Part I

Genesis

July 19th, 2017-July 10th, 2019 AE

"This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper."

-T.S. Eliot

"To live alone is the fate of all great souls."

-Arthur Schopenhauer

"One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful."

-Sigmund Freud

Chapter 1

The Last Ark Knight

July 6th, 2019 AE, 4:21 PM

The Ark Knight approached the shrine with his sword at his back. The mountain towered into the heart of the dark storm. Howling winds and thunderous clouds echoed throughout the eternal skies. After many hours of climbing and braving the tempest, he had reached the altar at the top. Reaching into his night-colored coat, he pulled out his crystal pendant and held it up. It resonated with a cerulean energy that illuminated the face of the shrine. The gray skies in front of him warped and distorted until an enormous, floating island appeared from the haze. This was Arkrelm: the mythical city once inhabited by the Ark Knights.

All his research into the ancient texts brought him here. According to legend, the gods lifted a sliver of land into the sky, where the Knights lived for centuries, hidden from the world in a veil of magic. It was also said they kept and protected an almighty treasure there before they all disappeared. What remains to this day are ruins and the demons dwelling inside.

After putting his pendant around his neck, he activated the grappling arm on his right glove. It fired a cable that latched onto the rock at the top of the cliff. Reeling him towards the island, he launched himself through the air, landing right at the entrance to Arkrelm.

The heavy winds blew against his face as he explored the ruins. Colossal stone towers loomed over him, acting as tombstones for a once mighty paradise. The whole island had been reduced to a graveyard and a testament to his race's existence. In the heart of it all, he found the city's Divine Temple. A tangle of vines and moss covered its weathered, stone facade. Approaching the grand structure, the Ark Knight stared up at its tall, white door before becoming the first person to open it in years.

Taking off his hood and goggles, he looked down the staircase laid out before him. The Ark Knight sensed countless dangers lurking down there in the dark. But he cast aside what little fear he had, knowing the treasure waiting for him inside.

"Here I go." With a deep breath, he pushed forward into the labyrinth.

* * *

The Ark Knight walked down the stairs until he reached the landing. The darkness was all around him, and the ravenous demons were nearby. He used his magic to form an orb of light to pierce through the shadows. He could now see the skeletons of the people who perished in these ruins. The skull and the bones didn't scare him at all. In his years of fighting, he was used to seeing them.

He entered the temple's great hall, which resembled the heart of a cathedral. Tall, glass windows framed by marble columns lined the walls. An enormous hole had been blown through the roof, painting the ceiling with gray, cloudy skies. Bones and cobwebs littered the floor, which was itself covered with reflective stone. A rotten stench filled the air, like he was walking inside a predator's stomach.

While walking down the hall, ancient lamps framing the pathway lit up as they detected his presence. He was surprised to see this technology still working after years of decay. In the middle of the room, he stumbled upon a massive trench cut across the floor. He looked down into the dark abyss, sensing dozens of demons lurking below.

"No, thank you," he whispered.

He hopped across the trench, he kept walking until he reached the next room. There, the hallway split in two directions. Sensing no demons on the right, he continued down there. These corridors kept splitting and turning, but he followed the stream of energy flowing from the treasure. He crept down the halls to not alert the demons of his presence. His experience fighting them taught him it was best to avoid them.

These vile fiends would kill anything that moves and made nests in the ruins of Aeos. The Knights chose to capture some of these beasts to better understand them. But whatever destroyed this city had set them all free, allowing them to revolt and make this realm their own. They were attracted to the magical relics kept inside like flies to a corpse. And with the great treasure held inside the temple, the entire island had become a demonic breeding ground.

After a few minutes of navigating the labyrinth, the Ark Knight arrived at the entrance into the main vault. Engraved on the double door was an octagram and a lock built into its bottom point. Feeling a surge of energy within his armor, he took out his pendant to see that it had lit up once again. He inserted it into the lock, causing the door's rune to fill with streaks of neon blue. It slid open to reveal a large room with a marble pedestal sitting at the far end.

"There you are," he whispered.

Embedded in the pedestal was a green crystal radiating an enormous amount of magic. This was the Star of Valon, the God of the Skies. Legends said his spirit slumbered inside the stone, which powered the city with enough energy to last ten thousand years. But now that he found it, Astrelm had a chance at defeating the Nova Empire.

