AC: Took some time, but I finish a big chapter...At the origin, this chapter was supposed to be ½ sizes.
Second, minute, hour remain the same. They import it from the humans.
Day (24 hours) = Solar flow.
Week (7 days): Celeste moon.
Month and season is the same (91 days):
Spring = Floral season
Summer = Flame season
Fall = Colorful season
Winter = White season
4 seasons = 1 planetary flow
Planetary flow begins since existence of the creatures.
Story 1: Rescue of the desert king: Episode 3
Chapter 8: Near the Innerworld
13 127 361 planetary flows: Floral season: Solar flow day 23, 16h42
3rd POV:
"I think we reach the limit. We have no choice, but to continue by foot." Says Siado as they reach Cordac Fall.
"We are near the Passage which leads to the Underworld." Says Sobtjeck.
They all get off and took their bag of dry meat, a gourd of water, mugic and their battlegear.
"Do you think some overworlder have notice us since we are...Never mind they're here." Says Seraphin.
The groups turn around and see one overworlder guard of the passage; Intress. They are cautious because Seraphin says «They and not She».
"How many did you saw?" Asks Ario.
"...only 3...But I lost sight of the other 2." Says Seraphin.
"Since we are near the Passage...I bet Zalic is nearby. The others...I can't tell." Says Sobtjeck.
"It will be better if we avoid any fight as possible. We don't have time to lose." Suggest Seralina.
"She's right. We don't have time to lose." Says Vinta.
"I'll speak with her." Says Sobtjeck. He then moves closer to Intress and wait until she begins to speak.
"What mipedians are doing this deep in our territory?" She asks with aggressively.
"We are engaging pursuit with an unknown tribe who stole very important mipedian mugic-" But he was cut.
"Don't try lying." She says calmly. "We already know about what's going on with you."
"That's fast!" Says Seraphin surprise.
"They we have spy in the desert." Says Siado.
"What going on with us?" Asks Seralina before in case it was to give the information they want.
"Your king has been kidnap." She answers.
"If you know it then, you have to let us pass. We know he was taken in the Underworld by the passage." Says Sobtjeck.
"...You have the authorisation." She says. "You can pass. Let me warn you, the Underworld have a new overlord."
"You mean Chaor?" Asks Vinta.
"Yes. He's the leader of the underworld since the decease of his father and we don't know about his intention. The futures of the tribes are...uncertain." Warns Intress.
She then move to the way and let them pass. The team move to the passage and begin going down inside the Underworld.
"Why did she let us pass this easily?" Asks Seralina.
"We are in...Good terms with the overworlder thanks to Theeb-Saar." Answers Siado. His hesitation means something else which Seraphin translate his word.
"Good terms...You mean: Not so bad terms, right?" Asks Seraphin.
"Yeah. The leaders are on good terms, but...a lot member of their tribe and our tribe are attacking the other, placing us into a fragile peace and in a risk of a war." Explains Sobtjeck.
"I'm afraid it won't hold up much longer." Says Seralina.
"You too." Says Vinta. She was thinking the same way as him.
"Yes...Anyway, we have to concentrate on the task first." Says Seralina with a worried look.
"I'm sure Iflar can handle this." Says Ario with confidence. "After all, he's like his father."
"Of course, but his power are limited." Siado says before anyone forgot Iflar current situation.
"We still have to go d-" But Ario was interrupted.
Ario and Seraphin, who were near the cliff of the track, fall when the track bellow them broke and they shout:
"AAAAAHHHHHHH"
"SERAPHIN!" Shout Seralina full of worries.
"AND MEEeeee?" Shout Ario his voice weaker as he falls.
"No..." She then let some tear in worry.
"Don't worry; they have exactly what they need in such situation." Reassures Vinta.
"Are you sure?" Asks Seralina.
"Do I ever lie?" Asks Vinta.
"Sometimes."
"Hey!"
"Let's keep going. We'll reach them later." Says Sobtjeck.
