The Defiance was a quiet place the closer they got to Ibere, Urne had reported that the clan of the dawn archers had received their signals, they would meet them at the edges of house titan blade’s space. Already, ships, hundreds had been seen or hailed along the path towards the capital of the titan’s empire, apparently, refugees from worlds both known to the new house or strangers, fleeing from something they could only describe as an encroaching darkness. To most souls within these planets, those few billions who had managed to get themselves on crafts, they could describe it only as their world turning to ash.

Not the physical world to say, life itself on these planets was dying, seas drying up, plants crumbling to black ash, even birds and other lifeforms just ceased to exist, one minute they were there and the next they were gone. The biggest sign however, was the absence of aether, getting thinner by the day, till eventually, nothing within those planets worked, nothing that was powered by aether anyways. The news grew dire with every report the Defiance got along the way, stopping at tier 1 and 2 worlds, those new worlds barely colonized to pick up ascenders who weren’t even up to silver rank, stuck on their planets as it slowly died out.

Idris was proud though, this was what Moyo intended for the legion, and while they sometimes got to some worlds late, every single thing died and the land blackened, some, they managed to save in their entirety. With all their vessels filled to the brim, and with hundreds trailing them behind, following the strongest force they’ve seen since the absence of the brigade who had vanished from the galaxies like they didn’t even exist. Whatever Ahib knew, he was tight lipped about it, saying all he knew was that they had gone to defend the power of the Archailect.

Idris simply took it as they had run away like cowards, leaving when the Archailect needed them the most, but who could blame them?, a force that could wipe out planets without even having to be there?, it was scary enough. Another issue was the presence of the man named Ajax on the ship, the ruler, master, Idris wasn’t sure, the power he gave off was both repulsive and powerful at the same time, making it hard for him to put a rank to it. Ashira had said he was comparable to an ancient, if not a primordial, and Idris had treated him as such,

A calamity.

Still, the omega blade as he was once called had behaved accordingly, the shock of Moyo’s ‘death’ hung around him like a weight, the man silently excusing himself for a while, shoulders hunched as he asked for privacy. Idris knew better than to voice it out when Ajax finally appeared back on the command deck that he had been crying, no, powerful men like that didn’t, plus, the omega blade looked like something that scared even nightmares to behave, he wasn’t some soft ascender. Ajax had heard the story narrated by Idris, Ashira had barely spoken, gripping the cylindrical container that contained both the runes of the titan and mutation tightly, never taking her eyes of Ajax the whole while.

If Ajax was bothered by this, he gave no signs, and so, they had relapsed into silence, Josh and his remaining three Shieldborne training and polishing their weapons till they shone, pushing themselves to train despite the needless need for it. Idris had taken to coordinating with the legion, arranging and poring through the plans sent by lady Martha ahead of their arrival. Annika was stuck dealing with the hundreds of leaders of the refugees they had picked along the way, pleading to catch a glimpse of the titan blade, of Moyo, the supposed defender of the weak.it had been a long time since Idris had heard Moyo been called that, what was amusing, hilarious even, was that Annika was known for her short fuse, and seeing her deal with hundreds of stubborn species at least brought life to the ship.

On and on, the hours and days went by, the ship pushing for their space under the vigilant eyes of Ajax who had refused to rest, actively scanning the void for trouble. Idris knew it would come, it might not be now, but he prayed they had gotten home before it did, with the hundreds of refugees they had alone on the legion ships, it would be a catastrophe if it struck. Even as he stood at the helm of the Defiance, watching as Urne pored through maps, silently passing commands, he felt the presence of Josh and Annika coming up at both his sides.

They maintained their silence, taking in the burning yellow sun as alarms began to blare, Urne speaking.

“we’ve breached our system” she said as a loud roar rang through the ship.

Idris shut his eyes for a brief few second, shuddering lightly as he felt a load get off his back.

“We did it” Annika said.

He nodded offhandedly, aware Josh hadn’t said a thing, turning to the Valoris whose hands were folded in front of him.

“Josh” he said softly.