He approached the pedestal with caution, fearing he might set off a trap. A civilization with such advanced technology would surely keep its treasure inside a hermetic vault. So even when he reached the Star, he hesitated to take it. He looked up at the mural on the wall depicting the ancient gods. All seven of them surrounded the First Star, raining its light down on the world. One of these deities resembled the statue looking down on him. He presumed this to be in the image of Valon. This massive, armored figure stared with blank, unforgiving eyes, the kind that showed he was not afraid of exacting divine judgment. The Ark Knight now worried that Valon himself would strike him down for touching this most sacred relic. Even though his people were chosen to guard it, was he worthy of taking it?

No! he thought. He knew that whether or not he was worthy, Astrelm needed this Star. Focused on the crystal, he stretched out his fingers, took a deep breath, and grabbed it. A gust of wind whooshed from the stone, and a wave of energy emitted from it. The crystal's emerald light filled the chamber, blinding the Ark Knight as he recoiled in fear.

Is this it? he thought. Is this the end?

Once the light faded, he opened his eyes, and a smile of relief ran across his face. But just as he put the stone in his coat pocket, he heard a spine-tingling wail from afar.

"Kraaahhhh!"

Grotesque shrieks tore through the temple air. Dozens of thunderous footsteps shook the labyrinth, growing louder with each second. He detected countless demons stampeding through the halls. The Knight guessed were all coming to stop him from taking the treasure.

"Shit!" He checked the Star Ring around his wrist to see if he could make a quick escape. The device flashed neon red, failing to activate. Whether it was the storm or the demons' energy blocking the signal, he knew one thing: he was trapped.

I guess I'm taking the long way out.

He took his sword out of its sheath, preparing himself for what was coming.

Out from the shadows emerged a pack of Taloks: tall, reptilian demons as swift as the wind. Their gangling limbs stretched across the floor as they charged in with long swords and jagged claws. Their lustrous, golden eyes shot through the dark, and their fangs were just as sharp.

"I was wondering when you'd show up!" shouted the Ark Knight.

He slashed at every demon that came his way with remarkable speed, killing each of them with a single attack. Streaks of ebony blood shot out of their wounds as they collapsed to the floor. But when one of them was destroyed, two more took their place. The demons just kept coming and coming. They were starting to overwhelm him. He had to end this now.

"Yaaaahhh!"

The Ark Knight howled as he directed energy into his sword. He spun himself around in a whirlwind of magic that incinerated them all. Their charred remains dissolved into a black mist that vanished into the wind like a howling specter.

He sensed more demons homing in on him. He sprinted back into the labyrinth, remembering the path that he took the first time. Three more Taloks popped up around the corner, each with their own swords. The Ark Knight jumped over one demon, stabbing it from behind. He swiped his blade across the second one's chest. He finished off the third with a magic blast that sent it flying into the wall. With the path cleared, he began his escape.

In less than a minute, he made it back to the main hall. A horde of Taloks came pouring in from the opposite corridor. Turning left, he leaped across the chasm, leaving his pursuers in the dust. But not without a little present.

The Ark Knight had dropped a pulse bomb filled with his magic. He braced himself as it rolled towards the demons. Beeping down the last seconds on it's timer, the device blew all these beasts up with a massive, blue explosion.

Though he returned to the main hall with the treasure intact, the swordsman heard the booming flap of wings overhead. He also felt a massive amount of dark energy swooping down from above.

* * *

A colossal, black dragon burst in through the roof. The entire temple trembled under the demon's weight. Its scaly body surged with the storm's power. Baring three rows of fangs, its roar made the skies quiver in fear. It's two pairs of eyes shined with the aureate light of the Accursed. Born from the Destroyer's dark embers, this was the last great drake of the Divine War. The Ark Knight steeled himself as he faced this Zepherok without fear.

"Oh good," he taunted. "I thought this was gonna be too easy!"

The Ark Knight ran in to strike. The Zepherok opened its jaws and breathed a stream of blue fire. He evaded the flames and slashed the beast's head with his blade. The Zepherok swung its massive wing at him. He dodged, slicing the demon's soft underbelly. The dragon fired a beam of red energy from its gigantic mouth. The Ark Knight conjured his shield to defend himself. The attack still drove him back across the room. He stood right at the edge of the chasm. The beast wasn't letting up. But he wouldn't either. In the heat of battle, he roared with a burst of strength that sent the beam skyward.

