Lars watched every movement on the warehouse like a hawk setting sight on a prey. He wanted to go in but the guards were all over the place. Something was different about them this time as they were all more well equipped with tactical gears and firearms. Lars wondered, but he didn't give up and circled the area for potential opening.By luck, Lars came across a lone patrol guard walking around in the maze of containers. He ambushed the guard with a mean right hook. The guard knocked out instantly. Lars had afraid his amplified strength might kill him, but as he stripped down the guard, he was relieved to heard him breathing.Lars put on everything the guard offered and seamlessly blended in with the guards. Dressed in all black, with tactical gears of protective vests, night vision goggles, and carrying an automatic rifle. Lars walked around in that gear for a while. His heart stopped every time he locked eyes with another guards but he chided himself that the disguise works.Ev
After the MSC people in suits and robes were evacuated, the warehouse's steel gates slammed shut. The guards were diminished and the panicked crowd pushed through them, banging the closed gate and screaming. Everything happened so quickly and so hectic, Lars could barely register that he was alone and right in the den of enemy."Didn't expect to see a Scion here! What a lovely surprise!"The girl tilted her head and smiled so wide she struck fear in Lars' heart. Her cape moved on its own, erected and spread out, morphing into gigantic moth wings with hypnotic eye pattern. She took flight, her wings fluttering and her hands blazing with fire. "Axylia, finish it quick!"A masculine raspy voice of her companion, the humanoid crab Prime Chimera, called out. His pincers were snapping about threateningly. Lars' eyes darted between the crab creature and the flying moth girl Axylia. He could feel the bloodlust from their stares."Lighten up, Brachyura. We have all night long and he'
A loud noise shattered the silence of that particular night in Algedi harbor. Vayu and Len perked up from the noise and the commotion that followed it. With a single leap, Vayu got up on one of the container and overlooked the smoke that came from a big white warehouse across the port.It was only then when Vayu could feel everything. The presence of Lars' Scion Force, numerous presence of people all in the state of panic and high adrenaline, and the presence of those brimming with silverstream. Vayu was taken aback of the irregularity.Vayu leapt down and went to Len. "Len, I need you to stay here. Got it?""Please save him, Vay. I have a bad feeling about this," Len said."Don't worry. I've made some calls earlier." Vayu did not wait for Len's further response and he took off by leaping across the containers.Vayu's mind was racing during his way to the warehouse. How could such strong energy presence go undetected? Vayu had known about himself well enough to know the wareh
When Lars opened his eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted him. The bedroom he was in was strangely lavish, golden - hued with mahogany furniture around the bed. He got himself out of the thick maroon blanket that smothered him and stood up, looking around.Lars was only wearing his star necklace and a pair of boxer red shorts. No piece of other clothing was ready for him in the room. He tentatively got out of the door and found himself in a balcony corridor overlooking an ocean of red suede seats. Lars scratched his head, dumbfounded of how he woke up in a theatre.Images from the warehouse fight surged through Lars' mind and his breath hitched. He brushed himself with death again that time. He didn't remember the outcome but he did remember seeing Vayu. He remembered the tranquil fury that flashed on Vayu's eyes."Why, aren't you a real heavy sleeper."As if he could tell Lars was thinking about him, Vayu showed up from the dark corridor with arms outstretched. They were locked
Lars wanted his mother to talk right away but she apparently wasn't too keen to begin. After a while, she finally emerged from the dark and sat down on one of the seats. She looked up in expectation that Lars would join her, but at that moment, there was an anger that made him refuse to be kind to her."I've done this before but I still don't know where to begin," she said softly."Start by telling me what are you doing back there. Why are you with them?""I had no choice, alright? I was just focusing my career on MSC until I'm suddenly roped in to Magnus' murderous cult of Silver Sovereign. He was the one behind everything and I was... I was too stupidly in love to say no to him."Lars couldn't imagine doing this to his mother, but that time, he made a disgusted face towards her. "How long have this been going on? What have you done with them?""Even before me, before Magnus, it has been going on far longer than you could possibly imagine, Lars. They are an ancient cultish o
For a week, Len had developed a new habit during his stay in Lyme Belle Theatre. He always got up early in the morning when the sky was still pale blue, had a little jog in the forest path nearby, and ended up on the hill where his family used to go camping.On that hill, Len always sat on a specific fallen log to rest. In those moments of quietness, Len always enjoyed the chilly morning air as he watched the morning sun ascending. The hill overlooked a state road where it would lead back to Algedi outskirts or Rukbat few miles away south.Len recollected his pleasant memories of the hill every time he went there. He would remember the exact spot where his father would light their bonfire, which trees where his mother would put on their hammock, and how Lars and him always ran around there playing tag with uninhibited excitement.On that morning, it was slightly different than Len's usual routine as he got a company coming. His mother showed up from the forest path, her every ste
Lars thrown off by a powerful attack and sent crashing on a giant stone pillar. Pain spread all over his back and the fall did the same on his front. He was dirtied by the settling dusts and rubbles. His clothes tattered and his breaths were in erratic rhythm.Two figures approached Lars with their weapons drawn. Mell was carrying a giant morning star mace that rested on his shoulder, the handle was redwood colored and almost as tall as his gigantic self was. The enormous spiky head was entirely made up of sharp stones and they glowed amber on every cracks. The stones looked oversized for its mace handle, making it almost like he was wielding a mountain on a stick to Lars.Next to Mell, Vayu was only wielding a long piece of cloth as a weapon, but it was the one that Lars scared the most. With Mell's mace, at least he could predict its swing and range, but he couldn't with Vayu. The rainbow glowed cloth was the battle form of Arcus Ignis that elegantly draped over Vayu, making an a
Lars woke up extra early that day. Part of him was giddy by the thought of finally meeting all of the Twelve Scions, and he wanted to make sure he made an impression. He put on the nicer clothes available which were a plain red shirt and a leather jacket. After he got dressed, Lars psyched himself up in the mirror.The star necklace that adorned Lars' neck and chest twinkled by the reflecting light and Lars took it as a sign it psyched him up as well. Despite never got to talk to Alt'ma again since that day, Lars was consoled by the fact the deity must be still watching over him either way."I won't let you down, Alt'ma." Lars whispered as he smiled.Lars got outside of his room and inhaled the crisp morning air that came from the big hole on the roof. Over time, the ambience of Lyme Belle Theatre really grew on him. He liked how spacious and quiet it was, but not to an unnerving state at all. Lars thought perhaps it was because he could felt Mell's presence all over the theatre
"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