The mithril warden blinked a few times, as if lost in thought, giving a soft weak smile.

“I’ll gather my Shieldborne, what is left of them, it’s time we meet with the others” he said turning and walking away towards the titan’s quarters.

Annika spoke.

“Give him some time, he’s taking it harder than all of us” she said.

“And you?” Idris asked.

The Stormseeker, the first love of the titan blade, the enforcer as she was called in hushed tones hadn’t broken down, not once. She glanced at him, lightning dancing behind her eyes.

“I know Moyo Idris, you do too” she started.

“I choose to believe that man is doing all his best to get back to us, you want to know if I’m angry?, if I want to rage?, wait till I have an enemy to vent it on” she replied turning and walking away.

Idris gave a sigh, walking closer to Urne, the ship mistress saluting.

“Enough of that, we’re home now, come, let the dawn archers handle the way, get some rest” he said.

He could see the reluctance in her eyes, she had been on edge for days, ensuring the ship and those of the legion were in top conditions. Shola manifested, her now light purple skin looking more human-like, Idris suspected that out of all of them, she, was one of the worst hit as well. Her powers came from the titan, her evolution was keyed into his, and with them running low on his aspect, she couldn’t simply tap into her skills lest it burnt through their reserves. She was as silent as a ghost, saying nothing as she nodded at both of them.

“The Defiance is the only ship in the fleet without need for repairs, at least, none we can do” Urne said, glancing at Shola.

The stellar sentient shook her head.

“The Defiance for all purposes is fine, everything is working according to parameters, but if you’re expecting me to use any of the true powers that I could boast of, then I’m sorry, without the return of” she said, pausing.

“Without the return of lord titan blade” she completed.

Idris could feel the pain in her voice, but he nodded.

“we’ll do our best, Ibere is literally the realm of the titan, we’ll find a solution” he replied.

Shola nodded, vanishing, Urne speaking.

“The dawn archers have reported that clan leader Ayo is on her way to meet up with us, the legion ships have been directed to an orbital station for compiling and sorting, not all will be going to Ibere, most will be going to the clan planets, there’s plenty of space for them to put up roots and grow” she said.

Idris nodded, remembering the orbital station Ahib and Forgelord Boyle had drawn up to be built, it would be a good place to drop off the refugees, let the bureaucracy of the house deal with it. Sometimes, Idris had to force himself to realize that most of these souls hadn’t seen a gold ranker not to talk of diamonds and masters in their lives, infact, some wouldn’t see them till they die. It was better for them to get themselves familiarized with the lower sects and families who were desperately in need of working hands to set up their roots. Of course, to live in one of the vassal worlds of house titan blade meant your sect or clan held considerable power, still, there was a strict rule of fairness in their empire, and the house didn’t take kindly to it being broken.

The legion masters or lords would be in charge of reinforcing their respective cohorts, seeing their members got their much-needed rest and were on hand for immediate deployment, this return home wasn’t one for celebrations, it was a preparation for war. Another issue they faced was the fact that they had to cover up the apparent physical death of the titan blade, and to that extent, the entire legion and all forces had been sworn to secrecy, any breaking of the oath would see immediate exile from house titan blade space, barring what the Archailect would do to an oath breaker again.

Ashira was in the command deck, one minute the spot she occupied was empty and the next she was there, staring as the ships of the dawn archers pulled up, cradling the cylindrical jar in hand,

“Lady Ashira” Idris called as she glanced at him.

Moving slowly behind her, just out of the shadows was Ajax himself, the silent wraith walking man held a dangerous glint to his eyes, like a barely restrained weapon. With his return to Archailect space, his walk was done with, and yet, perhaps due to some sense of responsibility, the omega blade had lingered behind. Idris suspected the omega blade had nowhere to go, he had burnt his bridges the moment he decided to launch his bloody crusade against house Dracon, the now fallen house and system a reminder to the terrible wrath of the omega blade.

Idris heard he had led hundreds of thousand with a vendetta with house Dracon to war against the house, and going by the absence of those souls, Idris guessed they had either perished or had scattered to the winds, if this was Moyo’s master, then Idris was grateful to the Archailect that the titan blade didn’t take after him in that regard. Ashira gave a weak smile,

“he’s home” she said softly.

