Massadah Palace is very beautiful and grand. No other palace on planet Irikihl is as unique and beautiful. The throne room rests near the top of the palace which extends nearly two miles into the sky. Within the palace is Loc, Aldrog, Kenjiro, Seth, and Phoebe. They race down the halls but halt upon being confronted by Eithan and a slew of Arcane Soldiers. They salute to Loc.

Eithan: The ground levels are secure Your Highness, but you will face more resistance the higher you go. The queen is in the throne room and the main elevator to it is sealed. You’ll have to take the long way, Your Highness.

Loc: Very good, Eithan. Keep the entrance guarded to prevent any ambushes.

Eithan: Will do Your Highness. And may The Will favor you in this endeavor.

Loc: Kenjiro, Phoebe. You two take the east wing up. Follow the map and it should take you to another elevator up to the throne room. We’ll take the west wing up.

Kenjiro chuckles.

Kenjiro: Look at you giving out orders like you’re the boss or something.

Loc: Would you prefer to take the west wing? There’s far more stair climbing involved.

Kenjiro: No, no, we’ll stick to the plan. And I better see you at the throne room.

Loc: Likewise.

Phoebe: You have my best wishes, Loc. And stay safe Seth.

Seth: Hey Kenjiro, don’t let anything happen to her alright?

Kenjiro: Trust me, she’ll be much safer with me then she would be with you.

Seth looks perturbed.

Seth: What do you mean by that?

Loc: Now isn’t the time Seth. Take that aggression out on the queen and her men instead.

Kenjiro and Phoebe leave. Loc, Aldrog, and Seth race down the hall.

Loc and his crew climb several stairways as they race up the gigantic palace. Before they know it a regiment of Arcane guards being lead by an Arcane Captain halt them in their tracks aiming rifles at them. The Arcane Captain appears to be middle-aged and with a chip on his shoulder.

Loc: Blast! We don’t have time for this!

Arcane Captain: Your actions will kill us all, Young Prince! Cease this foolish campaign, and retain what little dignity you have left!

Loc: You fight not only against me but the will of our maker! Cease being the lapdog of Alkadeius’ pawns to retain what little dignity you have left, captain.

The Arcane Captain grunts in frustration.

Arcane Captain: Fire at will!

Steam produces from the soldier’s rifles. Loc’s eyes flash. All of the soldier’s rifles burst into a fiery explosion, knocking them all out. Seth and Aldrog look impressed. The Arcane Captain looks baffled.

Arcane Captain: What in The Will’s name?!

Seth appears behind the captain from his shadow and strikes him down with a dagger. Loc hurries down the hall and the others quickly trail him.

Aldrog: That was splendid, sire!

Seth: Wait a minute, that was actually your doing back there?

Loc chuckles.

Loc: I may be lacking in many ways when it comes to combat, but I’ve always had a knack for pinpointing my vyrkra.

Seth: With that trick we won’t have to worry about anyone using steam armaments against us.

Loc: Eh, not quite Seth. More robust artillery that can produce steam rather quickly is much harder to manipulate. In addition to that, a cunning opponent will not fall for the same trick twice, and will adjust accordingly. It’s really best used as a surprise tactic.

Seth: Well it surprised me, so let us hope it surprises our mark as well.

Kenjiro and Phoebe both take out four guards with ease and race up a narrow staircase.

Phoebe: The vyrkrial elevator should be nearby.

Kenjiro: I don’t like this. The higher we go the more sinister is the vyrkra I feel.

Phoebe: Queen Bethel must be calling upon some great demonic power to plunge this entire palace into darkness like this. We have to stay on our toes at all times. And pray Rivna may join us soon.

Kenjiro and Phoebe enter a large room filled with many books. At the end of the room is a large mystical looking elevator. The elevator is nothing but a floating platform. Phoebe points to it.

Phoebe: I think that’s it. It should take us to the same floor as the throne room.

Phoebe begins to approach it but Kenjiro pulls her back.

Kenjiro: Wait! We’re not alone.

Yinyah appears from purple mist before them. Phoebe looks surprised to see her. Yinyah looks calm and cool.

Yinyah: I see you’re as sharp as ever, Kenjiro.

Kenjiro looks at her in confusion.

Kenjiro: I take it we’ve met before?

Yinyah: That’s correct.

Kenjiro: Well why don’t you remove that mask of yours so that I can get a look at you. I’m sure there’s a beautiful face hiding behind it.

Phoebe slides Syrrna Goggles over her eyes to examine Yinyah.

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????

Combat Rank: 62

Combat Tier: Palyth Tier

Class: Zoh-Gyn

Elemental Affinity: Dark/Dyrkcen

Vyrkra Reserves: 780

Might: 815

Fortitude: 313

Agility: 616

Growth Potential: Very High

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Phoebe: She’s strong Kenjiro. Maybe we should fall back and regroup.

Kenjiro: Nonsense, she isn’t stronger than the queen, and that’s who we came for.

