~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*
20XX:
Thomas had finished the final specifications analysis for X as he stood over the computer monitor...reading up on his speed, strength and endurance.
The thought readout numbers are unbelievable...the A.I system is either much more effective than I could have dreamed, or faulty...
Thomas went over the possibilities, the decisions that X could make.
Right and wrong, good and evil, far more complex decisions than any of the current robots could possibly dream. In that ability lies all the danger any of us could dare to imagine...the type of Artificial Intelligence that supercedes our own human emotions...the ability to be swayed one way or the other by the forces of good or evil...
Thomas paced back and forth anxiously, the new revelation had caught him completely off-guard. So much in fact, that the very project was in danger of being canceled by Thomas himself.
*
As Thomas Light read his read-outs on X, Albert Wily was reading the status reports on his creation, Zero.
Amazing, everything I could have hoped...and that fool Crendor helped me even more with that chip...no doubt that my model will be the superior one. Let's see...close range combat STAT set to 234...long range STAT at 185...hmmm endurance set to 193 and intelligence STAT at 210...
Wily's eyes finally reached the A.I read-out STAT.
He dropped the paper instantly as if it were some smoldering coal from the flames of hell.
"999!!?? How in the hell could the Artificial Intelligence level be 999? That puts it on the same emotional plane as a human being...with the decisive capabilities of a human with conflicts and biases! This can not do for a soldier such as this!"
Wily suddenly shouted as he turned and ran his hands through the thinning hair on his head.
What could explain the A.I hike? None of the components I have designed could accomedate such a monstrous A.I readin...
Wily stopped as it seemed he was hit by a truck with the realization.
CRENDOR!!
*
Crendor stood chuckling to himself as he finished the final touches on his masterpiece.
"Now then my precious Mithrandiel, you must take a nap..but when you awaken we will take the glory that was rightfully ours since the beginning."
Crendor began to input the time for Mithrandiel's sleep when suddenly there was a vicious slamming on the door.
"Crendor! What the hell have you done to my project?!" Wily shouted as Crendor's finger slipped and he pressed the 0 twice, setting the sleep time from 40 years to 400 years, it was confirmed and the capsule slid into its resting place.
Crendor fell to his kness.
"NOOO!" he yelled as suddenly a blast of plasma tore through his door and Crendor turned, seeing a small black robot with its plasma cannon aimed at his head.
Wily was heaving with rage as he walked up from behind the black robot.
"Crendor...what have you done? What else was on that microchip?!"
Crendor chuckled and stood.
"A little program I made...as well as a remote control information downloading system."
Wily's breath stopped in his throat at the latest shock from the lone shark.
"That's right Albert...I have all of the data on your little experiment...and Thomas's too. And because of that, now my machine will be the greatest of all of them!"
Crendor began to laugh as the black robot looked back to its master and Wily nodded slowly.
"No matter Crendor, I will simply re-design..."
"Re-design your experiment? Hardly Albert...there was one more little surprise. The chip I've installed has quickly covered all of the other parts installed into the robot with a special shielding...pieces can not be modified or taken out now. Only added in. What you've created can not be taken back now!"
The black robot fired its cannon and Crendor met his end quickly and painlessly as Wily howled in tormented anguish.
"Damn it! Damn that infernal Crendor!"
Wily waved dismissively to the black robot as it began to tear through the lab mercilessly with the help of its robotic dog companion.
"And make it snappy Bass! We have work to do!" the old voice shouted as it walked away in a fury.
*
24XX:
There in front of Zero's eyes...was Mithrandiel. Full-bodied...in new working order. With a menacing snarl on his face.
"You actually thought you were fighting the real Y hendothrin prototype? You are more foolish than I thought..."
Mithrandiel unsheathed his sabre...glowing red and twice as long as Zero's was.
"Now I will show you the real hendothrin's fighting power!"
Zero slashed at the Mithrandiel's fell silent, its head rolling away slowly as Zero snarled and stood slowly
Mithrandiel took one small step towards Zero and then broke into a sudden unbelievably blinding sprint...holding out his elbow as it caught Zero in the midsection as he doubled over with a grunt, Mithrandiel leaping back and bringing his left knee up into Zero's chin, sending him flying backwards.
