Oersted could not help but wonder just how it was that he had come to this point. For so long, he desperately wanted to be a knight, much like his hero Hasshe. He trained hard, becoming strong in body, virtuous of heart, and skilled in swordsmanship. He thought naught of mere accomplishments or rewards. All he had done, he wanted to pursue his dream of heroism.
He did not expect to win the tournament that day. He just fought so he could partake in Lucrece's annual celebration of its long peace. To pay tribute to his noble king, his fair princess, and the kingdom he called home. After all, that was the point of tourneys, was it not? To build camaraderie through competition? He fully expected to lose when faced against the great magicks of his final opponent…
And yet Oersted won. Despite it all, he had won. He wondered if his rival had held back. If he did, why would he? Oersted wanted to ask him after the battle concluded, but he would not let him. Then he was called to kneel before the king and hear his praise.
The knight felt unworthy of such things. All he did was fight as best as he could. Hardly befitting of receiving such a reward as the hand of the princess. But he could not say such things to his king. Would they not be taken as insults to his magnanimous generosity?
But then there was her. Princess Alethea. Beautiful, lovely, pure-hearted Alethea. The hope of the land and the apple of his eye, though often he felt unworthy of being near her very presence. Even now, as victor of the tournament and her betrothed, Oersted still felt rather unworthy of her notice. Even though she states his deeds were known to her, he knew that he had not even that many deeds to tell. Surely, he was not that impressive in comparison to… well…
Oersted was not that prepared for the celebration that came after, either. True, he feasted well, sharing company with the princess and being lauded by the king, cheered by all who knew him. Yet at the same time, it felt lonely without the one who had fought hard just as he had. It was odd he was not there; after all, the king invited one and all to dine at his table. Plus, he was a socialite, so it was not as though he would be uncomfortable talking to people.
But now, here Oersted was, atop the castle balcony, alone with the princess underneath a moonlight night. His, and he still could not believe it, fiance. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Should he say something now? Should he try sweeping her off her feet like the knights in fairy tales?
But in the midst of his anxiety, he heard the angelic voice of his future bride speaking to him.
"'Twas a lovely feast. Full of light and life." She said, looking to the sky. "Long has it been since I saw Father so deep within his cups, the picture of bliss. A happier man there has never been."
The knight could not blame the king for feeling such, honestly. To see so many of his people happy would make any good monarch proud. He loved his kingdom and his kingdom loved their king in turn. To see it for himself instead of simply ruling on the throne and attending meetings with his minister would no doubt put the king in a more pleasant mood than how he usually presents himself.
"In you, he sees a future bright. An heir." She continued, though this shocked him to hear, certainly. "A steward worthy of his legacy."
Him? An heir? But he was just a knight in service to Lucrece! Oersted could hardly consider himself capable of being a king when the ins and outs of running one were issues he never wanted to deal with. All he did was win a tournament! Surely that was no proof of royal responsibility! How could he–
"As do I, of course." She told him when he was looking at her. "Of course… husband dear."
Oh dear, did he just give her the impression he was judging her based on that? He did not mean to. He was just taken off guard by her father being so impressed with him that he would just put him on as next in line for the throne! He wanted to put her at ease and rectify this misunderstanding, but…
"Please. Look on me no more a maiden child." She requested as she looked again at the night sky. "For I am yours, and you are mine henceforth. None holds a higher place within my heart."
She looked at him directly this time. Not above him like in the tournament. He could see her blue eyes, most deep and radiant, like the vast ocean. Her face, free from physical flaw. Her lips, smooth and colored pink. Oersted felt his thoughts suddenly freeze all at once. Here, as an equal with the fair princess, the knight could feel his heart pound in his chest harder than it ever had before.
"Not father… not any man. This, I swear." She told him.
She then began walking towards him, and Oersted could only feel heat rushing to his skull. Was this really happening? Was he really going to be this close to the woman he admired for so long? Did she truly mean her words? What could he do? She was already just within an arm's distance from him!
"In you alone I place my faith."
And then, she closed the distance, taking his hand in hers before she rested her body against his. Her head against his shoulder. Oersted could not help but hold her close in his arms. All thoughts of hesitation and insecurity faded within that moment. So what if right now, he was not prepared to be king? What did it matter how he felt about his station compared to her own? To be here, accepted and loved by the woman he loved from afar…
He swore that he would make her the happiest woman alive, regardless of his fears and concerns, and be a man worthy of her faith.
But just then, they could hear something loud in the wind. Too deep to be that of a bird. No clouds in the night to be considered thunder. Immediately a sense of danger came to Oersted. Sure enough, a shadow flew overhead and a large shape descended towards them. Reptilian abominations that stood on their hind legs and with long arms for wings. A dragunon!
"Oh gods!" Alethea gasped as she stepped back.
Oersted quickly went to protect Alethea from the beast. Blade in hand, he deflected the dragunon's claws and valiantly slashed at its chest, scarring its scaly hide. The monster spat out venom at the knight, but he rolled out of the way to continue on the attack. The beast got lucky when it scratched at his armor, but Oersted countered with a prismatic whirl before going in for a bold cut. The strike came true, and the dragunon's head was lopped off from its body before both dissipated into blackened smoke. Gone into the abyss it spawned from. He was just about ready to drop his guard and tend to his love…
"Oersted!"
But then, her cry for his name made him turn fast to see her trying to reach out to him. She was trapped in the clutches of a malefic demon twice, nay, thrice the size of the foe he just vanquished! He cursed his lack of attention! The dragunon was but a mere feint!
"Oersted!" She called out once more as the demon began flapping its wings.