Idris nodded, Urne speaking.

“Lady Ayo of the dawn archers is about to embark through pathway” she announced.

A fiery pathway opened up and a woman with black but red streaked hair entered the command deck, the ascenders on the ship bowing respectfully to her, acknowledging the presence of one of the pillars of the house. Ayo paused, locking eyes with Idris as she hurried over, hugging him tightly.

“It is good to see you back Idris” she said.

Idris nodding.

“And you too sister, you too” he replied.

They released themselves, Ayo turning to Ashira, hugging the Chimera who blinked in surprise, hugging her back tentatively. Ayo released her, staring into the eyes of Ashira.

“You did well, he’ll be proud of you” she said softly.

Ashira’s eyes widened, nodding slowly, the crimson eye glanced at Ajax, eyeing him for a second.

“Dark scary man” she said in getting.

Ajax merely nodded, understanding that the greeting was the best he was going to get from her, the crimson eye turning to Annika and her Stormwardens who appeared on deck, the wardens bowing to her as she nodded at them and hugged Annika, the Stormseeker taking it stoically. With the greetings out of the way, the crimson eye spoke.

“Much has changed since you all were gone, we are on full alert, all our worlds are ready, and we stand prepared” she started.

“The Defiance is to proceed straight for Ibere where the clan leaders will open a pathway straight for the palace of the titan blade, further instructions would be given the moment we arrive” she completed.

Idris nodded wearily.

“And the refugees?’ Ashira asked softly.

Ayo turned to her.

“that” she started.

“Will ultimately fall to you and lady Martha” she said.

Ashira paused, Idris smiling, it was about time.

“I don’t understand” Ashira said, confusion on her face.

“you’re Moyo’s intended, fiancée as we call it back home, on Gaia” Annika said.

Idris glanced at the Stormseeker, trying to see if she really meant every word she uttered, but her face was stone cold, no expression.

“you’re one of the most powerful ascenders in our house” she completed.

Ashira gripped the container tighter, something that didn’t escape all their gazes.

“Then if it’s fine by you all, I’d prefer you, his family to do what Moyo would have wanted” she said.

Annika nodded, Idris releasing a sigh of relief, whatever games Martha was playing, she really needed to give him a heads-up, not pull this sort of drama out on them. Ayo smiled.

“Then we proceed to Ibere” she said with a smile.

Ω

Moyo was ready, at least, that was what he told himself, staring at the last two thrones, aether and his true throne. Clad in his mantle, the power flowing outwards, mana crackled in his eyes, reality warped around his raw strength, Oro, his blade, the true blade, hung at his side, floating on its own true will of its own. The titan floated next to the throne of aether, a serious look on his face.

“This is the final step my heir, the true step, you take it and you announce yourself to chaos, the true birth of the titan, to forever face the being and its ilk, to beat back its forces when called upon by my children” the titan said.

Moyo assumed the supreme beings were its children, to see them referred to them as such was a bit amusing, but the gravity of the words spoken wiped all traces of mirth from his face. he nodded.

“I do” he said after a second.

“I do” he repeated again, as if reassuring himself.

“Then seat on the throne of aether and be judged, see if you’re worthy to be among the blessed” the titan said.

Moyo floated to it, eyeing the chair and without a second thought sat on it.

His mind shattered into a thousand pieces at once, his eyes burned with aether, his body burned with aether.

“obaaaaaaa koooossoooooo!” the scream echoed through his mind.

His minds, his eyes pored into the lightless future, the bleak past, the burning present and the thousands of timelines at once.

WHO ARE YOU?

The question echoed through eternity, the form of the titan floating, his hundreds of forms, floating, losing cohesion.

“omo ina, omo irin, omo Jagun ma jabo, omo Irapada, omo gbani gbani ma sukun!” the cry echoed again.

Pieces of Moyo came together, he remembered his name.

“I am Moyosore, child of Ife” he responded.

