Valorverse: Dulzak Arc

[True Grave]

At the beginning of time and space, there was nothing but darkness. Nothing existed that lived or did not live. For years uncountable, only this darkness existed. Suddenly, a being of light came to exist. This being of light became known as God to some, known by other names to others. It was a god known as a Creator, and it filled the darkness with both life and light.

The darkness resented this sudden end to its solitary existence. It developed a consciousness and began trying to destroy the life and light that it so detested. This living darkness would also have many names but ultimately come to be known as Omega, 'the first and the last'. God and Omega fought for millennia until Omega was finally rendered dormant. Rendered unconscious, Omega existed for millennia more solely as the darkness in space. Free to flourish, life took on several forms.

As a Creator, God represented everything that was good and virtuous. Just as good exists, however, so does evil. Another Creator, Satan, came to represent all that was evil and corrupt. These two natures opposed each other and they fought, but it quickly became clear that fragile, mortal life could not handle a clash of divine power. God and Satan agreed on a set of rules in how the divine could interact with the mortal. These rules would become known as the Divine Edicts.

God, Satan, and Omega did not have physical bodies and would come to be known as Old Gods. As the first beings to be restrained by the Divine Edicts, they created agents to act on their behalf. The first two planets making up a non-mortal universe, what would later become known as the Universe of the Gods, were Heaven and Hell. The angels of Heaven and demons of Hell feuded with each other. In time, other planets would come to exist in this Universe of Gods. These planets were the homes of New Gods.

New Gods were divine beings with physical bodies. They were born from elements, the cosmos, or from mortals. As the Universe of the Gods filled out, new situations arose. To organize the Divine Edicts and ensure fairness, a planet called Zenefo was created. On this planet were three divine Judges that would rule on and amend the Edicts as needed. Zenefo also contained a prison to hold both gods and their agents who violated the Divine Edicts.

In the Universe of the Gods, death did not exist. While physical bodies could be destroyed, these new gods or their immortal agents could simply reincarnate after a period of time. In the lower Universe of Mortals, the life that existed among the darkness known as Omega, this was not the case. By Zenefon decree, mortal beings were forbidden to reincarnate as a way to free them from most restrictions making up the Divine Edicts. This was to allow them to be nearly perfect agents for the divine, who could no longer directly interfere with the mortal world. In exchange for being denied reincarnation, mortal souls were made immortal and they were allowed to ascend to the Universe of Gods upon death.

Time and space gradually created many dimensions, each a separate Universe of Mortals. Though they all differed, they were all connected to the singular and ever expanding Universe of Gods. Mortal beings would connect to this world through religion or philosophy. Upon death, they would find a home base upon their chosen planet of the Gods and be otherwise free to explore. The Universe of Gods and Multiverse of Mortals were separate but connected. The Divine Edicts had brought well-organized order to what could at times be utter chaos.

Through the soul, a link to the divine, mortal beings could sometimes exhibit traits of the Gods. Born with a gene in their DNA that was missing from a majority of mortals, mutants had special powers and abilities. The most powerful of these mutants, born every 1000 years, were named after the fearful living darkness in mortal legend, and thus called Omega class mutants. To maintain order, the Divine Edicts were amended to grant special exceptions to these mortals that were nearly immortal scale in power. Only one Omega class mutant could exist in each dimension, for clashes between these beings could easily destroy planets. Gods were also allowed to block Omega class power, although this was only to be done in order to protect against planetary destruction.

These mutants attracted demons from Hell, as they were the most combative of immortal beings and always seeking a new challenge. The Divine Edicts allowed immortal agents to fight and travel to the Multiverse of Mortals provided that no mortal planets were destroyed by the combat. Some New Gods decided to level the playing field and offer indirect assistance to these mutants in accordance with the Divine Edicts. This is how Teams of mortals would come to be sponsored by a New God, who would provide currency and indirect divine assistance, such as portal travel. The Divine Edicts allowed a New God to take possession of a mortal planet for the purposes of sponsoring a Team. This team would be responsible for protecting it from the worst domestic threats, any threats from other planets, any threats from other dimensions, and any threats from immortal agents hailing from the Universe of Gods.

To form a Team, a New God would hold a World Tournament in order to determine the strongest warrior on their planet. The tournament champion would become the first member of the Team and directly test any applicants. Only those who could either defeat or put up a good fight against the champion would be allowed to join the team. There were no limits on membership, though with only the very best being eligible, this tended to create small, elite teams. Every five years, the champion would defend his world title and right to evaluate membership onto the team. If they lost, the new champion gained the title and rights for five years.

Those who were not skilled enough to join a New God's team could still help defend their city, state, or country. However, they were not allowed to fight planetary threats. That was solely the jurisdiction of the New God Team. Thus, the greatest and most prestigious heroes were those who fought directly under a New God's banner. They were celebrities and wanted for nothing. In exchange, they put their lives on the line every single day.

 

[True Grave]

Omega slowly opened his eyes, feeling groggy and unaware of where he was. How long had it been since he'd last been awake? He remembered fighting with God and being rendered unconscious. Looking around hurt his eyes, as it was so bright here. Once his eyes adjusted, he looked around and sensed life everywhere. It infuriated him beyond imagination.