With no time to lose, the knight charged towards the demon and leapt towards it, intent on stabbing it through its skull to free his love. But alas, the demon was too fast, and flew into the sky before he could do it. Oersted inwardly panicked, rushing to keep the demon in his sights as he saw it soar off with his beloved Alethea. In the wind, he could hear her calling his name once more. But he could do naught as he saw the demon fly off towards the eastern mount in the distance.
As it shrunk with the distance it took, Oersted could only grip the railing tightly. He was angry at himself for allowing his love to be taken after she declared she would, in him alone, place her faith. But he knew he would not let this go unanswered. No matter what, he would prove himself worthy of her love and faith. He would rescue her from that foul fiend's grasp!
Oh how little he knew of the treachery he would endure–
But just then, a familiar gasp reached his ears. How could that be, there was no one but him on this balcony–
—-
Oersted stirred from his memories as the sounds of someone in a panic brought him out. As his vision cleared, he was shocked to see none other than Kuu warriors taking a bound Beru and passing them along each other before one started escaping down into a cave that he knew for certain couldn't have been there before! Already at attention, the former champion jumped to his feet and drew Brion out. Apparently Pogo got up just as he did and shouted in anger over Beru getting kidnapped.
The cavemen, noticing both warriors were awake, quickly ran off into the cave!
"Unhand her, you curs!" Oersted called after them.
Pogo rushed in ahead of him and the knight went to give pursuit. But the mere moment Pogo ran into the cave, something had kicked him back out, forcing Oersted to catch him! From out of that cave came none other than Zaki, who was glaring at them with a focused narrow of his eyes. Oersted glared back as he steadied Pogo back on his feet, and then kept at a distance as Zaki approached them with spear in hand, guarding the cave behind him. The Kuu warriors came back out to assist their leader, but Zaki grunted at them to go ahead, so they did, somehow closing the cave behind them. Who knew secret passages existed long before Oersted's time?
Either way, Zaki arrogantly flipped his hair before turning his thumb down at Oersted and Pogo, declaring his intent to defeat them. Nodding to each other, the pair then charged at Zaki, taking his challenge on. Pogo made the first charge as before, leaping at Zaki and trying to hit him with his Quick Spear. But Zaki countered it by deflecting with his own spear before knocking Pogo back with… a charge from his rear end. Oersted momentarily paused at the ridiculousness at such an attack.
He knew people had yet to evolve in this period, but really?
Shaking his head, Oersted continued his battle, shielding his face with his arms when Zaki's living loincloth, the rather angry lizard, threw rocks at him! How it did that, he dared not ask. He just continued clashing with the Kuu warrior leader; mighty Brion clanging against his spear. Zaki then jumped back to get distance to thrust with his spear, only for the champion to sidestep the thrust, only to nearly take another punch to the face. The punch stopped when Pogo jumped back in and bit Zaki on the arm!
With a pained shout, Zaki then swung around his arm and tried prying the cave brat off his arm before just throwing him off. Oersted had to admit, he certainly didn't see that kind of move coming, even from someone like Pogo. He saw Gori pull that tactic a couple times before, but only on the animals they hunted. Not exactly a technique he'd approve of using on humans… but this was an exception he'd gladly make. Especially for this one.
Oersted moved in, raised his sword, and then brought it down for a crushing blow! Zaki once more blocked it with his spear, but the knight's heightened strength forced the caveman to get pushed back. From there, Pogo went on the advantage and… weaponized a fart and shot it in his rival's direction, basically damaging him with gas. The knight couldn't help but feel his eyelids droop halfway. He should have taught the tribe how to act with class while he was working on helping them talk.
But still, it seemed to do the trick as Zaki was knocked down. Pogo flexed in victory. Getting up, and blowing away the smell from his nose, Zaki got back up and looked back at the two foes, annoyed that somehow he had gotten beat back again. But he did not let that bother him, it seemed. With a click of the tongue, Zaki then rushed through the hidden cave entrance. Oersted and Pogo went to give pursuit, but Zaki had the way closed with rock behind him!
Again, the fallen hero remembered a similar situation from before….
"Oh gods! Ahh!" THE DUPLICITOUS WARLOCK'S voice put on an act that set everything in motion before he and the sage could realize the charade.
"Blast!" Oersted cursed, rushing towards the door and trying to break it down with Brion. "Damnation, not again! A sealed door shall not avail thee this time!"
But try as he might to slash at the wall and break it apart, Oersted could not power through, even with all his might. Each failure to do so only frustrated him further, and so he kept trying. He kept seeing that rock wall as those very same gates that were sealed shut soon after they felled the false Lord of Dark. Hearing that WRETCH'S taunting laugh just egging him on. Yet yielding no results.
"Ors-ted!" He only stopped when he heard Pogo calling his name. "Ors-ted let Pogo do it!"
The champion, seeing Pogo charging towards him, quickly jumped out of the way and winced as the young caveman made impact with the wall and bounced back… only to see he had just about as much luck as he did. But that didn't appear to deter the lad. Four more times he charged into the wall, trying to break it down with his own body. The knight was honestly worried Pogo would hurt himself doing it, but fortunately the prehistoric one was tougher than he looked. Though of course, after five failed tries, Pogo had to stop for a break and shake his head.
"Hm… rock strong." Pogo could see the obvious, thankfully. "What do? Need help Beru…"
Oersted nodded. He was glad that Pogo felt the same way he did. Then again, the boy probably felt it moreso since his feelings for the cavegirl were more than obvious. Such passion was admirable. It reminded him of himself before…
From the depth of his heart, he truly hoped they wouldn't be too late to save Beru from being sacrificed. Pogo already experienced the pains of being exiled. He didn't deserve losing the woman he fell for.
"Oh! Gori!" Pogo then got an idea. "Gori heap strong! Gori break wall!"
