Episode 8 – Dark Intensions
A low rumbling filled the air as if a fierce storm was rapidly approaching. Above were black clouds that filled the entire sky. Even the light from the sun couldn't make it through the clouds. Every now and then, groups of lights filled the clouds from the lightning bolts that were bursting inside the clouds.
Below was a city made of steel and buildings that challenged the mountains themselves for greater height. It is likely to be Kerning City, the most modernized city in all of Victoria Island. However, a city that is known for its loud bustling noises of taxis and people was eerily quiet. It was as if all life in the place had come to a halt.
Upon a closer look, the reason for the cities' silence can be seen. People, cars, animals, everything there had been completely frozen or mangled. People can be seen through out the entire city frozen in a wide array of poses. Some of them had a look of fear on them, others in panic, and others looked as if they weren't going to go down without some kind of fight. Some bodies even had signs of being attacked, thrown, and seriously disfigured.
Not a single sign of life could be found in all of Kerning City, except for one figure that stood in the middle of the city. Some few feet behind him was a portal that led to some unknown location. This figure was slouched over with his head hanging low down. He had a blue aura radiating off of him. All of a sudden the person stood straight up, revealing an even more terrifying scene. The person was Zain, his eyes were glowing a crimson red color and the archaic symbol on his forehead was radiating more brightly than ever before. After a moment of heavy breathing, he inhaled and let lose a deafening roar. Once again the scene changes to high above the city. A few seconds pass by, and a bright orangish light in the middle of the city, where Zain is, begins flicker. Suddenly a bluish explosion envelops the whole city, causing it to become a completely frozen wasteland. Soon after, huge amounts of gigantic lightning bolts barrel down on the skyscrapers of the city, knocking them all down one by one. The city is engulfed in explosions of ice and lightning.
Zain rapidly sits up in a strange bed gasping for air. He puts his hand on his forehead and realizes that he is sweating profusely. He looks around and notices a mirror not far from the bed and picks it up.
Rubbing his forehead and staring at it in the mirror he thinks to himself, "What was that? Some kind of dream? No, nothing like that could be a dream. It had to be nightmare. But why was I in it? And just what was I doing?"
Just about then the flap that covers the entrance to the tent opens up and a person peers in.
It was Kiki with a slight smile on her face, "Ah, I see you're finally awake. You've been asleep for two days ya know. Sticker was starting to complain that she might have to carry you three days in a row."
Zain stares at her and examines the tent a little bit more, and then notices that his clothes are folded in the corner. He looks down and realizes that he's wearing a pink Sauna Robe instead of his usual Red Anakamoon.
Noticing what he is thinking, Kiki says, "Oh, your clothes were pretty torn up and wet so I switched them with my Robe. It was the only thing I had that fit."
Zain looks at her with an embarrassed face, blushing. Finally he asks her, "Where am I?"
Kiki looks at him hard and snaps back, "What, you're not even going to give me your name or say thank you!?"
Zain looks at her with a surprised voice but responses with, "M-My name is Zain."
Kiki looked at him with a sarcastically (F3) facial expression, "What kinda name is Zain?"
Zain returned the look and said, "Well, what kind of name is Kiki?"
Then Kiki smiled and put her hands together, "Ah, I'm glad you remembered. You passed out right after I told you so I didn't think you'd remember." Then she points at his clothes and continues, "Hurry up and get dressed, we need to move out soon."
With that she left and closed the flap behind her. Zain immediately got out of the bed and undressed. While he was putting on his Anakamoon robe he thought to himself, "Man she's so bossy. But I suppose I should thank her for saving my life back at that cave from all of those powerful monsters." While he was putting on his pair of Red Pennance he remembered back to the other day, "I've never seen someone that wielded a sword move so fast. Even Ruder never moved at that pace for as long as she did."
When Zain finally finished getting his stuff together and stepped outside. Kiki was feeding Sticker some pet food. He asked her again, "So you never answered my question, where are we?"
Kiki then turned around and started checking her inventory and said, "We're currently in the Icy Cold Fields. We should reach El Nath by the end of the day."
Zain turned around and looked up at the sky and thought to himself, "El Nath huh. I wonder if anyone else is there. I sure hope so, it's lonely without them."
