Other Fan Fiction ❯ Loki's Assault ❯ Revelation ( Chapter 3 )

3: Revelation

 

Nix, Sibyl, and Caleb had left the Naga village the day following the brass dragon's mysterious concussion. Sakira was left to live with her fellow Naga, but she vowed to go find Nix if he did not visit more often. The trio decided to return to the Drakens in order to `discuss dire needs' as Nix had put it. Neither Sibyl nor Caleb understood what he meant, other than it whatever he was to talk about most assuredly was related to the Emperor, the mysterious, nameless conqueror of realms. However, the journey would be longer back than to the village, as Sibyl and Nix' new comrade could not fly.

 

“You sure I can't carry you?”

“Sibyl, for the last time, no. If you want to go ahead without me, be my guest. But I will NOT be carried.”

“Leave him be, Sibyl. If Caleb wishes to walk let him. Now I really must be gone - “

“Nix, you stay here and stick with the two of us. You dragged me out here, and you are going to drag me back. If I am staying with the Keva, you are staying with him as well.”

Nix sighed, his wings dragging on the ground behind him, keeping his tail company. He would have already arrived at the base and could be proposing assaults to distract the empire while he stole away on a few rides to infiltrate the stronghold. He could slay the emperor, stop the dimension hopping, and free many other realms that have been enslaved. Though his only knowledge of other realms would be Aknis, an unknown entity to the rest of his friends, Nix trusted the creature. After all, who else trained him in the way of all the weapons he has mastery over? With nearly anything in his hand he is a powerful foe. Accompanied with the knowledge Vex gave him, and with the painful training he underwent, Nix was just as powerful without a weapon, using the energy inside and around him as his weapons.

The trio continued their walk, eventually leaving the forest for a wide Savannah, warm winds rustling through the grass with little dots of trees randomly placed in the field. Insects hopped around through the tall grass, along with many mammals crawling around in the grass, pouncing on prey or eating the very grass that protected them. Above flew many miniscule avian, a myriad of races and types of animals lived together in this ecosystem, and Nix had to wade right through it.

“You know, Sibyl? I really do not like disturbing these delicate places.”

“What? You can fight demon-infused Cormo's, destroy an angel of death, but you can't walk through a Savannah?”

Caleb was shocked that this fearless dragon was afraid of a little grass and some bugs.

“I can walk through it. I just don't want to. Their lifestyles are so balanced. They do not need me to ruin it…”

Sibyl noticed it really bothered the brass to simply walk further.

“Wait, why did you go through the forest?”

“Dragon belong in the woods. We originated there, as well as Deserts. Tundra, Savannah, Jungle. We dragons do not belong. We should not interfere.”

“Nix, creatures migrate, and creatures mill around in other animal's businesses. It is what we biological creatures do. Now come on. I think the insects will survive if you trample over a few patches of grass.”

Reluctantly, Nix began to carefully pick his way through the Savannah, his wings held high, his tail wrapped closely around his body. He watched his every step, completely unfamiliar with the terrain. After all, he did not belong here, right?

Caleb marched past Nix and Sibyl, easily leaving a trail behind for the two to follow. His talons easily dispersed the grass, finding footing easily, and offered little resistance to the Keva. Sibyl followed behind Caleb with little less difficulty, though her bulk had her tripping through large clumps of the grass. Nix on the other hand, still solemnly marching behind, looking around in the open terrain, aware of everything in the immediate area.

“Nix, why are you always so edgy? Nix?”

Caleb turned around, staring past Sibyl. What he saw forced him to peer over his own shoulder, aware he was no longer alone.

Nix had his wings flared, spread far away from his body. In his hand he was holding a massive stinger, attached to the tail of the large, eight foot scorpion still posed after its `surprise' assault on the little dragon. In the moment it took Caleb to turn around to look for more enemies, three other creatures were approaching the bird. One of the three approaching adversaries was another scorpion, its body a sandy brown, accompanied by two mantis-like humanoids. One of the mantises was a dark brown shade, with the body of a woman. Mandibles were located above and below her lip, two pairs, clicking together as she approached the trio. She had three limbs, two legs, two arms located half-way up her torso, and connected to her shoulders were the upper limbs common to a mantis, the curved bladed `arms' used for catching prey. The insect-woman's eyes were sectioned like a fly's, a lighter brown than her exoskeleton. Her legs were multi-sectioned, bent back at the knees, then bending forward on another segment to her three-toed feet. A cloth-like fiber was wrapped around her upper torso, a greenish tunic contrasting her skin.