Reaching out to destroy a planet, he found himself stopped by a purple barrier.

What the hell?!

Despite Omega's best efforts, he could not break the barrier.

What is going on here?!

Using divine omnipotence, he connected to the Divine Information bank. What he learned horrified him to his core.

The Divine Edicts? What nonsense!

Despite his disdain, even Omega could not directly interfere with the mortal world. That era had long passed. Omega was furious and began searching the Divine Edicts for some way to impose his will upon his enemies. When he discovered the section about agents, he grinned with pure evil.

So I can use an Immortal Agent or a mortal to do my bidding? Perfect.

Finding such an agent was easier said than done, however. The Immortal Agents of the Universe of Gods knew of Omega and wanted nothing to do with an Old God hellbent on the destruction of all other life. Many mortal races feared him for the same reason. It would take a truly desperate race of people to accept Omega as their patron.

 

[True Grave]

The planet Grym was a savage world that looked very similar to the Jurassic Period of Earth's ancient history. It was covered in lush jungle and dotted with occasional mountains. Large predators resembling apes and dinosaurs stalked the land in search of prey. To the north was a large humanoid people with six arms that held off other large predators to establish hunting grounds. The planet was sustained by vast underground rivers. It was a beautiful world unspoiled by industry.

One small species of humanoid did not find the world beautiful, however. They called themselves the Grymwar, which in their tongue meant 'the people of Grym'. They were small, weak omnivores that were barely scraping by. Ten of their kind per day were hunted and killed by larger predators. If something didn't change, their kind would be extinct within a month. In desperation, their chieftain, Dulzak, cried out to the gods.

"Please! Please save the Grymwar!"

Unfortunately for the Grymwar, the wrong god heard their prayer. Omega smirked and began telepathically communicating with Dulzak.

Do you desire power? The power to destroy your enemies?

"Yes! Please, divine being, please grant us power!"

Then swear! Swear to serve Omega for eternity!

"We swear, Omega! The Grymwar will be your loyal servants forevermore!"

Omega grinned and channeled his Soul Energy into a Grymwar. Unfortunately, it was too much and the Grymwar exploded into a bloody mist.

Oops. I suppose that was too much power.

He diluted his Soul Energy until it was on par with Grymwar constitution. He then channeled it into Dulzak.

Omega's diluted Soul Energy, henceforth known as Blood Magic due to its red color, had a profound effect on the Grymwar body. They grew to be eight feet tall and were as muscular as world champion bodybuilders. The Blood Magic coursed through their veins, making them almost invulnerable to conventional weaponry. It also infected their minds, making them bloodthirsty and cruel. They were no longer small and weak omnivores. The Grymwar had become apex predators.

 

[True Grave]

The shift in the balance of Grym's power structure produced immediate results. The beasts resembling dinosaurs, apes, and six-armed humanoids were slaughtered to the last. It was revenge at its most pure and malicious. The Grymwar began over hunting, rendering the smaller prey extinct, as well. Within a year, only the Grymwar remained on the planet. Though they had a massive stockpile of food, it would not last forever.

Omega decided to pour gasoline on a raging fire.

Who among you is truly the strongest? He who proves it shall be my anointed Blood Saint.

The Grymwar began killing each other and destroying the planet with Blood Magic. In time, the underground rivers dried up and the planet's topography was reduced to nothing but barren desert. Dulzak had been given the title of Blood Saint, but the cost of victory was extremely high.

Sitting in his throne room one night, Dulzak began speaking with Omega.

"Omega, how will we secure food to eat and water to drink?"

"You shall take it from other planets."

"But how?"

"You leave that to me. I shall see to it that you build a glorious empire in my name."

 

[True Grave]

Omega had read over the Divine Edicts and discovered that offering indirect assistance to his champions was allowed. He opened a black portal to a neighboring planet and watched with satisfaction as the Grymwar killed and pillaged without mercy. They took food and drink back to Grym. Gradually, Omega taught them to demand tribute and sell enemies into galactic slavery. With money, the Grymwar began building their own spacecraft. It wasn't long before they were traveling and pillaging outside of their own star system.

The Universe Incarnate planned to use his underlings to draw out any champions of this world of light. Anyone who could resist had to be crushed without mercy. When his Grymwar had become the strongest in existence, he would take their power back and annihilate them. This world of light would end by his hand. He would not lose again to God. He would grow stronger everyday and guide his puppets as they spilled rivers of blood in his name.

 

[True Grave]

In the Dyvan star system existed a planet called Kash-Volt. On its surface lived the Kasha, a race of humanoid aliens with green stripes across their bodies. They could use psychic power to communicate telepathically and connect with each other down to the soul. For this reason, Kashan couples were together for life and never pursued another relationship if their partner died. They were a peace loving people that used trade to fund a society that focused on the good of all. Under the just and wise monarchy of King Adolphus and Queen Enjela, life was good.

Underground existed the Voltari, a race of intelligent armored worms. They had constructed a vast underground society with their own bodies. Feeding on nutrients in the soil, they depended on their surface neighbors to keep it clean and healthy. The Voltari were ruled by a chieftain who would be called 'Honor' in the human language. Due to having a less technological and more spiritually based society, the Voltari were well-versed in the gods and knew of the power contained in the soul. A Voltari soul was powerful, but the race itself was limited by their lack of arms and legs.

