[MYRIAD: The Covenant]
Inside the mighty fortress of [The Covenant], in a dimly lit cabin, two [Incarnations] were present, Dongfang Kongbu and Adrian. Kongbu was pacing around the room with a grim expression over his face, while Adrian, seated before a table, was trying his best to keep calm.
"AAAHH!!!", enraged, Adrian swiped at the table shattering and breaking everything on it. "Fuck!!!"
"Calm down!", spoke Dongfang Kongbu, as he carried a lantern containing a dazzling gold flame. "Akelus is still alive."
"That makes it even worse!", yelled Adrian furious and frustrated. "I didn't know the [Olympus] would get involved. They have sent [Hermes]!!! We can't have him get captured by [Hermes] of all people. Fuck, I should not have listened to Agathos."
"Be a bit optimistic, Adrian.", chided Kongbu. "Akelus is not one to get easily captured, especially his ascended version."
"You know what, I would have agreed with you Kongbu, if we were dealing with any other [Incarnation]!!! They have sent an Olympian God over to [Corzox].", replied Adrian, extremely tense and anxious. "If Akelus breaks down and confesses everything, we might get dissolved and exiled."
Kongbu could not refute Adrian, but he shrugged while still pleading Adrian to think positively.
"Haaa...", Adrian sighed. "Have we at least formulated a way into the [Ancestral Planes]?"
"About that... no. The rift-borne have hidden the [Ancestral Planes], and we lack the resources to break through their defenses.", Kongbu sighed in defeat. "All we can do is trust in our sovereign's prophecy."
"Haaa...", Adrian sighed in frustration, holding his head. "We just can't seem to get a single thing done right, huh. Things were way better when our sovereign was still active."
Dongfang Kongbu just gazed upon the glowing lantern in his hand with empty eyes. A look of defeat.
Just then-
Adr-... Adrian...
There was telepathic static crackle. It was Akelus' voice.
"Adrian can you hear me?", Akelus spoke telepathically.
"Yes, Yes, Yes we can hear you", Adrian replied as he frantically sighed in relief.
"I have a way in.", Akelus said.
Adrian was grinning madly, barely able to contain his joy.
"But there is an issue.", Akelus continued, with a frustrated tone. "For some reason I am fighting Hermes."
******** ******** ********
[Outer Sector: Kingdom of Corzox]
Few Hours Ago...
Akelus was following a golden trail of arrows, flying towards a group of five floating islands. These islands hovered over the vast inner city of [Corzox]. The colossal draconian palace of Dragon King Varcielle was at the center of the city. From the palace, the city branched into four sections. Four islands hovered above each section, with the fifth island floating over the Draconian Palace. A very bulky weave of spectral strands held the islands in place, constantly supplying resources from and to them.
The city itself was surrounded by great mountains, and was over the clouds. The mountain peaks were lush green, with several tree like vines sprouting all over them. Entire place was domed by a golden sky making the inner city shine brightly.
The golden arrows pointed to the island hovering above the north-east sector of the city. Akelus looked at it from afar. The island looked industrious, with several factories, industries and forges. It had several fortresses built out of gravel, iron and obsidian. Akelus flew closer to the island, he could see several guards stationed at it's perimeter. Upon seeing Akelus approach them they readied their weapons, preparing for battle.
A dark shadow appeared behind him, it wore silver shades and had a devil's face. It gazed upon the keen and vicious draconian guards putting them under a trance. Akelus slipped past wondering why did they not attack him. The guards just stared blankly at him.
The island was a bustling territory with rift-borne inhabiting it. They worked in mines, factories and forges present on the island. The streets were filled with the rift-borne who were transporting resources and goods across the island.
Still following the golden trail of arrows, he swiftly walked past several factories and forges, till he reached a small cottage. It had a thatched roof and was made up of brick walls. In front of the cottage there was petite little garden, growing several herbs and plants. Akelus walked up to the oak door. There was a lantern with dazzling gold flames hanging by the doorway of the cottage.
Knock... Knock... Knock...
Akelus knocked the oak door thrice.
"Who's there?", a voice was heard from within the cottage. It was the voice of a young child, meek and innocent.
"A weary traveler.", replied Akelus. "I am here to fix my robes."
"One moment.", replied the childish voice. Faint footsteps could be heard from within the cottage as if someone was running inside.
[Pathfinder]
Akelus desired an aide.
The next second, the child opened the door letting Akelus in. The child was a young boy, he had a faint golden hue. The boy looked at Akelus and meekly pointed at another person seated inside the cottage. This person was wearing a black vest and a hood. He was seated before a table and was surrounded by bamboo shelves containing several books and records. The person had pale green eyes and slit iris, a marble smooth face and a scaly frame. He spoke,
"Hello weary traveler, I am Adanis and he is Xylus.", he told Akleus pointing at the child. "How can I be of service to you?"
"Fix my robes.", Akelus spoke as he pointed at his tattered robes.
