In the skies that were filled with monsters, a young man flew carrying a maid in blue. Lars was focused on avoiding the Chimeras while Wilhelmina did all the attacking. Her Cocytus Claws were equipped, and every time she opened her palm, an icicle shard shot out and always struck the approaching enemies.Lars tried his very best to not look down and saw the disastrous scene below. Fires and smokes were everywhere. People were screaming and clamoring for safety, only to found the alien beasts tore through their homes. There were many times Lars wanted to swoop in and respond to every cries for help, but he knew he couldn't."The hell is going on? Is this because of... me?"Wilhelmina shook her head. "As the Mistress said, they know that they're running out of time. They would've done this either way."Lars didn't know what to take of it. He thought after he became a Scion he would stop not knowing things, and yet there he was with another confusion of what actually happened. Lar
Lars was frozen of the sight that Len, his brother, had turned into a Prime Chimera. Their once identical sky blue eyes Lars could see in Len had changed into unnaturally silver. Even Len's hair had also turned to silver in its every strands. Len was wearing nothing but a black pair of pants, revealing his body that was framed by silver scales except for his face, neck, chest and abdomen."Len... what... happened... to you?""Stop calling me that. I am not Len." His clawed grips on Lars' neck and left wrist tightened.Lars broke out a smile amidst his pain. At least his voice didn't change, Lars thought. However, perhaps Len interpreted this smile as a taunt as he hovered his bladed tail closer to Lars' face. From up close, Lars could identify that the glinting silver blade at the end of his scaly, monkey - like tail was not Len's natural body part. It was made of condensed and shaped silver light."Sure... you are. You're my... brother. Why... do you think... we look... alike?
Lars had seen the splendor that was Castor - Pollux in holiday brochures advertising it, so it was truly a shame that when he got there, the pure white buildings and artistic architecture of Castor - Pollux had engulfed in a calamitous scene of fires, smokes and people screaming. He was just about to had it with all the pesky VEIL and Silver Sovereigns by then.Thankfully, Lars was still sensible enough to regroup with his allies first at the Librarium of Records. Looking at it with his newfound knowledge, Lars couldn't believe the mountain of white buildings before him turned out to secretly housing a mystical pyramid structure underneath all that civilization.The hidden pyramid was called the Librarium of Records, and as the name suggested, was said to hold every records of every single thing that exists or happening in the world. The known and the unknown. It was traditionally guarded by the Scion of Castor - Pollux as its sole librarian. There was a tinge of melancholy that La
"Who's Len?"The question was unanswered, and the silver scaled young man was starting to get irritated. His siblings, Clione and Axylia, were bathing on a clear pool of silver light, the Silver Spring. Their bodies were slowly regenerating and the boils on their skins closing. When they first arrived, their condition was much worse with half their heads almost completely melted off."Some chick earlier also called me Margaret.""Don't listen to them," Axylia said. "They're probably remnants of your old, feeble lives. You two are Prophets now, Clione and Ophinael. That's all that matters."Ophinael. Yes, his name was Ophinael now, he thought. However, the name 'Len' intrigued him very much. It felt natural coming out of his mouth. He pondered about it, and then thought of how the guy he fought earlier in Al Tarf was almost identical to him."He has... my face.""Of course he has your face, he's your brother."It was from someone who came from the cave, the one they called
Lars and Vorpaltinger were riding on the Astral Express into Antares. Their mission was to evacuate everyone in the northern regions of La Shania Mirepa, and this made Lars anxious, being entrusted such large amount of lives to be responsible for. He kept fidgeting his feet and fiddled on his star necklace, seeking comfort from Alt'ma in his mind."You're good?" Vorpaltinger asked."Yeah, just... preparing myself."Lars threw Vorpaltinger a little smile, but instead replied with a sad look in her eyes, which was aptly suitable with the gloomy blue filter of Astral Realm. Lars quickly suspected what was it that she was going to say."I'm sorry about your brother. I heard about it from Mell a while back.""Thanks." Lars maintained his smile. "By the way, you don't have to feel like you owe anything to me. I know you did your best."Vorpaltinger was stunned to hear that. Lars had known about it for a while, that Vorpaltinger kept addressing Len's situation and went out of her
At the end of the day, there were only so much people that could or willing to be evacuated. Lars watched the people entered the blue smoke entry to Astral Realm with the look of hesitation, suspicion, thankful, or somewhere in between. No matter how great their intentions were, it was only natural for people to be wary of them, so Lars forgive those looks.The ghost train of Astral Express was most people's first experience of supernatural transportation, so it was to be expected most of them looked around in awe. Some, on the other hand, was left feeling nauseous or too on guard to be impressed. Lars was told by Vorpaltinger earlier that astral energy could have debilitating effects for some people, but it was objectively better that than dying by rampaging alien creatures.During the train ride, Lars found Tirana sitting by herself. He gave her a smile. "Hey, Tir. How are you holding up?""I'm alright." Tirana stared off into the distance. "I... I met Margaret."Lars blinked
With the force field containing it, the sea around La Shania Mirepa turned eerily still. The waves no longer came ashore and so did the wind, leaving only stagnant salty air. As someone who liked beaches in the summer, this sad, unnatural scene broke Lars' heart to pieces.Lars gazed at the little black line in the horizon that was Piscium region and tried to remember how long has it been since his last visit there. He remembered its warm sandy beaches and shady palms, but he was too young when they had a vacation there, so he couldn't think of much else. Perhaps Len remembered more, he thought."Hey, when was the last time you go there?"Mell stopped his beer - chugging and scratched his beard, looking up. "I don't know, man. It's been ages, I think. Out of the twelve regions in La Shania Mirepa, only Piscium that I don't tamper with too much. I'm kinda lazy to cross over the sea."Lars nodded and hummed. He turned to Wilhelmina but she didn't answer, which he found odd as she
When Lars arrived at Castor - Pollux, he saw Vayu stood at the sundial plaza on the peak of Librarium, watching as the sky darkened. The smokes blended in with the darkness, but the fires that caused them became only more prominent. Lars landed near Vayu and greeted him with a smile."Hey, how's the evacuation going?" Vayu asked."It went well. Mell and Wilhelmina are on their way here now with the depthdweller clans. I just went ahead because... you know, I can fly."Vayu chuckled. "Did we got all of them? Coral Coven, Slicerfin and such?"Lars lost his smile as he shook his head. "There aren't many who can go with us on the land, and they've lost a great number of their clan members already.""Oh... well, I guess that should be expected.""How about here? How's the fortification thing going?""We haven't even started, bud. We're waiting until all the Alliance is here."Lars didn't want to look stupid so he just nodded along, pretending he knew why. During the discussi
"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