Chapter 1: End to Begin Again

  Within a spacious underground cavern of gold illuminated by great metal chandeliers, a pitch battle for the fate of humanity raged.

  “FORWARD! NOT ONE STEP BACK!" Ark yelled, his voice hoarse as he raised Bellrog, the draconic jagged black blade howling its bloodlust with white flames that illuminated the darkness of the spacious treasury room for his companions to see. "They're on the defensive!”

  All around him were corpses of gold clad soldiers, beasts of all manner, and piles of valuable metals that ranged from celestial jewels to solurus spheres, items that could be sold to feed millions for lifetimes.

  Ark grit his teeth and gripped his blade in his muscular and scarred hands, slashing Bellrog and releasing a brilliant wave of fire that shattered the purple barrier of the Royal Guards and set the phoenix cultists alight.

  Their screams plastered against the gilded walls, melting away the piles of valuables as even their bones burned to ash, leaving nothing behind.

  In response Ireliex roared, the Ancient black phoenix spewing cold blighted flames that mingled with his incinerating fire, creating an explosion that forced the two parties to momentarily retreat from one another as walls of dense magicils were conjured to halt the spread of the explosion.

  Five years.

  Five years since he was whisked away from his cushy college life of partying and dnd.

  Five years since he lost his parents, friends, and those he loved.

  Five years of grueling combat and torturing of his mind and body.

  Yet, the journey itself hadn't been all bad, despite the hardships of being in a foreign world, he wasn't alone.

  He had companions, representatives selected by the countries of this world to be their champions against the monstrous scourge that razed entire cities

  “Tough bastard. Why won’t you just DIE already!” Ark hissed, blood pouring from his mouth as he stabbed Bellrog into the golden floor, stabilizing himself against the vibrations that shook the mountainous battlefield.

  “Ark!” Liliana called out, his joy and flower, the brunette woman sliding beside Ark with her once ornate robes now scuffed with grime, blood, and soot from hours of prolonged battle. “Don’t worry! I’ll heal you! I, The Divine, give thee Grace of health! Heal that which is harmed!”

  Immediately Ark felt better, his breathing stabilized, his ribs hurt less, and his mind was clearer. Sadly however, it did nothing to stem the ache and pains of his mana circuits firing at their absolute extreme for so many hours, the backlash of his Liberation Technique and Wu-Style Ki straining at him.

  "How many are left?" Ark huffed, with Liana nearly on the verge of tears as she shook her head.

  "Just our party and the ritualists."

  Ark glanced around, taking in the sight of his dead comrades and subordinates, humans who had come together to fight for freedom and had laid their lives down for the idea of a better tomorrow.

  “Lil! Is Ark ok?! My barrier won't last long!” Jasper, the yellow-coated magician, an arch-mage at the ripe age of ten, a child whose genius rewarded him with blood-stained hands.

  Prince Roland, Knight Xon, and Alexios, his friends and companions. Those Ark had bled with, cried with, and shared nearly every waking moment with, in their fight for mankind’s freedom against the oppressive phoenix.

  “No! No he’s not ok! His mana circuits are crumbling!” Liana cried, placing a tender hand over Ark's rapidly beating heart as her arm began to glow, channeling negative light mana and activating another healing spell.

  “I’M FINE!” Ark barked, forcing himself to stand as Jasper’s barrier faded away and a crisp heat from Irelix's flames washed over him and the others.

  The Empress of phoenix’s snorted, purple fire leaving her nostrils as her golden slitted eyes blazed with unfathomable power.

  Suddenly she began to glow, shrink as she transformed into a much smaller form, that of a humanoid woman with black talons and matching wings. Her body clothed in a silky black dress made of feathers that accentuated her skin that was layered by white scales.

  “Her form shifted!" Ark barked. "Prepare our contingency!”

  “But-" Liana began but Ark cut her off, uncorking and downing several vials concocted by Jasper as the ritualists began to weave their magic.

  "We only get one chance at this," Ark said, holding the woman's worried gaze. "Do it."

  Jasper grit his teeth as Alexios ran forward, the eight-foot-tall silver-clad half-giant raising his matching silver shield to block the torrent of purple flames that spewed from Ireliex's onyx clawed hand.

  "MY FRIENDS! HURRY!" Alexios bellowed, the titan's shield already melting from the intensity of the magic flames.

  Ark turned to Liliana as Roland got in position to circulate Ark's mana. "In case we don't survive. I love you Lil."

  "I love you too!"

  The two kissed passionately, Liana channeling the remnants of her mana through their kiss to heal Ark as Jasper weaved buffs on him while Roland placed his hands on Ark's back and helped to guide and channel the magicils of ki and mana through Ark's core and circuits.

  "AHGH!"

  Pain.

  Immediately Ark's eyes began to bleed with blood pouring from every orifice of his body with the taste of metal staining his mouth.

  ENDURE! ENDURE!

  Liliana hugged him tighter. "Just hang on!"

