torms had weathered This soot-colored church . remnants of its beauty and strength remained on the outside. Dry rotten noisy stairs bent to his weight making his way to the front door ajar. Pushing the door, the walls and ceiling had gaping holes in them revealing partial light from the clouded sky and a wood skeleton of the church. An old red carpet matted and stained lengthening. the corridor to the door at the end of the hallway . A hallways that was candelabra-lit. It was clear that whoever lived here had a serious weathering issue.
Approaching the red peeling door, he turned the knob and entered a living area full of books. shelved neatly into the walls. the leather furniture by the fire seemed new.
Luxurious, comfortable and quiet. Every inch of wall that could be covered in books, were. Adonis was impressed by the vast collection, who did it belong to?
“4,546”
Adonis quickly turned his head upward and there, Walking down the spiral staircase with her heels stamping the metal in her every step. was a woman in a black floor draping dress, her white hair braided to an exact semblance of goat horns. She came down without taking her eyes off him.
“My books, all accounted for. You're welcome to look around”
“Was it you that called us?”
She passed him and walked over to a messy table near the mantle and prepared two chalices with what he would only assume was wine from an unlabeled bottle.
“The call, yes “
“I’ve been trying to understand the purpose of it for a week now. I’m here now. so, tell me, why am I here? And why is my mother dead!?”
The woman seemed unmoved by his emotional state, and walked back to him, her pace unchanged.
“Refer to me as spire master, my charge is the execution of my master's intent. and their intent comes from the cosmic mother”
Adonis took the chalice, only to set it down. when she sat, she drank her full cup then placed it on a pile of books by her chair. She reached her hand out to the other chalice Adonis had set down. the chalice went up in a black electrical plume, and back into her hand.
“Sit”
Her eyes commanded him as well.
Adonis walked over to a chair across from her and sat down.
“I understand the rush and Livid fervor, but as Spire master it is my job to make sure we get along if we are going to work together”
“I wish I had the time to “
“You will, and the first thing you need to know about our relationship is settled. Mother re- called both of you from earth to serve a purpose greater than you could know. and now you are here waiting for the final steps to fulfill that call”
“What does she want?” Adonis said
“She wants what every creature who suffers on earth wants…the end”
The Spire master finished her drink, wiping the corner of her lip and standing up. reaching out for his hand.
Adonis took her hand, and she guided him back to the top of the spiral staircase. at the top, A narrow path of books lead to a room at the end. she stopped briefly, plucked a book from one of the shelves and guided him to that room. Entering the room, it was clearly a stellar observatory and study. A colossal telescope was aiming through a massive hole in the high roof that made Adonis feel small. They walked to the telescope, and she opened a book. reading off the text, while glancing into the spy glass now and again. changing the trajectory of the thing.
“The number of planets and ecosystems she has created is unknown by the simplest and even the most power wielding of her kings. Since Population three… the first inception of stars, its recorded by observers across the galaxy that she is still working. she can only devise a specific process to occur. she cannot snap her fingers and let in the light, she can only give life a fighting chance, the basic elements. “
She tapped on the eye piece, and Adonis peered into the spy glass of the telescope. he could make out a few deformed moons in the distance and clusters of bright stars around them.
“Mother isn’t perfect, and she isn’t all-powerful, but it is from her that every kingdom was made and there was one, her favorite. It sat there right where those moons are. The process to make the planet again would be near impossible to replicate, and if she could it would take millions of years more.”
“I know that he…”
Adonis pointed to his temple gesturing towards the creature before continuing.
“He told me that mother sent him to earth. but he never got to finish the original mission. and considering everything I’ve realized, we traumatized it. this is not the same thing that came to earth all those years ago and from what I understand…”
Adonis paused
“Is that neither it or her knew what kind of planet earth was “
The spire master closed her book and looked up at the clouded sky before telling him her thoughts.
“I told you, she only knows how to start the process, its not up to her how these things go. “
“I understand that but what I don’t understand is what she plans to do next? How does Sevoria fit into all of this if its long gone?”
The Spire master agreed, nodding her head at the floor.
“Our Big sister planet is long gone, but there was something the entire universe never expected for us to find “
Adonis pulled in a chair from the shadows and listened to what she had to say.
“Whatever event that caused Sevoria’s death was natural, His coffin survived and drifted for years until it was recovered by my father “
“Their Guardian” Adonis said
“And it wasn’t just any of the old guardians, it was the first, the most powerful. in his lifeless body Mother saw some kind of opportunity to solve the problem on earth.”