"You expect to defeat me? You pathetic scrap of tin foil... even my copy can hold a fight against you, and it's not even 50% of my true power...so what chance do you think you have?"
Zero growled as he stood slowly.
"The same chance that X had in defeating Vile...and Sigma...I shall make truth of impossibility. So help me on the battered body of my comrade!" Zero held out his buster arm as he fired three blasts before leaping into the air and coming down towards Mithrandiel with his Sabre ready to slice him in two.
Mithrandiel spun and sliced the energy blasts in half as they flew off harmlessly...he then brought up his own sabre to block Zero effortlessly with a menacing smile.
"There shall be no truth in this impossibility my friend...the only thing that awaits you now is a slow and painful death!"
Mithrandiel pushed off of Zero's sabre as Zero went into a backflip and landed on one knee, pushing off of his back foot into a sprint at Mithrandiel...who saw it coming and had his sabre ready for Zero.
The sabre tore into the side of Zero's neck, stunned by the pain Zero spun to the opposite side and threw down his right hand into a handspring to the right side into a sideroll and grimaced in pain.
"Damn..." he said with a snarl.
Standing slowly Zero closed his eyes as his main power units began to hum quietly and he slowly pushed his sabre into the ground.
"What's that? You actually think you'll do any damage with that special attack of yours?"
Zero was caught off guard by Mithrandiel's knowledge of his ultimate attack.
"I know..." Mithrandiel said with a smile.
"Let's make it a little more interesting shall we?"
Mithrandiel threw out his arms as his sabre went out and rolled a few times on the ground..and his armor began to move.
Replacing and moving around, making mettalic gnashing sounds as the color changed, Mithrandiel began to resemble someone Zero knew very well indeed.
Zero watched in stunned horror as from this enemy came his closest friend.
X.
The sabre then returned to Mithrandiel's hand as he took on a stance familiar to X's fighting style when he wielded a sabre.
"You...how dare you use the style of my friend against me..."
Mithrandiel smiled menacingly.
"All is fair in love and war Zero...You should realize now that I am the ultimate warrior...I have the skills of both you and X put together, and then some.There's nothing you can do now but close your eyes and wait for the inevitable death that awaits."
Zero was certainly phased by this latest development as he realized that this whole fight may be fruitless indeed.
*
X's body lie quiet on the table. All life having left his body when suddenly something strange happened.
Vital signs picked up dramatically as the leg stirred.
Armor plates began to solidify and re-place themselves as the repairs were done within a matter of minutes.
X stood, different and ready for one last fight.
Deep in the recesses of his mind, he could hear Dr. Light talking to him...helping him to gather the strength to make one last stand.
To end Mithrandiel...and all that he stands for.
*
20XX:
Deep in the recesses of the government building that the three scientists had met in years earlier, the collection of higher ranking officials sat around a table to discuss the horribly wrong outcomes of the Hendothrin project.
"It seems as if we have lost all three prototypes. Prototype X had been given to Thomas Light. It turns out that his home laboratory has been destroyed, and he was found dead about 48 hours ago. Prototype Y was taken by Michael Crendor. He was killed some 6 months ago by an unknown assassin. Found with his head blown off in his lab.
Prototype Z was taken by Dr. Wily...who has disappeared completely, his prototype along with him.
Gentlemen...I'm afraid we have no other choice but to abandon this project and cut our losses."
The man sat down. He was a rather elderly gentleman...with rows of honors and medals along his left breast.
"General...cutting our losses now? I think its a bit too late for that...these models and other resources have cost us nearly 3 trillion dollars. What will the public think if we tell them that almost all of their tax dollars for the last decade have been going to a project that ended with no progress whatsoever?!"
The general nodded.
"I understand your argument completely...which is why we've had this special project hiding beneath the Hendothrin project to satisfy the taxpayers..."
The general flicked on the main projector as a large 3-d model of a floating space station was shown.The men all fell silent.
"Yes...we've been working on a space colony under this Hendothrin project...this way, when the public sees what we've done, we won't be hanging from the gallows, and instead the people will be happy with our progress."
The men all nodded and looked to each other with a smile.
Zero went flying backwards again...the many open wounds on his body stinging as if hellfire was being constantly fired into them.
