"I'm so sorry to hear that."Tirana's story earned her looks of sympathy from Lars and Len. She crunched the edge of a picture of her and Margaret as she looked down. Now Lars felt guilty for cornering her earlier and had no idea what else to say. He scratched his sideburn and was about to say something supportive but it didn't manage to come out."I'm sorry to you guys as well. I had thought of keeping you around just in case to help me in my mission. That was wrong of me. This is my own battle.""No," Lars said, "I believe we're meant to find each other like this, to help each other's battles. If you weren't here to save us back then, we'd be done for. We still owe you for that."Len vigorously nodded. "Yeah, that's right. You've been a great help for us, so let us return the favor."Tirana smiled, a smile that was born out of gratefulness and relief. Her eyes slightly glassy and she tried to not let it show by looking down again. An awkward laugh came out of her seemi
The First King of Blood Moon was a folklore figure renowned by the Antares tribe of La Shania Mirepa. He was called as such because he was the first that settled in Antares, arriving under the blood moon. The First King was benevolent and blessed with mystical gift that he uses to protect people from turbulent disasters and bloodthirsty monsters. The King was greatly revered that the ancient Antares tribe would often place offerings in a small shrine by the ocean dedicated to him.The sacred offerings were various, from farm crops, leftover food, animal meat or even a small bowl of blood collected from chosen tribe members. The bowl of blood is deemed mandatory to be offered every full moon, and those chosen to offer their blood for the First King were considered as blessed with great honor and called themselves blood bearers.The honor of becoming blood bearers are determined by a series of trials that was done every specific phase of the moon. The trials were conducted in spirit
It was exactly during sunset when Lars, Len and Tirana regrouped at the small beach near the bookstore. The sky was bathed in gold and orange glow as the sun descended into the sea, pulling the curtain of night. The three took a quiet moment to enjoy the sunset for a while before commencing their mission.When it was fully dark, Lars, Len and Tirana scoured the beach, deciding a perfect spot to do their ritual. This particular beach was dirtier than Lesath, littered by innumerable plastics and trash that was beyond help by then. It made the act of finding a decent spot to do a sacred ritual almost impossible for the three."So let me get this straight," Len said. "We are going to do a ritual from ancient tribe's culture to call forth a mythical figure of some sorts, here in a beach full of shit?""Nah, if it doesn't work here we could try Lesath," Lars said."And we have no actual shrine.""Nope.""And it's not even full moon tonight.""Oh well.""And we're gonna do it.
Lars, Len and Tirana made their way back to the more crowded area of shopping district. They kept looking back and around to identify the potential watcher, but found no clue. Lars had mentioned it could be the old man who just wanted to see the ritual but Tirana wasn't going to risk it."I think we're safe now," Lars said, "now let's find this blue door thing.""Not just a blue door, any door with runes on it," Len added."Okay, but where should we look?"The three craned their necks to every direction, looking for something remotely blue or any possible candidate for the door. They did see the only place in the area with the most blue in it, but it was a place that they deemed highly unlikely to meet an old god."The mall, really?" Len said, voicing the others' mind.Lars audibly exhaled. "At this point, anything goes. Let's go."Lars, Len and Tirana entered the mall with the lowest amount of expectation, but since they didn't have the luxury of clearer clues, they just
'Who... dares...'A shrill voice was heard, soft and close to Len's ears. He felt a rush of chilling air and there was an invisible weight dropped on his shoulders. His entire body hair perked up like each strands were being sharply pulled by razor strings. Len shivered to a catatonic state, and it wasn't because of sheer cold alone.'Why... here..'.Len's lips trembled, unable to say anything. He wanted to run but his body was overwhelmed in severe paralysis. He felt the lump on his throat choking himself. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, unbridled and unwelcomed.'WHY?'A great force pushed Len down so hard it should've snap him in two, but it didn't. Len was falling into pitch black darkness, voiceless and motionless. Gravity pulled him down ever so slowly, lulling him in the dark air before finally tucked him down softly on the cold, hard grounds.After regaining his senses, Len stood up and the darkness dispersed. He was back at the Shaula Mall's entrance and foun
The surge of newfound strength in Lars' flaming white aura made him capable to leap twenty feet off the ground. The mermaid - whale monster met him halfway, along with spreading rush of scorching blood. They clashed in midair, creating another shockwave that break them apart.Lars propelled backwards in the air, but he didn't fall. He regained his balance and levitated, stunning the onlookers; Len, Tirana and the monstrous opponent. Lars held out his hand and just then really took attention of the intense aura that shrouded him like a second skin. He felt pleasant warmth of it all over his body, giving him strength like he never imagined before.Lars pointed his sword forward and focused his energy towards it. The sword gained tremendous amount of white flame blazing across the blade. Lars knew what to be done with it, a familiar presence guided him through his evolving instincts. He knew he could do this like he was born with it.Lars let out a battle cry and his sword unleashed
