Welcome to the main story section. Stories will be updated four days after it has been on the page. If you need any previous stories just your request and I shall send it to you. Here is the thought for the day: "You're not just a zero. You're the ultimate zero." Talon (Story 7)
Location: New Rolin City
Day 156
Geist walked into the Moonrise Inn on schedule and glanced about. It was one of the nicer Inns, one that was frequented by merchants, drug dealers, and others who could afford Hyru's taxes and still make a decent profit. Most of the patrons glanced at him oddly as he came in, a few even muttering things about letting just anyone in here under their breath. Geist paid them no mind and walked up to the bar, asking the barkeep for some water. The barkeep snorted and served him his water. Geist looked around at the fellow patrons a moment, trying to decide which one was the woman he was looking for.
The bartender came around again and asked "You was going to have anything else with his 'beverage' there pal?"
and Geist replied, "That depends, I'm looking for a woman named Minx."
"Right here sweetheart." came a voice from behind him.
Minx had to be the most unusual woman Geist had ever met. After introducing herself she had insisted they go up to her room to talk business and Geist had complied. She made small talk the entire way, talking about the weather, the crop this year, the taxes, anything that came to mind. Geist made simple replies, but Minx didn't seem to notice him much and was apparently talking to hear herself talk. Once inside his room Geist took a good look at her.
She was tall for a woman with long black hair that fell down her shoulders. She wore a low cut black dress with tall black boots on her lets. Her lips, fingernails were both painted dark purple, and she wore a pendant of the same color purple close around her neck. The room they were in had a bed, a small table and two comfortable looking chairs, she motioned to one and had him take a seat.
"I trust that you've brought the item?" she asked.
"I have it on me right now."
She smiled, "Excellent, let me see it."
Geist produced the box and handed it to her. She took it and broke a seal on the side, opening it and peering in a brief moment before snapping it shut. She looked up at him and glared coldly.
"This is a joke right? Where is the real box?"
Geist blinked in confusion. "I haven't the foggiest what your talking about."
Minx snarled and stood up, "Liar!" he screamed at him shaking the box before her. "I've been loyal dammit! I didn't do anything to deserve this!"
She threw the box down at Geists feet causing him to jump back, his hand automatically going to his sword. The box popped open and a small black wooden object rolled out. Minx continued to scream at him, the hint of tears forming at her eyes.
"I did nothing to deserve the black heart!"
Geist stepped back from her as she screamed, glancing around as he was sure it would attract some unwanted attention or another.
"I'm sorry I was just paid to deliver this box to you, I know nothing about it."
Minx glared at him, reaching behind her and pulling a small, previously unseen dagger from behind her back.
"LIAR!" she screamed as loud as she could, "You were sent to kill me!" she said as the reared back and threw the dagger at him....
Location: Swamps of Soun
Day 157
Jermel spoke softly to the group of Spyre troops. The reinforcements had arrived at a good time. Even though some Spyre agents had been lost, the Shadow-Tal had taken heavier casualties.
"One more assault on the fort should be enough to kill the rest of them," he said.
Torrent was among the Spyre agents in the group. He had just arrived with the rest of his team, and was ready to carry out the orders given to him.
Jermel turned toward the ten Versatile Corps members, "Your job will be to launch the assault on the front of the base. Try to get in and kill the Shadow-Tal if possible, but be careful. Remember that your team is the distraction."
He turned toward Torrent and the other five Stealth Corps members, "Your job will be to get around the back of the fort and get in that way. When you get in, kill all of the Shadow-Tal inside. I want none of them to survive. Glory to Hyru."
"Glory to Hyru," they all said in unison, and dispersed.
The Versatile Corps members took position behind some tall grass near the front of the fort. They kneeled there silently until Jermel yelled, signaling for them to attack.
They drew their swords and ran forward. The Shadow-Tal at the top of the base started throwing rocks, for lack of any better weapons, at the Spyre agents. A few of the Versatile Corps members made their way through to the door and were trying to break it down, but most of them simply kept their distance.
As they were doing this, the Stealth Corps had been sneaking through the overgrown brush of the swamp around to the back of the fort. They finally reached the area on the back where part of the wall had been destroyed, and they would be able to climb in. Ulvan climbed in first, then Chak nodded to Torrent, who climbed through next. After him, Chak and the remaining Stealth Corps members climbed in.
As soon as the Shadow-Tal noticed the Spyre agents who had snuck in, they grabbed what weapons they had and charged toward them, but the Stealth Corps agents were ready. They sliced through the Shadow-Tal quickly killing all of them, with the Spyre agents receiving only a few wounds.
Chak seemed pleased with the work.
He looked around and said, "Ulvan, Torrent, the two of you stay here and keep a watch out. The rest of us will check the fort for any more survivors."
They all nodded, and Chak and the others left to search the rest of the fort. Ulvan and Torrent stood watch as ordered, neither of them saying anything to the other. They didn't need to say anything. They both knew what their job was and why they were doing it, to serve Hyru. For both of them, that was reason enough to be here, to be a part of this killing. Anything else they could say wouldn't matter.
