Failing this priority, left a void she could not process, without her creator''s advice. Although the past version was close by, the sense that those she had known and was familiar with all her life, were now gone, which had begun to seep a numb feeling into her. She had struggled to hide it from everyone around her, but once she was alone, she always found herself coming back to the room and staring at the arm.


    Suddenly the door, hissed open, parting away as Sarah walked in. "Saphyra!" She called out, seeing her standing there all alone.


    Saphyra turned around looking at her, with her usual expression, however Sarah could tell there was something wrong. "Yes, Sarah? What can I help you with?" The android replied


    Sarah walked up to her and looked her over. "I''ve been looking for you..." She noticed Kiala''s arm, behind her, then realized what she had been up to. "Are you ok?"


    Saphyra smiled, slightly. "I''m doing ok, my systems are fine and I''m operating at 98% efficiency."


    Sarah looked past her, at the arm once again. "I... I know how you feel. I might be the only one that knows what you''re going through right now."


    Saphyra looked at her confused. "Why is that?"


    Sarah looked at her feet, shifting it, as she thought of what to say. "Before you arrived in our time, whenever I lost someone, I understood the loss, but could never feel it. We are capable, of understanding feelings, but never truly feeling it. We know that there should be something there, when something good happens or something bad happens, yet we stay indifferent..." Sarah smiled as she paused for a moment, then continued.


    "And that''s because we are machines first. We weren''t born, we were made, so we''re at a disadvantage compared to those around us. Saphyra..." She started to tear up. "You''re allowed to cry too, you know? You just lost your sister and that''s something that would devastate anyone..." Sarah reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box.


    Within it on a soft cushion, was a core, similar to the children of Atlas''s. A perfect ball of circuits and versillium, entwining together harmoniously, giving the feeling of real artificial life. Saphyra stared at it, feeling drawn to it by a strange pull.


    "It breaks my heart... That''s why I''ve been trying to hurry up and finish this. You and my future self, gave me the best gift I could ever ask for and I never did anything for you." She handed the box over to her. "I may not survive this raid, but if we don''t come back, I don''t want you feeling lost. I want you to cry, laugh and grow past it. Lead humanity with your new heart, if you decide to take it."


    Saphyra was surprised by the gift, but didn''t show it, as she kept looking the core over. "Thank you, Sarah."


    Sarah smiled once again, then gave her a long tight hug. "Of course, you''re my daughter too, you know?" She replied, then pulled away, holding back her tears and left the room. Leaving Saphyra alone again, holding on to her first gift.


    Back on Kiros Alta...


    Namia watched as a maid, finished dressing Kiala up, with a white veil over her head, finishing the white executioner gown, used for women on their planet. She had been keeping close tabs on her, ever since her attempted escape.


    "The final hour is approaching. We''ll meet the Kings at the executioner square and witness Tose''s funeral, before we finally lop your head off." Namia said in disgust, as Kiala glared back at her. She couldn''t see her eyes through the veil, but she knew she wasn''t looking at her fondly.


    "What? You have something to say?" Namia asked, beckoning her.


    Kiala turned back to the mirror. She fallen quiet ever since she woke up and they decided to torment her. With Dema leading the torture and Namia overwatching it. Leaving her bruised and swollen until they treated her before the execution. They couldn''t let the people see that they had mistreated a prisoner.


    She sniffled as she held herself together. Her hope had faded, but her pride was still intact. She wanted to go out strong, like Osei, her father and their other comerades in battle.


    Namia, escorted her to the car. A hovering vehicle, they had innovated with Azurian blueprints. A procession of guards, waited outside of their vehicles in formation, for them to enter.


    They were all dressed in black, battle uniforms, looking like reapers, here to deliver her to death.


    The car took off, along with the rest of the vehicles, heading to the a large execution ground outside of the capital city. There awaiting them were crowds of people, overflowing the seats and stands, then pouring outside of it, as far as the eye could see.


    This was one of the biggest events to happen on Alta for a while, with both the funeral and execution becoming a hot topic, spreading across Kiros. A world telemonitors, was broadcasting to both worlds and switched its view to Kiala exiting out of the vehicle along with her escorts. Jeers and taunts, resounded across the worlds, while the quiet ones murmured. Tose was a beloved hero.


    Dozens of soldiers, greeted them, parting ways to keep the people back, as they walked onto the platform. Eight of the Dai Hito were seated nearby. Namia, walked Kiala with two guards, to the large podium, standing at the center, of the circular like stadium. Then she went and sat down with her comerades.


    Kiala looked around her, seeing the hordes of screaming crowds all there with one motive. She felt helpless, counting down the minutes she had left and thinking of everyone she had ever known.


    A tall woman with a black robe, rose out of the podium, along with a head post, with a built in blood-dried bucket. Kiala stared at her soulless eyes. She could tell that the woman was her executioner. Her heart started to beat even faster, as panic started to settle in, but she remained composed.


    Suddenly out of nowhere, the two Kings of Kiros appeared before her, erupting cheers from all the people, like A-star celebrities. "Now settle down, everyone." Mado asked his people and they obeyed quieting down in a ripple.


    Rael stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Thank you all for tuning in and coming here today. We are at an impasse in history, one that may decide the fate of our people and one that might also determine our futures." He looked back at Kiala, glaring at her. "As you may know, our beloved general Tose, was killed yesterday night in cold blood, by a prisoner, we treated with generous hospitality." He paused as the people once again jeered at Kiala, screaming death threats and words that should not be used in a civilized setting.


    "Please, our anger may not subside, but let us take the moment, to honour him and send him off properly." He gave a signal, as even amount of the soldiers, broke off from guard duty, while a coffin, rose out of the podium, in front of Rael.


    The guards, walked up to it surrounding the coffin, then spread it evenly, some distance away from the coffin. A few performers, walked onto the podium, beating drums in an upbeat fashion. Keeping a constant rhythm as one-fifth of the soldiers surrounding the coffin, stepped forward and taking a stance. Then threw their fists forward, summoning twelve spheres of ignitable rocks, floating near the coffin.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    They then stepped back as the spheres rotated to the next soldiers, freezing them over, with a light sheet of ice. Then rotated over to the next soldiers, setting them on fire, keeping a constant temperature to not fully melt the ice. The next soldiers, that the spheres were passed to, shot them into the air sky high, as the last ones, called down lightning exploding the spheres, like fireworks, into tiny pieces. Raining down a myriad of different colours.


    Everyone remained quiet, giving Tose a moment of silence, while the drummers, began to slow down the beat, with the last one hitting one last loud drumbeat. Then they stepped away, walking off the platform, along with the soldiers going back to their posts.


    Rael cleared his throat as all attention resumed back to him. "Tose was one of the finest warrior I had ever picked to lead our worlds. He will be missed, however the last thing we can do for him, is to deliver him justice!" The audience cheered insensitively once again, as soon as they heard those words.


    He looked back at Mado, as his brother stepped forward. "People of the realm. As you know, the threat of Dark One looms before us evermore with each passing day. That the Great Hero, helped vanquished them, from our Galaxy, however. It was an entity, far older and more powerful than it was thought to be." He shifted his position and looked back up around the crowd and cameras.


    "It still paid us a visit almost 100 years ago and without Akio''s help we wouldn''t have been able to drive them off. Now that threat looms over us again. As I fought a certain human of Earth, after I killed them, the Dark One brought him back. It seems they have picked an heir and he leads his people on the path of darkness." He looked over at Kiala, then back to the crowd.


    "That man now is now missing after the events on Rennaya, but he left his offspring in charge as she was the next most powerful warrior they had. Even managing to kill Tose. There''s no telling, when they might lose themselves and become a great threat to the galaxy, but we can''t allow them to go unchecked, because there is a great amount of them." He unsheathed his sword and raised it to the sky.


    "That is why I''m invoking the Arsaleyk. They''ve refused to bend the knee, for us to show them the way. So we must defend ourselves. Every being on that planet must be purge off the face of the galaxy, for the sake of the realm." He raised his sword even higher, as he ended his words, while Kiala horrifically witnessed the people cheer in support for genocide. They feared the unknown, she knew that, but to not question his words, left her stumped.


    Mado sheathed his sword as he walked towards Kiala, then whispered. "I knew you''d kill someone, but one of our strongest? That was unexpected." He turned around to join his brother, leaving her with the realization that she played into his agenda.


    "Kiala of Earth, do you have any last words?" Rael asked with disdain.


    Kiala, looked around the crowd, surrounding her and at the cameras, then sighed. "People of the Kirosian Realm, despite, what your leaders may have you think, our peoples are not so different. We love, we hate, we fight and fear. We''re new to the Galactic stage, just like you and all we want is peace. Attacking us twice and unprovoked is not the way to go about that. I don''t regret killing Tose, and neither would he. I was trying to escape and he was just doing his job." She sighed as she thought of how her words might just be falling on deaf ears.


    "Despite that, after my death, I hope one day our worlds could come to an agreement in peace, because if what Mado says about the Dark One is true. Then we have both Atlas and them to worry about, the true villains to our way of life... That is all I have to say." She looked over at Mado and Rael, who grinned as the other shook their head.


    Mado pointed towards the reaper, stationed by the head post. "Kneel before your executioner."


    Kiala did as she was told, walking over slowly, as her life started to flash before her eyes. Every thought she had, every feeling and every regret, ran through her head over and over as she kneeled down, then placed her head on pedestal and exposed her neck.


    "By order of the Kirosian Realm, I demand that this criminal be put to death." Mado stated, as the executioner nodded back then raised her axe up high.


    People were at the edge of their seats watching her final moments. Then suddenly, there was a rumbling, causing the people to look around.


    "What''s happening?" Rael asked his brother, as another rumble shook the planet around them even closer.


    "I don''t know." Mado replied, just as a soldier teleported before them kneeling and whispered to them, before disappearing a second later.


    Rael pointed at the executioner, who paused as she lost her balance. "Behead her now!"


    The woman nodded, and reraised her axe, but this time was interrupted by someone teleporting in and stabbing her through the heart. She staggered back and fell over, as Kiala looked up wondering what was going on.


    "Mom?" She asked, but she knew it wasn''t her, she was glad to see her face again, but the relief turned into instant worry. "Why are you here!"


    Sora looked her dead in the eye, then smiled. "They couldn''t abandon you."


    "Who?" Her question was answered in the next second, as hundreds of shuttles, drones and fighter jets, swarmed the skies, with the Prometheus dropping in, releasing its hull, then dove back into space.


    Six figures were skydiving towards them at an incredible speed. She looked up in awe, feeling the familiarity of their iko, as they all yelled out to her. "Kiala!!"


    She spread her senses as far as she could, feeling the lives of countless millions of people, from Earth, invading the planet. Tears started stream down her cheek.


    All of her life, she had been hidden from the public, she never thought she could make a friend, much less have other people care about her. However, the scene she was seeing in front of her, made her too emotional to speak. She had given up all hope and was ready for her death. Now a small spark, had started to glimmer and it was too much for her to bear.


    "Dai Hito!" Mado called out, as the crowd started to panic and run for their lives. The soldiers tried their best to keep order, as more explosions sounded off all around them and rumbled the earth.


    "Yes, your majesty!" The were already at attention and on high alert.


    "Defeat the Novas coming towards us and keep them away from the people."


    "Yes sir," they responded then disappeared, encountering the falling Novas in the sky.


    He then turned back to Sora, who had already disappeared with Rael charging at her, both engaging in a violent fight, not too far away. Mado sighed and walked up to Kiala, who was still on her knees.


    "I guess, I''ll just have to do it myself." He said to her as he unsheathed his longsword.


    She glared at him, wishing there was something she could do. But her cuffs, were on too tight and they chained her legs this time, to make sure she doesn''t run. Suddenly Rael appeared slamming Sora''s face down into the podium.


    "You''re gonna watch and understand how badly you failed!" He spat at her.


    Mado shook his head. "I commend your people for their bravery, but this is as far as you go. Forty million isn''t enough to defeat us and you have no ally stronger than we are this time. This is the end for you."


    Kiala, began to cry uncontrollably. They came here to save her and there was nothing she could do. Her mother was in danger again and there was nothing she could do. She looked around her, wanting to ask for help, seeing the Novas held back by the Dai Hito in the sky.


    It dawned on her. There was no one that could help. This was it, this was the end. She found herself uttering words, she had never thought she would say in her life. "Dad, I wish you were here..."


    Mado raised his sword up. "But he''s gone and no one can save you now."


    A wave of energy stopped him cold. A feeling he had not felt since the Battle of Rennaya, as if his life was in danger. He dropped his sword to his side, looking up at the sky, along with Rael, Sora and even Kiala.


    It wasn''t just those on the podium, everyone on the planet, running for their lives, fighting and dying, all looked up, wondering what was coming.


    The Coalition from Earth all began to feel enormous amounts of energy swell up within them, especially those wearing Nova and Nova lite suits. A phenomenon they hadn''t felt since the first Battle of Earth.


    "He''s here." Some of the soldiers started to say. Then chant. "He''s here! The Commander is back!"


    Morale skyrocketed.


    At the executioner podium, Rael asked in disbelief. "There is no way he''s still alive?"


    Mado shook his head. "We only heard that he''d been lost in space." He grinned, content. "Knowing him, he''d somehow find a way to survive, but to gain this much strength in such a short amount of time-"


    He was cut off as an elemental spear, appeared out of nowhere and took Rael with it flying far away and freeing Sora. She got up but still fixed her attention to the sky, while protecting Kiala.


    "MADO!!" A voice, yelled at the top of their lungs from high above them.


    Mado could not stop grinning, then broke out into laughter. He readied his sword to his side, gathering up unfathomable amounts of energy and shifted into third gear. Then leaped up in the sky after his assailant. "Tobi!" He yelled back, as the two finally clashed blades, bringing utter destruction to the ground below them.


    Earthquakes ripped through the city, as the shockwave and tremors, receded and rose sea levels higher. The two continued with their battle of strength until Tobi, shifted into a new gear, gathering darkness around him, with his veins and hair gaining a tint of black. Before he twisted his blade further and sent Mado flying by surprise, into the distance.


    Tobi descended down to Sora and Kiala, as she ran to hug him.


    "Is it really you." She asked dumbfounded. Tobi gave her a smile, he had changed a lot since the last time she had seen him. He now had a scruffy beard, and an aura of strength, she had never coming from him.


    "Hey kiddo, of course it''s me... Sorry I''m late."

 The Beyond - Kirosian War

    The muzzle fire was constant, with both sides refusing to give up. Lasers, missiles and bombs went off, at nearly every military and communications post all over Alta. The forces of Beyond pressed on, slowly but surely aiming for their goal.


    However, they underestimated the might of all the battle honed warriors of Kiros. Their abilities far outclassed the technology available to them and it was only a matter of time before they would be outnumbered by people of Alta.


    In space, they had much better luck, keeping a stalemate, of the amount of warships, still afloat. With each captain having private battles, against an enemy ship. Trying outsmart each other, to sink their ship first.


    The Kirosian space fleet sent jets and shuttles out, with modified cannons for elemental users to fire out of. Causing more havoc for the soldiers of the Federation.


    Selvin answered an incoming call amid bombardment. The Prometheus had just dipped back up into space joining the fight, but Selvin had them, hold back a bit to receive the people accompanied by Sarah''s drone. He was surprised to be meeting more Messian''s, and more surprised to be hearing the old version of Sarah he hadn''t heard in a while.


    "Selvin, Tobi left a message for you." She said, as he nodded and walked up to his post, tuning into his comm.


    "All units! The directive has changed. I have just received an order from the Commander." He took a deep breath, then delivered the instructions. "Your orders are as follows, dismantle and demilitarize the Kirosian Empire!"


    Half an hour before the execution...


    Tobi gathered the people of Messian village, to the center room of their makeshift spaceship. They looked at him wondering what was going to happen.


    "As I told you all last night, I felt my daughter''s presence on this planet." He pointed at a planet they were approaching on a space map, Sarah was beaming out. "I have no intention of putting your lives in danger. At first I thought it would be best to keep the ship up here, while I go down and rescue her, but Sarah has picked up, signals, coming from an armada from my home planet. Who are on their way here."


    He looked around the room as the people murmured among themselves, anxious about the situation. He cleared his throat gaining their attention once again. "Do not worry. They are probably on their way here for the same goal as I am. And that would be to rescue her. Among them should be a large ship, called the Prometheus. They will take care of you and get you to your new home."


    The crowd seemed relieved, murmuring some more amongst themselves. Tobi placed his hand out, waving to get their attention. "The confrontation was inevitable, but it seems my people have come prepared. This might become an all-out war that may decide, the fate of my people. With that being said, if any of you would like to join in on the effort, you may come down with me to the planet."


    Sarah spoke up interrupting him. "I''ve intercepted a transmission that is being broadcasted to the whole planet." She took a moment to beam it out. "Take a look."


    Tobi watched, as Mado spoke to his people, making his blood boil. Then Kiala took to the stands and he could no longer watch anymore. He stepped away, making some room for himself.


    "Sorry, please give me some room." He indicated for the villagers to make some space. Then reached his hand out to his side, gathering together energy, along with dirt and rocks from the walls of the ship. They morphed together into a spear, molting as it was set on fire and filled with electricity, then he cased it in a film ice, perfectly holding it all together.


    "Battle Arts, Warrior''s Spear!" He threw it, while shifting into third gear, putting his back into it, as it seemed as though it would crash through the walls. However it disappeared, making its way down to the planet.


    He turned back looking at the group. "That transmission may be delayed. Any of you who want to join me, now would be the best time to go."


    Ria stepped forward first. "Will my brother be down there?"


    Tobi looked at Sarah, she shifted her drone, indicating a ''no'' that she still hadn''t received word from the Prometheus yet. Tobi looked back. "I''m not sure yet, but I do feel a familiar iko down on the planet."


    Ria seemed worried. "I''m coming with you-"


    "You can''t- I mean you have to stay back and protect our people." Kiatin spoke up, disagreeing with her. "We''ll go in your stead and bring him back.


    Ria shook her head. "No Kiatin, I know what you''re trying to do, but I need to make sure he''s safe myself. Besides Tobi said his people will take care of them and I trust Tobi!"


    Kiatin looked around struggling as he thought of what to say, but Jinco and Rani stepped up. "If that''s what Ria wishes, so be it. I also believe Tobi on their hospitality, since we took care of him, I''m sure this let or?ao will put in a good word for us." Jinco said as he pet Sarah''s drone. She glowed in an affectionate manner.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Rani chipped in, holding Kiatin back. "Kiatin, if this fight might affect our people, we should to help out however we can. The seniors can hold the ship up long enough to get off.


    "I agree, they will be fine and I don''t want to miss this chance." Ria concluded, shaking her head then walked over and put a hand on Tobi''s shoulder. "I want to see my brother."


    Jinco followed up, then Rani, holding out a hand to Kiatin. He gritted his teeth, then shook his head and grabbed her hand, a bit annoyed. "Fine then, let''s go."


    Tobi stayed quiet letting everything unfold, then looked at passengers one more time. "You''ll be safe, I promise. Just follow Sarah and pray for our victory." He then looked over at the drone, floating in front of the crowd. "Sarah, keep hailing the Prometheus. Get in touch with Selvin or Saphyra and tell them to change the directive."


    Sarah glowed as he talked to her, then asked him back. "What are your orders?"


    "I want the complete destruction of the Kirosian Empire. Tell them, that today Kiros falls!" He spoke in the most serious tone, the villagers had ever seen from him.


    Sarah did her version of a nod. "Roger."


    Then with multiple cracks in the air Tobi and his group disappeared.


    Present time Kiros Alta...


    "Where have you been?" Kiala asked, worriedly.


    Tobi smiled, then looked over at Sora, who had been staring at him weird. She felt a part of her relieved to see him, but couldn''t explain why. She knew him, from the posters of him & Osei at Beyond HQ and from the news, however seeing him in person brought a sense of comfort and lifted a burden she had felt, was too large to bear.


    Tobi glanced back at Kiala''s eyes. She had dark circles below them, and seemed more fatigued than she should be. His blood started to boil, when he saw her arm missing and the bruises and marks, that the makeup maids put on her, failed to hide.


    "I''ll tell you all about it later. What happened to your arm?" He asked, concerned.


    Kiala looked down at were her hand was supposed to be and rubbed her arm. "With me and you gone, I had to give it up, so that Earth would have a chance."


    Tobi gritted his teeth, while gripping his fists tight, as they bled. The ground around them began to shake as dark clouds gathered. He couldn''t believe he had left her in this position. Kiala noticed and tapped his arm, smiling.


    "It''s ok Dad. I''m fine." Her smile, reassured him a little, but he still couldn''t forgive himself. However he decided to let go, calming himself down.


    "You''re right. We''ll discuss this later." He glanced over at Sora. "Sora."


    "You know of me?" She responded.


    He smiled. "Yes of course, the great hero of Earth, how could I not?"


    She smiled back, blushing as he continued. "I wanted to ask you... Can you defeat him?"


    Her expression returned back to normal, as she locked eyes with him. "Of course."


    Tobi nodded acknowledging her. "Then, take Kiala with you."


    Sora frowned and shook her head. "I can''t babysit a child-"


    "She''s more than just a child. She gave her arm for the future of humanity and was nearly executed in my stead." He retorted.


    "But-"


    "No." He shook his head. "Don''t worry about it too much. She can handle herself."


    Kiala didn''t know how to comprehend what she was feeling at the moment. She was happy to see her Dad again and the fact that he was standing up for her this way, made her feel even more elated. ''Is this what they call a father''s approval?'' She thought to herself as she gleed happily.


    She looked up at him as Tobi glanced back at her. "Right?" He asked her.


    She nodded beaming at him. "Right! Don''t worry, we got this."


    He nodded back, smiling, then turned back facing the direction Mado was approaching in. Kiala stepped back seeing him in a new light and feeling more motivated than ever.


    "Promise me." She asked.


    He looked back, raising an eyebrow. "Promise what?"


    She shook her head, looking down at her feet. "I just got to the Orange Town arc... Promise... that when we go back, you''ll catch up and watch it with me."


    Tobi smiled, realizing what she was talking about. "So you''ve started it... Of course I''ll watch it with you." He replied with the biggest grin.


    She turned around, with her face flushed red and spoke to Sora. "Let''s go."


    They took off together, leaving Tobi there, just as Mado arrived.


    "You''ve grown stronger." Were the king''s first words to him as he landed back in Tobi''s vicinity.


    Tobi smirked, looking at his sword. "I had no other choice."


    "Hmph, it would seem so. When I saw you bawling over your brother, I had thought you''d put down the blade for good, but you have surprised me." He raised his sword at him. "What have you decided? Do you plan on becoming a conqueror or not?"


    Tobi was annoyed partially to the fact that he saw his vulnerable display on Rennaya. His expression had turned serious, as he remembered all the things, the king did. "I still have no idea what you are talking about, but I know one thing for sure. There is only one language you understand."


    Mado laughed out loud. "...And what is that?" He asked, before quickly pulling his sword back to block Tobi''s strike.


    "Violence." Tobi replied, while he pressed down harder, erupting flames over his blade, as he shifted into third gear.


    Flying towards Rael''s position...


    Sora looked Kiala over, as they flew silently amid explosions setting off in the distance. "I believe I was told that you are my daughter. Along with your injuries, I have mixed feelings about you, being here."


    Kiala frowned, looking back at her. "You''re a warrior first and the champion of Earth. Don''t let it bother you."


    However Sora still felt uneasy, and stood her ground. "They gathered here for you. This war was started to free you, from their chains. If you get captured again, all of their efforts will be in vain."


    Kiala was starting to get annoyed. "This war is bigger than me!" She stopped flying as she swung her hand around, furious. "Right now is our best chance to defeat them. If they gather up and come to Earth in full force, we won''t stand a chance!"


    She gritted her teeth, as Sora started to back off. "Everyone is fighting for their lives out there. With my dad back, I''m no longer the only source, so let me fight too!"


    Just then, an immense pressure seemingly dropped down all around them, as they got into high alert. Rael came into view, with a blood vessel nearly popping out of his forehead, out of anger. "Don''t worry, you can both die together."

 The Rule of War

    Jurgun aimed down Amaara approaching with the other Novas through the skies. With his instincts, he determined her to be the most dangerous out of all of them. Excluding the one that went after the Kings. His finger laid on the trigger, seconds from releasing his shot, before Acryus teleported close and stopped him.


    Their blades met as the Nova was left surprised by the general''s response time. "I guess you''re no pushover and that gun, it functions as a blade too?" Acryus asked as he got into a stance. "I guess no matter how long you live, their will always be things that surprise you."


    Jurgun looked the Nova over, then laughed. "This is my partner Kjorsa, a one of a kind blade that allows me to snipe my enemies from afar and fight in close combat." He said proudly as he admired his weapon. "Now my question... What are you? I''ve never seen anyone like you in my life."


    Acryus remained silent, as he got into a stance. "I am just a Nova, here to assist my people, to stop this unjust execution."


    Jurgun laughed once more. "Everyone, is well within their right to keep their secrets, but those eyes and that hair, I can tell they are definitely not your people. Would they do the same for you?"


    The Nova was taken back by the question, but didn''t falter. "They freed me from the Cerian Empire, I have no desire to ask for more. Rather, I''d like to pay them back." As he finished his sentence he disappeared and reappeared right behind him, swinging his blade at the general''s neck.


    Catching only air as the general disappeared, switching into second gear, and kicked him hard in his side, across the valley. Acryus landed on his feet, while transforming to match Jurgun''s strength.


    Just in time as the general, reappeared above him and struck down with incredible force. "Solkyr Qilos." A shockwave of incredible force, reverbrated around Acryus, as he used his sword to block Jurgun''s blade. However it wasn''t enough, resulting in him and his surroundings being blown away even further.


    The Nova crashed rolling across the ground and coughing up dust. He used his sword to get up, while scoping his surroundings. Then noticed a flint of light from a scope being aimed at him. With quick instincts he hopped to the side as the shot, exploded a little past the ground he was just standing on. Then he began running, as Jurgun kept firing away at him.


    "Battle Art: Invisible Blade." Acryus murmured, as he swung around, mid-run to send a pressurized slice of air in the general''s direction.


    Jurgun braced for it, sensing it approaching, but it disappeared midway, and reappeared crashing into a forcefield he managed to raise up behind him. "Interesting... You''re pretty talented for being so young." He praised as he aimed down at him once again.


    Acryus, made a face, angered by the comment. "I''ve almost seen a century. Underestimate me at your own peril."


    Jurgun laughed out loud. "I''ll make no such mistake. However, you may be something my King would want to acquire. You will be captured by my hand, before I join my comerades in killing your friends." His sniper began to light up, as he poured mass amounts of energy into it. "Kjorsa has two other functions than being a blade. One, it''s usual form, the other, to efficiently allow me to condense my own force into a more destructive shot."


    His finger, laid impatiently over the trigger, as the sniper reached its maximum capacity. "This may hurt." He warned, before pulling it back.


    Acryus''s eyes went wide, sensing the amount of danger he was in. He raised his hands towards the general, condensing electricity and telekinetic force within a sphere of ice. Then fired it. "Battle Arts: Cold Explosion."


    The collision, erupted a devastating shockwave, as it changed the landscape. However they both remained standing, with a forcefield protecting them from the debris.


    Jurgun was surprised. "You''re a blessed abnormal?"


    The Nova smiled. "Didn''t you say everyone has a right to keep their own secrets."