Yinyah: There’s no need to remove my mask, Kenjiro--

Yinyah produces a sheathed katana in her hands. Kenjiro looks shocked upon recognizing the katana.

Yinyah: I’m sure you’re well aware of who I am now.

Kenjiro looks angry.

Kenjiro: Yinyah! What the hell are you doing here?! And with that sword no less!

Yinyah: This sword is a family heirloom, and I have been keeping it safe from the hands of the unworthy.

Kenjiro: I am the rightful heir to that blade, Yinyah. You should know this better than anyone.

Yinyah: Then why did Father entrust it to me?

Kenjiro grunts in anger. Phoebe looks confused.

Kenjiro: My father was not himself in his final days. He was not suited to make such judgments on the fate of the Ogre Blade.

Yinyah: Still you deny your only sister.

Kenjiro: I will never acknowledge the bastard of our clan. Especially when she isn’t even human.

Yinyah: I am human!

Kenjiro swings out a dark wave of mist from his sword. Yinyah produces steam from her blade and swings out her own wave of mist that cancels out Kenjiro’s attack. She swiftly dashes to Kenjiro and swings. Kenjiro blocks with his own blade and the two enter a power struggle. Yinyah appears to be overpowering Kenjiro.

Kenjiro: You can’t even wield that Ogre Blade can you?

Yinyah: I can wield any blade better than you, brother.

Kenjiro: The hope of our clan rests with me wielding that sword. Only in my hands will it grant the power to sever the Queen of Queens’ head.

Phoebe throws her chakram at Yinyah and she dodges it by jumping back. Yinyah counters by swiftly leaping at her swinging her sword.

Kenjiro: Watch out!

Kenjiro quickly intercept by pushing Phoebe out of the way and takes a nasty stab through the abdomen.

Phoebe: Kenjiro!

Kenjiro chuckles. Yinyah gasps.

Kenjiro: Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it looks.

Yinyah: Brother, I didn’t mean to…

Kenjiro swings his blade and Yinyah jumps back.

Kenjiro: One way or another, I’m going to take that blade from you.

Yinyah: Cease this folly brother! You are in no condition to take on the might of a queen. You could never defeat me in battle before and now you speak as if you possess the might to make a difference this time.

Kenjiro grunts in pain as he holds his wound.

Kenjiro: Are you going to lick my wounds or fight you demon?!

Yinyah looks pained by his words. She holds up her sword.

Yinyah: If there is no swaying you then I rather it be my hand that ends your life than the queen’s.

Phoebe: Wait, Kenjiro!

Kenjiro lunges at Yinyah with a loud grunt.

Loc, Aldrog, and Seth enter a grand beautiful war room. The room has many windows and at the end rests a large podium. A black mosaic showing angels that appear to be Arcane line the palace walls. At the end of the hall is a painting of a mighty looking Arcane king holding a beautiful giant black halberd. Loc races to the podium while Seth and Aldrog admire the view.

Loc: If I recall correctly there should be a vyrkrial switch that will open a portal, which should lead us directly to the throne room.

Loc rummages through several books behind the podium.

Seth: Which king is that in the painting?

Loc: I believe that is my great, great, grandfather, King Neariah. He was one of the more austere rulers Massadah.

Aldrog: Is that the legendary Vu-Zyrr he’s holding?

Loc: That he is. Forged by the very finger of The Will on Mount Apollyce.

Aldrog: Man, what I would give to have a nice weapon like that to swing around.

Loc: Don’t be too hasty Aldrog. That weapon was ordained sacred by the maker. Any soul that dares to wield it without have royal blood in their veins would swiftly die of a heart attack. Even the Queen of Queens herself would quickly meet her end if she so much as touched it.

Aldrog and Seth look impressed.

Seth: If that’s so then why did you pursue the Witch Tier instead of it?

Loc: That weapon is an even rarer relic than Rivna. Only the Great Spirit will ever know its current resting place.

The room darkens. Queen Bethel’s voice echos within the room.

Queen Bethel: How dare you enter my domain uninvited nephew! This campaign you’re on will be the end of you!

Loc produces a pistol and a staff. Aldrog a large Steam Shield, and Seth two daggers. Black and red mist swells within the room. A Heavetese appears within the room. Heavetese are giant demons that resemble armored knights with two wings. Everyone looks at the Heavetese in shock.

Loc: A fire demon?!

Seth: Shit! I’m sensing a lot of power from that thing!

Aldrog moves in front of them holding his shield.

Aldrog: Stay behind me, Your Majesty!

Loc flips down his goggles and taps a button to analyze the foe.

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????

Combat Rank: 88

Combat Tier: Palyth Tier

Class: ???

Elemental Affinity: Heat/Avalian

Vyrkra Reserves: 1870

Might: 2190

Fortitude: 1760

Agility: 534

Growth Potential: N/A

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Loc: It’s strong but not as strong as our true mark here, so stay sharp everyone.

The Heavetese roars as it produces two giant bastard swords, one in each hand. It charges at them.

Chapter End