EXISTENCE KEY Prelude: Volume 1

## CHAPTER 1: Everian Legacy

*The Planet Azuran, a world emanating a wondrous cerulean glow. The most immediately noticeable trait would be that entire sections of the planet are made up of massive cities. Outside of the cities, there are cracks across the planet's crust filled with superheated blue plasma. The storms on Azuran are one of it's most well known tropes, both the planet and it's organisms have been fortified to defend against them. The planet itself is nearly as bright as a star.*

*Azuran is* *home to both the human like Cobaltion Race, and the crystalline Azuranites. The Cobaltions are similar in appearance to us, with the exceptions being their blue hair, red eyes, and pale skin. The average Cobaltion is also much stronger and faster than even the most adept human. The Azuranites are luminous, muscular, and altogether alien compared to their humanoid counterparts. Although Azuranites are seen living in Cobaltion cities and territories, they are much more likely to live in their own villages. Both races are capable of manipulating plasma and electric energy, some to a much higher degree than others.*

*The Cobaltions and Azuranites weren't the only races to inhabit Azuran. Long ago, visitors from another galaxy, known as Viritians, immigrated after their planet was destroyed. Much like the Cobaltions, the Viritians were humanoid, but unlike them, they had black hair and a slightly grayer skin tone. Viritians also had a much different culture and a different architectural style.*

*The technology on Azuran is highly advanced, with all kinds of gadgets, vehicles that shoot across the skylines, and towering buildings. Even one city is the size of over 2000 Earths. The mountains seem to stretch upward for hundreds of miles, and the oceans plummet into abyssal chasms that haven't even been fully explored.*

*The most prominent city on Azuran is the Ion Megaplex, home to the infamous Everian Guild, which is in turn fronted by the Everian Noble Family. The Guild protects not only the city, but all of Azuran from both home based and interstellar threats. The Everians are currently fronted by Exonus "Exilus" II, who will eventually pass leadership on to his incredibly gifted son...**EXONUS "VOLTIS" III***

*Each city state had multiple social classes, ranging from working class peasants to high ranking military nobles. This was a very efficient system, and it filled every niche required for society to operate. With the abolishment of Azuran's planet wide Cobaltion Monarchy at least 20 centuries ago, the care of individual states was left to the noble families that served under the King and Queen. These noble families would often disagree with one another, and start pointless wars that raged on decades. The Everians were the only family to stand up and put an end to the madness, taking charge of the other families and the entire planet. The family would become a guild, collecting millions upon millions of followers, and blossoming into something society had never seen before.*

*There were two sects of the Everian Guild, the Central Government, and the Noble Elites. The Central Government were the first responders to any large scale situation, but if they were incapable of subduing the enemy, that was when the Noble Elites stepped in. Anyone could join up with the CG, including peasants, Viritians, and Azuranites, but the Elites were all full blooded Cobaltions of the Everian Family, the cream of the crop.*

It was around midday, and the skyline over the Ion Megaplex' Central District was a radiant purple. This was unusual, because the rays of Azuran's sun, Cerulean Prime, were normally perceived as a deep blue. The very notion that the sky would be such a color attracted many wandering citizens to it's gorgeous gaze. Aside from this, the day progressed normally. Being the largest city state on the planet, it was ridiculously busy, with everyone from senior citizens to preschoolers occupied by at least or one two tasks.

Walking down the steps of the enormous Everian Temple was a group of Cobaltion nobles, each of them imposing and glorious. At the center of them stood a tall man, around an impressive 7 feet. He was clad in a high tech blacksteel heavy armor, with glowing royal blue outlines adorning each curve and meeting at the center of his chest plate. His hair was a deep, shaggy, radiant blue, that went down to his shoulders. With commanding crimson eyes that everyone around him respected, and a muscular build that was easily the most noticeable of the group, he led with impressive resolve. This was Exonus "Exilus" Everian II, and the greatsword on his back that matched his armor, Ion, had been passed down for thousands of generations. Ion's blade was 5 feet long and 12 inches wide, with deep inlays and arrow shaped markings adorning it. The hilt had a wide, sharp curve, and the handle was encircled by ringlike marks, ending in a spear tip shape.

Standing next to him was his 9 year old son, Voltis. He was about 4 feet shorter than his father, but still had a very lean and impressive build for his age. Wearing similar armor, with slightly shorter, choppier teal blue hair overlapping the upper right half of his face, and with youthful red eyes of a similar gaze, he was very prideful and had an enormous future ahead of him.

The group walked to the center of the city square. Voltis' dad was going to deliver a speech on the planetary status, and an uncountable number of people across had gathered to witness. The event was both televised and receiving radio play on every station. Voltis gave his father a puzzled look, as he hadn't witnessed him draw a crowd of this magnitude in years.

"Dad, how long is your speech going to be?"Voltis asked, quite curious as to why there were so many people arriving in such a short amount of time. "As long as it needs to be. We're not here to play games right now, so just keep your head up and look sharp."his father replied sternly. The stage was surrounded by hundreds of guards, each clad in the same armor. Snipers were on watchtowers surrounding all sides, and there were several transport vehicles full of soldiers.

Aside from Voltis and his Father, the other nobles in the group were High Commander Jade, Guard Captain Kai, and Chief Admiral Toran; who also happened to be uncle to Exilus, and thus, great uncle to Voltis. Jade in particular was very young, about 26 years old; achieving her rank through battle prowess alone. They stood behind his father, while Voltis stood right next to him. With his head held high, he stared into space while his hair waved around in the breeze.

The trio of warriors were each well equipped for their tasks; all having unique tropes that distinguished them from each other. Jade's amethyst hair was medium length and and jagged; longer on one side than the other. Her eyes were a deep blood red, fitting her aggressive and brash nature. She wore thick, fitted plate armor of a deep grape color, adorned with markings that matched her hair. Kai wore the heaviest armor out of the group. It covered his entire body- even his eyes; eye shaped visors in their place. Toran was both the oldest and the most formal, having slicked back hair that had turned a cesious color with age. He wore a standard uniform, with the exception of his trench coat, rank plaque, and shoulder plating.

Exilus began speaking.

"It has come to my attention that there is an insurrection by the Ravan Nobles in the Terragryph Mountains. While this may seem like ordinary news, it is far worse."

He continued

"I have bad news and good news regarding this situation. The Everian Guild has no right to intervene in another Noble Family's business, this decision is solely due to our sense of honor. However, if they begin to attack other cities, districts, and nations, then we have every right to defend them!"

The crowd throw their fists in the air as a sign of respect, and shouted at the top of their lungs as a sign of acknowledgement. Voltis grinned, but looked away from his father so he wouldn't get yelled at again.

"At this moment, they're mobilizing airships, fighters, tanks, and ground troops. They appear to be headed towards the city of Hiron, and we'll stop at nothing to defend it's people!"

The crowd dismissed, and Voltis walked off the podium with his father. "Voltis, you did well today. You didn't question any orders, and you followed your teacher's directions. I'm proud of you." Voltis smirked in response, and left to train with his instructor. While on his way to the temple, Voltis' thoughts went back to the speech. *What if that noble family attacks Ion? I can't exactly skip out on training to help dad, but I also can't let the Ravans storm my home.* He pondered on that subject and couldn't get it off his mind- it pestered him. Upon arriving, Voltis took in the sight of his family's glorious and long lived center of operations. He was always impressed by it, and couldn't believe that he would one day take on such an important role. The entrance chamber was packed with soldiers, trainees, students, and civilians. Each one of them was either trapped in conversation, or marching in squad formation.

Entering the combat prep gym, he was greeted by a tall, yet thin man. Appearing to be about 28 years old, with short and spiky hair, Thantier Aduran was a black belt martial artist and gladiator of the utmost reputation. Clad in a simple, lightly armored kimono, he didn't appear to be very intimidating; but those who judged him by his appearance would be dead wrong. He was easily one of the guild's top 10 fighters; up there with Voltis' Father and Jade. "You look as if you're troubled, what's going on?"Thantier asked, as Voltis struck a fighting pose. "Didn't you hear the news about Hiron? The Ravan family's raiding it"he replied. Lunging at his teacher, Voltis started out with a volley of high speed punches and kicks, but Thantier dodged his sloppy attacks with even greater speed.

"FOCUS! You can't beat your opponent by bum rushing them like that!"