"Gori still knock out, right?" Oersted felt his tongue insulted to get back to broken English, but it wasn't anything he wasn't used to by now.
Pogo nodded, replying, "Pogo right back!"
Pogo then rushed over to the entrance of the cave, where Gori still laid on the ground, covered in soot and knocked out due to his friend's prior comical attack. Oersted watched as Pogo poked his simian friend… and the ape got up and shook the soot off, looking no worse for wear and following his human companion back. Gori then stood next to Oersted as they watched Pogo yet again try to bash the wall down with his head. Oersted worried if this would cause his skull great damage, but somehow the boy proved quite durable. After shaking his head from the many ramming attempts, Pogo then looked back to Gori.
"Gori! Gotta break wall." Pogo explained to him. "Go save Beru!"
At that, Gori nodded, seeming to understand. Then, he picked up Pogo, faced the wall, and threw him mightily at it. Seeing Pogo painfully crash against the wall, flat as a pancake, Oersted winced while listening to Gori snickering at his friend's misfortune. Must have been payback for what happened before they rested. Pogo seemed to slide down the wall before he landed face-first on the ground. To Oersted's surprise, the wall actually came down, opening the way soon after!
"That… actually worked?" The champion blinked. "Well… hang me."
Pogo, all the while, got back up from his painful experience, shook some dirt and stone off of his face, and immediately got angry with his ape-friend, shouting, "What that for, Gori?!"
Ignoring that Gori definitely had a reason for the stunt he pulled, Oersted spoke to Pogo, "Pogo no get angry. Look! Way open!"
The young caveman followed Oersted's pointing finger and he saw that indeed the way forward was clear.
"...Oh." He blinked. "Gori do good."
Gori nodded, knowing full well he did, and smirking at his friend for having admitted that. But then they all nodded at each other with serious expressions. They had their bit of fun, but now it was time to return to the chase because there was a maiden to rescue. So they went inside, and sure enough down the path, they found Zaki and his men with the captured Beru! The leader of the Kuu warriors was shocked to see them approaching and immediately jumped back a good distance. After that, he smirked and crossed his arms.
Oersted raised a suspicious brow. Just what could this malicious ne'er-do-well be up to with such confidence?
But Pogo, seeing Beru, clearly had no time to notice.
"Beru!" Pogo called her name and began charging.
"Pogo! No go!" Beru called out to him. "No go–!"
But it was too late. Just when Pogo was ready to pound Zaki, a hole suddenly opened beneath him, and he fell down screaming! Gori, concerned about his friend, jumped after him. Zaki laughed at the foolishness of the boy who so easily fell for his trap, but then his gaze focused entirely on Oersted, who was in shock over the whole thing. The knight then glared at the red-maned warrior, pulled out his sword, and charged at him with a roar!
Zaki urged his men to keep moving with the girl, and he thus stayed to fight against the fallen champion. His men nodded and obeyed, still driving off in their stone vehicles. But Oersted paid them no heed. At the moment, he was clashing with the heinous fiend responsible for the misery of his companions. Just watching this man laugh as though the torment of a people who had done nothing mattered nil sickened the champion. This man reminded him too much of WICKED CONJURER to simply let go.
"Dost it swell with pride in thy breast?" Oersted had once more forgone speaking broken English in his righteous fury. Uncaring of Zaki's confusion at his mouth moving so peculiarly, he continued, "Dost thou feel just, attacking the peaceful? Thou knowest thine god feeds on innocent flesh and bone! Can thou truly call that 'virtue'?!"
With a mighty swing of Brion, the fallen hero sent a slashing wave of wind at Zaki while he was busy trying to puzzle out his speech. But the Kuu warrior was actually sharper even in the midst of thought, and so used his spear as a means to leap high above the attack before trying to strike him down. In turn, the champion evaded the spear's sharp end and countered by spinning Brion with enough speed that it began glowing blue and slashed at the spear's shaft. Finally, the sword seemed to finally do some damage against the primitive weapon. From the way Zaki pulled it out of the ground and away from Oersted's 'pointy stick', he noticed it too.
"Dost thou even know what it means to protect? To be guardian of a people?" The knight aimed his sword towards the caveman. "Or art thine hands too stained black with blood and sin for that to matter? But mark mine words, brigand. Thine crimes shalt not go unabated!"
"...Pr… tec…"
Just then, Oersted felt his momentum get thrown off. Did he hear that right? Did Zaki just try to speak actual words? Was this like with Beru? Was he learning just by watching him interact with others? He actually cared enough to overhear?
As for Zaki, his eyes suddenly appeared shaded. His grip on his spear tightened, even shaking with some emotion the knight had yet to witness him express. So far, it had only been the likes of arrogance, smug laughter, defeated rage, or even challenging stoicism. But this… did his words ring true in some manner?
"Y… u… no…" The caveman continued to struggle with his speech.
"What…?" The champion asked cautiously.
"Y… you… no…"
And then Zaki's eyes revealed themselves with the harshest glare Oersted had seen come from the man.
"You no only one with people to protect!" Zaki finally shouted out loud.
Then, before Oersted could properly respond or react, Zaki charged forward with not the point of the spear, but rather its butt. And then with a hefty smack to his skull, Oersted's consciousness immediately went black.
—-
How disappointing.
Ist this truly the best thou canst do?
Thou couldst have struck him down with ease when thou hadst the chance.
Thou couldst have rescued the damsel fair from her captors.
Yet mercy 'twas thine foolish pursuit.
Thou holden thyself back.
Drink of it.
Sate the everlasting drought.
Embrace what springs eternal.
Hate.
Sweet hate.
Accept whom thou truly are.
Accept who WE are.
BECOME O–
—-
"...et… ted… up, Or… ake up… Ors-ted, wake up!"
