The Prince of the Ancients and the Dark Spear

Time worked in different ways. For some it led to progress, whilst for others time robbed them of everything. Some had it both ways, but whichever one came last was the true defining factor for them – progression or robbery. However those with their destinies already written in the stars always experienced the most turbulent of eras. Their fates were never set in stone. Succeed at what fate had touted its horn that you would do and you would be remembered for all eternity. Fail, and you would be forgotten. Even if you were remembered, it wouldn't be the kind of memory you would hope people have of you. A man with such destiny was the Prince of Ancients, Dan.

The mysteries of the Dark Valley were plentiful, so much so that each of the Three Great Races had their own agendas and beliefs concerning the place. For the Ancients, their strongest belief was that a powerful weapon was hidden in the Dark Valley. This weapon was believed to possess unprecedented power, and it was said to be of the same origins as the Tower of the Hundred. The Ancients believed that this weapon may be the very reason for the existence of Dark Valley. Without this weapon, the darkness of the valley would slowly give way to the inextinguishable light of the sun. However, so far they hadn't found anything. All they got for their efforts were clues upon clues. And they were currently nowhere. But they still believed, for several of their Oracles had seen such a vision.

"The Chosen – the Prince who would be born to the Matriarch – would find the spear that pierces through light itself. With it shall he slay the Dark One who terrorizes the world. A spear from Darkness shall pin the Dark One to the ground. Oh the irony!"

This was a prophecy that came long before the three Great Races reached their current heights. They remained confused about the prophecy until the day they learned about Pazuzu. It was then that they thought, "What if…just what if the Dark One was the strange god trying to destroy the world?" If it was so, then it was the destiny of the one of their own to save the world.

They had spent several centuries trying to understand the other parts of the prophecy. And they narrowed down the location of the weapon to the Dark Valley. However they had never found it. But now their approach had changed. The Prince they abandoned to fend for himself was now the one relied upon to find the 'spear'. For they thought to themselves, what if the weapon could only be found by the one meant to wield it? And so off he was, the Prince of Ancients, to find a weapon that could never be found.

As for the man in question, he was currently steeped in a group brawl. Dan was surrounded by three large creatures. All three creatures were of the same species, for they were all large birds. And just like every other creature, they had a name – Fire Condors.

Their wings were on fire, and their tails were as well. Occasionally they exhaled long breaths of smoke before belching out powerful jets of flames. Each bird was at the Nobility Realm, yet Dan was holding his own against them very well. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that they were flying too far above him for him to mount any proper counter, this assault wouldn't have gone on for as long as it did. Dan was very nimble. Every fiery attack was evaded spectacularly, and he wasn't hurt in any way.

He had been in scenarios like these since he entered the deeper regions of Dark Valley. The creatures here were smart and played to their advantages. He had faced Earth Moles who were experts at quick attacks and evasive maneuvers that saw them slink back into the earth as quickly as they appeared. He had faced fishes that tried to change the terrain to suit themselves. And he had even had to deal with insects that were a bit too powerful for their size. And through it all, he had come out on top. This wasn't going to be any different.

"That's enough," Dan stated exasperatedly as a powerful wind swept the entire area. The powerful jets of fire that sought to burn him to nothing were forcefully halted as the winds formed a barrier in front of Dan under the astonished gazes of the birds.

"That's right you twigs. I can use elements too."

Since the fight began, Dan had only been depending on his physical strength and abilities. He didn't use his element of choice, Wind, because he didn't want to alert his preys to his true intention. His eyes flashed with a green glow as they pierced through the darkness of the valley on their own. Ancients had their own way of traversing Dark Valley. A technique called 'Sight'. It allowed one to see beyond the confines of light. And that was what Dan was using right now.

"Gather and return," Dan mumbled as he gestured to the winds which howled and gathered the fire as they came, and rolled the fires into one large fire ball. And then it was sent towards the ones who had summoned them.

*Scree*

All three birds screamed in panic as they tried to get out of the way. In their complacency they stood together instead of flying in an expansive formation that would have made it difficult for Dan to attack all at once. They were quick birds, and it looked like they were going to be able to weather this storm. But Dan wasn't going to let that happen.

"Explode," he commanded, and the fireball exploded spectacularly.

*Boom*

Along with the massive explosion that temporarily lit up this particular vicinity, the three birds were tossed towards the ground. The fire didn't harm them largely, but it did cause some injuries. Dan didn't expect an attack which wasn't aimed at anyone in particular to do the job. It was the follow up that mattered.

Bending his knees and summoning the energy that he had grown so used to controlling over the past few years, Dan launched himself into the skies and was before the first descending condor in no time at all. The beast was still disoriented and unaware of what was happening. And this made things much simpler.

Clutching the spear in his hand tightly, Dan blazed his way through the beast. Although he was nothing but a mere grain of sand before the massive beast, his skill was akin to that of an expert chef carving out a chicken.

*Puchi*

Dan's spear was like a carving knife, and with it he tore apart the heart of the condor before it could even scream in pain. Its eyes lost their luster as it continued plummeting to the ground. This time however, it was doing so lifelessly.

Dan showed his prowess as a true Wind User as he changed direction midair and pushed his way towards the second condor. It was a wonder really. If he had such skill; being able to air walk so freely, why wait for so long to use them?

As Dan approached the second condor he kept spinning like a legendary ballerina. As he span the winds gathered around him and converged into a single point. If there was any light one would have seen a giant 'wind mill' surrounding Dan. Like a razor sharp cleaver the mill tore through the second condor without much suspense. The feathers of these beasts weren't the strongest form of defense, but they were as tough as steel. Yet Dan made killing them seem like butchering a thanksgiving turkey.

"Last one" Dan mumbled as he changed directions and rushed to the last beast. The last condor had been able to stabilize itself after several failed attempts. And once it did, it noticed that the others were no more. Its eyes flashed with panic as it tried to fly away. Alas, that decision would have been sound before Dan took to the sky.

"No you don't," Dan exclaimed as his speed suddenly increased to about threefold of what it was before. And in no time he was right above the retreating bird.

"Descending Chaos," Dan mumbled as Edict gathered around him and converged onto the tip of his spear. The weapon shone brightly like the noonday sun as Dan acted as its herald.

"Roar!"

With a loud roar Dan struck the condor which screamed in pain. Once he did the light that gathered at the tip of his spear exploded, and the condor was totally destroyed!

*Bang*

Unlike the other two, this condor left no remains. True to its name, Descending Chaos was an obliterator. Once Dan was done he flew back to the ground, his green eyes piercing through the darkness to locate the beast he had been trying to bait. It was for this reason he had delayed so much with killing the condors. For there was a creature which delighted in condor meat, and Dan had successfully pulled it to his side.

"A Winged Lizard" Dan mumbled when he saw the beast approaching. His eyes flashed with expectation as he swung his spear around him to ready himself for battle. He had intentionally destroyed the last condor so thoroughly so that its blood would remain in the air for quite the amount of time. That way the Winged Lizard wouldn't miss this location even though the auras of the condors had disappeared.

Suddenly his expression changed as a message came to him from the one who had sent him here in the first place.

"Withdraw Dan. Your ward has returned. Go get him back."