Chapter 7

The Awakening- Part 3

Lilith watched as Klaus drifted motionless in the middle of them all. The music had stopped, the voices had grown silent. Their dancing had frozen and now they all just watched. She had come back to herself soon after the music faded and now stood with the rest of the naked dancers. She was happy to notice her own clothes were still relatively intact. But underneath her chest was heaving, and her skin was slick with sweat. Her muscles, especially her calves felt like they were on fire, but still she stood. She stood and watched with rest of them. Klaus was aglow with the energy from the crystal that surrounded them. Its glow was now the only light in the room, the torches had been snuffed out at some point in time. The blue glow cast the surroundings and the people in a weird light.

The whole event had been strange; never had she seen such an awakening. ‘What was the liquid given to Klaus, what was happening to him now?’

She searched for Pain to ask these very questions, but no matter where she looked she could not find him. She saw flickering lights beyond the vault door and headed in that direction, hoping to get answers.

Once there the smell of food assaulted her. When she came out she saw Pain and gluttony directing small creatures that seemed to meld with the shadows. They scurried and ran about sometimes bumping into each other which won them a kick from Gluttony as whatever they carried fell to the cavern floor.

She stood there for a whole minute watching as food got carried in until it resembled a small mountain. All the food she noticed was made from magical fruit or the meat of magical beasts that one could only find in the Secret Worlds.

‘Was this the feast Pain had spoken of?’ She thought as she started to make her way towards the Top Hat. She herself was hungry and hoped to get something before the others joined them.

Pain saw her coming and looked her up and down. “Finally returned to your senses?”

She only gave him a nod and then covered what she could. She still had the summer dress on, but her sweat and soaked it so badly that it clung to her, leaving little to the imagination of others. She ignored his question and asked one in return. “Who is all this food for?”

Pain tilted his head and though she could not see most of his face, she still felt like he was giving her a look that one reserved for fools and idiots. “It is for the young master.” He stated simply.

“All of it?” Lilith could not help but raise her voice. Even while they spoke more food was constantly being carried in.

“Yes, all of it. It is more for our safety than anything else. Klaus is currently receiving his inheritance from his father, after that he will receive the one prepared by my master.” Pain shuddered. “Let’s just say its better we have all the food prepared by then or it could be us on the menu.”

Lilith felt aghast. “He would eat us?”

Pain had then turned to her and given his shark smile. “Yes.”

Klaus, still in the other place watched as Harkon paced. The ground was shaking as the horde beneath them rushed towards them on the hill. “Men, we did not ask to be attacked. We did not provoke, but were provoked more than once. Still we followed the teachings of our patron. We took only what was owed to keep the balance. Still our enemies came and took more, despite our warnings, despite our pleas for them to stop, they continued.”

He stopped pacing. “Now they have come. They want to end us, end our way of life and wipe us from existence. They have made alliances, promises, cajoled and blasphemed for one single purpose- to kill us.”

“I for one do not feel afraid. I feel honoured.” He turned and looked down at the enemies. “Look at them. By the gods look at them, the nations and factions of thousands of worlds all gathered together for one purpose. To kill us! It is fucking magnificent. How many years, how much effort and gold must it have cost for them to get to this point?”

He outstretched his arms and turned to them. “They are a worthy sacrifice for our deaths, a worthy end to our story which will become legend! We most definitely will die here today. You all know it and yet... you still stand steadfast and true, but our story will not. It will stand for thousands of years and thousands more. It will be spoken of with hushed whispers and reverence. Our old enemies will shudder when they hear and they will remember. They will remember how we stood in defiance to the last. How we killed them by the droves. How each of us took hundreds, no thousands of them to kill. Many people die with nothing heard but a whisper and a soft exhale of their last breath.”

He smiled broadly, his eyes on fire as he drew a sword. It was bone white and as long as he was tall. Klaus knew it was the Sword of Sephiroth, made from the wood in its heart. It would take the life of those it killed and give it to its wielder- creating an undying warrior.