In an unfortunate turn of events, the Grymwar eventually came to the Dyvan star system. They quickly learned of the prosperous Kasha and attacked their planet ruthlessly. King Adolphus surrendered in order to minimize the killing of his people. Dulzak demanded tribute and it was granted. However, King Adolphus refused to remain a vassal to the Grymwar barbarians. He would free his people from their tyranny no matter what it took.

 

[True Grave]

The road to freedom for Kash-Volt was not going to be easy. The Kasha possessed no weapons, for they had never been a warlike people. Their star system was peaceful and civilized. They had not the slightest inkling on how to fight. There was no way that a thin king of five feet eight could stand up easily to eight feet tall monsters. Falling on his knees, Adolphus prayed for guidance as the Voltari did.

"Gods above, please hear my prayer. I desire guidance and strength to protect my people and my planet. We are peace-loving and gentle, but the Grymwar are vile and cruel. I cannot stomach how they disrespect our culture. They are without a shred of honor or decency. Please teach me to resist them and liberate Kash-Volt!"

The earnest prayer of King Adolphus was heard by Firestar, the God of Fire. Appearing before the Kashan king was a human young man in his twenties. He wore blue jeans and a gray hoodie with the hood up. In his eyes burned orange flames. Firestar had chosen this form so as not to overwhelm poor Adolphus. Except for his eyes, Firestar looked like just plain Alan Arnan.

"Wh-Who are you?" Adolphus stammered with fright.

"My name is Alan Arnan, formerly the hero Firestar from Earth One. Now I am the God of Fire and go only by Firestar. I have heard your prayer, King Adolphus. I wish to teach you how to fight. I also want to teach you about the great weapon beneath your feet."

King Adolphus wished to grasp onto Firestar's jeans in gratitude, but his hands passed completely through.

"Ah, yeah, I forgot to mention that. What you're seeing is merely a projection of me. Gods like me can't physically go to the mortal plane, as it is against the Divine Edicts. Thankfully, you need only listen and watch in order to gain what you seek. Are you ready?"

For months, Firestar trained Adolphus in the human fighting art known as Boxing. For someone who had never trained, it was the easiest first step. Over time, Adolphus grew from skinny and weak to athletic and muscular. Every month, a Grymwar emissary would come to collect tribute. Adolphus never resisted and the narcissistic Grymwar never cared that the king was noticeably stronger every month. They believed themselves invincible and Adolphus was happy to let them keep that delusion.

For one whole year, Adolphus had trained every single day in Boxing. His speed, reflexes, stamina, strength, and focus were all top-tier. He would have made for a pretty good amateur boxer on Earth One. However, all of the Boxing in the world wouldn't be enough by itself. He could never pierce thick Grymwar muscle with only his honed fists. The key to defeating the Grymwar would be found in what his wife, Queen Enjela, had been doing during that year.

 

[True Grave]

While Adolphus had trained, Firestar had taught Queen Enjela about the power of the soul. It was a vast repository of spiritual power, what those in the know referred to as Soul Energy. By honing one's Soul Energy, incredible power could be gained.

"Have you heard of the Destroyers?" Firestar asked her one day.

"No, though they sound terrifying."

"They are, for they were normal mortals that merely grew their Soul Energy until they were gods of destruction."

Enjela's eyes widened.

"Such a thing is possible?"

"Indeed. Any being can become a Destroyer as long as they have a source of power. Human, mutant, doesn't matter. By having a focus for that power, one can grow very strong very quickly."

Queen Enjela was intrigued.

"A focus?"

"Yes. A powerful soul can increase the power of its wielder exponentially. If I transplanted a Voltari Soul into a Kashan body, it would create a powerful warrior and potential future Destroyer."

The two began preparing the environment for a Soul Bonding, the process of transplanting a soul into a body.

Honor volunteered to be the first to undergo the process. King Adolphus would receive the Soul Bonding. Both leaders of their people stood before a crowd of both. Everyone wanted to see if this process would work. A Soul Bonding was not without risks. Firestar would have to be careful in how he performed this process.

 

[True Grave]

Firestar focused his divine power and removed the soul of Honor from his body. The soul glowed a bright white. The next step would be risky. When bonding a soul to a new body, rejection could happen. This was similar to an organ transplant. Rejection of the second soul could cause complications resulting in death.

In order to minimize that risk, Firestar had King Adolphus enter a deep meditative state. His mind was empty. The king of Kasha was nearly in a coma. Soul Bonding had to be done on a deep emotional level. Both souls needed to be of similar personality and have a shared goal in order to achieve maximum probability of success. Even in the best of circumstances, however, a Soul Bonding could still fail.

They were rarely performed due to how finicky they were. Some had tried using Soul Bonding to achieve immortality and failed spectacularly. Others had tried to use it to gain power, just as King Adolphus was doing now. Some had failed and others succeeded. Not all successes were total and complete. Some had suffered side effects, either temporary or permanent.

