CHAPTER 5

At one point the entire army of the demonic forces stopped. Everywhere and all over the fields even divided and separated by kingdoms they all just stopped. All at once. For few moments none moved not caring for the damage that was dealt to them at this moment…they all knew what had happened.

A shriek resounded throughout the Alikhian lands that came from the leader of all the enemy forces. A shriek so loud it made people tremble from far away. It convoyed pain and suffering.

The Overlord was sad. And enraged. He had lost one of his own, a devil that he considered to be one of his few and most precious sons.

Who could be responsible of such an act? Death to them all!

And with that thought the whole might of the demonic forces began its charge. Anywhere and everywhere the just ran to their objective no longer caring for organized marching but only wanting to avenge one of their Devil lords. Death to the humans! The Overlord wanted to return to the true world with all of his precious sons. Never will he feel the same joy if one of them is dead. Death to them all!

***

“Can we make it in time?” worriedly said Yuna who was now inside Albion’s giant school air craft.

She was speaking to the fire clan head who reassured her.

“Don’t worry dear child. Astarte is not that far from where we are and the demonic army is slower than us. We will make it in time.”

The aircraft was now carrying more than two thousand person from all the clans and whatever force was necessary.

The noble houses took pride in their own and personal crafts and would only go with their own.

Dozens of noble houses had joined the aircraft of Albion and were now headed toward Astarte. Not much time is left before they could come in aid

“But did she really have to come with us?” said the clan head.

“I tried to tell her off but she didn’t take no for an answer…it is her country and I think that she has right to go and provide help…although I think it would be futile.” Said Yuna.

“Ugh…Those of the Verda clan are really stubborn…anyway we should be able to see the capital in few more moments…”

As he said the words Yuna was now looking through a window inside the plain trying to locate the capital.

Moments later the capital was now apparent to them.

It was magnificent by all standards.

Rivers ran through it with giant walls surrounding the inside of the city that was made from very fascinating looking buildings. The building of an old era but with a glamor that portrayed modern architecture. Titling buildings and spiral towers all over the city making it look like a painting made by a renowned artist.

Statues of warriors holding shields and swords were what made the front gate of the capital and near it were lands of golden crops of wheat and corn.

It looked like a paradise and this is another reason why we should fight to defend a city of this grandeur.

However far in the distance was smoke. A city that was closest to the capital had already fallen. And an army of the Astartian kingdom was now heading toward that place…they all knew very well how futile would their power be against the gores…but still they bravely went to fight. To defend a country that was their home and they all considered it to be like a mother to them. Knowing that they will mostly die…they will still die trying.

But we will not stand crossing our arms to watch. We are here to assist them.

Thirteen aircraft of the highest and most advanced technology that is only made in Alsa was headed to defend our neighboring country.

A man came inside the cabinet that we were in and said

“I have a report to make!” said the man who was wearing a gray workman suit and hat that making him being one of the personnel of the aircraft.

“Speak!” said Ryouka Gaz.

“The Alsian forces had managed to divide the invading force in two however as they are now stuck fighting the tail portion of the army the front is still headed toward Alsa…One more thing…Alikh had fallen…”

“WHAT!” Shouted Ryouka Gaz

“HOW?! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED we just received intel telling us that they were standing their ground and holding the capital waiting for reinforcement how the hell would the country fall in less than an hour!”

“Some of the survivors had claimed that they saw the one leading the army cast a spell…only one attack razed the whole capital to the ground…now the forces are heading toward Alsa…and they will certainly meet with our interception force that is still inside Alikh…”

“Damn it! What the hell are we supposed to do now…should we abandon Astarte and go back to Alsa? God damn it!”

“I have more to report my lord…”

Ryouka who looked like not wanting to hear any more bad news shouted

“Speak! Damn it, what could make this situation any worse?”

“Well…Astora had managed to defeat the army that was going their way.”

The lightning clan head who was now silent suddenly said

“Are you sure of what you are saying young man?!” said the clan leader

“Yes sir…although the reports are a bit…wired to say the least.”

“What do you mean?” said Ryouka Gaz who as now interested in the fact that a country managed to win the fight so early and so fast.

“It seems that…well how can I say this? Some sort of God descended upon the field and ravaged through the entire battlefield…” said the man not even believing his own words.

“A god?” said Yuna.

“Yes a god they say it had three sets of arms and was glowing like a torch in the darkness…he had a purple and black set of cloths…and a mask on his face…”

“It can’t be!” said Yuna.

“That is not all...”

“There is more?!” said the lightning clan head

“Yes sir…this person has two more interesting things with him at the moment…One of them is a dragon…the other is…”

***

(Few hours earlier)

“You have kept your promise Youngling!”

In that moment a claw exited from the gateway and pressed the very fabric of the world aside to make more space for the being to exit.

“Get back my lord!” said the red haired man who now looked pale from fright.

“Worry not.” I said “He is an ally.”

And in that moment the dragon began exiting.

Its face followed soon after then the rest of his body while every step he made shook the grounds and heavens at once.

A lord of the world has now arrived.

“Welcome back Drakhsis!” I said

And to my sentence the dragon replied

“It is good to be back.” And in that moment Drakhsis turned to the still spreading gate and willed it to close down.

“This world is corrupt…filled with malice and evil…the demons…”

“Yes…they have begun their invasion.”

“Hmm so did you call me from over the void to help you in taking them down?” said Drakhsis who by the way was using telepathy and so was I that it looked like to the ones seeing what was happening from afar that we were doing a staring contest.

“No. This has nothing to do with you. I only called upon you from the void to fulfill my promise. You have nothing to do with our war. So go you are free.”

“Hmm…you grew wiser and stronger Youngling…however…you are still not strong enough to fight the Overlord…Hmm what is that thing on your hand?”