"Rraaaahhh!"

He retaliated with a blast that pierced the dragon's eye. As it recoiled in pain, he infused all his energy into his sword. He rushed in and slashed the beast's head, forcing it back on its hind legs. The Zepherok came back to crush him beneath its claws. Leaping over its head, the Ark Knight jumped off the wall behind it. Coming back around, he drove his shining blade deep into the demon's skull. The Zepherok roared streams of fire, flailing in agony until it crashed to the floor. The swordsman hopped off its body and watched it dissolve into a massive, black haze that reeked of death.

Before the Ark Knight could breathe easy, he saw the roof begin to crumble. He realized the dragon's blast had disrupted the entire foundation. He hurried up the stairs as the temple caved in. Everything behind him flooding with debris. But the exit was just within reach. With a quick burst of energy, he launched himself outside before the temple could swallow him whole.

His hasty escape caused him to stumble onto the ground, forcing the Star out of his pocket. The crystal rolled across the ground as he lunged after it. But just when he grabbed hold of it, he saw the wrong end of an assault rifle in front of him.

"Hold it right there!"

The Ark Knight looked up to see a Imperial Centurion, a soldier in gray armor and a helmet with no face. There were about two dozen of them pointing machine guns at his head.

"Drop the stone and put your hands up!" the Centurion shouted.

"You gotta be kidding me." the Ark Knight muttered.

He met their demands, knowing he couldn't avoid all their bullets point-blank. Two Centurions came over and grabbed him by the collar, forcing him onto his knees. He saw a black Imperial airship descend to the surface of the island. This metallic beast laid down its long wings as it landed in front of them. The image of a giant anglerfish came to mind as the mouth of the ship's hull opened.

The squad's leader emerged from the craft's hull, stepping onto the city in black leather boots. The crowd of Imperials opened a path to let him through as he slowly approached the Ark Knight. He reached down to the crystal and held it in his leather-clad hands.

After taking a moment to admire its mystical, green glow, he turned to his subordinate and spoke.

"Is he the only one?"

"Yes, General Lok."

He crouched down in front of the Ark Knight, giving him a clear view of the General himself. He was a young man, seemingly in his late-twenties, veiled in a black cloak with a long, black saber hanging from his waist. But what really caught his attention were his eyes. These eerie, yellow orbs were the Eyes of the Accursed, burning with a venomous glare. With the symbol of Zadon tattooed over his right eye, this side of his face gave the appearance of a deformed eyelash. And behind those eyes, beneath his human exterior, burned the heart of a devil.

"What do we have here?" he asked with chilling glee.

"Look, I'm just a merchant on expedition. I haven't done anything wrong!"

"You really expect me to believe that? I know a soldier when I see one."

"Are you sure? Do I look like one of your friends here?" he asked before one of the Centurions jagged his gun barrel into his shoulder.

"Not that it really matters who you are. What does matter is this!" Lok said, gesturing to the Star. "How did you find it?!"

"Does that really matter?"

"Well, I don't care how you found this. It now belongs to the Empire."

"So, what happens now? You gonna kill me?"

"I'd love to," Lok replied, "but no. Lord Kaiser will want to speak with you! Take him away!"

The Ark Knight shuddered with horror from hearing his master's name. Everyone on the planet knew it, and it was enough to make it come to a complete stop.

"Wait, can't we just talk about this for a second?!"

As Lok walked away with the Star, two more Centurions slowly approached the Ark Knight with a pair of electronic handcuffs. Their faceless helmets showed no sign of relenting as they prepared to restrain him.

"Ah, shit."

Catching them off guard, the Ark Knight blasted the Centurions behind him, sending them flying across the ruins. Before the other soldiers could fire their weapons, he hurled his second pulse bomb, which catapulted them all in a massive shockwave.

The explosion kicked up a cloud of dust in front of Lok. Using this cover, the Knight drew his blade and rushed in to strike Lok. Sensing him within the smoke, the general drew his saber and parried his attack.

"An Ark Knight?" Lok exclaimed. "My lucky day!"