Adonis watched her leave the observatory and went to sit at her desk, without another word. Adonis walked back over to her and sat down in front of her.
“You may have been hand picked by it but it doesn’t mean you were picked by us”
“I’m guessing shes skeptical “
“Mother hasn’t always been this cautious, so we are taking further means to ensure you are not going to mislead us.”
“I am an outsider, I’ve always been “Adonis said laying back in his chair
“But you have an opportunity to change that. and maybe become a part of an elite guard with a mission only she knows… tell me. “
She prepared an ink quill and paper.
“How is your future on earth, any ties there?”
“My wife and I had a nice future planned out on earth.
“You mentioned your mother had died recently, have you made arrangements?”
Adonis scoffed
“No…”
She stood from her chair and came to his side. leaning against the desk in a remorseful manner, her tone changed.
“Im sorry, but you can't go back until its under control, until its healed.”
Adonis stood from his seat, something in the way she said that reminded him of the hospital, of them prolonging his stay
“How long will that take”
“It depends on the battle and if you make it “
“Tell me what I need to do, I have to get back to earth”
She placed a hand on his shoulder
“But do you know what you are really asking? this road your about to take, it can't be dishonored”
Adonis aggressively pointed to himself “I’m willing to do whatever it takes. devote myself to whatever I need to get to her, without her I have nothing, I am nothing! “
There was an admiration in the Spire master's eyes. this level of devotion came from a thick reservoir of desperation and sadness. Something the leagues of the realm have never seen in hundreds of years.
“Taking this path means proving to the galaxy that you are unmatched, with and with only what you have now. That you are ready for greater levels of responsibility, that you will honor the law and that you will honor the cosmic mother and all of her in complete and imperfect eternal reign”
Adonis gestured a yes.
“Answer it” she said firmly
“I am willing”
She gave him a second to think before continuing with the final part of the devotion. only willing, capable, and loyal warriors of the universe could be challenged for this level of responsibility.
“Do you understand that death can come to you at any moment before or during your trials?”
“Yes…”
“And finally…are you prepared to uphold any task she endows to you. now, and until your dying breath”
“I am”
She extended her hand and opened her palm, locking her fingers around his.
“Every warrior who completes his given tasks will be unbaptized and reborn here in the darkest of planets, reborn as an abyssal warrior”
There hands unlocked and Adonis asked her.
“what’s my task?”
“Your first task Agnis the Hedondora, he has guarded the Northern sector for as long as I have held my position, since I could see our sister in the sky. Go down there, he knows your coming”
Leaving the spire masters temple, the fog blanketing this world was thick. He could truly make out. The silhouettes of monolithic boulders engraved with strange white holographic symbols projecting out of them. floating a few inches off the ground
North, she said, and North Adonis walked into the mist and fog. Throughout his journey he discovered that it was actually condensation emitting from small pools of boiling water, from the fresh magma that was present under the planet. In the sky, he gazed at the odd shaped moons that didn’t seem to be a great length from each other. with what little he could, see through the tarp of mist.
An upward explosion of earth and rock ahead, taking a step back, he thought it might be from built of pressure. but a shape flew out of the hole, not one but two and three winged creatures from the earth. They circled a few times before they noticed Adonis standing there. swooping down one behind the other. he evaded the first one, punched the second out the way but the third dug it’s claws deep into his shoulders. as it began to carry him Adonis broke its hands and forced it to let him go. and he tumbled back to the earth bleeding heavily. before it could fly away, he smashed a rock against its head.
distracted in his rage the other one cut him across his back, forcing him to drop and catch himself on the ground. while his body slowly started to repair itself. It made the mistake of being seen in its next attack. It got close enough for Adonis to snatch it out of thin air by its throat. breaking its back on a stone when he slammed it down. He heaved trying to catch his breath and power back. The last one disappeared.
Glaring out into the mist, he listened for it. waited for it. his body ached but he could feel his strength was returning. Waiting for a sign of it he stood up straighter. The beat of its wings in his right ear increased quickly in volume. before it could take him up in its claws his eyes lit up, and he was surrounded by a frenzy of red lightning. Adonis’s screams shook the realm. as the creatures’ joints and muscles were twisted out of place. its head snapped in a 360 degree turn and the creature exploded. his feet hovered the ground for a few seconds until the energy around him ceased. he drifted slowly back to the ground. surrounded by countless sizzling chunks of flesh and popping… hissing disintegration of bone.
Stones a few meters away began erecting and clinking
themselves into an archway. He faced the transparent door.
