EPISODE 207: CLANG! 5

— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR: 7292. SEASON: NEW BEGINNING.

Lawruthian pulled close to Adam, prepared to use his golem to block any of the devastating attacks of Contra. The creature continued to blur through the air, leaving behind an afterimage of red and blue.

Magi fought around him, luring creatures close before they would attack in an organized but deadly strike. General Alexandria's voice rang across the army, sometimes directly taking control of a squad of soldiers and pulling them back. Blood drops fell from the sky, but the bodies of the slain fell faster. It was a beautiful, clear day, but a chill like that of winter entered the air. Lawruthian was a distance away, the airspace around him open as he fought solo. He didn't mind, it was better for his men to keep a distance least they end up as an unexpected casualty.

Carno slightly pulled up next to him, casually floating in the air as he began to speak. "Let me give you a lesson, one that you will surely remember for the rest of your journey."

Since his explanation a few days back, the second [Chosen of Madris] seemed to have slightly changed. Or perhaps it was the distance closing, with the Mountain of Final Hope bringing out a grim and stoic version of the man. Lawruthian was prepared to ignore him and keep his focus on the Rising Calamity; however, his next words drew a portion of his attention. He couldn't help it, this was knowledge he'd longed to receive or at least understand.

There was so little of the Genesis Realm that Lawruthian truly understood. He knew its history was long and such an ancient place was on the verge of ending; what he didn't understand was so much more of it. ‎ What was magic, how did it truly work—how did reality stay reality, with so much of it expressed through a different lens than he was used to? There was so, so much more, but no one held these answers outside of figures like Gods. And Goddess Madris wasn't willing to speak—not always.

"You will come to understand this once you grasp a Law. However, reality is built like a Divine Kingdom. There is the Foundation , the principles on which the kingdom is laid upon. That foundation is built of Laws in relation to the Genesis Realm, just like a God's Divine Kingdom is built upon their Law," Carno smirked, watching as Lawruthian dodged another swipe by Contra. "That foundation crumbled when Oblivion and Elrunian fought; the realm used as a shield to resist the strength of a Superior Law."

Lawruthian put his back against his golems, half focused on Carno Edryani's words and half on Contra. He internally frowned, not liking how Carno chose this moment to break his silence. It was deliberate, purposely trying to distract Lawruthian in a fight where he could lose his life at the slightest mistake.

If Lawruthian was certain about one thing… then it was that Carno was a dirty fighter. One willing and able to use any method to accomplish his goal. Lawruthian wasn't certain what Carno was after yet, but he knew a plan meant to distract or disturb his opponent's mind when he saw one. He'd put into practice some of the same methods.

A cold wind blew over. A snowflake fell by Lawruthian. It was slow, unexpected, and reflected off the red jewels of his helmet.

"Get ready, Adam," Lawruthian whispered, more so to put his mind back on the fight before him and not the distraction Carno was proving himself to be.

He tightly gripped [Legacy]. The sword raised, nearly like a baseball player's stance. When hunting something faster, stronger, but not smarter than you, then there were a few methods to accomplish the goal. What Lawruthian was doing was the first of these methods.

…

Put your back against a wall and wait for it to skewer itself on your blade .

…

Carno continued to teach. He leaned against an invisible wall, directly facing the battle between Queen Titiana's forces and the wyverns of the roost. A single large mountain, its top covered in silvery white snow, stood alone but surrounded by nothing but green. "However, our reality hasn't been properly maintained for a long… long time. And its Foundation has been left unkempt—by no fault of ours. It's why these Gods play their games, after all."

Lawruthian compared Carno's explanation to building a house. To build a house, in the simplest of terms, you must excavate land and lay a strong foundation for the building to sit on. If left unmaintained, this foundation would come to crumble as the years passed, and it weathered the storms of the outside.

"Not all Laws are equal. My Law of Eradication especially so," Carno smirked. "It allowed me to bypass things simply by eradicating anything in my way, away . So I did what any good… vindictive leader should. I accessed the Foundation to do away with the biggest threat to this realm… and what I saw was the crumbling Foundation with remnants of hundreds— thousands of laws left behind by our predecessors ."

Carno continued to lean his gaze on the fight forces a distance away. He opened his mouth to continue, not minding the fighting Lawruthian. Then, he paused, eyes widening in surprise, a gentle voice emerging into the ears of every being present.

No matter how small, like the worms in the ground consuming nutrients in their struggle to survive—and no matter how big, like the wyverns in the sky, some the size of houses, others only slightly larger than a man. They paused and listened—craning their bodies to see as best they could.

"( True Body: Divine Form — Love )."

The world seemed to pause, Lawruthian included, as he recognized his mother's voice. Then, at once, all fighting forces looked toward the one who uttered those words. It was like instinct—nearly like something was calling them to gaze, or they may miss an opportunity in their lives. It wasn't just the magi who felt like this, but the creatures of Wyvern's Roost. If anything, they felt it more than anything else as creatures in tune with their instincts. What they saw would forever remain as a core memory—as an achievement to recite to their child and their children.