With his opponent drunk with arrogance, the Ark Knight blasted him in the chest. His body flew into the rubble, forcing the Star out of his hand. Picking up the stone, the swordsman turned and started sprinting across the ruins.

Halfway out of the city, he found two more Imperial airships that had touched down minutes ago. The Centurions guarding them let their rifles loose the moment they saw him. Deflecting all of their bullets with his sword, he slashed through half of them like a gust of razor-sharp wind. The other half came charging at him wielding blades crackling with purple energy. Before they could hit him, the Ark Knight sliced them dead with astonishing acrobatics.

He kept running until he reached the rim of the isle. The mountain he summoned the city from was now out of sight. He checked his Star Ring to see if he had a signal. Still nothing.

"Come on!"

Sensing intensely wicked energy close by, he turned around to see that Lok had finally caught up to him.

"Going somewhere?!" he asked. He then imbued his blade with his magic to create a sword of demonic fire.

Preparing himself for a tough fight, the Ark Knight focused his energy into his sword and wrapped it with an edge of burning light.

"That's quite a lot of power you have there. I've been waiting for someone who could put up a fight! Try to make it last!"

"Count on it," said the Ark Knight.

In a flash, sword clashed with saber. Each attack was a strike of lightning. Neither of them could land a single hit. The light of their blades ground against each other like crackling glass. As they locked eyes, they both sent out enough rage to light a fire.

Lok's insatiable bloodlust heightened his power every second. The Ark Knight could feel the lethal sting of Lok's blade getting closer to his face. Just before he could overpower him, the Knight summoned a burst of primal anger that amplified his sword's energy. This gave him the edge he needed to force Lok's infernal weapon out of his hand.

With that opening, he prepared to bring the ax down on the general's head. But to his surprise, Lok caught his sword between his fingers like it was a pencil.

He regained the upper hand by tossing the Ark Knight's sword away. He kicked him nearly off the island.

As he stared up at his fiendish foe, the Knight realized what his strategy was. Lok was trying to drive him over the cliffs. He got so swept up by the excitement, he almost missed this. He had never fought anyone with this kind of strength before. He couldn't help but grin at his opponent, who loathed losing control of a fight.

Lok fired a red energy bomb that the Ark Knight. The latter swatted it away with his arm, sending it burning into the clouds. Seeing him sprint over, Lok conjured an ebony dagger to use against him. As they used their fists, Lok continually tried to slash him with his knife. The weightless blade danced around him like a leaf in the wind. The Ark Knight almost couldn't keep up with it. But he did knock it out of his hand.

He then hammered Lok's face until he kicked him into the ruins. His next punch took a chunk out of the column, missing his target. Grabbing his arm, Lok threw him to the ground and tried to smash his face. But he caught Lok's fist before bashing heads with him. Vaulting back, the Ark Knight reclaimed his sword and went back in for the kill.

Lok summoned more daggers, hurled them at the Ark Knight. He blocked them all with his sword, but his foe took his saber and drove him back. Seething with anger, Lok slammed his blade harder and harder until he broke his defenses. He then grabbed his opponent's neck, forcing him to the edge of the island. With one hand at his throat and his other on his sword, Lok said with a menacing tone:

"Another one who fell too quickly."

The Ark Knight saw his Star Ring had lit up neon blue. It had gotten a signal.

"Bye." With a triumphant smile, he thrust his legs against Lok's chest, blasting himself over the edge.

Plummeting towards the earth, the Knight slammed his hand on his Ring. His body became enveloped in a mystical, blue light as it phased into the aether.

And then, he was gone.

* * *

The swordsman came flying out of the Stargate in the city of Argos. He glided across the altar so fast, he had to impale his sword into the floor to slow himself down. It tore a large gash in the tiles, catching the attention of two security officers who were stunned by his spectacular entrance.

"Sorry about that," he said.

Having made it home with his skin intact, the Ark Knight sat down on a nearby bench. All that fighting burned a lot of his strength, so he needed to rest.

"Oh, man!" he said to himself. "What a day!"

He took the Star out of his coat pocket. As he stared into the eye of the holy crystal, he couldn't help but think about how he ended up like this, how his life became all about fighting monsters and hunting for treasure. His mind traveled back to that fateful day two years ago, which changed not only his life but the lives of everyone in Astrelm.