1 Alex Ventus

With large strides as I navigated in the dark abyss, leaving no shadow nor tracks in my trail while chaos ensued in the surroundings, for as early as the night, the war began.

~

I experienced a fleeting moment of joy when I first joined the army. Every soldier was vigorous, robust and healthy people, ranging from as young as 15 and old as 40. Everyone had high expectations, as if war is won in a day.

Though not everyone looked forward to a new war, nevertheless they are only ordinary people, their voices overwhelmed by the sheer force of power and money, the people with authority.

My parents were the same, they frowned upon war. Violence and death, they were scared for their youngest son, Alex Ventus, a scrawny yet hopeful boy. He was the gem in their family, they treated him well, he was blessed with everything he could ask for, because of the fact he was the only man.

Their family was a lineage of knights, or at least before. Now only his grandfather was the last remaining knight in their family. His father had no siblings, no one to carry on the line, except for one.

I think you guys could already guess who I am. But I will still introduce myself I am Alex Ventus, the child of Sierra Everiel and Gin Lowell Ventura, the last of the line of Ventus.

And this is my life.

The night was cold yet peaceful. The moon which looked as if it was from a painting, it blended well with the scene. Constant sound of animals were often heard, an ethereal feeling of this moment will forever etch itself within my heart, because this was the last time I get to see something beautiful here in the land of Evergreen, the Diwa kingdom where I am from, which established itself in such a peaceful and plentiful land will not be same again.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

'Enemy Attack!'

Shouts and Metal shrieking filled the Diwa Kingdom, each soldier based in the camp was was roused by the noise, then noticed the large horn which only meant one thing 'they are here'.

Like some soldiers in the camp, I was once of those people who were not on duty, I groggily got up.

'Ughhh, what the hell is happening?' I asked bewildered, but the crowd of soldiers only moved, left and right, each with their own task. No one dared not do anything lest they want to die.

A few looked in my direction and only glared as if to say 'do you really have to ask?' I gave a stare that would say 'I know, I just need confirmation'

A man in armor donned in silver armor, came forth and took the lead, he shouted 'Don't Panic! Those assholes only know how to attack when they have the upper hand, but lets show them how the soldiers of Diwa aren't pushovers either!'

Soldiers cheered, as if war was just a game and no one's was gonna die, but soon they'll know how painful it is, they'll understand.

Men lined up forming a phalanx formation, the formation was crude but the soldiers made up for its enthusiasm, since no one actually did real training.

'Everyone slowly charge, keep the formation!' inconsistencies in the barrier was very obvious, some were too fast, or too slow.

The stench of blood filled the once clean air. A few green hand soldiers who couldn't take this much vomited their guts out.

Only a few soldiers were alive and Alex group was one of them. Their once glorious 50,000 diminished to such a low extent of a few hundred.

Alex group consists of 300-400 men, the men were now growing disheartened by the lost of those good people. Of course they still won't back down, this is their homeland and where their family lives. If they ever let the enemies take over, their family will surely just be a lowly servant, or in worst cases for women, a toy to vent their desires to.

They have been walking for a few hundred feet yet no enemy at sight. Suddenly, a few yards from the group of Diwa Soldiers, were the soldiers from the enemy kingdom, bearing in their armor a dragon biting its tail forming a circle, it was the enemy, Ouroboros Eternal Kingdom, and the enemy count was half their size.

The Diwa Soldiers branded their weapons, their eyes filled with hatred and anger, seethed into their hearts, the blood of their men, painted the once beautiful scenery.

'Everyone CHARGE!!' the men chanted, they all accepted their incoming deaths, at least in their final battle they can kill some of the bastards soldiers.

The man who took the lead, he raised his sword and run forth with the other soldiers in tow. No one dared fall behind. In their hearts they knew, it was their last stand.

Blades and shields met, blades and armor met, blades and flesh met. Blood curling screams were heard as soldiers from both camp claimed lives.

Alex who was behind the group, though lacking physically he still pushed forward, in front of him he saw his comrades falling one by one, but each of them took at least one life of the enemy soldiers.

His kill counts doesn't even reach 1, with skinny looking weak body, he could barely swing a sword with force strong enough to kill.

One of the Soldiers of Diwa saw Alex struggling with his own sword felt pity 'Kid run there's still time left, you still have a life ahead of you' Alex looked at the man who suggested.

