by Brandon Chen
“Forty thousand … years?” Tanya echoed incredulously.
Yuri clenched his jaw tightly, lowering his head. “How is it that you ended up here, Han?”
“I made a gamble with Death, a game of his called the Oblivion Trials.” Han closed his eyes as he reached deep within his mind to retrieve his old memories from millennia ago.
Yuri remembered that Malyios had told him about the Oblivion Trials. If the participant failed the trials then they would be placed in Oblivion even if their soul was originally judged to be in Heaven. “Why would you agree to such a game? Those who participate are unsure of whether or not they will make it to Heaven. But you were only a boy when you died, Han. You certainly would’ve been placed in Heaven.”
“Yes,” Han said. “But I was unsure about mother.”
The hairs on Yuri’s arms pricked up and he bit his lower lip.
“Death offered me a proposition. He said that if I participated in the Oblivion Trials, then Mom, regardless of her judgment, would be sent to Heaven. And I would also have a chance to get into Heaven, if I completed Death’s trials,” Han said, shaking his head. “But it was impossible. It would take a miracle for a person to survive such an impossible test. Obviously, being an inexperienced child, I failed the Oblivion Trials. Since then, I have been trapped in this hell.”
I believe there have even been occasions when souls have escaped Oblivion.
“Is there … a way that I can free you from this horrible fate?” Yuri asked.
“There is,” Han said. “Every prisoner of Oblivion has their soul locked away in a soul gem. Shattering a person’s soul gem will free the person’s soul from Oblivion.” The boy’s expression hardened. “However, all soul gems are heavily guarded by monsters with strength beyond your realm of power. If they defeat you, understand that you will also be imprisoned here for eternity.
“You’ve come to Oblivion seeking something else though, haven’t you? So long as you have something to live for, don’t bother trying to free me. You bear the risk of never returning to Terrador.” Han lifted the lantern higher and its light began to beam brighter than before, emitting a dazzling light that blinded Yuri. “The overseers are approaching. Leave, now.”
“What?” Yuri saw that Tanya was looking behind them. He turned and saw an army of figures in the distance, marching across the desolate plains of Oblivion. Most of the strangers had tattered rags for clothing and stumbled about as if inebriated. They looked emaciated and frail, similar to the zombified abominations that Yuri had seen in Lichholme.
Behind the pack of moping slaves was a group of mysterious reapers, shrouded in misty cloaks of darkness. The inhuman creatures glided across the scorched earth, levitating several inches above the ground. They wielded flaming whips that they relentlessly cracked down on the poor humans, who cried out in agony.
Yuri recognized Beo amongst the suffering humans and bit his lower lip, tempted to call out to him. The man’s face was weary and expressionless, evidence of his hopelessness.
Yuri felt a tight squeeze on his wrist and saw that Tanya was urging him to leave. A part of him wanted to stand their ground instead of running away. He would battle these “overseers” and free Beo and Han from this dreadful fate. But he could sense the overwhelming power radiating from the mystifying reapers. As you are now, you don’t stand a chance.
Clenching his jaw in frustration, Yuri turned to his brother. “I’ll come back for you, I promise.”
Han smiled. “When you acquire the strength to free us from these chains of eternal suffering, return to Oblivion. I look forward to seeing you again, brother. I’m glad that you are well.” He bowed his head respectfully and watched as Yuri and Tanya took off across the gloomy graveyard, sprinting into the distance.
A tear found its way down Han’s cheek and the boy reached up to touch the moistness, surprised that he was crying. It was the first tear that he’d shed in thousands of years. He’d thought, having enduring this agony for millennia, that he’d become numb to pain. But seeing his brother, after so long, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anguish in his heart. Han’s forgotten memories, lost to the endless stream of time, had reawakened upon seeing Yuri.
A gentle smile spread across his lips and the boy, once emotionless, dipped his head as he heard the anguished screams of the human slaves drawing closer. I’ll come back, I promise. Yuri’s words echoed in Han’s head. For the first time since his arrival in Oblivion, the boy felt a tiny spark of hope igniting within his chest. Perhaps one day he could escape this hell. Even if it were eons from now, Han was willing to wait.
I look forward to seeing you again, Yuri.