Voltis attacked once again, but this time with his signature *sustained shock* energy blast*.* Thantier evaded the lightning with no effort, and at a speed so great he seemed invisible. This irritated Voltis quite a bit, so he decided to stop holding back....

*It was unimaginable, the speed at which he shot forth. The only thing resembling his movement was a streak of blue, held in place like static electricity. He was the first speed born in centuries.*

Finally landing hits, Voltis laughed in exhilaration as he sent his tutor flying. "Holding back is overrated"he boasted. It wasn't over, because Thantier was just beginning to play as well.

*"I hope you like rebounds"*

With that statement, he pushed Voltis' last attack back at him. Fortunately, Voltis saw that coming. This wasn't his teacher's only trick, however. Thantier surged at Voltis with blades of raw energy, forcing him to counter with his own blade. The two exchanged blows for what seemed like hours, neither seeming to truly gain the upper hand. At last, Voltis knocked a blade from his teacher's left hand, grabbing it from behind him and holding the edge against his throat. "Wow, you've definitely improved"Thantier stated, admiring his disciple's prowess. "The only other student who could pull that off graduated last year"he continued. Voltis remembered that student, she was unbelievably talented. The fact that he now rivaled her in terms of skill made him the greatest student fighter in the guild.

*Meanwhile, Voltis' Father and the core commanders arrive at Hiron.*

The Ravan Military had already arrived, and they were ripping the city apart. The streets were littered with corpses, rubble and ash. It was a bloodbath, the Central Government was attempting to evacuate citizens while the Noble Elites took on the bulk of the Ravan High Army.

*The War Began*

*There Was No Negotiating*

## CHAPTER 2: Battle Of Hiron

 The smell of burning fuel and rotting flesh was nauseatingly intense, all around Hiron the sound of battle shook the streets and collapsed entire skyscrapers. Soldiers that served the Ravan Nobles raided stores and homes, murdering anyone that they encountered. Most of them wore the same fitted black armor with red markings, but the commanders displayed extra heavy armor with cycloptic visors and reversed colors (red with black markings). Some of the horrific events occurring at the time involved civilians vomiting blood and other fluids due to radiation poisoning, CG officers and lieutenants being brutally interrogated, and children crying while tightly gripping their half dead parents. There were hover tanks and military transport vehicles patrolling the streets alongside mastodonic battalions; while not more than 2,000 meters above the city, massive airships blockaded the area with swarms of gunships, fighters, bombers, and attack aerospace craft.

The Noble Elites had just recently arrived to fend off the raiding forces, and like their enemies, they were also armed to the teeth. The game changing factor, however, was the presence of Exilus. He had brought out all of the stops in order to end the battle as quickly and efficiently as possible. As always, standing right beside him was Commander Jade, her loyalty unwavering.

"Dear Gods, what have they done?!" Exilus asked himself, shocked and exasperated. "Jade, have your troops split up and scout the south, east and west sectors, I've got the north" he ordered. Charging towards the enemy, his helmet shrouded itself over his head, producing a blue glow from its eyes. Exilus unsheathed Ion, and cut through large waves of troops. Because of its plasmic edges and tip, Ion melted through the armor and flesh of its victims. Some of the Elites that followed him used their jump packs to leap over buildings and shoot down the battalions from above, assisting Exilus to carve a path for his followers. Not holding back, he used the energy inside of him to charge himself, visibly emitting lively blue electricity all over the outside of his body. (*Cobaltions, as well as Azuranites, have the ability to "charge". This means that they can use the electricity inside of or around them to increase their power. The more they charge, more electricity will surround them, and their power will increase. It's effect is far more powerful for certain individuals than others.).*

Not too far away, Jade had begun her own assault. Her gorgeous deep purple hair was a rare trait among Cobaltions, and it truly made her stand out among her brothers and sisters. She unsheathed an energy blade; it was one handed, perfect for her agile fighting style. Jade noticed that there was a much smaller concentration of foes in her vicinity. This could mean only one thing, she was behind enemy lines. Leaving the majority of her troops under the command of a Major, she took a squad of four elites into the heart of the city. The Ravans had it locked down tight at the city square. There were tanks at the end of every block, and the sky above was shrouded by the presence of the flagship *Evercrimson*. Directly in the middle of a clustered battalion was the Field Commander, Emerion Tygon.

The man was branding the same armor as typical of a Ravan Commander, except for a blue marking that symbolized his rank. He had tactical command of the forces in Hiron, and he wasn't going to let the Everians soil his progress. Emerion was a veteran of many battles, and was an old, experienced combatant. Unfortunately for him, there was a crippling flaw in his strategy; Exilus was serving as a distraction. This was significant because he was the most renowned of the opponents, and 75% of Tygon's ground forces were tasked with fighting him. Meanwhile, clever Jade was preparing an ambush. "What an idiot, he's leaving himself exposed to our entire invasion force! If I wanted to, I could just order the fleet to erase him!" Emerion exclaimed, annoyed. He couldn't comprehend Exilus' seeming stupidity. "Reves forbid he attempts to rush me."he thought to himself.

Suddenly, thousands of soldiers were either incinerated or thrown hundreds of feet in the air. A blast of lightning almost hit Tygon, had he not ducked. Just a few hundred meters away, Exilus wasn't only slicing through the opposing units, he was *carving through tanks. This wasn't an ordinary man, it couldn't be. Those were tanks that could withstand most airstrikes, and they were being sliced apart by a man with a sword.* "DO SOMETHING YOU FOOLS!"the High Army Leader screamed, almost fearing for his own safety. Within a few seconds, the entire barricade had been destroyed, and Exilus stood a mere 20 feet in front of Emerion's command post. Regaining his composure, the Commander signaled for his guards to stand down. "I'd like to congratulate you for making it this far"Emerion started "But you're caught in my web, little fly.". Exilus smiled at his opponent's overconfident comment, he know the outcome was truly in his favor. "Kill Him" Tygon ordered to his shock troops, as they moved in on their target.

On the rooftops above, Jade got into position. Ordering her teammates via hand signals, she sprung the trap. The seemingly captured Everian officers attacked their captors and shot them down, followed by Jade herself joining in with her forces. Emerion called in several airstrikes, but Exilus was already on it. He charged himself just enough to outspeed the attack craft, and cut through them one at a time. Calling for his legion's AA tanks to take out the remaining aircraft, he charged his power to the point where the entire city was quaking from it. Launching himself towards Emerion at high speed, he hit him with a left hook so hard that his helmet shattered to pieces. Getting back up, the Ravan Commander spat out a spray of deep red blood. His hair was a fading silver, and his left eye was missing, covered with a ghostly scar. He gave Exilus a look of hatred and malice, and began charging his own pale blue energy. The two warriors surged towards each other, colliding with a fiery exchange of blows. There was static and stray lightning flying across the vicinity, incinerating buildings, vehicles, and soldiers. While Field Commander Tygon was certainly a fearsome opponent, he was no match for Exilus. Being *much* faster, Exilus was able to foresee Emerion's every attack, and counter accordingly. Delivering a huge uppercut to the stomach, which shattered ribs and ruptured organs, Exilus ended the quick duel.

Coughing up even more blood, Tygon fell to the ground. "Damn it, not now"he said to himself through gritted teeth. "All Ravan forces across Hiron, *stand down,*"was his last order. His lieutenants looked especially surprised, mostly due to the fact that their leader was so incompetent. One of the lieutenants stepped forward, shaking his head in disappointment at the sight of his broken superior. "You have no right to be called a Commander, I'm disgusted!" he mocked. Looking up at Exilus, he removed his helmet. His hair was medium length and parted, a borderline purple; his eyes were wine red. Brandishing a scarlet energy blade, he beheaded Tygon. "I never did like false boasting"the lieutenant mocked. Tossing the severed head into the air, he pointed at it and blasted it to smithereens with a red bolt of bio-electricity, continuing; "Placing me under his protection was a pointless move on my father's part".

"Greetings, Exilus of the Everian Guild, I am Miran Ravan- the *true* commander of the forces you now face."

Exilus paused. Did the teenager before him really cause all of this? He knew that the Ravan family's children were never the kindest or most honorable, but singlehandedly deciding to enact *genocide* on an *entire city*? Stabbing Ion into the ground, he left the sword in front of his forces; as if it were a sign that told them to stay put. Miran raised an eyebrow, and signaled for his own forces to ready their weapons- just in case. Balling his hands into fists, Exilus had to fight with all of his willpower to prevent the situation from escalating any further. He *could* have unleashed his power and beaten the brat to a bloody, screaming pulp - not even his morbid bitch of a mother would recognize him - but that would only endanger his followers and lead down a road impossible to return from. Sensing the hesitation of his opponent, Miran stepped back and held his outstretched hand to the sky - Exilus wouldn't dare to strike another Guild Lord's son, now *would* he?

