Birth and Death: Part One

"It's still here. Be careful." Owen said

"Yeah, I will. Can I wish that you teleport me to the cave entrance?" Lavernius asked

"Yeah, I'll do that." Owen said

Before Lavernius knew it, he was standing in the cave entrance. Inside there was a stone staircase that led down into the mountain. He quickly ran down the stairs and saw the artifact. He walked up to it.

"Something's off." Owen said

"What do you mean?" Lavernius asked

"Darkness... he's not here. Who could have been watching us? Oh no..." Owen said

"What?" Lavernius asked

"You need to hurry." Owen said

Lavernius placed his left hand on it. His face cringed in pain. He felt the power coursing through his veins. He began to laugh as he unsheathed his sword. He raised it up and swung down and cut the Illuminati in half. It fell hard to the floor and the power stayed within him, but not in the artifact.

"Now no one else can harness the power." Lavernius said

"How do you feel?" Owen asked

"Great." Lavernius said, "What is that?"

The mountain began to shake. He ran quickly out of the cave and the rumbling stopped immediately. He looked at his arm and saw the gold glow of the power. His veins were popping out and filled with it.

"Now where is the Atlas?" Lavernius asked

"Hush!" Owen said, "Look down there!"

"A Titan." Lavernius said

"Look closer." Owen said

"I see... number two. Azazel?" Lavernius said

"No, Azazel is now number one. Dagon is number two. Do not fight him. Even with the Illuminati's power, you will fail." Owen said

"Why is he here?" Lavernius asked

"He sent him here. He was watching." Owen said

"Kryptonick." Lavernius said sternly

"Calm down. Dagon is stronger than Leviathan. He also doesn't mess around." Owen warned

"Neither do I." Lavernius said

"Oh boy, here we go." Owen said

Lavernius jumped off the cliff and landed right behind Dagon. Dagon was tall and muscular. He was scaly and had webbed hands. He had a fish-like head and sharp teeth. He slowly turned around to face Lavernius. Dagon unsheathed his sword and took a few steps back.

"So you are the one He warned me about." Dagon said

"And you are?" Lavernius said

"Watch your tone." Dagon said

"How are you even breathing? Shouldn't you be in a fish tank?" Lavernius said.

"Enough of you!" Dagon said

Dagon dashed at him, swinging at his neck. Lavernius dodged and countered the attack. He slashed at his chest, but Dagon was too fast. Dagon cut down at Lavernius, cutting off his arm. Lavernius shouted in pain and stumbled in place.

"Now you have been fatally wounded." Dagon said

Lavernius held out his wounded arm. Dagon's face changed when he saw him regenerate it. Lavernius used this time to stab Dagon in the chest. Dagon grabbed Lavernius and tried to bite at his throat. Lavernius broke free from his grip and used plasma Energy. He imbued his sword and began to flaunt it. Dagon roared as loud as he could. The earth began to shake. Lavenius ran at the monster and tried to cut him down as fast as he could. Dagon dodged all of the attacks, except for one. Lavernius scraped Dagon's shoulder, but the scales were too tough, he barely got a drop of blood. Dagon reached forward and grabbed Lavernius by the neck, trying to squeeze him to death. But then, suddenly, Dagon's eyes rolled over. He dropped Lavernius and fell flat on his face. The plasma radiation made its way into his body. Lavernius hovered his sword over Dagon's nape and struck it deep within. He aggressively twisted the blade and then pulled it out. There was blood everywhere. Lavernius walked away as Dagon's corpse lay there bleeding out. He watched the body twitch until he finally died. Lavernius wiped the blood from his forehead. Before he finished sheathing his sword, Dagon's body started seizuring.

"What is going on?" Lavernius said out loud.

The body flopped around like a fish out of water. The body mutated and changed into something else, something bigger and stronger. A new form. It stood up and looked at Lavernius. Its skin became hard and rock-like. Its mouth widened open revealing rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth. Its claws were as sharp as a newly forged sword. It let out a roar so loud that it shook the ground beneath Lavernius' feet. Its eyes glowed silver, brighter than before. Lavernius acted quickly and harnessed a massive amount of plasma Energy. As he shot a beam of it at the resurrected beast, it opened its mouth and ate the Energy. The body started glowing and began radiating.

"Now... I am... a god!" Dagon mustered to say

"Cosmic?" Lavernius asked Owen

"No, he's using the plasma to make him stronger. You have to hurry and cut off his head before he mutates again." Owen said

Lavernius imbued his sword with fire Energy and swung at the massive sea monster. His blade made contact with its neck, but he couldn't cut through. He put all his might into the swing and got his blade lodged in the neck. He began screaming and he tried to cut through the rest. Dagon yelled and released all of the plasma Energy inside him. Lavernius' skin was burning, and his regeneration was slowing down. Lavernius grabbed a dagger from his waist holster and stabbed the creature's eyes. It scratched and clawed at Lavernius. The monster got weaker. He was able to cut off its head. The body fell backwards and Lavernius wasted no time. He burned the body with plasma Energy and watched Dagon turn to ash.

"I'd like to see him come back from that." Lavernius said, laying down on the ground.

Lavernius passed out in the field. He woke up the next morning and noticed that the field of wheat began to wither away and die. The forest surrounding the mountains came back to life, slowly.

"What's happening?" Lavernius asked

"The Illuminati is no more. This cursed land is no longer cursed." Owen said

Lavernius inspected his body. All of his wounds had healed completely. He stood up and walked around the dying field.

"It was beautiful." Lavernius said

"Indeed." Owen said