Conquest Agarta

by Aeon Solo

  “They are not gods,” he glanced toward the pathway, he sensed a presence coming.

  “Go! Quickly, I sense…” he paused for a moment, “Monstah,” he murmured, deflated. He sensed the ground tremble ever so slightly as the beast approached. Mara hid behind a tree. Monstah emerged from the pathway coming through the treeline, Anu-Krai rode toward him.

  “What do you want?” he asked sternly, he had re-equipped his mask.

  “Come, the Archon wishes to converse with you.” The Knight followed him down the path. He looked back to see Mara, she popped her head out from behind the tree and waved with a calming smile. He smiled back and continued his exit with Monstah. They entered the pyramid and Monstah left him by the obsidian throne room, the guards opened the door. He knelt, as per usual, before the Archon.

  Flashback: “Fight” a demanding voice shouted. A younger Anu-Krai engaged in combat with another person in the arena, the two slashed and hacked at one another. A couple of minutes later, Anu-Krai swatted the weapon out of his opponent’s hands. The blade protruded toward the man who had his arms raised with fear.

  “Good Krai, good!” the Archon bellowed with joy.

  “Please don’t,” the man begged. Anu-Krai analysed the man intently, he lowered the blade and smacked it into the ground. “This is wrong,” he commented loudly. The Archon stood from a seat outside the arena.

  “Kill him,” he commanded.

  “No,” he responded defiantly. All the spectators looked to the Archon, shocked by the defiance of Anu-Krai. The Archon leaped into the arena. The man stepped back fearfully. Anu-Krai stayed in place, fearless.

  “You dare to oppose me?” the Archon said, angered, but also somewhat proud of his human servant.

  “It’s not right, he was unarmed,” he responded anxiously, his own fear beginning to set in. The Archon came closer and placed his hand over his face, to the surprise of Anu-Krai.

  “So courageous,” he remarked, his glove became extraordinarily hot in an instance, he sank three fingers into the face of the Knight who screamed in agony. The opponent and Anuai spectators cringed. The Archon held him still, so he could not escape, he dragged his hand down the Knights face.

  He fell to the ground in agony grasping at his burning face, the Archon released him. He knelt beside the fallen Knight who writhed, tortured on the ground.

  “‘Do not ever defy me,” he demanded sternly. The Archon grabbed the Knights sword out of the ground and drove it through the man.

  “Monster,” Anu-Krai cried. The Archon pivoted toward him.

  “Yes, I am,” he responded apathetically.

  “You requested my presence?” Anu-Krai said.

  “Yes, come closer,” the Knight followed the Archons instructions.

  “You know, I’m not always able to rely on Monstah, I have a task for you.”

  “Yes,” he grinned beneath the mask; hopeful he would soon become second in command above Monstah.

  “I want you to retrieve the Sword of Anu from the Imperial who stole it,” the Archon said. He stood and grabbed his shoulder. They began to walk to the exit.

  “I am honoured, I swear upon Anu I will retrieve that sword for you,” he responded eagerly. He wanted ever so much, to please the Archon.

  “I know, but this will be your greatest test to date, take the Mikasa with Monstah and get that sword. Soon we will take the kingdom of Artsul.” The Archon stopped, Anu-Krai continued his exit. “I won’t fail you.”

  “You never have,” the Archon responded calmly. Anu-Krai nodded thankfully, ecstatic by his master’s words, he vowed to complete his task to the upmost standards.

  Chapter 8

  A man dripping with sweat, his eyes filled with fear, rushed through his village barging past the citizens forcefully. He frantically tried to reach his superiors. He found the stoned structure housing them.

  “Ragmana has fallen! We must prepare for war!” he screamed at a group of men sitting around an oval table.

  The men looked at each other and their leader stood. “Have the gods of Naprador conquered Ragmana?” he asked the man.

  “Yes!” he screamed “They cannot be killed, there was one called … called Krai I think, he cannot be killed by swords or arrows!” He struggled for breath, throwing his information at the Imperial council.

  “Thank you, leave us,” the leader stated in a composed manner, the man left brashly.

  “If that was true, we must surrender, not fight!” one yelled fearfully.