Jade and her squadron walked up to join Exilus, weapons drawn. Both sides were glaring sharpened daggers at one another, but neither wished to engage further unless absolutely necessary. Miran broke the tension, "I think we've done enough here, it's time to leave". He lowered his hand and turned away, looking back only to smirk at Exilus, and perhaps, drive the knife in a bit more. As the Ravan occupiers retreated, Airships flew off, tanks reversed, and the last soldiers climbed aboard military transports. "So much for a real battle"Jade added, feeling incredibly disappointed. "This is *very* bad, Jade. They won't stop here, it's going to get worse, *a lot worse*."Exilus finalized. With that, they ordered the CG to help out affected families, and escort them away from the city.

*A Facade, A False Front*

*It Was Just Beginning*

## CHAPTER 3: First Venture

Voltis had just arrived home from his vigorous training sessions, but he was still full of energy. It was like he never drained himself, there was no such thing as overexertion to him. His father's castle was almost as massive as the Everian Temple, but built just for the noble family. The front yard was monolithic, a neat and collected display of glory much like the temple's lobby. There were statues of his ancestors lined up across from each other, each with a different pose reflecting their personalities and feats. These statues led up to a large replica of Retrion, the founder of the guild and Azuran's greatest hero. He wore carved armor and a helm that covered his entire head, leaving only slits for his eyes to peer through. The design was similar to his father's own armor and helm, but made of older, possibly even stronger materials.

Walking through the main doors and removing his boots, Voltis headed upstairs. There was a large portrait of his father at the base of the staircase, and multiple decorations reflecting his family's legacy. The floor upstairs was much more comfortable than the polished crystal below; a refined carpet that was perfect for pretty much everything. Preparing himself for his next quest, he fixed himself a quick meal; honey glazed fish with star berries. The only other person inhabiting the building besides Voltis was his twin sister, Rina. She was as typical as they came, very annoying, yet irreplaceable. Her hair has a shimmering cyan, with pigtails that went down to her elbows, and bangs covering her right eye (much like Voltis' bangs); her eyes were a lustrous cherry red. She wore a lolita style dress with knee high boots and a black bow tie.

She greeted him with an obnoxious "I MISSED YOU SOOOO MUCH!", receiving an eye roll from her brother. "Hey, Rina"was his simple reply, as he walked right past her and into his bedroom. Locking the door behind him and producing static around the frame, he blocked out his sibling's abnormally disconcerting "You're so mean, I'm telling Dad!" rant. *"To even begin to try and live with her"* Voltis thought to himself. He cleaned the grime off of his armor, and buffed out several scratches made by Thantier's blades. While the armor itself was very strong and resilient, it wasn't on the same level as his father's. He didn't care; the teal carvings and crystal chest stone were incredible on the eyes. His armor was much lighter than his father's; fit for his age.

Voltis left his armor on his desktop, replacing it with normal attire. This included a black and white plaid jacket, black skinny jeans, and b&w sneakers. He opened the door, checking to make sure his sister was gone. Fortunately, she had left the hallway; he was grateful. Running downstairs and outside, he made his way to the backyard. It was gorgeous out, and the sky had regained its normal hue. The yard was well maintained, and the air was fresh with neutrality. Around 250 acres wide, the Everian Manor's yard was absolutely stunning. Voltis waited for a dropship to arrive; he was going to assist a local Azuranite tribe in fending off Storm Hornets.

A dull drone could be heard, it slowly got louder until the wind around Voltis was creating a small cyclone. It had arrived, and was full of Central Government forces. The dropship was about the size of a small cathedral, and could carry up to 200 soldiers on board. Landing on an open patch of grass, the airliner sized transport vessel's engines were disengaged. Out stepped Guard Captain Kai, the heavily armored soldier who accompanied Voltis during his father's speech. Kai was a very quiet man, never speaking unless it was absolutely necessary. His armor obscured any recognizable facial features, aside from his piercing crimson eyes.

Walking over to Voltis, Kai spoke for a brief moment; "We've just received word from the Azuranites, the hornets are coming at them *en masse."*

"I've never liked those bugs, they always attack the moment they see anyone"Voltis replied to his silent guardian. Whilst walking inside the sleek transport, he failed to notice a familiar figure entering through the airlock. The ship roared to life, once again engaging it's thrusters and shooting across the skyline. Inside of the ship's cargo hold, Rina had stowed herself away; she wouldn't be left out again. Climbing a ladder and opening the door that lead to a secondary passenger section, she seated herself. Rina was completely in the dark on what she would be encountering.

Arriving at the small village, Voltis noticed that the hornets were already being pushed back by Azuranite forces. The crystalline warriors were powerful and hulking, easily capable of crushing the 2 foot insects with their bare hands. Kai brought out a fumigation squadron; these soldiers wore thick padded armor, armed with both flamethrowers and cattle prods. Charging into battle, he unsheathed a two handed battle axe, having plasmic edges similar to those of Ion. Cutting through swathes of hornets, he sent legs, heads, wings, and torsos flying across the battlefield.

Voltis could finally cut loose. He didn't need any weaponry, only his natural abilities. Charging himself as much as possible, he caused more than one avalanche of rocks to crush the bugs standing in his way. Storming forth at high speed, he punched and kicked through the creatures; their chitin armor cracked apart like plastic. While he was fighting, a large hurricane of lightning surrounding his every movement. He definitely inherited both his father's prowess and courage. Out of nowhere, a 5 foot long hornet guard dove and pinned Voltis to the ground. It's mighty mandibles came within an inch of his face, but he merely laid a hand on it, stating "Goodbye". Without warning, the hornet was turned into ash by a lightweight version of Voltis' sustained shock. Getting back up, he continued to pummel the arthropods with charged fists, unhindered.

Back at the dropship's landing site, Rina made her way outside. A large shadow hung over her shoulders, and a wet substance dripped on her hair. Opening it's maw, the enormous insect behind her prepared to devour it's unsuspecting meal. Fortunately, Rina spun around and fell into the mud before it could crush her. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?! GET AWAY!!"she screamed at the top of her lungs, attracting the attention of even more hornets. The 20 foot long monstrosity in front of her was none other than the hornet *Queen*. It had been waiting patiently the whole time, detecting Rina's presence within the vessel. Surrounded by hornets similar to the one Voltis had dispatched, as well as the brood's colossal monarch, it seemed to be the end for her.

Suddenly, the hornet guards were picked off by an unseen figure; Rina nearly cried out of relief. "Bring it, you unholy bitch!"Voltis shouted at the insect, materializing right in front of his sister. The Queen snarled and spread her wings, revealing an impressive 35 foot wingspan. "Stand Back!"Voltis barked, preparing an attack. Feeling the energy course from within, he pushed out his palms. Unleashing an *unbelievable* amount of lightning at his foe, Voltis slowly incinerated her. Just as the hornet was about to impale him with her stinger, she dissolved into nothingness. Relinquishing his energy, Voltis faced his sister. "Don't do something that stupid ever again, you hollow head."he said with a relieved tone. "Voltis, I didn't want you to leave."Rina replied in a solemn voice. Softening at the sound of his sister's concern, he patted her on the head. The siblings embraced each other warmly, and headed down the cliff to meet with Kai.

The Captain was conversing with the Azuranite Chieftain, agreeing to station guards in his village. For someone who rarely spoke, Kai had no trouble getting along with those he met along his travels. The tribe was especially grateful to Voltis for getting rid of the storm hornets' leader, which would insure that they never came back. The Chieftain was muscular and heavyset, about 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. With four gleaming yellow eyes and lower fangs that protruded from his jaw, as well as a head crest of spikes, he looked quite barbaric. His crystal body was a reflective, alien green; showing his importance. Despite these features, Chieftain Ter'adir was a very kind and benevolent ruler.