“We will not die such mediocre deaths. We will die amongst screams and the raining blood of our enemies. Each of us will stand and be counted; each of us will make them pay! From now on our order will not be known as the Guardians of Sephiroth. With his words, new banners were raised and the old ones taken down. The old ones were of the white tree that stood in front of a sun. The new banners were of a blood red tree with a background that is black.

“On this day we are not known as the Guardians of Sephiroth, no. We are the Roth, destroyers of all that come against us. Let them know. Shout it with your hearts; shout it with your souls… Roth! Roth! Roth!"

Klaus and the rest joined in banging their armoured chests with mithril covered hands. Each shout was accompanied by an acoustic boom which set Klaus’ heart on fire. These were his people.

They all shouted letting out their frustration, their hurt at knowing today would be their last. So they shouted. They screamed for blood.

Harkon lowered his sword and pointed behind him. “Throwing axes.”

At his words the men clenched empty fists which suddenly filled with axes made of light that had a green tinge to it. Klaus instinctively knew that it was life energy. Harkon swung his sword down and the men threw, Klaus included. Axes of light rained down on the enemy who had just made it halfway up the hill. Men, beasts and fantastical creatures let out cries of pain or death as the axes cut through them two to five at a time, but it did not end. As soon as the axes buried into the ground for flesh did not stop them. They exploded.

Klaus watched as hundreds were killed with each volley. The axes barely took any energy to create so they threw them with abandon. Making it seem like the sky itself was falling on their enemies.

Harkon watched as the enemies in there thousands ran headlong into his barrage. If not for the explosive properties of the axes it would have been a different story. He smiled. In the distance he saw flying creatures approaching.

“Dragoons, take to the skies.”

Behind the group that Klaus was in. Warriors bent low and wings of light with the same green tinge sprouted from their backs. They took to the skies like meteors to meet the enemies above.

Lilith heard the exclamation of the others and made her way back into the chamber. Klaus’ hand was covered in a golden light. He had gained his first bloodline stigmata. She focused in order to make out what it was. She managed once the light started to fade. The stigma was in the form of an axe with a vine encircling it. The image rested on the flesh between his thumb and forefinger.

“Form ranks! Form ranks!” The shout went out and Klaus along with the others bunched up and interlocked their shields while brandishing their spears. Harkon fell in with them, becoming one of the many. “Brace! Forward on my command, stab these sons of devils back to hell; make them regret ever leaving their mother’s tits to come fight real men.”

Klaus watched through the slits of his helmet as horned lumbering beasts forced their way to the front, crushing any that were in the way. His heart hammered in his chest, but he found himself smiling.

Harkon had chosen their position well. The hill was high and broke most of the enemies’ charge before it ever met them. Still the beasts were huge, taller than a war horse with coiled muscle that seemed to want to burst through their skin, broad shoulders supported heads that had four horns protruding forward.

The beasts were now a mere five paces away, Klaus’ hand gripped harder around his spear. His breath was slow and measured. His muscles ready to explode at the command and it came. “For the Roth! Thrust!”

“Roth!” They all shouted as one, their spears stabbing out aiming at eyes noses and ears. The beasts let out cries as they were skewered by the spears with unnatural accuracy. “Retract.” Klaus spear glowed in a halo of light and the beast burned where the spear touched. The others did the same and it made it easy to pull back. Along with the glow and searing flesh energy flooded through the spear and into Klaus. It had the same properties as the Sword of Sephiroth. Just not as strong.

“Shove!”

They took a step back collectively and then a large step forward bashing as one with their large shields. It connected solidly with the now dead beasts and sent them hurtling down the hill. The enemies that had followed behind let out cries of alarm when what they believed would break the wall of shields came hurtling back at them. To add insult to injury, some of the beasts were on fire as well.

Drops started to fall on Klaus. He ignored it remembering the thunder clouds, but when the same drops fell around them he noticed their crimson colour and lifted his shield just in time to deflect the flying beast that fell from the sky. He laughed and looked at the man next to him who was doing the same.