  "Come on you phebian. Where is your commoner tenacity?!" Roland barked as Xon ran forward, leaping off of Alexios to throw his legendary armament Gae Bulg at the approaching phoenix.

  The cursed spear arced forward, a streak of red energy following behind the spear aimed for Ireliex's core.

  In response, multiple circular purple barriers formed, stacking on top of each other to catch the attack.

  The legendary weapon smashed through the first six barriers, spiraling through them before it was caught by the seventh, creating a massive burst of energy as unbreakable shield met the all piercing spear.

  "Shit... You gotta be kidding me! Guys hurry up!" Xon yelled, retreating as he raised his armored hand expecting his spear to return.

  Yet it didn't, out of the smoke the Empress walked forward, her black dress unharmed with her head turned and the spear caught firmly in her jaw.

  Her golden irises shifted to glare at them, fury in her slanted pupils as she bit down, snapping the legendary armament in half.

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  "N-n-no way…" Xon whispered, shaking his head in disbelief before suddenly seizing up as the phoenix targeted him with her time magic.

  “XON!” Liliana cried as the spearman's protections failed and his body rapidly aged until he was a shriveled husk on the floor.

  "YOU CALL YOURSELF A HOSPITALLER?! PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER WOMAN!" Roland barked, attempting to split his focus to rally the priestess only to widen his eyes as Ark coughed up blood.

  "Ignore the blood! Focus on Ark's core!" Liliana yelled.

  "I know wench!" Roland snapped, the pressure of the Phoenix Empress weighing heavily on the defenders as she neared, causing everyone to simultaneously feel the same thing.

  Fear.

  Alexios screamed, everyone attempting to ignore his death throes as they went to work powering Ark.

  Ark took a breath, every bit of his being bursting at the seams with power as he activated his soul core, riding the waves of augments and buffs that would allow him to activate his triumph card.

  "BELLROG!" Ark screamed, activating his weapon and releasing a burst of violent energy that sent everyone flying. "HEED MY WILL DRAGON! HONOR OUR COVENANT!"

  BEARER OF THE FELLDRAGON...

  You who desire the power of gods..

  ARE YOU Strong Enough to imitate the Apex of all beings?

  "YES!

  ?re ￥ou worthy?

  "YES!" Ark roared, the weapon glittering away as darkened scales appeared across his body at his declaration.

  THEN BECOME THE APEX OF ALL PREDATORS

  His fingers turned to talons, his canines sharpened, and his irises shifted to gold as his body wafted black and white flames that morphed into wings.

  THE COVENANT IS HONORED.

  "ARGGH!" Arc roared, the Empress halting her advance and going wide-eyed as the red-haired human transformed, releasing draconic mana and matching her white scales with his black.

  "IRELIEX!" Ark charged, kicking up an explosion of white flames that shattered the golden floor.

  "BELLROG!!" The Empress's face twisted with disbelief before it changed, warping into fury to meet Ark head on.

  The two clashed, Dragon to Phoenix, claw to claw, neither backing down as blow after blow was exchanged.

  "You MONKIES! YOU DARE IMITATE THE GRACE OF A GUARDIAN?!" Ireliex screamed, racking her onyx talons across Ark's face, gouging his left eye as he sent his uppercut, sending the empress flying.

  "Haaaah..." Arc sagged, visibly wobbling with his vision beginning to pulse from his heart beating so widely.

  He looked down, eyeing bits of himself crumbling away from the Phoenix's attack.

  "ARK!" Liliana cried, racing forward only to be held back by Jasper.

  Focus! Can't stop! Press on!

  Suddenly a wave of immense mana was felt, snapping Ark out of his daze to spy the dragon's breath aimed at him.

  Instincts took over.

  Ark opened his mouth, collecting ki in his throat before he roared, spewing white flames that clashed against the purple tide, creating another massive burst of energy, this time, one that shook the entire chamber.

  The smoke cleared, both figures staring at each other with Ark worse for wear than before their clash.

  I don't have… much time. I have to end this now! Ark said to himself as he turned, the young magician nodding and chanting as the entire room lit up with rampant magic.

  The sacrifice was complete.

  “What is this?!” Ireliex hissed, her eyes darting to and fro at the influx of magic flooding the cavern.

  “A hundred lives given to end yours,” Ark spat, before charging and putting everything he had in his next attack.

  Ireliex charged as well, the dragon meeting him head on.

  WU-STYLE Liberation Technique! Art: SOUL DECAPITATION!

  Ark's talons twisted, his mana circuits pumping everything he had into his hands as the Dragon neared.

  Her eyes widened, recognition in her slit pupils of the danger Ark truly possessed. But it was too late, despite unfurling her white wings she couldn't stop her advance. Couldn't react in time as Ark's mana circuits were forcefully destroyed, drawing in mana, now that he'd emptied everything he had to his talons.

  "How do-" Was all Ireliex could say as Ark's hands slipped through her barrier of time and flame, her magic distorted by the lives of hundreds who fueled the spell to give Ark this chance.

  Then, time froze, the pair locked in what felt like eternity as Ireliex’s words echoed around the chamber.