Lars was reminded of what Alt'ma said to him in the white chamber of his dreams, about the others. He studied the impostor's expression and yet his smile stayed unflinching. Despite still being careful with whatever stood before him, Lars was inclined to believe this impostor could actually clarify everything. As a sign of peace, he willed his sword away, returning it into a necklace."Could you explain to me all about this? No more jokes. And please stop talking with my face. I'm serious.""Why not? He gets to do that all his life." The impostor Lars nodded towards Len, and since nobody react to his joke, he threw his hands on the air in defeat. "Alright, alright, I'm just messing with ya."The Faux - Lars' body rippled in rainbow aura again, taking a new shape. The result was a short, slim young man with long, straight black hair. His olive skin glowed by the remnants of his shapeshifting aura, and his facial features were delicate, almost feminine; so much that Lars originally
"Good morning!"Vayu's burst of fervor caught Lars and Len by surprise. They jolted out from the bed almost immediately and instinctively clutched the blanket to cover their naked upper halves."W - What the... how did you get in?" Lars said in incredulous frown."Please." Again, Vayu waved it off as if the answer was already so obvious. "Y'all missed the breakfast time, by the way."Len stretched and cracked his neck. "You were here but you didn't wake us up?""But y'all were sleeping so soundly. I don't have the heart to disturb you." Vayu sat on the edge of the bed and playfully patted Len on his foot. "That, and because I turned into this blondie here earlier. Thanks for the free breakfast!"Lars shook his head in disbelief and heaved a conceded sigh. Vayu was too much for him to bear in the morning but he quickly took it aside. Lars was rather preoccupied by the fact that Len didn't wake up early as usual. He must be really spent as well, Lars thought.Vayu casually
"Did we just... lost?"Mell's exasperated question snapped Lars back to the reality. He watched as the Grand Serpent's towering scales spread out in the distance, amidst the smokes of ruin. From them, silver colored monstrosities excused themselves into the world, causing destruction in their wake."No. We've won. We pushed him back, didn't we?" Lars said, desperately trying to sound cheerful."But at what cost?" Rachelia said in a tired whisper. Wilhelmina gave her a side hug."Let's just get out of here first, those things are coming," Vayu said.Everyone agreed to the suggestion and the Scions walked through the ruined Regulus that had been deformedly transformed into chaotic nature. There were trees grown in the middle of the street, with reptilian scale textures on their trunks and leaves. Gravity also arbitrarily nullified in some parts, leaving some debris and ashes floating."Is this all because of silverstream?" Lars asked as he touched a speck of floating dust.
The Grand Serpent spoke, and his voice was ethereally terrifying as Lars imagined him to have. His black scales resonated with silver glow that ran from his body to his head. The silverstream gathered around the Grand Serpent made Lars wary of any incoming attack. Lars thought perhaps that was when the Grand Serpent took the fight seriously.'You fought... well...'The Grand Serpent did not open his mouth, but the voice was definitely booming from him. Lars wasn't sure what to answer, so he let his Celestial Calibur did it for him. The sword streamed out a river of burning light. The slashing wave Lars emitted from it was blocked by the barrier again.This time, the barrier looked more defined and more silver. Rachelia's roses and Vayu's flames also didn't make a single dent on it. The Grand Serpent made a repeated sound of chaotic cacophony, which Lars could only interpret as a deriding laugh.Then, in the distance, they came. The Chimeras from all over La Shania Mirepa rushed
That morning, a blinding white star rose from the ruins of Regulus. The star burned so bright it took the full attention of a certain cosmically colossal creature. The star shone and dispersed the wild silver ashes in the skies. All eyes were on the star's ascension, watching it unfolded into bursting wings of light.Lars has transformed into a white armored angel with six divine wings hovering behind his back, connected by a golden halo. The armor was his own solidified Scion Force, sparkling in majestic grandeur of white and gold. A sword patterned crown rested on Lars' head, having the same royal pattern as his brilliantly burning Celestial Calibur.The Grand Serpent hissed, the loudest Lars ever heard so far. The storm of buildings turned ghastlier as some of them were caught on silver flames. Foul smell still permeated across the battlefield and Lars willed himself to not catch a whiff. By quick observation, he realized some parts of the Regulus has rainforests, mountains and