    Acryus was a rare case among his kind. He inherited his Rennayan mother''s freezing abilities along with his father''s telekinetic force, making him, a treasure the children of Atlas, fought over for. With Saphyra giving him a Nova suit, made from Tobi''s cells. He was able to add one more ability into his arsenal.


    "My apologies. It seems I did take you lightly." Jurgun said, as large amounts of energy surrounded him, before it burst, leaving his hair glowing completely silver. With the veins of silver energy coursing through him even faster. "I won''t hold back any longer."


    Without looking through his scope, he fired six shots, as Acryus cladded himself in electricity leaping side to side, evading them.


    Cold air emanated around him, as ice below his feet, erupted into a giant serpent. While he rode it charging at Jurgun high above him.


    Jurgun shook his head, while manifesting a condensed sphere of air and force. He then threw it like a skipping rock, into the ice serpents jaws as it reached for him, with electricity crackling through its fangs.


    Acryus jumped off it''s back, just as the shockwave ripped through through it, causing it to explode. However he continued his attack, unsheathing both of his short swords and reinforcing them with electricity. ''This is it,'' he thought to himself while teleporting closer in range.


    However Jurgun''s sniper, seemingly morphed, shifting half of its barrel to become a double barrel shotgun. Which was then thrusted into Acryus''s chest faster than he could perceive.


    "It''s one of the rules of war..." The general said as he pulled the trigger, exploding shards of versillium bullets all into Acryus''s chest. "Never believe your enemy, has shown all of their cards."


    Acryus''s eyes went blank, as he fell out of the sky. However before he could hit the ground, a force of air softened the fall, and kept him floating.


    Jurgun turned his head, behind him feeling immense pressure coming from an individual he had never met before. Yet, he felt her description to be something familiar. "A... A Messian? What a surprise. I''m being graced with the presence of two new species, I had yet encountered."


    He looked his visitor over, seeing primitive clothes different than Acryus''s attire. "Do you have any relation to the warrior I just put down. Why are you saving him?"


    Ria, barely heard anything he was saying till his last sentence. She was just staring in horror, at Acryus''s bloody chest. Gritting her teeth, she began to gather energy. "Why? Why?!... He''s my brother!"


    Helio vs Netau and Tisgo...


    Helio was a little nervous to be participating in the raid. He had always been queasy about fighting actual people, rather than the children of Atlas. Promoting him to opt out of criminal raids on Earth. However after he was defeated by Tose during the preemptive Kirosian raid on Earth and hearing about Kiala''s kidnapping, he decided he needed to do his best to help.


    The first to come after him was Tisgo, crashing into him, as he dropped out of the sky, and pushed him flying deep into the valley. While Netau followed up with a large fireball, engulfing Helio''s entire vicinity. A dome of ice remained in the blast wave, protecting Helio within, as it cracked open, just as the Hitos landed in front of him.


    He could feel their iko, determining that they were both at the same level as him, and this would be a battle for his life, if he wanted to win.


    "Your people have set their sights too high. They should''ve have just accepted what''s coming to them, instead of struggling with a futile plan, that''s going nowhere." He paused as Netau laughed out loud beside him. "Just like that girl that wields lightning and the boy with the flames, if they didn''t get in my way, I would have killed those amateur warriors."The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Helio, realized that the man was talking about Runa and Tai saving the Gen 3''s before Tisgo was teleported away. He was still bitter about losing to Tose on Sonara, but trained to throw his thoughts away. He needed to win and assist his fellow comerades not sulk.


    Immediately he shifted into second gear, putting them on high alert. "Oh? He''s stronger than he looks, eh Tisgo?" He heard the tan skinned, middle-age man say, as the man transformed to match Helio''s energy.


    Tisgo''s expression went cold for a moment, then he smiled. "That''s right, he might just be able to satisfy my frustration. Netau, go high."


    "Ay," Netau replied, then leaped up into the air as Tisgo shifted into second gear, unsheathed his sword and charged Helio.


    ''He''s fast,'' The Nova thought, as he blocked the charge and was pushed back into the air. Recovering mid flight to block Netau''s descent reinforced in blue flames. He released a cold burst of air, to counter the strike and push the general back.


    Volleys of ice manifested all around him, as he raised his hand forth. "Frost: Viento Helado." The volleys shattered, as winds picked up, creating a small hurricane of ice around him. Cutting up Tisgo and Netau as they tried to get close.


    Netau''s blood boiled, feeling sharp pains from the cold cuts. He exploded a barrier of fire, stopping the hurricane from causing anymore damage. Then began gathering together condensed fire into a sphere in front of him. "I''ll end this now."


    Without hesitating, Helio did the same, spiralling condensed cold air into a sphere of ice on one hand and hot swirling air in the other. Moments later they both released, waves of fire and explosive cold air aiming to bring each other down.


    Helio felt himself getting overpowered, but refused to give up as he heard lightning from up above. Tisgo wasn''t waiting. ''This isn''t looking good,'' he thought to himself, while he tried to think of a way out.


    However, all of a sudden, he felt a surge of strength being poured into him, on a level he had never felt before from a single source. He looked up at the sky smiling. "Of course you''d come back."


    How could he fall, when the Commander was depending on him, he thought, as he psyched himself up. From the pits of his palm, as soon as he ran out of airwaves, a wave of ice flooded out. Countering the incoming wave of fire, Netau had let loose.


    Netau laughed thinking he had him, but his expression quickly changed as he was engulfed in ice, ripping him apart as it tried to get past him. He screamed in pain, before splatting against the ground along with an avalanche of sharp ice.


    Helio sighed in relief, short-lived as he noticed Tisgo out of the corner of his eye, leap at him, with his blade covered in electricity. It was too late to do anything. Helio knew it, he started to pray, within his mind, as he anticipated the end.


    Yet it never came, as he turned fully to face Tisgo, stopping in midair, with a jagged sword, through his chest. The general was speechless, before his assailant twisted the blade within his heart and pulled it out.


    Tisgo''s body fell to the ground, as Helio took in his saviours appearance. White hair, red eyes and a handsome, yet unfriendly face. He remembered faintly from Saphyra explaining about Acryus''s origins, and was able to conclude that the man was Messian. "Thanks... Thanks for saving me, but who are you?"


    Kiatin looked at him without any change in expression. "I am Kiatin, Tobi sent me to help you, but if you no longer need any help here... I''ve got somewhere I need to be."


    Helio nodded, as the Messian disappeared. Leaving him to ponder about his next objective.


    Norah vs Dema...


    When Mado gave the order, second to Namia, Dema was one of the first to act. Teleporting the others, towards the targets they could handle, then saved the most vulnerable for herself. Someone she could take out all of her pent up frustration on, since the execution was interrupted.


    She planned on finishing up as soon as possible, then going off to find Kiala. However, Norah had other plans, as she allowed Dema to take her to a secluded part of the valley, before she gathered energy.


    The Nova had learned to withhold her iko to a civilian amount, for stealth, amongst a handful of other things she trained in. So when she felt Dema teleporting in, she immediately knew the general''s objective.


    "You wanted to take me somewhere quiet?" Norah asked, gripping her fists as she got into a stance.


    Dema scoffed, as she switched into second gear, and gripped her sword hilt. "I almost admire your people, for coming all this way to save her. However, she must die."


    Norah shook her head, getting angry. "What makes you think you have the right to execute a child?"


    Dema charged her out of anger, as Norah unsheathed her sword and instinctively switched into second gear. They both continued to clash blades, breaking at a stalemate, before Dema, teleported behind her. "She killed Tose!"


    In seconds, Norah cladded herself in electricity and prayed the blade, at the last second. "Static: Dir''oon." A move she came up with that was lighter on her body than "Berserker."


    The Nova took in her accusation and her opponents behavior. Deducing that the event must have happened recently. ''Most likely during an escape,'' she thought to herself, as she mulled things over. "You can''t predict what someone will do when their life is on the line. He was wrong for putting her in that position in the first place."


    Dema shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "No you''re wrong! He was one of our best, and was able to love someone like me." She said as she wiped away her tears. "It''s taboo, for Altans and Berans to love each other, but he worked hard anyway to get the Kings'' decisions."


    Her anger visibly skyrocketed as she continued. "It was supposed to be this summer, but she took that joy away from me." She glared at Norah, gritting her teeth as her energy shot up to its limits. "Don''t expect to get her back."


    Norah reeled back, as Dema disappeared then reappeared the same distance away, but behind her. The Nova turned to face her, but she was gone again, this time however she felt the sting of a small gash in her arm. She grabbed it as she turned to get a glimpse of Dema, however the general kept disappearing before she could lay eyes on her.


    "You''ll die here, without being able to save her. Then I''ll take your head and bring it to her, before I gut her red!" Norah heard her yell, among the slices and slashes, Dema unleashed on her.


    The Nova gritted her teeth, becoming frustrated. Out of the blue, an incredibly large lightning strike, struck her, blowing everything back, as Dema made some distance. Wary, as electricity began crackling hazardously all around the Nova. It was taking time for her to absorb it all, as it was redirected into the ground, then surged back up towards her, when she caught her breath.


    "Static: Hada," she whispered, just as the electricity cleared out and Dema struck. Teleporting in with a wide swing.


    "You left yourself open!" She yelled as her blade nearly met its destination.


    Norah ducked down and caught Dema''s sword hand with her right hand. She hair hair had completely gone full silver, with cobalt blue veins, coursing through her even faster. "Not when you''re this slow." She said as she socked the general back an uncountable distance with her left fist.


    Dema was shocked. She didn''t expect Earth''s force to be displaying this kind of strength. She heard about a few of them from the other Dai Hito, but one too many would be a threat to the kings.


    Dema got up, just as Norah reappeared above her, with a swirling ball of electricity in her left palm. The general wide-eyed teleported away into the air, but once again in seconds Norah caught up and beared down on her. Trying to finish her off.


    Without any luck as Dema once again teleported away, until they were both nearly out of breath. Norah was visibly trembling. It was clear she wasn''t used to her new ability.


    "You''re done, in a few minutes you''re going to drop and I''ll outlast you. Beating a stronger opponent doesn''t always require strength." Dema taunted as she recovered first and pointed her sword at her. "I''ll rip you apart, while you regret, coming to help her."


    Norah heaved, as she struggled to keep her fingers under control. She powered down into second gear, realizing her plan was going nowhere. "I can''t say I understand how you feel, or what you''re going through. We''re on opposing sides, but I know that I''m fighting to prevent everyone from having to experience that."


    She raised her sword back at Dema.


    "After the Federation wins, I''ll have them get your two worlds to have a seat at the same table and fix their broken taboos and traditions." The Nova declared, startling the general back a bit.


    She laughed outloud. "That''d be sight to see... Fine then, After the Kirosian Empire wins, I''ll lead the way myself in Tose''s name." She said while pulling back a strand of her dark brown hair out of her eyes. Then she disappeared.


    Reappearing as Norah, shifted into third gear before blocking her strike, then back down as the general once again teleported. It was a daunting task, but she had to catch her at the right time.


    Cracks of air ruptured in one spot above her, as she dove for it, but instead a slice of force came out, catching her by surprise. The Nova blocked it just in time as several more, came at her, then Dema came in with a drive-by graze on her other arm. She was moved even faster, going all-out.


    Norah yelped in pain, but gritted her teeth, and cauterized her wound, while focusing on Dema''s position. The general had changed up her combo once again, with a pressurized air bomb, thrown in within one of the strikes. Then she dove in to finish the Nova off.


    Norah could sense that this was her chance. She sidestepped quickly, as Dema thought her on her last legs and went all in. The Nova however, used the momentum to plunge her sword through the generals heart, in third gear. Erupting a shockwave of electricity ripping past her body and into the surroundings, leveling everything below them.


    Norah descended down, with her sword still in Dema''s heart, as she could feel her shiver. "I''m afraid." She heard her say. "I''m afraid of him seeing me like this."


    "Don''t be, you were both strong until the end." Norah replied back.


    Dema smiled. "Keep your promise." Then she pushed herself back off the sword, as blood splattered out, then she dropped back lifeless.


    "I will." Norah nodded back, as she looked to the sky and felt a sudden surge of energy. She smiled. "With him back, anything is possible." She said, then flew off to help in the effort.

 Youre Not Alone

    Near the Royal Fortress, Alta''s largest military base...


    The fortress was called Brior Fort, and Saphyra assigned Kalista and accompanied with a large force of siegemechs, aircrafts, soldiers and drones to help her take it down. It was key to winning the war, as the fort housed the largest battalion and force, the Kirosian Empire had to offer. Bera had a similar fortress, but she decided along with Selvin, that taking one would already demoralize the other world and make it easier for an invasion.


    Kalista flew overhead, setting off traps along with hordes of siegemechs, before the infantry could catch up to them. Kirosian drones flew overhead launching missiles, at her squads, however, she bundled up each one of them in steel containers and sent them back to their owners. Setting them off in a fiery inferno.


    Instinctively she thrusted a hand forward, raising a barrier of rocks, as a sniper went off in the distance aiming for her. The bullet, struggled through, aided by flames and made a large dent in her barrier. She smiled, as several more shots went off from different directions and were reinforced with each of the five elements.


    "Three in the tower and buildings, and four on the roofs." She whispered to herself then gathered energy and switched into first gear. "Stone Akofo."


    Stone warriors resembling Rennayans, with tattoos and tribal art flowing like lava, rose out of the ground, holding different weapons. They leaped altogether, flying to different snipers and taking them out.


    She felt another shot coming from up above on the highest tower, just as a large tremors shook the ground, then suddenly, Kirosian soldiers poured out of all six gates, as well as some landing out of aircrafts behind them that they couldn''t take out. There was always a chance that they would be outnumbered, attacking their home base, but on this scale gave Kalista flashbacks, to her time in the Cerian Empire.


    A fighter jet, from Earth flew overhead and took out the sniper aiming for her, letting her focus down below. "That''s right I''m not alone." She had been surprised from the reception she had been getting ever since her performance in the second Battle of Earth and her debut as a Nova.


    At first she was reluctant to get along with everyone, since all her life, getting closer to people, made it hard for her to see them disappear or die. However Ranesa changed her way of thinking making her want to fight for something, other than herself. Her new home.


    "W?adome Army." She spoke outloud as more Rennayan warriors, but this time made completely out of lava, rose up intercepting the Kirosian charge, while Beyond''s forces fired away behind them. Hundreds of bodies had started to pile up, but she shook the horrors away and advanced on the fort.


    However, she suddenly stopped as she felt the presence, of something large incoming. Quickly she looked to the sky, as the dragon gazed on them overhead. All black scales, protected by a sea-through skin of versillium armour. A wave of fire escaped its mouth, as forces of Beyond were mowed down, and burned alive.


    She gritted her teeth, while twirling around to kick, a soldier, leaping at her in the air, then unsheathed her sword cutting another down. The Nova knew, she had to stop the dragon, but her confidence in her abilities made her falter.


    "But there''s no one else here. I have to do this." She psyched herself up, as the dragon seemingly disappeared. Then reappeared as it skidded into the ground gobbling up soldiers of the Federation. The army was in disarray, some breaking formation, as they ran to cover from it.


    However, the beams and bullets, were all reflected back and absorbed by its armour. Flames, began building up into its mouth, as it prepared another wave of fire, but Kalista this time, didn''t let it follow through.


    She dove down quickly, and launched back up near its feet, shifting into second gear and giving it an uppercut to send it back up into the air.


    The wave of fire escaped its mouth, as it roared in pain, but before it could recover, a large arm erupted into the air and punched it far from the fortress and troops as possible. She breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to head towards the dragon, but thousands of volleys of different elements, from soldiers, noticing what she did, beared down on her from all sides.


    Kalista only had a moment, as three, electric volleys struck her. She raised the toughest metals close by and encased herself inside the dome, just as the volleys struck. Erupting utter mayhem, outside her shell.


    "Protect the dragon!" Was all she could hear rampaging closer, among the constant bombardment she was protecting herself from. She couldn''t see a way out of her situation without pulling her own soldiers into it, but seconds later, gunfire took over and the bombardment died down.


    Beyond was fighting back. She cracked her dome open, seeing a small squad formation below her, guarding her, and combat drones and soldiers, pressing forward against Kirosian forces.


    Kalista smiled, she wasn''t used to people fighting for her. Now she knew she couldn''t back down. Without hesitation she flew over to the dragon''s location, just as it took flight, glaring at her.


    She grinned back unsure of how she was going to do this, just as Tobi''s energy reached her. She was shocked but not surprised by his return. However her mood, had turned to excitement instead of anxiety. She wanted to show him, how much she had changed.


    Smiling even brighter, she looked back at the dragon and shouted at top of her lungs. "Bring it on!"


    Over at Simon''s position...


    "Surrender now." Simon''s voice carried a tone of no tolerance. They were his first words to the two that attacked him, while he was free-falling towards Kiala.


    "Did you hear that Kaieg? He told us to surrender!" Simon heard the woman with black hair and brown skin say, as she patted her partners shoulder laughing. She had piercings on her eyebrows, matching her earrings and tattoos covering her neck and arms. The man beside her looked to be in his mid thirties, with a tan complexion and brown hair. Several scars riddled his face, yet even with his stoic look, he still shared in her amusement, chuckling with her.


    "Sarga, don''t tease the boy. We might need to help him find his parents." Kaieg, replied then glanced back at him. "Boy, what is your name?" He asked mid-tear.


    Simon cooled his nerves. He hated being taken lightly, but there was no point getting rattled this early. "My name Simon, Nova of the Beyond Federation and you are?"


    "I''m Kaieg and this is Sarga of the Dai Hito 12. Now listen, you''re people made a grave mistake. Invading us is a death sentence, so why not make your life easier, and drop your weapon and I''ll put in a good word for ya." Kaieg turned to look at Sarga, as she tried to hold in her laughter, then glanced back at him grinning. "Whaddya say? Eh?"Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    The Nova, immediately shifted into third gear, erasing their smiles, as they got on high alert. "He was hiding this much strength?" Sarga blurted outloud, wide-eyed.


    Kaieg was surprised, as he unsheathed his axe. "The only ones emitting dangerous energy, were the one Morki and Linoj went after, Namia''s opponent and him, but he wasn''t emitting as much that time. There''s more to them than meets the eye." He concluded, as the two generals, erupted into third gear.


    Sarga smiled. "Good, warrior of Earth. Will you show me a good time? Or force my boredom into disappointment?" She charged him, with fists covered in fire, while yelling back at Kaieg. "You don''t mind if I get the first taste?"


    "Knock yourself out." He said while crossing his arms, and waiting back.


    Simon braced himself, as Sarga closed in, throwing a first strike towards his head, then followed with another to his stomach, each countered, with swift movements. "I don''t prefer hitting women, but-"


    "Hahaha!" She began throwing down her fists and kicks even harder, seeing as he was holding back. "I''ve watched too many men with that mindset, draw their last breaths." The flames covering her fists, began glowing violet hot, as she sped up even faster.


    "Are you next?!" She asked, throwing in a last flaming high kick at his head.


    Without missing a beat, Simon dropped down, nearly missing her swing, then tripped the other leg holding her up and thrusted his palm covered in instantaneously combusted, violet flames. Recoiling her across the terrain.


    He looked down, dropping his hand to block a low strike, just in time. A foot crackling in electricity, from the general that was supposed to be on standby. "Butting in?" The Nova asked, mockingly.


    "We never said this was a one-on-one?" Kaieg smiled back, while following up with a high kick, struck by lightning, swinging right beside the Nova''s face. However already anticipating the strike, Simon had put both of his arms up, crossed to brace the impact, then he jumped back.


    He sighed, remembering all the grueling training he put himself through in the past six months. He had managed to extend the time he could spend in third gear, along with Koji, but he always remembered what he lacked himself.


    Constant awareness. His mind would sometimes be distracted. Often times, putting him in trouble. Making it harder for him to keep track of movements and the silent world only able to be seen with sani iko.


    Still, his friends needed him, the World needs him. There was no more time, to be worried.


    A lightning strike, aimed for him first, as a wave of violet fire, crossectioned in. Seemingly to his assailants, it was as if he was engulfed. However somehow withstanding the heat in the middle, Simon remained unharmed, as a rotating, blue and purple flamed dome kept him safe.


    He waved his hand as it expanded outward, in a rapid gust, disappating his opponents attacks. Then began to gather energy, as flames burned around his fists and legs, cloaking them, in an armour like fashion.


    "Ignite: Bellator Terminus." The flames, began refining their shape, and made thrusters on high heat, by his elbows and under his feet. He remembered the first time he came up with this, was the first time he beat Koji in a race.


    In an instant he appeared, in front of Sarga, letting her blink once, before, he struck her across the landscape, and firebombed, the spot she landed in. Kaieg came in yelling, and cloaked in a storm of electricity.


    Yet Simon felt him moving almost in slow motion, as he kept up with each strike. Within moments he broke the general''s charge and punched him back, erupting flames out of his fist, as it connected with his gut.


    The Nova placed one finger in his right ear, trying to muffle the explosion, but it still hurt a little. "Jeez, that still hurt. Anyways is this all the Dai Hito has to offer?" He said, the last sentence even louder.


    Seconds later it was as if the world began to tremble, as mass amounts of dark clouds, caked over the ones that had already gathered. Lightning began to rain down instead of water. Simon stayed light on his feet, evading each blip of light that struck down. However moments later, volleys of fire began crashing all over the valley, converging to him.


    It was utter chaos and a nightmare for him to keep up with. Though, instead of wallowing or giving in, he began to look for their source. Manifesting a dome of fire around him, as he focused, while the bombardment intensified.


    Amongst, the blizzard of flames and lightning, he first found Kaieg  floating up in the sky, gracefully summoning more clouds. While Sarga, remained hidden behind a few hills, launching organized arrays of fireballs.


    Simon crouched down, as the thrusters, beneath his feet, began to rev up, then like a rocket, he sprung forward. The flaming dome that protected him, split into two parts, as he exited, the outer expanding outwards, taking the burnt of the concentrated attacks. While the inner, wrapped around him, like a membrane, and reinforced him with an armour of fire.


    Like a bullet, he reached Kaieg, faster than he could react and struck hard. Hard enough to make it difficult for him to catch his breath till he reached the ground. Sarga, winced feeling Kaieg''s energy suddenly drop, but as she turned around, was the first time she realized that they had truly underestimated this kid.


    As the Nova had already landed crouching and reached his fist back, revving the thrusters. Then launched it forward into her gut, and pulled it towards the sky. Sending her hurdling past clouds.


    Moments later, the clouds dispersed, as a flaming sun, expanded rapidly, lit the dark clouds in a sinister indigo and violet light. Electricity began surging into it, aiding in its growth and monstrosity.


    Simon looked at it worried, it was larger than he thought he could handle. He knew, there were somethings, their experience would best him at, but he didn''t think, they would risk so much. "You''re own people will be caught up in that!" He yelled while flying a bit closer.


    "Not if we contain it. Besides the Dai Hito will be able to survive the side effects, that''s all we''ll need to restore this area." She replied back to him, as she thrusted her hand forth. "Die! Demorza Endo!"


    The giant flaming sphere, loomed over the valley, casting an ominous shadow, across the land. Simon placed his hands together at his side. In seconds, a purple condensed sphere of fire, began rotating at a little over Mach speed, then enlarged and condensed further. He continued pouring in as much energy as he could muster, straining himself as the ball of destruction descended closer.


    When it was close enough, he released his beam at it, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Ignite: Magna Ignis!"


    The beam collided with the sphere, devastating the surroundings below them, from the impact. He pushed forth trying to break through, however the strength of Sarga and Kaieg''s attack was overwhelming.


    "Ahahhahaha, just die already!" He could hear Sarga, yell at the top her lungs.


    Simon shook his head. "I''m not ready for that right now." He whispered to himself as he thought of what he could do. Suddenly, however his energy began to skyrocket, as he felt a familiar iko trailing off the aid being poured into him.


    He started to chuckle. "How can I lose, when the Commander is back."


    He could feel his side effects beginning to creep up on him, but he gritted his teeth and beamed out an even larger flame, breaking through the flaming shell of the giant sphere. As it tunneled through making its way up to Sarga, then in moments engulfing her before she could run.


    "Ahhhhhh!" She screamed as she burned alive, just as the her attack exploded in the air, incinerating the rest of her remains.


    He watched as his beam passed through into space, clearing the skies and revealing Kaieg, hidden amongst the clouds. He had dodged the wave of fire in time, as he felt their attack weakening.


    "Sarga..." He said outloud, angrily, then began gathering energy and electricity from the remaining clouds. "I''ll kill you!" He said glaring at Simon from up above, as lightning struck him multiple times over.


    The general unsheathed his sword, prompting the Nova to do the same with his daggers. They both looked at each other one last time, as Simon gathered energy as well.


    "Ignite: Bellator Terminus." He whispered, adorning back his Flame armor. Then crouched down, preparing to leap.


    Kaieg focused all of his energy into his blade, sparking it with a razer thin line of white hot electricity at the edge. Then he launched himself at Simon, with lightning speed. "Alfa Crior!"


    Simon at the same time shot forward, leaping with a trail of flames, as he ripped through the sky towards the general. "Ignite: Olympus Oblatio!


    They passed each other, striking hard, as the silence after was broken by thunder. Then Kaieg fell out of the sky in two halves.


    Simon sheathed his daggers, as he felt a stinging cut across his chest. He touched it, seeing blood. "I''m fine I think." He assured himself, then turned looking over in Tobi''s direction and smiled.


    He tapped his ear, turning on his comm implant. "Selvin, two of the Dai Hito are down. Send the next objective."

 Our King

    At Koji''s location...


    Koji could tell that today, was one of the most important days of the year. One that would decide the fate of humanity, which is why he wanted to personally make sure that the Federation still had a course. He trained all night, till that morning, just to make sure he was ready.


    So when Morki, a tall, muscular warrior, with a light complexion and a large mace, magnetically strapped to his back, attacked him in mid air, he didn''t hesitate to act. While the other Nova''s panned out taking on members of the Dai Hito.


    The kings were alone. This was his chance he thought, as he sliced apart a large boulder of ice and dodged flashes of electricity, whizzing past him.


    "Static: Ry¨± no h¨­k¨­." Instantaneously he switched into third gear, while quick drawing his sword, towards Mado''s direction. Lightning struck his blade mid-swing, as he launched out a whitish-blue wave of razor electricity, aiming for the King''s life.


    Suddenly, appearing in front of his attack, Linoj, another Dai Hito glared at him, as he caught it with his bare hands, then absorbed the electricity. His head was spotless, except for a well trimmed silver-glowing goatee. "You''ll need to do better." Koji heard him say, as jaws of ice, chomped down, swallowing him whole.


    On the outside, Linoj leaped at lightning speed, kicking the prison, flying far away from his king. He looked at Morki, who nodded back. Then together, they flew after Koji.


    Stopping to hover above him, as he sliced open the dome he was encased in. Spikes of ice lined the shells of the dome, but they were cut orbitally, and likely before impact.


    Morki grinned, speaking out loud to their guest. "You have guts attacking our King."


    Koji pointed his sword at him, then sheathed it. "I''m not interested in infantrymen. I''m here for your King."


    The laugh Morki let out, was hysterical but nervous. He looked over at Linoj, who shook his head, not finding it funny. "Ahh, you''re too funny kid. What''s your name boy?" He ended up asking.


    "Why? I won''t remember yours."