Kai was very concerned due to Rina's sudden appearance. He urged for both her and Voltis to head back home. Voltis grinned, he didn't need the dropship to get back quickly; in fact, it was far too slow. He picked up his sister and sprinted away from the settlement at high speed, with the teal trail of static tracing his movement as always. Rina couldn't believe the speed that her brother possessed; her eyes were watering from the intense acceleration. "Slow down, I'm gonna pass out!"she yelled in her brother's ear, causing him to slightly wince in pain. "Not a chance!"he replied arrogantly, unwilling to ease the thrill. The wide open plains outside of Ion were truly a sight to behold, with Azuran's blue star lighting the way. Taking a detour, he arrived at the Everian Manor's back porch within a few seconds. Setting his dazed sibling down gently on a reclining chair, he wiped the sweat off of his brow and walked in through the back. Rina turned to her brother; "Oh, by the way, I'm still telling Dad"she stated casually, giving him the most irritating smirk that she could manage. Voltis didn't respond, simply closing the door behind him.

Voltis *had no idea that tomorrow would bring a battle for the heartland. It would be time for him to prove himself to the masses.*

## CHAPTER 4: Proving Grounds

Exilus, Jade and the Noble Elite forces had just returned from battle, arriving at the temple's barracks. The vehicles used in combat were placed in their respective hangars, and any recovered bodies were respectfully cremated. The living quarters were very spacious, with every group of 200 soldiers receiving their own rooms. There was a mess hall capable of fitting up to 150,000 people inside, and hovering transports that acted as shuttles, escorting each soldier to their assigned table.

Jade and Exilus had been sparring for what seemed like hours, but Jade was upset that Exilus refused to use Ion. She wanted him to stop holding back so much, it bothered her to no end. Deciding on one last match, the duo unsheathed their blades and struck defensive positions. They used the same room that was previously ravaged by Exonus and Thantier, noticing the burn marks and ash surrounding every corner. Nodding simultaneously, they charged forward; both of them were prepared to win. In a split second, Exilus slid underneath Jade, swiping his sword horizontally. She easily avoided, and recovered with a series of layout flips. Countering with a barrel roll twist, Jade thrusted her blade forward; barely missing the Everian Lord. Exilus sped towards his Commander and drove her to her knees with a strong downward thrust. Forming a second blade, she leaned back and used her momentum to knock him backwards. Falling to the ground, not a second had passed until Jade was on top of Exilus; her swords at his chest and neck. She had won; wearing a confident smirk. "I guess I win, thanks for the match"Jade exclaimed, earning a sarcastic look from her superior. The quick duel had given both fighters plenty of energy, adding to their already superhuman abilities. The two split up; Exilus headed home and Jade left to train the NE Forces. However, both of them failed to notice that they were being watched.

"Lord Miran, I've mapped their coordinates; they haven't a clue of what we're planning"the mysterious figure said into his comlink. His glowing eyes were the only thing peering through the darkness of the gymnasium rafters. The figure was an Azuranite spy working for the Ravan Nobles; his task was to locate and assassinate both Exilus and Jade. "Don't fail me Ker'al, I'll be watching" Miran replied, safely aboard the *Evercrimson*. Ker'al was a veteran mercenary, and he'd been working with the Ravans for hundreds of years. His appearance was similar to that of Ter'adir, while only slightly less imposing. A large, deep scar ran across his face and down his abdomen; this was due to a previous battle with said Chieftain. Powerful as he was, Ker'al was merely a pawn of the Military. His left fang was broken in half, a symbol of experience, and his eyes glowed red instead of yellow; a symbol of betrayal. Using his energy manipulation abilities, he speedily crawled across the ceiling. Without being seen, he leaped on top of the roof; preparing to pounce on Jade. She was walking directly below him, an easy target. "I refuse to believe that this woman is as strong as Lord Miran had promised, it's not plausible"he exclaimed to himself, seeing that the High Commander was at least four feet shorter than him. "I'll break her, and then chew on her like a toothpick"he rambled confidently.

Sensing an odd presence, Jade held up. Motioning for her platoon to hold together, she charged her power steadily. Without warning, Ker'al jumped down and pounded his fist into the ground, emitting a massive shock wave that knocked his opponents around like bowling pins. Unveiling her blades, Jade got into a yoga like position; standing on one leg with both swords crossed above her head. Her eyes turned an amethyst shade of purple, with static of the same color surrounding her body. Ker'al stared at her with an inquisitive expression, he hadn't seen a move like this before. Jade lurched forward, swords behind her back; leaping over her attacker's head. She let out a battle cry that screamed of anger and determination. Ker'al quickly swatted her away with one hand, sending his opponent slamming through walls. Leaping high into the air, he clenched both fists together above his head, and bashed them into his opponent. Picking Jade up and holding her between both hands, Ker'al gave her a sadistic look, and began to charge his own power. Sending millions of volts coursing through the High Commander's body, he threw her with all of his might; sending her flying once more. leveling several hangars, Jade left a small crater where she landed.

Much to the assassin's dismay, Jade simply got back up and brushed herself off; wearing a cocky grin. "If only I had told you sooner, I'm not at all like the soldiers you just murdered"she began; "They were just standard cannon fodder. I however, am unlike any opponent you've faced before!". Jade leaped out of the crater and tumbled over opponent, prepared to drive her blade into his back. Before she could do this, the mighty Azuranite knocked her to the ground with another blow. No longer holding back, Ker'al began to overcharge himself. Enormous waves of blue lightning shot from his titanic form as he roared in exhilaration; he was now at his maximum power. Jade quickly got up and avoided his initial charge; he simply turned back around, no longer bound by momentum.

Charging and firing energy blasts, Ker'al's expression changed from a smirk to a menacing snarl. "You can't outrun me!"he exclaimed; repeatedly swiping at Jade and tossing her across the vicinity. Recovering and throwing a punch that carried her opponent through a nearby skyscraper, Jade began to unleash her own overcharge ability. Speeding from the wreckage like a arc of unstoppable raw power, Ker'al charged energy into his fist; transforming it into a blast upon contact with the fuschia maned Commander. Jade landed with the force of a large nuke; causing her point of impact to be disintegrated in a giant ball of plasma. Ker'al laughed heartily at his prey's seeming downfall. "I knew you would be no match for me! Surely, you realized that your death was imminent!"he shouted in Jade's direction.

Purple light flashed from the massive smoke cloud, followed by a swirling tornado of electricity. Ker'al's eyes widened; *it couldn't be, impossible! She was gone; obliterated!* Charging a huge plasma sphere with both hands, the Azuranite mercenary screamed at the top of his lungs; prepared to deliver one last explosive blow. Walking from the inferno behind her, Jade appeared to be almost unscathed; aside from a few bruises, ash marks and lacerations. Turning into a living energy conductor, she unsheathed her dual swords yet again; swinging them out to either side of her form. Spinning her blades and flying towards the would be killer, she bathed herself in raw lilac energy and flew at him like a screaming comet- laterally slicing through him as if he were made of butter. Jade landed lightly on her feet, not even looking back at her assailant.

Ker'al stood motionless, groaning in pain. There were two cleanly cut, smelted gashes cleaved straight through either side of his abdomen. His mortal injuries oozed thick, molten viscera; and ablated chunks of crystal flesh fell from his body like hot wax. Emitting a low gurgle, a last set of words gruesomely escaped his throat: "It's..not...over!*"*. Unexpectedly, a delayed third wound appeared- this time straight through his neck. Spouting more incomprehensible dialogue, gurgling blood and mucus leaked from his throat as his head fell off his shoulders with a final guttural grunt. "Fuck you"Jade said with a quiet, disgusted whisper; sheathing her weapons. Looking at her opponent's lifeless form one last time, she got up and walked away as Ker'al's corpse slumped to the ground with a dull thud.

Voltis had woken up to Rina screaming hysterically. He shot out of bed and nearly hit his head against the wall behind him. This could mean only one thing; his father was back. Waking down the hall and trudging downstairs, he felt the effects of his training session yesterday; his awareness and agility had once again increased. Being a Speed Born definitely had it's perks, and it was something he highly enjoyed bragging about. Walking barefoot on the cold floor downstairs was always jarring; the most unpleasant part of the morning.

His sister was literally running back and forth as if she'd been stung by another one of those hornets, causing Voltis to roll his eyes and exhale deeply in response. "He's back! Dad's back!"she exclaimed excitedly, prompting her brother to shake his head in dismay. The 7 foot tall figure of their father entered the lobby, his signature armor present as always. "How are my kids doing?"Exilus asked, wondering how their first day of complete independence had gone. "Dad you wouldn't believe it! I crushed an entire army of storm hornets!"Voltis replied pridefully. "That's great! You bring honor to our family and to the guild!"his father exclaimed in reaction. Rina jumped onto her father ecstatically; wrapping her arms around the back of his neck and embracing him with tears in her eyes. "I MISSED YOU *SOOOO* MUCH!!"the energetic girl cried out; still not letting go of her paternal figure. Voltis once again cringed in annoyance, resting his forehead on his right palm.