The other being was a Faji, simple and brown common to the race. The Faji was male, and wore a simple belt at his waist carrying two daggers on his left hip and a leather handle on his right. A broadsword was displayed across his back, his six foot seven frame barely enough to carry the sword off the ground. Clicking his mandibles together, he seemed to be talking to the female creature.

“We are not enemies.”

Nix struggled to contain himself, holding off the pincers of the scorpion he face, still keeping its stinger at bay as well.

“Howt da you know ouzz language?”

The male's voice was deep, almost struggling in the common language.

“I fought with a Faji. He taught me how to understand your language, but since I lack the mandibles, I cannot speak it.”

The Faji waved his hand and clicked his mandibles together, and the scorpion pulled its stinger back, taking several steps away from the dragon.

“What you doin in dizz here ssavannah?”

“I should ask the same of you. Your home is in the desert, as well as your scorpions.”

“A prophezzy izz telling to help you by uzz”

“Wait, you are helping me? And you attacked me?”

The female insect stepped forward. Unlike the Faji, she had the lips of a human, accompanied by the mandibles of the Faji, allowing her a more normal tone.

“Until we heard you speak, you were enemies. Faji take no chances, and we apologize for our mistake.”

Sibyl decided to chime in on the conversation.

“What prophesy are you talking about?”

“The savior to bring redemption to the lost.”

The insect-woman pointed towards Nix.

“It was prophesized that a dragon bearing two, long, flexible horns and grey scales would rise to power and stop the darkness from destroying us. The rest of our tribe cast us out, disbelieving what was prophesized.”

“Hey Nix, what was it you said earlier to the Keva chieftain?”

“What?”

Caleb knew he heard Nix' words, but apparently the dragon had forgotten.

“You spoke a phrase that was mentioned in a prophesy told by a Keva shaman to the fledglings of our town. I wonder if this corresponds with us meeting you two.”

“I have not zzeen a Keva in yearzz. What izz your name?”

“I am called Caleb. And yours, Faji?”

“I am Kitch-Vax, after the Faji deity of the Faji.”

Nix tensed up as he heard the name, and Sibyl could not help but note that as important.

“What do you two plan on doing now that you found us?”

“Now that we have zzeen you exizzt, we will rally other believerzz. Zzuccezz it unlikely, but we will try, for the zzake of our god.”

“You know, someone has told me of many prophecies, but there is something I do not understand: `a warrior of representation shall arise to meet neutrality'. Can you clarify this?”

The half-Faji woman presented herself as an intellectual, clearly someone of knowledge that Nix could use.

“I am sorry, miss. I was trained by two very strange entities, and neither told me my purpose, only that it would `come to me in bloody hands'. I will wait for my time. Until then, would you help us? What is your name?”

“I am Ietha. How would I be able to help you?”

“Come with me to a base of dragons. I have a proposal to make.”

Nix was showing a different side than Sibyl had seen. Taking the initiative, the dragon held his composure and kept cool, despite being attacked by a massive scorpion. She was also starting to acquire a myriad of questions for the grey-scaled brass dragon.

 

***

After an encounter free trek through the savannah, Nix, Sibyl, Caleb, and Ietha were finally nearing the Draken base, leaving Kitch-Vax behind to continue his travels, searching for more followers. Sibyl learned that Ietha was an outcast, neither Faji nor human, and was looked down upon by both races. Only Kitch-Vax had stood up to her, and she had been grateful to him for his kindness. She believed firmly in the prophecy, unwavering on her conclusion that Nix was the `one' to save the plane.

Now the group of four were about to reach the familiar base, and Sibyl was eager to hear Nix' proposal.

“Sibyl, Nix, come to the Table room. Quickly!”

Gar flew overhead, barely above the groups' heads. He landed lightly and ran up the steps and pushed open the familiar wooden doors, oak, Sibyl believed. The bronze looked over at Nix, unsure of how to take this event.

“Someone new is here. I do not think he is hostile, but he is not loyal to my cause.”

