Sorry if I'm so late. I've been Paragoning the Paragon out of Paragon =P. Just enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 10: Quest for the Hammer of Glory

Eona

My ship just received a new coordinate for the moon, Europa. Ghost mentioned that it will be cold, so he gave me a contraption to keep me warm. It's simply called a "heater." I can just attach it to my chestplate, and it'll work.

"Let's go, guys!" Mark declares.

He presses the new icon and its mission. We sail through space as we arrive at the icy north.

"While I was scanning for our Sparrow at Venus, I found this song I can play," Ghost says. "I can play it while we do our mission. It'll be a bit cheesy, though."

"Fine," Mark answers.

It plays the somehow recorded music.

Ride! To the farway mountains.
Fight! Many goblins and trolls.
Quest! For the hammer of glory.

Distorted effects and an orchestra play along with the singing.

"Oh, Symphonic Power Metal. I like it already!"

"Metal?" I ask.

"It's a genre for music. This uses heavily-distorted guitars and throws in an orchestra in the mix...you don't know what a guitar is, do you?"

"No. Of course not!"

"I'll show you when we get back."

The snow keeps on falling
as I ride to the north.
I set out on a journey so far
have been on my way thenceforth.

I feel the light snow falling onto my hands and helmet. It feels quite chilling. We continue on our journey.

"Armor and weapons failing!" Ghost panics.

"What are you talking about?" I question.

My armour and weapons
now covered with ice.
Many battle have they seen,
but onwards I must strive.

Our weapons get colder and colder.

"Oh, no," Lucy complains.

"Actually, they still function well. It's just that they are a tad bit weaker, so...great."

To defeat the foes of Dundee
I must have a weapon of ultimate steel.

Ride! To the farway mountains.
Fight! Many goblins and trolls.
Quest! For the hammer of glory
to wield the power to slay all your foes.

"I have to say: this song is amazing!" I exclaim.

"I would say the same thing," Mark responds.

We walk up a mountain as my radar pings red.

"Quiet! I sense some enemies."

We walk slower as we reach the peak. I see armies fighting each other; Taken, Chaos Wizards, and another species.

"Cabal? Why are they here?"

"Who are these 'Cabal' you speak of."

"See those fat guys over to your left?" I turn my head towards his direction. "That's them, alright. Hold on. Wait."

Three figures fly into the battlefield. One made of green armor, one completely red and blue with a weird head, and a regular soldier with an oxygen tank. Who are they.

"David? Rick? Valkyr? They're all here? Oh, God."

Guardian ships enter the field, but then a giant shock get sent forth in the sky. The ships fall to the ground creating multiple explosions!

"OH, CRAP! EMP!" Lucy yells.

"What?"

"TAKE COVER!"

We duck behind the mountain as the massive earthquake shakes the frozen city. I try to hold onto the rocks. My friends do the same thing. After a few seconds, it has stopped.

"Oh, God. Ghost, contact one of them!"

"David? Valkyr? Rick? Come in," I here his Ghost say.

"We're fine. Did you see us from the mountain?" I here a female voice say through the comms.

"Ah, thank God! Valkyr, what about the other two?" Mark asks.

"We used one of Kyra's portal grenades. It was still in development, but I guess this is the final build since it worked out so well. So my answer is: they're fine."

"Good. We'll keep on going. We have a mission to do."

"Alright, good luck."

"Guardians," the queen's emissary interrupts, "your destination is nearby. In a cave, there is a shrine that the Golden Age civilians used to worship the gods. Get there as fast as you can."

My mission is simple.
My purpose is clear.
In a cave on a mountain up high
there lies a mystical shrine.

"There's one thing, though: if none of you have a heart of pure steel, none of you will be able to wield it, so be careful."

If a warrior quests there
with a heart pure of steel
the gods will grant unto him
a weapon that shall be revealed.

The Hammer of Glory it's called
passed down by heroes from centuries old.

"Don't worry; I'm a robot," Mark mentions. "I AM STEEL!"