  “Surrender, have you lost your mind!” another bellowed.

  “Coward! Traitor!” others yelled as the room erupted emotionally.

  “Enough!” the leader yelled in a domineering tone, the men quieted down and listened to their commander. “We will not surrender, we are the Imperials, the mightiest warriors in this world. If they want this land, they will have to pry it from our cold, dead hands!” the men cheered with gratification as they banged the table furiously. “Prepare our army, and be ready for an attack at any moment, council adjourned,” the leader demanded.

  The men spread and left to perform their duties. The commander grasped the shoulder of the man beside him. “Get me Sonje, immediately,” he requested hastily.

  “Yes, commander Scyfer,” the man responded, and he went to find Sonje who was somewhere in the village.

  Sonje was in the courtyard of the Imperial Academy sparring with students. Sonje had graduated the Academy four years ago but offered his time to teach the current students. The man approached him.

  “Sonje, your presence is required.”

  “Oh yeah, by who’s order?” he asked inquisitively, whilst he continued to spar with the students. The man inhaled a heavy breath.

  “Your Uncle,” he stated. Sonje’s character changed as he understood the implications of a meeting with Scyfer, he stopped sparring with the students.

  “Ok,” he replied sombrely. The man left. Sonje began the walk to the Imperial council chambers, anxious about the coming meeting, unsure of its implications.

  Sometime later he arrived.

  “You wanted me Uncle?” he asked tentatively.

  “Yes, it appears that the Gods of Naprador have instigated their conquest and conquered Ragmana, they will likely attack to us soon.” Sonje looked to the floor in thought, his right hand gripped his mouth, understanding the gravity of the situation.

  “What are we going to do?” he questioned, unsettled by the news.

  “We will prepare for an imminent attack, so we will not be caught off guard. I have seen you in training, you have become a powerful warrior I want you to lead a platoon of soldiers during the coming battle.”

  Sonje was honoured, but somewhat afraid of this promotion, he stuttered briefly. “Are you sure? I am honoured of course, but I have never been in battle before.” He was shocked by the proposition of being a leader on the battlefield.

  “You are the most gifted fighter to ever graduate the academy, you have a good knowledge of scenarios and tactics on the battlefield, you will be fine. I would not appoint you otherwise.”

  Scyfer’s words were strong and hit deep within Sonje. He thought; ‘if Scyfer the legendary Imperial believes in me then I should to.’

  “Thank you, uncle I won’t let you down,” Sonje responded delighted. He returned home. Mixed emotion filled his thoughts. Fear of a great battle loomed in his dreams.

  Days later Sonje stood by the large rock next to the forest he used to frequently go in as a child. He glanced to the ground beside where he buried the sword he had taken all those years ago. He considered unearthing the weapon for the coming conflict, but resisted for now. Nightfall was approaching, he observed the sky in thought when suddenly, he noticed a bright light in the distance. He gasped slightly, he knew that light. He saw it rocket towards him, it stopped suddenly over the forest, close enough to see the three distinct lights below a dark triangular craft. It landed. He glanced back to the soil where he had buried the weapon and unearthed it qu
ickly. He admired the blade briefly, then rushed into the forest to investigate.

  A ramp-like appendage exuded from the ominous craft. Anu-Krai and Monstah appeared.

  “That ship is mesmerising, how can it be possible to travel so fast?” Anu-Krai enquired, still nagging Monstah for a response. He was in awe of the craft he exited. Like a child in a sweet shop, he yearned for the knowledge of how the craft operated.

  “Nothing your human mind can comprehend; your curiosity is your weakness,” Monstah replied harshly as he always did.

  The Knight disregarded his response, gliding his hand across the side of the craft, examining it further as he did before he entered. Monstah disappeared into the treeline behind the craft. “I’m going to hunt, try not to get lost, or break anything will you!” he said sarcastically.

  Anu-Krai jolted his head dissatisfied with his superior. He continued to examine the craft further and he saw the mysterious writing on the side of the craft. He ran his finger over the markings until his attention was taken by movement in the trees to the side of him.