Kiki's yelling, "Hey, stop daydreaming and help me with this tent!" interrupting his thoughts.
Zain ran over to where the tent was and started undoing the ropes. As he was doing it he thought, "Man she's bossy."
The scene now changes to the Balrog pirate ship, which is flying through dark and thunderous clouds. Saevio was standing at the bow of the craft with his arms crossed and his spear sticking out of the ground. Far behind him were the two Balrogs watching him closely.
One of them broke his stare from Saevio and looked at the other and said, "I don't know why we don't just throw this guy off the boat right now. We already got what we wanted, who says we have to give him what he wants."
Not breaking his stare the other responds, "You know as well as I do that our King hates to have debts. They can be debts of payment or debts of revenge, but he never leaves them unchecked."
Just then a Taurospear walked out from the inside of the ship. He then informed the two Balrogs, "We've reached a good spot to open a Dimensional Gate."
The first Balrog nodded his head and said, "Alright, then get to it."
The Taurospear then walked to the front of the ship and held out a pitch-black scroll. When he unraveled it a line of bright light appeared in front of the ship. Then it all of a sudden seemed to rip open, big enough to fit the whole ship.
One of the Balrogs then stepped forward and pointed at the rip. Without hesitation he ordered them to go inside it. At first, when the ship went inside, all Saevio could see was a blinding light. But his eyes were eventually able to adjust to it. However, he wasn't expecting what he saw next.
With a surprised expression on his face, he said, "Where have you taken me? There are benches lined up and streetlights. And the sky looks like its night time." After a moment of thought Saevio looked even more surprised and said, "Wait, could this be city that is in the old lore?"
Both of the Balrogs came up to where Saevio was and responded, "That's correct. This is the fabled long lost City of Monsters."
The other Balrog continued, "This is where we monsters used to live in peace long before you humans ever showed up. We lived happily under the rule of our king. But now this place is a dormant wasteland and the silence here could drive any living creature mad."
Saevio frowned and said, "That's strange, this place sort of reminds me of Ludibrium Clock Tower. I thought you said we were going to this place called Yomi Tower."
Both Balrogs smiled and one said, "We are in Yomi Tower." Saevio only stared back, confused. So the Balrog continued, "For as long back as I can remember you humans have always called this place Ludibrium Clock Tower. However, we monsters, and the true rulers of this place, have always called it Yomi Tower."
Saevio then said, "Alright enough of the history lesson. All I care about is getting my prize."
One Balrog smiled and replied, "Have a little patience human. You'll get what you're looking for right over there."
The Balrog pointed to a gigantic monument in the center of the city. When the Balrog ship landed in front of it, only Saevio and one of the Balrogs followed him up it. At the peak was a strange looking clock and a large tombstone front and center. The tombstone was even taller than Saevio and it had a strange symbol on it. And below that were a couple of lines of strange writing.
Saevio looked around for a little bit but then turned around and asked the Balrog, "So where is my prize?"
The Balrog held his hand up to the grave and said, "Your prize is right here."
Saevio stared at the grave and examined it for a short while. But eventually he said, "Is this some kind of joke?"
All of a sudden a voice echoed through the air, "I assure you Dragon Knight Saevio that there is no joke involved here."
Saevio started looking around franticly and yelled out, "Who said that, show yourself?"
The mysterious voice replied, "There is no reason to yell, for I am right next to you."
Saevio turned around and soon realized that the voice was actually coming from the tombstone right next to him. Saevio then said, "And who the hell are you."
The tombstone replied, "I am the king of the monsters of this world that you were most likely told about. Currently, all of my followers call me Riothamus1. If you must call me something, call me that. Now, are you ready for your reward?"
Writers note to the readers: It's time for me to bring to you another translation. This time the word is Riothamus, which isn't a Japanese word like my last ones. But instead it's a Latin word that means "great king." In history, it was mainly used as a title for King Arthur. Also, for those of you that haven't realized yet, the place that Saevio went to was Ludibrium: Deep Inside of Watch Tower.
-CREDITS-
STORY BY: SacredOne (a.k.a. SacredFrost / NeonFrost)
EDITS BY: The1Phantom and karrtoz
SPECIAL THANKS: godofwarx2 (For getting screenshots of Deep Inside of Watch Tower for me)