Easing Rina off of his shoulders and setting her on the ground, Exilus walked downstairs; he had business to attend to. Heading down a seemingly endless spiral staircase, the Everian Patriarch walked into a dimly lit hall. The hallway was lined with various busts and portraits; each presented in chronological order. The armor and primary weapons of each ancestor were placed alongside them, offering a personal tour of Exilus' familial history. The hall's end beheld a large metal door; with an odd device placed beside it. Exilus pressed his hand onto it's surface, causing the entrance to shift open; in turn revealing an incredibly bright sanctum.

He had received word of Jade's violent encounter, and how the subsequent fight destroyed a large section of the 45th District. *This is insane;* he thought to himself, still in the dark on what his enemies had been planning. Pressing on another hand panel, Exilus opened a display that contained Retrion's legendary *Armor of Revolution*. The armor was composed of a blacksteel base (much like his own armor), with secondary layers of shock crystal carved and welded into the sides, edges and joints. It was more like a metal shell than fitted plating; indicating it's ancient nature and the dire situations his ten thousandfold great grandfather experienced. However heavy and outdated it appeared, the war armor was far more advanced than anything currently residing in the Everian arsenal.

"Let them come to Ion"Exilus stated; activating analog mechanisms and literally walking into the war suit. Voltis and Rina had hurried downstairs just in time to watch their father become encased in metal. Voltis' eyes went wide with awe while his sister buried her face into his chest out of fear. She was shaking; he had never seen his sibling so afraid in his life. "It's alright, Rina; I'm doing this to protect you, you'll be safe"Exilus assured his daughter. Rina let go of her brother and looked back up at her father with an eased expression; but Voltis' awestruck face quickly turned into one of anger. "What are you talking about?! Are you telling me that they're coming here?!"he shouted in confusion; "Why am I always told of something important at the last second?! I'm sick of this!". With that, he ran off defiantly; hoping to prove himself worthy of fighting for his home. For some reason, Exilus understood his son's sudden action - he was finding himself.

Back on the *Evercrimson*, Miran was about to prepare his next assault. The 18 year old heir stood on the bridge, about 4500 kilometers from the Ion Megaplex' location. His fleet was comprised of 82 Airships, 60000 VTOLs, and close to 100000 additional attack vehicles in the hangar and cargo bays of each ship. His soldiers numbered in the millions, not counting the 866000 War Automatons currently in storage. Miran's personal elite squadron stood by him; two on each side. They were hand picked by his father to accompany the young noble; four of his finest soldiers. The soldier on the far right was large and muscular; around 7'5" tall. On the far left was a girl who couldn't have been older than 20. The inner soldiers were entirely identical; presumably twins. Sending them off to wreak havoc, Miran sat down in his war chair and drank from a crystal glass of sky cider.

Smoke was visible for miles, it seemed to Voltis that there had been a nuclear meltdown of some sort; and his guess wouldn't be far off. Running back upstairs to his room, he got ready to find out the truth behind these strange events. Looking outside of his window, he noticed a small transport craft land in the nearby field. It wasn't of the colors that he recognized; this VTOL must have been a Ravan landing shuttle. Guards were rushing out of the castle, grabbing weaponry of all kinds and setting up at the castle walls. Closing the gates, they assumed combat positions.

Out of the shuttle stepped Miran's elite soldiers. They were clad in jet black armor that looked almost as strong as Exilus'; each of them wielding twin swords proportionate to their size. The young female, who led the group, spoke into her comlink, "Lord Miran, we've engaged the target's troops; awaiting your reply."

The elites overcharged themselves and overpowered the NE guards within seconds, leaping over the 300 foot walls in only a few bounds. Smashing through a large window pane, the merciless intruders began to rip the castle's interior asunder in search of Exilus. Opening the unlocked door into the main lobby, each of them split up. Voltis could hear the carnage clearly, heading downstairs in an instant. He had to find Rina - she moved around too much to still be downstairs. Running outside, Voltis saw that his sibling was nowhere to be found. "Dad must've taken her somewhere safe."he thought to himself, hoping for the best.

He charged himself to 20% of his total power, and prepared to face the Everian Castle's infiltrators. On the balcony above him, his first opponent showed himself. It was the muscular elite- known by his code name, Uriah. Jumping down silently behind Voltis, the soldier unsheathed a wrist blade. Sensing the imminent danger, Voltis leapt away immediately. Sizing up his opponent, he decided to attack - beginning with a quick thrush of close quarter punches that threw Uriah into a wall; which cracked from his weight. Getting back up with an angry growl, he rushed Voltis at high speed; grabbing and tossing him through a nearby greenhouse.

Voltis recovered and skidded across the ground - his new assailant was slightly tougher than he'd first assumed. "I take it you're the old man's kid?"Uriah inquired, "I'm not going easy on you, don't worry."he continued, brandishing his plasma swords. Realizing that Uriah wasn't too bright, Voltis figured that he could trick the brutish assassin easily. Charging himself to 25%, he ran out of the way; leaving a look alike static image in his place. Uriah took the bait by slicing through this doppelganger; causing it to disappear. Cursing at his foolish impulse, he turned around too late. Voltis unveiled his own energy blade, produced by his own powers. Surging forward, he locked blades with his burly opponent; staggering him. Uriah broke the lock with his momentum, causing Voltis to fly through the air. Recovering easily and launching himself from the castle's wall, he unleashed a volley of electric blasts; turning his hapless foe into a molten statue.

Admiring his handiwork, Voltis believed it would make a great addition to the courtyard. He had sealed Uriah inside of his own armor, killing him through it's conductive material. Curious as to what his vanquished foe looked like under the helm, he peeled it from his face; dropping it and jumping back. What was once a recognizable man had become a grotesque fried corpse. *One down, three to go,* he thought*.* Heading back inside, Voltis was faced with a frightening sight. Rina hadn't made it outside - she was held hostage by the remaining intruders.

"One step and your walls get a new coating of paint!"shouted a female elite - the group's leader, holding a sword to Rina's throat. Freezing in place, Voltis didn't even have to move. Out of nowhere, a familiar figure punched the soldier and sent her flying through a window. It was his father. "Back off!"Exilus spat at the enemy kunoichi. He knew she wasn't dead, but at least she wouldn't bother them for the next 5 minutes. "Voltis, take Rina to the temple right now!" Exilus ordered, unsheathing Ion. Voltis lifted his sister over his shoulders and took off, peeling away at top speed.

Rina had been knocked unconscious by her assaulter; she was barely breathing. Arriving at the temple within seconds, Voltis witnessed Central Government workers run back and forth gathering information as soldiers patrolled the premises. There were tanks and transports surrounding the vicinity, preventing any potential threats from breaching the area. Taking his sister indoors, he headed to the infirmary. It was a moderately large room, around the size of a train station lobby. There were all sorts of advanced medical tools and equipment. Everyone from children with toothaches to soldiers on life support could be found in this wing of the temple. Voltis set Rina down on the most comfortable bed he could find; calling out for a nurse. An emergency team arrived within moments and put her on oxygen. He was told that she would recover within a day, and could come back home immediately afterwards.

Back at the castle, the female soldier had recovered and was fighting Exilus with the Twins in a triple assault. Unfortunately for them, their opponent had faced far worse. Thinking swiftly, Exilus bisected both twins laterally in a single strike; pointing his sword at the Kunoichi. "You haven't beaten me yet"she announced stubbornly, lashing out at him in an impressive acrobatic display. It was obvious to Exilus that she was the only experienced fighter in the group. Her dual katana slashes reminded him of a certain High Commander; meaning that he knew her style quite well. Simply dodging and countering, Exilus stayed just out of harm's way. "Argh! Enough!"she shouted at him; attacking with her fastest combo flurry yet. Smacking her across the room with the flat side of Ion; Exilus had broken one of her swords and her helmet had cracked in half as well.