A successful Soul Bonding could still shorten the natural lifespan of the host. Others developed a weakened constitution and were prone to illness. Others went insane due to having the life experiences of two people inhabiting one body. Some even had the process undone due to falling outs. Soul Bondings with no negative side effects were few and far between. Many would say that the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.

But King Adolphus and Chief Honor were willing to face those risks head on. They were willing to give their very lives if it ensured the freedom of their peoples. Firestar slowly deposited the soul of Honor into Adolphus' body. Once both souls inhabited the same body, he watched with nervous uncertainty. Adolphus was alive, but it wasn't yet clear if there were negative side effects. Seconds ticked by like hours as they waited for him to awaken.

 

[True Grave]

King Adolphus slowly opened his eyes and got to his feet.

"How do you feel?" asked Firestar.

Adolphus rubbed his head and smiled.

"Groggy, but otherwise okay."

"Can you feel Honor within you?"

Adolphus nodded.

"Yes, I can feel his soul within me. His memories and emotions are one with me now."

Firestar smiled.

"The characteristic emotional bonding of your people is paying dividends right now. It's usually a much more difficult adjustment, having the totality of someone else's life within your consciousness."

The crowd murmured excitedly, pleased to see that the Soul Bonding was successful.

Firestar took a breath.

"Now comes the moment of truth. Can you manifest the armored shell of a Voltari onto your body?"

King Adolphus closed his eyes and focused. He visualized Honor as he formerly was and how that shell would look on his body. The visualization technique worked and his body was soon covered in red and gold armor.

The crowd applauded and cheered. With the armor as a focus, Soul Energy radiated from it. Both Honor and Adolphus had blue auras, and the mixing created a combined aura with a dark shade of blue. Adolphus didn't yet know how to use Soul Energy, but his potential was vast. Firestar placed a hand on his shoulder.

"As two men who fight for freedom against tyranny, it is only right that you be known as Liberator."

 

[True Grave]

Before Liberator could face off with Blood Saint Dulzak and his army, he would need to learn how to effectively use Soul Energy. With this source of power, he could stand up to the dreaded Blood Magic of the Grymwar. Firestar opened an orange portal with his own power, what he called a Fire Path.

"Come to the realm of Firestar, Liberator. Once there, I can teach you to harness that power within as a weapon for liberation."

After bidding a temporary farewell to his people, Liberator stepped through.

Having just paid tribute to the Grymwar, Liberator had one month to master his Soul Energy. He swore that the next time the Grymwar came to collect from his people, it would be their last. These thoughts occupied Liberator's mind as he entered the realm of Firestar. When he saw the view before him, though, all thoughts vanished. A beautiful alabaster city spread out before him as far as the eye could see. Dotted with green grass and blue lakes, it was a vision that inspired joy and tranquility.

A representative of Firestar met him at the city gate. She seemed to be made out of fire, darker shades forming hair and clothes over a lighter orange flame meant to represent skin. She was beautiful with a lilting voice like an angel's harp. Floating like a specter, she guided him down the cobblestone streets and toward a grand palace built like the Acropolis on Earth. The main double doors were large but opened quite easily. The interior of Firestar's palace was magnificent.

Red flames that looked like a red carpet covered the stone floor in every room. The entrance hall and dining room were lit by gorgeous chandeliers that would make the French nobility of the 1700's go green with envy. Wall tapestries of blue flame added pops of color to the otherwise bland walls. The furnishings were made of brown flame resembling mahogany wood. The tableware were made of flames covered to look like porcelain and solid gold. Liberator couldn't believe that such beauty and luxury could be made from something so destructive.

Within the throne room, Firestar sat on a throne of solid golden flame. He was dressed in a white toga and wearing a golden crown in his voluminous but short scarlet hair. A neatly trimmed matching mustache and beard made him look august and dignified. His eyes burned with orange flame yet were warm and kindly. He was muscular with broad shoulders but not exactly buff. Liberator knew that he was gazing upon a true king.

When Firestar spoke, his voice was as warm and soft as ever.

"Thank you for coming, Liberator. I am honored to host my protege."

He bowed his head respectfully, and Liberator, despite being monarchs themselves, were in shock and felt undeserving. Firestar stood up from his throne and casually walked past them.

"Come, let me show you the town."

 

[True Grave]

After a tour of Firestar City, Firestar took Liberator back to the palace. He guided him into a room at the far east end, which was bare except for some floating white candles that were themselves made out of flame.

"This is my meditation room. Here, you will learn to harness your Soul Energy. When you can float like these candles, you will be ready for the next step."

The two sat down Lotus style on the floor.

Firestar closed his eyes.

"Close your eyes and empty your mind."

Liberator did as instructed.

"Feel the flow of Soul Energy in your body. Can you feel them?"

Liberator focused internally before verbally answering in the affirmative.

"Become comfortable with it. Know that it is always there. It is like the blood pumping through your veins, ever present and yet unnoticed."

Liberator spent several moments just feeling the energy rushing through his body.

"Now that you are aware of it, you must learn to control it. You must direct the flow of energy toward your soul."

Firestar took a deep breath before exhaling. Liberator did the same.

"Imagine your Soul Energy as a flowing river. Can you visualize that?"

Liberator nodded.