17h13
Ario and Seraphin took out some special claw they put at their hands and put it at the wall. They claw slow their fall when they make a horrible sound when they scratch the wall. After hundreds and hundreds of meters the wall suddenly retracts and they cannot hang on the wall which was now too far away. Both Ario and Seraphin have a terrified look and they fall while shouting in fear, but it wasn't long before they reach the ground. Ario fall first on his chest and his tummy with a bang and Seraphin follow up and...Bang:
"ARGH!" He falls on the back of Ario who shout in pain by the impact.
Seraphin shook his head and get up. He checks on himself and saw that he was only feeling pain, nothing grave.
"ARIO!" Shout Seraphin when he remembers he falls on his back. "Are you alright?"
"N...No, but nothings broken." Answers painfully Ario.
"Let me check your back." Says Seraphin worried about him.
"Alright." Answers Ario.
Seraphin gently touch Ario back in case his spine is broken somewhere. After checking each spine delicately, he smile and says to his friend:
"Nothing is broken."
"Told you." Then Ario sit and put his back on the wall. Seraphin did the same.
"What do we do now?" Asks Seraphin.
"We wait...They'll join us since they are higher than us...and let's pray that no underworlder detect us." Answers Ario.
"Yeah."
They sit there for a while. An hour passes when Seraphin takes out his sword and look at it with intensity.
"Why are you looking at your sword like that?" Asks Ario.
"I...I just always wonder why Theeb-Saar gives me this sword." Says Seraphin. He then took it out of the Scabbard and Ario looks at it intensely.
"The Desert Sound Sword! He gives you the royal sword!" Shout Ario surprise.
"? A royal sword?" Seraphin absolutely never expect that.
"Yes...It's a sacred sword of our tribe that gives luck to the wielder of the sword. They are legends saying that sword was made with or by the Cothica itself. It's a very powerful sword. Nothing ever brake it during the 500 000 planetary flows of his existence and even today, this sword is the most powerful one." Says Ario.
"Then...Why did he give it to me?"
"Only him knows I afraid, but he trust you if he gave it that's for sure." Says Ario with a smile.
"I guess I should feel much honored."
"You were. You also take good care of it when I saw the states of the sword." Smiles Ario.
"Of course! It was a gift from the kind so I knew I should take good care of it." Seraphin says that when he put his sword inside the scabbard.
"How many time before they are here?" Asks Seraphin uncertain.
"Maybe a solar flow or 2. We fall a long distance and we can see the bottom from here."
They both look down and they really saw the bottom.
"In case of an attack...I'll use my mugic to heal myself...if not then your girlfriend will heal us and we will be good to go." Warns Ario.
"Understood. Then...Who's the first to sleep? We must be ready and in top shape in case of an attack." Asks Seraphin.
"You...You appear to be the most exhausted and the pain will prevent me from sleeping." Answers Ario.
"You are good for hiding your pain." Comment Seraphin.
"I know." Says Ario with a smile. "It's what a soldier must do."
"Alright...*Yaw* Good night." Then Seraphin sit himself on the wall next to Ario and close his eyes.
It was still too soon to sleep, but as solder, he was used to sleep when they can. Seraphin fall asleep, his head moving on the muscular arms of Ario.
"I'll wake you up when it's your turn." Whispered Ario. He then watches around him in case an enemy try to attack them.
19h17
For the rest of the squad, they were continuing going down trying to rejoin their friends. They took their time since they didn't want to fall and perish. If that happen, Theeb-Saar as no hope for being rescue.
"They must be really deeper in the passage." Comment Seralina.
"We'll we can see their slow their fall." Says Siado. He points the wall and they saw four sections of three scratches at the wall.
"I guess they'll need me after such a fall." She says.
"Well...I can estimate we need a day minimum before we catch up with them." Explains Sobtjeck.
"Let's keep going then." Says Vinta.
They continue walking until it was a little too late for that.
"I think it's time we rest a little." Propose Siado.