A chuckle ran through infinity as hundreds of dark shapeless beings assaulted him all at once, seeking to tear him to shreds. A burning presence manifested, draconic eyes stared at him, joy burning in them.

“FINALLY!” a female voice filled with burning power cried.

“I RECOGNIZE HIM, HEED ME MY ASPECT!” the voice cried again.

Another piece of Moyo came together, his aspect, the aspect of the titan blade, burning in a conflagration of purple fire, the draconic voice inhaled audibly and exhaled.

“BE BLESSED!, BY THE AUTHORITY OF ALL SIX OF US, ALL SIX PARTS OF THE TRUE ASPECT, BE BLESSED!” she cried again.

A loud gong echoed, pieces of Moyo coming together again.

“I was once the crushing blade” he uttered as a bright burning presence filled his vision, the dark shaped burning just as quickly as they manifested.

The true aspect, the aspect of creation came calling.

“WE RECOGNIZE YOU; WE HEED YOUR CALL!” the draconic voice said again.

Moyo cried in a voice of exultation as the rest of his body began to come together, pieces of his existence, each burning with pure aether, seeping into his very being.

Ω

All over the Archailect, power burned to life, in the farthest reaches of the nexus point, the jungle king raised his head from where he had been meditating, a look of shock on his eyes,

“The titan blade?” he said.

Ω

Azael roared in rage, his power shaking the world he had taken as his own, he could feel the tremors in the fabric of reality as they strengthened, reality raged at him, if it could talk, it would spew curses. He felt the presence of his lord trashing in the void.

HURRY!

The emotions spread to him, egging him on, he had to get to the last citadel, he had to bring it down, just as soon as he broke the realm of Liakya to smithereens.

NO, GO THERE!,

His mind was almost torn apart by the vision, a world, a paradise, burning with the power of the one that was once known as the anathema. He grinned, if you wanted a problem dealt with, then you go to the source itself.

Ω

At the last citadel, the messengers all stood up as one, shock in their eyes as the aether pulsed, it roiled and it shook. Lucirion stood in shock as well, pausing from the runic circles he had been inscribing in the inner chambers, a loud laughter breaking out, its owner known,

Eses knew as well, she heard the call, she heard the cry, she was a mythical beast after all.

He shouted in frustration.

“Lotes!” he said.

The citadel quaked with the presence of the supreme being herself, Ishum, her prime messenger knelt.

“By your will my lady” he said.

He stood up, flaring his wings.

“HAIL THE AETHER BLESSED!” he shouted.

Xerxes, Xandros, the harbingers, all confused, all gathering as the void of space roiled with pure power, aether shook, it trembled, and then it stilled, returning to its previous state. And then a new presence was felt, one that got Xerxes laughing as Tania’s eyes opened in shock.

Ω

The primordials called a meeting, voices shouted over each other, arguments of the possibility, that Kairos had hidden a trump card, and yet, the king of monsters glanced at his wife who grinned,

“fun” Tiamat said with glee as Kairos laughed.

Ω

The throne of ash was gone, the deific gate of the titan, the one that held back the torrent of his aspect was gone, the prime aspect was gone, its light now dispersed as daylight still burned in the skies above the realm of the titan. One being, one man, illuminated it all, the titan himself watched as the form of Moyo coalesced even as it shook reality. Moyo manifested completely, the new titan.

The titan blade, Oro in hand burning with powers unspeakable, the runic circles around him burned with the powers of a sun, his body cracked the ground he walked on. He glanced at the titan who nodded at the throne in front of him.

The true throne of the titan blade.

“Take your place” he said.

Moyo said nothing, there was no need, he knew what it meant after all, and with one sure stride, reality warping around him, he sat on the throne, and his aspect roared out.

Ω

All over Ibere, the presence of the titan burned, it burned in the air, in the seas, on the land. Ibere was his, he was Ibere, and even as Martha scooped a piece of the soil, as Matthew fell to the ground, his face broken in a wide grin, the voice flowed through the air, it was in the aether itself that grew stronger, it was in Ibere itself.

“I COME”