"How long will you continue this needless suffering Zero? Simply lie down and die!" Mithrandiel yelled, standing about 15 feet from Zero, who lie on the ground, taking in shallow breaths as it pained him beyond verbal description to simply breathe.
"Let darkness come..." Zero began to say with great effort as he staggered to his feet.
"...and bring the night. For I will NOT...give up...my fight." Zero stumbled sloppily towards Mithrandiel.
"I will...remain and bring....my blight..."
Zero unsheathed his sabre
"And all will fall beneath my..."
suddenly Mithrandiel made a quick motion forward as he drove his sabre through Zero's middle.
Zero stopped suddenly with shock...looking down as he saw the sabre in his middle.
Looking back up to Mithrandiel he snarled.
"...might!" he yelled as he began to slash, but Mithrandiel wasted no time and yanked the sabre upwards, slicing Zero in two from the waist up...the red hunter falling over with a crash and great explosion.
Mithrandiel began to smile slowly...the smile slowly growing into a mad chuckle...evolving into a horrifying laughter that stung the very air with its evil.
And then, he sheathed his sabre, turned...and began to walk away.
As Mithrandiel walked away...his name suddenly filled the air and he stopped cold, as if running into a solid wall...
"MITHRANDIEL!" The voice screamed in an inhuman voice that seemed to make the earth itself tremble with its sheer authority.
Mithrandiel turned slowly and faced a figure that he had indeed fought before...but did not realize immediately.
"Who are you to know my name...? And do you know who you are dealing with?"
The figure smiled slowly.
"I am the one you have been searching for. I am your end Mithrandiel. The one who can deny your seat as the most powerful hendothrin."
Mithrandiel chuckled.
"And who are you to know of the hendothrin? You certainly are a well educated worm..."
The figure shook his head slowly.
"Do you forget me so easily? Look closer Mithrandiel...stare into the eyes of the one who will bring your destruction..."
With that, the figure gazed into Mithrandiel's eyes...Mithrandiel studying long and hard before realizing the full picture and taking a small step back.
"You...I killed you..."
The figure shook his head slowly.
"You killed X. You did not kill the hendothrin."
"Then who are you?"
Mithrandiel asked with a perplexed visage.
"I am Andolin...first, and ultimate hendothrin."
Mithrandiel grimaced and reached for his sabre.
"You are indeed foolish to say such bold statements in the face of death himself."
Andolin chuckled and shook his head as he took a step forward.
"You give yourself far too much credit Mithrandiel. Simply because you defeated Nerindor..."
Mithrandiel shook his head with confusion.
"Who is Nerindor?"
Andolin pointed to the burning body nearby...the corpse of the one many called Zero.
"You took Zero as his real name? Then you are the fool my friend..."
Mithrandiel had now unsheathed his sabre, breathing deeply in rage as he held it out towards Andolin.
"Why is it that you know all of this information? How do you know our names and how do you have such calm in my presence?!"
"I have told you...I am the first...and therefore the supreme hendothrin. I have no limit."
Mithrandiel snarled.
"Then why weren't you present during our first battle?"
Andolin smiled.
"I can only come out once in this vessel, or any vessel for that matter. The power exerted extracts all life from the vessel I use, and thus this body will perish once my mission is completed."
Mithrandiel's face became dead serious as his visage fell cold.
"And what mission is that?" he asked, knowing the answer full well in his head.
Almost as if on cue, Andolin smiled and shook his head.
"You know damn well what the mission is Mithrandiel...and now we've wasted enough time. The world shall know of you no longer...it ends here!"
Andolin threw out his arms as suddenly the backplates of the armor opened up twice outwards and formed two large metallic wings.
Taking out two small sabre-daggers Andolin spun them around effortlessly and with the ease of a true master.
Mithrandiel watched this amazing demonstration, and for the first time in his existence felt his first real human emotion.
Fear.
Mithrandiel re-tightened his grip on the sabre in his hand.
"I will not be denied my destiny...I refuse!"
Andolin then held the sabre-daggers his right hand extended outwards with his left hand by his head.
"You don't have much choice..." Andolin said quietly.
Mithrandiel charged and spun towards Andolin, slashing at his neck with his sabre.
Andolin brought his right hand, back and used the dagger to block the slash easily, lunging forward with the left dagger towards Mithrandiel's middle.