"Now imagine the river flowing backwards."

As Liberator did so, his Soul Energy started to move upwards within his body. His soul was clearly visible in his mind's eye. All of his energy congregated around the brain, the source of the soul. His soul glowed a bright blue that was clearly visible.

"Very good, Liberator. You are ready to try levitation."

 

[True Grave]

Both men took deep breaths.

"Now then, direct the flow of Soul Energy to your bottom."

Liberator did so, focusing intently. In the process, he let out a very loud fart that echoed all over the empty room. Despite himself, Firestar could not keep himself from laughing. The two were soon laughing uproariously with their mouths open and their heads thrown back.

Once the two got all the laughs out, they were able to focus.

"Try again. This time without blasting a hole in my carpet."

Liberator chuckled and then cleared his mind to get serious. His bottom was soon glowing with Soul Energy. Firestar tried not to let the hilarity of that get him laughing again.

"Okay, now close your eyes and imagine you are in front of stairs. Can you picture that in your mind?"

Liberator did so and answered in the affirmative.

"Imagine yourself floating onto the first step."

Liberator did so, lifted an inch, and then fell back down.

"Don't lose concentration once you leave the floor."

Liberator tried several more times and was eventually able to 'climb' several steps.

"Excellent. Now return to the floor. Once you do, go from the floor directly to the highest 'step' that you reached."

Liberator took a deep breath, closed his eyes, focused, and levitated to that step in a smooth, precise fashion.

"You are ready for the next step now, Liberator."

 

[True Grave]

Firestar led Liberator outside to the courtyard. It was open to the sky with plenty of room.

"You have learned how to levitate, but now you must learn to fly."

He pointed to where Liberator was standing and then to a pillar across from him.

"You must fly diagonally and touch that pillar in a single flight. To do so, you must learn to fly freely through the air."

Liberator thought he understood the basic idea. He concentrated Soul Energy into his feet and lifted off of the ground. That was the easy part. Moving freely through the air, though, was another matter entirely. He stumbled and fell immediately, barely keeping his balance. He looked over at Firestar, who nodded in encouragement for him to try again.

It took a total of three days before Liberator was focused and confident enough to stay in the air. He had literally air walked at one point to learn how to fly forward after levitating upward. He knew how to descend and to fly at different levels. Liberator had fallen more times than he could count, but Firestar never once lost patience with him. He just silently encouraged him on. After another day's training, Liberator was confident enough to try and pass the test.

Liberator trained his eyes on the pillar. Focusing his Soul Energy, he flew toward the pillar, touched it, and then returned to his starting point following the same trajectory. Firestar nodded with approval.

"Very good. Now you must learn to focus your Soul Energy for battle. Once you master that, you'll be fighting at a level far beyond most mortals."

 

[True Grave]

Firestar and Liberator stood across from each other.

"Though your Voltari Armor is itself a weapon, it will not be enough to defeat the Grymwar. You must learn to wield your Soul Energy as a weapon. That is the only way to overcome the Grymwar Blood Magic."

"What is this Blood Magic that the Grymwar use? I have heard of it many times but have never once seen it."

"Though the Grymwar refer to it as 'magic', it is not truly a form of magic. It is actually highly condensed Soul Energy that the Grymwar wield as a weapon. Blood Magic has long usurped the natural Soul Energy of that race, though the physiological changes it gave them made up for it."

"Physiological changes? You mean that they didn't always look the way that they do now?"

"Yes, for they were once smaller and weaker than the Kashans."

"What changed?"

"They received power from an Old God, one of the most evil that has ever existed. His name is Omega."

"Oma'hah?"

"Yes, that is what the inhabitants of your planet call him."

The color drained from Adolphus' face.

"Oma'hah... The Void...I had no idea the Grymwar worshipped him..."

Firestar cocked his head.

"Does that change anything?"

Liberator was silent for a long moment. Firestar could see the gears turning in his mind. The face of Liberator then hardened and he shook his head.

"Not a thing. Even if it means fighting Oma'hah himself, I will free my people."

His eyes burned with determination. Firestar knew that his commitment to his duty would be the source of Liberator's strength.

"That's the spirit. Allow me to show you how."

 

[True Grave]

Firestar planted his feet, clenched his fists, and focused. His Soul Energy, which resembled red and orange flames, became visible. He gritted his teeth and his power increased by the second. As it did, his 'flames' got more intense. Liberator could feel the heat coming off of him. When Firestar was done powering up, he stood normally as what looked like an inferno of flame emanated from him.

Without needing to be told, Liberator used his willpower to summon his armor. He then mimicked Firestar's exact moves. His own dark blue Soul Energy became visible. Once it was vibrant and intense from powering up, he stood up normally.

"You learn quickly. Now you must use that Soul Energy that you have gathered."

Firestar took the same stance.

"Punch me in the face."

Knowing instinctively that the God of Fire could take it, Liberator did not hold back. He nailed him in the nose with the hardest, most powered up right straight that he had. It hit so hard that there were shockwaves. Firestar just smiled, having taken absolutely no damage.

"Very good. That will be your special technique. What will you call it?"

After a five minute conference, Liberator held up his right fist. It began glowing with intense blue energy that seemed alive.