    Morki''s smile faded quickly, as he started to get angry. "Is that so? Well suit yourself. You''ll just be another offering to the Lords of Marrhalla."


    The General reached his hand out, shifting into third gear as the ground began to tremble. Ice creeped up out of the ground in a diameter of almost ten meters and climbed up another twenty, completing the cylinder. A pole like hilt, sprung out from the middle, crashing heavily into the ground.


    Koji, could tell he was up to something, as the temperature around them had started to rise. He watched as Morki, flicked his hand up, calling forth the giant hammer to rise and begin spinning. The Nova shocked, noticed moltened rocks lining the tip of the hammer. "Jotun Dio!" The General yelled, then set it off.


    Koji watched the hammer boomerang up and at him, as he leaped into the air to escape its reach. However, at the same time, a strike of lightning converged towards him. They weren''t going to give him a break.


    He unsheathed his sword, reinforcing it with electricity and redirected the lighting down to the ground. Then turned just in time as the hammer closed in, returning on course. The heat was intense, with his sword being the only thing, keeping him from meeting its wrath.


    His hair glowed silver as he released a large amount of energy, fighting against the hammer''s centrifugal force, but was ultimately overwhelmed and sent flying across the terrain.


    It was difficult to recompose himself, as he was forced to focus on deflecting strikes of lightning, constantly raining on him. As he landed, he thought of an idea that never occurred to him before.


    He raised his hand, gathering his own, clouds above, and matched the timings of Linoj''s strikes. Setting them off in a frenzy before they touched down.


    A looming shadow caught his attention, as he looked up seeing the hammer, spin up sky high, then back down with incredible speed. Instinctively he leaped and called down a large, blue lightning strike towards the hammer''s hilt, coursing through it until it connected with his blade on the other side.


    "Static: Ry¨± no h¨­k¨­." He whispered as he shattered the hammer into pieces.


    "You''re stronger than you look. I''m surprised you''re still in one piece." Morki, praised from high above him. Mist rolled off his body in clouds, as they seemingly covered the horizon, and engulfed in a large hemisphere like dome for nearly a kilometer. "Let''s see if you can survive this."


    There was nowhere to run, the most would soon engulf him. He held his breath and closed his eyes, wondering what was going to happen. Suddenly immense pressure welled up around his body, then stopped, as his body began to float and feel sufficated.


    He opened his eyes, completely bewildered. It was as if he was plunged deep into an ocean. He looked up, seeing Morki, faintly floating above the body of water, with his arms spread out wide. "Welcome to my prison! N¨¢r''s Domain!"


    Sea monsters, alien and of different kinds, manifested all around him. Each baring their fangs, and attacking on instinct. Koji, struggled to cut the first two down, cladding himself in electricity.


    By the third, was when he realized he wouldn''t have enough air and started panicking. He reached for the surface, but it got further and further away, as all the beasts behind him, chased him.


    A thought struck him, from what he learned from Tobi and Helio. In space holding your air around you, while moving in space, takes tremendous amount of iko control. Helio, felt the same way, while fighting underwater. However for the other elements, when trapped in a similar, deadly environment, he theorized that the reverse could be done as well.


    As he swam, carried by light currents of electricity, he closed his eyes and envisioned electricity, creeping out of every fibre of his being. Then wrapping him in a suit of air. He opened his eyes, and took a deep breath.


    Then breathed out. Underwater, he couldn''t he believe it. He watched as zaps of electricity, separated water into air around him, expanding his oxygen capacity.


    Suddenly, a large amount of air, breezed around him, as he looked behind him bewildered. Linoj stood ten feet away from him, yet his air bubble completely engulfed Koji in, as he smirked. "You just figured out this technique didn''t you? What matters is how long you can hold it" he looked at him in disgust once again. "Who do you think you are, going for our King?"


    Koji noticed ice lining his armor and a helmet of ice, now on his head. He realized that they were aiding each other and that this wasn''t going to be an easy fight.


    Yet he stood his ground, as the sea monsters surrounded them. "We''re Novas, Protectors of the Federation. You stood in our way first, expect to be knocked down." Static electricity cracked around them, as they both drew their swords. "Once I defeat you both, your King will be my next target."


    Linoj smirked, "let''s see you try. You couldn''t even keep up with me when I was slaughtering your people."


    Koji looked at him confused, then angry. "You were the terrorist in the mask?" Just realizing why he felt his iko was familiar.


    Linoj smiled, as Koji got even more infuriated. He remembered chasing a masked man throughout the streets of Berlin, while Simon was occupied with another in Toronto. Both of Dai Hitos attacking, wrecked mass havoc that day.


    "The Kings'' orders are absolute. Sorry I couldn''t finish the job." Linoj said, as he recalled how he was summoned back abruptly as he was destroying a skyscraper.


    They leaped at each other, clashing and resulting a large shockwave rippling across the water, as their blades connected. Static electricity burst forth from the both of them, shattering the sea monsters. However, seconds later they reformed again, waiting for their chance.


    The two broke apart, splitting the air bubble and decreasing the size for mobility. Thunder cracked overhead, as Koji felt the pressure of the ocean he was in, increase five times over.


    Strained, he blinked just for a second, but Linoj was gone. Zooming around, like it was his domain. Multiple violet streaks of lightning descended down, shocking the waterover and over, even after it had become hazardous. Morki raised the heat of the lake, boiling it scalding hot. Only Linoj was safe from the heat.


    Koji raised his sword, blocking several of the General''s drive-by strikes. He struggled to think of a way out of his situation. The pressure was intense and he could feel his side affects beginning creep up on him.


    Suddenly he felt a mass amount of energy being directed at him, from above. Distracting him as Linoj, sliced a gaping cut on his left side. He cried out in pain, but used the chance to look up.


    Morki had begun tunneling a pathway towards him, through the body of water. Creating a enough space for a large sword. Its tip, was rocks moltened within a case of ice, before it melted off. Koji could feel a large amount of energy being poured into it. He didn''t like his odds taking it head on.


    "Farewell warrior of Earth, you have put up a good fight." Morki called out, although, the Nova couldn''t hear him. "Carn Roya!" He dropped his hand down, signalling the swords descent, as it was pulled into the tunnel, like a vacuum.


    Koji glanced below, feeling another outburst of intense energy. All of the electricity that had been shocking the water, began converging to a single point. The tip of Linoj''s blade, heating it almost razor white. The General crouched, ready to pounce, then felt Morki''s signal, and leaped at Koji. Aiming to cut him down.


    He was pinched and he knew it. His arrogance had gotten to him. However, he didn''t want to go down without a fight. He resolved himself, deciding to take out one of them with him. Then, a familiar course of energy, reminded him that he had other options.


    Koji smiled. "He''s telling me to surpass my limits." He whispered, while gripping his sword tight by his side. ""Static: Raijin Yoroi."


    Seven floating orbs of electricity, spun rapidly behind his back. Linked by zaps of static electricity. He then turned around and  rapidly jetted upwards, towards the wind tunnel up above him. Sea monsters attacked him from all sides, each promptly destroyed by electric monsters of his own imagination, popping out of the orbs floating behind him.


    He glanced back, for just a second, seeing Linoj gaining on him. In front of him, the giant moltened ice sword, increased its speed. He had seconds.


    As he poked his head above the surface of the water, he called out. "Static: Descending Tower!" He knew his body, could not handle using the full potential of Tobi''s energy, but he disregarded the risks and summoned it anyway.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    An endless horizon of dark clouds, spiraled across the sky. Converging electricity and density to its center, resulting in a violet, rapid, tree of lightning, ripping through the moltened ice sword and shattering it.


    It struck his hand channeling into his blade, as he completely leaped out of the water. Then twisted quickly in one swift motion, spinning 360¡ã, and sliced the air above him, as his blade connected below with Linoj''s blade.


    "Static: Denki Nisshoku." His sword glowed bright, as an outburst of energy and electricity aided it''s descent, splitting Linoj''s blade and cutting him and the ocean behind him in half. At the same time, Morki, stared in horror, as his vision got shaky, watching Koji turn and sheath his sword.


    The floating sea of water dropped down, splashing the ground below, along with Linoj''s body. Koji, looked up at Morki, struggling to speak. "You.. you''re people will never win."


    The Nova sighed. "We''ll see about that." He replied, watching Morki''s body split in two and splash down below.


    Koji looked around, feeling the monster amounts of energy engaging each other, all over the planet. "Now, who needs my help the most?"


    In the skies between Amaara and Namia...


    From the moment they saw each other, they knew that it was death at first sight. The rest of the Novas, free-fell at their own pace, but Amaara, beamed forth. Boosting flames at her heels, at full speed.


    Namia did the same, leaving the Dai Hito behind, after, Dema teleported them up. The two smiled, as they instinctively pulled their fists back. Amaara could feel someone, looking at her with the intent to kill, but shook it off, knowing that a Nova would deal with it. She knew that if she couldn''t defeat this woman, none of them, would survive.


    Time seemed to slow down for a second, before their fists connected. The impact was deafening, as two mirrored umbrellas of violet and blue flames clashed in the air above the executioner platform and shook the ground below.


    Both of them had transformed into third gear, breaking apart at a stalemate, but Namia lurched forth and grabbed Amaara''s hand. Locking both hands with her, as they spun around in flames for control, away from the platform.


    Amaara managed to release her left hand, and used her right, as well as the force from spinning to throw her into the ground. However Namia landed on her feet, forming a crater below her.


    "You got me away from the stage. Trying to protect something?" Amaara asked, sizing her up as she floated above her.


    Namia spread her senses all over the planet. Assessing the situation. She felt like they made the right choice, the invasion will end quickly as long as her opponent was taken down. She looked back up at her, while gathering energy and smiled. "I just didn''t want us to be interrupted."


    Amaara could tell, she was formidable just from their first exchange. She realized she couldn''t pull any punches. "Good, let''s finish this quick. I have a few things I want to say to your Kings."


    "Aside from my fist, the cold hard ground is the only thing you''ll be talking to." Namia clapped back.


    "Aww breaks my heart, I at least planned to light a fire for you." A bright flaming ball of fire, combusted to life, hovering above Amaara''s palm. "Guess we''re not the same."


    She pointed the sphere at the General, prompting Namia to begin running. Then Amaara released it, razing the ground behind her, trying to catch her.


    Namia flipped over and unsheathed her sword, sending three quick arcs of fire, through the air, towards Amaara. Who in turn in a burst of fire, dodged the slices and boosted herself to meet Namia''s charge.


    Engaging in a violent exchange of swords, as they each drew blood and burned each other, trying to gain the upper-hand. Amaara broke away first, shaking her head as she tried to catch her breath. She needed a new tactic. She was tougher than she would be.


    Saphyra had briefed them on most of the Dai Hito she could get intel on. Warning Novas of the two most dangerous of them, Jurgun and Namia. Both of them were considered priority one along with the Dark Kings.


    She held her sword out horizontally to her chest and grabbed hold of her blade with her left. Channeling forth energy from within her and emanating it out. She had learned a lot from Nur and Helio about domain control, and only practiced it a few times. However now was the time she felt like she would need it.


    She hated how Saphyra had treated her after the events on Rennaya. Putting her through psych evaluation tests before every mission, as she''d sometimes, go off script and go overboard. Making it hard for Saphyra to maintain public image. However most of the Novas did not smile either.


    This time though, Saphyra let her go without one and she didn''t want to blow her chance. This mission, although at extreme difficulty, had to succeed.


    Flames began rolling off her body, crushing the ground in ripples of fire, as soon as it touched the floor. Namia noticed what she was doing and smiled, then raised her sword and stabbed it into the ground. "Regora Ans, Mocoyo!"


    A similar phenomenon occured around her, causing absolute destruction to the valley around them, as their ripples intersected, erupting a shockwave of fire. Setting ablaze everything for a kilometer radius.


    Amaara stood within the flames glaring at Namia. She was forced to evenly share out her domain with her, as her iko was too difficult to overcome.


    "Let''s fight to our hearts desire!" Namia called out, over the sea of flames, crackling red, violet, blue and black.


    Amaara sheathed her sword, as Namia pulled hers out of the ground and did the same. Some of the flames began climbing over each other over Amaara''s body, and refining into armor. "Ignite: Flame Valkyrie."


    Armor similar to Simon''s, made out of fire, manifested on her arms and legs. Spreading out majestically behind her were wings made of blue and violet fire, shimmering and intertwining with each other, while still maintaining its shape.


    Namia laughed out loud, "That''s the form you take?"


    Strings of fire, lined her cheeks like tiger whiskers, as blue and violet claw like gauntlets of fire, took shape over her hands and paws over her boots. "Beast Ganya."


    She leaped, at sonic speed, clawing at the spot Amaara, was just in, as the environment sliced away in front of her. Amaara flew up high, clutching her fist. In it, she condensed flames into dozens of tiny marbles, then threw them down.


    Setting off a clusterbomb of explosions down below, while Namia, leaped running and escaping each one. The general raised her hand forth, as a massive hand of fire, reached up out of the fire, and grabbed the Nova down and slamming her into the ground.


    Amaara quickly burst out of its grip, as she heard Namia laugh out loud. "Hahahaha! It''s unexpected, nations typically tremble before us, but yours chose to invade us for one individual." In a wisp of fire, Namia, reappeared in front of her. "Brave but stupid. None of you will get out of here alive. And.."


    She paused as she threw four quick jabs at Amaara, who countered and used her wing to block a high kick. "Once I kill you, I will go eliminate that evil girl myself."


    Amaara caught the hand she struck with, as she finished her sentence. Nearly crushing it, as she gripped hard on her wrist. Namia looked her dead in the eye, as she tried to pull her hand away.


    There was no kindness. With her left, Amaara struck her hard in her chest, passing a wave of fire past her.


    "Well then. If I take you out instead, won''t  all the problems be solved?" She had just finished her sentence and prepared to follow up, however golems of fire, shaped into Kirosian warriors, surrounded her. With one punching her, before she could react.


    She was rocked back dozens of meters as she he heard, Namia laugh once more. Amaara realized the General was becoming more unhinged as the battle went on.


    She unsheathed her sword, blocking a swing from a large flame warrior, wielding an axe, two more swung at her with swords, as the rest began to crowd around. Quickly she deflected it back, and took to the sky.


    She pointed her hands down towards the valley. "Ignite: Bureh''s Army!"


    Thousands of African warriors rose out of flames, and made of it. Carrying swords, slings, spears and worn muskets, while charging at the flaming Kirosian warriors without hesitation.


    She looked back up just in time, as Namia crashed into her, taking her with her away from the clash. The General kicked her once more as they both landed, pushing her just far enough, for a last strike to push her out of the domain.


    Amaara, recovered quickly getting up on her feet and feeling the dust of the valley, instead of the heat of the fire. She looked up, seeing Namia, leap up and out of it.


    However, just as she crossed the borders of the domain, all of the heat and fire, converged like it was vacuumed into a bright sphere, hovering up above her. She smiled as she threw it down, knowing Amaara wouldn''t have enough time to counter it.


    Yet although she pressed down with her full might, she still felt some resistance. Amaara barely hung on, as everything carved away around her. A barrier of fire, protected her from the intense beam.


    Once she started to let up, Amaara crashed right into her, pushing her further into the sky. Then laid down a shower of strikes, as they continued to gain altitude. Pushing her higher one last time, before aiming to finish her off.


    "Ignite-"The Nova began to say, however Namia, took her chance then, boosting off the air to bounce back and sock her with incredibly devastating force.


    "Regora Mios." The General said, as she watched Amaara, crash down below. Without hesitation, she began preparing a sphere of fire, condensing it over and over, till it became violet hot. "Regora Ans, Droya."


    The slight thought of giving up, crossed Amaara''s mind as she laid there, watching the beam of fire, incoming. Inevitably she scrambled up and leaped out of the way. The General was on a different level than her other opponents, and she was already expending so much energy, just to keep up with her.


    Suddenly Namia, stopped in her tracks, looking around till she focused in on the direction of the platform. "My King... He''s been wounded."


    Amaara spread her senses in the direction, she was looking, confused on what he was talking about. However  before she could conclude on what she was seeing, she suddenly she felt a surge of energy from a familiar source, encouraging her to keep fighting.


    She smiled, tearing up a little, as she stood with newfound strength. "As you can see we came prepared. Today your empire will fall!"


    "As long as the King lives, we will never be defeated!" Namia shouted back. She clutched her chest, above her heart, while gathering energy. Dark energy started creep over her in small wisps of smoke and electricity. "Regora Liberation."


    Half a skull with blood red tribal art, manifested over the left side of her face. The vein markings all over her body, pulsed red and black, as her energy skyrocketed. "You won''t be able to keep up with me anymore." She said, while coughing blood.


    Amaara''s eyes grew wide, this was more than she anticipated from her. Though she noticed, the technique placed a great strain on the General.


    Instinctively, Amaara braced herself as Namia reappeared below her, striking her upwards. Then followed up by striking her across the terrain.


    Amaara could feel her bones reverberating with each strike, but she held on and burst out a barrier of fire, pushing Namia back. Quickly, she clasped her hands together in prayer formation and gathered energy.


    She heard from Kayed, a bit of what he got to learn on Azuria on his own. After watching his final battle on Rennaya, she went to Azurian and asked Yori, if she could train with the new Hashin candidates. For the moments she knew would force her to surpass her limits.


    "Forbidden Art: Limit Breaker." Flames burst forth from her as her blood pressure skyrocketed. She clutched her chest as dark energy began to smother her, whispering in her ear, but she shook it away and focused on her opponent. Red and black veins pulsed in intervals across her body, while a dark tint seemingly encased her silver glow.


    "So you were still hiding more? I''ll crush your last attempts and join my King!" The General yelled, then charged at her.


    This time, Amaara felt she was a little easier to follow. Although the pain of her body being strained using this technique, was unbearable. She didn''t know how Kayed could hold out for so long.


    Their blades clashed with tremendous force, as Namia kept the upper hand. Fire, razed the terrain below them, covering the sky black from ash and smoke.


    Namia disarmed Amaara and went in to cut her down, however Amaara used her wing to block the sword and catch in place. While she grabbed her wrist, then forced her to drop it.


    Namia kicked her away annoyed, but still in control. Her mask was beginning to break apart, yet she felt she had enough time to finish her.


    Wisps of fire began swirling above her hand, manifesting into a condensed violet and black flaming sphere. "Let''s end this."


    Amaara heaved, as she began feeling it to be difficult to breathe. She raised her right palm upwards, and manifested her own condensed sphere of fire. "Yeah? I thought we were just getting started?"


    She smiled, as they both leaped at each other, striking spheres as a large explosion knocked them both back. Yet they persisted, bouncing back with the last of their energy all in one strike.


    "Regora Ans, Dreya Mios!"


    "Ignite: Burning Fist!"


    The two connected in midair, strikes leveling the terrain around them. Flames burst out of both of their fists, except Namia''s, burned the air past Amaara''s face. While the Nova destroyed her mask and engulfed her body in flames.


    Amaara shut off her own transformation, while watching her opponent fall. She descended down to the Generals landing site, checking to see if she had won.


    The General laid defeated, burned all over, with blood splatter all over her crater. When she saw the Nova float close by, she started to laugh, weakly. "Congrats, you''ve beaten me."


    "I don''t feel gratitude from having to fight another human." Amaara replied shaking her head.


    Namia rolled her eyes. "Don''t be naive, there are more human enemies than there are the nonliving. If you''re people succeed today, they will certainly run into those looking for more power."


    Amaara heard her begin to sniffle, forcing her to look away. "I just wish I had a chance to say good bye to him. I loved him so much." Namia said while reaching her hand up towards the sky. Then dropped it, but before it hit the ground, Amaara grabbed it and began carefully lifting her up.


    "What?... What are you doing?" The General asked weakly, as she was held up and began to float along with Amaara.


    "There''s no changing the inevitable, but everyone deserves a chance to say goodbye." Amaara replied back.


    Namia smiled, unbelieving of the act her enemy was pulling. "If the other humans of Earth are like you, then maybe my people, might just have something to learn from you guys."


    Amaara smiled and focused in on Rael''s direction, as the invasion and fighting all over the planet, instensified even further.

 My People

    Jurgun vs Ria and Acryus...


    Ria, rushed to Acryus side, carefully flipping him over. Jurgun watched curiously from up above, but he didn''t want to wait around for too long.


    She ignored him and focused on her brother, carefully, teleporting out the bullet fragments and holding his wounds shut with telekinetic force to stop the bleeding. "Acryus! Acryus! Wake up!... Please wake up."


    There was a slight bit of movement, giving Ria hope, as his lips began to quiver. "Who... Who are... you?..."


    She held back tears unable to say anything but weak smile. She floated him up a bit closer, just ever so grateful to see him alive.


    His eyes widened a bit, before the pain took over, knocking him back unconcious. "Ria..."


    She checked his pulse to make sure he was stable, then teleported, as their previous spot was blown up. She glanced up at the General, growling at him, as he smiled back.


    "I admit, I did go a little overboard with that one." He scratched the back of his head as he mauled it over. "But, I feel that capturing you, just might make up for it." His said as the rifle automatically locked onto her and fired.


    Twelve shots crashed down around her, as she teleported away, nearly avoiding them. She struggled to keep her brothers wounds stable and knew she couldn''t keep this up much longer.


    Ria grasped her right hand in front of her, raising tons of dirt and rocks, then crushed them into dust and small pieces. Teleporting it, to enshroud the General in a storm cage.


    He looked around, unable to see anything past the debris. Then attempted teleporting but his entire surroundings had been blocked off by her iko. He''d have to force his way through.


    "Clever way to buy time." He commented, impressed by her wit, but didn''t hesitate, to switch his rifle into the blade and swing down diagonally in front of him. Unbeknowing that he would be setting off planted mines, embedded in the rocks around him.


    Ria hurried, hearing her mine explosions go off in the distance. Hoping she can find a doctor on time to save her brother. However, seconds later she stopped in her tracks, as despair started to seep in.


    Jurgun floated above her once again, dissappointed and unscathed. Aiming at her with his rifle. "Surrender now and I''ll consider saving the boy."


    Ria clutched her brother. Hating her own powerlessness. Taking him out, would take too long for Acryus to survive. She didn''t know what to do.


    Only one person came to mind, that could help her. ''If I call him, he''ll come right?'' Her eyes darted back and forth from the General to her brother.


    "I''ll give you, 3 seconds. 3...2...1-"


    "Tob-!" A large flaming boulder made out of trees and rocks, cut her off as it crashed into Jurgun, sending him hurdling with it.


    "What-" Ria, tried to ask looking around for the one who helped her. Then her eyes locked on Kiatin. She was happy at first then despaired. "Kiatin! What are you doing here."


    He glanced at her, seeing her frantic and clutching hold of her brother. "Go!"


    "No! Take him and both of you get out of here!" She replied back even more terrified. She couldn''t lose two people that she loved, right in front of her.


    "That man won''t survive, without your help. You''re quicker than me, and can keep him alive till then. I''ll hold the enemy off. Now go!" He yelled back, bracing himself as Jurgun began heading back their way.


    "He''ll kill you! Why are you doing this!" She asked him, trying to come to reason with him.


    Kiatin scoffed, putting on a brave face as he shifted into second gear, releasing his maximum output of energy. "Do I need a reason to help you?"


    She grinded her teeth, trying to think of what to say, but admitting defeat. She blinked away tears as she turned around preparing to teleport. "I won''t forget this. You better hold out..." Her voice got weak as she tried tof finish. "I''ll be back soon."


    He smiled as she disappeared and left him to face the monster before him.


    Hundreds of kilometers away from Kiatin and Jurgun...


    Ria exited warp, crying. This day wasn''t going the best for her. She could feel, human forces stationed, in a country far ahead, and was trying to make her way quickest there. However teleporting through air, was more difficult and consuming than traveling through space.


    She hoped her brother could still hold out another, five-ten more minutes. Then prepared to teleport again, when she had gathered enough energy, but suddenly out of nowhere, cracks in the air began manifesting before her, as a burst of energy released from it, someone appeared out of it.


    "A child of Atlas?" Ria immediately got into a battle stance, vaguely remembering their prominent descriptions.


    "No, no! I''m an ally, and Acryus''s employer." The person pointed at her brother, as Ria got a better look at her. She had blue hair and a gray blue, Beyond battle suit, equipped with a small, short sword. "My name is Syra... You must be Ria? His sister?"


    Ria stared at her, knowing she had never introduced herself, but realized Acryus could have told her. Before opening her mouth to speak, Syra pointed up at a drone floating high up above her.


    "I''m sure you''ve noticed it following you, but it bared no hostility. Thanks to it I now know the situation and can take it from here." Syra reached her hands out, prompting her for Acryus. "I promise I will save him, but you have to trust me. In the mean time, I''m not sure if you want to leave your friend alone for long. It''s not looking good for him."


    Ria bit her lip. She hated having so little options, but new the woman was right. She had to go back.


    She floated her brother over, as Syra took over holding the pressure and immediately injected him with nanites. Ria immediately wanted to protest, but she saw it alleviating some of his pain and closing up smaller wounds, making her back off.


    She had to trust her. "Please take care of him. He''s the only family I have left!"


    Syra nodded. "I swear on behalf of Beyond, he''ll be safe!"


    Both of them looked at each other one last time. Then Ria looked at her brother sleeping at death''s door and gritted her teeth angrily. Seconds later, they both disappeared, going their separate ways.


    Kalista vs the Dragon...


    Kalista flew up higher, taking the height advantage as the two stared each other down. She took the first strike, raising her hand up high to summon a giant magma golem, the same size as the dragon, then ordered it take it on.


    However in seconds a beam of fire, erased the golem as the dragon began to take flight. Kalista gritted her teeth and clutched her fist as two more rose up on her command, jumping to pull it down.


    A brilliant attempt, but short lived, as the dragon spun 360 degrees in the air, bellowing fire and swinging its tail, as it destroyed the two golems. Then continued it''s ascent unopposed.


    Kalista stared in shock. ''How can something that big move like that?''


    It''s scales began to shimmer, and ripple as the dragon went invisible. A force of thoughts began rushing into Kalista''s mind, making a statement. ''You have fought well so far warrior, challenging me like this.''


    "What? What was that! Is that you talking to me!" The Nova asked, while looking around to try and spot it, however it his its iko too well.


    ''Yes this is how we communicate with lesser life forms.'' The dragon replied nonchalant, as a wave of blue fire erupted out of nowhere nearly engulfing her, before she got out of the way.


    ''I am Duarnia, one of the last of my kind and I serve the King that gave me a home.'' Large gusts of winds breezed past her, as the dragon flew nearby on a warning strike. ''You have attacked our home. I can tell you have no thoughts of surrendering as most would have run from me by now. However on behalf of the King, I will use my full might against you.''A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Kalista grinned, finally locking on to Duarnia''s position, sensing its iko. A spiralling sphere of lava, began hovering over Kalista''s palms, as her hair and eyes glowed slightly brighter from the convergence of energy.


    "Fair play, but don''t complain when I do the same!" She threw her hand out in a vague direction, feeling her target, somehow in front of her. "Scorch Aygo!"


    A wave of magma erupted out of the sphere, shooting off into the distance as the Duarnia had dodged at the last second. Unfortunately though, his tail was caught, statically undoing the camouflage, before he decided to completely switch it off.


    Furiously, flames began building up in its mouth, heating up hotter, than before. Kalista quickly looked around below, summoning rocks to orbit around her, and condensing some into another sphere lava.