Mithrandiel's left hand shot across and caught Andolin's wrist, stopping the sabre about an inch from his midsection.
Andolin smiled and pushed off of Mithrandiel's sabre with his right dagger and while Mithrandiel was caught off guard he hurtled his weight over his shoulder with his left hand.
Mithrandiel flew through the air and before crashing to the ground he flipped forward and attempted to land on one knee...sliding out into a lying position as the dust created a small cloud around his body.
Andolin walked towards Mithrandiel again slowly...the sabres filling the air with their soft hum.
"What is it that you wish to prove Mithrandiel? Why couldn't you simply be happy being second best?" Andolin said quietly as he walked towards Mithrandiel.
Mithrandiel stood slowly...his eyes closing before he turned and opened them slowly, revealing two black irises.
"Because I'm not second best...I was not made to be second best. I was made to be the ultimate fighter...the greatest Hendothrin of them all..."
Andolin stopped a few feet from Mithrandiel.
"And do you still think that you can keep that title?"
Mithrandiel smiled as he blinked and held out his left hand...as soon as he made a fist of it his own backplates opened up to create two large metallic wings. Bringing the left hand back to his side slowly he then took the sabre from his right hand with his left and held out his right buster arm.
"Yes..." he said as the buster unleashed a massive blast of plasma that flew towards Andolin like a rolling wave of hellfire.
Andolin chuckled and held out his own buster cannon as a new aura surrounded it with a hum.
The blast came roaring towards Andolin still and came about three inches from his cannon when suddenly an incredible blast filled the air.
To watch in real time, the action would seem to occur in less than two seconds, slow it down however, and you would see what really happened.
The blast loosed from Andolin's cannon shot out with superior ferocity and strength and slammed right into the center of Mithrandiel's blast...nulling it instantly as it cleared with a mist of smoke.
Mithrandiel pushed off of one foot into the air and came down quickly for a sweeping slash, hoping to separate andolin's head from his body.
Andolin brought up his left hand, blocking the slash with his sabre-dagger and bringing his right hand up towards Mithrandiel's middle.
*
20XX:
Thomas had finished the final specifications analysis for X as he stood over the computer monitor...reading up on his speed, strength and endurance.
The thought readout numbers are unbelievable...the A.I system is either much more effective than I could have dreamed, or faulty...
Thomas went over the possibilities, the decisions that X could make.
Right and wrong, good and evil, far more complex decisions than any of the current robots could possibly dream. In that ability lies all the danger any of us could dare to imagine...the type of Artificial Intelligence that supercedes our own human emotions...the ability to be swayed one way or the other by the forces of good or evil...
Thomas paced back and forth anxiously, the new revelation had caught him completely off-guard. So much in fact, that the very project was in danger of being canceled by Thomas himself.
*
As Thomas Light read his read-outs on X, Albert Wily was reading the status reports on his creation, Zero.
Amazing, everything I could have hoped...and that fool Crendor helped me even more with that chip...no doubt that my model will be the superior one. Let's see...close range combat STAT set to 234...long range STAT at 185...hmmm endurance set to 193 and intelligence STAT at 210...
Wily's eyes finally reached the A.I read-out STAT.
He dropped the paper instantly as if it were some smoldering coal from the flames of hell.
"999!!?? How in the hell could the Artificial Intelligence level be 999? That puts it on the same emotional plane as a human being...with the decisive capabilities of a human with conflicts and biases! This can not do for a soldier such as this!"
Wily suddenly shouted as he turned and ran his hands through the thinning hair on his head.
What could explain the A.I hike? None of the components I have designed could accomedate such a monstrous A.I readin...
Wily stopped as it seemed he was hit by a truck with the realization.
CRENDOR!!
*
Crendor stood chuckling to himself as he finished the final touches on his masterpiece.
"Now then my precious Mithrandiel, you must take a nap..but when you awaken we will take the glory that was rightfully ours since the beginning."
Crendor began to input the time for Mithrandiel's sleep when suddenly there was a vicious slamming on the door.
"Crendor! What the hell have you done to my project?!" Wily shouted as Crendor's finger slipped and he pressed the 0 twice, setting the sleep time from 40 years to 400 years, it was confirmed and the capsule slid into its resting place.