Oersted's vision eventually returned to him as his consciousness did the same. He found himself still in that room of the cavern he fought Zaki in, his enemy nowhere to be found save for the exit no doubt ahead. He could feel his shoulders being shaken by someone. It was then he looked to his side and saw, to his pleasant surprise, Pogo, still alive! Although he appeared to have some bite marks on his body.
"Pogo…!" Oersted tried getting up, remembering to use his broken English. "You okay! But how? You fell in hole and–"
"Pogo strong!" The lad replied with a cocky chuckle. "Pogo handle stupid fall. Fight lots of scalebacks and moles. Big heap story. Even found shiny rock that make Pogo know things!"
Getting up, the knight couldn't help but ask with curiosity on his face and in his voice, "Shiny rock…?"
Nodding back, the green-haired youth confirmed, "Yeah! Pretty pretty, shiny shiny! Look, look!"
And with that, Pogo reached into his fur clothes and pulled out an object to show to the fallen knight. Within his hand was some kind of smooth, rectangular and shiny piece of metal, coated black. Indeed, such an item did not seem to match with the geography of the land around them. And yet, Oersted could feel something special from within it. For Pogo to have actually found this had to be no shortage of luck… or perhaps something more was at work. His curiosity got the better of him.
"What is it…?" The champion asked.
"Pogo no sure," the caveman admitted, explaining, "but Pogo find bigger shiny rock after Pogo fall. Room dark, but nose help Pogo find way. Pogo find way out and beat scalebacks, but nose sniff new smell. Pogo follow smell, Pogo find secret place with bigger rock, Pogo place hand on it… Pogo's head know more things now. Pogo tiny scared, but not long."
"Know more things?" Oersted couldn't help but catch that, seeing as it was the second time Pogo said it. "Like what?"
"Like this!"
Pogo then took out a stick and then stuck it into the ground behind him. He then began rubbing it between his hands at a fast enough speed to start building up heat. Oersted watched in amazement as the ground suddenly began to turn red. And then suddenly, the ground before Pogo burst into a tower of flame! And even then, the ground still seemed to remain burning hot afterward.
"See? Pogo make burn spark!" The caveman cheered for himself. "Pogo even know words better now!"
"Really?" Oersted blinked in surprise. One simple piece of unknown metal could grant him that?
…Though judging by the sheepish look on his face, Pogo had something to confess.
"Well… Pogo kinda know words better now." He said. "Pogo just no good speaking them yet."
That made sense, the knight supposed. Slowly but surely, and all that.
"But still, Pogo brain bigger now!" The caveman assured him. "Stronger too!"
"That great, Pogo," Oersted used the broken English, even so. Then he remembered, "Wait! Gori! What happen?"
"Oh, Gori fine!" Pogo nodded. "Gori right behind…"
But when Pogo turned towards the path they came from, as if expecting to see their apish companion there, there was no one. He let out a confused grunt, looking around for his friend. But then they heard a familiar grunt and, much to their confusion, saw Gori actually come in from the way ahead of them! Pogo and Oersted blinked, looking from the path behind the hole to the way leading out of the cave. Then they looked at each other.
"...Did shiny rock give Gori anything?" The champion asked.
Letting out a toot, Gori sniggered.
"...No. Gori is Gori." Pogo shook his head.
The man out of time sighed. Truer words had never been spoken.
But then Oersted shook his head, refocusing himself, and said, "That not important now. Now we stop Kuu. Save Beru!"
Pogo and Gori nodded, the former agreeing, "Help Beru! Beat Kuu!"
And so, they marched onward and out of the cave, reaching the admittedly narrow path towards the cave of the Kuu Tribe. Oersted warned the pair to watch their step as they moved, for even a small misstep would lead to them falling to their deaths. And it was a more perilous trek given the beasts that somehow still ran about to attack them. Especially more jarring when there were more of those large-horned and long-nosed furry creatures that seemed to walk around this narrow space with ease. Not to mention those other creatures such as those large 'Terror Birds' and their sharp beaks, and those charging 'Big Horns'. So many questions, yet so very few answers.
It was also a predicament which provided hardly any different results. Oersted's skill continued to persevere against these mindless beasts, and Pogo's newfound skill with fire had also served them well. Gori's strength still rang true, as did his more crass techniques. Eventually, they made it through all of those oddly-placed animals, getting more haunches of meat in the process, and soon found themselves standing before the cave of the Kuu Tribe. Ominously illuminated by two torches, Oersted could see those posts were in fact dead trees with skulls placed on the branches to intimidate outsiders.
Eventually, he also noticed there was a peculiar caveman walking just across from the cave's entrance and before the cliff. A mane of blue hair and yellow cloths aside, he… didn't look that different from all the other cavemen the knight had seen. Oersted had to wonder. Was he part of the Kuu? He didn't seem ready for a fight, at least.
The caveman grunted, getting their attention. He pointed at Oersted, apparently wanting to address him specifically. The knight looked surprised, if a little confused, and unfortunately got no explanation from Pogo when he looked to the lad for any to give. All he got from him was a shrug, not sure what the other caveman wanted. So, the champion cautiously stepped towards him, just about ready for anything.
The caveman circled the former hero, apparently checking over his armor along with Brion. He stroked his chin in thought before at last he nodded. With that, he began signing to the trio, clearly asking for one of each material they had in order to craft something. Curious, Oersted did just that, and the caveman nodded upon confirming he got them all. Then he just went to his spot and began silently working.
Pogo tapped his foot impatiently. Why wouldn't he? After all, time was of the essence and staying here longer than they should was no doubt more time wasted before Beru was sacrificed. Not to mention Clunk never took this long when it came to crafting either. Couldn't the guy hurry things up?
