Chapter 10

The war was only waged by him to get the empress and her people cornered, leaving them no option but to hand over the Vaxal's core to Ervalda, that was all they wanted, the other terms of surrender were just a guise, Ervalda didn't need any of them, to wealthy empire like theirs those demands were nothing compared to the revenue they generated every astral season.

"SO THIS WAS WHAT YOU ACTUALLY WANTED !" That voice came from the holographic form on that screen.

"Who are you ?" Orm Agnus demanded. it seemed someone had hacked onto their system.

"JUST KNOW THIS", the armoured being warned, "DON'T DARE ATTACK THE KARMLAN CAPITAL, IF YOU DO, YOU ENTIRE FLEET WILL BE RAZED DOWN."

"How dare you threaten me !" Orm Agnus snarled, "what a boaster, what makes you think you can take down the combined forces of five empires, we have two hundred million soldiers and millions of battleships, battlecarpets, mobile cannons and interstellar chariots. Consider taking back your words before it is too late."

"I'M NOT ONE TO TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID", the being continued, "AS FOR WHY I THINK I CAN DEFEAT YOUR ARMY, I JUST GUESSED THAT I COULD."

"Since your empress has refused to come to terms with us," Agnus charged, "then we're not going to show mercy when we march over your capital."

"ATTACK IF YOU DARE." The being challenged.

*** *** ***

Their outlines could be seen standing at the deck of their battleship with the battlements of the Karmlan capital behind them, burning of radioactive flames and lightning.

"So they were aiming at the same thing as well" said Xenthor.

"Even if they had gotten had been able to successfully seize it from the Karmlan plains, harnessing it would still be a problem." Ter Velor revealed.

"Why do you say so Ejan ?" Xenthor asked.

"Because I created it", he replied, "and why would I leave my creation to fall in the hands of the enemy so easily."

"Since it's yours", said Xenthor, "why ask the empress in the first place when you could simply say it was created by you."

"Well it's quite complicated", Ter Velor explained, "they've always thought the Vaxal's core belonged to them, I don't want to change that belief of theirs."

"You could still take it from them if they ever refused", Xenthor mused, "since it was ours from the start, then no intruders are allowed."

Ter Velor's being faded into the air leaving Xenthor alone at the edge of the battleship. A holographic screen bearing those geometric configurations and ideograms appeared before him before him. Placing his left palm on its surface, he enacted that transformation within the battleship. Its armour gave way unleashing, those ranks of mobile cannons and interstellar chariots. Charging forth they set the entire expanse ablaze with their burning cannons that unleashed volleys of halos upon the enemies' fleets.

Orm Agnus watched this unknown opponent of theirs commence his assault, his battleship wasn't bearing the Karmlan flag - who was he and did he think that the firepower of his chariots and mobile cannons were was enough to cause even a scratch on his ships - it was indeed a hilarious sight to watch, but Orm Agnus was dazed to feel that quaking coming from the left flanks of the vanguard of his fleets, then those screams could be heard from the holographic screen which was now engulfed in a sea of flames.

That storm of flames and lightning burnt through the distance consuming the battleships at the frontline of the enemies' fleet, mountainous waves of flames could be seen rising to the astral skies and the cosmic seas quaked as a result of the havoc which Xenthor's first attack wreaked. Agnus swallowed, it seemed this brat wasn't joking, even the fire power of the Karmlan ships couldn't cause as much damage with just a single shot and all he had were just mobile cannons and interstellar chariots. An estimated number of a thousand battleships had been lost to that attack, slamming his fist on the rails lining the platform on which he stood. Agnus knew he had to seize victory quickly or he could lose his entire fleet to this madman. Bit who would be bold enough to attack the combined forces of five mighty empires ?

"Charge the Apex Barrels !" Agnus ordered, "prepare to deal the enemy a fatal strike !"

"I'll see how you can handle this brat", Agnus snarled, "you are about to have a taste of our second most powerful weapon."

The astral plain of this realm began to quake as a colossal blackhole took form making the once calm skies transform into a raging sea of fire. Those pillars of aqueous like flames poured out of its burning core, moulding themselves into distinct patterns. Solidifying, they materialized into sheets and blocks of steel which integrated into mighty cuboids, two hundred in all, the length of one extending over ten miles. Agnus roared with laughter, who could challenge their might without facing the consequences - total destruction, he hadn't intended to be this cruel, but there was an obstacle in his way that had to be destroyed, even if it took the life of billions with it, it was worth doing.

Xenthor smiled, what a trifle, so this was all they had to dare take the Vaxal's core, they were bluffing. The Vaxal's core was a wild beast in itself, honing its energy would require the use of energy a trillion times than they had and the cosmic storms that surrounded it were not to be played with, even the tough of armour of their battleships was no match with the savage emissions that traversed the surroundings of the Vaxal's core. They were really going to give him a fun time, if they tough, their warm springs were going to destroy him and his battleship, they were wrong. He was the apprentice of the Ejan Ter Velor, the succeeding guardian of the Vacan compass, how dare they brag about their might before him, couldn't they hear it ? That frail but gory call - the call of death.