Crendor fell to his kness.
"NOOO!" he yelled as suddenly a blast of plasma tore through his door and Crendor turned, seeing a small black robot with its plasma cannon aimed at his head.
Wily was heaving with rage as he walked up from behind the black robot.
"Crendor...what have you done? What else was on that microchip?!"
Crendor chuckled and stood.
"A little program I made...as well as a remote control information downloading system."
Wily's breath stopped in his throat at the latest shock from the lone shark.
"That's right Albert...I have all of the data on your little experiment...and Thomas's too. And because of that, now my machine will be the greatest of all of them!"
Crendor began to laugh as the black robot looked back to its master and Wily nodded slowly.
"No matter Crendor, I will simply re-design..."
"Re-design your experiment? Hardly Albert...there was one more little surprise. The chip I've installed has quickly covered all of the other parts installed into the robot with a special shielding...pieces can not be modified or taken out now. Only added in. What you've created can not be taken back now!"
The black robot fired its cannon and Crendor met his end quickly and painlessly as Wily howled in tormented anguish.
"Damn it! Damn that infernal Crendor!"
Wily waved dismissively to the black robot as it began to tear through the lab mercilessly with the help of its robotic dog companion.
"And make it snappy Bass! We have work to do!" the old voice shouted as it walked away in a fury.
*
24XX:
There in front of Zero's eyes...was Mithrandiel. Full-bodied...in new working order. With a menacing snarl on his face.
"You actually thought you were fighting the real Y hendothrin prototype? You are more foolish than I thought..."
Mithrandiel unsheathed his sabre...glowing red and twice as long as Zero's was.
"Now I will show you the real hendothrin's fighting power!"
Zero slashed at the Mithrandiel's fell silent, its head rolling away slowly as Zero snarled and stood slowly
Mithrandiel took one small step towards Zero and then broke into a sudden unbelievably blinding sprint...holding out his elbow as it caught Zero in the midsection as he doubled over with a grunt, Mithrandiel leaping back and bringing his left knee up into Zero's chin, sending him flying backwards.
"You expect to defeat me? You pathetic scrap of tin foil... even my copy can hold a fight against you, and it's not even 50% of my true power...so what chance do you think you have?"
Zero growled as he stood slowly.
"The same chance that X had in defeating Vile...and Sigma...I shall make truth of impossibility. So help me on the battered body of my comrade!" Zero held out his buster arm as he fired three blasts before leaping into the air and coming down towards Mithrandiel with his Sabre ready to slice him in two.
Mithrandiel spun and sliced the energy blasts in half as they flew off harmlessly...he then brought up his own sabre to block Zero effortlessly with a menacing smile.
"There shall be no truth in this impossibility my friend...the only thing that awaits you now is a slow and painful death!"
Mithrandiel pushed off of Zero's sabre as Zero went into a backflip and landed on one knee, pushing off of his back foot into a sprint at Mithrandiel...who saw it coming and had his sabre ready for Zero.
The sabre tore into the side of Zero's neck, stunned by the pain Zero spun to the opposite side and threw down his right hand into a handspring to the right side into a sideroll and grimaced in pain.
"Damn..." he said with a snarl.
Standing slowly Zero closed his eyes as his main power units began to hum quietly and he slowly pushed his sabre into the ground.
"What's that? You actually think you'll do any damage with that special attack of yours?"
Zero was caught off guard by Mithrandiel's knowledge of his ultimate attack.
"I know..." Mithrandiel said with a smile.
"Let's make it a little more interesting shall we?"
Mithrandiel threw out his arms as his sabre went out and rolled a few times on the ground..and his armor began to move.
Replacing and moving around, making mettalic gnashing sounds as the color changed, Mithrandiel began to resemble someone Zero knew very well indeed.
Zero watched in stunned horror as from this enemy came his closest friend.
X.
The sabre then returned to Mithrandiel's hand as he took on a stance familiar to X's fighting style when he wielded a sabre.
"You...how dare you use the style of my friend against me..."
Mithrandiel smiled menacingly.
"All is fair in love and war Zero...You should realize now that I am the ultimate warrior...I have the skills of both you and X put together, and then some.There's nothing you can do now but close your eyes and wait for the inevitable death that awaits."