"I think it's a good plan. We have to keep ourselves at full shape in case we are attack by the underworlder." Says Sobtjeck.
"Understood." Says Seralina.
They all sit down, and they lay on their back except Vinta who was at guard for the first shift.
Solar flow day 24, 7h00
After a few hours, Ario switch place with Seraphin and when it was time, Seraphin woke Ario up.
"Grrr...hum...What is it?" Asks Ario.
Seraphin point up at a higher place and he saw their squad.
"Looks like they've move faster than I think." Says Ario. "Oh yeah, we forgot to check it up, but where are the kidnapers?"
"Let's see...They are a...half a solar flow...Strange...We are much closer than I thought...but we have fall after all." Says Seraphin.
"Yeah...We just have to wait for them to come here...In a few hours...Since we have that time...How did you receive the sword?" Asks Ario.
"Well..."
Flash back: 13 127 358 planetary flows: white season: Solar flow day 67, 9h30
"Did you call me your highness?" Asks Seraphin as he enters in the royal room. He then kneels down when he was in front of the king.
"Do not calls me your highness please...Just call me Theeb-Saar my friend." Protest the mipedian king. "You can also stand up."
"As you wish Theeb-Saar." Says Seraphin.
Then Theeb-Saar smile:
"I just wanted to see how much you progress in your training."
"My training is over Theeb-Saar." Says Seraphin with hint of proud in his voice. "I am ready to begin my duty."
"That is great...But I see that you still use your knife as a weapon. That's not a suitable weapon for a soldier you know. I think you need something far better than that. I'll be back." After saying those words, Theeb-Saar gets out of the room for a minute and return in the throne room with a sword. "This sword will be more suitable for you."
He gives the sword to the human. He gets it out of the scabbard and look at it carefully, the sword as a golden blade with some unknown writing on it. The handle is silver-blue with a red ruby between the blade and the handle. It was also a long sword and it was heavy enough for a 2 hands user. When Seraphin as the sword in his hands he feel like some power is entering in his body.
"Hum...Thank you Theeb-Saar...It's really kind of you, but why?" Asks Seraphin uncertain.
"Consider it a gift. You need it more than me anyway." Says Theeb-Saar.
"I'll make sure to use it to protect our tribe." Says Seraphin. Then he realise what he just said.
"Ours? Looks like you've fully integrate with the mipedian." Says Theeb-Saar with a smile.
"Looks that way. Do not worry; I'll take good care of it."
"I believe you." Says Theeb-Saar.
End of the Flashback: 13 127 361 planetary flows: Floral season: Solar flow day 24, 7h42
"And he was right about it." Comment Ario.
"I never know he gives me an important sword like that...Do he needs it for any special ceremonies?" Asks Seraphin.
"No. It's a symbolic sword that pass to generation an generation...but only a few kings use it and Theeb-Saar wasn't really a swordfighter." Explains Ario.
"If Iflar want it one day I'll give it to him. I shall guard it until one of the next kings needs it." Says Seraphin.
"A guardian...Maybe. I'll tell a story of mine until the others finally join us." Says Ario.
"Sure...We have nothing to do anyway." Agreed Seraphin.
14h17
The rest of the group finally meet up with the 2 and were happy that they were all...alive and in good health, except for some minor bruise.
"Do not worry, I'll patch you up. Oh light spirit; refresh the flesh of the injured. HEAL!" Then, the pain disappears from Ario's back. Then she did the same with Seraphin and they were completely back into actions.
"How are you feeling?" Asks Sobtjeck.
"Good as new." Answers Ario and Seraphin.
"We better keep going. Who knows how much time we will be lucky?" Says Vinta.
They finish descending the Passage during the rest of the day. They did a quick nap before continuing since they saw in the tracker that the kidnaper didn't move and were close. Just before reaching their destination, they luck end.
"Well what do we have here? Some spy I presume." Says a voice.