Struggling to get back up, the assassin was down on all fours, defeated. Without her face guard she was beautiful; red streaks dyed into her cobalt hair and eyes of a unique amber hue. Setting Ion down against a railing, Exilus got down on one knee to interrogate the ninja. "Before I decide what to do with you, I'd like to know who you are"he questioned in a surprisingly calm tone. "You! by showing my face to you, I have dishonored myself!"she shot back, slapping away Exilus' hand. "But";she continued, "I might as well tell you my name". Looking up at him, she stated her full name; "I am Katanya Tyra Uleran". Exilus smiled lightly, as if he were a counselor. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"he asked curiously; "I can see that you aren't like the other Ravan soldiers". With a disgraced look, Katanya grabbed her remaining sword; holding it in a suicidal point.

"WAIT! DON'T"

It was too late; she impaled herself with the blade. Coughing a copious amount of blood, she fell onto her side. "SHIT!"Exilus cried out, grabbing the katana and removing it. He immediately placed his hands on both sides of the exit wound, cauterizing it with his powers. She had passed out, causing Exilus to exhale in frustration. He spoke into his comlink "I need a medical officer at my location immediately!". Exilus began to wonder why he decided to save someone that attacked his daughter - it was definitely out of character for him. Perhaps he realized that some people can change and be led to a better life.

Said Medical Officer arrived with a crash team; carrying the critically wounded Katanya to an EV-15 transport just outside. "I hope that she can deal with this; an assassin's honor and secrecy is their most prized possession"Exilus thought to himself. The damage done to the castle was minimal; but the bodies would need to be properly cremated like those of any warrior. Walking outside, he met up with Kai to discuss important matters. "Captain, I'll need you to watch over my children for the night while the castle is secured and renovated"Exilus ordered, entering his car and driving off to the previously ransacked military base.

The *Evercrimson's* crew had begun to turn around under direct order from the Lord of Ravan; causing a dismayed Miran to curse under his breath. "Father, why must you interrupt my fun"he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose in disappointment. His comlink began to sound; it was his father of course. "What is it, can't you see that I'm busy?"Miran questioned angrily. "You fool, do you not see that the Everians have defeated your best mercenaries?!"a baritone voice replied with an even angrier tone; "You cannot win, retreat immediately!"it finished.

"Yes, Father"Miran answered obediently, ending the transmission and reclining into his seat. The fleet headed for a fortress in the south; ending the ambitious heir's assault.

*With Miran's departure, Ion was safe; for now.*

## CHAPTER 5: Raiva

At the temple, battle tensions had eased. The tanks and soldiers had all cleared out, and Rina made an early recovery. Deciding to walk back home, she was soon joined by an ecstatic Voltis. "Hey, Rina! I'm so glad that you recovered!"he exclaimed; relieved. "Thanks! I think that I wanna be a doctor some day"she replied happily, earning a cheerful look from her brother. He informed her about their father's decision; "Dad says we have to stay at the guild's barracks until the castle is secured". Rina gave him a concerned look; "Can we at least take our things with us?" she asked. "Everything that we'll need is already there"Voltis replied, attempting to shut his sister up. He was excited to properly meet the warriors that worked for his father, especially the legendary High Commander Jade.

Taking a shortcut through a narrow alley, the twins decided to cut through a slum. This was an area where the needful lived; primarily minorities and excommunicated nobles. He remained alert, making sure not to upset any of the more violent inhabitants. Out of the corner of his eye, Voltis spotted a girl around his age. She was beautiful; with ruby eyes that spoke only of hope, and regal blue hair that was even longer than his sister's. The girl was barefooted, covered in dirt marks and wore only a white gown. Voltis knew that he couldn't leave her there, he had to do something. "What's wrong?"Rina asked; getting nervous over her brother's silence. "Over there, that girl"he replied, pointing. "She doesn't belong here with these people, we should take her with us"Voltis stressed; looking back at his sister. "We can come back for her"Rina suggested; prompting the Everian heir to agree. "We'll be back, don't worry"Exonus assured the orphan, prompting her to look over at him and blush.

Walking on, the duo noticed that the barracks was directly ahead; a large domed structure with multiple spires and sectors. Everyone would be waiting for them inside. The 58th District was made up of of hangars and landing areas; home to the Everian Aerial Patrol. Voltis and Rina made their way inside the building ahead; receiving salutes from the guards. As the children of the guild's lord, they were held in the same esteem as their father. This was their first time meeting the prestigious high ranks face to face; an exciting moment. The 100 foot tall gates slid open electronically; revealing a large, glowing hallway. This hallway in turn led to an arena sized conference room; centered around a circular riser; with the seats containing an interconnected desk.

There were high ranks packing said area, including faces both familiar and new. The NE High Ranks were quite distinguished in appearance; recognizable by their lightning falcon neck sashes and marked armor. Electric Blue markings symbolized an Aerial Commander, Purple markings were reserved for Special Ops Commanders and Green markings recognized an Admiral. However high ranking they were, each of them was beneath the soldiers whom accompanied Voltis and Exilus to the gathering. They had all assembled in bunk room 2256 to watch over both Voltis and his Sister.

Outside, a familiar girl had decided to follow her new acquaintances to the base. She was so small that the guards practically let her walk inside. Heading calmly to the reception desk, she called out; "Hey, do you know where I can find a teal haired boy around my age?". Looking down, the receptionist wore a delighted expression. "You must be looking for Voltis, are you one of his friends?"the 20 year old secretary asked calmly. "Well, sort of; I just met him a few minutes ago"she replied. "He's in bunk room 2256 on the 54th floor; I recommend taking an elevator"the cheery woman answered. "I'll let him know that you're coming to see him",she added with an equally cheery expression. "By the way, my name's Raiva"the youth added within earshot. Walking to an elevator just north of her, Raiva jumped up and hit the "enter" button; causing the door to swing open in a jarring manner. It's interior was see through, with plush seats and a pulsing LED floor. Sitting down in the center, she dialed the numbers in a surprisingly fast manner. The elevator door closed; causing it to shoot upwards in a single motion.

Arriving at the destination floor, the pint sized girl jumped off of her seat and ran into a much more homely and welcoming hallway. She noticed blue armored soldiers patrolling the area; they didn't seem to mind her being there. Knocking on a door that read 2256, Raiva was greeted by yet another soldier in blue armor. "Who the hell are you?"he asked rudely, blocking the entrance. "I'm Raiva; watch yourself, dickhead!"she responded boldly; refusing to tolerate the guard's behavior. "My, you're quite feisty! Why don't you get lost, you damn tramp!"he shot back mockingly. From the left, a heavily armored woman arrived; beginning to shout angrily at the insubordinate guard. "Back off!",Jade yelled; punching him hard in the stomach. Doubling over, he coughed and gasped for breath. Looking at the girl before her, Jade practically saw a younger version of herself. Dismissing the guard with a scowl, she rested her hand on Raiva's head; as if to assure her that she was welcome. "What's up, kid? I was told about you; are you here for Voltis?"she asked with a much easier expression. "Yeah, pretty much."Raiva smiled subtly. Jade eased her onwards; the bunk room was very inviting. The room itself was around the size of a large apartment; with two floors and a penthouse spire. Raiva noticed how warm it was compared to the slum; it was like a blessing to her. The layout was very unique and easy to memorize; two bathrooms and a kitchen/dining room on the first floor, bedrooms with a living room on the second floor, and a game room with a hot spring on the penthouse.

Jade gave a farewell salute, heading back to the lobby. As she left, Raiva walked upstairs; immediately laying down on the couch. "So, you came down here on your own,"a familiar voice called out. Opening her eyes, Raiva noticed that Voltis was standing right over her. "Agh! Don't do that!"she yelled; lashing out in an aggressive, yet playful manner. Voltis had changed into simple clothes; jeans, a white t-shirt, and white socks; indicating that he had the day off. "I've never had someone visit me before, this is refreshing."Voltis exclaimed excitedly. Catching her breath, Raiva nodded in acknowledgement. "So you're Voltis?"she asked inquisitively; looking up at the teal haired young heir. "That's me! It's nice to have you here, Raiva!" Voltis exclaimed; surprising Raiva with his knowledge of her name. "Oh, that receptionist downstairs must've told you who I am,"she implied; sitting up and swinging her legs.

"Yeah, your name's really cool; it means *Open Arms* in Ancient Cobalt."

That statement made Raiva quiver- sending shivers down her spine. She had always wanted to know what her unique title truly meant. Since Voltis was descended from ancient nobles, he had to have been correct. Looking out of the large window in front of them, they could see Azuran's mystical sun begin to set. Voltis sat down next to Raiva and wrapped his arm around her shoulder; causing her to shiver once again. She quickly relaxed, however; being much too tired to care. Both of them stared at the massive orb in the sky for what seemed like hours, as it slowly dipped below the horizon. They fell asleep as it disappeared.

