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« on: November 12, 2006, 11:08:24 pm »
It's a huge epic story that spans out accross a past long forgotten and into a futuristic sci-fi kind of era. It's built around the idea that it could have really happened within this world, and it has an immense ammount of nuts and bolts that I already worked out. Anyway, I don't want to go too far into detail just yet so I'm just going to put an exerpt in this post. It's essentially the beginning of everything within the story.
Oh yeah, I'm also lacking a title, lol. It would be nice if you guys could give me a little constructive criticism here and there. I know I could word things a little better throughout the piece, but oh well, I got most of what I wanted down.
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Odieg hobbled across the barren wasteland that was strewn out before him with his head hung low. The ground consisted mostly of bone-dry dirt and a few scraggly bushes here and there. When he looked up, he saw the horizon which was painted with a brilliant golden-orange that reminded him all too well of the recent battle. Such a brilliant color imprinted itself into his mind, and it was as if he could see it in the shining suits of armor that his allies had always worn with pride. The same armor that still encumbered him as he made his journey ever further into the emptiness. It was too soon to put the past behind him, but he knew there was no other way.
His so-called betrayal to the Gods had marked him for life, although he had done nothing against them. He had been cast out of his legion, the only thing that held true meaning in his life. There was nothing left in this world for him.
Odieg watched as the last strip of sunlight slowly sank into the ground. He felt the sword that rested on his shoulders grow heavier; his strength was leaving him. Tonight he would have to rest if he had any hope of continuing. With a steady heave, he swung his sword from his shoulders and thrust it into the ground. The blade caught the new moonlight in such a way that it gave off a gentle blue glow; a glow that clearly indicated that it was an enchanted weapon. His mind started to drift off to the day that he had first obtained such a blade.
It was his very first battle. He had been trained to fight wars throughout his entire life, and now was his chance to show what he had. Odieg was but one soldier among many while he stood in the frontlines with his spear in hand. His appearance was no different from any of theirs, but he had a divine power on his side. Odieg had always given worship to the Phoenix God known as Akaragi, and he had thusly been blessed with the very seal of Akaragi himself. His skills with fire magic were untouchable; that of a God???s. He was ready for the carnage that was coming.
Odieg grinned and looked out to the horizon. The enemy army was advancing towards their ranks. Among them a great figure stood out as he rode on an armored horse. The great general wore armor as dark as the night, and the sun created glittering stars within it. The most fierce aspect of him, however, was the massive sword that he held high over his head with his right arm. The blade of the sword was nearly as long as most men stand tall, and it was almost as wide as Odieg???s waste.
When his eyes met the sword that the black knight carried, they lit up in awe and lust. Something deep within him told him that this knight, the great general, was to be his opponent, and the prize would be non other his massive blade.
Suddenly, however, Odieg felt himself being pushed to the side as Meldon, his commanding officer, made his way to the frontlines.
???Oropheus shall die by my axe, and my axe alone!??? Meldon hollered as rushed to meet the dark warrior head on.
The two generals met each other long before the two armies had. Oropheus swung his massive sword at Meldon, and it met and stuck to the blade of Meldon???s great axe. Meldon pushed the blade of the dark knight back with a mighty shove of his weapon and swiped at the ankles of the armored horse his foe rode on. Oropheus fell to the ground with his horse, tumbled, and sprung to a standing position. The two combatants then proceeded to rush at each other head on once more. Their blades clashed, but Odieg lost sight of them as they were finally swallowed up by the two advancing armies.
He readied his spear and charged into the endless sea of the dark armor that lied before him. With each stab, swipe, and kick he expertly defeated opponent after opponent. Before long his comrades had been pushed back, and he was surrounded by the enemy.
???Just the way I like it,??? he thought to himself as his eyes flared.
There must have been at least eight enemy soldiers who had encircled him, but it mattered not. They raised their blades and all swung at what seemed to be the same time. Odieg rose his spear and caught four of their swords, and managed to twist into such a position that he dodged the others. He then proceeded to attack with a sweeping kick, tripping the foes that had locked their blades against the shaft of his spear.
It was now that he felt the Phoenix burn within him. He turned around to see the other half of the encirclement readying their blades once more. Odieg raised both his hands slightly as they were engulfed in a magical fire, and then clapped them together with a fierce force, resulting in a magnificent wall of fire that flew outwards and destroyed more than just the men that stood before him, but a good fifteen or twenty soldiers that remained behind them.
Surprisingly, the soldiers somehow managed to fill the gap with blinding speed and once again he was almost completely encircled. Odieg left out a low chuckle and thrust his palms into the earth at his feet. Fire rose from the ground and engulfed everything around him. Small bits of dirt and rocks flew upwards with the steady stream of fire and were incinerated, as were the soldiers who were unlucky enough to be caught directly in the blast radius. The force was so great that it fell soldiers who were even remotely near the great amount of fire. When Odieg finally let up, there was a huge hole in the enemy army that he stood at the center of.