…

They watched… and the world changed colors.

…

The sky, once blue, became pink .

…

The ground, once full of brown, green, and red as the blood of the fallen sank into it, became pink .

They gaze toward her, some craning their necks to see over the large forms of wyverns. Others simply flew higher or lower, their instinctive calling hard to resist. Then… they saw it. The winter storm surrounding it could not block their gazes.

Blues, greens, and browns—all different eye colors focused on a figure as their color faded away, un-allowed to be in its presence— Her presence.

Lawruthian spat—a mouthful of blood emerged from the opening in his helmet; his opponent was no better. And, the fighting army and beast horde simply released blood into the air—their minds wounded by gazing at a being they shouldn't have. No matter how strong that instinct is, they should have resisted and fought it off with all they had.

You have gazed at the semi-divine form of a being beyond your comprehension. -150 Health Points.

Lawruthian's wound was light compared to others. His eyes widened in disbelief, and many magi of the Imperius Army screamed, some clutched their faces, blood dripping from their seven orifices. Others simply fell, dead, or far too injured to resist.

"Do not gaze this way," that ever so gentle voice, one that Lawruthian held dear, continued. "Or it will punish you for your impudence. (Divine Skill: Heart of the Nation — National Unity), I apologize to those who have already looked. Should I have achieved Apotheosis and planted my seed to bloom into a tree, then you would have lost your minds— let this be the only warning—never gaze at one activating their True Body ."

Lawruthian felt his body surge in strength and some falling magi regain their senses. However, the damage had already been done. He quietly whispered to himself, uncertain. "What exactly… is a… God ?"

His whisper hadn't gone unnoticed by Carno Edryani, who'd turned his back the moment the gentle voice of Lawruthian's mother spoke. He turned back toward Lawruthian and the Mountain of Final Hope. "That… is a Demigod. One who holds the power to lay themselves in the foundation and dictate the life and death of mortals. That is the bare minimum to be considered a player and not a pawn—if barely," he laughed—a loud, deranged thing to the ears of Lawruthian.

Lawruthian gaze turned to Contra, the creature hadn't fully recovered just as many of the surrounding wyverns. Then, like his mother earlier, Lawruthian said one thing as he flashed through the air, blade swinging in an overhead strike to finish off his opponent—eyes surging with more red than gold.

…

" KILL! "

…

It looks like there was a new way to kill a creature far faster than you.

…

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Lawruthian's blade sank deep into Contra's neck, and then Adam came from the other side and helped his master finish the job of decapitating the creature.

" THERE ISN'T JUST ONE GODDESS FOR EDRYAN— KILL ! FOLLOW THE QUEEN'S EXAMPLE ," the Prince's voice rang over the Imperius Army.

" KILL ," General Alexandria screamed, surging forth past her stunned soldiers and toward the stunned and still recovering wyverns.

" KILL ," General Ameri charged, trampling forth past her soldiers as her armored fist smashed through the head of a disabled wyvern.

" KILL ," Madria slapped a soldier's back, infusing life into him and returning his health to full.

" KILL ," Simra yelled, no hesitation in her voice and nothing to stop her confidence from surging.

" KILL ," Amaya laughed, bright magenta eyes focused on her target as she pushed past the soldiers assigned to protect her.

" KILL ," Lorde charged, valiantly gesturing at the soldiers near him and Simra as he attacked.

KILL!

KILL!

KILL!

KILL!

KILL!

KILL!

KILL!

KILL!

KILL!

No more thoughts, no more conversations surged through Lawruthian's mind. Nothing Carno said could distract him now and bring his focus from the task at hand.

His soldiers were the same, surging forward and into the mass of wyverns above and below. The Gods were on their side, a pink world uplifted them, providing them with strength and vitality like nothing before. They fought together as brothers, sisters—magi—Saphens—for there was nothing that could stop them. ‎ Lawruthian cut deep into the stunned wyverns, and with each swing of his blade, a wyvern would fall from the sky. Seconds later, his magi were behind him, surging with EVERYTHING to catch up to their prince, their [Chosen], as he fought his way deeper and toward his mother.

Lawruthian laughed, turning his head to see Tobi and his Imperius Knights just steps behind. Nothing seemed to stop them as they stepped on nothing but air. He could see their determination, their constant grind to stand next to him. He slowed, just a step…

Just A Step…

And they caught up.

Tobi shot forward, shield raised as he blocked an incoming strike to his Prince. Lawruthian's laugh grew louder, and Tobi and his knights surged with pride. For so long they looked at that back with hopes and dreams of standing not behind it but in front of it one day.

Today that dream came true.