Upstairs on the Penthouse roof, Guard Captain Kai watched for intruders. Next to him was Rina; she'd been running back and forth all day, finally finding rest on a sleeping mat. The room overlooked a balcony; with Azuran's detailed skyline above, stars and pastel astral bodies making up a surreal display of cosmic radiance. All around the spiraling highways and tunnels that made up Ion's streets, activity was bustling in full force. By midnight, thousands of airships were ready to deploy; the Central Government was setting up a blockade around Ion to insure the city's continued security. All stops were being pulled after Miran's fleet was spotted; there would certainly be more of them coming. Despite this, the Barracks' soundproof infrastructure prevented noise from being heard and vibrations from being felt; in turn preventing Voltis, Raiva and Rina from being disturbed.

Raiva woke up to the sound of a noisy street; the scent of smoke and noxious gas filled the air. Opening her eyes, she found herself back on the sidewalk of that dark slum. A layer of thick smog and silent lightning dimly lit the sky above, leaving everything else shrouded in an uneasy blackness. Getting up and walking along an uncanny red path, she followed a dull, droning voice that filled her chest with numb vibrations. Unable to feel anything around her, Raiva noticed that the slum was detached from anything that resembled solid ground; instead replaced by a stretch of pure ethereal crimson. Wandering off the edge, she was unable to move, held in place by a force that seemed impossible to comprehend. It simply dragged her along the singular, yet omnipresent pathway. With absolutely no warning, a polytone voice spoke directly behind her; "Welcome child, I've waited here so long for a visitor." Raiva's body went cold as a wet, wrinkled hand rested itself on her shoulder. A figure burned itself into her mental vision; appearing as a cloaked, vile being that was never to be spoken of. Thankfully, it's grotesque features were covered in a black cowl. It spoke again, this time in a mockingly persuasive tone; "Go, head back to your reality...lead me home." Before she could push a breath from her lungs, Raiva heard her name begin to echo; the world retreating into subconsciousness.

Raiva found herself on the floor, staring back at the sofa. Voltis was still asleep, curled up with his head on the armrest. He hadn't moved an inch since last night; clearly indicating that Raiva was silent during her nightmare. Feeling shaken and sore, she stumbled to her feet and headed to the bathroom mirror. Upon reaching the sink she caught a glimpse of herself; her eyes were completely swollen and bloodshot, with dark circles surrounding them. Before she could further investigate, a familiar ponytailed figure appeared behind her, holding her with a crushing grip. "Hooray! I have a sister!" Rina screeched; annoying as usual. "Gah! Get the hell off!"Raiva shouted back; pushing her away. "This means war!"Rina declared playfully; grabbing a pool noodle. "I'm warning you, back off!"Raiva growled; fists clenched. Before she could say another word, Rina had already smacked her in the back; sending her reeling into a stack of pillows. Rina's ensuing laughter was cut off by a pillow to the face. The scuffle woke a startled Voltis; who jumped off the couch and grasped a pillow of his own. He sprinted towards the female duo with an angry expression; bashing his sister upside the head. "I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!"the boy roared; leaping up and down in an exaggerated fashion. The girls stared at him oddly and ceased their hostilities.

Noticing Raiva's weakened eyes, Voltis gave her a strange look. "I'm fine, quit staring at me."she scoffed; crossing her arms and scowling. "Sorry! I was just spacing out!"Voltis manicly responded; attempting to ease the awkward moment. Running up the stairs to the penthouse, he made a quick exit. Rubbing her head, Rina groaned in pain; *I'm telling dad, he's so dead*. "You've got a really pleasant brother"Raiva called out sarcastically, helping her up. "He's just like that"Rina replied; fixing her hair. Raiva needed new clothes; her dress was drenched in sweat and dirt. Having lived on the streets for the majority of her life, she didn't have time to worry about it until now. "I'm going to take a shower and get some rest, I'll catch you later!"she exclaimed, taking her leave.

Rina sneered quietly and walked into her room; changing into her Everian Guild Uniform; a schoolgirl's suit complete with light armor plating meshed over it. It included a tie, a blue jacket with a black button top underneath, studded fingerless black gloves, a blue miniskirt, black leggings and blue combats with three black stripes. Upstairs, Voltis had also changed into his uniform; which was of course his signature light armor. Both of them had school today, but it was no ordinary school. It was a warrior school; mandatory for every noble minor in Ion to attend.

Exilus and a Detoxification Squadron had just arrived at the damaged military base; inspecting the affected sectors. He carefully scouted the area, lifting debris and checking for bodies. Moving in, his team managed to pull out the charred remains of Jade's platoon. There were at least twenty bodies; all of them potential recruits. "What the hell- how did something like *this* happen?"Exilus said; noticing that there was no landing craft or escape pod nearby. The team stumbled upon a nuclear blast sized crater; finding the body of Ker'al. It was too putrid to look at; Exilus even noticed crystal worms picking at his rotten innards. "What an incredible odor," he commented; inspecting the body. After clearing the base out, Exilus left to see his children; he figured they must have missed him.

At the Everian Temple, a roll call had begun. There was no separation by gender or race, everyone was placed into groups based only on level of skill. The rows were sorted by last name; each led by an Everian Noble Heir. There were ten four hour classes; each composed of combat and strategy related lessons. The temple's lower and upper sanctums both contained gymnasiums; with the latter containing a library as well. Voltis and Rina were exempt from the majority of classes via being Nobles, but were still required to guide other students and train.

Thantier began to call out names. As the Headmaster and Lead Supervisor of the temple, he was responsible for the safety of every teacher and student. Voltis was standing by his side; acting as an apprentice and an adviser. He quickly counted each and every student; making sure that no one decided to stay home. Uploading digital notifiers and schedules using his wristlink; a piece of technology that acted as both a computer and a gauntlet, he let everyone know about current events and activity clubs via it's wireless transmissions. Very intelligent; Voltis had a certain level of maturity and knowledge that most others his age lacked. As soon as each student received the information, Thantier began to speak.

*"Welcome to the Everian Temple. I am Thantier Aduran; Headmaster of this school. I am not your friend, your parent or your ally; I'm here to see you either pass or fail. You will be expected to learn a variety of difficult, yet highly useful skills throughout your time at this great temple; including battlefield judgement, strategy and combat. There are rules here, remember that. Several things I will not tolerate in this school include insubordination, disobediance, disrespect of others, and dishonor of any kind. I expect great things from all of you. Dismissed!"*

Voltis and Rina were each assigned a squadron made up of 8 students. They were matched via personality assessments; which came alongside the wristlink notifiers.

After the groups split up, Voltis took attendance. His lieutenant squadmates lined up in front of him; both having a different specialty, different strengths and different weaknesses. His first lieutenant was an anxious boy with a hyperactive demeanor; Fero Mynir. The boy wore a standard uniform; a blue trench coat, blue scarf sash, black undershirt, blue pants, black belt, and black combats with blue stripes. His hair was a side spiked zaffre blue, and his eyes were rose red. Although his personality was jarring and unpredictable, Fero was highly loyal to Voltis; a valued attribute. The girl next to him was hooded; cloaked for some reason.

"Raiva?"Voltis asked; seeing past her disguise. "Yup"she responded, throwing off the cloak. She was wearing royal blue fitted armor, similar to Jade's with the exception of color. "I got sick of that stupid dress; it didn't fit my personality at all."Voltis smirked and rolled his eyes; "Did you take that from Rina's room?"he asked. "There was nothing else I could find that I liked," Raiva admitted with an awkward expression. "Ah, I see,"he acknowledged- shrugging "She won't mind." Stepping forward, Voltis' companion introduced himself, initiating a handshake; "I'm Fero, Heir of the Mynir family." The two exchanged a trusting look; recognizing each other as comrades. They all prepared for the school day; heading inside of the temple. Once inside, they would head to the underground gymnasium for an assembly.

