Chapter 2

The battleships and battlecarpets of the Tornixix empire hovered menacingly over the galaxies belonging to the Fergix coalition. It was obvious that they were about to unleash an assault, this empire's first assault on a foreign realm and right now, as always, they were the Invaders. The imperial tendency of intergalactic emperors always existed and they were about to take over another territory. But for Kal Zorgus, he wasn't here to just conquer astral cities and empires, he was here to wage a large scale war, not against a coalition but a being - Ejan Ter Velor.

Seated in his throne within his flagship, Kal Zorgus watched the constantly revolving galaxies below them from the holographic screen before him, his two captains seated at the helm of the ship below Kal Zorgus, awaiting his command to commence the assault.

"Attack." It was a whisper, one that was made by a higher form full of confidence in his chances of victory. It revealed the state of mind in which his opponents and as calm as the order came showed how weak he had summed his opponent's might to be.

The voyage cages of the Tornixix fleet fell open, unleashing those savage beasts upon this empire. They charged like a sea of thunder, their hides flaring of astral flames and their cores bursting with cosmic energy. Charged, the cannons of the Tornixix fleet unleashed a storm of halos upon the expanse, that mighty sea of flames and lightning fell upon this empire, it came like a live beast of a wild and destructive capacity, bursting through the invisible intergalactic walls, the impact unleashed an explosion which sent this astral plain quaking in vivid waves.

*** *** ***

His metal boots clanged as he ascended the stairs of this dais, slowly rising to its peak. Turning around, Kal Zorgus confronted the kneeling army of the Fergix empire, he was in their capital and this was their court. A robed being was dragged up the stairs of the dais and thrown face first to the floor before Kal Zorgus. This being who's legs and hands were bonded groaned, unable to move an inch.

"My request is simple sir," Kal Zorgus spoke calmly, "you are an emperor like me and know the importance of what I seek."

"You !" Neranza growled. "What gives you the right to call yourself an emperor. You are a plain beast."

"I tortured you of course," that sardonic smile stole Zorgus' lips, "and I was kind enough to have allowed you get dressed in such a regal manner for an auspicious occasion like this and you still dare to call me a beast," he said, "make him knell." Zorgus ordered.

His men lifted Neranza and planted him on his knees, the already beaten and weak emperor reclined forwards, his head bowed and swollen eyes closed, when that fierce impact sent him gasping for air as Zorgus' armoured foot dug fiercely into his middle and the second kick smashed his face, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Ingrate," Zorgus grinned, "you'll soon get to know what a beast truly looks like."

*** *** ***

Swirling around he sent a ferocious kick of flames smashing against his opponent's face that took the victim flying through the day. His opponent groaned as he strained to get back on his feet, the haze surrounding the battlefield blurring his vision. The warrior felt like he was being watched, knowing that his opponent was able to see through the Dark Mire's Smokescreen, he kept himself on guard.

Feeling the wind blow past him from behind, the warrior shot a beam from his laser crossbow but only a faint zap was heard, his instinct kept prodding him that his opponent was within range, then, he felt the wind rushing at him from his left. Swirling around he parried his opponent's blow with his crossbow, the collision resulting in a clang. Both warriors fought hard, but it seemed that was more skilled at fighting within the haze as he kept an offensive stance, disappearing into the fog at intervals and striking from unexpected angles.

"Yield."

He froze on the spot on seeing the blade of his opponent's sword below his jaw, he swallowed knowing that it was all over.

"I yield." He accepted.

The spectators were too surprised to cheer over the victory of this black horse, he was a Revil and how could a Revil defeat a Vegan. To the Vegan overlords, it was an embarrassment, as for the spectators who were Revils, they prayed silently for the victory of their fellow core member.

"It's an honour to have fought with you." The Vegan warrior stretched out his hand.

What could he make of this ? Xenthor thought, none of his opponent who he had defeated had been courteous enough to congratulate him over his victory, to them he was just an outcast meddling in what didn't concern him, to be frank he simply wasn't wanted. But this - who was this kid again ? He had forgotten his name while they were duelling.

"My name's Vage Vankus from the family of Lorth."

Vage Vankus ! Xenthor's head rang, so this was his challenger for the semi-final. He had defeated the heir of the Kanvier astral isles, no wonder everyone was silent.

"I hope to see you at the Battle Arcane." Vage said, patting Xenthor on the shoulder, he walked away.

Walking down the stairs which led to the underground basement of the arena, walking into the locker room, Vage saw those two forms, one decked in armour not wearing a helmet reclining against the wall, the crown on his face showing his displeasure and next to him stood that eighty year old man who Vage knew quite well, his uncle, Zorak, also the principal of Battle Arcane.

"Not only did you fail us," the armoured being growled, "you also disgraced the Vegans by congratulating that rat."

"What's your problem with that elder brother." Vage grinned mischievously.

"Won't you listen to your elder brother's words !" Zorak flared. "This isn't a trivial issue we're talking about, this is the pride of all Vegans that is at stake here and unfortunately you failed is, topping the disgrace by shaking hands with your opponent, don't you know that he's wretched enough to be your slave."

"And what have the Vegans," Vage lifted his his hands, quoting the words with his fingers, "got to do with my attitude."

"It has everything to do with it !" Vage's elder brother flared.

"Ragnos," Vage said, "if you want to reclaim your so-called pride, why don't you go out there and defeat your opponent, so that when you're done you can spit gall over his corpse. As for me, I don't regret what I did, my attitude was a simple show of sportsmanship."

"Sportsmanship my foot," Zorak spat, "so you call that slave your equal."

"In the first place, he isn't a slave," Vage objected calmly, "you're the one who thinks you're powerful enough to call him one."

"As stubborn as the queen," Zorak muttered to himself, "named at heir to the throne by his mother after the death of the king, what could one expect from such a spoilt brat ?"

"Heard that !" Vage said aloud. "Better prepare that sugarcoated tongue of yours when you're summoned by the queen because you're going to need it."

"So you're going to report me, you rascal !" Zorak seethed.

"I didn't say I will ." Vage shrugged.

"You can joke all you want to Vage," Ragnos said, his helmet rising from the collar of his armour, concealing his face. "I'm going to defeat that scum and prove why I should be the heir instead of you."

"Idiot," Vage smiled, "that's all you think about, I just hope you back your words with action because, if you lose, well ..." Vage shrugged, "you'll have to deal with it."