“I thought the rain would become a hassle and soak my boots.”

The man chuckled. “The general did say we would die amongst the raining blood of our enemies, did not think he meant it literally though.” More men laughed.

Klaus deflected another falling beast with a grunt. “Roth, take heed of the hailstones!”

More laughter.

“Brace!”

Klaus bunched up with the rest his fervour for battle reaching new heights. “Look brothers, more enemies come. Let us give them a proper greeting!”

“Roth!”

At his shout the others joined and stabbed, defending against the next onslaught of beasts.

Lilith watched, surprised as another light engulfed Klaus, this time on his collarbone. It was in the form of a goat’s horn tied to strap. It wavered for a moment and then an armoured hand came into being and gripped the horn. Lilith frowned; the goat’s horn was not unheard of and was synonymous with leadership abilities. It was thought of impossible to get with an awakening as people who got it did so during battle, not only that but the armoured hand meant it was an advanced skill.

At her thought Klaus’ hand twitched and she noticed a bright smile on his face. ‘Just what are you experiencing?’

Klaus shoved with the rest of his group. They had been doing so for hours now, but the enemies kept coming yet they had not lost a warrior in the fight. “What is this, we were promised a fight! Don’t they have anything bigger?”

Just as his words ended the ground rumbled and shook. He craned his neck to try and look past the heap of bodies that had formed in front of them. The man next to him did the same and then turned an accusatory glance at Klaus. “You just had to say it, didn’t you?”

Klaus looked and saw what the man was talking about. “Giants, they have giants.” He said not able to keep the glee from his voice.

Harkon, who was standing on the piles just outside of the shield wall blocked a magic bolt that was shot at him from somewhere below and spit to the side before shouting. “Bring the harpoons; we have some fishing to do.”

The call went up for harpoons and the men made way as the weapons got dragged to the front. They were twice as long as Klaus was tall. It had four handles, two on either side and a sharp barbed head on the front.

Klaus made sure to grab one and memories of how they had trained for just this day flooded his mind. Strength flowed through him along with the memories and he felt his strength grow manifold. Others grabbed and lifted the harpoons with little fanfare.

“Choose your targets.” Shouted Harkon, who was now holding one by himself.

Klaus and the others backed up. The giants’ heads were just starting show above the piles of dead. Considering how far away the giants still were, it gave Klaus shivers. ‘The creatures must be humungous.’ Some were armoured and others not. A warrior holding up the harpoon pointed out an especially mean looking giant. It had broken teeth which dripped with blood as it was chewing on one of the creatures it had grabbed from the ground. Its head looked conical and strange growths had sprouted from it shoulders forming a multitude of black spikes that were longer than the harpoon Klaus was holding. Klaus watched as the giant reached up and broke one off. Its hand retracted and with a bellow and loud whoosh of air, it threw the spike at them.

Klaus did not know if the giant was lucky or if it had felt Klaus’ eyes on it, but the spike was aimed at them. Klaus let go and grabbed his shield. Like in his memories he let the light of Sephiroth flood his body, enhancing and making him stronger, faster. He let out his own shout and met the spike with his shield at a downward angle. It hit him flying and he felt his arm groan and crack, but the spike had been deflected. Where Klaus had stood the spike was now buried halfway into the ground.

Klaus who had crashed into other warriors got up with a huff and a grunt as the light flooding him snapped the broken bone of his arm back into place. He rushed over and picked up the harpoon. “It’s our turn you ugly bastard!”

Light flooded the others like it had flooded him and they started to sprint forward. The glow started to slowly suffuse the harpoon, while they ran. “As one.” Klaus shouted and they threw, putting all their strength into it. With a loud boom the harpoon took to the air, rocketing toward the giant.

The giant swiped at it with his hand, but it was futile. The harpoon punched straight through the hand and then buried into the giants face right next to its nose. It let out a bellow of pain and roared, spittle and blood flying through its jagged teeth. All along the battle line similar things were happening. Harkon watched it all with satisfaction; he had already buried two harpoons in his own target. “Draw the lines and detonate!”