The party of men Esimed was leading through the swamp came within view of the fort. Esimed stopped and stared at its walls. This brought back a lot of painful memories for him, even more than his old village.
Ashdon put his hand on Esimed's shoulder and said, "Come on, remember what we're here for. This may be your chance to finally redeem yourself."
The party continued on, but as they got closer, Ashdon noticed the uniforms of the men standing on top of the fort, "We're too late. Spyre's already taken the base. Our men are no doubt dead by now. Everyone retreat."
With long faces, the men followed Ashdon's order and retreated, all except for Esimed. Esimed had his hand on his sword, and rage on his face. He looked like he wanted to fight.
Ashdon yelled, "Esimed, retreat before they see us!"
As Torrent was surveying the area, he noticed two figures standing not far from the fort. One was standing there, while the other motioned for him to turn around and leave.
"Ulvan," Torrent said.
Ulvan turned around and saw them, too. "It looks like more Shadow-Tal," Ulvan said.
Torrent nodded in agreement and the two quickly climbed down the wall. The figure who was standing there appeared to finally agree to retreat and turned around.
Ulvin said, "Quick, they're getting away,"
and the two Stealth Corps agents started running after Ashdon and Esimed. When Ashdon and Esimed hit some particularly thick brush, Torrent and Ulvin caught up with them. Ulvin tackled Esimed, and Torrent tackled Ashdon.
Esimed struggled against the agent. Ulvin had him pinned to the ground, so it was all Esimed could do just to block his sword strikes. Ulvin held up his sword to swipe at Esimed, but Esimed rolled out of the way, causing Ulvin's sword to rip the back of his shirt. Esimed thrust his sword out quickly, stabbing Ulvin through the chest.
Ashdon was fighting just as hard against Torrent, blocking a few of his sword strikes. Torrent managed to knock the sword out of Ashdon's hand, then punch him in the face. Torrent was about to stab Ashdon, when he saw Esimed stand up. Esimed's back was turned to Torrent, and Torrent saw the symbol tattooed on Esimed's back.
Just as quickly as he got up, Esimed spun around, sword at the ready. Torrent picked up Ashdon and held his sword to Ashdon's neck.
"That symbol on your back, what is it?" Torrent said.
Esimed breathed hard, "I'm not part of Spyre anymore."
Torrent said, "You could never be a part of Spyre, low life. Now tell me what that symbol is or I kill him."
Esimed realized that this Spyre agent really didn't know what the symbol was, "It's the old Spyre symbol. It was tattooed to my back when I was part of the clan, before Hyru took it over."
"Liar!" Torrent yelled, "The Spyre symbol's never looked like that, and Hyru has always been the leader of Spyre, of the whole world."
"Is that what they told you?" Esimed said, "That's not the truth."
"You don't know anything about the truth," Torrent slit Ashdon's throat.
Ashdon fell to his knees, he stared hard at Esimed and managed to breathe out, "Esimed .. take care .. of Beth." before he fell over dead.
Esimed yelled, "Ashdon!"
Torrent held his sword ready to fight, but just as he was about to attack Esimed, the orb in his pocket glowed and another vision came to him. He saw Hyru falling to the ground exactly the way Ashdon just had. Torrent thought to himself, "Hyru! Hyru, no!"
The vision faded quickly, and Torrent held up his sword again as soon as he regained his composure. However, Esimed was gone. Torrent looked around, but all he saw were the dead bodies of Ashdon and Ulvin. Then, he noticed a sword sticking out of the ground where Esimed had been standing. It looked as if Esimed had purposely left it there.
Torrent walked over and picked it up. It looked like an old sword, but still in usable condition. Then he noticed the inscription on the side. It was a single word, 'monster'.
pyreDay: 155
Location: Hyru's Island Fortress
Hyru stood in front of his window overlooking his empire, as he often did. Many thoughts ran through his mind, mostly about the future. His future and Spyre's future. Without turning around he lifted his finger and the door to his chamber swung open. In walked General Vira of the Spyre Versatile Corps.
"Yes what is it General Vira?"
"Master Hyru, I apologize for interrupting you but I thought this matter was important enough to bring directly to you. It involves the Shadow-Tal resistance."
Hyru didn't turn around but simply said, "Yes. What of them."
"We recently gained intelligence that they were trying to set up a base in the Swamps of Soun. We guessed they wanted a base there since the Rampage Corps couldn't be used on them in that environment. We felt it was of great importance to get rid of them quickly so I sent some of my Corps and Stealth Corp agents to destroy them. I also have news of an attack, not ordered, of the Rampage Corps on Ralla. It seems the town is destroyed."
Hyru still didn't turn around or respond immediately. "How interesting. But it does not concern me. A matter of small importance. I have things to do that are of much greater consequence. I am sure you and my other loyal subjects will remedy the situations. You may go now."