***
As Yuri continued through Oblivion, he tried his best to push his thoughts of his brother out of his mind. Right now, he had to concentrate on finding the Oblivion Vault. He needed to succeed in saving Escalon first; more than his families’ lives were at stake. If he managed to preserve Escalon, he would return to free Han from this vile place.
“So, what will you do with the Oblivion Vault’s treasures?” Yuri asked Tanya, trying to make conversation after walking for hours through the desolate wasteland in silence.
“Is that any of your business?”
“No,” Yuri murmured, shrugging. “I was only curious. Most treasure hunters that are crazy enough to journey to Oblivion must have a powerful resolve behind their madness.”
“I am here to retrieve an item for a friend,” Tanya said.
“A potion?”
The Bount nodded.
Yuri pursed his lips. “You must really value this person if you’re willing to venture through this forsaken hell for him.”
“I do,” Tanya said, biting her lower lip. Her expression had softened and Yuri could see that her mind was wandering as she spoke. “My friend granted me a gift unlike any I’ve ever received before. But more than anything, he’s the only person that I’ve known that’s like me. He’s gone through hell and survived.”
“What about your parents?”
“I never knew them. They were killed before I could walk.”
Yuri exhaled. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Tanya shrugged, clearly unfazed by the grim topic of her deceased parents. “Don’t be. I never knew them.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “The world is a cruel place. I’ve been thrust into the heat of battle since I was only a child. Enslaved by my parents’ murderers, I was abused and forced to do horrible things. Living like an animal, with not even the freedom to choose where you piss, truly makes you hate the world.”
Yuri bit his lower lip. Slavery was not practiced in Escalon, but he’d heard that there were faraway lands in Terrador that barbarically stripped people of their freedom and dehumanized them, considering them to be beasts and property. He couldn’t imagine living such a lifestyle. Confined, restricted, and tortured … it would be horrible. It’s no wonder you’re angry at the world, Tanya. But you don’t seem like you belong with the Bounts. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.”
Yuri and Tanya traveled in silence for several hours, eventually coming near the massive volcano that towered in the distance. Carved in the molten rock was a gigantic open doorway, large enough to fit a frost giant. Through that entrance was the Oblivion Vault. Yuri could feel it. There he would find the power to save Escalon from its doom.
Yuri felt a rumbling sensation underneath his claws as he dashed forward. We’re almost there. Worry soon swept over him as the tremors intensified. He and Tanya exchanged puzzled glances when suddenly the ground beneath them erupted like a geyser, sending blackened earth spewing into the sky. A colossal being made of a shadowy substance tore itself from the rock. Misty darkness coated its body, and its eyes gleamed like two coals freshly dipped in the scorching lava of a volcano. The earth behind Yuri and Tanya split as the gargantuan beast crawled out of the thick fissure.
The monster rose to its full height, slamming its huge feet into the ground. Each foot
was large enough to squash a small village, and the creature itself was as tall as the volcano. Never before had Yuri seen such a terrifying being. He could sense tremendous power emanating from its dark body. The giant groaned, its eyes coruscating as it lifted one of its feet and brought it down near the two fleeing werewolves.
Yuri shivered as he was cast in the shadow of the frightening creature. He clenched his jaw, accelerating to his maximum speed. His arms and legs ached as he pounded them against the ground, his eyes locked on the entrance to the volcano. He could see Tanya sprinting beside him, her expression fearless despite the danger that threatened them. Come on!
The creature crashed its foot to the ground, missing the two werewolves by a slim margin. A shockwave pulsated outwards as the earth exploded, sweeping Yuri and Tanya clean off their feet as they were engulfed by a rushing cloud of dust. A blistering wind sent Yuri rolling across the rocky ground, buffeting his flesh. The windstorm tossed him around like a flailing doll.
Digging his claws into the rocky ground, Yuri grunted as he dragged himself to his feet. Squinting through the cloud of whipping ash and dust, he spotted Tanya’s silhouette as she bolted off into the distance. Yuri grunted, scampering after her, realizing that the Bount no longer needed him now that she knew the location of the Oblivion Vault. Is she going to leave me behind?