  Sonje arrived at the tree he and Viden used to stay by. The makeshift swing was still intact. He sat on it for a moment, evoking memories of his childhood. He continued past the tree and approached the clearing. He could see the craft, the same craft from all those years ago, dread and anxiety filled his heart. He scanned the area and saw the Knight of Anu approaching the trees to the side of the clearing. He conjured up the courage, sword in hand. Anu-Krai sensed his presence, he turned his head 120 degrees to his right-hand side and faced Sonje. They glared at one-another fleetingly, approximately a hundred metres away from each other.

  Sonje was intimidated by the mysterious mask his foe was wearing. Examining the weapon in Sonje’s hand the Knight broke the silence.

  “That sword, it belongs to my master!” he roared ferociously. Sonje breathed deeply and composed himself.

  “You took my cousin,” he said, in a voice riddled with anger and despair. Anu-Krai activated the temperature modifier on his weapon, the blade vibrated with intense heat. Sonje examined the blade in his hand, a similar configuration of buttons was located on the hilt, he clicked one and the blade ignited too. The sudden heat and blazing light stunned Sonje. With a smirk he roared.

  “You want this weapon? Well come and take it!” Anu-Krai sprinted toward Sonje in offense, their blades clashed, their heads were centimetres away from one-another.

  “I will get that sword,” the Knight said strongly. He forced Sonje back.

  They traded multiple blows, the swords emanated with heat, the sweat began to exude from Sonje’s face. Sonje went on the offensive and saw an opening, he jabbed the fiery blade into the abdomen of the Knight, the blade penetrated his otherwise impenetrable armour, damaging his body. He cried out painfully, falling to one knee grasping his abdomen. He looked up to Sonje who stepped back. He returned to his feet, they continued to fight. The Knight was noticeably weakened by the injury. Sonje manoeuvred around the strikes and found another opening. He cut deep into his thigh, slicing into him. With a spin he slashed and broke his mask, left eye revealed, forehead and upper cheek too. He fell back forcefully to the ground in agony.

  Sonje treaded back whilst a terrifying cry emanated from deep within the forest. Unsettled, he began to retreat to the treeline where he came.

  “Sonje!” the Knight screamed; his actual voice came forth now his mask was broken.

  “Sonje!” his voice tainted with sadness. Sonje halted his flee, pivoted back to the Knight slowly with shock. He looked deep into his now exposed eye; he saw the beginning of the three scars that terrorized his face.

  “Viden?” he asked bewildered, “Is that? Is it you?” he added. Both gazed at each other for a moment.

  “I won’t abandon you, not again,” he said with remorse and guilt. The Knight glanced to the ground in thought, Sonje’s breath was heavy in anticipation of a response. His eyes returned to his, the sadness evolved to dread.

  “Help me,” he begged. Monstah emerged from the treeline ahead of Sonje. Sonje’s eyes locked onwards in terror as he witnessed the monster that took Viden all those years ago come forth. He looked at Viden on the ground, a tear in his eye. Viden’s eyes were hopeful, but it was quickly distinguished. Sonje stumbled backward, almost falling over a loose log.

  “Sonje,” Viden said with immense sorrow. Sonje escaped and ran into the forest. With shame and guilt, he abandoned Viden, again. The defeated Knight of Anu gazed on in anguish, in pain, with hatred as Monstah loomed behind him. “Get up!” the beast remarked callously, towering above the fallen Knight.

  “I can’t,” he murmured with a raspy voice. Monstah grabbed and thrusted him over the shoulder. Viden wailed in agony, it radiated through the forest finding Sonje’s ears. He saw Sonje deep in the forest, his silhouette fading whilst he ran. Viden, furious and filled with disappointment accepted his fate, like he did all those years ago.

  “I hate you!” he screeched whilst he was hauled away.

  Monstah entered the craft with Viden still on his shoulder, with a click of a button on the interior of the craft, a table emerged from the wall. There, Viden was cast heavily by Monstah. Viden latched the Nano healing solution beside him and injected the solution into his leg. It had healing nanobots within it that could heal the body within minutes of physical trauma. The nanobots were secreted through the digestive system once their task was completed. Monstah activated the crafts engines and they bolted into the night sky returning to Naprador to consult the Archon.