*Voltis' new friend is trustworthy, but can she behave?*

## CHAPTER 6: Ravan High Fortress

Far away from the Ion Megaplex, within the mountains of Terragryph, the Ravan Empire lie in wait. The fleet commandeered by Miran had recently arrived, docking in enormous hangar trenches, which bore into the sides of the nearest mountain. stretched across the peak of this mountain range was the High Fortress, a structure that was bigger than most cities. Miran's flagship had docked elsewhere, in a special hangar that was located next to the Fortress' hidden entrance. Accompanied by at least 20 elite soldiers, Miran strode through the vast hallways. they held a great many guards, each clad in the same mysterious and all covering black armor; armed with 6 foot spears and shields of the same color, their visors a deep red. The heir and his entourage entered the throne room, the largest in the entire fort and laden with Gothic decorum. As Miran continued inside, his soldiers split up and divided throughout the area.

The throne was occupied by a very important figure; he was covered in armor with fanglike spikes that traveled along his shoulder plating. His thick black hair was below shoulder length; ending at the middle of his torso. This was Jakk Ravan, the guild's true Warlord. Jakk's eyes were wine red like those of his son, and the armor surrounding him was highlighted with a red gemstone at the center of his chestplate. He wore a regal circlet with three prongs and a gemstone that matched his armor plating. On the steps below his throne platform stood the elegant Warlady Karra; Supreme General and primary decision maker of the Ravan Military. She was fitted with armor similar to her subordinates, with special engraved markings etched in black across the entire frame. Her hair color matched that of her son and was shoulder length; braided in a ponytail with bangs swooped across her forehead. Her eyes were more of a bright cherry red, indicating that she was married into the noble family.

"You're a fool, Miran,"Karra scolded, scowling at her ambitious son; "Don't be so stupid". Jakk glared at Miran; equally as unforgiving; "I've told you time and time again that your rash actions will be your downfall," he critiqued sternly; "What of your forces? I take it that you were at least able capture Hiron?". Miran looked his father straight in the eye confidently, replying; "I not only captured the city, but I've got the Everian Guild on edge; I cannot wait to crush Exilus in combat!". Annoyed by Miran's foolishness, his father slammed a fist on the throne's armrest; "You're underestimating him, don't think that you can defeat a noble lord's forces alone!". The heir paused; looking to his mother for approval. "Alright, I'll give you another chance to prove yourself. If you can hold your own in battle against Exilus Everian, I will grant you permission to lead all of our forces." Karra concluded, walking down the throne's steps and laying a hand on her son's head.

Miran bowed respectfully on one knee as Karra gently ruffled his hair; an easy, yet sublime grin crossing her face. "If you require any assistance I will send backup to join you, but you must face Exilus by yourself".Miran looked up in question, "Will there be any others?"he inquired. "Yes, expect there to be a few high ranking commanders by his side"Karra responded. "I will best them as well"Miran boasted proudly. "Don't be so sure of yourself, take heed of their capabilities." "Yes, Mother."he acknowledged. "One more thing, Miran," Karra unsheathed a lustrous, deep red blade -- Ryuko -- and pointed it at her son's throat; her scowl turned into a cold, judgemental stare. "Fail this time, and I'll personally make sure you die the most painful death imaginable." Miran looked up and attempted to appear composed, but his eyes betrayed him, revealing primal fear. "I...will succeed in my mission...there can be no doubt." he declared in a shaken tone. The Supreme General uttered a flat chuckle. "I know you will...for your sake, my pitiful child." She sheathed her blade and walked back up the throne room steps, taking a seat in a war chair beside her lord. Staggering to his feet, Miran turned to leave, stopping only to gaze at his father, who merely spared the boy a pitying glance before reclining back into his throne.

With the Everian Guild's recent show of power, the Ravan Military had to pull out more stops; unveiling new technology and deploying more competent field leaders. Miran knew that he needed to improve his tactics, or he'd simply be cast aside.

Miran walked back to the *Evercrimson*'s hangar, where the great General Ram awaited his command. Ram commanded a large majority of the military and could have been considered a warlord himself, if only it weren't for his loyalty to the Ravan Guild. "I've been awaiting you, General"Miran called out, followed by a new group of assassins that were assigned to guard him. The General had not arrived in the *Evercrimson*, but rather from a behemoth armored vehicle, heavily armed and equipped with a drill that could bore through even the strongest materials. He was also surrounded by soldiers that wore unique armor with horned helmets. They were much stronger than the average Ravan soldiers and elites, being personally instructed by Ram himself.

*Ram knew all too well the flaws of Miran's strategic command, his troops were poorly trained and equipped- his parents kept him in check. It was he who had originally intended to marry Karra Vrien- to wage war beside her. The woman's glorious figure won the admiration of many nobles, but he was not a noble. He was subservient to her current husband and guild lord, which was something that he well and truly despised. He had to play the part, if only for the sake of his reputation.*

 Miran grew impatient, there was no time to waste. He had a plan, "General, mobilize your forces to face Ion's front wall, I'm going to show Exilus that we're serious"the heir commanded. The quiet General signaled for his troops to move out, and headed for his earthborer to depart. It was followed by a huge fleet of tanks; T-36 Nakia and T-42 Faima models. Miran and his assassins mounted hoverbikes and left the fortress, taking an alternate path around the mountain.

*Miran was finally going to receive the fight he had long craved. The City Guard would be well occupied with General Ram's army, so the ambitious noble's strike team would blend into traffic perfectly.*

## CHAPTER 7: Tournament

***[Writer's Block; Work In Progress]***

Voltis, Raiva and Fero followed a large group of students in multi file formation as they headed into the temple's main elevator, which could fit hundreds, if not thousands of people at once. The scent of sweat, grease and metal filled the transport, as it slowly reached its maximum capacity. Among the people entering, there were several unknown faces - Viritians, Azuranites and even members of other guilds were present. An assembly of this scale was, supposedly, the first held in many years, and an event that Raiva, Fero, nor even Voltis had experienced before. The mysterious nature of occasions such as these was considered thrilling to most who witnessed and participated, but for Voltis, who had just experienced a serious occurrence himself, it was a cause for concern. No one on the lift platform, with the obvious exception of Thantier - who stood at the front, knew what to expect.

Raiva glanced at the headmaster for a brief moment. His eyes were stern and focused, but his body language suggested that nothing serious was unfolding. Although Voltis and Fero remained astute and on edge, to her, they appeared to be almost dorkish in how anxious they were acting. She had actually stolen the armor that she was currently wearing from Rina's wardrobe, but not even that bothered her in the least. The nightmare from last night had, for some reason, eased her mind and calmed her nerves. She looked over again at Voltis and Fero- both of them remained the same. Rolling her eyes, Raiva focused on the descent of the elevator platform. It had been around 10 minutes since they got onboard, but to the impatient young girl, it felt instead like 10 hours had passed. To Fero, there was a feeling of trust and absolute loyalty. He believed that Voltis was the key to all of this, that only he could lead the other students. With Raiva by his side, then surely she could assist them in taking on just about any task. Unfortunately, his comrade in arms had no formal training (that he knew of), and there was no telling how competent she actually was. Despite this, for the most part he was confident in her abilities. Voltis had spent the night with Raiva, even falling asleep next to her, but he still had no idea of her combat abilities; only that she gave off the aura of both a fighter and a stubborn lone wolf. Her temper was ferocious, certainly, but the young heir had his suspicions.

Finally, the elevator platform came to a halt; arriving at an underground gladiatorial arena. It was the second lowest level of the Everian Temple- located just above the catacombs. The arena was large enough to hold millions upon millions of people at once, easily including everyone currently inside the temple itself. There were hundreds of platforms circling and jutting out from each deck, which made for easier viewing of any events taking place in the gladiatorial pit below. Thantier was the first to step off, taking time to assess everyone that came along, he made certain that no one decided to skip out on an event this important. His eyes crossed over Voltis and Rina first, who were, for some reason, standing on opposite ends of the elevator. Inhaling deeply (in order to prepare himself for the probable disappointment and subsequent complaints of either party) he called them out to stand with him.

"Thing One and Thing Two, please come join me."

He'd called either sibling by those names since they were 2 and 3, respectively- so it was rather obvious to the young Everians. Rina stepped out first, merrily skipping to the Headmaster's side; but Voltis wasn't as easily coerced. Thantier was oddly amused. With a sarcastically cheerful expression, he called out again; "Thing Two, please hurry up and get yourself in gear." Voltis rolled his eyes and walked out rather slowly, prompting Rina to stick out her tongue and place each hand on either side of her head- a universally recognizable gesture. Once again standing at the side opposing his sister, he crossed his arms and adopted a more serious stance. It was traditional for Everian Nobles to take turns calling out each of their subordinates by name, a tradition that either sibling used to take advantage of their personal biases; which often involved selecting favorites first.