The smokescreen suddenly dispersed as a powerful gust of wind blasted across the ground, blowing back Yuri’s dark hair. His eyes widened, realizing that another giant shadow had been cast over him. He glanced over his shoulder, horrified to find that the gargantuan monster was about to flatten him with its fist.
A metal chain curled around Yuri’s waist, and he yelped as he was yanked out of the way of the giant’s strike, which shattered the ground like glass. The werewolf was hauled near the entrance of the volcano, where he landed at Tanya’s feet. The Bount was in her human form now and had a hand on her hip, raising an eyebrow at Yuri. “Don’t stop moving,” she said simply as she ambled through the dark entrance.
Yuri gulped and scrambled to his feet, quickly following her. He transformed back into his human form and glanced back at the shadow giant. There was surely no way that the creature would be able to follow them into this volcano, unless it decided to tear the entire mountain apart. Fortunately, it seemed content to wait for its prey to return, for it did not pursue them into the volcano.
The two partners strolled into a room of absolute darkness. They couldn’t see a thing. Then there was a click, and torches, fastened tightly on iron sconces, burst into flames, illuminating the area. They now stood in the center of a massive hollow room made of deteriorating stone. Carved statues of various gods were secured throughout the area, and upon the walls were inscribed markings of an ancient language that Yuri didn’t recognize. Everything about this area seemed venerable.
On the far side of the room was an enormous phosphorescent vault made of unalloyed gold. The ominous ambiance that radiated from the mysterious vault was almost palpable, freezing Yuri’s body as if a spell had been cast over him. He looked at Tanya, who was enraptured now that she finally arrived at the Oblivion Vault. All of the dangers that she’d had to overcome since she’d arrived in Lichholme ultimately led to this moment.
Tanya closed her eyes and whispered an incantation, foreign words that Yuri didn’t recognize. But the vault reacted, groaning as it shimmered for a moment and then vaporized, as if the gold had never existed to begin with. Now a circular opening led into a room filled with glistening treasures of all types. There was an assortment of weapons, from daggers to swords to bows. Treasures, like special armor, and enchanted objects, such as flutes, were also piled upon each other.
Yuri followed his partner into the room, his eyes glistening in awe as he gazed across the sea of loot before him. He wished that Noah were with him to haul all of these Sacred Treasures home in that magical bag of his. He watched as Tanya skipped off to search for the potion that would turn Faelen into a human again. Meanwhile, he needed to find something that could grant him the strength to eradicate Malyssa and her forces.
He spent several minutes examining an array of weapons that caught his interest. Suddenly, the boy caught movement out of the corner of his eye and jerked his head to see what it was. He stared at the figure that had somehow appeared beside him. “It can’t be—”
It was Yuri’s father. The man smiled at his son, tears twinkling in his eyes. “Dad?” Yuri let out, his hands twitching at his side. “W-What are you doing here?”
“My soul has been trapped in the Oblivion Vault for many eons, my son,” the man said, reaching out to embrace Yuri. But his ghostly hands phased straight through the boy and he quickly retreated, staring at his hands sorrowfully. “But you … you can free me.”
“How?” Yuri said, recalling that Han had said he needed to break something called a soul gem to free an individual from Oblivion.
“All you need to do is take those claws over there,” his father said, pointing to a pair of ebony gloves that were lying on a pile of treasures. “They’re known as the Oblivion Claws, one of the strongest Sacred Treasures in existence. With its power, you’ll be able to shatter that urn.” His father pointed to a golden urn that was sealed within a cage made of a black metal known as Abyssalite, the strongest alloy in Terrador. “My soul is trapped within there. If you break the urn, I’ll be free.”
“Father, I have many things to ask you,” Yuri began.
“That may wait until I am freed,” his father said with a gentle smile. “Please, I have been sealed away for too long, my son. I cannot bear it any longer. Once you release me, we’ll have all the time in the world to talk.”
Yuri nodded and walked over to the gloves that his father had called the Oblivion Claws. These gloves were one of the strongest Sacred Treasures? His lips curved into a relieved smile.
With this power, he could free his father and bring him back to life. He could save Terias and Etaon’s last engineer. He could restore peace to Escalon.