They turn around and they saw 10 underworlders and 8 of them were the usual guards.
"Who's the other 2?" Asks Seralina quietly.
"Rothar and Illazar." Answers quietly Vinta.
"Any plan?" Asks Seraphin as he draws his sword.
"I take on Rothar." Says Ario as he takes out his Dragon Pulse.
"You want to fight me? Bring it on." Answers Rothar.
"I take care of Illazar." Says Vinta as he puts his Torwegg.
"You're mine." Answers Illazar putting the same battlegear than Vinta.
"I guess we take care of the others." Says Siado.
Sobtjeck, with his bat staff, Seraphin, holding his sword with his 2 hands, Seralina, with her long metallic staff and Siado are ready to fight.
"Soldier! Do not interrupt the duel between me and Ario." Order Rothar.
"A duel...This will be...Interesting." Says Ario with a smile.
"Good. I was afraid you'll refuse it." Says Rothar with similar smile like Ario.
"Guess it's up to you Ario...Do not let him beat you." Says Seraphin.
"Not my intention. I don't go down easily." Says Ario.
They both take battle stance and wait for a few second until...
Vinta flies in the air with his battlegear follow up by Illazar.
Ario charges at Rothar and the battle begins.
For the rest of the warrior, it was 2 underworlder guards against one mipedian or human.
"A little unfair battle." Comment Seraphin "Nevertheless, your number won't be enough for me."
14h21
Ario POV:
I was looking excited at my opponent...Do you accuse me for forgetting my duty? I'm also very mad that we lose time, but it will be the first time that I fight a powerful underworlder. I begin to hear the battle around me, but I must concentrate on my opponent.
"Ektospasm!" Shout Rothar.
I jump to the left and dodge the attack. It was a little too close.
"Show me your guts." Taunt Rothar.
And I answer with by showing my Dragon Pulse.
"Ha! Are you a coward if you use this?" Asks Rothar.
"No. Any battlegear as a second utility." I say with a smile. I know Rothar isn't the one who can be intimidating. I took it in case we meet coward creatures, but it wasn't the case.
"Oh yeah! What other utility?" Asks Rothar.
"Oh. I thank his form." Then I throw the gear at his face and bang!
"Argh." Complains Rothar who wasn't expecting this attack.
I took this opportunity and I throw him a Windslash which his chest. When he was down, I take my Dragon Pulse back and I put it at my side again since I can't use this tactics anymore.
"Not bad...But it won't be enough." Says Rothar as he stands up again. His armor must have diminished the impact. He takes out his axes from his back. "Prepare to perish mipedian. Granite Ball!" Bad for me, those balls were big.
I jumped to the side but some of those balls hit me at my chest and one at my left leg. The sudden pain makes me fail to stand up immediately after my dodging. I turn around and I saw Rothar to the air ready to cut me with his axe.
"Mega roar!" I shout.
It wasn't...It was a very weak attack but it cuts Rothar advancing and I have time to stand up.
"The roar seems to be painful." Smirk Rothar at me.
He was right. Those granite balls smash strongly at my chest...even breathing his hard... This battle looks bad for me.
Vinta POV:
I look at my enemy. I didn't know anything about him so I must be careful.
"Bye." I say with a smile before turning myself invisible.
Illazar was looking for me. I was still in the air and I change location slowly, trying not to make too much sound with my Torwegg. I then move closer to him slowly until I suddenly accelerate. When he turns around I suddenly appear in front of him and I punch his ugly face. He coughs little blood. I shake my hand in pain. His head was harder than I thought.
"You bastard. Malevolent blast!" He shouts.
I was hit by the attack and...I don't know what I've done but I ended up crashing on a wall head first when my sense came back.
"This is going to be painful." Says a voice at my back.
Tac. I was violently hit at the side of my neck. I turn around and counter: "Thunder scout!"
I throw my attack at him, but since I can only use air attack it wasn't extremely powerful, but enough to hurt and destabilise him. I follow up with a kick at his chest and he fall on the ground, but before he hits the ground, he uses his Torwegg to return in the air again.