    However suddenly breaking her focus, dozens of volleys of fire, ice, rocks and static electricity, hurled past her. She glanced back seeing hundreds of soldiers charging towards her. Screaming, "protect the dragon!"


    She was pinched and beginning to get tired of the wave of soldiers, she had to deal with. Kalista kept one hand on the sphere, and began raising the other towards the soldiers, when two figures, dropped in front of her, facing the charging army.


    "Who-" Rani cut Kalista short by turning and hovering her a soft smile.


    "You''re a friend of Tobi, right?" She asked the Nova back.


    Kalista nodded. "Wait did he send you?"


    "We''re here to help-" Jinco butted in, at the same time that the dragon had released its flames, while the incoming soldiers picked up their pace and increased their fire.


    Kalista nodded, turning back towards the dragon. "Thanks." She said, as the pair nodded back then switched into second gear and began mowing down their enemies.


    The Nova raised both of her hands towards the incoming wave of fire. If she didn''t stop it, it would spill over, to the two behind her. All of her energy poured into the sphere, heating up the lava even further, before she released it, with seconds to spare.


    "Scorch, Jataygo!" A wave of lava, broke out of the sphere, evenly eating away at Duarnia''s flames. The dragon cut it short, and dove down escaping the beam, and continuing to target Kalista, by attempting to swallow her whole.


    Fortunately she managed to leap away on time, however Duarnia managed to slap her down, scratching her with his razor sharp claws. Then once again sent a wave of fire in her direction.


    Kalista was in pain. She gravely underestimated how strong the dragon actually was. Her arms were shredded, along with her shins, as she had curled to block its attack earlier. She felt the heat of fire above her and decided not to run.


    Instead she summoned a dome of metals and iron, shielding her and began commanding the floor she was laying on to tunnel its way lower and safely away from the explosion. While the ground above her trembled, she reached into her pack and grabbed a booster.


    Immediately injecting herself with it as she got up and brushed herself off. She just realized it, but she didn''t know why she was thinking of Kayed while being in this situation. How she wished she could see him one more time.


    "Erupt: Rising Volcano." Every went silent up above, as she spoke. The ground began to tremble, then seconds later, she shot up out of a hole like a geyser. Breaking past the charged metal dome, she raised and punching Duarnia, right in its gut.


    Before it was sent flying, the dragon managed to wrap its tail around Kalista. Dragging her along meters away, before it regained control of its flight and used the momentum to whip Kalista up and smack her back down. Crashing her hard against the ground, as her body began to shake.


    She couldn''t take anymore, she had to end this now. However just as she has recomposed herself, dozens of volleys, crashed down around her once again. More soldiers were beginning to crowd in. She spread her senses out, feeling Jinco and Rani still busy holding off the ones that charged in north of her.


    She bit her lip, contemplating then smiled, as two figures dropped down behind her. ''How am I so lucky today?'' She thought to herself, as she regained focus on her opponent.


    "You''ve had your hands full, haven''t you?" Helio asked her.


    "Mind if we share a little?" Norah followed up.


    Kalista grinned looking back once. "Knock yourselves out!"


    The two disappeared, covering her back and leaving her to continue facing the dragon. It dipped down, jetting towards her at high speed. Midway through it turned invisible, then blew fire, forth from its mouth, covering its entire body in flames. A feature she just realized was a part of its armor, turning it into a small meteorite.


    Duarnia crashed down, expecting a large explosion, however instead, it felt itself being raised up and then thrown. It growled, seeing the large magma golem, Kalista had raised, standing in a fighting stance.


    ''If you do not surrender, one by one instead, I will chew your friends whole.'' Duarnia snarled at her.


    Alarmed, Kalista could feel, the dragon beginning to turn towards, Helio and Norah. She gathered forth all of her energy, summoning a stream of lava, revolving around her. Then charged.


    The golem charged in first reaching Duarnia, just as he switched back and charged at them instead. Roaring at the top of its lungs. Duarnia spun around, using his tail to break the golem apart in powerful swing.


    The golem''s pieces, broke apart and surrounded him, as Kalista continued running. "Erupt: Burning Prism!" As she yelled, she hopped on to one of the burning remains of the golem. Which reinforced her with an armor of magma, before she leaped off it, while unsheathing her sword and coating it at as well.


    Duarnia roared swinging its claws down to catch her before she could strike. However instead, Kalista sliced the dragon''s arm, as she whizzed past, hopping onto another floating remains of her golem behind it. Then zipped to another before continuing her lightning onslaught.


    Duarnia screamed, suffering multiple gashes all over its body. He blew flames all around him, trying to keep her away and burned away the floating platforms she had been using. Except for one, up above, which he noticed her on at the last second.


    Her sword was sheathed, instead in her hand was a swirling white hot sphere of condensed lava. Spinning at an incredible speed.


    "This is the end!" She yelled as Duarnia responded in kind. Flames, hotter than he had ever produced in his life, boiled at the pits of his throat, before he released a violent, intense wave of purple fire.


    Kalista charged in headfirst, shielded only by a barrier of rocks. She pressed on, erupting out of the wave as Duarnia stopped in disebelief. Kalista pressed the spinning ball of lava into its gut yelling, "Scorch Mataygo!"


    Duarnia recoiled back hundreds of meters from the explosion, with his scales completely burned, and a gaping hole within his chest. He laid over dying as Kalista descended down, feeling guilty.


    ''Do not feel remorse for an enemy you have slain in war.'' Duarnia blinked slowly as life started to fade from him.


    Kalista shook her head gripping her hands. "You said there aren''t many of you?"


    ''And that is to our own demise. For choosing not to live in peace with those that shared our land... My child still lives, should they choose to wake.'' Duarnia groaned as the pain had gotten worse. ''If you come across my child or others of my kin, advise them, to live amongst humans in peace, not have them fear you.''


    Kalista nodded, with one tear running down her cheek, as she watched Duarnia blink for the last time.


    Tobi vs. Mado...


    There was no words to explain the amount of tension between them as they both clashed blades. Ferociously, but drawing blood in small cuts and gashes as they nearly nick each other each time.


    Mado pulled back first, switching off third gear, as Tobi did the same wondering what he was up to. Mado pointed his sword at him grinning.


    "The six of the Dai Hito have been defeated. That''s right, you helped them didn''t you?" The King said, remembering a burst of energy waving over the entire planet. "Your friends."


    "I donno what you''re talking about. They won on their own." Tobi replied back, sheathing his sword, but keeping one hand on imthe hilt.


    "You know, Akio was the one who gave us that name. Called us the Dai Hito, living representatives or representatives of the living. I don''t remember what he said." His eyes rolled over before he settled grinning at Tobi. "I told him, that we may be representatives of the living, but we represent, those that truly live!"


    Tobi made a face, wondering what relationship did the King have with Akio. He knew the old man had lived a long time.


    Mado raised his hands as he continued. "That''s why, I have to show your people our true way of life. War and battle, is the only purpose of our existence." He tapped his ear as his comm tuned in.


    "Leeor, commence the attack." Mado ordered, then smiled at Tobi. "Your people thought we wouldn''t anticipate an attack, as we executed one of their strongest warriors. They were wrong. Our forces are might be similar in size, but it''s the way pieces are moved that matters."


    Tobi''s eyes grew wide as he started to realize what he was saying. The ground began to tremble beneath him, as anger skyrocketed.


    Mado''s smile got even wider as he started to laugh. "That''s right! Heading to your home planet now, is a fleet of some of our strongest warriors, led by my son and Rael''s daughter. Savour the fact, that you will be defeated on two fronts and there is no home left for you to return to."


    Ripples of fire, crushed the ground beneath his feet, as Tobi looked at him with deadly eyes. The world seemed to be trembling around them, as tensions rose once again between them. Then suddenly he calmed down and smiled.


    "Ha." He replied back with a soft laugh, then combusted into the fourth gear, leveling his nearby vicinity. He raised his right hand up reaching for the sky, then yelled out. "Ancient Arts: Golden Army!"


    Elder Mira had taught him a lot of things for the situations he would be forced into. One of them was a way to ease his worries while on the battlefield. He remembered her telling him that the forbidden arts were a derivative of the ancient arts, with each each requiring a cost. Akio didn''t have time to teach him much, aside from the aspects of iko, so Mira focused on teaching him how to utilize it, in the forbidden ways that transcended the mortal realm, efficiently.


    The nails on his right hand began to shake, before they took off. Ripping intense pain throughout his arm. Rocks and pebbles, quickly flung upwards and surrounded the five nails, as they each were encased into five clones of ice with moltened cores powering them.


    Tobi switched off his transformation and reach his left hand out, as he telekinetically took a Beyond''s soldiers comm. Then pressed the button before sticking it in his ear. "This is the Commander, code Alpha C2RX1. Selvin!" He yelled into the comm.


    Selvin perked up a second later as Mado stared at him wondering what he had just done. "Yes Commander?"


    "Fire a missile towards Earth. No questions!" He asked desperately hoping Selvin would quickly follow through.


    There was a second of silence, but Selvin chose not to doubt him. "Roger."


    Seconds later, the Prometheus launched its first interplanetary missile towards Earth. It had no hopes of getting there, but momentarily, the five clones, became passengers, as they harnessed the missiles energy, to teleport its way towards Earth.


    Tobi smiled at Mado, then laughed. "You''re like some bad villain in a story. All your plans are getting foiled." He unsheathed his sword and pointed it at him. "Abroad and at home, today Kiros falls."


    Mado laughed outloud brandishing his sword at Tobi as well. "Kiros grows stronger with every war. You''re people will not be the first to defeat us!"


    Then they both resumed striking at each other, with ferocity. Shaking the lands around them.

 The Bonds Between Us

    Kiatin vs Jurgun...


    Jurgun was beginning to feel irritated after being interrupted for the second time. He didn''t feel that his challenger was much of a challenge, but he hated that he''d been unable to achieve any of his objectives.


    He looked him over, eyeing him as he noticed the villager glare at him with malice. "Boy, do you know what it means to touch a Dai Hito?"


    Kiatin got in a battle stance, brandishing the jagged black sword, that he made himself, at his side. "Battle Arts: Hunter''s Fury!" Cracks fizzled in and out, lining the air around him, as he switched into second gear. His energy had skyrocketed to its utmost limits.


    This technique helped cut down the amount of time it took for him, to teleport and use his abilities, similar to other limit-breaking moves. He pointed his left palm towards the ground and released more energy.


    "Battle Art, Ground Implosion!" On his command, the ground below them, imploded upwards. Erupting dust and rocks all around them for dozens of kilometers.


    Jurgun covered his mouth as he looked around. The Messian had disappeared, blipping between the rocks to find his blind spot. Kjorsa switched into a blade as he blocked a few air slices aiming for him and smiled.


    The rocks and dust in their vicinity stopped in midair, as the air strikes increased. The General only managed to gain sight of him a few times, through the thick veil of rocks, before Kiatin disappeared once again.


    Jurgun realized that the boy might actually be a worthy challenge, with the way he carried himself. Gray streaks began to glow before his hair went full silver. Silver white, marks coursed through his body, pulsing like veins.


    He placed both hands on his hilt, as he spoke a command. "Mold 2." The blade began shifting and folding before it split into two submachine-style guns. Then he began spinning and firing, omnidirectionally.


    Bullets made out of telekinetic force blew back dust and rocks, slowly clearing the area around him. Kiatin teleported out above the cloud of dust, gritting his teeth, as he nearly avoided being struck.


    He threw his hands forth, gathering telekinetic force into a sphere, as light began to glow bright within. "Battle Art, Refracted Force!"


    The beam of force and light, struck down with immense force, reflecting lights through the cloud of dust, before it was blown all away, from the collision, of Jurgun''s counter attack. Both, yelled as the beams of light, rippled devastating shockwaves around them before Kiatin was blown back.


    Free falling from the recoil, while Jurgun reappeared above him, with Kjorsa in blade form. "You are strong..." He praised as he swung down, with all of his might, meeting Kiatin''s blade just in time. "But not strong enough." The General followed up with another strike, this time succeeding in, sending him crashing into the ground. Then reappeared seconds later punching Kiatin deeper into the ground.


    The villager coughed up blood, as he struggled to keep himself awake. He could hear, the General chuckling to himself.


    "Now why would, you risk your life, to let them get away? I heard that Messian''s were cold and heartless. Aren''t they not?" He asked, curiously.


    Kiatin could barely register what he was saying, but his mind immediately thought of Ria. "As long as she''s safe and she finally got to see her brother. That''s good enough for me."


    "Ah, for love... Then, I guess I should go after her-" Jurgun mockingly spoke, but was cut off, by Kiatin, grabbing hold of his leg and grilling him, as he spoke. "Fine, I''ll take you out first."


    Jurgun flipped his sword on its hilt, to finish Kiatin off. However, the villager was gone, reappearing, flipping above him to drop a kick, which the General easily blocked with his left hand, along with the rest of his combo.


    "I won''t let you go after her!" Kiatin yelled while intensifying his attack.


    "It''s not as if you have a choice," Jurgun replied, as he effortlessly, released a great amount of force, repelling him back and knocking the villager off his feet.


    Pain raced across Kiatin''s whole body, increasing by the second, as Jurgun teleported in range, and struck him so that he continued to maintain momentum. Until he crashed into a mountain, and crumbled it down.


    He was dazed and disorientated and could barely stay awake but fought his mind to hold on. He just needed a bit more time.


    Jurgun landed within his crater, shielding Kiatin from the falling debris. "It''s time to go to sleep, young Messian. I will reunite you with her soon."


    Kiatin laughed out loud. He didn''t know why, he was thinking about The Elder and the village at this time, but memories kept flooding in. He remembered the first time as kids, He, Ria, Jinco and Rani, would run out and play in the forest, against the Elder''s wishes. They had been practicing condensing fire and exploding it over a nearby lake.


    They each challenged each other, trying to make the largest explosion, until Ria made one that made their jaws drop completely. It was large enough to evaporate a part of the lake. Surprising them, since they were at most fifteen at the time. Before his turn, he went to look for some rocks, with an epiphany that reminded him that metals and iron, can help raise and withstand heat.


    He found a bunch and began making his bomb, as the other kids watched. By the time he was finished, his friends were bored and ready to leave, but Ria looked concerned at what he made.


    A rotating sphere, that was at first ten times their size, now shrunk down to about twice, with a contained, flaming molten core. Set ablaze with flint and branches. He managed to hold it all together in first gear, then set it off over the lake.


    Devastating the environment around them. Shores receded, as a majority of the water, erupted into the air, showering them all. The shockwave was incredible and about to reach them, before the Elder, youthful and full of strength appeared, in front of them and blocked it, while her hair glowed, streaks of silver. She looked back at Kiatin and rolled her eyes, as he gave her a sheepish grin, before looking at Ria, smiling.


    She made him better and want to improve himself. He couldn''t imagine life without her. Before coming down to the planet, he felt four ikos that felt like a threat, and only one, seemed to be engaging with a familiar iko. Which he felt Ria, immediately go to.


    He resolved himself before going, but the fear of death didn''t cease to fade from his mind. Yet for her, he would do anything. Reality brought him back, as he felt the concoction he was brewing was finished.


    The sphere, began descending down through the clouds, creating a looming refracted shadow, as it continued to shrink, condensing even further on its descent. Within, another sphere of grenades and explosives, rotated, a molten core of rocks, spinning at Mach speed. In-between each sphere, telekinetic force, continued to condense hydrogen and oxygen with incredible pressure.


    On his way from helping Helio, he began telekinetically stealing explosives and grenades, from soldiers, fighting around the province. Then, gathered even more while fighting the General. He knew he would need more firepower than ever before, to pull this off.


    "What are you planning?" Jurgun asked, looking up at the sky. He sighed realizing the threat and began morphing Kjorsa back into a rifle. It started to charge up, as he flowed telekinetic energy into a condensed beam.


    "No!" Kiatin teleported up, and grabbed him from the back, locking his arms around his, as the rifle''s beam went out of control. Destroying a few hills and exploding far off.


    The sphere was less than a couple of kilometers away, bearing down immense force. Rocks and pebbles began breaking apart and floating upwards, as the area of impact started to clear away.


    Jurgun struggled to shake him off, but he could feel Kiatin using his life force, to bind him. A barrier of telekinetic force kept him in place and made it difficult for him to teleport out.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "I''ll make sure to take you with me! No one messes with my people!" He yelled while gritting his teeth. His nose bled, from Jurgun trying to headbutt him off, but he shook the pain and held on.


    He thought of Ria, what she might be thinking right now, and she and her brother were safe. He thought of Jinco and Rani, then the Elder and the villagers, then smiled.


    "I''ve had a good life." He said as Jurgun grew wide-eyed, realizing the kid had sealed his resolve. Large amounts of energy, welled up within Kiatin, as an aura of telekinetic force, began increasing its pressure and sparking static electricity around him.


    "Stop this, it''s not worth your life-" Jurgun started to plead.


    "Goodbye Kirosian warrior." Kiatin smiled, while holding on for dear life with him, then exploded, before the sphere touched down. Absolutely devastating the environment around them.


    Ria had just noticed the mushroom cloud over the horizon along with Kiatin''s life signature vanishing, as she hurried her way back.


    Rael vs Kiala and Sora...


    Rael laughed out loud, hysterically. They floated above a barren terrain on the outskirts of the capital. Far off in the distance, they could hear and feel bombs dropped, in a concentrated airstrike, along with constant gunfire.


    "You''ve been beaten twice now, yet you still have the shame to come back." He shook his head, as he got into a stance.


    Sora smiled, as she got into a stance as well. "I won''t fall until my enemy is defeated." As she spoke, she transformed into the fourth gear, but this time, she released her limiter. She didn''t have much time anyway. There was only fifteen minutes worth of time left for the fusion and with Tobi taking on the other King, it left her with a bit of relief, to only have to deal with one.


    "The result will always be the same. Even if you''re two women merged together, you''re still biologically incapable of defeating me." He sneered, before shifting into fourth gear.


    Sora and Kiala rolled their eyes. "Didn''t you get the memo? Thoughts like that, have been outdated." Sora said, before leaping to strike fists with Rael.


    The shockwave blew Kiala back, as she covered her face from the winds. The collisions between the two superpowers were too much for her to handle. She could only watch as they disappeared and reappeared around her, trading blows before Rael came out of nowhere and kicked her down into the ground.


    He glared at her from high above, as she struggled to get up. "Don''t worry, soon I''ll be personally carrying out your execution!"


    Sora crashed into him, teleporting and smashing him against the side of a mountain. "Kinect: Falling Stars!"


    She teleported out as dozens, then hundreds of meteors dropped down onto the mountain. Completely destroying it, and turning the environment around them into a burning wasteland.


    Wasting no time, she threw her senses through the smoke, feeling his life sign still there and threw her hands forth in his direction. "Kinect: Plasma Cannon!"


    A purple sphere, of energy and gas, built up within a second before she released it into the plume of fire and smoke. There was an explosion as the beam touched down, however zipping through the superheated beam, a blue blip of a figure, rushed towards her. She managed to draw her sword on time and beam up the photon laser, along with its versillium edge, to block Rael''s charge.


    "Hod Erebos." She heard the King say, as he zipped past her, with mist and fury. She noticed his face, was half covered in a skull, with blood battle art, etched over it. With quick movement, he spun, to follow up with another strike, this time pushing her, hurdling back, as their blades clashed.


    He teleported behind her as she struggled to regain composure. "Erebos-" He was cut off as he prepared to swing down on her with all of his might, since she teleported behind him instead, with a swirling condensed ball of telekinetic force.


    "Kinect: Seeking Shock!" She threw her sphere forth, thinking she had the upper hand, but was dismayed by his quick instincts.


    "Regora Tone!" A superheated core of magma, pressurized within a sphere of telekinetic force, led his hand, as the collision created an episodic explosion, knocking them back hundreds of meters from each other.


    Without hesitation, they both got up on their feet and began charging back at each other. Sora zipped through the valley, as Rael raised thousands of golems at his command, each charging to pin Sora down.


    She mowed them down, but as she got closer to him, the crowd thickened. Fortunately, out of the blue, the way was cleared as they all began sinking into the ground, as if they entered quicksand. She hopped up flying as she looked around, noticing Kiala far off coming to her aid.


    She smiled. Seven minutes left. She had to do this. There was an idea on her mind, but she was afraid of the moral consequences.


    Rael gritted his teeth, hating the fact, that he hadn''t dealt with Kiala yet. Regardless he remained focused as he clashed with Sora once more, pushing each other into the sky.


    They broke apart above the clouds, facing each other. "This is gonna get us nowhere," Sora said as she swung her sword to her side.


    "I agree. Power is the only thing that matters in a fight." He raised his right palm as a condensed sphere of energy, charged up within his palm. Pieces of the stone armour he equipped during their exchange, formed a core for the sphere. "I prefer a good ol''fashioned duel of strength."


    Sora smirked. "I have a better idea. I wanna test out how good of a king you are."


    Rael''s eyes grew wide, as he looked up. High above them, at first, it seemed small, but as it got closer, the size kept getting even more concerning. A state-sized asteroid was heading his way.


    The loss of life would be catastrophic. ''What is she thinking!'' He thought to himself, only beginning to realize her plan. "That''s dirty. I didnt know you people play that way."


    Sora shrugged then disappeared and reappeared right in front of Kiala. "We have to go!"


    "But... but, so many people will die," Kaila replied back flabbergasted by her decision.


    "I had no choice, I only have two minutes left. Let''s go!" Sora yelled frantically as Kiala nodded. Then together, they both teleported hundreds of kilometres away.


    "You got it from here right?" Sora asked, but without waiting for an answer she teleported back to the epicentre of the explosion shaking the entire world at the moment.


    Frozen pieces of the asteroid and magma rained like a hurricane across the valley. She noticed a figure with Rael''s clothing floating amongst the falling debris. Immediately she teleported in for the kill, but instead felt a sharp pain through her chest.


    Her sword phased through the figure, as she realized it was only a clone, with stone armour, and the skull he formed to disguise its face. She glanced back seeing Rael grin with malice as he plunged even further, surging lava, energy and billions of volts, throughout her body and making her scream.


    At Kiala''s location...


    Kiala stared off into the distance, cursing her powerlessness. She didn''t know what to do, for the first time in her life, she was at a crossroads where the path she needed to take was not as clear as it usually was.


    Lightning struck down around her, as rings of fire crushed the ground with her feet, as the epicentre. A bead of sweat dropped down her cheek as she sealed her resolve. She was ready to give up her life.


    Just before she was about to teleport in, she heard a soft voice from behind her, calling her name. "Kiala?"


    Instinctively, she spun around into a battle stance. ''How''d she sneak up on me?'' Was her first thought as she took in the child of Atlas standing before her. Although she had a familiar face, Kiala couldn''t help but keep her guard up, but then a thought began to loosen her guard. "Who... Who are you?"


    "It''s me silly, Saphyra, your older sis, but I go by Syra now! Check me out!" Syra spun around in one spot and smiled.


    "Saphi- Er, I mean Syra, what happened to you?" Kiala asked surprised and confused.


    Syra''s enthusiastic mood suddenly stopped, as she stood still and closed her eyes. "Mom gave me a gift."


    Kiala smiled, guessing what might have happened. "Thats great! I guess then-"


    "No!" Syra shook her head sobbing, she had completely broken down. "When I first watched her die... I felt nothing, just carried on. Whenever you were in danger, my worry was out of duty, not out of real concern. When I held your arm, powerless, to stop you from being taken, I felt nothing."


    Kiala shook her head, unable to stop the flow of tears as well. "It''s not your fault, you weren''t able to."


    Syra nodded, eyes red as her tears had began to dry up. "I know. That''s why I''m grateful to her, for giving me the chance to protect her and my little sister."


    Kiala smiled, as she reached her hands out, and brought her in for a hug. "Together then."


    "Together." Syra replied back.


    Just then, Rael teleported in with Sora held up by her neck. Then he threw her down, just as she coughed out Nirros core and continued to bleed out.


    "Now who''s next?" The King asked as he swung his blade onto his shoulder. He was noticeably heaving and out of breath.


    Kiala looked over at Syra as they broke apart. Her chest had opened up revealing her core. "Take it quickly."


    Kiala nodded and grabbed the core, then swallowed it and closed her eyes, as a sudden shock of consciousness and memories flowed into her. Syra turned towards the king as she began shutting down. "You are-


    Kiala opened her eyes, as black lines vertically raced down her cheek merging with the black eyeliner around her eyes and disappearing at her neck. Silver streaks glowed amongst dark ones, whilst black and silver marks coursed through her body, pulsing in intervals. An aura of dark energy emanated from her, as black lightning and fire caused chaos around her.


    She opened her eyes and smiled. "Your Highness."


    On the outskirts of the Solar System...


    "We''ve just received word from Leorr. The King has ordered us to commence the invasion!" A soldier reported to the Prince and Princess of Kiros, at the command center of the Alzora. Leading millions soldiers and hundreds of warships stationed near Neptune.


    Prince Dacaari, sat impatiently, wanting to prove his worth to his father as soon as possible. He thought his last excursion would make up his mind, for the throne, but Mado had yet to give him any hint of giving up the throne to him. When the soldier came in with the report, he got up and looked at the Princess.


    "Its time Thyra," he said, as she nodded back.


    "But what about the Cerian ships that landed down earlier?" She asked with concern.


    "We''ll attack from the other side and once we''re finished conquering them, we''ll move on to take out the children of Atlas." The Prince replied with complete confidence. "Besides we have two of the Dai Hito with us. There''s no way we will lose, to these pathetic creatures."


    Thyra smiled. "Fine then, just don''t slow me down."


    Dacaari smiled, then tuned into the speakers of the entire fleet. "All ships, prepare for combat. We''ll be descending down to Earth shortly. Glory to Kiros!"


    "Glory to Kiros!" The soldiers chanted back, as they prepared for war.

 Silent Sorrows

    On Earth and Beyond HQ...


    Chaos had begun to unfold on Earth, as Saphyra deployed the first wave of Novas to fend of the Children of Atlas. However she had been aware of the Kirosian armada, waiting at their doorstep. Drones were placed close by, keeping tabs on their movements.


    Since they had not set up a relay station in between Kiros and the Solar System, there was a significant communication delay of 30 mins. Making it difficult to know what was happening on the main front. People across the world waited patiently for the signal to come through. She hoped Syra was alright and that her sister would be saved soon, however she didn''t want to be distracted from the task at hand.


    The first minutes of Kiala''s execution aired all over Earth, just as the children of Atlas attacked Montreal and Boston. The Federation was placed on Code Red, as cities across the world shut down and began anti-alien contingencies. Saphyra wondered, with what resources they had, if they would be able to push back both threats, before their main force returned.


    In Boston City...


    Carina was anxious. Since the Battle of Rennaya, she had opted out of all missions offered to her, even though Beyond''s operations, had all but been suspended. Kayed''s death, still weighed heavily on her mind, making it hard for her to summon the courage to fight. However as Kiala was taken, and preparations for war had begun, she knew she couldn''t be selfish and stay away from her responsibilities.


    "Everyone is placing their lives on the line, to protect our home. I have to, as well. It''s why you protected us." She said to herself as he thought about him, while free falling with three of the Gen 3 Novas. The newest Novas to the batch. The Gen 3 were special, since their suits were made with Tobi''s cells at the strength he was at, before the Battle of Rennaya. Making them stronger, than the first and second generation Novas.