The boy’s hands hovered over the glistening gloves, feeling a powerful aura pulsating from the Oblivion Claws. Touching the fine cloth of the treasure, he felt an electrifying jolt crackling against his fingers. He ignored it and bit his lip, hesitating. Why am I afraid? He squeezed the gloves tightly, and then pulled them onto his hands, his heart racing. This is the moment that I’ve been waiting for. This is when everything changes.
“Indeed.” Malyios’s wicked voice cackled.
Yuri glanced over his shoulder and found that his father was no longer there. His ghost had been replaced with the misty darkness of Malyios. Yuri’s heart skipped a beat and he stared down at his hands in shock. The cloth had fused to his flesh, turning his skin as black as charcoal. His breathing grew heavy as ebony claws of darkness tore from his fingertips, potent with magical power. He crumpled to his knees, his eyes widening at the unfathomable amount of raw energy that rippled through him.
A vortex of dark magic spiraled around the boy, vaporizing his cloak and shirt. Ancient black tattoos appeared on his back, like scarred brandings had been seared into his flesh. Yuri’s irises turned violet as his body trembled with the invincible power that he now wielded. He let out an agonizing scream as a shockwave erupted from his position, sending piles of Sacred Treasures scattering across the vault.
Yuri lowered his head, his bangs falling across his closed eyes. His hair was no longer black; it was now the color of snow. Swiping his white hair from his face, he flexed the Oblivion Claws before his eyes. With a weapon like this, he could bring down entire kingdoms. No one could stand against him, now that he wielded the power of Oblivion.
Malyios watched the young man, grinning nefariously. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it? You claimed that you would do anything for power. Today, you sacrificed your mind in order to gain the immeasurable strength that you have sought for so long. Now rise, my champion. Free me from my bindings so that I may exact my revenge on the gods that bound me here.”
Yuri pressed his palm to the floor, slowly rising to his feet. His mind was cloudy and his body moved automatically, as if a puppeteer controlled him. He was expressionless as he sauntered towards the golden urn that kept Malyios captive. He raised one claw, knowing that a single slash would shatter the Abyssalite cage and the vase.
A shimmer of movement bolted behind him and he spun around, grabbing a chain out of the air. A blade halted inches from Yuri’s apathetic face and he raised an eyebrow when he saw that it was Tanya that had assaulted him. “Is this how you repay me for leading you here?” he said, squeezing the metal chain tightly. A malicious smirk crept across his lips. “You’ve got guts, attacking me. Do you want to die so badly, Tanya?”
Tanya’s lips pinched into a thin line. “I sense corrupt energy radiating from you,” she growled, tugging hard at her chain whip, to no avail. Her strength was nothing compared to Yuri’s now. “I know a murderer when I see one. You don’t plan to let me leave this vault alive.”
Yuri smiled, releasing the chain, allowing it to slither back to its owner. “You’re awfully observant, aren’t you?” He brushed his hair back from his forehead, his violet eyes gleaming like shining gems. “I see that you’ve gotten what you’ve came for.” Tanya held a tiny vial of pink liquid in her left hand. “It’s a shame that you won’t be returning to Faelen.”
Tanya’s facial features twitched with surprise at the mention of her partner, but she said nothing. She swung her chain whip to the side, the scythe blade tearing at Yuri’s shoulder. The knife end of her chain sliced from the other side so that Yuri was forced to deal with attacks from both the left and right. An ordinary man would not have the reflexes or speed to avoid both blades. Even a werewolf should have trouble. But Tanya’s eyebrows furled at the sight of Yuri’s calm and composed expression. His eyes were on her until the moment before her weapons would cut into his flesh.
Yuri held up both hands and effortlessly deflected Tanya’s blades with the Oblivion Claws, knocking them to the floor. He charged forward with blinding speed, nearly teleporting across the vault room. Lashing out, he grabbed Tanya by the throat and lifted her off of the ground. The shocked woman thrashed about, transforming into her werewolf form. But she still wasn’t strong enough to escape Yuri’s iron grip. The boy looked up at Tanya, gazing into the struggling beast’s dying eyes. “Is this what it’s like?” he whispered to himself, squeezing Tanya’s throat tighter. “To have the power to do whatever I want.”
