Chapter One
The Unknown Warrior
The struggle between good and evil, the sounding of lasers from their rifles, the cry of the fallen warriors, the rising of a red sun, the resounding clash of steel against steel. Just another day in the continuing struggle between Lylat and the Shadow Dominion. For several centuries the Lylat System has tried to defend itself from the invaders, and at the present time, a savior, a hero, above everything else, was needed in their desperate struggle. A rust-gold fox with chocolate brown eyes clad in black armor and with a sabers sword at his side stood atop a cliff overlooking the wasteland. Jason Trevoc looked over the battle scene that was taking place as a caravan of 15 Cornerian soldiers arrived at his position. Things were looking grim for the Cornerian forces as they were being driven back to the city they tried desperately to defend by swarms of the red eyed creatures.
"How can we defeat a legion like this?! It's impossible!!" one of the soldiers cried out in despair.
"Don't lose your cool now, soldier!" Jason replied. "It may seem impossible at first, but they are not and never have been invincible. I have been observing their tactics and I have found a weak spot in their defenses. We can defeat them if we move right behind their forces and cut them off from making a retreat. That way, if they are taken by surprise, the remaining Cornerian forces can wipe out the rest of them with ease."
"But that would mean we would have to go hand to hand with these monsters!" The commander replied. "We aren't as experienced as you are in close combat, Jason. I'm sorry, but you will have to do this alone. I will not risk the lives of my men. It would be like lambs to the slaughter."
Jason frowned out of disappointment and said, "Fine, wait here with the men and catch up with me after I finish them off. I wouldn't want your men to get killed without putting up a fight. That's no way for a man to die."
When Jason finished, he wasted no time in running ahead of the caravan to get his shot at the Shadows. With his speed, it wasn't long before he arrived at the very back of the large Shadow force. He looked in dismay as most of the corpses that laid in the wake of the Shadows' advancement were Cornerian soldiers. It seemed that the Shadows were getting stronger and more dangerous with every attempted attack they made. But Jason had been dealing with these creatures for three years and had managed to cut down every one of them that made the mistake of getting in his way.
Today would be no different.
Jason slowly walked towards the back of the force, making barely any sound as his armor-fitted feet softly padded on the wasteland's surface. As he got closer, Jason made out several Shadows that were stronger and had more durable armor than the rest of the soldiers and carried spinning cleavers on their arms.
'Looks like they decided to bring in the Shadow Elites to this fight,' Jason thought. He snarled at the sight of them. They were the ones who caused the most casualties in these kinds of battles and were completely merciless in their actions. 'I'll make sure they get what they deserve.'
"Hey, demons!" Jason shouted. The Shadows immediately turned their heads towards him, growling and glaring with their glowing blood red eyes.
"Lylatian scum! Don't interfere! The Lylat System belongs to our Emperor Halgard and no one will stop us from taking it! Not even you." One of the Shadows replied in its demon-like voice.
"Sorry, too late for that. And by the way, you guys should never have made the mistake of underestimating me. You, my friends, are in violation of disturbing the peace of the Lylat System and are responsible for the deaths of countless Lylatian lives. For these actions, you will receive no mercy from me." Jason then drew his saber sword that had been slightly worn with age, but had proven its worth in many battles. The blade gave off a red tinted glare as it was struck by the sun's rays.
"So, who's first?" Jason softly asked.
That was when the first Shadow charged. Jason waited until the soldier was close enough, then in a flash, he ran up to the soldier and impaled him through his blackened heart. The Shadow cried out in pain and then disappeared in a cloud of blackness. This would hardly be a challenge for the vulpine sword master.
"Who's next?!" Jason shouted with anger at the top of his lungs. All two dozen of the soldiers that were left behind to cover the rear of the battalion charged Jason with their sickening battle roar. None who charged could stand against the might and skill of Jason's blade, each one meeting their end and disappearing into a cloud of nothingness. Each swing Jason made sounded like the blade itself sang in his sword dance of death. In less then a minute, all the normal soldiers had been routed. Now all that remained for him to take care of were the six Elites who seemed unphased by Jason's display of skill.
"Elites, surround and annihilate this incompetent insect!" one of the Shadows shouted. All six formed a circle around Jason and slowly closed in on him, displaying the might of their blood stained thorn swords and spinning cleavers.
'The fools. They never learn. Now they will pay for the suffering they have caused.' All the Elites lunged for Jason, preparing to end his presence once and for all. But they never got the chance. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Jason began to feel the mysterious energy flow through his body as he closed his eyes, took his right hand, curled it up into a tight fist, and struck the earth with all the might he could muster. A blinding radiance of fire emanated from Jason and engulfed the Elites in flames, causing them to scream in agony. They soon disappeared, leaving Jason standing unmoved and triumphant. When Jason exhaled and opened his eyes, he was rewarded with the sight of the Shadow forces being disintegrated by the Cornerian soldiers.
"You never cease to amaze us with your abilities, Jason Trevoc, even after all this time." The caravan had caught up with Jason just in time to watch the show.
"Yeah, I've been surprising myself a few times too. But it won't be long before I'm not enough to get rid of these things for you." Jason replied.
"Even so, the Shadows have seemed to grow afraid of your presence in the past three years that you've been fighting them." The commander said.
Jason replied, "I have a feeling their fear of me won't last much longer. Someday the Elites themselves might be able to take down entire battalions without breaking a sweat."
"If only Lylat could be unified again, like it was long ago when this war began. Maybe then we would stand a chance. We could eliminate these monsters once and for all and bring peace back to the System." The commander said.
"………..Yeah, if only."
In an unknown location.
Two cloaked figures stand before a pool of water, observing the battle between Jason and the Shadows that took place in the wasteland.
"His power is growing, little by little. He is learning to hone his abilities very quickly. Pretty impressive for a young fox such as him."
"Do you think he could be the one we've been looking for?"
"It's possible. He does seem to be pure of heart. And if he is the one, we must lead him here. It is here that he will learn everything. I just hope that the general is ready to send him."
"It seems the prophecy shall be fulfilled very soon."
"Yes……."
"…….You know, he really looks a lot like you."
"Hmph. That he does."
Ironheart
The Last Ancient
Book One:
Awakening