And then at last the caveman, after spending some careful time with the materials, apparently finished with his work. He turned back to Oersted and held out the item, stunning the former knight. It was none other than a shield, but that was not why. He was stunned because the shield, even in its rather primitive design made with bones, stones, leather pelts, and dried skin, seemed to resemble the ones Oersted had seen in the homes of his heroes. Though it lacked the magnificent red and silver he would recognize, there was no denying that this shield was perhaps the most magnificent weapon he had seen crafted in this age of primordial men.
…That, and just perhaps this brought about yet another sense of nostalgia and longing. A time when even though things seemed dire, there was still hope.
"...Thank you." Oersted said to the caveman.
The caveman only silently nodded in reply before going back to his work. With that, Oersted apologized to Pogo for holding them up, and so they faced the cave of the Kuu village once more. Nodding to each other, the trio made their way inside the cave's intimidating maw. On the other side, they cautiously found themselves in the midst of enemy territory, and it also appeared the Kuu village was more expansive than Pogo's former home. They planned on sneaking through, but unfortunately the way forward was blocked by a Kuu warrior… who was also clearly sleeping on the job. They heard an enraged shout and quickly hid, bearing witness to another Kuu caveman running up to the guard and knocking him over the head, waking him up. The one who knocked the guard over grunted and pointed at him, basically telling him to keep alert instead of sleeping before running back to his cave. The guard grumbled a bit before sitting back at his spot… and promptly went back to sleep.
So, with no other option but to take the opposite direction of the sleeping guard, the trio went up a path to a higher level in the cave, overlooking the three caves that would be their way forward.
"Hmmm… A battle against one man would go simple and with ease, but 'twould alert our presence to others." Oersted muttered to himself as he pondered on their situation. "No doubt our strength could surpass more numbers, yet fights at dozen would prolong our rescue of fair Beru. We should proceed quietly, but where to find her?"
A familiar sniff directed him towards Pogo, who was sniffing the air with his nose. Eyes closed, the young caveman concentrated, focusing on one particular scent. Soon, his nose directed him to look towards the second eastern cave. He then pointed towards it.
"Beru smell there!" Pogo whispered. "We go that way!"
Pogo was set to jump ahead, but upon hearing a peculiar sound, Oersted pulled him back. Then from the middle cave, a pair of Kuu villagers walked out, marching with a pair of two peculiar creatures walking between them, tied up in rope. Oersted was thrown off by the odd pink color of their fur, but in a way these creatures reminded him of Gori, but… feminine? But they also appeared to wear green floral accessories atop their heads with flowers. They were escorted into the cave Pogo had singled out, which led the knight to think he might be onto something.
"Could they too be sacrifices for the god these Kuu worship?" he pondered to himself. "If so, then as young Pogo said, the way forward this just might be!"
But then Gori let out a long ook-sound as his body began to shake. Pogo, confused by his friend's peculiar actions, poked him to try and get his attention. But sadly, no result. Oersted just shook his head and shrugged at his human ally.
"Gori being Gori again." He sighed. "We go get Beru. Gori catch up."
Nodding, the former champion replied, "Agreed. No time to lose."
However, just as Oersted and Pogo quietly got off the ledge before them to head towards the cave, Gori let out an enthusiastic shout and then ran back the way they came, confusing the duo. Then to their dismay, they heard the sound of a rather one-sided brawl before their apish friend ran past them and ahead into that very cave. And of course they could hear the rather loud sounds of a brutal takedown from within. The noise made the pair cringe.
And as expected, the debacle had brought other Kuu warriors out of the other two caves to see what was the matter. Their attention caught the sight of a knocked out guard and the two intruders nearby. The one that saw them first of course shouted and drew his fellows attention to them as well. Taking out stone axes, they all charged towards Oersted and Pogo with the intent to take them out. All the pair did at this moment was inwardly groan at Gori for getting them in this predicament.
As Oersted sufficed, both he and Pogo could easily handle the numbers that came their way. Though the Kuu were many; much larger than Pogo's tribe at that, the former knight and the young caveman had spent a while hunting for prey and battling together that they had grown stronger as time had passed. Plus, he was certain that whatever peculiar rock Pogo had found when they had gotten separated had helped in increasing Pogo's power. The shield too had proven efficient, easily defending Oersted against the stone weapons the Kuu had at their disposal. The aspiring hero had yet to even break a sweat.
But still, it turned out more Kuu were coming out of the caves to assist their fallen comrades.
"No end to them!" Oersted cursed. "We need hurry!"
Pogo growled, feeling something building within his very guts. He just let it build and build, until at last he let it out in a massive shout! And not just any ordinary shout! The shout was actually so loud, Oersted had to cover his ears AND hold himself down by stabbing Brion into the dirt to avoid being blown away. The Kuu, however, were not so lucky. They felt their ears ringing with pain and found themselves being blown into the cavern walls with such force that they were knocked unconscious. Soon after, the pair were just surrounded by defeated Kuu warriors.
Once the young caveman finished his shout, he relaxed once he saw all their enemies were beaten. The knight, on the other hand, managed to steady himself and pull Brion from the ground before dusting it off and sheathing it. He then looked at his friend in amazement.
"Well… Kuu beat, at least." Oersted blinked.
Pogo nodded, "Un. Heap big shout, work great with much moles!"
"Er… right." He still had to figure out how moles would be a problem, but that was a question for later. "Anyway, we go see Gori."
In agreement, the pair finally went inside the third cave to check in on their friend. Inside, they found the two Kuu warriors from before were unconscious with several bumps on their heads, and beyond them, in a part of the room surrounded by gigantic bones, was none other than Gori. He was looking mighty happy as he danced in the middle of not just two, but rather five female gorillas, all of which were free and dancing with him, shaking their… well, Oersted immediately looked away, not wanting to stare at the odd sight. At least he could tell they were decent-ish, wearing a leopard bikini top each and grass skirts.