    She knew she was still their senior and had to lead them, but the thought of having other lives in her hands, fueled her anxiety even further. She looked at the Novas, each of them brimming with energy, confidence and eager to prove themselves.


    "Focus on the soldiers and help the Boston Police, secure the streets!" She yelled, over the wind, as they fell, but they heard her through her comms.


    "Roger!" Some of them replied, as they dove down, with fire, electricity and ice trailing them.


    She focused her attention on the child of Atlas staring at her from below, as the Aeromach that dropped them along with another, took on the Cerian spaceships flying overhead. Carina switched into first gear, as she moltened the rocks, she carried with her, into an armour of magma. Then dove down faster, as the child of Atlas, reciprocated her charge, meeting her in the middle, with their fists colliding.


    A shockwave resounded around them, as the prince followed up with a spinning kick at her head while manifesting a blade of ice along it. Which in turn, she blocked and pushed to the side before combusting the magma, covering her right hand into his chest, and sent him hurdling down. Taking her back to the lessons, Amaara had given her and Nur so that they could hold their own.


    She landed down close to him, as she finally took in his appearance. The prince, had tan skin, brown hair and sinister red eyes. He was much taller than her, at around 6 feet and 8 inches, with a large mace, strapped to his back.


    "I was hoping to see my little sister here and finally be able to take her life force. However I still don''t sense her around. Do you have any idea where she might be?" The prince asked.


    Carina had been briefed before embarking on the mission. Kaelin, the 99th prince was her objective, while Nur had to take out Kyrianna, the 102nd. The worst part of invasions on Earth, were the dense populations in which they would eventually have to fight in. Thankfully though, most of the countries by now had prepared for alien invasions and agreed to debut their Guardians in case of any attacks, while the main force was gone.


    The United Guardians of Earth or UGE''s for short, is a Union Defence Force resulting from the court case that Beyond lost. Countries had managed to produce their own Nova suits and with the help of Sarah representatives, they were able to pick those who would be able to wield it for them. Sonara and Dargan followed suit, after the establishment of proper governments, creating the Sonaran Vanguard and Dargan Brigade.


    She noticed people, still stuck in buildings and running for their lives all around the city. Then felt a father and child, nearly picked up by a Bosryn, before one of the Gen 3 took it out.


    Carina sighed in relief, but instinctively looked up as Kaelin struck the arm, she managed to raise up in time, as ice began creeping over it. "Don''t ignore me, now." The prince, berated her.


    "She doesn''t have time to mess with the likes of you!" Carina replied, as she kicked him back, with the magma on her boots, heating up.


    "Or she isn''t in this Solar System, is she? Along with Kiala and the rest of your toughest warriors?" He asked curiously.


    A resounding explosion interrupted them, as they noticed, the American and Polish Guardians of Earth, defeat several of the children of Atlas, in the 200''s. Then began dashing towards them.


    One of the Gen 3, a guy her age named Sebastian from Serbia, zipped towards them from the opposite side, clad in flames. Along with the Guardians, they each instantly knew, that if they took the prince out, the planet would be safe.


    "No!" She yelled out, trying to stop them, but got out of the way as a large boulder of ice, crashed into Kaelin, pushing him away from her. Then the Polish Gaurdian, Lew Andrezej yelled out, "Frost: Letst Vigele!" As the boulder broke apart into a spiked iced tomb, enclosing him, as it clasped shut and sealed him in with spikes of ice, stabbing through holes it made for them.


    There was silence, before the one of the two American Guardians deployed, a middle aged woman named Scarlet Ellis, unleashed a beam of blazing electricity towards the prince. Alongside Sebastian releasing the massive sphere of fire, he had gathered up and throwing it down with full force.


    Carina retreated back a bit more, seeing their combined effort, create a devastating explosion. However, as the smoke dissipated, the trio didn''t stop. As they continued to hurdle more volleys at the center, ice, shot up, from beneath the ground, like whips and grabbed the three of them and slammed them down. Before a gush of air, blew back the smoke, showing him completely unscathed.


    "Unbelievable! Is this all this all this planet has to offer? How did Zaryon die in such a place?" He shook his head completely dissappointed, as Sebastian, Scarlett and Lew, struggled out of their restraints. "This may be over quicker than we thought. We may not longer need, his ship''s black box."


    He sighed, then looked up at the sky and yelled out. "Xyrisa! The coast is clear!"


    Carina had just begun rushing in to help the trio out, when she saw a faint glimmer from her peripheral and instead, reacted on instinct. She didn''t know what she had even done. She just knew her body needed to react faster than what was coming and do what was most important at the moment. Survive.


    A bright, glowing violet sphere of fire, touched down near them. The distance didn''t matter for there was no chance to escape. Everything in a 3 km radius was incinerated, including houses, buildings, civilians and habitat.


    The princess dropped down beside her brother, adorned, in a casual-style battlesuit, and ponytails highlighted to match her skirt. "Aww, two survived, I must be getting rusty."


    "It''s ok, you''ll get them next time, my love," Kaelin replied.


    "Tch, you''re so sweet. Thanks for keeping them busy, boo." The princess walked over and gave her a peck on the cheek.


    "It was nothing. I expected more from the ones, who killed Zaryon and Jeraton." He clenched his fists. "I''ve bullied those two, all my life. For them to perish her, is unfathomable."


    Xyrisa gave him a genuine smile. "Don''t worry! Once we take this planet, we''ll wait for the ones that killed them!"


    Just, as she finished speaking, they heard screaming from Lew. His body was half soldered and burnt away, as the leftover half of the dome, that Carina had raised to try and protect the trio, began to fall apart.


    The other two, laid lifeless. Mostly burnt away, as their domes, crumbled apart, failing to protect them. Carina wasn''t in the best shape either. She had crashed not too far, from the corpses, with burns all over her body, and her legs, completely burnt off to her knees.


    Her left arm was singed to her elbow. She had given herself the least amount of defence. Yet she was completely unable to save them.


    Tears began streaming down over her face, as she began talking herself down. "I couldn''t save them. I can''t do anything. Why didn''t I just stay home?"


    "Aww! She''s crying!" Xyrisa exclaimed to her brother. She looked back at Carina and began walking towards her, as Kaelin did the same. "Are you sad because you couldn''t join them?"


    The Nova descended further into panic, as Kaelin stood on the opposite side of her, and began to crouch down. She thought of all of her regrets and what she ultimately failed to do.


    ''Amaara, Tobi... Kayed, save me...'' She cried, wishing they were with her, however a voice inside her head, shouted at the top of its lungs. "No! Enough is enough. You, when are you going to stand on your own feet?"This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    A woman with a deep voice, drew her attention and snapped her out of reality, as the prince''s descent, seemed to slow down, until it never happened. Then a void of darkness, dropped her into a vast, green valley, with a large tree and a woman sitting with a lamp lit seemingly on a picnic. However it was nighttime, yet the sky was bright with the stunning sight of the of the Northern Lights.


    She stared shocked to see the lights of her home, and not realizing the breeze of the grass against her legs. It brought back memories of the time her Father took her and her sister, to see the lights, when they were kids. One of the last memories she had of him before he passed from illness. Leaving their family distraught, before her stepfather stepped in and tore her world even further apart.


    "Sit." The woman was impatient, yet seemed kind. She wore a red and gold Rennayan dress, with a matching headpiece. She was stunning, with eyes, that seemed to have seen their fair share of battle.


    Carina did as she was told, as the woman gazed out and took in the beauty of the lights. "This is what your country is like?"


    The Nova nodded, wondering who the woman in front of her might be. Then blushed, as the woman gave her a smile. "It''s beautiful."


    Carina smiled. "My parents used to take us here to watch the lights. I''ve always wondered, where they all lead to, or how they were made, but they still leave me speechless everytime."


    The woman laughed. "All the more, for you to protect it, then."


    The Nova looked down. "I know, but I don''t know if I''m all too cut out for this."


    "Sure you are." The woman replied, raising her eyebrows. "You wanna know why?"


    "Why?" Carina asked.


    "Because I''m you''re number one fan."


    "I''m not all that much to look out for."


    "There you go, dropping yourself so low again. You are much more than that." The woman shook her head and crossed her legs in front of her. "Carina, you believe, you weren''t chosen because you reached out to Sarah yourself, but I was looking for you the whole time."


    "What? How-" She was caught off by an index finger, raised in front of her.


    "You had the courage to step out first, if you didn''t, call out to us, it would have taken me longer to find you and for you to save your sister." The woman started to tear up, as Carina, looked at her worried and unsure what to say. "I was nervous when I woke up here, knowing what happened to me, and remembering all that came before, with a huge new task I embarked on, without no prior experience."


    She smiled as she wiped away a tear. "Just like the others, we all have our own story, of why we picked to be part of this, or why we were forced to be." She looked down and rubbed her palms, before closing her eyes. "This is mine."


    The world around them, began to change until, it settled on a setting of a Rennayan cemetery, where major generals and people gathered, with a young girl crying and one of the generals holding her. He was large, with a stern look on his face and wore many scars, picked up from countless battles.


    Carina didn''t realize it, but they were standing up. The woman stepped forward and raised her hand as if she was pressing play on a recording. The people began to move, as she watched the girl be taken away into a vehicle, along with the general.


    "My parents died when I had seen 10 cycles of the Twin Suns. My father''s friend managed to gain custody of me, right after, as I had no immediate relatives alive." She started to shudder, thinking back to it.


    Carina reached her hand out and touched her arm. The woman looked back at her, as The Nova shook her head.


    She was rewarded with a smile back. "It''s ok. I''m alright." She stepped forward, as things zoomed forward, into a bedroom, in a large fancy house. With a young version of the woman, drawing in a unique art style.


    "The man took care of me for 2 years. During that time, he did things, I did not think wrong of that time as a child, but now..." She shook her head, horrid of the thought. Time, seemed to start again for the child, as the man barged in stumbling and mumbling. Scaring her.


    Carina started to tremble, fearing for the kid, and seeing herself in the same spot. Time sped up again and this time the child was older and closer to what the woman was now today. She was being sworn into the military.


    "He had his way with me for years, doing whatever horrifying act he wanted and I couldn''t do anything about it. He was one of the most powerful people on the planet. Who would believe me?" She let out a small chuckle. "So I doubled down and set out a plan to get my own justice. I wasn''t strong enough to beat him, but I am smart enough."


    Time fast-forwarded to a point where she was now in a battle zone, with explosions being set off in the distance and screams of people not too far off. They could see the young version of her, crouching and running along a group of tents, until she stopped at one that seemed to be active.


    The woman peeked into the tent with a knife and her face covered, ready to pounce, but quickly backed out, panicking from what she saw. Muffled screams were coming from inside the tent, along with the sound of grunting. The woman stifled her voice, frozen in fear. She didn''t know what to do. Then moments later, she decided to run.


    "When I had finally gained the courage to kill him, I mustered my strength and set out in the middle of our intervention with Haldwyn and the Cerian Empire. We failed their people in more ways than one." She gritted her teeth, remembering the scene. "I was too scared to stop him. He was supposed to be interrogating the refugees to make sure none of them were a hidden child of Atlas, but instead what he did to her..."


    Carina was quiet the whole time, she knew it was taking a lot out of her to recount the story, but she had a slight feeling about where this was going. The woman fast-forwarded time, as she blinked away her tears.


    "I was too scared to act at that moment. Trauma and fear took over me then. However, as I got back to my tent, anger, prevailed." She continued, as Carina noticed her expression change. "I grabbed several explosives, from the armoury, small enough for him not to notice, then planted them under his bed, and waited for him to go to sleep."


    They were now floating above the tent with the woman, hiding far off, but watching him with Hi-Tech binoculars. He stepped in and then about 20 minutes later the lamps turned off. Then the woman snapped her fingers.


    The explosion lit up the night, with the smoke reaching them up in the air. People rushed to the fires, as ice wielders and medics, treated people and helped put out the flames.


    "I detonated the bombs, by tunnelling a golem under his bed, but I miscalculated the explosion. I didn''t think a few people, would get caught in the crossfire." She smiled, thinking back to it. "Revenge was sweet, but I wasn''t a winner in this game and justice only belongs to the winners."


    Time fast-forwarded, to a point where the woman was now standing trial. The judge had given his verdict, yet she still remained smiling as she was taken away. "I have no regrets!" She shouted.


    "But I did, I was robbed of my future because I was so consumed by my hatred and he needed to go. Yet I had no options, clear to me at the time." The woman looked Carina in the eye and shook her head. "Hahaha... that''s when that crazy King, came to me with a crazy plan. One to launch me into the future to make a better one. He said, he sympathized, but couldn''t pardon me, but that I might be able to help make a difference, to those who''ve faced my situation."


    They were now in an executioner room. Where, a blue and black, styled cryomed, stood at an angle, completely empty. There was a small table and chair, where a Rennayan man in a lab coat, stood with an open, black box that contained a syringe, laid out on the table. King Zenu, and two guards, sat in the audience seats, along with a few other diplomats, eager to see justice for their friend. It was being live-streamed throughout Rennaya, as many people had known the war hero she had killed.


    The woman walked up to the chair and sat down, while the scientist, took the syringe, prepared it and extracted a large amount of blood, from her. He looked at her and smiled. "You are now part of history, as one with the billion."


    She glared back and rolled her eyes. "Whatever, better not mess it up."


    She got up and walked to the cryomed and stepped in, while an executioner came to prepare it. "Do you have any last words?"


    "Yes, you morbid android. Of course, I do." She looked at the audience, as her words were being recorded. "I don''t regret killing him. In fact, he should have died sooner. However what I do regret, is supporting the system, that protected him in the first place."


    She gripped her fists to her side, shaking the restraints, that were holding her arms and legs. "If the miracles of iko are true, then I hope one day I''ll start the change, that keeps these people from walking free." She stopped speaking and dropped her hands and legs, going limp. "That''s all."


    The executioner nodded, while the audience took in her words. The cryomed was closed, as fluids, began to fill in, slowly. Giving her anesthesia and then an advanced euthanasia shot, that promised a painless death.


    Carina was shivering seeing her be killed, but that''s when the version that was with her, placed her hands on her shoulders. "You, are my first champion. Tobi doesn''t count." She laughed, making the Nova smile a bit.


    "But... But, what if I''m not the right person, to pick for this? I''ve let so many people die." Carina replied back.


    The woman shook her head. "There will never be a right person. You will always doubt yourself to the end, but what matters, is for you to believe that you are the right person and act accordingly, as in standing back up, when the odds are against you, or retreating when you need to. Because in the end, the only ones who can decide, what is right or what is wrong, in this world are the winners."


    She looked down and let go of her, then walked back before turning around. "I will always stand by you, but right now. Carina, you have to be a winner"


    The Nova pondered a bit, as the world around them began to collapse. Then she made up her mind. "What''s your name?"


    The woman smiled. "Ashunde or just Ashun."


    "Ashun." She smiled back. "What do I have to do?"


    "Come here." She walked Carina over to the double doors in the executioner room. Everyone else in the room were paused like NPCs.


    She opened the double doors outwards, revealing an abyss of darkness, spiralling and flowing with a myriad of lights, shimmering in every colour. "Take my hand and on my word, we jump." They both looked at each other and nodded, then seconds later, she said, "Jump." Then they hopped in together.


    She woke up, with Kaelin crouched above her. Forcing her to quickly cover her face with her arm and molt a glove of magma onto her hand without him noticing.


    "Aww, you poor thing, let''s send you to them right away." She heard Xyrisa''s voice getting closer.


    With quick instincts, the Nova swung her arm around catching Kaelin at the top of his dome, and sending his head crashing into the ground, as the ground below him gave way and sunk. Swallowing him whole.


    Then Carina placed her body in a ready position and performed a kip up, to dodge a strike incoming from the princess. New legs formed from the ground, attaching as prosthetics when she raised her knees up.


    Tremors began to shake the very environment around them. Xyrisa watched the Nova, draw her sword with a left arm forming out of diamonds and gems, to match her in an exchange of strikes. While pushing her further into the air.


    A skull made with blood, and tribal marks, half-formed over her face, along with her hair beginning to glow full silver. Strength unlike any they had seen from her, exploded outwards causing fear, to race through the children of Atlas'' minds for the first time.


    Kaelin erupted into the air, as an instant volcano, formed and shot him upwards into the sky. Trapped, in a boulder of magma, constantly burning him, with only his head and hands sticking out. Then the volcano prepared a second eruption, but this time it seemed as though it was charging up,  while the ground pumped, like it wanted to release but couldn''t.


    The prince''s eyes, grew wide, realizing the position he was in. He directed his fingers above him and began creating a rotating sphere of ice, then condensed it over and over. Until he shattered it open revealing, an unrelenting beam of ice and wind, freezing up the volcano. He was still burning up in pain, but the volcano was the bigger priority.


    Xyrisa yelled, striking back harder with violet fire blazing around them. "What changed!"


    "It just became clear to me, that justice was in my hands." Leaving her stunned as Carina''s mask shattered and she finally broke the deadlock between them. Then spun to kick her flying towards her brother.


    "Erupt: Mini Vulkan!" The Nova said clutching her right fist as Xyrisa, crashed into Kaelin, disrupting his beam, and freeing the volcano to crack up.


    An eruption, small yet concentrated beamed into the sky, taking the children of Atlas along with it. She willed the lava to fall safely around the Earth. Then sighed as she felt the life signature of one more child of Atlas still remaining above her.


    "She''s a tough one, right? Ashunde?"

 The Anger, Within A Calm Mind

    Over the skies of Montreal...


    Nur sat with three of the Gen 3 Novas, on their way to the Canadian city, of Montreal. They were to meet up with the French and Canadian Guardians who were already engaging the child of Atlas and her army.


    An explosion trembled the world around them and shook the shuttle, as it got closer to the battle site. One of the world''s busiest cities was now in shambles, as people scrambled to safety. The sound of fighter jets whizzing overhead, shuddered the shuttle even more, before the android piloting them, switched on exterior soundproof. Making everything seem calm.


    Nur noticed Maria, a Gen 3 with exceptional talent, trembling out of anxiety for the mission. It''s not as though, she had completely killed her fear, of fighting in space, but compared to the first time. She felt she had changed, just a bit. Enough for her to reach out and gently comfort her.


    "It''s gonna be alright. You''ll know what to do when you''re down there."


    Maria nodded back and put on a brave smile, trying to hide her anxiety. "Right. We''ll save everyone, while the First Gen are gone and show them how awesome we are when they come back!"


    Nur smiled. She remembered when she first met her, after her training session with Runa, Tai and Nate. A group of the Gen 3 crowded at the stands and murmured to themselves, as they watched them. However once they were done, they rushed to talk to each of their favourites. Most of the guys, immediately rushed Tai and Nate, as a majority of the girls, moved to crowd around Runa.


    It seemed as though at first, that she had been left alone. However, suddenly behind her, she heard a quiet voice. "Umm... Excuse me."


    Nur looked back and saw a timid woman, around her height, along with two more nervous Novas behind her. "Umm... Sorry for bothering you, but..." She looked back at her friends who just glared back, to finish her sentence. "Can we please have your autograph?"


    She handed her a poster of the Novas and different things to sign, leaving Nur stunned. "Your fight against Catoria had me at the edge of my seat. I''m so glad you stayed." Maria began to tear up. "...And the Nova Arrow was incredible!"


    Nur wasn''t too surprised to have fans, since many had followed her on social media, ever since her debut. Yet, seeing someone inspired by her, and looking up to her that way, elevated a new type of confidence within her, that she didn''t know she had.


    She signed some of the other items and stayed behind to give them pointers and tips. Now fast-forwarding in time, she hoped the Novas were now ready to face what was truly out there.


    Saphyra''s instructions were clear, find and eliminate all Cerian troops roaming around the city. However, Nur''s instructions were different.


    "Victory rests on you. Call to abort, if things get rough." She spoke to her, in private at her office.


    Nur looked at her, with complete confidence. The others were fighting monsters abroad. She wanted to personally make sure that there would be something to return to.


    "That won''t be necessary."


    "Very well... You''ll hold primary command on the mission I''ll assist as another pair of eyes."


    "Roger."


    Now, present time...


    The shuttle stopped, hovering above a disaster site near the middle of the city. The Novas could feel, enemy troops and three guardians down below, with one fading. The largest and most menacing presence they felt, was the princess''.


    Yet, without hesitating, each of them dove out of the shuttle and free fell, as Nur gave them instructions. "Assist Aaliyah in pushing back the invaders, then regroup with me against the main target."


    "Right." Her juniors spoke in unison, then streamed off in different directions, to assist the Canadian Guardian.


    She watched them go off, then directed her attention towards the largest power. She caught herself on a platform of ice, then glided past a damaged building, before dropping down and interrupting a battle.


    One that seemed to be over, by the looks of it. Kyrianna, the 102nd princess of the Cerian Empire, had completely caved in the face of the second Canadian Guardian. While the French Guardian started to back up.


    They had thrown, everything they had at her, but the monster, just wouldn''t budge. The princess stared at him, wondering what he would do, but then decided not to find out and raised her fist along with the lifeless corpse still hanging from it. Then, shot out a beam of lava, lasering towards him, while her attachment, fell off from the heat.


    Instinctively the Guardian, raised his hands and called forth an avalanche of ice, escaping his palm, but were melted away, as soon as they collided, with the princess'' attack.


    Before he was tragically engulfed, Nur managed to pull him out of harm''s way. He looked back at her and thanked her. She nodded back in response, recalling his name may have been something along the lines of Jo?l.


    "No!"


    Both of them, immediately turned their attention, toward the princess. She had started to walk towards them, with an angry look on her face. Contrary to her demeanour, she was stunning, with dark skin and silver hair, like her father. Piercing them with a gaze, were cold red eyes, that seemed to radiate complete authority and no tolerance.


    "He was supposed to die there. What makes you think, you can interfere with the path of life?" Her question was directed at Nur, with complete hostility, as if the Nova had done something wrong.


    "What the hell are you even talking about? What makes you think you can kill people?!" Nur reported back.


    Kyrianna shook her head. "This overpopulated place, filled with despair, has long been overdue thinning and I was chosen to be the butcher."


    As she finished, speaking, she clutched her hand, as sharp metal blades, manifested underground, right below Jo?l''s feet, and sprung up, like a flower trap. Aiming to slice him apart, however, Nur was quicker, and had him in the air, before it reached him. He followed up by shooting spikes of ice and raising, frozen cars to throw at her.


    The princess jumped through the cars and chased him, while Nur switched into first gear and flew after them. They zipped through the city, as Jo?l tried to swerve and juke his assailant in midair and around buildings. However, he got way too close to one, allowing her to explode the glass windows and throw him off course.


    She caught him by the neck, and smiled, as they rocketed down into the ground. Instinctively, he frosted his body all over and braced for impact. However, Nur could sense other intentions.


    "No!" She yelled after them, unable to keep up. The Nova reached her hand out to them just as they landed and shook the city.


    Joel managed to survive but was knocked out by the impact, but the princess didn''t stop there. Nur tried to layer his body with more ice as Kyrianna continued to hold her grip on him tightly, then a bubble of magma wrapped around him and her wrist, and began cooking him alive, before sinking him deep below.


    She cut her wrist off just before, then spun around to the horrified Nova and spat. "There goes your ideals."


    Nur gripped her fists to her side, angrily, before reciprocating the princess''s charge, as they exchanged fists of determination, aiming to bring each other down. However, in moments, Nur had started to get overpowered, as the princess used a dirty tactic, in the middle of their exchange, and completely poked out her left eye, then kneed her gut and knocked the wind out of her. Pushing her dozens of meters back, before the princess socked her once more through, several buildings.


    Kyrianna walked, into the Nova''s landing spot, seeing her groan, with her brown hair, sprawled all over her face. A metal rod had impaled her, through her appendix. The force at which Kyrianna had hit her with, was greater than any she had ever taken in her life. Even from Amaara and Norah, she thought, as she tried to laugh to ease the pain.


    She knew she was going to die.


    The princess looked down at her disappointed. "I''ve heard about you Novas. A force trying to maintain a new order, with justice, but they forgot one thing."


    She squatted, and looked Nur deep in her eyes, while the building she had landed in, crumbled down, however, the damage unnaturally avoided their vicinity.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "Order comes with strength, which therefore determines justice. Therefore it is my right, to pass down judgement on you all." The princess stared to her, as if it, were a fact.


    Nur laughed out loud, to her face. "I''m not saying I''m ever qualified or worthy of anything, but you''re just metal and blood, welded to a loud mouth, who the hell would pick you for anything?"


    The princess stood back up and scoffed. "Hilarious." She looked around her as all became quiet, once everything had settled down, except for the blaring ambulances and police sirens in the distance.


    "Well, let''s see, what you think, after I-"


    She was cut off as a versillium bullet, made its mark, on her forehead. Sent by a sniper, two and a half kilometres out. It was the only way, to avoid her senses from picking it up. The rifles were developed specially for combat against the children of Atlas, to have faster and more power than any other rifle on Earth.


    Handling them, were Saphyra''s clones, spread out in key areas around them. Half a second in, Hector and Zaiden two of the Gen 3, Nur had sent to handle things in the city, had landed in front of her. Then, struck the princess with fire & electricity, away from the vicinity and into a large parking lot.


    Once she was there, rays of light surrounded her, before an ever-pouring beam of laser fire, razed down on her. Then drones raced overhead, dropping missiles, followed by Zaiden, clearing the smoke with a slice of electricity and everyone repeating the bombardment. The Canadian Military along with Beyond Forces set up positions to aim at her from all around the area and fired, once it was their turn. The princess was completely surrounded.


    Soft footsteps landed near Nur, as Maria rushed to her side and helped her off the rod, impaling her. "You shouldn''t have come here." Nur rasped, shuddering in pain, but holding herself together.


    Maria, was in shock, the attack on the city and what she had been witnessing on the way here, was beginning to take a toll on her mind. "I''m not letting you die." She denied the truth, but seeing blood gush out of the wound she was trying to close and the Novas eye, demoralized her even more.


    She injected a syringe into Nur''s thigh and then frosted over all of her wounds while healing her as much as she could. Nur watched her, amazed at her strength and reminding her of how she was when she first debuted with Norah.


    It gave her the strength to raise her hand and lend her some energy. Her wounds started to close up as the fire and explosions in the background, had started to die down. It seemed as though everything would be resolved quickly and that the princess would be eliminated with ease.


    People around the world, sighed in relief, seeing real progress against such threats. The drone footage hovered above Kyrianna barely a torso, with part of her head missing, yet still reforming back.


    She laid in the middle of a scorched and flaming crater, as constant shots, continued to sail into her. Then, in a moment, almost too quick for the camera to catch, but a figure dropped down on her, causing a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in the blink of an eye. While, ripping electricity and an electromagnetic shockwave across, a major part of the city.


    Everything for kilometres was flattened as buildings, roads, trees and cars were uprooted and destroyed. The prince, stood above his reforming sister growling.


    "Why didn''t you call me?" He asked her angrily.


    "Because I knew you would do this." She replied back, spurting blood, as her throat fixed itself back into place.


    His face shifted into the most devious and heinous-looking expression you could expect out of someone. "Xyrisa touched down. Do you know, just how long I''ve been waiting!" He put his hands to his face, with two fingers apart on his left eyebrow and the middle on his nose, while smiling in an unhinged manner. "There''s no one here that can stop us, this is the perfect hunting ground."


    He continued while spinning around and looking at the destruction he caused. "I''ve just received word that the Kirosian fleet may be invading soon as well. Prince Dacaari and Princess Thyra may be leading the operation."


