8 Hope

I had lived through a war. The war lasted a little while, but I ended it. I lost friends, love, spirit, but everything comes at a cost. I had always imagined alternate universes were somewhat similar, alas I was wrong.

My departure from James' world was something I didn't want to do, but I chose that if I could help stop one war, I could stop another. Let me take you back to the day I left...

A legend stood next to me. The castle of Anubis had finally been demolished. I turned towards him, with my mind made up.

"James, remember that alternate universe?" I said

"Yes, why?" He asked

"They're still fighting Anubis and now that I know what to do against him, I can help them, I'm going to help them!" I replied

"Alex, this is a big thing to do, it's very different there!"

"James, we need to help them. We should!"

"We?! No, I- After what I've been through, I can't just go straight into another one!"

"What you've been through? What about me? My friends are dead! Everyone I loved is dead. If anything I've been more hurt!"

"I watched my own neighbours, my entire village turn my backs against me! They left me!"

"You don't realise what you have done to me, you made me believe that there were more things in the world for me! I thought I'd found love, found friends, found a new family. Then you, YOU, made me leave them, kill my love and watch my friends die. Don't you dare compare your failure to my demise! I am leaving, if I return, feel free to apologise!" I said then left him, and that cursed world behind...

I walked through and stood in front of a mountain. Places had been pillaged and destroyed. Bodies and corpses lied on the ground, something had happened here recently. Part of the mountain opened like doors, then a man in a hood and a walking stick ambled towards me. His left leg clanged as it hit the ground.

"You there," He said, "Who are you, and what brings you to Mount Duma?"

"I am but a humble warrior, I have come to help stop Anubis!" I replied

"Haha, defeat Anubis? Impossible! Look at the wasteland he has created! One measly man like you could never kill him!"

"I've done it before!"

"Impossible, you are from this world, there is only one!"

"I've travelled through universes to get here, I thought with the Resistance when I was betrayed!"

"Maybe you speak of the truth... long ago, there was talk that the Resistance had discovered a way to travel through alternate universes."

"They never told people about it?"

"They all died, the resistance is gone. There are still people living in the slums of our world, but their bodies lay among these ruins!"

Impossible. They were strong, mighty, they had each other. I was alone, no more could be done to stop him. Not this time.

"Who are you?" I asked

"I am no one, my identity died in the final war. I only stay to respect the Gods."

"Gods?" I asked

"Yes, they were what kept Anubis weak. They, the Resistance, attempted to halt his attack on them. He killed the leaders and apparently destroyed the Gods."

"Take me there!" I commanded, he turned and walked into the mountain.

It was, as most are, filled with rocks. There were corpses attached to the walls, guts spread across the floors. This 'Paradise' was living hell, death lingered, the pain lingered. What seemed to be trials and challenges filled multiple rooms as well. There were arrows in walls, decomposing skeletons and the strong smell of wet moss.

"The Gods built challenges to contradict those who thought they were strong. Only those with strength, peace, serenity and hope could pass." The Guardian said I stay quiet.

We reached the top. Ruins were misplaced around the room, it seemed like the summit had been destroyed. There was a rock in the middle with runes circling, in front was a door which opened on solid marble. Above was a circle with a disfigured star, a crack ran straight through.

"What is this symbol?" I asked

"The symbol of hope in the Gods." He replied. I walked over to the stone and placed my hand there. The runes ignited into a deep aquamarine. They flickered and vibrated. However, I could read them.

"Clear your mind, feel the energy, open the portal." The man looked at me as I sat myself down. I forgot about my past life, about where I was. I was empty, but at peace.

I was now in some spiritual land. I could feel another person grab my arm.

"You feel the strength, do you not?" They said

"I feel it, the power..."

"Breakthrough the chains." I felt a pain crumble from me as a burden had been lifted from my soul. "Feel it, split reality and open up the gateway. We are waiting."

There was a fizz in my fingers. I opened my eyes, there it was. The way through to the Gods. No puzzles, no keys, no tasks. My way to the Gods was open... I stood up, looked into the blue sparkly abyss. I walked forward, dazed by my achievement and the colours. I reached my hand forward to go inside.

I step into a sort of throne room. One person, that's it, comes towards me. They seem distressed.

"Who are you?" I asked

"Rosagard, I am what is left of the Gods." She said

"You brought me here, you spoke to me. Why have you summoned me?"

"There is a prophecy, spoke by the late Gods, the dark emissary will fall. The man of darkness will wed the princess of light. The dark aeon will be forgotten."

"What does this mean? What should I do?"

"You will learn the meaning, it will make sense in the end. Follow your path, do not decline yourself!" Then she put her hand forward, the edges around my eyes grew darker, then darkness.

I awoke laying on the grounds of the mountain. Standing over me was that anonymity, he didn't look as vulnerable or distressed as before. Instead, he was enraged, angry and prepared. Sword in hand ready to fight...

"Anubis would be proud..." He said, "Shame you won't be around to see him!"

"I know what he's like, his arrogance is his downfall!" I jumped up and summoned my sword to my hand. I go to strike downward, but he swiftly blocks my attempt.

Our blades clashed multiple times. I was using very powerful tactics against him, but he was weak. His blade was powerful, a line of vonan (a poisonous metal) complimented the steel. I wanted to sweep him off his feet and dig my blade into his forgotten soul, but I massively underestimated his skills. I sliced at his arm and cut in deep, he screamed in pain.

He turned aggressive, slashing hits at me in all directions. He was no longer concentrating, he was becoming less defensive. He let his guard down for too long. I swiped at his right hip and sliced off his left leg. He fell to the ground, bleeding.

"Anubis will never see me because I'm the spark that will burn his plans down. The era in your world will be forgotten, and the new will be remembered!" I said the victory was achieved!

"You are very confident, but you will still not win, whether I'm there or not!" He pulled out an orb which flashed orange. It blasted a beam in the air creating a shockwave. I stabbed my blade into him. The beam disappeared, I seemed safe.

I feel a sudden wind, multiple cruisers appear above me. That was my cover blown, especially since one of them was much bigger and had supreme leader plastered over it. He was here... he was prepared.