“You can't attack someone that you don't know, Nix.”

“If it attacks me, I will retaliate.”

Nix leaped over all of the steps, eight or nine counting up to the doors, which he promptly pushed open, similar to Gar. Sibyl and the other two walked up the steps and entered the room after the brass dragon, eager to know what was happening.

“Nix, it seems he wants to see you.”

“Who would?”

It was Kaip who was speaking, her incredible physique startling Caleb and Ietha, not used to seeing strong women in their own societies.

“I would.”

A human walked past Kaip, trailing a blue cloak over his right arm, his left hand exposed, revealing typical white cloth under a leather vest, and brown, leather gloves. His boots were similar to his gloves, his legs white like his arms. The man seemed to be roughly Nix' age, bearing a much younger air around his body, almost less experienced. His hair was blond, cut short and spiked back along his head. Green eyes accompanied the white man as he walked past the large red dragon.

“Who are you?”

“I, Nix, am your next Base. Actually, next two Bases; Force, and Shadow. I decided that our time in this plane was drawing to a close, so I decided to go find you on behalf of Vex. Here I am. Shall we start?”

“I accept your challenge, but I need a name first.”

“Ah yes, a name. You may call me Jase.”

“Well, Jase, where shall we fight?”

“I was thinking, Nix, of fighting where your friends could see you. You cannot hide your strength forever, and you need to leave your own world alone.”

Nix looked around the room, aware of all the eyes staring at him; in confusion, curiosity, anger, and other such emotions. Closing his eyes, he looked down, and his elongated snout, typical of most half dragons, seemed to melt away, almost liquefying and sucking back into his face, leaving the image of a scaled man, accompanied by long, pointed ears. As his eyes opened, Sibyl saw a shimmer of regret showing itself through paled yellow eyes, reflecting his semi-blind status.

“Alright. I'm surprised you did that now, Nix, but we must not wallow in what has happened. Let us begin outside.”

“Excuse me, Nix.”

Koran and Srrivarla walked away from the group of dragons around the table, approaching Nix. Koran spoke first in his deep, masculine voice.

“You were brass, right?”

“I do not know why I am turning into a black dragon. I have no plate referring to my brass heritage, so I am simply a dragon with two fleshy horns reaching from my skull to forever wave in the wind. Maybe I will be answered by Vex in the future, if he chooses to tell me. I took this path, and I intend to continue it, regardless of what happens to me.”

“Why? What are you doing that is more important than your own life?”

Nix looked to the side, his blind eyes veering away from the voice.

“A life for a thousand. No, a life for a million, tens of millions of lives. All for one to lose himself in the torrent that is the chaos. You chose to protect those around you as best you can. I am no different than you are, brave dragon of Radiance. I was simply presented with an opportunity, to sacrifice myself in an attempt to stop the madness that is human ignorance. Now I must learn the ways of the last two Bases, find several artifacts to compete against several empires allied with the human emperor, and finally defeat himself, and by chance, possibly Omega.”

Tinska and Jelk walked up behind Koran and Srrivarla, dark green glass squares floating in front of them as usual.

“Nix, did you say… Omega?”

The dragon turned his head towards Tinska.

“Unfortunately, yes. Omega, the human Emperor, and possibly an Elemental Lord of the Tempest, if my master is right. I do hope he can hold of the last of these terrors, but his power is far greater in the Abyss.”

“Abyss?”

Srrivarla seemed to be intrigued by this notion that Nix regarded without a thought.

“Yes. Master, also known as Lord Aknis, holds domain over seven-hundred of the levels of the Abyss. He tames them not, but does keep watch and prevents what should not be. He is, after all, still apart of the chaos that gave him life, and must abide by his nature.”

“So you were trained by a demon lord, an apparition in your mind, and now by this human?”

“Several others, too, but yes. Now, no more questions. I must master Force and Shadow in as few days as possible, and I cannot be delayed.”

Jase had been walking the entire time, and Nix' body disassembled into dust, flowing towards the human. Reforming into a fleshy body, the dragon and Jase each began to glow faintly, Nix a more myriad of colors than Jase' grey-white aura.

“Let us fly, Sibyl. They are exalting, and I do not believe you are ready to be hit by one just yet.”