"Fist of Honor."

 

[True Grave]

For almost the rest of the time leading up to the return of the Grymwar emissary to Kash-Volt, Liberator practiced the combat use of his Soul Energy. He had learned to fly at high speed. He had learned to mix the Fist of Honor into different punching combinations. The hardest part of his training was full-contact sparring with Firestar. Given how hard the Fire God hit, his armor got broken a lot. On top of that, Liberator had to defend himself against a variety of striking martial arts using only Boxing.

The adversity honed Liberator into a fighting machine. He took Firestar's hardest punches and rolled with them. His armor withstood heavy damage without so much as a crack. His Boxing was stopping kicks and throws while also slipping past opposing punches at different angles. His Soul Energy levels climbed constantly and allowed him to fight at higher and higher levels. In their final sparring match, Liberator even knocked Firestar down.

The day before the arrival of the Grymwar emissary arrived. Firestar and Liberator bowed in ceremony and then hugged each other fiercely as brothers.

"Thank you for everything, Firestar. I promise that I won't let you down."

After the hug broke, Firestar held him by the shoulders and smiled at him.

"Go kick some ass."

 

[True Grave]

Liberator's return to Kash-Volt was an understated but celebrated affair. He was welcomed by everyone, but no big party or banquet would be thrown. They were on the eve of another dark occasion. The Grymwar emissary would return tomorrow, bringing his arrogant narcissism and abhorrent greed with him. No longer would Kash-Volt bend its knee to these base and vile creatures. Liberator would soon make that very clear to both Blood Saint Dulzak and his god Oma'hah.

That night, Adolphus made love to Enjela. It was the last chance he might get to do so. As they cuddled in the aftermath of the act, Enjela gripped his hands tightly and almost molded her body to his. She was filled with many mixed feelings, as was her husband. Enjela understood that Adolphus had a duty as a king to liberate his people, even should it cost him life and limb. But she also loved her husband with all of her heart and didn't want him hurt or killed.

Enjela summoned up all of her bravery and forced a smile.

"Show the Grymwar the strength of your conviction, my love."

Adolphus was sacrificing for her. Sacrificing for his people. Sacrificing for his planet. Though she felt like her soul was being torn from her body, Enjela would never disrespect his sacrifices by begging him to reconsider.

Adolphus turned to her and nodded.

"I will."

He ran a hand through her silken hair. The look in his eyes was filled with many emotions.

"I will defeat the Grymwar and return to you, my love. I want things to go back to how they were."

With everything said that needed to be said, the couple closed their eyes. As the night passed, they each dreamed of memories. Enjela dreamed of meeting Adolphus, marrying him, and standing before their people as King and Queen. Adolphus dreamed of war, death, and retribution. Their faces as they slept could not have contrasted more. Enjela's peace and Adolphus' conflict were representative of an eternal cycle that would continue its rotation in the light of dawn.

 

[True Grave]

The next day, King Adolphus dressed in his finest robes of blue and white. He always did when meeting visiting emissaries. Underneath his robes, however, he wore white pants with a blue tunic. That allowed him to move more freely, exactly what he needed for what he had in mind. Adolphus proceeded into his throne room and waited for their guest. He was more at peace than ever before.

The Grymwar emissary, Kronz, soon appeared with all of his usual arrogant swagger. His ugly grin and body language showed how highly he thought of himself. The Grymwar wore no clothes, putting their yellow scales and bodybuilder physiques on full display. Male Grymwar had no external genitalia, hiding them inside of their bodies until the appropriate time. This meant that they were invulnerable to a kick in the testicles, unlike many other males. Kronz was a walking tank of a man just like all of his brethren.

But Firestar knew that the Grymwar would be vulnerable to a strong enough physical attack. He had taught Liberator how to raise his level of Soul Energy. At Level 10, he should be able to hurt or even kill them rather easily. Adolphus bowed respectfully before Kronz, playing the role of the submissive vassal. Kronz stopped before him and grinned smugly.

"Hand over the gold."

Adolphus raised his head with a confident smile. His eyes burned with uncommon spirit.

"No," he replied cooly.

Kronz's smile dimmed.

"Excuse me?"

"I said no."

Kronz covered his surprise with laughter.

"Don't make this difficult, weakling. Just hand over the gold."

"No," Adolphus repeated.

Kronz stepped closer and flexed his muscles.

"You sure about that?"

In a flash, King Adolphus gripped and tossed aside his robes. As Kronz's eyes followed them, the Kashan King put on his Liberator armor. He focused and raised his Soul Energy to Level 10, blinding and unbalancing Kronz. Rotating all the way around to build momentum, Liberator drilled a Fist of Honor into the solar plexus of Kronz with full power. The overconfident Grymwar was dead before he even hit the floor.

"I'm sure," Liberator said coldly.

 

[True Grave]

Having killed Kronz, there was no turning back now. The metaphorical flag of rebellion had been raised over Kasha City. Liberator strode purposefully out of his palace and looked to the sky. The great black fleet of the Grymwar was hovering just outside of Kash-Volt's atmosphere. It wouldn't be long before they missed their emissary. Liberator needed to strike now while they were still off balance.