“What thing?” I said

“That ring…Impossible! How did you get such an item?!”

“Oh…” he must be speaking about the ring that the Overseer had given me. “I got it from clearing the last floor of the crucible…the Overseer had said it has great value.”

“…That thing’s value cannot be calculated...You must have done something great to have it…this is another reason for me to be by your side once we leave to the true world…”

“Is it?” I said

“Yes…”replied Drakhsis.

“It’s been long!” said Ashura who now was speaking inside my head.

“Hmmm. Ashura…You still live…”

“Yes. And I am planning on doing so for a long time. So you were here Drakhsis…it was you that gave this boy this body wasn’t it…”

“No. his body and his flesh…he earned them. I only showed him the way.” Said the great red dragon

“Very well. My essence is stuck here in this world too. I want to go back to Lagaris as well…Will you help this boy?” said the god of war

“I told you I won’t use Drakhsis for this. I will do it myself.”

“No. I will help but you will have to defeat the Overlord yourself. The Overseers had said that the humans are the ones that need to kill the demons. If I do so myself it will be against their word…and I don’t want to have to deal with them…”

“Very well. Then I will help too. Asura. Give me your body once more.”

Without me having a say in the matter Ashura took control of my body and began forcing the space in front of him to open.

A gateway of gold opened it looked similar to the one that was inside the crucible but its size was immense.

“Hmm...Dimensional contraction…what are you doing Ashura.” Said the dragon

“You will see soon enough.”

With that word the gateway began to lose its shimmering light and something appeared.

It was a giant rock almost five kilometers in diameter. Too big that it would have been easily the size of an entire city floating.

“My Fortress!” said Ashura

It was hovering over us while it had eclipsed the sun lights making everyone feel fear from its size and the hazardous thoughts of this thing falling scared everyone.

Ashura pushed his hands forward and the whole thing began to descend a bit far from where we stood.

The moment it landed we felt the whole world shake from it landing.

“My castle!” said Ashura.

The huge chunk of stone had an entire city above it.

Made of rubble mostly but some buildings were still standing.

“Go!” said Ashura and I that moment he gave me control over my body and I began walking toward the now landing flying fortress or city.

“My lord…” said the red head. “Thank you for the help…you gave us the hope that we could fight off these beings…and now with your ally…is it possible to ask you to help us once more?”

“Why should I?” I said, I know I was going to help but would just want to know what is going on in this man’s head.

“I don’t know who your lordship is…but you seem to be one of divine origin…and would only hope that you would help us once more as it was within our plans to go toward Astarte to help them once we manage to defeat the army that invaded us…we never thought that it would be this hard but thanks to you we still managed…now I am asking you if it is within you to give us a hand…once more.”

“…”

I didn’t speak as I was now considering his words…he is just asking me to help them…and for nothing.

Actually I would have felt offended if he had offered anything…

“Tell him and his army to follow you. I have another surprise for you inside my fortress…it was not called the flying calamity for nothing” laughed Ashura.

“Follow me.” I said “You and your army.”

“Yes my lord!” said the man and then he instantly ran toward the men still stunned at the appearance of a dragon and a fortress the size of a city.

“Youngling. I find that thing interesting…I will go first.”

“Do as you wish I said”

Drakhsis then flew making the earth shake and dust rise from his ascendance

I slowly walked toward the huge city and found a giant staircase made of marble and stone leading to it.

Walking up slowly and a step at a time I felt connected to the whole thing.

There was a gate made of pure gold and steel that was the front of the whole damn city it was made to look like a lion’s face that opened in the exact middle.

A paved road was up ahead that led directly to the biggest building that looked like a pyramid. It was towering over all the ruined buildings around the whole city. Yet only it, looked to be in perfect shape.

The road was made of golden looking stones and some of them were not in place.

Crumbling buildings made of the same material were all around me but I kept walking forward.

A confident step after step I moved forward not halting or stopping to admire the scenery.

Some of the vegetation was spreading out of control and almost absorbing the whole landscape at some places but the whole thing looked like a ghost town.

Once I reached the pyramid I had more steps to walk up.

I noticed Drakhsis who was still hovering over the city beginning his descent and took comfort in a small clearing that barely managed to hold his own size.

“Ah…Ashuria…How long was it since I last saw this city…it seems that it failed the test of time…” said Drakhsis.

“Worry not Old one. It can be rebuilt. And will once again thrive and show its might to the world. The age of the gods may have been lost. But I will forever remain.” Said Ashura who now spoke directly to the dragon.

Once I reached a certain floor that was at the top of the stairs I saw statues that looked like Ashura that were made of gold and silver adorning the place. A red gate made of marble and rubies was open. And inside it was a hall I was very familiar with.

It was the same hall I saw when I saw Ashura for the first time. It was the same place.

Although it was filled with dust and bodies lying everywhere a throne was in the far back of the hall.

A throne fit for a being of his might.

Made with skulls swords and shields.

“Take the throne Kid.” Said Ashura. “It is yours.”

I walked toward it and sat there.

I then began to sense the entire city. Building by building and stone by stone as if I was linked to it. I felt where Drakhsis laid. Then something brought my attention to a certain place.

It was below the pyramid. A great open hall underground that held…humanoid figures…

“What are those?” I said

Ashura then replied.

“Those are the reason why my city was feared and any kingdom would tremble at seeing it flying near their borders.”

“Hmmm…interesting.” I said

Then I felt someone or many that began to step up the stairs

“They are here” I said

“Good. Once they are all up I will show you how to fly this thing.” Replied Ashura.

“Hmm this is going to be interesting.” I said.

“Yes. This way we will show them the might of our race. The might of the Ashurians.” proudly claimed Ashura...