Of course, Pogo had no such limitations.
"Gori think think!" And so punctuated it by knocking his animal companion over the head. "This no time for happy dance! Save Beru now!"
Fortunately, Gori got the message and got back up, looking nonplussed as usual. The trio reunited, they began moving ahead through the cave, apparently finding the female gorillas were following them. Or perhaps guiding them, for one of them pointed up at the skull just protruding from the wall above another cave leading inward. No doubt a clue towards where they had to go. So, they made their way through it, and sure enough they were in yet another part of the cave. Noting the skull above the cave to their right, they of course went through that one as well.
Entering a long corridor with stone columns forming in the cave, they were immediately set upon by a pair of Kuu warriors! One appeared to be older than the other, and the younger one appeared to stick close to their partner. Probably a father-son duo. Something about that idea seemed to strike Oersted as familiar, yet he couldn't place it in the heat of the moment. Knocking them out with ease, and the knight finding something else strikingly familiar when the younger Kuu warrior cried upon seeing his elder beaten with ease, Pogo sniffed the air and pointed towards the cave at the end of the room, with a skull larger than the others hanging above it.
"Beru smell that way!" Pogo exclaimed. "Almost there!"
Rushing as fast as they could, they made their way towards that entryway. However, before they could, they were cut off by yet another warrior of the Kuu! Blocking their path, he called for help, and four more of his people came by his side to impede them. The trio were ready to battle further, but then the five female gorillas came up from behind and passed them, pinning the Kuu cavemen against the walls and columns! They all shook their bodies for the trio, assuring them that they got things handled there.
"Not what Oersted had in mind, but Oersted accept it!" The knight had no other way to deal with this bit of weirdness.
They continued moving forward, letting the female gorillas keep the Kuu at bay. They eventually came back outside, where the vast sound of drums and primitive chanting filled their ears. The trio could see they came out into a vast canyon, with a long narrow path, illuminated by lit torches, reaching out towards a long, and no doubt deep cliff before them. Right on that cliff was some kind of wooden altar built upon a massive wooden stage, and they could see more of the Kuu bowing before it. And not just more villagers, but also Zaki, and whom they assumed was the Kuu chieftain right before the altar. And bound to that altar in rope was none other than Beru, who looked ready to accept her dismal fate.
But thank goodness Oersted, Pogo, and Gori were not too late. The sacrifice had only just begun, and they still had time left. They nodded in agreement to each other. This was it. The time to end the sacrifices once and for all.
They ran up the path towards the bowing Kuu, and then Pogo called out, "Beru!"
This call interrupted the ritual and stunned the Kuu there as they turned to see the three there. Even Zaki was shocked to see Pogo alive! The chieftain turned, and Oersted finally got a good look at the man responsible for this evil. A man with narrowed eyes, blue spiky hair atop his head, a blue beard, and sharpened red nails on his fingers. He wore a stone crown with two pairs of horns (two wide and long ones on the sides, and two red ones sticking out of the front), a red loincloth, green grass covering his body, and a cape made out of blue scaly hide. Truly, the champion could not mistake a fiend as obvious as this shouting at them in frustration.
Beru, tears forming in her eyes from sheer happiness, smiled widely and called back, "Pogo!"
Zaki couldn't help but chuckle. To think, while he was so busy believing that the man with the golden hair was his equal, he had underestimated the small one's persistence in interfering with his duty. But then he directed his men to attack them. Two charged first, but Pogo easily knocked them away. This stunned the mighty warrior of the Kuu. How did he possibly get THIS strong?
Another pair tried getting at Pogo, but they too were easily knocked back. At this, the other Kuu warriors stepped back. Zaki couldn't believe his eyes. Without any help, this boy could beat back his people with but one fist? He actually found himself backing up towards the altar as Pogo stepped forward, a growl escaping his determined face while Oersted and Gori followed. The chieftain, coward that he was, immediately hid behind the altar for safety.
Beru could not contain her happiness as she saw her friends, and especially Pogo, coming to save her, "Beru happy see Pogo again! Beru so sad when think Pogo gone-gone!"
"Pogo here, Beru! Get Beru safe." The green-haired lad told her.
The Kuu chieftain poked out of hiding from behind the altar and stomped his feet in rage, grunting and roaring at Zaki. He pointed at the trio, clearly intent on having Zaki stop them. Then he went right back to hiding behind the altar. Zaki had a frown clear as day on his face from his chief's disposition. Something Oersted had clearly shared.
"This what you protect?" Oersted finally asked Zaki in broken English. "Coward hiding behind you and Kuu god? This wretch what all sacrifices for?"
Zaki clicked his tongue at the accusation, rebutting with his own broken English, shocking Pogo and Beru and confusing some of the Kuu, "Zaki proud warrior of Kuu people. Zaki fight so Kuu safe from god's hunger. Zaki obey chief for Kuu safety. If others eaten, god no eat Kuu, so be it."
"That dumb!"
Instead of Oersted, it was Pogo who called Zaki out after getting over the fact that Zaki could actually talk.
"Zaki strong warrior, but heap dum-dum!" Pogo continued, voice loud as though he was addressing not just Zaki, but the Kuu as a whole. "If Zaki care for Kuu, why make them scary? Why make Kuu look bad in eyes of tribes not Kuu? If Kuu proud warriors, why take what not theirs? Zaki know this and not like it, but not change it!"
Oersted smiled when the lad stepped forth with fire in his eyes which reminded the knight of true heroes, letting the young warrior continue.