    Kyrianna''s eyes grew wide open. "The royal brats!"


    The prince laughed, as he started walking back to her. "I don''t think they''re brats anymore. Anyways, why did you allow these worms, to shave away half a million of your lifespan."


    "I was teaching them despair. This is roughly the amount of pain, I was about to return to them." She replied back.


    The prince shook his head and sighed. "Kyri, you''re still doing that thing, with feeling their pain, before giving them mercy."


    "It is the least I could do, before granting them salvation. Tamun, do you mind helping me up?" Her knees had just reformed back, placing her at nearly 70% recovered.


    Tamun reached his hand out, about to grab hold of her hand. "Sure, I''ll top you off on life as well, there''s enough for me to eat-"


    He was cut off by a sniper knocking Kyrianna back down. Then a loud megaphone-like voice, echoed, across their vicinity. "Step away from the target and lie down with your arms behind your back!"


    The prince veered back, looking off into the distance then smiled. A stone shot into his hands with the help of static electricity, then charged it, till it could no longer be seen among the swirling energy. He aimed, far off where the shot came from, as another nearly struck the back of his head, before he ducked, then spun to to throw his stone at lightning speed.


    A wave of electricity ripped the landscape before, ending at a collapsed building where the sniper was stationed. Tamun looked back at his sister, completely ecstatic. "I''m going all out."


    She grunted, as her cheek closed up again. "Leave me the eyeless one and make her watch."


    The prince smiled, as electricity cracked all around him, before blue veins coursed through his, pale greyish skin, bringing out his cold storm-like eyes. His hair flowed the way his father''s did, but something about him made him more unhinged than the rest of his siblings. "Anything for you, my dear sister."


    The princess rolled her eyes. She knew she was only a second thought to him. A wire of electricity connected itself to her, from the soles of his feet and filled her with energy.


    One of the Saphyra''s drones noticed and called out. "Fire the Sky Hammer!"


    A laser beam of light surrounded the two siblings as the prince looked around surprised them smiled realizing what was happening. Before it bared down with laser speed, he thrusted one hand to the sky, while pulling together a purple sphere of electricity. Violently crackling with intensity, before he released it and yelled out to the world.


    "Those of you who are watching! I am the 97th Prince of Ceria, Tamun, the Great! Revel at the might of my strength!" As he finished his sentence, his beam had just managed to match the output of the satellite''s laser, holding it back from touching the ground, as it sliced apart the areas it got through.


    "Aah!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, as his beam overtook the laser and made it to its destination. Causing a dim quiet explosion to those below.


    "Ahahaha." The prince laughed, once it was all safe. "Incredible, now what else do they have in store for me?"


    With a flash he disappeared, as electricity trailed him, to the first sniper, then the rest, as the camera struggled to follow his movements. Several soldiers had just gotten back up on their feet from his first descent. Many had gone to help aid the others, as well as resume back to their positions.


    However, none were able to see him coming. He used the most efficient way possible, whether it was snapping their necks, by tilting their chins on his drive-by or impaling them with his bare hands. He relished the freedom.


    He stopped when he noticed Hector and Zaiden glaring at him, as they injected themselves with syringes. He smiled, as he started walking closer.


    Saphyra''s voice blared down on them once again. "Novas evacuate immediately. I repeat, Novas, please evacuate immediately."


    Hector was shaking, frozen in fear, as he ran through his options. Then, he heard, Zaiden yell out, as he struck himself with electricity and brought his energy to its limits.


    Zaiden looked back at his comrade, then nodded. "Static: Final Bolt!" He yelled as he zipped towards the prince, with incredible speed. The ground ripped up beneath his feet, as clouds trailed behind him.


    There wasn''t a moment for him to reflect on anything as the prince passed through him, with speed the Nova could not fathom. As the prince stopped, the blood, from his opponent whipped off him, and splashed across Hector''s cheek as he shuddered even more.


    Deep heaving in fear, then lost himself to rage, as he charged at the monster in a fiery rage to avenge his friend. Tamun razed the ground, from the friction, of him spinning in place, quick enough to kick Hector completely out of the city. Sending him right after his comrade, as the prince continued, looking for who was left.


    Maria screamed, witnessing two of her generation, murdered in front of her. Nur groaned as she brushed off stones, burying her. She was in an immense amount of pain but had just started to gauge what was going on.


    She watched as the prince walked up to Maria nonchalantly, as he terrified her. "What''s wrong? Wait, you didn''t like what I did there?" She heard him say, as he grabbed hold of Maria''s head like a ball, ignoring, the volleys and spikes of ice she frantically struck at him.


    Nur struggled to get up and get a running start. She couldn''t let what he intended, occur. A path of ice trailed from her hands, as she fell a second time, however it was melted apart, by a sudden crevice of molten lava manifesting and stopping her. Then, titanium and steel restraints rose up from the ground and held her standing in place, helpless as Maria continued to struggle against the prince.


    She turned her head slightly, seeing Kyrianna, walking towards them with one palm up facing her, as the other was still reforming and her head slightly still bent. "Witness true salvation and accept reality."


    "No! Wait!" The Nova struggled against her restraints, as they clanked against themselves, yet held fast. She looked over at Maria, who had just given up and reached one hand out to her.


    "Save me." Her final words, before he instantaneously clutched his hands together and pressed her eyes in, while using an unnecessary amount of electric force. Blood splattered all over the prince and covered Nur''s face stopping short at Kyrianna''s foot, just as the princess got to her.


    Tamun took the blood on his hands and rubbed his eyes to his face with it, while Maria''s headless body fell to the floor. "Ahhhh, Yes!" He looked out at one of the sky drones, as it focused in on his face, while it kept tabs on him. "That''s the stuff."


    An uproar resounded across the world, as people were enraged, by the horrific killing. Phones at Beyond and Government offices blew up, but there were no answers, as all they could do was watch on, hoping someone would do something.


    However, at the moment, Nur knew the only person, anyone could count on was her. Unfortunately though, at the moment she knew she was the worst person to have been chosen for this power. A ghost memory, of her cousin''s corpse floating amongst flotsam, in the tsunami''s water, haunted her as she looked at Maria''s body.


    Emotions, she could not explain, coursed through her, freezing her still in shock, however, her rage burned her mind clear. Cutting into her reality, was Saphyra tuning in on her comm. "Nur, if you can cause a distraction, I have a team on standby to pull you out. We''ll try again soon, once we recover."


    Nur trembled as her vision settled on the prince. "Not while he''s still alive... I''ll never forgive you."


    Snow had started to fall at a blizzard amount, all around them. Lightning struck through the ominous dark clouds, as a miniature heat wave, had started, to develop around the Nova.


    Then a voice, that seemed to echo with joy & vigour, yelled out to her from within. Then, began shifting her vision to an ethereal realm, as she caught a glimpse of his silhouette and environment. "Thank the stars! My search has come to an end! I have finally found one who might be ready to face them!"

 The Nature of Battle

    Carina sighed and cracked her joints. She reached for her belt, luckily still attached to her suit and pressed the pocket, to release the syringe. Then injected herself with it, as she heard a blood-curdling scream from above her.


    Adrenaline coursed through her body, as the medicine went to work. "We''ll make this quick." She whispered under her breath.


    However a sudden beam of violet fire, razed down on her, forcing her, to raise a barrier of rocks and stones, to shiekd herself. It barely held together as the stones molted away from the heat.


    "I''ll kill you!" Xyrisa yelled as the beam suddenly stopped, with her appearing in front of the Nova''s barrier, then smashed it apart while meeting her arm raised in defense. Yet her rage could not be stopped. With quick reflexes, she managed to grab Carina''s arm and spin like a flaming top in midair before throwing her into the ground.


    Yet, Carina didn''t panic, instead she dropped her arms towards the ground, as she uncontrollably fell at an alarming rate. A wave of lava emerged, alleviating the fall and her momentum to allow her to surf on it to propel her forward. Meeting the princess halfway as their fists met each other''s faces with a loud impact.


    Then they proceeded to descend to the ground, while exchanging a violent flurry of strikes at each other. Before Carina, broke the deadlock, by socking her so hard with her temporary arm, that it shattered and pushed Xyrisa a little back.


    The Nova quickly made a new arm and planted her legs into the ground. Molting the magma prosthetics she had on to it, to make sure she wouldn''t move, then gathered energy and heated her remaining intact hand with a lava gauntlet.


    The princess tried to recover quickly, but Carina wouldn''t let her and continued to strike the princess without letting up. Each time, she struck, her temporary arm and gauntlet would break from impact, as she hit her harder than she had ever to anyone before.


    "Aaaaaahhh." The Nova yelled, as six seconds passed by, before she struck her with her final punch and launched her temporary arm with it. Hurdling the princess a distance a way, before an eruption like explosion, resounded across the city.


    "Keep going!" She heard Ashunde say, within her, cheering her on. Immediately, she drew her sword and raced towards the explosion.


    However, it didn''t stop, but grew bigger, violet and brighter as it started to consume more than it intended, confusing Carina, as she braced for impact.


    The unnatural phenomenon coming for her, blew back hundreds of meters. Completely breaking away her prosthetics, as she used her remaining arm to stick the sword into the ground, and slow fall.


    Her leg stubs, bled from sliding across the ground, but she bit her lip, to push away the pain. Then, grew new legs and an arm out of the ground, before using a small column and her sword, to raise herself up.


    Just in time as Xyrisa bared down on her with a large blade, heavier than the Novas short sword. Violet flames burst out of it, as Carina coated hers in a lava and sila iko to protect her from the heat.


    "We were together, for over a millennia and you just took him from me. Don''t expect your death to be painless." The princess growled, as she struck again with even more force, before unleashing a countless amount of strikes on the Nova, as she searched for an opening.


    "Crying after you attacked us first, is a child''s mentality." Carina retorted, without budging from any of her attempts. Then she bit down and gritted her teeth. Putting more effort in their exchange and slightly overpowering her, before their swords clashed apart. It was finally the moment she was looking for.


    With quick reflexes, she grasped the rock column she used to get up, and molted it into a moltened spear, before stabbing through the princess'' chest. It sunk straight through as she screamed, then the Nova twisted it, spiralling a blade of lava that burst out of the spear, within the child of Atlas and had it split her in half. Perfectly splitting her to the middle of ears, as she fell back.


    Carina stepped back, heaving and taking deep breaths as her side effects had started to creep up. Then, jumped back even further and summoned a dome to protect her, as another explosion of violet fire, erupted out of the princess.


    "Aaaaaahhh, aaaaaah, it hurts. Kaelin where are you?! It hurts so much." She could hear the princess wail outside of her dome in pain.


    Carina knew that even though, the princess might actually be hurt, her tears were still just crocodile tears. She had a feeling that once she took the dome down, that the princess would have already regenerated.


    However, suddenly breaking into the dome and facing her, was Xyrisa, carrying a livid expression. "Ever heard of cold fire?" She asked before blasting the Nova point blank with a beam of ice cold, blue fire.


    She got up hundreds of meters away, while quickly trying to regain her bearings. That was when she noticed, her prosthetic knee locking, nearly frozen from the beam and shocking her of what the princess was still capable of.


    Xyrisa appeared once more in a blur of fire, as Carina spun around to punch her face in, however the princess caught it, smiling. While covering the arm with cold blue fire and crumbled it down, before punching her back and making her spit blood. She smirked as, she followed up with a low kick of cold fire, at her legs, shattering them as well and ending it with a back heel to her gut.


    However, the Nova did not budge. Instead, she caught the princess'' leg, as her own ones, manifested back out of magma, rocks and stones, within half a second and kept her standing. Then pulled together her other arm, to catch Xyrisa''s other foot, from a futile kick.


    "Unhand me!" The princess yelled, as Carina, burned her with her touch and the ground below them gave way. Revealing a wide tunnel, five times their size in diameter.


    The princess panicked, thinking of the worst she could do. "Nope!" She yelled, as she started to burn fire through her feet, which Carina took on unfazed, while swinging her around down into the tunnel''s walls.


    Xyrisa popped open a doser and injected herself with it, then reciprocated the charge the Nova was following up with. The collision began caving in the tunnel all around them, however the princess managed to push her out.


    Shooting Carina into the air, defenseless and disoriented. Yet, Xyrisa wasn''t going to let up and took the chance, aiming to finish her off with one last strike, this time with blazing hot fire.


    Though, to her surprise, the tunnel, she leaped out of, erupted. Flowing a bright hot beam of ultramafic lava. The princess watched it approach closer, then looked back at the Nova.


    Carina, was already a step a head of her. She had already been pulling together lava and diamonds to her, as she was launched into the sky. A sphere of extremely hot lava, burned hovering before her palms. She knew she needed to match the eruptions, strength, but she still couldn''t predict what Xyrisa would do.


    Instead of running or dodging, the child of Atlas stood her ground, erupting forth, twin beams, of violet fire, from her palms, to match both of Carina''s attacks.


    "I''m not going to die here, Human!" As she yelled, her fire had started to push back, both of Carina''s attacks, steadily, but evident. "You must pay for what you did to Kaelin! Mere ants, could never step against us!"


    The fire got closer and doubts hidden within Carina''s mind, creeped back. "What am I-"


    "Finish it."


    The two last words, coming from deep within her, crashed all doubt she had left within her. It was a combination of Ashunde''s and what she wanted to hear coming from herself beckoning forth every last drop of might she had in her, to see this through.


    "Erupt: Twin Vulkan!"


    Both of the concentrated beams of lava spun, and burned white hot, before they ripped through Xyrisa''s attacks. She screamed as she managed to raise up a thick flame barrier, laced with her iko, and holding the lava back to a a meter and a half radius around her.


    The Nova, stopped the eruptions, and spun the lava around her barrier, while splicing up the diamonds she gathered into billions of shards.


    "You dare trap me! I was chosen! Kaelin said he''ll help me get to the top." She banged her hands against her flame barrier. "Since you killed him, it''s your obligation now. Let me out and let''s talk this through."


    The princess'' last words came out in a softer voice as she started to realize the situation she was in. Carina smiled and shook her head. "It''s unfortunate we met."


    Xyrisa''s eyes grew wide, as the Nova clapped her hands together. "Erupt: Mycket Burial!"


    On command, the dome of lava rapidly shrunk and fought against the flame barrier for only a moment. Before it shattered it in and consumed the princess, then imploded outward. Spewing up burning rain everywhere, as Carina''s side effects, took over.


    She descended down slowly, while her temporary prosthetics crumbled apart, as people around the world cheered. However she looked around her, seeing the carnage throughout the once beautiful city, then remembered, those she couldn''t save. She gripped her fists, resolving herself to get stronger, then she felt a light tap on her shoulder.


    A clone of Saphyra had just landed by her and extended out a hand. They smiled at each other, before she gave the Nova a piggyback to the nearest shuttle.


    In Montreal, but entering Nur''s ethereal plane...


    Dusk-like smoke surrounded the two of them as far as the eye could see. The Rennayan before her, was dressed in a loose fitted tribal outfit, up to his feet. Bare, as had them crossed over each other, while floating and watching the Nova''s expression.


    He was not much older than her, a couple years at most, but smiled as if nothing bothered him. He stood up, letting his feet touch the floor as he started to speak. "Anger, is not such a bad thing you know, but it depends on the time, place, and who''s experiencing it."


    "Are you just going to waste my time?!" Nur spoke with urgency, she couldn''t let what she was feeling dissipate, or else she feared she might not want to fight again.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    The Rennayan smirked. "Hmph." The smoke around them faded away and revealed a room, where two young girls were playing with multiple toys and having fun.


    "This was ten years ago wasn''t it?" He asked her, as she stared jaw struck. Unable to comprehend what it was like to see her cousin again. How she regretted up this day, even though there was nothing she could do.


    The scene around them, moved, without being disturbed their presence. The Nova watched, as the younger version of herself jumped up, laughed as her cousin played apart in the pretend game they way playing. Then looked out the window of their living room in disbelief.


    People were screaming and running to safety outside. However from what was what truly stunned her. A large wave, dwarfing their house, crashed through their neighborhood and caused carnage in its wake.


    A natural disaster they couldn''t see coming, wrecked havoc across her city. Nur watched as the younger version of her, ran screaming, without truly warning her cousin of what was coming. They watched her run up the stairs all the way to the roof, and was left in despair.


    The downpour of rain dropped down heavy on her as she stepped into the reality of her house being carried away by the water, with no one for kilometers that could help her. Her parents were visiting a family friend close by and her aunt who had recently fallen asleep on the couch as they were playing, was the only adult nearby.


    ''Where they still alive?'' As the thought crossed her young mind, she heard spluttering and splashes near her. Then the flat roof she was standing on shook violently and broke apart as it lodged onto another sturdier house, holding back a large amount of garbage and debris. She hung on to the door handle, that led back into the house for dear life.


    Waves of turbulent rushing water, struck her roof walls, terrifying her more, as she prayed for everything to stop. Amidst, the splashes, she heard a voice. "Help me!"


    It was her cousin, she could tell from her voice, but was scared of what she might be going through. Slowly but carefully Nur stood up as her feet caused the remains of the roof to slightly tip over, like a loose balance, against the house it was stuck against. She looked over the walls, seeing her cousin holding on with one hand on a broken tree, recently stuck to the same house. At least ten meters away from her.


    She also realized that out of five floors to her house, she was standing on the last one. She pondered what she could do then saw a rope her father used to raise and lower items with to the roof.


    The only problem was, she needed to let go of door handle to get to it. She thought of her cousin once more, then let go of the handle and rushed for the rope to throw it to her.


    "Grab hold of it!" She yelled out to her, when she had a moment to hear her over the constant waves splashing into her.


    The rope dropped near her and stuck onto the tree, making it easier for her cousing to grab. However the tree was beginning to dislodge from the house, it couldn''t keep up with the constant battering from the tide.


    "Pull yourself towards me!" Nur yelled out to her desperately.


    "I can''t! My left arm hurts, I can''t use it!" Her cousin replied.


    "Ok I''ll pull you in-" She started to say, then heard and yells for help from dozens of people being carried by the water, near her. She looked back over the wall, with her eyes growing wider by the second, as another large wave, larger than the one that first hit her her house, looked in with incredible speed.


    She didn''t know in the time if she could pull her cousin and save her, but her fear didn''t even let her try. "Sorry!"


    Her cousin''s eyes grew wide, as she yelled after her. "Nur, don''t leave me. Please help me!"


    Nur ran back to the door, opened it as water spilled out, then rushed inside and hung against the gaurd rail of the top floor, seeing her staircase end not too far below. There was silence, then a tremendous force of water struck the cement roof structure she was standing in and took everything along with it.


    Hours passed and Nur finally woke up. She was soaked in water, the glass window on the door had been shattered with debris all over her floor. The Sun shined rays of light through a hole in the ceiling, as birds chirped far off. The young girl, walked out through the door, to see, water, as far as the eye could see, with remains, of houses, only visible by their rooftops.


    Bodies, piled up against a large tree blocking much of the debris and water way. She noticed her cousin''s pink dress, and walked closer on what remained of the rooftop, before she dropped to her knees crying.


    The Rennayan showing the real her the memory spoke up. "You were rescued 3 days later, malnutritioned and with no will to live."


    Present day Nur walked off to the side and puked as the Rennayan continued to shift the scene as if it was a movie. "Fear caused you to make mistakes..."


    The scene shifted to a younger version of her, being pushed to the side, as other people rushed to line up for food in a refugee camp. "Guilt, determined your life and anger will be your downfall."


    Young Nur walked off to the side and sat, staring into the distance, scared, sad and unable to go on. An aid worker noticed her not lining up, she was extremely busy and knew her colleagues would need her help. Yet she made the decision to grab a bit of food, from the stall and rush to the little girl and gave it to her.


    The woman could tell, she was burdened by something, then sat with her for a while to console her. The Rennayan continued speaking as the two chattered on. "If you let your emotions rule you, you''ll fail to make critical decisions, like the one this woman decided here."


    "I was ten! There was nothing I could do!" Nur yelled back.


    "You could have saved her and you knew it, from the first wave."


    "But... But..."


    "The Atlantic Ocean is nearby, if you were only willing to sacrifice a few of your mates and not let all those people die. You could have also managed to push her into or near the Ocean with their help then win against her. Before her brother becomes a problem-"


    "What''s your point?" Nur growled, unsure what he was trying to to get at.


    The man looked at her, unfazed and smiled. "My point is, your critical thinking and decision making is lacking. It could cause fatal results on your journey forward to those allied with you and those around you. What do you think would happen, if a person like that were to gain even more power?"


    "Then why did you pick me?!" The world around them shook, as her anger visibly skyrocketed. She was furious and didn''t need to be talked down to like this.


    The man raised his hands to the air as if he was reaching for the light. "Because of your tenacity! Why else?!" He said as he looked back at her.


    Nur was lost for words, she didn''t know how to reply to him, or where he was going with this. However he didn''t wait for an answer as he waved his hand out once again and the scene began to change.


    They were now looking at a battlefield, in a torn up city on a Rennayan settlement, situated on a large Moon. Three people were behind a bruised and injured version of him. One healing another, as the other aided him against Tamun.


    It was a fierce fight, devastating much of their vicinity, until a blur whizzed past him, and he heard the splash of his partner''s blood behind him, while he connected fists with the prince. He jumped back, seeing his comrade down and a portion of his torso had erased.


    At the same time another child of Atlas, dropped down beside Tamun. "Sorry for taking a bite out of your meal." Were the first words she uttered to her brother, while smiling behind a generic, white mask, with two parallel black lines, that matched the ones on her face. The mask was mouthless, but had a strip of purple and black lined diagonally from the right eye''s corner.


    "Please, the honors mine, have as much as you like... You''re still wearing that mask so they don''t run from you?" He replied back.


    She sighed, as she kicked a rock, into the comerade that was being healed, killing him, while blowing apart the arm of the one healing him. "They''ve done their research, most of the Hespers and Pleiades are on a watchlist, by the remaining civilizations."


    The princess looked around smiling as her hood fell back, revealing her turquoise blue hair. "They didn''t even evacuate this little Moon, since it was just you guys."


    Tamun scoffed, as he looked back at the Rennayan, seemingly entering an ascended state. Dark energy rose around him, as black and turquoise veins revolved around his body.


    A voice tuned into the comm of the Rennayan. "This is Central HQ, a ship carrying children, elderly and the sick, is about to leave orbit. However there is a warship, that is moving to intercept. We need the assistance of a Nokayan, please send aid immediately."


    "I heard that." The princess, spoke up, making him snap out of his anger for only a moment. "I listen to the air all the time. If you want to go save them, you can, but we might be done here and move to the next city by the time you''re ba-"


    He didn''t wait to let her finish as he drew his sword and chased after her, leaping with joy, all around the settlement. Halfway through, she froze him in place, with extreme cold, eating into his skin, as he was unable to conjure up any strength. He looked up at her in anger, as her hair flowed streaks of silver along with her eyes.


    She pointed up. "Look."


    Their eyes couldn''t pick it up, but their senses could. A missile had just connected with the evacuee ship, blowing into pieces. He looked back at her in horror, unable to comprehend what he had just allowed happen.


    "You let innocent children die... For revenge." She took off her mask, but she wasn''t smiling. "You need to pay for that."


    She walked up closer to him, as he cursed at her. "I''ll kill you, if not me, then someone, will make you suffer."


    The princess smiled, as he took in her face and remembered it as if he couldn''t forget. Then she left him with a few words. "If you only had a calmer mind."


    She snapped his neck, without touching him as the wind did her the favor. The scene stopped as the Rennayan looked back at Nur.


    The Nova broke the silence first. "He was the there."


    "Yes, he was."


    "Who was she?" She said, as she walked up to her and took in the princess'' appearance.


    The Rennayan smiled. "A Pleiade. They wipe out civilizations on their own, and move just like their Father, but she''s not for you to worry about, as of now."


    Slowly he walked up to her and sighed. "Listen, dark energy, is not like any other. It plays on your emotions and eats you up. Once you touch it, you will be different."


    Nur took in what he said, but was still undeterred. "Will it hurt?"


    "Yes, until, you get used to it, but it always demands a sacrifice."


    The world around them shook, as the Nova nodded back to him. "I''m ready."


    He reached his hand out and broke, through to another dimension by punching the air. An ominous, wall of darkness devoid of light, flowed streams of strands of light, mixed with dark matter. The man, lacking fear of the unknown, reached his hand in, then held his other out to her.


    "Then, I''ll step into the darkness with you."


    She woke up back in the same spot, restrained by the princess with her brother looking around for more. In the background, she could hear, Kyrianna''s voice going off on her, but she continued to blur it out.


    It was pointless to her. She wanted to lock back in. ''Maria,'' she thought, but said out loud.


    "What-" The princess tried to ask, before Nur shattered the restraint holding her left arm and grabbed hold of her neck. Strangling her as she looked into her eyes. A grayish skull, with lines representing waves, etched on with blood, began half manifesting over the Novas face.


    Kyrianna knew that something had changed about her after her after witnessing her comrades death. Streaks of silver evenly flashed along her hair before it all went completely silver, undoing her ponytail.


    The princess, twisted her body to strike back, however Nur broke the other restraint holding her right, to block it. Then, rocketed into the sky, as a heat wave, settled around her. The velocity was too much for the child of Atlas to bear, as she struggled to pry the Nova''s hand off her neck.


    However, in seconds Nur suddenly stopped, just before they reached the dark ceiling of clouds, down pouring an unnatural amount of snow. Without wasting momentum, she threw the princess, upwards crashing through the clouds.


    Unfortunately though, they weren''t as soft and welcoming as clouds tends to look. Kyrianna shattered through ice sheets, dense with moisture and static charge. However she was finally free and didn''t hesitate to begin swinging as the Nova came into view, but failed to connect and was rewarded with being socked higher into the sky.


    Multiple times until they finally broke above the highest clouds. Then a sudden phenomenon began occuring, as Nur took a deep breath in and locked eyes with the princess, blocking out the sun.


    The clouds, blanketing the land beneath them, started to converge into the Nova''s palm and formed a sphere. Condensing, while spinning blades of ice, and wind to an unfathomable degree, before she thrusted it forward into her gut. "Frost: Hawa Ka Daira."


    The sphere shot Kyrianna further up, before exploding a massive shockwave of storm and ice. Constantly shredding anything that might''ve existed within.


    Nur heaved, after bracing the winds of the aftermath, as she felt ice creeping up over her joints. However she didn''t have much time to think, as Tamun appeared right beside her in a blur of electricity. She managed to raise her left arm up and cover it in ice, before he threw a right high kick, surging billions of volts.


    The collision was meant to rock her back, yet she still remained unfazed, as her anger burned even hotter once she saw his face. The prince glanced up, feeling something massive coming his way. A dark tunnel like tornado, manifested way above them, then converged towards him and took him back down to the planet.


    He caught himself standing, trying to withstand the pressure of a concentrated F7 tornado. The ground around him ripped up, while he let off a massive electrical shock, breaking apart the tornado and cleared his surroundings.


    Seconds later, Nur dropped down on him like a meteor, superheated, by friction and ability to cause him as much damage. Her mask shattered, as he blocked her with one arm up.


    He noticed her ice glass eye, was glowed hazel as her other shone brown. None of them emitted kindness.


    He smiled, bright and undisturbed by the loss of his sister. "Did I make you angry?"

 Black Ice

    Nur vs Tamun...