Hyru stood still for a second and then turned around and saw General Vira still standing in the same spot, never having moved. "You require something else?"
"I wish to ask a question please Master Hyru if you would allow me to," General Vira said with a bow.
"Very well if you must," Hyru said.
"Lord, the other Generals and I are puzzled by your lack of interest and action in recent matters. You are concerning yourself less and less with your empire and letting us make most of the decisions. Your rule seems, well not to say anything to offend your but... no longer in your hands."
"Are you saying you don't see me as ruler anymore?"
Vira stepped back, "N-NO LORD! You are still supreme ruler over all Monic. It is just that we have not had the benefit of your great leadership or wisdom for a while. And we just wish to know why."
"Well normally I would kill you for questioning my action or my... in-action but since you are my General and a good leader needs his followers to understand some of his actions, I will tell you. Do you know where we stand as the clan Spyre in the hierarchy of nature?"
"Yes. We are higher than all other creatures and people and therefore better and more evolved."
"Yes. That is correct. You know the early Monic people were not very advanced and had little in the way of abilities or intelligence. But over time and evolution Spyre has greatly surpassed all creations, save the Man and the Overseer himself. I see the early Monic people as having four main survival needs that drove all their actions and life. Food, shelter, clothing, and reproduction. The Man who came before them also had these needs but he went far beyond those needs and gained much higher needs. Along with the higher needs his intelligence and other abilities increased. He was designed that way by the Overseer. But the Overseer destroyed him and made the early Monic people very primitive. Even Monic people today have the same four basic needs and nothing more. They may seem to be more than that but when it comes down to it, that is all they are. Primitives that allow those basic needs to control every aspect of their lives. But out of all these inferiors came Spyre. A group of peoples that broke free of this mold and is so much more than any other people."
Vira nodded and kept on listening intently as Hyru preached on. This was something she had longed to hear as many Spyre agents had begun questioning Hyru and many had been killed for their actions. If only the people of Monic really knew how unstable the Spyre hierarchy had gotten. But as Hyru said they are primitives, not very smart. But with this information Spyre could be as solid as it originally was. Agents not following orders exactly like they should was something Spyre would not tolerate.
Hyru continued on, "Spyre is a clan of more evolved beings that are just below the Man. With our continual gaining of knowledge we grow that much closer to his perfection and power. And then another step above that and we would be like gods! The Overseer fears us I believe. He never planned on something like Spyre to come out of all the other people he created. But since he vowed never to interfere with man again, we are free to grow."
"Then why do we have lowly primitives as our servants? Why don't we just wipe them out and have a world populated by a perfect race?"
"Because General Vira, although we have much greater needs, desires, and are highly advanced, we still have the four basic needs. Now why should we waste our time with those when lower people can provide for our basic needs? They give us our food, shelter, clothing, and when we desire, help us to create more people like us. This leaves us to concentrate on our higher needs. And in return we allow them to live. Does that not seem fair?"
"Yes Master Hyru. You have such great wisdom. I will inform the other Generals of your words."
Hyru turned back around, "You do that." Hyru pointed his finger and the door to his chamber opened.
General Vira left and went back to Spyre's main base.
"What a waste of time."
Hyru went back to ponder his thoughts. Hyru was on the verge of a great discovery. Through many years of living and using the Omni Gem's powers, he found out that it had many different uses and abilities. The things he could do with the Omni Gem seemed limitless. When he mastered one power of the Omni Gem, another would present itself either through experimentation or imagination. Unlike others, Hyru didn't believe the Man was destroyed by the Overseer, but instead destroyed himself. With the Omni Gem anything could be realized, practice one ability until you have pushed it to the limit and another appears. It took a longer amount of time and much more practice with each ability to master it and then you moved onto the next one. Things like immortality and the creation of living things, which seem extremely powerful, are nothing to the Omni Gems true power.
Hyru theorized that the Man made it to a point in his ability with the Omni Gem where he had gotten so powerful and attempted something so great that he couldn't control it and ended up destroying himself in the process. Hyru had reached a point similar to that and had nearly killed himself. But with some quick thinking he had survived. With that experience Hyru vowed not to repeat the Man's "mistake". So he was thinking and calculating so that soon, he could surpass the Man and move to an even higher stage of evolution. The last thing that Hyru had attempted was moving large objects, the planet Monic had moved from its orbit temporarily and then Hyru put it back. His excitement was so great that he quickly moved to the next ability, manipulating much smaller objects. It was of no great feat to move large objects like houses, mountains, and then a planet with practice. Getting larger with each object until he could move something very immense. But moving to smaller objects, so small that they cannot be seen was much more difficult. If he could master it, things like opening rifts in dimensions, in space, in time, and controlling the very building blocks of life would be at his disposal. He made the mistake of attempting a rift right away and almost ripped himself apart. He needed more practice with small objects before he could try it again. But he feared time was running out, for some odd reason, and his patience was wearing thin. His thirst for power was much larger than he could control and the Omni Gem provided the means to realize it...
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