Chapter 5

"It's been almost a century now emperor Zer Vernon", the Carzian emperor's adviser reminded, "since he was last seen, are you sure he is still alive ?"

"I don't doubt my intuition, Ter Velor isn't one to die so easily, as the Ejan of the Vacan, he is bound to be victorious against any enemy."

"So what do you propose?"

"What we've always wanted to do all these decades", Zer Vernon replied, "conquering the entire Tervanix expanse."

"Won't the other emperors resist our invasion?" His adviser, Markail pointed out.

"The more the resistance, the better." Zer Vernon replied. "It doesn't matter if our actions will encounter opposition, so long as we win - victory is all that matters."

"The Erpian Crossbow's Claw was reported to have released it's seventh surge."

"Well then Markail", Zer Vernon said,"we all know what that means, the gates to the realms of the Vacan compass are about to open, taking over the Tervanix expanse is inevitable at this moment."

"Where do you propose we start from ?" Markail asked.

"Lord Megraz Erdan, Emperor of the astral valley of Zexnam."

*** *** ***

The waves of this astral sea rose like mountains as those clashing ranks of battleships and battlecarpets belonging to both the Carzian and Zexnam empires battled. The roars of cosmic beasts rose like seismic pulses shattering through the distance, their claws slashing through the steel armour of the battleships and battlecarpets. That storm of halos, beams and orbs erupted from the cores of the mobile cannons zooming across the battlefield, interstellar chariots charged in groups, their bladed armour and wings slashing down the mobile cannons, their firearms ever blazing unleashing burning beams of destruction at their targets. It was vicious, with the screams of dying beasts and men becoming the symphony of this conflicts, but some seemed to enjoy it all - no one - one was taking pleasure in watching his men riding to their deaths as they cleared the way for him , bringing him closer to attaining his objective, The Quadrilateral Bind.

Zer Vernon, standing at the edge of that battlecarpet watched patiently as the battle progressed. this was the first step he needed to! take in order to accomplish the ultimate goal, gaining possession of the Vacan. For centuries his ancestors had fought to obtain the most powerful astral element of their Time - the Vacan compass. An astral element that was capable of transforming an entire race in a cosmic breed, a superior astral civilization, that was capable of subduing all other races. It's power was limitless, it's ability to create rare and valuable astral elements, metals, precious stones, generate infinite energy to power a mighty civilization spread across multiple realms, merge distinct and abyssal voids, dimensions which were once unknown and never believed to have existed but most importantly, granting elemental powers of the Mercan which is also the Vacan compass. Powers that could wipe out an entire expanse with a single surge, this was what he wanted - ultimate power.

Eyes blazing and armour streaming, Zer Vernon leapt from the edge of his battlecarpet, his being enflamed, shot forward like an enraged flash of lightning, slithering through the ranks of the foe, he left behind an exploding sea of flames, his blade inhibiting the fury of its master glistened fiercely, slashing through the hides of cosmic beasts, it sent them screaming as they burnt to their deaths, leaving them floating like a dune of ash. Unsatisfied and still willing to vent his rage, Zer Vernon landed on the deck of a battlecarpet, slashing and stabbing he tore through the ranks of attacking soldiers, his burning blades slashing them into halves, and his blazing being invisible as it frayed through the distance like an ever flashing streak of lightning. Looking around him, Zer Vernon realized the he had already cleared the deck of the battleship of the enemy, he had thought that this'd be more fun, well, they were no match for him, he wanted a worthy opponent, and he was just up ahead, waiting to be confronted.

Zer Vernon could see the blazing shield which surrounded the Zexnam astral valley. It was grand and imposing, but to Vernon it was just just a fragile tissue to be torn apart and he was going to do just that - tear it apart. Lifting his hands to the air, he signalled his men to charge their cannons. Those roaring echoes made this expanse quake, and like a colossal storm of enflamed lightning they unleashed that sea of fire at that forcefield shattering it into marmoreal shards.

*** *** ***

"Why would you do this this Zer Vernon ?"

"Do bad men need a reason to be bad ?"