"Where Kuu pride? Kuu no want more? Kuu no want friends? No want better life?" He asked them all, making the rest of the Kuu gaze upon him in wonder and comprehension. "Kuu god way down there. Not even threat to Kuu. Why feed it? Kuu eat just fine on prey like other tribes. This all dumb, and Kuu dum-dums following big heap coward chief!"
Being called out and actually considering the young caveman's words, slowly starting to comprehend more and more as they watched… well, kind of. They could at least understand the intent of Pogo's words through the actions he made. It was true. Despite being told that their god needed to be fed so the tribe would be safe, they finally considered that their 'god' might not actually be able to punish them at all if they didn't. They always lived higher than it, after all; what had they to be afraid of? It wasn't like it could climb.
Why did they need to bring sacrifices for a useless god? And for that matter, was it really even a god to begin with? This whole time, they just listened to whatever their chieftain said without question. After all, he was their chief. Surely he would know what was best for them, right? But, seeing him now, hiding behind the altar while demanding their greatest warrior to kill the outsiders…
Zaki's own eyes closed as he held his spear tightly in his hand. Then he brushed his hair back, saying, "Zaki care for Kuu tribe. Kuu his people. Zaki stand for Kuu no matter who rule. If runt– if Pogo challenge Zaki pride… then Zaki fight Pogo for Kuu honor!"
Oersted was ready to step forward, but Pogo held his quick spear before him.
"No. This fight Pogo's." Pogo told him.
"Pogo sure…?" The knight asked the first friend he made in this peculiar point of history. "Pogo stronger, but Zaki strong, too."
The young caveman nodded in turn, "Pogo been with Ors-ted long time. Ors-ted help Pogo and Gori all time. Now Pogo do this himself. Trust Pogo."
Oersted gazed long at Pogo, searching for any sign of potential hesitation. Yet the only thing in the lad's eyes was determination. The knight could only nod and allow Pogo to face this challenge on his own. He watched as the young caveman stood against each other. One, a boy who had not only proven himself a man for his tribe, but had proven himself a man in every way that counted. The other, a warrior who truly cared for his people, but felt that meant he had to obey his chieftain and do horrible things to do so.
One would fight for the sake of his love. The other would fight for the sake of his pride… and for his people.
And so, the cavemen dueled each other on that stage. Oersted couldn't help but recall a scene very familiar as the rivals battled each other…
"Know this, my friend. I will hold nothing back. I've yielded much to you, but not this day. Gods grant me strength, grant me glory deserved!"
Nothing but vile lies, his true goal more than obvious. How blind he was to not see THE ARCHMAGE'S vanity and obsession with victory. From the very beginning, he wanted what he could not have, to win what he did not wish to earn. A narcissistic lout to the very last!
Though Oersted had seen him over Zaki before, he was stunned to see his old memories didn't last long in this battle. The more he thought of it, the strongest warrior of the Kuu tribe was different from THE VILLAIN TRUE. He had an ego, yes, and he had a mane of hair that could easily hide his scarred eye, but he did not hide his scar, and he cared for more than just himself. He was just on the wrong side, and he no doubt knew it. Perhaps if things were different, he and Pogo could have been allies?
Unfortunately, that wasn't the matter at hand for right now the two were fighting for their own causes. And it was actually a shocking, intense battle. Pogo's matured strength and skill had proven to be on even footing with Zaki. The strongest of the Kuu looked shocked to see Pogo actually be stronger than he expected. But at the same time, he seemed to enjoy this battle, finally getting some respect for the young caveman's skill and strength. Moreso when his lizard threw rocks at Pogo, only for the young lad to easily knock them away with his own quick spear!
Zaki didn't let up either. He rushed in and landed a kick to Pogo's face, making him stumble back. The shorter caveman quickly recovered and leapt towards his rival, landing a hit upon Zaki's own spear that he actually ended up bending on one knee due to the sheer force Pogo put into the swing. But the tall one didn't give up so easily. He shoved Pogo away and charged forth to impale him, though the boy swiftly dodged.
…Oersted also made sure to leave out the parts of Pogo weaponizing his… flatulence from his memory of this battle. It was better that way.
And despite Zaki's prowess, it was clear he was going to fall against Pogo's will. Oersted could see the Kuu chieftain biting his sharp nails in agitation, even as he cowered. And from what Oersted knew of cowards, they were no doubt going to be desperate in a pinch, so the knight kept an eye on him and his hand on Brion's hilt. He wouldn't interfere with Pogo's bout, but he would not allow someone as obviously evil as the Kuu chieftain to do the same. He won't miss anything this time, he told himself.
But why should he wait? The vile tyrant was right there. Weak and craven, an utter dastard. A murderer who led people to kidnap and kill for his glorified cult. His existence would not be missed. Why shouldn't he slay him now and save himself and Pogo the trouble?
His grip tightened. The temptation was there. He could see the logic too. He could easily act now. He could end this with perhaps one attack.
Was it right?
Just then, everything shook with a massive quake, cutting his thoughts and even Pogo and Zaki's battle short.
"What was that?" Oersted was taken by surprise.
Then came another quake, freaking almost everyone there out. The Kuu villagers ran back towards their home in a panic. The Kuu chieftain quickly ran from his hiding spot to get near Zaki for protection. Pogo quickly went up to the altar and undid the ropes binding Beru, letting her fall to the floor. She ran over to Pogo and held him close, happy to have been rescued by him. Gori even joined up with his friends on that stage. Oersted kept his eyes peeled for any sign of what made that massive sound.
"Such a booming rumble from the earth, a coincidence, it cannot." Oersted thought to himself. "Couldst this god of the Kuu… actually exist?"