With his Soul Energy at Level 10, his aura was vibrant and his fighting strength was at a level suitable for real combat. But the stakes could not have been higher for his people. Taking no chances, Liberator levitated into the air. With a mighty yell, he focused his Soul Energy until it was Level 25. That was a quarter of the full strength that he had achieved under Firestar. If Kronz was anything to go by, it would be more than enough for most Grymwar soldiers.

Liberator flared up and took off for the Grymwar fleet. Flying higher and higher, he was immune to lower oxygen levels thanks to his Voltari Armor. Its particular nature as a focus was imbued with a divine power that allowed him to breathe easily in any environment, including space. Firestar had explained that every focus had some divine ability based on any number of variables. Thanks to being able to breathe in space, Liberator didn't slow down at all as he left the atmosphere and headed for the nearest Grymwar ship. He punched right through its hull as if it were made out of cardboard.

(This is the music for the following scene.)

After Liberator landed in a corridor, alarms began blaring all over the ship. Grymwar soldiers began converging on the intruder. Using his left hand to take aim, Liberator shot forward and threw a Fist of Honor right straight. Six Grymwar who were in a line ate it in sequence and died instantly. Liberator casually strode down the hall toward the bridge. Even his most casual strikes were killing the Grymwar soldiers in a single blow.

When he reached the bridge, he kicked the heavy door completely off of its hydraulics. In doing so, the door flew forward and crushed the helmsman to a bloody pulp. Liberator's smooth and technically brilliant Boxing finished off the guards in the room. The captain, Monzias, did not run from this unbelievable sight. As captain, it was his responsibility to do all that he could for the ship. He summoned Blood Magic into his hands and fired a bolt of what looked like red electricity at Liberator.

Unfortunately for Captain Monzias, his Level of Blood Magic was at One. Basically a self-defense level. It was nowhere near strong enough to even bother Liberator. He ate a fatal Fist of Honor strike to the face for his trouble. As his body slumped against the wall, Liberator headed for the bridge controls. Although he couldn't read the Grymwar language, the operating system of the ship was similar enough to his studies that he still knew what he was doing.

Taking control of the ship, he started turning it toward another ship in the fleet. It responded sluggishly but eventually got there. Once aimed properly, Liberator set it to full speed ahead. He then busted the controls with his fists so that no surviving Grymwar could stop what he had set in motion. Liberator turned and walked casually away. The impending results of his actions were guaranteed to send a strongly worded message directly to both Blood Saint Dulzak and Oma'hah.

 

[True Grave]

On the Grymwar flagship, Blood Saint Dulzak watched as one of the ships in his fleet began acting unusual. It had been long past time for Kronz to return, and he was starting to feel a slight tinge of worry. As the ship in his fleet began noticeably rotating, Dulzak turned to Captain Abronz.

"Contact Captain Monzias and ask him what the hell he thinks he's doing."

"At once, Blood Saint."

Something strange was going on and Dulzak felt his chest begin to tighten as if it had been wrapped with steel bands.

Five minutes later, Captain Abronz returned to his side.

"Something is wrong with their radio. I can't even pick up a signal on their ship."

"Send a security team to investigate."

Before a team could be rounded up, Captain Monzias' ship crashed into the next in the fleet. An enormous fireball blinded everyone.

A shockwave rattled their teeth. Dulzak shielded his eyes and his jaw dropped in disbelief. One by one, every ship in his entire fleet was exploding. His army, which he had believed to be invincible, was being slaughtered.

"Full reverse!!!" he screamed out.

Before anyone could act, someone crashed through the hull of his own flagship, the lone surviving ship in the Grymwar fleet.

Before Dulzak could see who it was, blood began splattering the bridge windows. A security team and Captain Abronz fell to the ground. An armored warrior was soon in his face and throwing a punch laced with blue energy at him. Dulzak blocked it with an energy shield of Blood Magic, but the overwhelming power that he felt surprised him. The Blood Saint focused and raised his Blood Magic Level to 25, a quarter of his full strength. This matched the power of his attacker and forced them to break.

Only after the clash could Dulzak see his enemy clearly. His armor covered his whole body and looked like nothing he had ever seen before. He was also ferociously powerful, as evidenced by both his body count and the surging Soul Energy aura around him. The Blood Saint had never had to use this much Blood Magic before. Standing up from his throne, Dulzak was clad in a vibrant red Soul Energy aura.

"Who are you?!" he demanded.

 

[True Grave]

Liberator pointed at Dulzak.

"I am the people of Kash-Volt! Your reign is over, Blood Saint!!!"

As Liberator screamed in righteous fury, his Soul Energy rose rapidly. It hit Level 75, more than enough to finish Dulzak. With a single Fist of Honor, the threw it with intent at his face.

This time, Dulzak met his fist with a fist. His bone broke and blood spurred from nicked arteries. However, the Blood Magic meant that he lost no power. Even so, he was barely holding his ground. His death was inevitable.

"I'm going to finish you like I finished your emissary!!!"

Something strange happened to Dulzak then. His face registered shock, his eyes full of sadness.

"No...No, you're lying!"

"I am not! I snuffed his arrogant life with these hands!!!"