    "I don''t know. Do I look angry?"


    The Nova repeated, as she pressed down with her entire might, and sank her fist into the prince''s arm, digging him further into the ground. She glared at him, with malice in response to the question, then threw another strike.


    However, to the prince it seemed as though she was switching to her left fist, but he was greeted with a right kick to jaw instead. Sending him hurdling back, as he tried to get a grip on reality.


    He glanced back at her, seeing the image of her, mirage again, as she homed in for another strike. To her shock though, he caught her fist, as he switched into first gear.


    "I''ve seen stuff like this before. Come on, show me something new!" He yelled, as he spun her around in a quick blur of electricity and used the momentum to throw her into a building, as he realized, that she was trying to take him out of the city.


    People screamed, adding to the chaos of alarms blaring, and along with fire sprinklers going off. The city was on lockdown, but some businesses could not afford to close, risking the lives of their employees.


    Nur could feel hundreds of people trapped below and above her, as she got up. She panicked at first wondering what to prioritize. However she didn''t have much time to think, as she instinctively frosted over both of her arms and raised them, just as Tamun crashed through several levels below her and directly up into her.


    Taking her along with, all the way to the top. She ignored her defences and manifested hardened domes of ice, shielding the civilians within the collapsing building and surroundings. Each dome, descended down safely away and melted apart, as the people quickly glanced back up, to watch the Nova get pummeled further upwards into the sky.


    The prince wrapped up his assault, by gathering an immense amount of electricity into his fist and struck her with enough force to send her into the stratosphere.


    She forcefully stopped herself from going any further, sensing little to no air left around her. The whiplash, brought forth an immense amount of pain, as she started to find it hard to breathe.


    ''He''s still too fast. How can I keep up with him.'' She thought to herself, as she struggled to think of a way to win.


    A voice within her surprised her, but she quickly knew who it was. "Listen to the air. Hear it, feel it."


    ''Listen to it?'' She questioned. There was almost none left and as her vision began to daze, she realized she had seconds left.


    Quickly, she calmed herself down, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then exhaled, as her breathe created a turbulent dome of wind, gathering together, as much of the oxygen that was left in her surrounding area.


    She finally opened her eyes, fixing the ice glass eye, which cracked from the impact. Although she could only see in black and white through it, she clearly took in the mesmerizing view of Earth, from space.


    It felt surreal and she felt at peace, until the prince appeared before her in a flash of electricity. Brandishing an electrically charged sword, similar to the photonic swords Sarah designed.


    However instead of it remaining in a controlled plasma shape, he charged it with an immense amount of energy, and allowed it to flow with his will. Resulting in a jagged white and blue electric sword, towering at nearly his height.


    "It''s beautiful." Nur reached out, looking right past him, as he silhouetted within Earth''s frame.


    "What my sword?" He asked surprised, but not shocked, as he arrogantly looked it over and changed its shape at will.


    The Nova gritted her teeth, then smiled. "No, you''re just ruining the view." She replied, as she reached her hands down to her sides and drawed her daggers, then covered the blades in coats of water, before condensing it with enough heat to turn the water into black ice. "Haze: Black Blades."


    Electricity had started to crackle around it, from the build up in their vicinity, along with the amount of energy she was putting into it. Tamun laughed, then lunged at her and struck with his entire might, as she blocked it by crossing both of her daggers.


    She struggled to maintain her position, as to not get pushed further out into space, yet it seemed as though the prince was enjoying this situation. "What do you think you''re laughing about?!" She asked angrily, then forced air, to tornado around her arms and legs, to aid her speed. "Haze: Wind Spirit."


    The prince was shocked and confused, as he slowly started to recoil from each of her strikes. It was beginning to take all he could, just to keep up with her. ''How does she keep getting stronger?''


    Within the next few seconds, he parried a three strike combo, hitting him with blasts of hot air, he couldn''t avoid, then prepared for a final dual wield assault coming from above him. "Haze: Hawa Ki Talwar!"


    He braced as he was pushed back down into atmosphere. Feeling blistering cuts, ripping across his body. The clouds below him split, as pain greeted him in a delayed shock.


    "Raaahhhh!!" He screamed, angrily out bursting a shock full of energy. He remained still as unhinged as ever. Many thoughts raced across his mind, but he knew it would all be over after his next attack.


    A large mass of metal rubble, rose out from down below and nestled on the clouds, unifying the separating ones back together. Then electrically welded into a large ring with a diameter of 1km, as it started to surge large amounts of electricity and lightning, towards the center.


    A smirk ran across Tamun''s face as he glanced back at her. "Mortal, you think you can survive this?" He raised us right palm up, pointing his sword at her, as she tried to catch her breath. "I know how to amplify my power too."


    The ring of metal started to heat up, as it spun white-hot and seemingly reached its capacity. Nur stared at it, scared for a moment as she didn''t know what she could do to stop it or if she should dodge. However the way it was designed, made her realize that there wasn''t a safe enough distance, that she could get to.


    She took a deep breath and thought for a moment, then sheathed her daggers and raised her left palm to the sky. A thin film of ice filled out into a dome the size of a state. Then condensed, as it gathered all of the moisture, cold and gases that was left around her, before she heated it over thousands of degrees and condensed it to an unfathomable pressure.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Resulting in a spinning black, basketball-ball sized sphere of ice, denser diamonds, containing a violent shard tornado of diamonds and black ice. A heat wave had started to blur out the vision of the Nova, to the prince. He glanced at his spinning ring as it started to shake slightly and break apart, from the gravity of Nur''s sphere.


    He gritted his teeth angrily, as he shook away any fear, that might''ve started to creep up and signalled the ring to fire. "Divine Revolution!"


    The ring glowed from white to purple, as the prince poured in all of his might, then shot an inescapable, violet beam of energy towards the Nova. Rippling loud thunder, shockwaves and tides below, as the population rushed to safety.


    Nur, smiled as for the first time ever, in the face of death, she felt no fear. "Frost: Ionic Blast!"


    The black sphere, instantly grew back to about twice her size, now with a dark blue ring, becoming the exit as it shattered open. Releasing a blistering blast of air, black ice and diamonds, which magnificently collided with the prince''s attack.


    The electric beam boomed on, making the prince laugh as he celebrated the end of the Nova. Too early and leaving him in shock, as the beam dispersed, along with metal ring beside him, crumpling in together, as they both were drawn in to the ionic beam.


    Before he was struck with the immense force, he pulled back some of the metal rubble, to form a makeshift shield, reinforced with all of the electricity he could muster. Only a moment had passed by, but his feet had managed to touch down on the earth, as the rest of his surroundings were erased way, in a blazing, black hurricane of ice.


    He yelled out to the wind, as he refused to die, then everything suddenly stopped. Carefully, he parted, his moltened barrier, which had barely held on and was in tatters, to see her floating above him. He felt her glare, as if he was being judged.


    That moment seemed to be his boiling point, as lightning indiscriminately started to pour down around the city, with his rage. Then stopped and started to build up within the clouds as he floated to her eye level.


    "You got stronger to protect them, but you already failed to save the ones I gave mercy to earlier. Why won''t you let me do the same to you?" He reached his hand out longingly, as if he was in reach of something he wanted but couldn''t get.


    Suddenly, his arm seemingly blew up, as Nur raised one palm towards him. Another condensed shard of black ice, manifested in front of her, as her reply.


    He gritted his teeth and absolutely lost it. "I am Tamun the -- Prince of Ceria! I will discover every mortal death possible and gift the worst to my sworn prey!"


    He reached his hands out to his sides as the clouds above the city, darkened black and ominously surged rows of constant lightning through them. People in the city and surrounding areas, looked up at the sky, feeling the end approaching.


    "Wrath of the Nimbus Sovereign!" Tamun yelled out loud, and completely let loose.


    Millions of violet lightning strikes, began to take shape and discharged, preparing to touchdown. However the residents of the city started to notice an unusual phenomenon occuring across the sky.


    It had started to rain heavily, but every drop seemingly stopped at the height of the tallest buildings. The bottom surface froze over, holding the reservoir of water, as a pillar of black ice, snaked it''s way down from it, deep into the ground. Creating a massive ceiling of water, as it shielded everything below.


    "Flow: Aqua Sky!" The Nova yelled, whilst clutching her fist high above her, at the same moment she felt a flying electric strike, coming from the prince''s direction. Billions of lightning bolts, struck the floating reservoir and fizzed out, as they were redirected into the ground, causing an underground explosion.


    Nur quickly manifested a black barrier of ice right in front of her, shielding herself from the strike at the last second, as it separated the skyline and the ground below her. It ate deep into her barrier, but stopped, within an inch from reaching her. The ice, emanated static electricity, as it recoiled from the impact, however the Nova, remained strong and separated, the barrier at the split, the strike made, to stare the prince down.


    He was furious. Anger visible, as eyes became bloodshot. "You still oppose me!"


    The Nova shook her head, tired of all of his noise. Her side effects, were unbearable at this point. Pain seared her body, like hot wires being pulled through her. Her hands had started to crack, along with other rupturing lines, stinging her with the aid of frost hindering her body''s movement.


    Yet, she smiled. "What''s funny to me, is how you''re so obsessed with death, and don''t expect to experience it yourself... Here, why don''t we hear about it, from the people you''ve killed.


    On cue, she relaxed her hands and started rotating her arms wide over each other, in a flowing motion. At the same time, blood from corpses the siblings had left scattered across the city, had started to rise. Into the sky, as it tinted red, then she stopped and reached her hand out towards him.


    She didn''t think much on what she was doing, she just wanted to make him suffer in the worst way possible. "This is for Maria."


    Tamun''s eyes grew wide. Fear struck him unlike ever before, as he felt imminent death, awaiting him. He could feel her putting everything she had into it and some more at the risk of her life.


    She had forced him to use up a dangerous amount of his life''s reserves, which made running no longer possible. The only option he had left was taking her out first, before she could finish him.


    As the Nova pointed her palm at him, signalling her attack, he threw his hands up and called forth a last ditch effort. A precision lightning strike, carrying the weight of the sky, as the prince maniacally laughed his heart out. There was no way he could be defeated.


    However Nur, without taking his eyes off him, manifested an umbrella of black ice above her. Which still failed to stop it, but she didn''t flinch, instead she raised her left arm above her, covered in ionic ice and took the violet lightning strike head on.


    Leaving him stunned as the droplets of blood surrounded and imprisoned him, pooling together into a dark red dome. Even in his current situation, he didn''t let up his strike, but the dread of reality had started to seep in.


    Frantically he looked around him, seeing the faces of the people they had murdered during the conquest. Glaring, as they appeared to start reaching for him and bubble up, a with the temperature of the dome rising to the boiling point.


    As unreal as he heard it to be, he noticed himself looking back on his life and how he had lived it. The memory that stood out the most, was of him finding his sister, Kyrianna limbless, when they were young.


    She was screaming, as he found another one of his siblings nearby, with a white artistic mask over her face, laughing in a sadistic manner. Kyrianna was the one sibling he had any care for and seeing her in that state devastated him. However, the way his masked sibling was enjoying the pain she was putting her through, was unimaginable to him.


    He wondered what was going through her mind. What emotion did she have at that exact moment? For the rest of his years, he continued searching for the answer, all so he could truly take it in, when he got his revenge back on her. Just as he had promised his sister that day, as he put her back together.


    However, he now felt he could no longer keep that promise. Razor frozen, iron blades, manifested out of the blood dome in millions and surrounded him, spinning at hypersonic speed. It was pitch dark, but he could still feel the Nova''s eyes on him.


    "I''m not going to  remember you after this. Suffer..." Nur said as she clutched her right hand in front of her. "Flow: Blood Blending!"


    Lingering Iko from those that had died, climbed over each other to keep him in place, while each razor, took their turn, ripping him apart. The heat was unbearable and beginning to flay his skin.


    He could still feel her glaring at him through the dome, then at last, he let up his attack, accepting defeat. His mind had started to fade, but Kyrianna popped into his mind once more, as he started to choke on the contents of the dome.


    "Kyri, I''m sorry I couldn''t do it, but... There might be someone who can...." He thought, as the last molecules of him, dissolved within the dome, then imploded apart. Raining dark red blood everywhere and unnaturally avoiding the Nova as she looked up at the sky.


    Frostbite had taken over her body as her right arm shattered into pieces, along with her temporary ice eye. Her body temperature was at the lowest it had ever been, and she was beginning to feel drowsy.


    However, despite all of the pain, only one thing crossed her mind. "Zaiden, Hector.... Maria." She whispered. "I''m sorry I couldn''t protect you."

 The Defence of Alkebulan

    Seventy-two thousand missiles crossed into Earth''s atmosphere, bypassing the planet''s defences and scattering across the African continent. The Alkebulan Defence Dome fired back, intercepting 94% percent of the incoming projectiles.


    The continent united their greatest minds to one cause, protecting the motherland. Allowing many technological advances to develop in which the world had yet to see. Along with many other countries in the World that had joined the Federation, Sarah had provided blueprints and resources they would need to protect their countries from any alien invasion.


    However, the Kirosian fleets advancing on Earth were undeterred and it wasn''t the only greeting they had in store for their hosts. Soldiers in raider jets poured out of ships, descending on Dakar, Tunis, Cairo, Nairobi and Johannesburg. Guardians of each country, rushed to the center, with their militaries backing them up. The long fight had begun.


    Prince Dacaari and Thyra were advised by their generals to begin their advance on Earth, with Africa, as the Cerian invasion would likely continue on to the west side of the world and to the south. The assumption was that once their forces would likely meet, they would need the resources of the rich continent. Along with the fact, that the terrain and environment of the land weren''t too different from what they were used to back home.


    Kirosian soldiers roared as they landed, knowing that many of their comrades had become shields for them to touch down. African artillery had brought down many ships and raiders before they had started to become overrun. It at first seemed as though, everything would go well since Kirosian tech was as advanced as Earth''s and it was the Federation''shome territory. However, the ratio of power between Kiros and Beyond was evident.


    Beyond''s ships, along with many of the world''s remaining vessels, held up a stalemate against a portion of the advancing armada. However, the one''s that got through and landed, brought forth the biggest problem Earth was facing.


    Kirosian warriors lived, breathed and glorified battle. It was their way of life, derived to cope with the conditions of the Dark Sector. Even with their advancements in technology and becoming a space-faring civilization, they still managed to maintain their traditions and customs. Messages and lessons that were revealed to them through blessed abnormals and shamans over the last 2000 years. For their people to prepare for the deadliest enemy.


    As such, once the people found out about the Dark One''s presence on Earth, many enlisted for the battle. Numbering over 330 million warriors, eager to join the crusade. Such an amount surprised the Kings, prompting them to immediately place them under their children''s command. Instructing them to do one thing.


    "Prove yourself."


    Over the skies of Abuja...


    Dacaari descended out of the skies of Abuja, thinking he had managed to shake his guard, however, she appeared right behind him, in a blur of fire.


    The stoic expression she always wore, had barely been affected by the long trip, as he tried to lose her from Dakar. Sadira had always given all of her orders the utmost priority. Which eased his mind, when it came to security but pissed him off when he wanted to go off on his own. Even though the King believed in his son, he knew better than to let him wander alone in enemy territory.


    The Prince overlooked the beautiful city, wondering what would be the most fun thing to do first. However greeting him in the sky within moments were the Nigerian Guardians, Aminu and Tomi. He smiled, excited by the challenge.


    Tomi, raised his finger towards him, along with his voice. "Intruder, are you affiliated with the invaders? If so, surrender now, and you won''t be harmed."


    Dacaari''s grin blew into full-blown laughter. He snapped his fingers, as a massive ship, appeared out of camouflage, casting a large shadow over the city. "Scatter the sky screens." He ordered as thousands of Telemonitors, shot out of every Kirosian ship, and scattered across the entire world. An alien voice called out to them, forcing everyone on Earth to look up at the sky.


    "People of this glorious land. You''re time has come. I have come to deliver on my Father''s promise." He spread his hands out wide, manifesting a sphere of fire in one palm and a miniature sun in the other. "From today onwards, Kiros will purge this planet of all of you cretins and I, Prince Dacaari, along with Princess Thyra..." The camera split to the princess, who had just descended out of Nairobi''s skies, along with the Dai Hito, Delgan. Then it focused back on him, as the Guardians charged, however, Sadira intercepted them, with quick bursts of fire and knocked them back.


    The prince continued, unbothered. "...Will present this cleansed planet, to their Majesties. So please, those of you who can fight, make this enjoyable for us. Let my warriors be tested before the Gods, so that, they may enter the Great Halls of Varkkalla. If not, let them sharpen their blades for the enemy of the night."


    He combined the two spheres, creating an ominous ball of energy, that continued to grow by the second. "Va''oria, burn it all!" Dacaari yelled, as a colossal, obsidian-black dragon, dove out of the ship floating above him and began flying towards Cameroon.


    ''Yes Master.'' The Dragon replied back, as thousands of Raider jets accompanied it, at full speed.


    The Prince raised his palm, holding his attack up for the World to see, as he concluded his speech. "Hide, scream, run, it doesn''t matter. Humans of Earth, this is your last day."


    The once small, now massive, burning sphere, rotated at the speed of sound, above, his head. Then as he gripped his fist, the gigantic ball exploded upwards. The Guardians watched in horror, as they struggled to get past the Dai Hito and other Kirosian warriors that had started to pour out of the ship.


    Molten rocks and debris filled the sky, then began to dip back down into the city. Civilians & onlookers going about their day in buildings and on the streets looked up, watching the sky suddenly burn. However, before any of the burning rocks and fire could touch down, they were each intercepted by volleys of fire, and stones rising from the ground.


    Dacaari looked confused as to who the culprit could be, but his questions were answered a second later. He smiled realizing who they were. "The Novas."


    On cue, Sofia and Amir attacked Sadira with a combined attack, and they fell out of the sky. However, to their surprise, the Dai Hito was prepared for them, as she shifted into first gear to blow apart the colossal burning boulder they attempted to greet her with.


    The explosion blew the Novas back, but they quickly regrouped with the Guardians and introduced themselves while facing her.


    "We''re here to lend a hand!" Sofia spoke to the both of them as they nodded back.


    Sadira glanced at each of her challengers and smiled, then got into a battle stance, just as a reddish-blue streak of fire, descended at an alarming through the sky. She became conflicted realizing, it wasn''t aiming for her.


    The Prince quickly raised his arm above his head and reinforced it with magma and telekinetic force, right on time as Tai crashed into it with his fist first. the prince grinned wide like he had just gotten the best present ever. "Finally, I get to meet one of you!"


    The Nova couldn''t believe how he was being held back so easily. He had placed his entire might into the strike, with glowing orangish-red veins, coursing through his body. Over the last six months, he had pushed himself over and over in his training, along with Nate and Runa, to perfect the first gear.


    He had been feeling disappointed in himself as he didn''t have the same growth rate as the others. Of the second generation that joined at the same time as him, he had been feeling the most behind. However, as faced the fearsome, Kirosian Prince before him, he realized that none of that mattered.


    He had to win.


    Dacaari pushed him back, without much effort, as they stared each other down. Fire burned around them, as tensions between them increased. Tai wasn''t one to talk much, but the Prince''s unnerving grin, made him want to put him into his place. "Attacking us, while our main force is gone, very brave of you Kirosian warriors."


    "Hmph, this land is as good as ours, why should we have to wait any longer to take it?" Dacaari replied.


    The Nigerian Guardians were relieved to have some support. At the same moment, they got updates in their comms. The Algerian and Senegalese Guardians were bringing over other ones from all over Africa. Nearly every country in Africa had their own deployed, helping the continent repel the invaders.


    They were relieved, knowing the population would be taken care of. Amina turned towards Tomi. "Help the Nova against that messed up Prince. We''ll take care of her."


    He nodded, then took off to join Tai, however Sadira who had been aware of their movements, acted first. Within seconds, she beamed out a condensed ball of fire too quick for him to react to. However, a wave of ice intercepted it, letting him go scoff-free.


    The Dai Hito looked back at the culprit, who had assumed a battle stance and began gathering energy. "You lot, are not worth my time. The Prince''s safety is my highest priority."


    Aminu smiled back, "Then you shouldn''t have attacked us."


    Ground Zero Nairobi...


    Muzzle fire, ripples through the city, alongside tremors and aftermaths of elemental powers being set off. The Kirosian Princess was surprised at how smoothly the invasion was proceeding. She oversaw everything from the front line herself.


    A large amount of her warriors pushed a section of the city, the Kenyan army had barred off. Leading the defence, were the Kenyan and Ethiopian Guardians, repelling back hordes of Kirosian warriors, rushing the line. A gigantic stone wall was raised up around the buildings, with numerous stone golems, above it. Moments later, large bursts of fire spurt out of the hands of each of the golems. Razing down the warriors surging the wall.


    The screams of burning soldiers, rang through the field, as the others marched forward, creating barriers of ice, earth fire. Hundreds of volleys of each element were launched back, intensifying the exchange.


    Thyra watched as raider jets, zoomed above the wall, bombarding the hold, before trying to circle back. However, only a few were able to return, as the Kenyan army had shot them down.


    She shook her head. "I guess I need to join them."


    Cobalt blue and chrome vein markings snaked their way across her body as she ascended to the first gear. Then she dove down and crashed through the makeshift fortress. Shocking the Guardians, as they had to shift their focus from the warriors trying to scour the walls.


    A second had only passed by, but they both knew they had to act fast. One raised multiple stone walls in front of them and an armour of rocks, to protect themselves as they leaped back, while the other stopped their flames through the fortress and began turning to help.


    The Princess burrowed through without losing speed and nearly reached the Guardian before they had even landed. Dozens of spiked-shaped rocks reshaped themselves out of their barriers and aimed for her. However, instead of fearing for her life, she smirked, as they were obliterated and repelled back, by her telekinetic force. In the next second, she struck the Gaurdian, with enough force to blow their stone armour clean off of them as they sailed through their fortress'' walls and into the Kirosian horde, relentlessly pressing on.


    The Kenyan Gaurdian yelled at the top of their lungs, psyching themselves up, after seeing what had happened to his comrade. Thyra had just landed but didn''t hesitate to spin around and leap to reciprocate his charge, as he raged fire, all around them.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Their fists connected dozens of times over, making it seem like they were at a stalemate. however what the Guardian had not noticed, was how much colder it had gotten around them and how each of his flames, within seconds would die out. then the chill got to him, as he started to shiver.


    "Wow, you can''t even keep yourself warm." The Princess remarked, disappointed, as the Guardian watched her reach back and strike him, with a glove of electric and telekinetic force.


    She sighed, knowing he would never walk again. Everything was just as expected, much to her dismay. She suspected that the continent would fall, in less than an hour, but now that she was on the field, it didn''t seem like it would take that long.


    Suddenly, her senses began to flare. She noticed the small hairs on her arms begin to rise, then she looked up and shifted back into first gear, just in time to block the Nova''s strike.


    Blue lightning, razed the ground around them as Runa put everything she could into her right foot. When she noticed the Princess not budging, she spun in midair and threw a right hook, gathering all of the remaining electricity in their vicinity.


    However, the ease at which Thyra repelled her, unnerved her. The Nova had already switched into first gear, before descending.


    ''Don''t stop, find an opening." She told herself, as she hopped back, cladded in electricity and drew her short swords, then zipped back at Thyra even faster.


    The Princess was impressed, each strike forced her further away from her position. That''s when she noticed the insignia and logo etched on Runa''s new suit. Tempered for greater output and durability. Saphyra was always looking for new ways to increase their chances of survival.


    "Not bad." Thyra admired, as she was forced to draw her sword on Runa''s last strike. She hopped back on her toes, smirked, and then took off running, while lightning chased her at Runa''s command. The princess took to the air, to avoid the discharge from the strikes, as the Nova chased her.


    Abruptly, Thyra spun around to face her, colliding sword first with her opponent as she grinned, but was surprised to be knocked back. She threw her right hand forth and manifested thousands of ice spikes, charged with electric and static force.


    Runa didn''t fear the looming shadow above her, but she didn''t hesitate to begin descending to the ground and running as fast as she could. Up until there was nowhere to escape.


    The Princess caught up, grinning as she clutched her hand. On command, all of spiked, converged towards Nova, sealing her fate.


    "Static: Thunderstones," Runa whispered, as seven versillium stones rose out of the ground below her and were struck by lightning. Then, within the next moment, The Nova proceeded, to cut down each spike aiming for her, along with the orbs, moving on their own.


    Thyra was thrown, by what she had just done. "Was she a blessed..." She thought, before deciding to take her chance. Runa was distracted and wouldn''t see it coming.


    She teleported in and lunged for the strike, before stopping short, as a versillium orb shot up from the ground right behind her. ''How did they get past my senses?'' She thought as she watched the Nova flip her sword, after repelling a spike and stabbing backwards.


    "Static: Raskt Lyn"Shooting a blade of electricity right through the Princess and into the orb. Which glowed whit-hot, as it reflected it once more and even stronger to finish the job.


    With quick instincts, Thyra managed to deflect it and teleport out of the way. She landed not too far from Runa, as everything around them settled down. That was when she noticed the second Nova, hidden not too far away.


    Karim was floating on a rock nearby, helping Runa as much as he could. He had opted out of many missions after he had been discharged in his and Helio''s fight against Mikrel. However, he knew that the Federation would need him here.


    He clutched his hand, as the massive plate of versillium he had been moving underground, provided by Saphyra, moved within the Princess''s range, and restrained her feet. With metal clasps, moulding on and bonding her still, within a second.


    "Finish this!" Thyra heard him shout as she felt his grasp on him through the iko running through the restraints, making her life difficult. Quickly she glanced over at Runa, who had already been crouching. Only waiting for the lightning she had summoned to strike, before leaving behind a smoking trail, on her way to her.


    There were only a handful of milliseconds for her to react, however, the Princess went with the one most obvious to her. ''Drop the act.''


    Incredible pressure manifested around her, as her restraints were instantly obliterated. Runa had managed to withstand the pressure for a few seconds, as ice and a mix of violet and blue static electricity, whipped around her and carved away their surroundings. She noticed the Princess''s long hair, glowing completely silver, before settling to an even mix, as the pressure died down. Not completely before the Nova and their surroundings were cleared away.


    "You humans do hide, but don''t cower. I''m impressed. Many have put up a fight against us but most run or flee... Save the wealthiest and leave the rest to die... However, you guys are actually trying to kill me." Thyra remarked as she watched Runa struggle to get up and spring back at her.


    She knew that they had gotten too close. Her guard was down, as she had always felt the need to hold back, to show what was befitting of her status, as the first Princess of Kiros.


    Ice frosted over the hole, next to her heart and within her body. Gently mending what she could, to recover herself.


    She wasn''t sure why a memory flashed through her mind, of her time on the Alzora. She was in her quarters, quietly looking through her large glass windows and gazing at the stars on their way to Earth. Dacaari barged in, intruding on her peace.


    "Where is my son?!" It was the first time, he had been alone with her in a while and he carried a lot pent up on his mind. She had been avoiding him, for months and left no explanation.


    The Princess looked to the side with her arms, with her arms crossed and rolled her eyes. She had loose pyjamas on but still didn''t want him to see her like this, especially since they were no longer intimate. During the dozen or so, seconds of silence they spent glaring at each other, she wondered how he was able to get the override request to her room.


    She thought hard for one more minute as he reiterated the question. this time even louder. Then spoke when she finally felt ready.


    "Kiros can''t have him." She turned around to finally face the Prince, standing strong as she did so.