I need to find a better plan to end this fight.
3rd POV:
Seraphin was looking at his 2 enemies. During the battle until now, he manages to keep both of them in sight.
"So...Who's next?"
The 2 underworlders charge at the same time. Seraphin dodge to the left and when he looks back...He only saw one of them. He receives a kick behind him at his back and was thrown on the ground the other then shout:
"Flame Orb!"
Seraphin dodges it to the left and attack behind him with his sword. It was a good guess, but the guard dodge it and throw a punch. Seraphin block it with the blade, but the underworlder strength push him back.
Guess I need a plan to beat them fast...I got it, but...I need to have them side by side again. Thinks Seraphin.
As For Sobtjeck, he was fighting very well. He uses Unsanity to cause confusion against his 2 opponents and he was watching them fighting until the effect end.
"You're already in bad shape and I only use one attack." Says Sobtjeck. "It's clear enough we don't fight at the same level."
"Inferno gust!" They both shout.
Sobtjeck easily dodges it and countered with flash kick.
The front guard was hit and the other charge at him with another flame orb.
Sobtjeck was too focusing on the other guard that he sees the attack at the last second, only having time to partially block it with his staff.
The rest burn his flesh and Sobtjeck painfully step back.
"At least you're the last one." Comment Sobtjeck. The other guard was unconscious.
Seralina saw that the 2 underworlders don't take her seriously since her weapon is a long staff. So she took the opportunity to smash one of the guards inside his masks and he shout in pain. The other looks at her with anger.
"What? You just have to be more careful." Says Seralina.
"Prepare to perish human. Lavalanche!" He shouts.
Seralina dodge it and countered with her staff, but it didn't penetrate the armor.
"Looks like I need some help." She comments.
Siado was taunting the opponents. They attack him but he always found a way to dodge it. He then turns himself invisible.
"Where are you mipedian?" Shout the first guard.
"Show yourself!" Order the other one.
Then Siado wait a few second before getting out if his bag the most recent battlegear he has. It's created by a human and he calls it; nerve grenade, which cause the enemy getting paralyse for a solar cycle or 2. Siado saw the effect then it explode by accident near his creator and paralyse him for 24 hours after his weird dance.
Time for a real test.
Siado throw the grenade at their feet. It was about to explode when one of them saw the grenade and jump to the right, but the other didn't see it and the nerve grenade hit him. He did a weird dance and fall on the ground paralyse.
"One down...one to go." Says Siado with a smile turning himself visible.
Ario POV:
"Is that all what you've got?" Asks Rothar to me.
"I still think I can beat you without any problem." I say. Dammit. The pain at my chest is way too intense. It's hard to ignore it and I can't fully expand my lung. I must think of a plan and...Gulp! I've got no one.
"Vine snare!" Says Rothar.
I dodge it, but I was suddenly out of air.
"I seem you can't breathe well. What can you do?" Taunt Rothar.
I need a plan and fast. Wait! If I can believe rumors I hear long ago...Rothar is a reckless warrior, but I can't be sure. Let's try forcing him to make a mistake.
"Well...They are many things I can do. You underworlder are weak and meaningless to us since a long time, when we win the Great War. You've were at our feet." I say.
This enrages automatically Rothar.
"DO NOT INSULT THE UNDERWORLD!" Shout aloud Rothar. He then charges at me without thinking attacking me with his axe.
It was easy to guess how he was attacking, so I just need to jump to the right and I attack him with a powerful attack:
"Tornado Tackle!" I shout.
The 2 tornados I call collide at each other's...Rothar in the middle, a direct impact. I saw him in a weak state and I immediately finish him before he recovers.
"Flash Kick!" I use it when I was close to him and at his jaw. He then falls on the ground unconscious. I have...a lucky victory to be honest.