When that registered, Dulzak's face twisted in a mix of sorrow and fury.

"Kronz...My only son..."

The sorrow was gone and replaced with absolute fury.

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!!!"

Dulzak's Blood Magic seemed to rise without end. It hit Level 100 and just kept going higher and higher. His body began to hemorrhage blood because his power was rampaging beyond his control.

Liberator was suddenly losing the struggle. But he had worked too hard and come too far to lose.

"NO MERCY!!!"

Liberator's Soul Energy began to rise without end. It was rising so high and so fast that his Voltari Armor was breaking off due to the strain. The pain and rage also rose without end as both men faced death for who they loved.

 

[True Grave]

Their Soul Energy could not be controlled. It built and built until their bodies could not handle it. Liberator's armor exploded and he was covered in red blood as he fell like a dead man. The explosion covered Dulzak in his own purple blood. He was launched through the air as if he was shot out of a cannon. He closed his eyes and embraced death.

But death did not come. He passed out and struck an escape pod. It closed around him and launched into space. The preprogrammed coordinates took him back to Grym. Dulzak was the sole male left of his race. The female Grymwar population would help him resurrect his army.

Liberator struggled to breathe. The ship was heavily damaged and would soon explode. Whether bleeding out killed him or the explosion did was the only question left. But neither man had any regrets. Their deaths bought freedom for their people. For what that bought, that was a price worth paying.

King Adolphus struggled to fold his hands on his chest.

We fought well...Didn't we, Honor?

Nobody could have done it better.

It was...

King Adolphus chuckled with a death rattle.

An honor...

The ship was blaring alarms and exploding in sections. Fire and smoke were consuming it. The final explosion was imminent. King Adolphus smiled and closed his eyes.

"Enjela..." he whispered.

With that last word, Liberator took his last breath and died.

The explosion of the flagship reduced his body to ash. Queen Enjela screamed and writhed in pain as her husband died in all but soul. Firestar wept for his fallen brothers. Kash-Volt was free but had paid a terrible price for it. Through his tears, Firestar saw the ghost of Liberator. In that moment, he knew that he was looking at the greatest of kings.

Credits

 

[True Grave]

20 Years Later

Earth One

Coconut Creek, Florida

American Top Team

Music At ATT

Scott Young blasted the heavy bag with relentless and ruthless full throttle Muay Thai. His kicks, punches, and balance were elite. His athleticism showed how he had done martial arts his entire young life. He had never worked a job. He had wanted to be a pro fighter since he was a child. His dedication and passion were unshakeable.

At only 18, Scott had achieved pro fighter status in a small promotion. He was an undefeated amateur fighter who had knocked out every opponent with crushing Muay Thai and suffocating Freestyle Wrestling. He was relentless when he fought, an aggressive monster that pushed the pace and drowned them with his stamina. There was no doubt in his style. No caution. His mindset was that he had already won the fight mentally and that his body simply manifested the reality that he envisioned.

Scott was currently a pro fighter with four wins and no losses. He was moving up to the preliminaries on his next card. His body was drenched in sweat but he never slowed down. His sopping wet brown hair, sweaty toned body, and brown eyes that burned like fire were all outward signs of the desire that consumed him. He wanted to be World Champion. The Greatest Of All Time.

 

[True Grave]

Coach Will 'Watersnake' Watson appeared and held the heavy bag. He began counting and they did striking drills. After a few, he tossed Scott a bottle of cold water. The young fighter drank some and dumped the rest of it over his head.

"Lookin' sharp, kid. Just remember to save some for the other guy, eh?"

Scott nodded.

"Right, Coach."

"Hit the showers, kid. We're gonna watch some tape."

Scott nodded and headed for the locker room. As he did, Coach Watson headed for the conference room to set up the video.

Scott ditched his blue trunks and showered. The cold water felt heavenly. It cleaned the sweat and dirt from his muscular and athletic body. After washing his hair, Scott dried off. He went to his locker and changed into a warm-up suit consisting of black tight fitting shorts and T-shirt. From there, he made his way to the conference room on the second floor.

Scott had been training at ATT since he was three years old. All that time, Watersnake Watson had been his coach. The nickname came from being a former Olympic gold medalist swimmer. After his Olympic days were done, he parlayed an interest in MMA into a coaching job. Now he acted as Scott's head coach, coordinating his fitness and diet in preparation for fights. Scott and Coach Watson were like father and son.

Scott sat in the conference room and had his game face on. His opponent was using a similar style to Scott but was both a southpaw and unorthodox. That made him harder to predict. Scott was on a hot streak, but if he let that go to his head, he would lose. They would have to treat this guy as if he were the World Champion, leaving no strategy unexplored. He would also have to train smart, never slacking off but not over training, either.

After a meticulous study of his opponent, they had a gameplan. They would start the fight by chopping his legs with leg kicks. When he shot for takedowns to try and nullify the leg kicks, Scott would catch him with a takedown defense knee to the face. If the opponent ate the knee and continued to drive the takedown forward, Scott would sprawl, transition to back control, and go for a rear naked choke. Any chance he got, Scott needed to knee him in the kidneys on the ground. The opponent would likely try a similar plan, so they needed to be able to improvise, as well.