"You are not from around here are you?", questioned Adanis, he had an ironic mix of a chirpy and raspy tone, unusually persuasive.
Akelus tensed up, almost readying his blade for battle.
"Oh, don't be this anxious my guest.", replied Adanis. "This is not my first time trading with outsiders.
"How did you know that I am not from here?", Akelus said.
"With a disguise like that anyone can discern that you are not from here, especially with the way you communicate with us. Almost similar to how gods communicate. Are you from [MYRIAD]?, questioned Adanis.
Akelus was getting more and more apprehensive of the person sitting in front of him. But he did not act rashly as he was deep within enemy territory. He tried to diffuse the situation by pretending-
"It would be wise not to lie about your faction.", spoke Adanis, as if he read Akelus' mind. "And don't worry this is not the first time I am trading with [MYRIAD]."
"Yes I am from [MYRIAD].", Akelus sighed, calming himself down.
"These are sensitive times my guest.", Adanis spoke, with a broad smile forming over his face. "Rift-borne are apprehensive towards your presence especially the Sentinels. But since you are my customer, I will take good care of you. Xylus hide us for a moment."
"Oh... oh!, oh! I know how to do that.", the young boy spoke as he happily rushed outside, with much eagerness.
Outside the cottage he drew some patterns and erected a translucent barrier around it.
"Hmmm... the barrier is a bit flawed, but no worries we won't be needing it anyways. It was just a bit of practice for the boy.", mused Adanis, as he looked at Akelus. "Now let's get down to business."
"Like I said before.", Akelus spoke as he seated himself before Adanis. "I am here to get my robe fixed."
"And that I can do.", replied Adanis, still smiling. "How much are you willing to pay?"
"I can pay you generously.", Akelus said, his eyes glinting bright gold through the jester's mask, as he leaned back on a chair leisurely. "Say will this be enough?"
[Pathfinder]
Akelus desired for an answer, on how he would be able to enter the [Ancestral Planes]. And this small cottage shined bright gold. This meant he would be able to find an answer here.
He took out a pencil case from his golden ring and presented it to Adanis.
The smile on Adanis' disappeared replaced with a look of awe and shock, his expression becoming more eager and gleeful.
"Is that what I think it is?", he asked Akelus.
"You can open it and see for yourself if you are not that sure?", replied Akelus.
Adanis opened the case and saw a pencil inside, but there was something peculiar about it, the aura around the pencil was extremely dense as if it were warping and twisting the laws governing [Corzox], an extremely powerful artefact.
Adanis quickly closed the pencil case sealing the pencil inside.
"It's a sample straight from the prime universe.", Akelus spoke. "It's quite difficult to procure, but you see I am quite resourceful."
"Well, I graciously accept your humble offer my friend.", replied Adanis, nodding his head.
Akelus placed his palm over the case, he said-
"The price I am offering is way too high for a simple robe. You seem just as resourceful as I am. You know how to discern a god's tongue from others. Say what other services can you offer for this price.", Akelus grinned. "I presume you would have a pretty decent network of information."
"Oh, my guest you think too highly of me.", replied Adanis, with a scoff. "I am but a humble merchant."
"Most entities in any faction wouldn't even realize a god's speech, one needs to know about god's tongue to discern it from other languages.", Akelus scrutinized Adanis. "And that kind of information does not lie around, you have to dig out god's language to learn about it and identify it. So tell me, my friend what other services are you willing to provide me for the price that I am offering you?"
Adanis' face turned stiff as he broke into brief smile.
"What do you want to know about, my guest?", he asked Akelus.
"I want to know about the [Ancestral Planes].", replied Akelus. "I want to know about it's purpose, it's creation and the means required to enter it."
Adanis hesitated for a bit.
"This pencil is not the only sample I can procure from the prime universe.", told Akelus. "We can establish a more favorable trade in the future since you are so open about dealing with me."
After thinking about it for sometime Adanis spoke-
"You have to promise to me on Styx that you won't reveal anything I tell you to anyone.", said Adanis.
"I make a solemn oath on Styx that I will not reveal to anyone about what you will tell me right now about the [Ancestral Planes].", Akelus assured Adanis.
"Good, the [Ancestral Plane] is like our holy ground, our sacred abode. Built by our patriarch, the first Dragon King Valheji's father. It's purpose is total speculation, even the current Dragon King Varcielle doesn't know why it was made, other than the fact that it houses the dead. More precisely the dead rift-borne as well as former Dragon Kings who fall in the [Trial of Ascension]. It is impossible to enter the [Ancestral Planes] unless you are an entity of a Dragon King's caliber. The only other way to enter it is by dying as a rift-borne.", Adanis explained.
Akelus remained silent, blankly staring at Adanis.
"In that case, is there anyway to interact with it?", asked Akelus.
Adanis nervously looked around, fiddling his thumbs.
"Why do you want access to the [Ancestral Planes]?", he asked.