Klaus and the others gripped their hands, still feeling their connection to the harpoons. A rope much like the axes they had thrown appeared out of thin air, shining with light.

“Roth!”

They shouted and pulled. With it energy raced up the rope and into the now brightly shining harpoons. For a second the world turned white and then explosions rang. Klaus watched in satisfaction as half of the giants head exploded, showering those below in blood and brain matter. The behemoths started to topple over crushing more of their enemies. The Roth shouted and cheered with each one that fell. It was intoxicating.

Lilith watched as more stigmata appeared. They appeared in four places at once, which meant they represented one ability; they took the form of woven bands of vines that encircled each one of his wrists and ankles. She frowned not sure what to make of it. She had seen something similar in an old book her family kept. “Some sort of strengthening ability?”

Klaus heaved for breath as he deflected another blow on his shield. They had been at it for days now and his stamina had started to flag. The man he had fought with from the start had fallen but a moment ago, succumbing to his exhaustion when a creature resembling a gargoyle fell upon him. He had never known the man’s name, he was a Roth and that was all he needed to know.

The same thing could be seen everywhere on the battlefield. The Roth were starting to fall.

Harkon severed four enemies with one swing, their energy and life flowing into him. Of everyone there he barely breathed heavily. He looked at the sword. If they had more of them they would have won, but the sword had taken millennia to grow and was passed down from general to general.

He watched as his son battled four enemies. His spear finding their weak spots and making them pay for it. He had subtly kept an eye on his son through the whole battle and even stationed him near where he was. The boy had made him proud, but it was time.

He rushed over cutting anything apart that came in his way. He soon reached the boy that had sunk to one knee. He was gasping for breath and dog tired.

Harkon grabbed Klaus by his shoulder. “Stand ready boy, there is no time to rest. I have a mission for you.”

Klaus looked at Harkon with reverence. Klaus knew if he had killed a thousand then Harkon had killed ten thousand.

Harkon slapped him. “Focus Alexandros, listen well.”

At hearing the name, memories came unbidden. Memories of how Harkon trained him. How they had gone hunting together and he realised the legend was his father. Harkon’s hand dipped into his robes and a moment later he produced a tooth, but not just any. It was as large as Klaus’ forearm and shown with a black lustre, seemingly absorbing life from the very air.

Harkon pushed the tooth into Klaus’s hand. “I want you to take this to the heart of Sephiroth and stab it. Take its life blood for yourself and become more than what we are.”

Klaus looked at his father with horror. “You want me to kill the tree of life? Father, I cannot do it! We have been sworn to protect.”

Harkon, gave Klaus a withering stare. “Do you think I do this lightly, do you think my oaths would mean so little? It has not been decided by me, but Sephiroth itself. These Damned have come to do what I am telling you now, but they know not that they are not compatible and will simply be killing the tree of life- not absorbing its power. Sephiroth knows it will die and has instead chosen to take a new form. That form is us. The tree of life cannot die it will cast the worlds into an unending darkness. So it must evolve. Take it boy!”

Klaus took the tooth in a daze. “I do not want to run. I want to fight with you. I want to stand to the last with my brothers. Do not give me a coward’s death!”

Harkon sighed and for the first time he showed pain. “That is not my wish. My wish is for you to live a full and happy life. To rebuild what we lost here. Start a family and have many wives. The Roth will need many sons for what is to come.” At the last sentence he smiled at Klaus.

“Now go, when the time comes an ally will appear to help you escape.”

Klaus or Alexandros did not like it, but he nodded and grabbed his father’s arm. “Die well general.”

Harkon smiled. “Live with honour, my son.”

With that Klaus started running towards the tree that had stood at their backs through the entire war. He ran not out of fear of dying, but out of fear that he would not accept to be alive. His heart broke with every step and his hate grew towards those that were attacking.

The tree was large and stood tall, its branches reaching far into the sky and past the clouds. Many said that Sephiroth held up very sky itself.