Gar had walked up, and together with the rest of the group, the dragons flew into the sky, several meters off the ground, leaving Nix and Jase to be ants in their sight.

***

Nix walked away from his opponent, Jase following his lead. They had both done this several times, and each knew what he was doing. After walking for several minutes, the dragon and human turned around, their bodies glowing slightly brighter as the energy of the plane coursed through their veins; Shadow and Force in Jase, the other six in Nix.

***

“What is Nix doing? Isn't Jase supposed to teach him something?”

“You see, Sibyl, I neglected to tell you something about abominations. What makes us so dangerous is that we learn from combat, become stronger to what was once nearly fatal. If we are assaulted by attacks based on fire, we begin to learn to use that Base. It allows us to learn elemental abilities much quicker than normal creatures can learn the one they were born with.”

“So why did you stop?”

“Each abomination understands what his limit is as he matures. It seems this `Vex' forced Nix to mature much faster than normal, and as Nix grew mentally, he most likely began to understand what he could and could not do. All this is speculation, and my guess could be wrong.”

“So he is like the ultimate student?”

“Essentially. If he believes he can master Force and Shadow, wielding all of the Base elements, then he is most assuredly able to do so. I only hope he really knows what he is doing.”

Gar was now standing on a blue disc, just wide enough for Sibyl to stand in front of him, her form dwarfed by the abomination's massive bulk. Many other dragons had formed a sort of means to remain aloft, carpets for Tinska and Jelk, a large, frozen square floating for Srrivarla, Koran, and several other dragons. All were watching the display of power that was to be amplified by this human. Curious were many, afraid were few.

***

Nix and Jase vanished, reappearing parallel to the other not two feet apart, spiraling into the sky, a radiance of colors spraying from their bodies as they climbed into the stars. Suddenly, the two broke apart, a river of murky, black ink following Jase, and a rainbow of energy pulsing behind the brass, splitting into two branches of a tree. Rounding on their split, the two creatures slammed into one another, two waves, one of translucent energy, the other millions of icicles, erupted from the two. Suddenly, each was enveloped by the other's assault, trading hit after hit with fist and elbow, each solid blow shaking the trees and air. As the fight continued, Jase' and Nix' attacks became blurred as they neared Exaltation, their energy surging through their bodies and slamming into nearby trees.

***

“They are going to kill each other!”

“Sibyl, just relax. Do not worry until one of them Ascends. Until then, the battle is far from how amazing it is going to end.”

“Gar, you seem to know much about Nix. Care to fill me in?”

“Well, Koran, let's just say we are alike, and most of my information is simply speculation. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Suddenly, the two dragons were much closer, within several meters, as Jase had thrown Nix a great deal with the shadow he possessed, and Nix just barely righted himself. Hundreds of shards of ice ripped out of his back, similar to the recently developed ranged weapon, the gatling gun, the air full of the sound of ice shearing through the wind and slamming into the ground where Jase had been standing. As the human reformed from a shadow that was part of a nearby tree, the missiles were redirected, following Nix' hand. Pointing it at Jase, the ground was frozen over, changing the missiles into a sort of grenade, exploding upon impact and releasing a burst of frigid air, destroying the foliage in seconds.

The ice immediately halted as Nix spun on his heels, slamming his fist into the side of Jase' weapon, a long sword of purest black, writhing at the edges like little tentacles of hatred. Bringing it back, the human used the Force element to amplify the next attack, slamming it down upon Nix' head. As the dragon vanished, the black sword exploded into bits of black particles, and Jase focused Force around his left hand, forming a hazy bubble as he slammed it into Nix' stomach upon reforming to his left. Nix, however, grabbed Jase' hand, taking the full blow of the punch, and high kicked, his foot bringing Jase to the ground on his back, whereupon Nix, still spinning, brought his other foot and dropped his heel into Jase' stomach, forcing blood out of the human's mouth.

“Come on, Nix. Is that all you've got?”

“I have forgotten, teacher. To think force was so defensive.”

“Indeed.”

Jase rolled over and stood up, the blood apparently stopping despite the damage dealt by Nix' feet. He cracked his neck, and black wisps of energy leaked into his eyes, completely covering them and giving them a glossy appearance.

“Time to teach you exaltation.”

“Finally.”