In his eyes he saw middle aged man about mid-30s, with a thick beard and stocky body. His name was Charles, Alex barely remembered the man. Alex steeled his heart and his eyes showed his will. Charles knowingly looked at Alex, he knew he can't stop the kid.

Before this war, Charles was working as a tailor, he had a wife and just recently he found out he will have a child. That's why he was concerned about Alex, in his eyes, Alex was just a kid, not fit in this cruel war. Or maybe the silhouette of his soon to be born child was reflected in the figure of Alex.

The man, in his head already had in mind to protect the kid even with his life.

The crude phalanx was slowlg bitten little by little by the Ouroboros Soldiers, it can barely fend off the attack, the few hundred strong men were almost wiped out, leaving about 50 Diwa Soldiers left.

Slash after slash, blood poured over the green grass, leaving blood streaked grass.

The few left Diwa Soldiers were surrounded by the enemy soldiers. They were tightly circled, from the back to their front, left and right, with no way out. Soon, 5 men surrounded Alex and Charles. The remaining Diwa Soldiers grouped together and a small pack was created.

Charles pushed Alex behind him, protecting the scrawny kid. He drew his sword and waved it, threatening to kill whoever closes up on them.

'Kid, you better run when I tell you to!' Charles whispered to the frightened Alex.

Charles gripped his blade and charged while yelling, 'Gooo! Go Now!' Charles was able to hold himself and parried blade after blade, backing and charging once more.

After awhile, his movements seemed to slow down, fatigue was slowly showing in him, but with gritted teeth and tensed muscles he still stayed immovable.

Alex was panicking. He knew if he left, he might feel bad and it would haunt him, but he knew if he stayed, Charles sacrifice would be in vain.

Stuck in his thoughts he didn't know how much time he wasted. Charles turned back only to see the boy with his head low, he assumed that the kid lost his will. At that moment of distraction, a sword pierced his stomach. In his surprise barely able to react, another blade slashed at him, causing wounds in his battered body.

'Arghhhhh!!' The pain was too much for him to handle, his eyes were now bloodshot. A stronger rush of adrenaline began to spread in his body. He managed 3 strikes which took down 3 people with him, before his body went lifeless, and like any other fallen he was now one with earth.

At this moment, Alex who heard Charles wail before his last stand, was now looking at the latters dead corpse, with watery eyes.

Suddenly he felt a chill went up his spine.

'Child, do you want power?' He heard a voice.

Alex inspected the surrounding only to see that everything stopped. No sound, no movements, no reactions. They were all still statues.

'I stopped time For You, I want to give you a choice' the eerie voice said.

I forced out a whimper, 'Who are you?'

'Who I am is not important, but who you are and who you will be'

'Me?'

'No more questions, we only have so little time'

A small vortex appeared out of nowhere. Golden lights was leaving the vortex, and in a beam it moved towards Alex Circling him and attaching itself to his body, Some were on his face, his left arm, chest and back.

'Use it well, I bid you farewell'

When the golden lights ejected out of the vortex and circled him, Alex closed his eyes, expecting something gruesome to happen, only to be disappointed with joy. He looked at his new self.

His eyes were now blue, his hair green and golden tattoos were all over his body, which looked ancient and seemed as if each carries a meaning.

Alex was anxious, he was not himself. He feels as if this was not his body. His body now became robust, firm muscles which were not overboard but packed with power. He felt surreal. He was now a lot taller compared to his previous 5"11.

'ting'

Time started moving again.

The soldiers who were surrounding Alex, were dumbfounded at the sight. The scrawny boy they were about to kill was missing, in his place was a man with green colored hair and blue eyes, with muscles protruding his body.

'You! Greeny! where has the kid gone to?!' One of the enemy soldiers pretentiously demanded.

Looking at the soldiers who surrounded him, Alex only felt anger. Gaining new powers made him a bit arrogant.

He clenched his fist into a ball, and with bravery in him, he punched the closest soldier. Only to be met with the coldness and power of an armor, his fist felt like breaking.

'Fuck! what the hell happened?' Since then mysterious event awhile ago, he deluded himself thinking he was the most powerful in the vicinity, he hadn't figured that power isn't mastered in a day.

The soldier who was punched was laughing endlessly. He joked to his comrades that he only felt a slight breeze.

Alex was regretful for his action. He wished he should've just run away, and serve revenge at a later time with high success.