"Inside the [Ancestral Planes] is something called the [Source]. And you see there is a powerful artefact or entity residing inside that [Source]", Akelus replied, he raised his hand gesturing Adanis that he had not finished speaking. "And don't misunderstand me, I am not claiming that artefact or entity for [MYRIAD], neither do I plan to unravel the [Source]. I am simply here for what's inside the [Source]."
"There is something inside the [Source]?", Adanis questioned.
"Yes, and I am not the only one after it.", answered Akelus. "There are other factions as well targeting it. I am here to safely extract the artefact or entity. And unlike me they will all invade [Corzox] without hesitation."
"I am sorry but I really don't know a way in.", Adanis sighed.
"Huuu...", Akelus sighed in defeat. "Well this was a waste of time, I guess I should just have my robe fixed now."
"Well, thanks anyway.", he told Adanis, as he removed his mask and placed it in front of Adanis. "Just fix my robes for now."
Adanis took the Jester mask in his hand and snapped his fingers, summoning a sewing table. He then unfurled the mask into a robe and placed it under the machine. He then summoned a yarn made out of paracausal threads, and began to sew the robe.
"But my ability would not have led me here for no reason, there has to be a way in, there has to be an answer here.", Akelus thought, as he rubbed the temples of his forehead. "Think, Akelus think."
"Your patriarch, the one who created this place can you tell me more about him.", said Akelus.
"Though his name has not been recorded in our history, he has been mentioned in the first Dragon King Valheji's records as his father and creator.", Adanis spoke as he kept sewing the robe together. "That's all there is written about him. In fact the current generation would have forgotten about him if not for the guardian he left behind for us. Because of that he is a very prominent entity in our society."
"Guardian?..", questioned Akelus.
"Oh, he is an immensely huge Draconian Cloud, built purely from ethereal and spectral weave. It roams across [Yggdrasil], expanding our realm. Our salvation, our savior. We call him [The Pioneer].", said Adanis, as he finished weaving the pattern into the robe fixing it.
"[The Purge]!!!", thought Akelus, his face twisted to a smile. "I found a way in."
"Well it's all done now.", Adanis spoke as he returned the jester mask back to Akelus.
Akelus handed over the pencil case to Adanis.
"Pleasure doing business with you.", Adanis spoke saluting Akelus off.
Akelus wore the Jester mask, robes unfurled from it draping him in it.
As he got out of the cottage he was surrounded by several Draconian Guards pointing their weapons at him.
"Surrender now, intruder.", spoke a Rift-borne hovering high up in the sky. He was the Sentinel Typhon.
Akelus just sighed in frustration.
******** ******** ********
[Outer-Sector: Outskirts of Corzox]
Phobos and Hermes approached the barrier of spectral strands around the realm of [Corzox]. Phobos hovered behind Hermes, who created an orange construct.
Hermes made several hand signs resembling different arcane symbols. The orange construct spun rapidly as Hermes slammed it against the barrier. The barrier started warping and shattering, revealing a dim, dark and desolate place. There were several towering and humungous islands floating inside the realm, viciously held by grim, daunting chains. The islands were bound to a huge arena covering the base of the realm.
Hermes and Phobos were welcomed by an army of Rift-Borne hovering above the arena led by Dragon King Varcielle. Hermes raised his hand as a gesture of peace. Dragon king Varcielle nodded as he instructed army to descend below to the arena.
"What brings [MYRIAD] to the [Kingdom of Corzox]?", Varcielle questioned Hermes.
Hermes scoffed as he spoke, "We are here to end [The Purge]. We have reason to believe that his [Source] is housed in your realm."
"The [Source] is responsible for our realm's existence.", replied The Dragon King Varcielle. "We don't know where it is hidden."
"Why do you insist on making this difficult?", mused Hermes. "Surrender the [Source] to us. Or do you really insist on getting your kingdom wiped from existence?, If you are worried about losing a potent realm, don't worry, The Sovereigns of [MYRIAD] shall generously provide you with a kingdom to rule. Do not insist on keeping this realm, save your people from our wrath before it's too late."
"My people are safe under our guardian's benevolence.", said Varcielle. "You have nothing to offer that our Guardian can't. He will ensure our existence, our survival... you won't. We won't let you unravel the [Source]."
Hermes grimaced.
"Hmm... I was quite generous with my offer. I will say again, Surrender the [Source] or face our wrath.", He said, in a grim tone. "Keeping the [Source] will do you more harm than good. [MYRIAD] is not the only faction after it. Accept our asylum [Dragon King Varcielle]."
Glaring at Hermes, Varcielle retreated back along with his Sentinels, as he prepared for battle. His armies below charged towards the two intruders.
"Hahahaha!", Hermes laughed maniacally, as he gazed upon the charging horde of Rift-Borne with a vicious glint. "Then you can die alongside that banished Pariah you call your 'guardian'."
This snide remark immensely angered the mighty rift-borne army.
Enraged, Dragon King Varcielle along with his Sentinels morphed into vicious dragons, roaring in immense wrath and anger.
The battle for [Corzox] had commenced.
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