"Fine then, let's get goi-HOLY SHOLA!"

The carnage of ships and fire fill the area. It reminds me of the flood Dillon and I caused. I can see the water, hear our chanting, feel our spinning. It gives me pain on my head. I cannot take it anymore!

"Hey, Eona! Are you fine?" Mark begs.

"Ugh, I am. Just had a memory that recalled. This is so unbearable."

"Come on. If you have troubles, we are here for you," Lucy says.

"Thank you. Let's head for the shrine."

The mountain that the song informed was just on the other side of the city. However, Chaos Wizards are protecting its location along with a darker, more powerful sorcerer.

"Come claim the Hammer of Glory. Your deaths are assured," he claims.

He commands the wizards to attack and teleports away. They fire their magical projectiles at us. I summon a Ward of Dawn which heats up our weapons for a short time. During this timespan, Mark and I take out our Plan Cs and fire. They get electrocuted and fall to the ground. Lucy then reaches for her Heavy Machine Gun and take down the rest. We do the same thing. After a few minutes, the fight is done. I've been hit a few times, but Mark died once of a slow spell. Though, Lucy did revive him when I was traumatized. I really should keep myself calmer. The cave is just a few meters away from our position. Its shrine is a circular plate with symbols I can't read.

The shrine lies before me now.
The hammer in sight.

Mark reaches for it. "Yes. I am the chosen one." However, he struggles to get the hammer. "What do you mean I'm not worthy?" Who is he talking to? "Argh, fine!"

I hear voices run through my head.

"The chosen one shall defeat the Black Garden and Zargothrax. You are the one. Grab the Hammer of Glory and end the evil plaguing this world," it commands.

I draw closer to the relic step by step. Each one made the voices and the urging feeling to wield the weapon grow stronger.

"You are the one?" Mark questions in a surprised manner.

I don't listen. I only care about the hammer. When I touch it, I feel energy surge through my veins. They pulse and glow through my skin. I don't know what this sensation is.

"The Astral Charge is flowing throughout your body," Mara Sov says. "You are the chosen one!"

I float in the air with this energy inside me. I don't know what to say but this:

"Yes. I. AM!"

A shockwave gets sent from my body. It hits Lucy and Mark.

I raise it up to the heavens above
and I hail the Traveler (NYEH HEH HEH!)!

I land on the ground with the Hammer of Glory in hand.

"I don't believe it," Lucy groans.

"You...are the most amazing person I have ever met!" Mark exclaims.

"Cabal entering the shrine," Ghost yells. "Let's see what your new weapon can do."

My new energy flows into the hammer. I unconsciously charge forward and slam the ground the Cabal are standing on. They fall back dead.

"You just killed thirteen enemies in one slam. Incredible!"

"And that's everyone for some reason," Lucy mentions.

"No, everyone else fled."

"Guardians, you now have the most powerful relic in the universe, yes?" a Fallen voice interrupts. "Now, go obtain the power of the String of Pearls. The Black Garden will soon be no more!"

I faint and hit the ground. This Astral Charge is exhilarating as much as exhausting.

I wake up on the New Monarchy couch receiving ointments from the Speaker.

"Well done, Guardian Eona," he says. "I never imagined such power could be obtained. Now rest. You will need it for the final fights."

He walks away back onto his private area.

"Hey, my Lady," a metallic voice interrupts. It has to be Mark. "Remember when I said that I will show you my guitar?"

I look at his lap and see a wooden thing with six metal strings.

"Yes?"

"I'll play a song that reminds me of my time with a friend of mine from another universe."

Play So Far Away by Avenged Sevenfold before reading the next part. If you don't, there's nothing against you.

"Wow, that's amazing!"

"Thank you."

"Excuse me?" Lucy interrupts. "We need to head back for our rooms. We should get some rest for the adventure for the String of Pearls. Eona, it will be your time soon."

We go to our assigned rooms as I head off into a deep sleep.