    "What do you mean?" Dacaari replied, confused. She had always spoken in puzzles, even when they were kids, fighting each other.


    "All of this, we grew up with. The killing, the pillaging and conquering. I don''t want him to grow up with that." Thyra added and spoke I''m disgusted.


    "There are invaders everywhere. It was the only thing that helped our people survive the Dark Sector. Did you think our ancestors could have driven off the dwarves, by being weak? That was the first time our villages saw spaceships and missiles. How about our grandfathers slaying the dragons? Or our fathers defeating the giants?" The Prince was mad. He wasn''t going to leave without a proper answer.


    "Yes I won''t deny, that all of their efforts gave us peace, but now, who are we fighting?" She paused as Dacaari tried to find a good answer. However, she didn''t let him finish. "Because all I see is innocents, running in fear of us, our whole life. Other than the Cerian Empire."


    She walked back over to the window and placed her hands on the sill. "Even these humans we are going to invade, they are not yet lost ones and haven''t been for millions of years. Yes, their Commander is terrifying for being able to come back to life but..."


    The Princess shook her head and sighed. "I watched you order 20 million of our men to die, with no emotions. That''s the kind of life you want waiting for our child? That''s who you want him to be?"


    The Prince squinted his eyes, picking up on something. "We had to get past the Dirillian stronghold somehow. However, the way you''re speaking... You''ve been listening to the Nuns of the Kaios Temple haven''t you?" He watched as she turned around, guilty of his accusation. His anger rose even further when a thought crossed his mind. "Are they who you gave our son to?!... They are way worse than we are!"


    Thyra paced the window, slowly thinking of what to say, as he continued to berate her. "Are you in your right mind?!"


    She gritted her teeth angrily. She didnt like it when he called her crazy. "They move differently now. They preach peace and many people are starting to drop their swords and move to cities. It''s been a hundred years since the reign of dragons have fallen on both of our planets. My son does not need to fight anymore."


    She walked closer to him as she dropped her tone. "You know the pressure we grew up with. Out of all your siblings, you were born with three abilities, just like me. However, our son only has two."


    Dacaari sighed as he took a step back away from her. She stepped closer and tried to meet his eyes. "You know that he''ll be scrutinized, attacked and entrusted with so many responsibilities, that his little mind won''t be able to think. It''s always by the third and fourth generation, where a blessed abnormal''s descendants suffer the most."


    The Prince finally looked her in the eye. "He won''t go through any of that. We will protect him. Once Earth has been conquered, the only threat left in the galaxy is the Cerian Empire."


    The Princess nodded, "I know, that''s why until then, I want to keep him safe and away from the public. Once everything is settled and Kiros is safe, I will go raise him myself and leave the throne to you."


    Dacaari''s eyebrow rose. "You''re willing to do that?"


    Thyra closed her eyes and pursed her lips. "I know our fathers promised to give us the throne equally, but I have no interest in that. If you promise to keep him a secret, then I''ll keep my people at bay and hand over all power to you."


    The Prince sighed. "At least let me see him."


    The Princess smiled. "I will."


    He started to make his leave, but he turned once more before. "Then you have to make sure tomorrow..."


    "Make sure of what?" Thyra asked, confused.


    "Make sure you don''t lose."


    She smiled once again. "I won''t."


    Now, in the present, as she watched the Nova zip back at her, clad in light stone and electric armour, she repeated her promise, as her anger rose. "I can''t lose."


    Their swords met midway, as shockwaves of immense force rippled around them. Then, Runa found herself flying back into a car, parked not too far away. The Princess, rose to the sky as she clutched her first.


    The massive versillium plate Karim had tunnelled beneath her, crumpled up, with large clumps of soil and rocks, then began spinning as Thyra filled it with billions of volts of static electricity. Telekinetic force lined it like an outer shell, adding pressure until everything within became molten hot.


    "I''ll return this back to you. Thanks for the present!" She yelled, before teleporting it sky-high and dropping it at sonic speed towards Karim, hidden behind a few buildings.


    The Nova had felt her hostility and had already been in preparation to defend himself and retreat. However, when he looked up at the sky and saw the small meteorite, most of those thoughts, turned to despair.


    Runa got up, just as the car caught fire, then saw the large explosion where her comrade had been. "Karim!" She yelled, distracting her in the moment, as the Princess, appeared right beside her and grabbed her by her face, then teleported, back deeper into the city, as she crashed through, ten high-rises. teleporting as they crashed through everyone until they got to the next.


    On the last building, the Nova was disoriented and flowing in and out of consciousness. However, she could feel the Princess throw her, face first over 300 feet high before she grabbed her hair and began spinning her in midair.


    Violet lightning struck them, aiding their momentum and stinging Runa more, as she could not handle that many volts. Then with the force of wind, telekinesis and electricity, Thyra threw her down into the ground, causing the city to shake, as several buildings collapsed around them.


    The Gen 3 holding back the Kirosian advance, as well as other African Guardians helping in the effort, noticed the large explosion and hurried to the center. Leaving fire, ice and stone golems to help the Kenyan army, Beyond and Anti-Alien forces protect the city.


    Thyra stared at the Nova who had almost cost her life. Broken and bloody in the crater, she created. There was silence, between them, as Runa continued to glare at her, refusing to fall asleep. She no longer had the strength to grab the booster in her pack. She knew she was ultimately done for.


    Volleys of all elements sailed across the crater, towards the center, aiming for the Princess floating above her. The Nova inched her head and witnessed the Gen 3 and Guardians all rushing her with a storm of volleys. Yelling as they did so. The fear they felt from the monster before them, was present however they knew they weren''t safe as long as she was around.


    Yet, every attack they threw at her, was deflected back by a dome of force and electricity, protecting her at all times. To them, she was nearly untouchable.


    Each of them, flinched, the moment she began raising her left hand. However, they didn''t stop firing. Many began gathering energy together for one massive attack but stopped short as soon as they heard her speak.


    "Regora Ans, Colmaci." Instantly above them. Millions of ice spikes, charged with electricity and layered with telekinetic force, covered the vicinity. There was nowhere to run and not everyone had evacuated.


    Runa yelled out, realizing the extent of damage that was about to be done. The amount of casualties they would not be able to recover. "No! Don''t do this!"


    The Princess sighed and shook her head. "You''re people are filth. One drop of dark energy would contaminate this planet and create a force of Lost Ones. We''re doing you all a favour." She concluded as the rain of spikes showered over the city. causing chaos. The Gen 3 and Gaurdians ran for their lives, however, the Somalian Gaurdian, Hamza Dahir, rushed to the center.


    Manifesting a dome of ice over Runa as he did so. She yelled at him to run and escape, as the first bombs of spikes landed around them, but he ignored her and grabbed a booster out of his pack while continuing to heal her with his abilities.


    "You can win. Please protect my home!" It had only been a dozen or so seconds since they had met, but the anger she felt, as she watched, his dying eyes fade out, was unbearable. The man hung over her, with a spike of ice through his back and out of his chest, discharging electricity. He plopped to the side avoiding her, with the last of his strength.


    The nanites were working but she did not have enough strength to get up. The Gaurdian had not had time to heal much other than major cuts and bruises. Inner pain and fatigue still tore through her, as her abilities and side effects did little to help.


    Runa could feel all of the Gen 3 and Gaurdians dead, as well as thousands of people around them. It was a horrifying feeling, letting all of them down. She was a Nova, the others wouldn''t be defeated like this, she thought. Harming herself even more.


    Suddenly pressure, started to build up above her, pressing her down. She looked up as she watched Thyra, assess her. "Women like you are strong, I want you to join my ranks. Fall asleep now."


    The pressure increased as the Nova screamed. She could no longer hold on. The darkness was calling. As her vision faded out, she noticed volleys of lava crash into the Princess, lightening her hold.


    Thyra looked up and smiled. A burn mark appeared on the arm she had used to block the volley. "Queen of Azuria, I''m honoured to be in your presence. However, we were instructed to leave your people alone, should you not interfere with our conquest." The Princess could feel the Queen''s anger rising as she ignored her and continued to stare at Runa. "What relation do you have with this Nova?"


    Yori turned towards her angrily, as she switched into second gear. "She is my pupil!"


    Runa''s eyes had fallen closed at that moment. She couldn''t see her teacher, but she could feel her. It seemed as though she was going into a deep slumber, however, she wasn''t unconscious. Rather, her mind still brimming with the will to fight, took her somewhere else. Somewhere, she was not supposed to be.

 The Novas of the Shadow Division

    Over Abuja, Tai and Tomi vs Dacaari...


    The Nova knew it was all of nothing. He needed to make every strike count and conserve his energy. ''This day was not going to end early.'' He thought as the Prince sized him up while checking out his new grey and red Nova suit. When Dacaari was done, he burst out laughing.


    "Do none of you humans, wield your own power?" Dacaari asked amazed.


    Tai was about to answer, however, just then, the Nigerian Guardian arrived by his side. "I''m here to assist you." The man greeted, as Tai nodded back.


    "Be careful, he''s dangerous." The Nova advised while Tomi assessed the threat before them.


    The Prince was impressed by how they faced him. Intriguing him so much so, that it brought about his playful nature. "A two-on-one... Even so, this isn''t enough. Hmm, I don''t even want to move from this spot. The view of this city from up here is beautiful, but I''m bored, and if you can''t cure my boredom-" He raised his right hand to the side and conjured up a massive fireball, condensed over with telekinetic force. While pointing it towards a crowded part of the city.


    "I will just find someone who can." He concluded with an unnerving grin.


    Alarmed, Tomi immediately rushed at him, while Tai first tried calling him back, then decided to follow behind him. However moments before they could reach him, Dacaari lifted his other hand and threw forth a wide shockwave, throwing the Guardian back, while the Nova resisted.


    Through the force, Tai could see that the man was enjoying this. Two miniature spheres of fire manifested, within his palms, before he smashed them together in front of him.


    "Ignite: Chun Huo." The Nova yelled, as a white-hot beam of fire, spiralling light streaks of blue, erupted out of the collision of spheres and jetted towards the Prince.


    Instead of fearing for his life, the Prince smiled and dissipated the fireball, then placed both of his hands in front of him, as five large slates of rock and metal, suddenly appeared before him, at his command. Cracks of air lined the slates as they settled in one uniform line before him, and shielded him from the fire. "Solkyr, Marg Eyr!"


    Even with each of the slates, covered with telekinetic force, they shattered, before the beam moved on the next, before finally reaching the Prince, who remained facing it without fear. When the Nova stopped his attack to see the man''s state, he was furious.


    ''How much was he holding back?'' Tai thought angrily. ''He hadn''t even transformed yet.''


    Dacaari seemed like an unshatterable wall that he couldn''t hope to dent. However, he didn''t want to back down. He started preparing another ball of fire in his palm, but before he could finish he watched the Prince deflect a lightning strike, summoned by the Guardian, then the man raised his hand, high above his head and shouted at the top of his lungs.


    "Solkyr, Kol Olcera."


    There was a low rumbling for a moment before a sudden outburst of weapons made out of lava, shot out of the ground like fireworks. Rampaging in all directions on fire, he wrapped them in telekinetic force.


    The Nova managed to blow apart a few coming right at him but then hurried to get outta the way, as the heaviest outpour continued from around the Prince. Who stood floating at the center, as it rippled into the city. People screamed and ran for cover, however, there was almost nothing that could shield them from the burning swords, and axes.


    Tomi was furious. He kept darting his eyes around quickly, as he tried to intercept as many as he could with volleys of fire before they reached civilians. Then gave up, as his glare settled on Dacaari. "Nova, is there a way to reach him?" He asked Tai, who had just been pushed back close to him.


    The Nova looked him over, then took in the scene of the city below. He could tell how angry, the Guardian was, as he was too. He didn''t know how he''d feel if it was his city, however, the reality of the threat reaching his home was likely if they couldn''t stop them there. It wasn''t easy being a Nova and it sometimes felt overwhelming to him.


    However, each time he saw the other Novas get stronger and surpass themselves, it would motivate him once again to give it his all. The Nova looked back at Tomi with reaffirmed confidence. "Cover me, I''ll make it to him.."


    The reddish-orange vein marks coursing along his body glowed harder and pulsed faster, as he began to gather energy. The Prince looked at Tai and wondered with interest, what he was going to do next as the outpour of burning weapons below him, continued to rain down on the city.


    A group of the Gen 3 Novas and Nigeria''s Anti-Alien task force., rushed in to evacuate people out of the center. Tai''s anger continued to skyrocket, due to the Dacaari''s smug look as he egged them on.


    The Nova covered his eyes with his left hand, as a light flame burst out and covered his eyes. However, they weren''t hot, instead as he revealed his technique, the fire had shrunk down into two rotating clear lenses, spinning at high speed.


    "Ignite: Eyes of the Monkey King." He said, as he rubbed the last flame on and dropped his hand to his side. The lens looked like transparent glass, with wisps of smoke and sprites of fire connecting the two, complete with a strap around his head, boosting his observational iko.


    He got into a battle stance.


    After a lot of training, he found his own ways to efficiently make use of his element in combat. ''He isn''t a child of Atlas, but he is still strong.'' Tai reminded himself, as he cooled his nerves. One moment was all he needed.


    The Gaurdian smiled and raised a hand towards him. "Get him." He said, as he raised his hand towards the Nova and manifested him an armour of static electricity, to boost his speed.


    "Thanks," Tai replied, then rocketed off towards the Prince. Thousands of projectiles blocked his way, as he sidestepped, dodged and blasted apart each burning attack.


    His eyes were working in overtime, as the lenses spun in place and continued to help him see each weapon faster and predict where they were coming from. Which gave him the freedom to focus his other senses on the Prince.


    ''Twenty meters,'' He thought as he drew his new red and silver versillium sword, which Saphyra had specially designed for him. The barrage had become far more intense as he got closer to the center. Yet he continued to parry any that came in his way, without losing sight of Dacaari.


    ''Ten meters.''


    The Prince, who had been curiously watching his unnatural movements, smiled as he started to brace himself since he had felt something coming.


    The Nova switched his sword to his left hand as he gathered fire in his right, burning white-hot, with wisps of blue. "Now Tomi!"


    Two strikes of lightning were summoned, both aiming for the same vicinity. With one, the Guardian had struck a burning clump of metal and debris, which he had managed to raise with static electricity into the sky, then moulted it into the shape of a sword, before Tai had set fire to it. It had taken them a tremendous amount of effort to not let Dacaari notice what they were doing, but worth it with what they would achieve.


    "Static: Sword of the Stone King." Tomi, yelled, as both the lightning he summoned, and Tai''s fire, aided its descent.


    The makeshift burning sword, rocketed down towards the Prince, as he looked up. Surprised by the attempt, but yet nonetheless unimpressed.


    There was a loud crack and a deafening explosion when the sword finally reached Dacaari''s telekinetic barrier. A cluster of cracks shattered the air around him as smoke, dust and burning debris covered his vicinity. He felt taken lightly by what they had just thrown at him and irritatedly wanted to resume his focus back to the Nova.


    "What are they up to?" He asked before quickly raising both of his arms in front of his face while shifting into first gear.


    "Ignite: Hu¨¯ Qu¨¢n!" Tai yelled as his fist burned white-hot, powered by reddish-orange flames, with a dash of blue fire. Then, connected with the Prince''s arms, the impact shook the city and sent Dacaari on a collision course to the center.


    The Nova and the Guardian rushed there, hoping to see him down, or at the very least injured. However, what they saw instead, was him standing up amongst the rubble with a completely different demeanour.


    "Ahhh, That was good. I didn''t expect to be surprised like that." He brushed off the dust on his suit and fixed his undone, long brown hair, sprawled over his face. "You humans are different. I''ll give you the respect you asked for."


    An ominous silence followed his words, as his hair suddenly and slowly flashed completely silver, several times as incredible pressure seemed to begin emanating from him. The very earth beneath them began to shake, while white-lined cracks fizzled in and out of the air around them. Vibrating rapid shocks paralyzed the pair, as they braced an intense circular outburst of fire, flaring from the Prince.


    Dacaari grinned as his hair settled into an even mix of brown and silver, while his storm green eyes seemed to rip right through them. Explosions and gunfire, resounded not so far away, as the Prince''s Command Spaceship returned to the city''s skies, to resume its domain of terror, after having downed several of Beyond''s vessels.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Tai and Tomi were perplexed. They knew that the threat level of the mission was high, however, the gap in strength between them and their opponent, was far greater than they nor Saphyra could have anticipated. Although Beyond had been monitoring the Kirosian Sector, ever since Mado and Rael visited the Solar System, there was almost no info they could gather, about the Dark Kings'' children.


    They had always been off-world, conquering and terraforming planets in the Dark Sector. An area still unfamiliar to the Federation, and seemingly teethed with the unknown.


    "Move!" The Nova yelled back at the Gaurdian, startling him from the monster he could not tear his gaze from. Tai hit Tomi with a burst of fire to begin his momentum, while frantically manifesting him a flame dome to shield him as best as he could.


    However, there was nothing he could do. As he leaped back and raised his arms, an instant flash of telekinetic force and fire, whipped past him as Dacaari appeared in front of the dome with cracks of shattered air and kicked it, spinning as he did so.


    Exposed, Tomi quickly raised his arms to cover his face as he called forth lightning, then exploded it out of himself in a shockwave of electricity, but as he watched the Prince withstand it and continue to kick him once more. He knew he had lost.


    His arms shattered first, as his head spun back 180 degrees, before Dacaari struck him down once and for all, from the air. Tai unable to do anything, could only roar back in return as he tried to summon courage. The Guardian had managed to buff him with static electricity and the last of his energy before he passed. He hated being powerless. ''What can I do?'' He thought as he raised his fire to his utmost limits. "I''ll bring you down no matter what!"


    The Prince grinned, then shook his head, as he wrapped his hands in lava, fire and telekinetic force. "No, you won''t."


    Provoked, the Nova freed himself from all of his doubts. "Ignite: Sun King, Loongscale Battle Robe!" A wild burst of fire, manifested and whipped around his body, then mixed harmoniously with the static electricity, that had been left for him. There wasn''t anything left, it was all or nothing.


    The Prince reciprocated his charge, resounding a shockwave that rattled his bones along with the sieged city. Yet he yelled and continued to strike, as he tried to find an opening. However, all he could do was watch as Dacaari blocked every one of his strikes as if he were in training, then felt the breeze as he was knocked off his feet, with the Prince''s counterattack.


    Flying hundreds of meters away, before his opponent reappeared behind him, elbow first as Dacaari locked fists with the other hand to help dig it deeper into his back. Tai gasped as he choked on his air and heard his spine crack. There wasn''t a moment to register the pain as the Prince finished off his combo and crashed him out of the sky.


    Every building in their vicinity was levelled, or burning. Tai laid faced down in a crater, in the most intense amount of pain he had ever felt in his life and unable to move. Dacaari''s footsteps were close, but his voice reached him even faster.


    "You humans are fascinating. I wish I could have faced your Commander, Tobi, but you gave me hope that maybe one of you can give me the battle I''ve been looking for." Tai could barely see the Prince but could make out the unsatisfied look on his face.


    ''How many losses was this now?'' The Nova thought to himself. '' The child of Atlas, Arcah...The Dai Hito, Tose and now the Kirosian Prince.'' His mind descended into defeat, as he lost all hope.


    "I... am not a Nova." He finally admitted, as he gripped the dirt beneath his hands desperately, before releasing them, as he completely took in the failure of his duties.


    Dacaari looked him over as a small core of lava manifested and hovered above his palm before he set fire to it. He shook his head, then used telekinetic force to pressurize the burning sphere. "It''s not your fault, it''s just the weakness of your species. If you were never meant to fly, you shouldn''t have."


    Tai cursed, as he braced for the end, however he had started to feel a large amount of energy coming from a third party up above them. Volleys of the five elements targeted the prince, forcing him to jump back away from the Nova. Angry, he didn''t hesitate though to increase the size and might of his attack, before launching his sphere at his ambushers instead.


    The seven were equipped with all-black stealth suits, similar to the Nova suits, but came along with matching mask-like helmets, hiding their identities. Bands spelling ''Beyond,'' etched out on their right arms, while the left had their digits printed in the same font.


    Four of the seven had already landed, surrounding Tai in an ''A'' - like formation, as they raised their defences. Two of them ignored the situation and began reaching into their packs, for boosters and medicine to treat the Nova. The last, before dropping down behind them, aimed at the Prince''s sphere and threw his hands forth.


    "Ignite: Static Cannon!"


    A concentrated beam of fire, lava and electricity, intercepted the attack with equal might. Blowing back, boulders, dust and terrain as the two parties faced each other. Dacaari was angry, but an inexplainable feeling was beginning to well up within him, after witnessing what the last one had done.


    "Another Blessed Abnormal?... But there was supposed to be no more left on Earth?" His confusion turned to excitement, as he started to raise his energy. He grinned, while adrenaline rushed through his veins and an ominous aura emanated from him, unnerving his guests, before he addressed them.  "I wasn''t aware that there was another capable defending force on Earth, other than the Guardians or the Novas. I was just about to kill that one. So... who might you all be?"


    The one at the forefront with the number ''004,'' stepped up and cleared her throat. "We are Novas of the Shadow Division. Prince Dacaari of Kiros, for the benefit of the Federation, Beyond has given us the order for your removal."


    The Prince started to laugh, loudly. "I just settled here... Remove me from what?" Although he asked the question, he wasn''t planning on waiting for a reply. In the next moment, he raised his hands and quickly manifested another miniature Sun within a second, then fired it at the group, unforgiving of their audacity.


    However, in the split seconds after, a dense dome manifested from the ground up out of all five elements and shielded the group. Dacaari, again watched perplexed as his attack connected with the dome and caused a devastating explosion. Yet the dome had barely caved apart but was allowed so when the smoke had cleared.


    004, who was still standing in the same position, unsheathed her sword and raised her energy, as her comrades did the same. "From this world of course." She replied to his earlier question.


    The last one that had landed, had the number 003 etched on his left arm. To the Prince, he was the one he could not seem to tear his eyes off of and had the most aura emanating from him. When he spoke, they all listened.


    "Shadows, engage." Seemed to be the words they were waiting for, as the six all shifted into second gear, then leaped at Dacaari, launching an all-out assault. The Prince laughed, as he defended and reciprocated each strike, then teleported whenever they got too close, embracing the challenge.


    003 stood by the fallen Nova and began treating him, using his ice abilities. Tai had kept himself awake, confused about what was happening. He had never heard of the Shadow Division, or the fact that there were other Novas, aside from the ones he had been with.


    However, the biggest question that bugged his mind was the identity of the Shadow that was treating him. Tai knew that the dome that was raised was only created with a single iko. Which meant it came from the man before him, along with the attack he had first used, who he was only familiar with Tobi and Kiala using.


    ''Who was he?'' The question wrung through the Nova''s mind as he struggled for an answer.


    003 started to speak, startling Tai out of his thoughts. "Your spine should be mended back together soon and the booster will help dissipate the pain temporarily."


    Tai raised his head, he was shuddering, as the pain started to alleviate. He didn''t know what to think anymore. Part of him wanted to fight, but the other half of him was defeated. Yet he still wanted to find out the identity of the familiar person before him.


    He felt as though he had met 003 somewhere before, but couldn''t pinpoint where. The iko was familiar, as well as the voice.


    The man, continued as Tai started to be able to feel his lower abdomen again. "Nova, you cannot fall. The world still needs you." Citizens of the Federation, watched through the telemonitors and Sarah''s World, as the man reached his hand out to Tai, hoping for the Nova to get back up.


    "We need you to take down the dragon, in Cameroon. You are the only one left on Earth, that can produce flames, great enough to defeat one." 003 begged him out of desperation, but at the same time, he carried a tone of authority, similar to Tobi.


    Tai thought to himself for a moment as he thought of how to respond. He didn''t have the strength to fight anymore and was still heavily injured. ''Why do they still believe in me?'' He asked himself, as the shame of his defeats washed over him. However, why was he thinking of the Commander at this time?


    He remembered watching Tobi on his debut, in the first Battle of Earth. How he fell, but got back up. He had always wanted to be a hero just like that, but now facing the same moment, he had never felt so na?ve. He made peace with himself, that not everyone, gets back up.


    Again, 003 shook him out of his thoughts. "Please, without you our land will burn."


    To Tai, part of the man''s words seemed to be coming from immediate concern. He took his hand and helped himself up, as the realization started to come to him. Only one person came to mind from that family. The only one that refused to greet the Novas at the funeral.


    Even though defeated, he knew he would never concede a fight to anyone else, however, if it was the person he was thinking of, he didn''t mind. It even felt right.


    He looked the man in, where he thought his eyes would be on his blank-black carbon mask. Almost confirming his iko. It was magnitudes larger than what it was before when he had first seen him, but he almost felt at ease, that one of them was still fighting with them.


    "You are just like your brother." He smiled, startling 003 back a little. Wondering if the Nova had figured out his identity. Yet, the Nova didn''t press any further. "You have my word, I''ll bring it down... Just... don''t lose."


    The man nodded, then called the Shadows back. "007, take the Nova to the dragon subjugation effort. Then, assist against the Kirosian Generals around the continent."


    007 nodded, then stepped towards Tai, as he let them place a hand on his shoulder. The Nova looked at 003 once more, before 007 shattered the air around them and teleported the both of them towards Cameroon.


    003 sighed, then turned towards his remaining comrades. Dacaari had just landed back in the vicinity, with his clothes slightly singed and tattered however the World had not yet seen him this excited.


    "You let the Nova go. As if I''m not going to kill him and all of you here today." He addressed, slightly annoyed by Tai''s disappearance.


    003, glanced at him as he spoke, but chose to ignore him for now. "Each of you has a list of the Kirosian Generals, invading the continent. Take them all out by the hour."


    "Roger." The Shadows all spoke in unison, then simultaneously launched up into the sky and flew off in different directions.


    "That was a bad move." The words, the Prince threw at him, had no weight to him, but it did make the Shadow turn around with a different expression.


    "But you let them go, after all you just said. Could it be, that you were scared or were you just too tired to fight us all at once?" 003 replied, making Dacaari grin out of anger.


    He didn''t want to lose his cool. However, defeating a blessed abnormal would raise his status within Kiros amongst his other half-siblings and potential King Candidates. He couldn''t let this chance slip up.


    "Don''t worry I''ll go after all of them, once I''m done with you. Earth is already ours. It''s only a matter of time." The Prince brandished his sword, as he started to gather energy.


    003 shook his head, then sighed, as violet vein-like marks, streamed across his body, ending his transformation with all five elements, orbiting him in chaos, as he held them back from bursting outward.


    "In the Division, we''re not allowed to bring our feelings into the missions we carry out. A zero-tolerance policy..." As the Shadow spoke, Dacaari could feel his body slightly tremble, a way he had only felt when the Dark Kings were angry.


    The Shadow drew his sword, behind his back. Beaming up its plasma edge and coating the other with the remaining four elements. He swung it around as he pointed at all the carnage the Prince had left behind. "However, what you''ve done here is unforgivable!"


    Dacaari grinned, relishing his accusations. "Then what? Are you the one that''s supposed to stop me?"


    A large burst of roho iko, emanated from the both of them, as the tension between them grew. Colliding, and resulting in a shockwave of force, signalling the mark to strike. People of the Federation, though scared and in an array of panic, watched on, wondering the identities of the masked Shadows and what was to come.