  Sonje emerged from the forest grasping his knees exhausted, he turned back and saw the craft rocket through the sky, relieved that it had gone he continued to run to the village. People were crowding the village streets.

  “Where was Anya, where was Scyfer?” he asked people as they brushed by him forcefully.

  “Anya! Scyfer!” he yelled, drowned in the crowd. He continued to push his way through, he shouted their names again.

  “Sonje!” a woman shouted, he followed the voice through the crowd, she shouted again, he eventually found her. Struggling for breath he muttered urgently

  “Anya, I saw him, I saw your son.” Her face dropped, she gestured for him to follow her to the council chambers where Scyfer would be. They rushed through the village. They darted into the room where Scyfer was located.

  “Uncle!” he blurted urgently. “Viden is alive, I,” he paused tentatively, “He was the Anu-Krai, king of the Knights of Anu, the warriors from Naprador!” Scyfer stood, puzzled by his nephew’s words, he believed Viden died 10 years ago when he went missing.

  “How can that be possible?” he retorted, bewildered. Sonje glanced at them both, rubbing his head nervously.

  “I have something to tell you both,” he replied begrudgingly.

  Sonje explained the events of the night Viden disappeared to his parents, Anya slapped him across the face furiously. He also explained the encounter he just had.

  “I must see him!” Anya screamed.

  “You can’t, it’s too dangerous” Sonje responded.

  “We must get him back, he’s my boy!” Anya yelled, irate.

  “I don’t think we can, he’s not who he was,” Sonje replied.

  “He has a good heart, I can’t imagine what they did to him, this was your fault!” she screeched back, she threw a cup of water from the table at the wall and stormed out violently.

  “She doesn’t mean that,” Scyfer offered sympathy for Sonje, understanding that he could not do anything to stop Monstah taking Viden. Sonje sank to the ground in disappointment whilst sitting at an open chair.

  “I promised him I wouldn’t leave him, and I did, again.” His guilt got the better of him, he grasped his face. Scyfer placed his hand on his shoulder for support.

  “I’m so sorry uncle,” he said with tears in his eyes.

  Viden and Monstah returned. Viden visited the Archon alone in his throne room. He entered disappointed. Still not fully healed from the encoun
ter, he walked with a limp and knelt with difficulty. The Archon was genuinely concerned.

  “How are your injuries?”

  “I’m fine, nothing the Nanos can’t fix,” the Knight responded quickly, trying to hide his pain. The Archon stood and came toward him.

  “When you stood before me years ago, I saw something in you, something unique,” Anu-Krai raised his head. Half of his real face present.

  “And what was that, my lord,” he asked, praying his master could forgive his defeat.

  “Your species see you as different and determine that as a weakness and I believed they were wrong but now…” his tone shifted from empathetic to disgust.

  “I gave my life to you, to your conquest!” the Knight screamed.

  The Archon loomed above him. “But it’s not enough is it!” his voice bounced through the room. “You are the king of the Knights of Anu, yet you fall defeated by the hands of your cousin Sonje, you failed!” he yelled ferociously.

  Anu-Krai leaped instantly with fury, unveiling the Bow of Margan, he shot the Archon in the face, the arrow shattered on impact with his Draconite mask. The material so strong it prevented any attack from such weapons damaging the Archon. Anu-Krai’s fury evolved to dismay as he realised what he had just done.

  “I was a child when you took me,” tears occupied the Knight’s exposed eye.

  “You seem to forget that it was you who walked aboard my ship and stole my blade, Viden!” the Archon screamed at him, furious that he shot an arrow at him.

  “Maybe Monstah should have been paying attention,” he said, mocking his Anuai counterpart. “People see us as monsters, evil gods,” he muttered. The knight was disgusted by himself and the Archon.

  “I’ll make you a monster,” the Archon snarled, to the dismay of Viden. The Archon fired a bolt of electricity from a small hand-held device at each of the Knights hands, the electricity shimmered violently from his hands to the ground. The Knight was unable to move, he tried to escape, knowing what was to come he stopped struggling. The Archon grabbed a syringe filled with a solution placed on a panel nearby. The Knight’s face melted in anticipation of the coming torture.