“Believe that we will survive …”
it said as he walked into the gateway. Passing through, his
fist stopped the first creature that tried to attack him. sending it crashing back into the ring of magma surrounding the volcanic platform ahead. others now were gathering in a school like circle above the stone walls around him inside what he could only guess was a volcano. Before they could swoop down on him. he sprinted to retrieve the longsword ahead. ripping it from the ground and slashing across the first wave of his enemies. sending their pieces straight into the ring of fire that surrounded him. More peered out from the cavern rock and hundreds more peered down with hungry eyes over top.
Gripping the sword with both hands. A red static charge spidered from his grip and around the sword. The immense new surge of power he felt connecting with this weapon. left him feeling unstoppable. He drove the sword blade down into the crust causing a rising wave of molten fire. to rise and incinerate his enemies.
Hacking wings from their backs and heads off their shoulders.
Stomping dead the pieces that still moved when they fell. Seething with a legendary rage and lust he challenged all creature with a roar.
Despite their numbers or the small victories their claws found. his blade always found its way passing through their red flesh. in their retreat, he anchored his sword into one of their backs. letting it fly him out. it died carrying him to the surface. he jumped off condemning it back down the way they came and found himself back on to higher ground. To another larger island of rock somewhere in the molten cavern of this world. stalagmites hung, islands of rock floated across the lake of hot boiling inferno and the island he found himself on was home to the four eyed creature that had the resemblance of a bull and the bulky hairy body structure of a man. It must have rose to stand a height of 7 feet from his stone chair. His horns added more height and danger to his stature. He picked up the massive quad barrel machine gun and snarled unloading a storm of lead. Its inaccuracy started from his right and slowly swayed towards him. quickly Adonis reached out towards the hanging stalagmites. pulling one large enough to fall and spike into the earth. he used it as cover and the bullets began chipping away at it quickly, he pulled another one free. by the time it landed the bullets had hit and tore his shoulder nearly clean off. but he was quick and moved forward to the next stalagmite. Swearing in pain under his breath his anger excelled his healing process. bone and flesh reconnecting quickly. he jumped on top of the stalagmite catching the demon off guard as he drove down his sword from above. Agnis tossed the machine aside and moved away from the blade that was now bitten into the ground instead of him. the beast summoned his own blade. appearing from the hilt all the way to the blackened edge. He manipulated the cavern rock into a weapon. and the demons saber collided with Adonis’s silver blade. back and forth they swung missing and colliding it was strenuous for Adonis. having to reach high or duck the demon's massive blade. eventually it got tired and charged him horns first. the force into Adonis’s skull sent his sword flying out of his hand. but he regained his footing and pushed back against the beast. He reached for his sword, and it came back to him. now holding it with both hands he went for a killing blow, but Agnis grabbed his throat. and held him in the air before winding it’s shoulder back to meteor him into a rock cluster.
Agnis stood tall waiting while his pistols of hell
manifested in each of his hands. For a moment their
seemed to be no sign of Adonis rising. but he did. his
wounds healing, his body surging in that red energy.
his eyes lit in a fury to destroy. Agnis raised both of his weapons and fired carelessly. his weapons sucked in the hellfire around them casting the magma into hot shells.
that fed the two machines.
The bullets exploded on impact to the invisible force
guarding Adonis. From the magma, his molten clones
erupted and charged in packs of two on both sides.
In a single strike of his sword, they would evaporate
but they kept coming in waves. Adonis pushed forward
closer to the titan that concentrated his deflected fire.
They came smarter and smarter. evading his attacks and using others as a distraction to advance on him!
but he was faster than them. he kicked one directly back to Agnis who shot it out of the air. distracted long enough for Adonis to get close. Agnis dropped back his weapons and threw his weight into a punch. Adonis phased out of his way driving his sword straight in between its rib cage. twisting its edge he fiercely reached into its bottom jaw and tore it from its head. the Hedondora tilted and fainted over.
his stone chair cracked and fell apart but pieces of it
began to form itself into an archway. the earth around him began to break away like melting ice shelfs. he watched the battleground tear itself apart before entering the gateway.
He was standing in front of the Spire master's chapel. when the Incantarians appeared from the dense clouds around him.
two soldiers dragged over pieces of armor laid out on the skin-stretched sled.
Adonis let them cut off the top of his red jumpsuit that was torn and weakly hanging. exposing his bare chest and shoulders. they fastened the pauldron across his shoulder. and rested comfortably to protect his left side. Next, they fastened a piece of leg armor to his thigh and ankle. Raising his sword, he sheathed it in holster to his back. The incantarians bowed their heads before continuing back out into the mist on the hunt now, no doubt for their next meal.