Zero was certainly phased by this latest development as he realized that this whole fight may be fruitless indeed.
*
X's body lie quiet on the table. All life having left his body when suddenly something strange happened.
Vital signs picked up dramatically as the leg stirred.
Armor plates began to solidify and re-place themselves as the repairs were done within a matter of minutes.
X stood, different and ready for one last fight.
Deep in the recesses of his mind, he could hear Dr. Light talking to him...helping him to gather the strength to make one last stand.
To end Mithrandiel...and all that he stands for.
*
20XX:
Deep in the recesses of the government building that the three scientists had met in years earlier, the collection of higher ranking officials sat around a table to discuss the horribly wrong outcomes of the Hendothrin project.
"It seems as if we have lost all three prototypes. Prototype X had been given to Thomas Light. It turns out that his home laboratory has been destroyed, and he was found dead about 48 hours ago. Prototype Y was taken by Michael Crendor. He was killed some 6 months ago by an unknown assassin. Found with his head blown off in his lab.
Prototype Z was taken by Dr. Wily...who has disappeared completely, his prototype along with him.
Gentlemen...I'm afraid we have no other choice but to abandon this project and cut our losses."
The man sat down. He was a rather elderly gentleman...with rows of honors and medals along his left breast.
"General...cutting our losses now? I think its a bit too late for that...these models and other resources have cost us nearly 3 trillion dollars. What will the public think if we tell them that almost all of their tax dollars for the last decade have been going to a project that ended with no progress whatsoever?!"
The general nodded.
"I understand your argument completely...which is why we've had this special project hiding beneath the Hendothrin project to satisfy the taxpayers..."
The general flicked on the main projector as a large 3-d model of a floating space station was shown.The men all fell silent.
"Yes...we've been working on a space colony under this Hendothrin project...this way, when the public sees what we've done, we won't be hanging from the gallows, and instead the people will be happy with our progress."
The men all nodded and looked to each other with a smile.
Zero went flying backwards again...the many open wounds on his body stinging as if hellfire was being constantly fired into them.
"How long will you continue this needless suffering Zero? Simply lie down and die!" Mithrandiel yelled, standing about 15 feet from Zero, who lie on the ground, taking in shallow breaths as it pained him beyond verbal description to simply breathe.
"Let darkness come..." Zero began to say with great effort as he staggered to his feet.
"...and bring the night. For I will NOT...give up...my fight." Zero stumbled sloppily towards Mithrandiel.
"I will...remain and bring....my blight..."
Zero unsheathed his sabre
"And all will fall beneath my..."
suddenly Mithrandiel made a quick motion forward as he drove his sabre through Zero's middle.
Zero stopped suddenly with shock...looking down as he saw the sabre in his middle.
Looking back up to Mithrandiel he snarled.
"...might!" he yelled as he began to slash, but Mithrandiel wasted no time and yanked the sabre upwards, slicing Zero in two from the waist up...the red hunter falling over with a crash and great explosion.
Mithrandiel began to smile slowly...the smile slowly growing into a mad chuckle...evolving into a horrifying laughter that stung the very air with its evil.
And then, he sheathed his sabre, turned...and began to walk away.
As Mithrandiel walked away...his name suddenly filled the air and he stopped cold, as if running into a solid wall...
"MITHRANDIEL!" The voice screamed in an inhuman voice that seemed to make the earth itself tremble with its sheer authority.
Mithrandiel turned slowly and faced a figure that he had indeed fought before...but did not realize immediately.
"Who are you to know my name...? And do you know who you are dealing with?"
The figure smiled slowly.
"I am the one you have been searching for. I am your end Mithrandiel. The one who can deny your seat as the most powerful hendothrin."
Mithrandiel chuckled.
"And who are you to know of the hendothrin? You certainly are a well educated worm..."
The figure shook his head slowly.
"Do you forget me so easily? Look closer Mithrandiel...stare into the eyes of the one who will bring your destruction..."
With that, the figure gazed into Mithrandiel's eyes...Mithrandiel studying long and hard before realizing the full picture and taking a small step back.
"You...I killed you..."
The figure shook his head slowly.
"You killed X. You did not kill the hendothrin."
"Then who are you?"
