63 The Warmind (2)
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"You're sure you want to keep on with the axe?" Efrideet asked, reloading her rifle. The voice in her comms was barely winded, even as the Iron Lord leapt to avoid a plume of white-hot fire
A torrent of white flames flooded, bursting forth, almost scorching her helmet. Efrideet's cloak ignited, as she tugged on her shoulders, shrugging free of the burning mess.
Her brows knitted together, she rushed to her feet. "Why in the Traveler's ass did you want to fight an actual DRAGON, old man?"
Saladin grinned, a bloodied axe resting in his hands, he leaned over, his rugged voice filling the comms. "We're knights. Wouldn't you want to be a dragon slayer?" He broke out into a boisterous laugh.
A gargantuan dragon towered over them. Its white scales beaten and bruised, wounds gleaming a cloudy red. Rearing its head, serpentine eyes full of vigor, it prepared for another breath.
Saladin's great axe was scarred, barely holding its edge, the tips had melted off.
Efrideet clicked her tongue as she darted behind a boulder, "We're only Knights if we survive." She glanced at the Iron Lord, holding his head high as he stared down the dragon.
The beast bellowed, earth quaking under its wings. Lungs filled with fire, Saladin's unwavering figure stood before him. Without a moment to spare, the dragon spat out.
A jet of white-hot flames shot towards the titan. Saladin grunted, a golden aura coated the axe head. Eyes spilling with light, he roared, his armor radiant. Clenching the great axe, Saladin spun the handle, summoning a cyclone.
The flames collided headstrong with the wind, an unbearable heat flushed the area, the ground beneath Saladin's feet charred black as he pushed back the fire.
Efrideet ducked as the flames slithered near her. "OLD MAN.....you okay?" She mustered some words as the fire threatened to swallow them whole.
She clenched her teeth, no response came, "F***, Old Man you better hold on." Her rifle clicked Efrideet felt the flames singe her armor through the rock.
"Hhhaha...."
Opting to rush out instead, a gravelly chuckle stopped her in her tracks.
Saladin's voice broke the silence, an oppressive light radiating from his figure. His eyes turned dark, pupils flickering golden.
"I've tasted your flames, dragon."
With a hand gripping the axe, Saladin charged the dragon. One fell sweep of his axe split apart the flames. The Iron Lord leapt high, soaring above the dragon.
"Now feast on my light."
Wielding his great axe, Saladin swooped down on the dragon's neck, he swung, cleaving through the dragon's neck and the ground in one strike. A fierce wind slash erupted, dust clouds exploding outwards
Feeling the ground shake and the winds howl, Efrideet aimed her rifle, crawling out of cover. Her eyes widened.
Saladin stood over the beheaded dragon, its body going limp. The dust cleared , but the Iron Lord's armor was charred an ashen black, his axe now scarred, its edge shattered. Saladin took off his helmet and took in a breath of fresh air.
He coughed, wiping down his armor with soot covered hands. "Perhaps, the dragon wasn't a good idea after all."
Lady Efrideet heaved a sigh of relief as she stared down Saladin, "Old man, take care of yourself."
The two iron lords looked to dispose of the dragon, as they chucked its corpse down with, piling up with other Ahamkara they had hunted down.
Saladin wiped his hands clean as he dusted his armor, "So, are you still going?"
Efrideet holstered her rifle, "I talked with the Speaker last time. He allowed it."
Silence fell over the two, Saladin pressed his lips together, "We could use you here. The city."
But Efrideet sighed, her eyes drooped low, "Centuries of pointing and shooting...and we're still at it. Old man, I want to find another way."
The titan contemplated, but no words seemed to dissuade the huntress.
"I understand." He nodded.
"I only came back because you called. To think the rest are all...."
Saladin sobered up, his eyes turned slightly misty. "Hmm... I am sorry, we couldn't save them. Even the warmind fell short to contain it. We had no choice."
The two iron lords reminisced of their old days, fighting day and night. But an abrupt message interrupted their talks. Zavala's insignia flashed the transponder as Saladin accepted the call.
"Saladin. Lady Efrideet. I hope you've both finished."
Saladin quickly caught on, "Indeed, we have. But I don't suppose you've called to check."
"There's been a complication. We have Ahamkara on the run. The city needs you to hunt them down. I hope we're not asking for too much here."
"No, but you'll owe me a good axe, friend. Send us the coordinates, we'll be on the way."
"Affirmative, may the light be with you."
Saladin closed the call as he headed back to the Jumpship.
"I suppose we still have to fight, but I hope you succeed one day" He smiled as Efrideet followed in his tracks.
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[Lunar Command, SkyWatch]
"Tell me, why do you call me brother?" His voice echoed.
The skull came to life, its hollow eyes eerily staring at Void, its blank stare seemed to convey a thousand words.
~We are the same, O Brother mine. Journeying through the universe, in search of a way to ascend from this stranded world~
Void frowned, his mind raced as he recalled the Ahamkara's lore. Vagrants from another plane of existence, finding ways to ascend through the world. It all clicked in his mind.
"How do you know I am the same?"
~Your soul, does not belong here. You've come a long way, O brother mine~
"If you wish to leave, why don't you?"
The skull contemplated, as if peering through Void's mind.
~You know the answer, O brother mine. We were still weak. Now, we are but few, and all will die until only one remains.~
Void hesitated, and then asked one more question.
"Can you find out what brought me here?"
The Ahamkara remained silent, as if the final embers of its soul had finally burnt out. But then there was a whisper.
~Your answer lies, within this world. Yes, there are nine, no less and no more. But we do not know how, O brother~
'The Nine.' Void burned that name to memory. Mystical dark matter entities that watched over the universe. Were they truly the cause for his arrival?
"Where do you go after you die?"
~.....We leave this world. But wisps of our soul linger, eternally. O brother."
The answer seemed cryptic. 'The Ahamkara's wills were forever ingrained in their bones.'
Void knew it wasn't lying.
"I don't have any more questions, but I have a request. Care to listen?" Void chimed, his brows furrowed. It wasn't something he expected the Ahamkara to accept.
~....~
"I will forge weapons and armors from your remains. I don't expect you to cooperate, but your wills are intertwined with the bones. If you help me, we can forge something unparalleled."
The Ahamkara fell into silence. A request? But it has already left this world. There was no concept of a favor in its nature. Ahamkara's were calculating and devious. It had no power to grant Void anything.
Why had his brother mentioned a request?
~Do you also wish to ascend? O brother mine, but the world may drag you down. You are not strong enough to uphold the universe.~
"....I never thought I was the strongest. But I will find a way. Whether it's about ascension or the darkness. I don't plan to lose." Void's resolve was hardened.
The draconic skull seemed to quiver, the eyes lit up, illuminated by an ethereal wisp as it stared at Void's soul, perhaps, even through it.
~Make a pact, O brother mine. If its you, perhaps you will ascend, your future, is boundless~
[ !! Alert, interdimensional energy is invading the system!!]
[!! Warning !!]
[!! Warning !!]
[!! Warning !!]
[User is offered a contract]
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++ Wishful Allegiance ++
"The lie that makes itself true, preying on the gradient between reality and the ever-shifting paradigm of the world. It offers you an accord."
Conditions: Devote yourself to ascend, reach the "forge of the worlds", become illimitable and sublime.
Failure: Your pact breaks, wounding your very soul.
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Warnings blared in front of his eyes, Void's eyes widened, "This is...."
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A/N: Hope you enjoyed chapter, leave comment, leave review!!! Give stone~