The white crystal resonated as if welcoming Lars and Len. The entire place was alight by swirling lights, and the air felt like they were in meadows. Though it was silent, the serenity and ambience of the place only reinforced the crystals' ethereal atmosphere. For a second, Lars thought he found a piece of heaven buried deep within the earth.Len let go as Lars made his steps forward. Lars walked to the majestic divine crystal before him and fell to his knees soon after. However, there was a relieved, happy smile on his face. He was finally to meet his savior and guardian deity in person."Hello, Alt'ma."'My Scion.'It was the same voice as Lars remembered, echoing and ethereal."I don't know if you've been watching or not, but... we are in very deep trouble."'So I've seen. Moreover, your body is defiled and I am slowly losing you.'"Yeah, it's because of those damn bombs." Lars then gasped. "O - oh, sorry for cursing in front of you."'Worry not, my Scion. It seems
In the darkness, Lars was trapped in a vicious cycle of fainting and waking up to a numbing pain. He groaned every time, making sure to himself that he was alive despite the severe agony. He also felt repeated sensation of being dragged, carried, or held. Each weren't in the nicest or careful ways as the grip always too tight and the stones always scraped too rough.What truly woke Lars up was the sight of a light. It wasn't his, but someone else's. It was purple and menacing under the dark, but Lars figured any light was a friend to face any darkness. He tried to raise his neck and felt like dying just for it. He wondered why being a Scion could still feel this much hurt.Deliriously, Lars called out to the tailed devil in the shadows. "Len...?"Len didn't turn nor answer. His gaze was fixated at an amulet where the purple glow came from. Lars was stunned for a while, thinking how that amulet somehow find its way home to its creator. He remembered leaving it on his bag at Regulu
The Grand Serpent watched the world laid before him in such a curious gaze. Lars was shuddering from the sheer size of that creature. His trembling hand found his star necklace, and its chain rattled alongside his tremors. He kept taking quick, deep breaths but they weren't as helpful as he hoped.Lars braved himself to look away, but the dread caught him by the throat to the point it was physically hurt to move his neck. He watched as the others were in shambles like he did. Mell was backing away as he looked up, stumbling to a few rubbles. Rachelia supported herself by her umbrella and Wilhelmina was on the ground next to her, leaning helplessly to the ruins of Regulus. As for who held Lars' hand, it turned out to be Vayu. Though Vayu was trembling, he didn't let his gaze broke away from the Grand Serpent."V - Vay..."Vayu's spiteful gaze was a thinly veiled look of fear, but at the very least Lars noticed a form of resistance from him. He realized for Vayu, it was probably li
"Len! Len, please snap out of it!" Lars exclaimed.Magnus laughed in the most obnoxious way possible to Lars' ears. "Don't even bother. He already knows. He just chooses to be here. After all, he is reborn as a new god and destined to bring us the promised world."Lars looked at Magnus and then to Len. He didn't want to believe the word of a man who had been lying to them for years, but those unflinching silver eyes deterred Lars quite a bit. Lars wanted to jump down but the synchronized aims from the Sovereigns' guns everywhere stopped him."Len, don't listen to anything he says! He's a monster! He lied to us the whole time.""Lars, please," Vayu said behind him. "If we don't do something, we're gonna be dead here."Lars wanted to scream and break things out of frustration, but he knew Vayu was right. Without turning, Lars nodded and Vayu took the cue. The reflecting threads spread into millions and slicing the Sovereigns in front of Vayu. Their fallen, mutilated bodies made
When Edwin didn't scream, everything was quiet. Too quiet. Lars was sitting in the other room with Tirana and Vorpaltinger, not wanting to see Rachelia's 'infamous' interrogation method. He sat on the couch, lost in deep thoughts of processing what he feels about the recent reveal about his friends.Vorpaltinger sat next to Lars and leaned back, resting on her wings. Lars gave her a fleeting smile before he spaced out again, and this time Vorpaltinger didn't let him."It might seem cruel to you, but The Mandate is important for all of us mythfolks to keep. It protects us from the world too, so... I completely understand why they did it."Lars blinked. "You heard that?""I heard everything. Blame my rabbit ears for that."Vorpaltinger raised her foot on top of the table and stretched. "The Scions... can be quite intimidating to say the least, but they do care. They just happen to understand what's important and the scope of their duties so they won't exert themselves unnecessa
Lars, Vayu, Mell, Rachelia, Tirana and Vorpaltinger had descended into the giant pit and exploring the corridors of Rasalhague Castle underground by then. Lars was starting to feel himself sweaty and greasy, and it wasn't because of the narrow, humid spaces they were traversing. He could feel himself deteriorating, both from inside and outside.Everywhere Lars looked, there was always something made of slitherite. The walls, ceiling panels, floor tiles, the doors, everything. It made Lars sick, literally and figuratively, and the feeling was shared with the rest of his Scion friends."God fucking damn it, I fucking hate this place," Mell breathed out, sweating."Yes, Mell. We've heard you the first fifteen times," Rachelia said.Vayu didn't say anything. Lars could see that friend of his was slightly falling apart as Vayu held his own hand to stop his fingers untangled like a candy wrapper. Lars reached out and held Vayu closer to him by his shoulder. Vayu just smiled in respon