Vinta POV:
The battle continues for a while until I finally found a plan. We were both exhausted and we can't use our skills for a while. We have no choice, but to fight a hand on hand battle. I just need him to do something stupid, but I don't expect this since I clearly saw he was smarter than me. He nearly trap me 3 times so I need to do something unexpected were he cannot use his brain.
I stand closer to a wall behind me and I was waiting for him to attack. He charges at me. I stay here...still staying...He was close to me and I don't move. Then I smirk and I wait at the very last second before dodging him. I saw him turning his Torwegg so he can slow down. I move behind him and I broke his gear with my hand and I watch him fall to the ground and BANG! I beat him.
3rd POV:
Siado and Sobtjeck already beat their last enemy.
"Sobtjeck, you better let me handle the rest. You're too exhausted to continue." Says Siado.
"I...You're right. Seralina needs you the most."
"I'll go help her." Then Siado move to her aid.
Seralina know she won't be able to fight longer. She has no choice, but to cast a spell, but she don't have time for this unless she got a diversion. Then Siado appears over her and throw a Malevolent Blast to one of the opponent and fight the other one.
"I don't know what you want to do, but do it now!" Order Siado.
But Seralina was already preparing her spell.
"O great light, source of life..." The underwolrder begin to recover from the blast. "Fall from the skies..." The underworlder sees her preparing her spell and charge at her, preparing a flame orb. "And elevate my foes to the heaven... METEOR LIGHT!"
Then, small light globe fall from the air and fall on the underworlders, the one who was about to burn Seralina was obliterate by the globe and when Siado saw this, he immediately back away and his adversary was defeated.
"That was intense Seralina." Compliments Siado.
"Thanks, but I cost a lot for me to do that." She says.
Seraphin finally manage to put them next each other's he then back away and put his plan into actions.
"Darkness...Spray!"He cast his quick spell and his 2 enemies were blind in the dark fog surrounding them.
"Where's the human?" Asks one of them.
"I don't know!" Says the other one.
"You're an idiot to let him escape."
"What! You're the one who let him escape."
They continue to argue as Seraphin enters in the fog, his sword ready to strike. The sound of the sword cutting the flesh and the song of blood being spilled on the ground was made in the dark fog. When the spell effect was over; the dead body of the 2 underworlders were on the ground, killed by the sword.
Seraphin give them a sad look, he kills again; but it was life in the new world...and it was the same in his time. Nothing change.
15h12
After the battle the groups attached the five survivors and knock them off, Rothar and miraculously for Illazar, were part of the survivor. They move to their destination more slowly because they were injured and that Seralina could only heal Vinta and Ario who were the most gravely injured.
They walk for hours until they decide to sleep and retake their strength when they find a good spot.
Solar flow day 25, 7h42
After a few hours, they continue to walk to their destination and they reach it. They look around and didn't saw the kidnappers. Seralina find the tracker on the ground next to a hole.
"Hey! I found the tracker." She says sadly.
When the reach, they look at the tracker and they thought it was over when Seraphin saw the hole and say:
"No...The seal...It's...broken."
"A seal? What seal?" Asks Ario.
"This is bad...Really bad!" Says Seraphin. He took out his communicator and made his call. "...Yes I know. Listen, we lost trace of the kidnapper, but I found something troublesome...I need you to do a detour to Beruga's lab...I want you to check for the thirteen hour case in the computer...Yes I'm serious. The seal his broken so it is immediate that you find the info since I lack the knowledge about this event. I suspect that Theeb-Saar has been taken there so I need info ASAP. Seraphin out."
"What is the thirteen hour case?" Asks Ario. When he looks at Seralina, she was really worried.
"When Peyton find the info...I'll share it. For now...We have to wait here."
Seraphin voice was worried about all this and hint of fear was in his eyes and in Seralina too.
The mipedian didn't like their fear and worried at all.
AC: Cliffhanger again.
Please review this chapter. I like review.
The next chapter will be: Rise of the Underworld: Chaor heritage.
He'll inherit something really big.