" KILL! KILL MY MAGI, MY IMPERIUS SOLDIERS! KILL ," Lawruthian exclaimed. The helmet on his head could not hide the pride in his voice.

And, the magi-humans of the Imperius Army responded—killing their way forward with near reckless abandon. Today, calamities would fall. Today, wyverns would fall. Today…, magi would fall. Their blood would be the sacrifice to create a [Golden Age] unprecedented on the continent from before the beginning of this world… and until its fast-approaching end.

Tobi continued his path forward, no longer behind the Prince but in front as he blocked for him. His Imperius Knights came quickly—no longer fighting behind the Prince but with him. Lawruthian's laugh never stopped, [Legacy] made up for the lacking damage should they not kill a wyvern immediately as they swept forward.

Simra's blade moved with a vigor never before seen. She finally understood, finally understood what her next goal, next purpose, was. Her eyes landed on a figure slightly ahead. Her best friend surged forward, protected by his knights and with the Imperius Army. She, too, was surging, helping the soldiers around her as a [Champion].

Everything Sword Saint Aurora poured into her during class and after surged outward in an outstanding display of swordsmanship. Simra dodged, ducking low and pointing her blade forward. It stabbed deep into the chest of a wyvern, and a new blade swung over her head, directly stabbing into the beast's eye as they slew it. Lorde watched her back, prepared to defend her with everything he had.

Simra was done pondering, today, she found that goal—that idea that would drive her forward. She watched the soldiers around her, their inspired gazes on the back of a single figure. They moved with near reckless abandon—even their general surged forward with the passion to kill.

Light surged from her body, a light that represented a sole thing.

…

Hope.

…

The [Light of the End] was nothing other than {Hope}—brought forward into reality and manifested through Simra's Intent and those around her. That light surged, spreading to the soldiers behind her and further. Their boosted strength, already at a new height from the Demigoddess of Love's skill, now reached another threshold as a multitude of buffs elevated them.

Simra fought harder, feeling invincible as her blade sang. It spoke like the [Bards] and [Street Performers] who told tales of [Heroes] and [Adventurers] going on journeys to slay the big bad evil. Soon, her light enveloped the entire army—those who once nearly fell, {Death} doing its best to claim them… rose . She stepped forward, not a [Hero] but just as mighty as one, her blade singing.

She wanted to be just like him. She wanted to inspire just like him. So there was no more hesitation in her steps—no more hesitation in her eyes. She'd changed once she entered Imperius Academy and realized just how far her goal was. She'd lost friends but gained new ones and came to understand the dynamic between the nobles and commoners.

…

Protectors and Protected.

…

That was the original intention. And, today, Simra would be reigniting that passion, not just in herself but all those around her.

That's when she heard it…

Laughing .

Laughing came from before her, from a voice she could recognize anywhere.

"Prince Lawruthian is laughing," she exclaimed—above her, just out of sight was a [Messenger] smiling gently.

That laughter grew louder as her light touched him and he once again forged forward, not past his Imperius Knights but next to them—fighting alongside them as he laughed.

Suddenly, Lorde burst into laughter next to her, his sword clearing a path before her. Lawruthian's laugh was loud, nearly obnoxious in its carefreeness. It was boisterous, unrestrained, and free from the obligations of the world. They were nearly at the inner region of Wyvern's Roost, pushing forward with every step. A hum entered the air—its origins unknown but seemingly spread throughout the entire forest, and Simra, too, laughed. It was different from Lorde's, whose laugh was clear and melodious. His laugh also held a swagger hard to imitate and was like a breath of cool fresh air after a hard workout—sweet and much needed.

Simra's laugh was different. It held weight, responsibility , but… if there was one distinct thing different than anyone else. It held the source of their new level of surging strength—it held {Hope}—hope for a better tomorrow, a brighter future… a clear sunny day with sparse clouds and a vast, endless blue sky.

One by one, soldiers opened their mouths and laughed—no one knew why the prince laughed, but they joined him. A few thousand voices laughed in unison—a few thousand now, but soon it would be a thousand-thousand and more.

The Imperius Army laughed. They laughed as they surged toward the Mountain of Final Hope, laughing their way forward as wyverns fell and magi rose, unable to die—the [Light of the End] negated that debuff. The sky and ground were pink —[ Love ] was in the air. It felt like a mother's embrace, a father's comforting words, an uncle's clap on the back, an aunt's gift, a cousin's tease, a brother's words of encouragement, a sister's eye roll, a grandma's comfort food, a grandfather's smiling features.

Their laugh was carefree, unrestrained, and seemed able to be heard throughout the forest… or even in the ears of a Goddess.

Lawruthian laughed, a voice he longed for returned to his mind. He said a sole word, sensing her panic, worry, desperation , and so much more. She hadn't even noticed their connection returned, as whatever she was experiencing occupied every single fiber of her attention.

' Minerva .'

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