Nix leapt back, his wings carrying him several yards. The wind began to encircle the dragon's form, spiraling faster and faster as the energy of the winds poured into his body. As for Jase, the shadows of every tree, grass blade, animal, and even the dragons above were sucked into the human, spiraling towards him as if the sun were not present to pour light through these little collections of what Jase used as energy. The air around him became hazy once more as the kinetic base called Force created itself by pure friction and momentum, the molecules of the air slamming into one another and forming Force.

Jase raised one hand, the hazy energy wrapping around his body and tearing into his skin, just as fire erupted from the ground and enveloped Nix, wrapping around the dragon and accompanying the wind that continued to circumvent over his body. His two tentacles lifted into the air as green and red runes etched themselves into his body, droplets of blood falling to the ground from each scar. The wind died down to a low breeze as the fire likewise faltered into a little spark, reaching out of each red rune, dancing across his blackened body.

Jase, however, now had colorless skin, his muscles displayed underneath his skin, faintly, but presently. The human's spiked hair turned black, and black markings were displayed on his face, giving him the appearance of a warrior adorned in war paint. Jase tore off his shirt, revealing three black `ribs' reaching from his back and held closely to his body, almost hugging his chest. They swayed up and down, tapering to a point, looking like the legs of a spider over its prey.

***

“Why does Exalting change your appearance so much?”

Gar was intently watching the scene before him. Nix' wings were fading, becoming one with the wind.

“You see, Sibyl, when someone `Exalts', they are allowing specific Bases to literally tear into the fabric of their soul, bulging like a balloon filling with water. As the Base continues to fill the soul, it changes, altering the body it inhabits to make room for this surge of power. Normally, a creature only has access to one base, and thus changes little. However, for an abomination, such as Nix and apparently Jase, their body needs a dramatic change for more than one base to occupy their body. I do believe this would explain the phenomenon with Nix' change in scales, growing darker and darker to show he is attaining his goal. Though, black is black, and I doubt he could get much darker to compensate for the new surge of Force and Shadow inhabiting his body. Let us just hope he continues to be a dragon, and a sane one at that.”

Sibyl merely stared at the flaming black dragon, green patches of wind in the shape of scythe-blades whirling around his body.

***

“Duel, begin.”

Jase' voice was much deeper now, accompanied by a deeper voice from each of his Bases. He leaped into the air, bringing his left arm back, a ball of swirling, black tentacles forming in his hand. He slammed it in the ground near Nix, and seven writhing tentacles, three feet in diameter, ripped through the earth, slamming the ground as they appeared where Nix was standing. Having dispersed into flames, the dragon formed from an explosion behind Jase, running towards him with three blade-like shards of wind spiraling next to him. Nix launched them at Jase, who slammed them with a wave of his hand, Force eradicating the weapons from existence. The human pushed both hands forward, the air rippling with energy as the kinetic base tore through the ground towards Nix. The dragon vanished with a blur, materializing in front of Jase, his knee slamming into the human. Lifting from the ground by the momentum of the kick, Jase' black `ribs' around his body reached out and grabbed Nix' arms, holding him where he stood. After falling to Earth, Jase immediately stood up and launched Nix back with a burst of Force, the dragon following a linear path through the trees and debris in his course, coming to a halt after about fifteen yards. Rolling for several more, Nix pushed off of the ground and launched himself into the air, a flaming arrow shooting upwards, only to arc down towards the human, spiraling with yellow-red flames.

 

 

 

Thurkear - Black Dragon

Gar - Blue Dragon

Santimzza - Blue Dragon

Srrivarla - Silver Dragon

Koran - Radiant Dragon

Kaip - Red Dragon

Jelk - Green Dragon

Tinska - Green Dragon

Sinka - Silver Dragon

Nix - Brass Dragon

Vixshra - Bronze Dragon

Sibyl - Bronze Dragon

Erathial - Cloaked

Kitch-Vax - Faji of the Nitmomh Zppm

Lehamue- God over the dragons of good alignment.

Keva - Avian humanoids

Naga - creatures with serpentine tails for the waist, and humanoid from that waist up

Pheyqua - Unholy Celestial, lord of the Rotting Land

Sakira - Sister of Nix

Rumos - Naga Chieftain

Jase - Human of Force and Shadow