Zachariah, Lost and washed ashore a strange misty world, the humidity too strong for his blue jacket. without a thought, he tossed it aside.
A stone monolith had caught his eye. he slid his hand underneath the gap of the stone and he determined nothing natural could hold it that high. The symbols passed through his hand holographically. these were nothing like he had ever seen in his study of the world's religions. Taking out a pen and paper from his back pocket, he drew them to the best of his ability before continuing his walk.
To his right and left, silhouettes of elongated horn shaped rocks protruded the earth with veins of magma still flowing in them. Stepping in a small shallow pond of boiling water he stomped his foot on the ground to cool his shoe, it had eaten through his entire sole and he was forced to take it off. He walked for miles like that until his foot bled. When death seemed like the only opportunity in this world the most amazing sight to him made its appearance. A Christian spire. Sitting himself down on the ground to slide down a hill he made a run for it.
The hallway was weathered, candle lit, the red carpet tattered and stained. To the red door at the end, he made his way cautiously, there were no markers on the door. just a beaten and poorly gilded doorknob in which he took his time turning.
A fireplace, hundreds, no thousands of books and luxurious furniture but who was the resident that lived here? And did they mind if he looked around.
Taking a book of particular interest Alisfare Grimoirium A thin tan book that was written in what would seem like three languages, languages that were in no possible correlation to the many on earth. Depictions of planets and what he guessed were its inhabitants, inhabitants that did not resemble men in any way. Closing the book, he put it back and shuffled over to the left and then right again, no down, down right until another piqued his interest again.
“Mimriumvocatus astrologie”
The spire master thought she heard the front door and now watched the human go through her library, as he was interested so was she.
Walking down the stairwell, brought his attention to her and away from the book in hand.
“Where did you come from?”
“Earth… do you know it?”
She walked over to pour them a drink by the fireplace and spoke with her back to Zachariah.
“I have over fifty books on the planet, I should know.”
He closed the book in his hand, and gently put it back before walking over to her as she turned with both chalices in hand. and when he was close enough, gave him one.
“What is this”
He said, still taking the chalice. watching her sit down by the fire pit. her eyes on its flames taking a long sip.
“It's wine”
Zachariah took a chance and sipped it, impressed by its taste he sat down to taste it some more.
“Tell me about you” she said
Zachariah smiled briefly and pointed upward.
“Why is there a cross on your spire?”
“it’s a fishhook”
“Excuse me?”
The spire master swallowed.
“You do know what a fishhook is don’t you?”
“yes”
“And your familiar with what it does?” she said keeping her eyes on the fire still sipping from her chalice.
“That cross is more than a fishhook”
The spire master spit out her drink at the fire, in a fit of laughter. and the flames rose dramatically, Zachariah covered his face and leaned away.
“Then we are natural enemies “she finally said.
Zachariah's face now held a serious frown, he leaned forward to speak to her.
“What is this place?”
“Well, its not hell, and its definitely not heaven. I bet anything that’s how you got here, you hiched a ride with Adonis thinking the tablet would take you to your lord, but he is nowhere in the stars.”
“if this world exists than the kingdom of God exists, you need to tell me where it is”
Finishing her cup, she pointed at the shelf behind him. and a thick copy of the “holy bible” was plucked from her shelf and brought itself over to her. she put her cup down on a stack of books on the floor and took the bible.
“As spire master my job isn’t to insult you, but to inform you”
She turned the book to face Zachariah, its title bold to him.
“You wanted the kingdom of God; you’ve had it in your hands your entire life. “
She dropped the book to the floor and swiped her hand across it, it opened, and its pages flipped.
“In these pages and nothing more im afraid. A false narrative built from the architect of imagination. built to comfort the mystery of death.”
“Lies”
The spire master closed the book and stood from her chair.
cutting down the middle of her dress with an elongated dark fingernail. She removed her clothes and stretched her slim body, her fingertips turning into small talons, her skin changing color texture to a scaly iridescent. her hairless face and head had unfurled dark quills and large goat shaped horns. her pupils ruby red circles on a black scelera backdrop. Her dark lips and iridescent scaly breasts full. The spire master's demeanor in her hereditary form was one full of temptation and strength.
Zachariah cautiously stood from his chair to grab a fire spoke, but she drew her finger toward him. A ball of iridescent energy spun at the tip of her talon.
“Death… or knowledge “
Zachariah knew that it would be a waste of a timeless gift to be killed by the entity before him, so he pleaded.
“Not death”
The orb at the tip of her finger dissipated back into her hand and she reached out for him.
“Come along”