Mithrandiel asked with a perplexed visage.
"I am Andolin...first, and ultimate hendothrin."
Mithrandiel grimaced and reached for his sabre.
"You are indeed foolish to say such bold statements in the face of death himself."
Andolin chuckled and shook his head as he took a step forward.
"You give yourself far too much credit Mithrandiel. Simply because you defeated Nerindor..."
Mithrandiel shook his head with confusion.
"Who is Nerindor?"
Andolin pointed to the burning body nearby...the corpse of the one many called Zero.
"You took Zero as his real name? Then you are the fool my friend..."
Mithrandiel had now unsheathed his sabre, breathing deeply in rage as he held it out towards Andolin.
"Why is it that you know all of this information? How do you know our names and how do you have such calm in my presence?!"
"I have told you...I am the first...and therefore the supreme hendothrin. I have no limit."
Mithrandiel snarled.
"Then why weren't you present during our first battle?"
Andolin smiled.
"I can only come out once in this vessel, or any vessel for that matter. The power exerted extracts all life from the vessel I use, and thus this body will perish once my mission is completed."
Mithrandiel's face became dead serious as his visage fell cold.
"And what mission is that?" he asked, knowing the answer full well in his head.
Almost as if on cue, Andolin smiled and shook his head.
"You know damn well what the mission is Mithrandiel...and now we've wasted enough time. The world shall know of you no longer...it ends here!"
Andolin threw out his arms as suddenly the backplates of the armor opened up twice outwards and formed two large metallic wings.
Taking out two small sabre-daggers Andolin spun them around effortlessly and with the ease of a true master.
Mithrandiel watched this amazing demonstration, and for the first time in his existence felt his first real human emotion.
Fear.
Mithrandiel re-tightened his grip on the sabre in his hand.
"I will not be denied my destiny...I refuse!"
Andolin then held the sabre-daggers his right hand extended outwards with his left hand by his head.
"You don't have much choice..." Andolin said quietly.
Mithrandiel charged and spun towards Andolin, slashing at his neck with his sabre.
Andolin brought his right hand, back and used the dagger to block the slash easily, lunging forward with the left dagger towards Mithrandiel's middle.
Mithrandiel's left hand shot across and caught Andolin's wrist, stopping the sabre about an inch from his midsection.
Andolin smiled and pushed off of Mithrandiel's sabre with his right dagger and while Mithrandiel was caught off guard he hurtled his weight over his shoulder with his left hand.
Mithrandiel flew through the air and before crashing to the ground he flipped forward and attempted to land on one knee...sliding out into a lying position as the dust created a small cloud around his body.
Andolin walked towards Mithrandiel again slowly...the sabres filling the air with their soft hum.
"What is it that you wish to prove Mithrandiel? Why couldn't you simply be happy being second best?" Andolin said quietly as he walked towards Mithrandiel.
Mithrandiel stood slowly...his eyes closing before he turned and opened them slowly, revealing two black irises.
"Because I'm not second best...I was not made to be second best. I was made to be the ultimate fighter...the greatest Hendothrin of them all..."
Andolin stopped a few feet from Mithrandiel.
"And do you still think that you can keep that title?"
Mithrandiel smiled as he blinked and held out his left hand...as soon as he made a fist of it his own backplates opened up to create two large metallic wings. Bringing the left hand back to his side slowly he then took the sabre from his right hand with his left and held out his right buster arm.
"Yes..." he said as the buster unleashed a massive blast of plasma that flew towards Andolin like a rolling wave of hellfire.
Andolin chuckled and held out his own buster cannon as a new aura surrounded it with a hum.
The blast came roaring towards Andolin still and came about three inches from his cannon when suddenly an incredible blast filled the air.
To watch in real time, the action would seem to occur in less than two seconds, slow it down however, and you would see what really happened.
The blast loosed from Andolin's cannon shot out with superior ferocity and strength and slammed right into the center of Mithrandiel's blast...nulling it instantly as it cleared with a mist of smoke.
Mithrandiel pushed off of one foot into the air and came down quickly for a sweeping slash, hoping to separate andolin's head from his body.
Andolin brought up his left hand, blocking the slash with his sabre-dagger and bringing his right hand up towards Mithrandiel's middle.