  “With my passing, so too shall yours be. The strands of our lives are interwoven into a tapestry that spans beyond this moment. Beyond a hundred thousand moments.”

  Then, time resumed, an eerie silence playing out as the phoenix's corpse hit the floor with a loud thud.

  Ark stumbled. His body wobbling only to be caught by Liliana who dove and hugged him as he fell to his knees.

  We… we did it… Ark could hardly believe it. The Long Night. The Long Night was…

  "Ark! Ark! It's ok! It's ok I've got you baby Oh my god your ki circuits!!" Liliana cried, the priestess attempting to pry open his mouth to force a healing potion down now that she was out of mana.

  Ark swallowed, his vision blurry as Jasper appeared and began uncorking vials.

  "We… did it.. guys… we.." Ark muttered, the draconic scales on his body crumbling to ash as his borrowed power faded and his eyes glazed over.

  "Ssssh. Save your strength,” Jasper whispered, the young pre-teen now an old man from the feedback of the spell.

  “J-jas-!” Liliana nearly cried in shock

  "I knew the consequences,” Jasper cut in, “Here. Help me get it inside."

  The fluids were poured down Ark's through, the odd taste of vanilla mixed with peanuts hitting his tongue.

  "You're going to be ok baby! We did it! We did it!" Liliana cried, the priestess hugging Ark. "Please Lord! Please! I can't lose you too! I can't! You were supposed to bring me to earth! To see your world! To meet your parents!"

  How lucky am I to have someone like you… Ark shed a tear. It was quite the adventure.

  Suddenly Ark began convulsing, his body going numb as his muscles went slack and unresponsive.

  Something was wrong.

  "Wha?! Why isn't he healing? Jasper! Why isn't he healing?!" Liliana panicked, turning her head to face Roland who placed the tip of his silver sword into her chest.

  What?

  Ark blinked. His eyes snapping focused on Liliana's shocked expression as she hiccuped blood, spewing it on Ark.

  What?

  "Sorry Lil. For the sake of the future and the stability of the empire, I can't risk Ark or you returning alive,” Roland said, removing his holy sword as Jasper fell on his rear, eyes wide at the man's blood stained weapon.

  "Y-You!! What have you done!" Jasper yelled as Liliana slumped onto Ark, her gasping breaths hitting his ears as she choked on her own blood.

  Lili! Lili! LILIANA! Ark raged, his body refusing to respond and spasming from the feedback of becoming Bellrog’s avatar.

  He could feel her panic, her body trembling with fear as she tried to stem the blood pouring out of her chest.

  "What are you doing! I’ll stop you!” Jasper shouted, attempting to weave his magic only to fail as his old, grey-haired body gave out and he collapsed.

  LILY! LILIANA! PLEASE! PLEASE! Ark cried, his eyes watching as the woman he loved suddenly, hugged him, pressing her warm body onto him until she slumped over and finally died

  "No… please.." Ark croaked, his eyes weeping and drawing Roland's eyes who nudged Liliana off Ark with his boot. “...why?”

  Roland paused, his eyes almost sad despite the cruelty he was dealing.

  “Since we're friends… I'll explain it. With the Fell Phoenix dead, this world has no need of heroes,” Roland said, turning his back to Ark and moving towards Ireliex’s skull. “Especially one who would inspire the rabble to rise up. Make no mistake Ark, I intend to keep my oath to end slavery, but to do so now would throw the Imperium's economy into disarray. And your existence… Well, suffice to say, a populace deprived of their champions is a populace more easily controlled.”

  Jasper mumbled, raising his hand, Ark's last friend defiantly trying to protect him.

  I'LL KILL YOU! ILL KILL YOU ILL KILL YOU Ark's mind raced over and over again, his fury keeping him from succumbing to death that beckoned him.

  "Are you still in there? Can you hear me?" Roland prodded, his silver eyes peering into Ark's fading gold. "I want you to know you brought this on yourself. I told you the world didn't need more heroes, yet you insisted on being a symbol. You mean too much to the world above. For a slave though, you have my respect mongrel. Know that your death is necessary for the world I envisioned."

  "You…" Ark whispered, his crimson dyed lips struggling to produce his words. Roland's expression warped with surprise before he leaned in to hear Ark's final words.

  "I'll… kill. You.. I swear it."

  Roland leaned back, his mouth shaping into a grin that warped into a smile.

  You bastard. You goddamn bastards!! A tear fell from Ark's eye from the betrayal, the man he had called friend turning on him with his weapon raised.

  Why?WHY?WHYWHYWHYWHWYWHYWHYWHWYHWYWHYWHY?! ALL I WANTED WAS FREEDOM! Ark raged internally, his hands attempting to hug Liliana's body, to clutch her close with the last of his strength. Yet he failed, his body slumping over as Roland moved to discard the evidence of his crime.

  I swear! I'll kill you! I'LL KILL YOU! Was Ark's last thought as his head fell from his shoulders, landing on the ground with the last thing he saw being the shocked dead eyes of Ireliex before everything went dark.