Another quake struck the land, and then Oersted felt something loosen and fall beneath his feet. He quickly adjusted himself and looked down, seeing that some of the logs making up the stage were breaking loose and falling apart. The floor was already beginning to shake as more logs started to fall from their loose bindings. The champion had to act fast!
"Everyone! Run or we fall–!" He tried to warn his allies and even Zaki and the Kuu chieftain.
But it was no use. Yet another quake, and with that, the entire altar and stage came undone beneath their feet before they could move, and they all began plummeting into the abyss below, screaming all the way. In the heat of the moment, Oersted couldn't even question how Gori somehow stuck in the air longer than they did before falling as well. Down, down, down they fell, the cliff practically rising above them. Gori tried hard to swim in the air, but it was no use. Oersted could see the ground coming fast. He braced himself for impact–
Darkness once again took him.
—-
"Naught remains."
Two simple words spoken atop the Archon's Roost. Darkness abounds in the air as the ominous statue of the Lord of Dark stands above the sordid scene before it. A beautiful princess, lying dead with a knife in her chest atop the downed body of a defeated mage. Falling to his knees before the mountain below, was a knight. A handsome, once heroic figure with short spiky blonde hair, donning a simple brown suit of armor with a brown breastplate, brown boots and shoulder pads. By his side was a most noble sword, stained with the blood of its enemies. But in his eyes, the gaze of a valiant knight could not be found.
No. This was a broken man.
"Alone. Utterly alone." The knight fell to his hands next, unable to look at anything but the rocks beneath him. "Cast out. Unloved. Outside the grace of gods."
He could feel his body shaking. But from what, he wondered. Anger? Sorrow? Frustration? Perhaps a combination of the three? Either way, it all paled in comparison to the aching in his heart. What could, after everything that has happened in these two days?
The broken knight did not register the wetness coming down his face, making small drips to the ground.
"The Archon's Roost, they call this shrine of death. Yet nowhere do I spy our Lord of Dark." His hands clutched at the ground, gripping only dirt. "His throne sits empty, wanting for an heir…"
Eyes closed, the knight regains his strength and manages to stand. But even now, he no longer feels that sense of dignity he once expected of himself as a knight of the kingdom. He could only feel a growing sense of indignation as his emotions were clashing against one another. It didn't help that he could only remember the sneers. The accusations. The shifting of blame.
"Did I not do all that was asked?" He asked himself. "Did I not serve and seek my fair and just reward? And for my deeds they damn me. Name me demon."
He never asked for any of this. Not really. All he did was do as he was told. Be good and virtuous, and hold the faith. Even after losing his hero, his supposed friend, and even the sage who encouraged him. Even after everyone in the land turned against him and refused to hear his side of the story. Even when at his lowest, told to persevere and save his love.
Only for it to be all for naught. There would be no hero's victory. There would be no chance of redemption or clearing his name. No way for him to properly confess his love to his dear princess… the same princess who so easily fell for that treacherous mage's lies. The same friend false who projected his insecurities unto him and tricked him into murdering the king. Those who would claim to be virtuous… nothing but lies! They were all lies!
…The hero Hasshe was right. The last hero of Lucrece had been right all along from the start. And he died believing his faith in humanity was rightfully restored. The sage, for all his wisdom and faith for which he would be grateful, was naive. And so was he.
"...And who am I to deny it?"
What else could he do? Were he to return to Lucrece, they would have him executed on sight instead of making a show of it. Were he to leave the land, their ignorance and abuses would go unpunished. The accusations would continue, spreading far and wide until even all would believe the falsehood, and he could do nothing to stop it. There would be no place willing to welcome him. No matter what he could try, the ostracization would never stop. No matter what, the idea of him being the king of demons would never leave him be.
He brought a hand to his face. He could feel the tears still falling even as his gaze hardened into burning fury. He wondered. Had he been crying this whole time? Even as his heart was filling with burning rage? Was this going to be his fate? Would he never be a hero like his idol, as he always wanted since he was but a child?
…So be it.
"Demon, then!" He declared, his hand clenching into a fist. "Renouncing former ties and titles!"
He turned around towards the statue at the mountain's peak, a new form of determination in his being. Walking to the two bodies, those whose betrayal had broken him the worst of all, he could feel contempt replacing camaraderie and love. He could only see red as his hand came down upon the recreant cur that had the gall to lecture him on greed. Harshly, he shoved the body of his once fair bride-to-be and removed the cape from the apostate's corpse before kicking him out of his way, standing in their blood. He then began bringing the cape upon his armor.
"And in their place, I claim…"
His eyes, once a noble brown bordering on gold, had become a pure red as he looked up at the statue. A monument to the archfiend whom Lucrece had feared so badly. One whom all the land feared had returned upon kidnapping their princess. A statue that stood even as no such fiend had returned. At least… not until now.
"The Lord of Dark…" he proclaimed that day. "Odio!"
Lightning struck the sky and all turned red. The statue's eyes glowed, as if to celebrate the return of its image unto the world. The new Lord of Dark knew what his path was now. If he could not be the hero he always dreamed of being, and if all of Lucrece– nay, all of humanity would be set as casting him the villain to make themselves feel better, than very well. He would be their demon king that they desired so desperately.
After all, this was what they wanted, in the end. What other choice did he have?
—-
Yikes. Who saw that twist coming at the end there? But wait, didn't we see this fate get defied in the beginning? What the heck's going on?!
Well this is a new mystery we'll have to figure out as the story moves forward and we reach the finale of Prehistory next chapter. Might happen next year, considering Christmas time and Christmas shopping is no doubt coming soon and the next chapter of my other fic is gonna be worked on next.
Thanks again to Akito the Boxer for beta-reading and fine-tuning this chapter however he can between his work. This wouldn't be possible without him. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and see you all next time!