For days, Klaus ran. Never taking rest and a week later he arrived. The main battle was in a choke point between two mountains. Some enemies had slipped past and reached the tree, but it also had its own garrison and they were fighting bravely.

Klaus was allowed into the fortress surrounding the tree which he had to kill his way toward.

The general in control of the fortress knew of Klaus’s purpose and they made way. He ran once more, only giving the general a nod and receiving one in return. A horn sounded for evacuation when Klaus reached the base of Sephiroth. It let out a groan and the bark and wood parted revealing stairs that led ever upwards.

Klaus did not know how long he climbed the stairs. It was monotonous and tiring. The only light given was that of the green veins lacing through the tree itself.

He went into a trance as he ran. Only thinking of his next step, his next action to get closer to his purpose. That is why he literally ran into a wall when he reached the top.

His legs collapsed and he coughed out parts of his lungs that were overused and burning with fire. A bright green light drew his attention. Klaus could barely see through his blurry eyes, but he crawled towards it. A thump like a heartbeat sounded in his ears and beat through his body. His tiredness started to fade and he began to heal.

By the time he had crawled halfway to what he now saw was a bright green heart like structure. He could walk and felt just as powerful if not more as the day the war started. Another thump pulsed through him and the entire tree.

He looked at it and then the tooth clutched in his hand. “Is this the end?”

Vines grew from the ground and first formed legs then a torso, arms and legs. The face grew last and it glowed like the rest of the tree. Klaus could not make out the sex of the creature and when it spoke, it spoke with the voice of a man and woman. “This is not the end, but a new beginning.”

The creature reached out and placed four seeds in Klaus’ hand. “These are the seeds that will one day become my children. Just like you too will be my child after taking my blood. Do so now and begin a journey that will both be terrible and wonderful to behold. Plant my children at the furthest corners of the worlds, only then will the worlds recover. A great blight will fall after I die, but you will have allies and those that come to kill me will have to fight them too. Old grievances will be forgotten and new alliances made. Make sure that the Roth, no, my children- the Sephiroth are at the top in power.”

Klaus could only nod. The creature guided him towards the heart and took Klaus’ hand that held the tooth. “Do it now.”

With a shout, he plunged the tooth into the heart of the tree and bathed in its blood.

Everything went blurry after that. The last Klaus could remember was that of a large and scaled claw breaking through the wood that had dried out, becoming soft and brittle. The claw picked him up gingerly and he passed out.

Lilith watches as the last and final stigma formed on Klaus. It formed on his chest and was the largest one yet. It took on the familiar shape of the tree all the families were familiar with. She had never heard of it happening nor were there any records that she knew of.

Klaus started to lower to the ground and the glow faded. The room was now relatively larger. The crystals power had been used by a bit less than half.

As soon as Klaus’ body touched the ground. Pain appeared next to her. “Bring the inheritance of his mother.”

Lust once more appeared this time carrying a cup of silver which glittered with gold and was set with rubies, in it was a red substance that was thick. Around it purple strands of light flowed and pulsed.

Lust bent over Klaus, but this time she did not wait for him to take it. In fact Klaus struggled against her. Lilith did not blame him for whatever was in the cup made her blood run cold and her body shake with fear.

Lust force fed Klaus with every drop. He curled up into a ball and groaned. A new glow suffused the walls and room. With it came a bloody mist.

Pain grabbed Lilith’s shoulder. “Do you wish to live?”

Lilith could only nod at such a question, so many things had happened that she did not understand.

“Then we must leave.”

Klaus roared in pain. It first sounded normal but it soon turned beastly. “We must leave now!”

This time there was fear even in Pain’s voice.

The others had already made their way outside. The cavern was now nearly completely filled with food.

Pain slammed the vault door behind them and ran back to the small door they had come through.

“Come you stupid girl.”

Lilith gave one last look at the door. Just as she turned to follow a deafening roar rang out and something hit the vault door with a deafening crash, bending it outwards… she started to run.