"Since you have become this way", Lord Megraz said, "and still refuse to surrender", unsheathing his sword, "then I must fight you, in the name of the Tervanix expanse."

Like two aureoles of lightning, both struck, crashing into each other, their burning blades locked as they battled for supremacy. Megraz shot a burning orb from his palm at Vernon, who spun out of the way, then striking fiercely from the left with his blade, Megraz parried Vernon's blow. and the impact of their colliding swords was thunderous making their surroundings ripple in vivid and concentric waves, but none was ready to give in, the battle was just starting, and there was more to be done.

Their beings raved and armours blazed as they charged at each other again, their sonic motion making them both invisible and flaring sheets of lightning as they slashed at each other fiercely, blow for blow, blade for blade, orb for orb, wound for wound, they just couldn't stop, and were to enraged to back down, but Vernon wanted it more and was ready to put in more. This wasn't just his fight, it was the fight of his ancestors for supremacy, the fight of his lineage of kings and emperors, this was a war of thousand kings and a thousand years. He wielded their strength and was going to give them their long awaited victory.

That burning orb with those four rings rotating diagonally around it took form before Zer Vernon. It size began to increase and the lightning like speed at which the rings rotated created a cyclone. Megraz who had. charged at Zer Vernon was thrown backwards but that sudden burst of energy, watching with dread and wonder as the orb took Vernon into its core. That mighty roar and those thunderous screams erupted from the core of that orb, chills ran down Megraz's spine, what. was Vernon transforming into. That burst of flames came and from the burning debris of rocks, that armoured being of condensed flames of lightning emerged.

"What have you turned yourself into Vernon !" Megraz yelled.

"A monster", Vernon chuckled, "but does it matter, so long as you are defeated", that burning halberd took form in his the grip of his left fist, "is all that matters to me."

Charging without warning, Zer Vernon struck, striking like a mad bull he shattered Megraz's sword with a single blow. The impact threw Megraz backwards, his steel boots screeching as he tried to bring himself to a halt.

"You asked for this Zer Vernon", Megraz growled, "now you are an enemy of the Tervanix expanse and I will show no mercy ! " Megraz roared, his being exploding in a rage of lightning as his armour blazed of fury and fire, that sword forged itself out of this storm of lightning, grabbing it Megraz charged at Zer Vernon.

"This was what I have been waiting for", Vernon charged, "as an enemy, don't hold back anything."

"You dare Vernon", Megraz roared, "you dare !"

Both beings of fire fire clashed, with sword and halberd smashing and locking, they slashed and parried like enraged streaks of lightning. Throwing a punch at Megraz who parried it, Vernon struck with his left foot but Megraz ducked, and sent a brutal punch digging into Vernon's middle, but Vernon caught it with his fist, propelling himself into the air he landed behind Megraz evading his attack, striking with his halberd, Vernon was set to decapitate his opponent but Megraz being frayed his being dodging the strike, appearing from above like a crashing meteor, Megraz sword was drawn ready to strike Vernon from above, but Vernon caught sight of it, parrying with his halberd, that explosion erupted as both weapons locked, the impact throwing them away from each other. Like wounded tigers both fore tore at each other again, striking and parrying they, their beings blazed as they bolted from one point to another, their battle fierce and sonic they were just too fierce, too furious, too fiery.

But Vernon wasn't fighting to win, he was fighting to survive, he had begun this war and was set to win it. Unleashing that halo at Megraz who tried blocking it with his blow, but was stunned to see that he was consumed in its burning fangs, Vernon charged at him, this time, he was ready to bring this fight to an end with him as the victor.

Megraz charged at Vernon who like a flash of lightning frayed out of his grip, a surprised Megraz was dismayed to feel that burning burst of pain throw him forwards, before he could land, force jab struck his face throwing him back, time froze and from above, Zer Vernon now a raging halo of condensed fire and lightning struck Megraz, both falling like a meteor they struck the earth, with that mighty explosion rising to mountainous heights.

That storm of flames finally subsided, and the dark outline of that being took, striding forth, he emerged from the burning depths of that crater, he had won, Vernon smiled, he had won.