The flames didn???t burn him because they couldn???t. Being an associate of Akaragi, he was bestowed an immunity to fire and heat. In his mind, he was near invincible.
However, his moment of glory was short lived as the circle seemed to widen and invite two new combatants into it. Meldon and Oropheus continued to fight each other, and had coincidentally managed to work their way into new empty area that Odieg had created. Their ferocity was just as great, if not heightened from the time that Odieg had lost sight of them.
The enemy army watched as they continued to fight, but did not get involved. It was an odd scene to describe as Odieg stood among countless dead soldiers and live ones. They no longer seemed to have any interest in killing him, but rather in catching a glimpse of this legendary fight. He somehow managed to become a spectator among an audience that consisted mainly of his enemies. It made him question the hatred he truly had for these men, but he still managed to remain among them, as if he, himself, was one of them. The fight between two great men was all that mattered now, and Odieg watched on, strangely at ease even among men that wanted him dead.
That???s when he realized it, the truth of battles such as these. Those two men held the entire weight of the war. Whichever side won this small skirmish would no doubt win the battle, for it showed that the greater powers favored them.
His mind suddenly snapped back to watching the battle that was unfolding before him. Meldon was hunched over and looked worn out, yet Oropheus stood just as tall as ever. Something told him it wasn???t the end yet though.
???Damn you Oropheus! There is no way that you can win! I fight for the Gods!??? Meldon hollered at his silent, unmoving foe.
???Gods? I???ll have nothing of them! The Devils have always been supreme! Their power cannot be matched!???
It was the first time he truly heard the man in the black armor speak. His voice seemed to boom, and even struck fear into Odieg???s very soul.
???I suppose it is time to end this,??? Oropheus said as he readied his massive blade.
Before he even had a chance to move, however, Meldon put his right arm out and invoked the holy power of the Gods. In an instance a white aura flooded over him and he stood up straighter and more ready to fight.
???It ends here!??? Meldon yelled, and he attacked Oropheus with such speed that it seemed as if there were three of him. Amazingly Oropheus held up against the rapid onslaught by managing to make his sword meet his opponent???s axe every time. The dexterity involved in accomplishing such a feat made Oropheus seem inhuman to say the least.
After for what seemed like an eternity, Oropheus outstretched one arm and seemingly grabbed at nothingness. When Odieg looked closer his stomach lurched. Some how he managed to grab Meldon by the neck, right out of his high-speed frenzy.
???That was rather interesting. Too bad, though, it just wasn???t enough!??? The dark knight said.
The whole crowd froze. For all of them it meant absolute victory, for Odieg, however, it meant utter defeat. Or did it? A new thought crossed his mind as he was brought back to the beginning of the battle. Was it truly his destiny to slay Oropheus?
???This sword I have here was forged with both the powers of God and Demon alike! It makes me invincible! I can be slain by no mortal man!??? Oropheus??? voice was triumphant and thunder like. The crowd cheered around Odieg. This gave him the odd feeling of being in an arena; as if the whole battle was just an illusion.
His line of thought was broken, however, when he saw Oropheus thrust his sword into the ground with his one free hand. From it he seemed to draw out some sort of red and blue energy that formed into an irregular sphere in the palm of his hand.
???It- it can???t be,??? Meldon managed to say, as he slowly let go of his great axe that fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Oropheus didn???t even seem to acknowledge Meldon???s last words as he thrust the ball of magical energy into his opponent. In an instant red lightning shot through Meldon???s being and ripped his body to pieces, and what seemed like a blue flame outlining the body that was previously held in the killer???s hand was the only thing left.
???This flame is that fool???s very soul! He has been destroyed from the inside out! Such is the power of the almighty Hell Breaker!??? Oropheus preached to the crowd as he held the sword high.
The crowd cheered. Odieg thought for sure that their attention would almost immediately turn to him and that he would be slain in a matter of seconds if he was not careful. However, they didn???t seem to notice him at all. They all believed that the battle was over, and that they had to fight no more.
No one even seemed to acknowledge his presence when he stepped out into the circle and made his way to Oropheus. However, when he picked up the axe of his fallen comrade the entire world seemed to grow quiet. The silence was odd, but what he found even more fascinating was how light the axe felt in his grasp. Odieg had always admired Meldon for his extreme strength, and how easily he could maneuver and attack with such a massive weapon. Somehow it made him feel as if he had been cheated, as if Meldon really wasn???t all that strong, but in the end he caught himself overlooking the fact that he was probably just as strong as his idol, if not stronger. Akaragi had given him more than just the divine flame.
???What do you possibly hope to accomplish, soldier???? Oropheus??? voice boomed. It broke Odieg???s trance, and it also caused the immediate readying of arms all around him.
???At ease, this fool is mine!??? Oropheus told his men. Immediately they relaxed and watched on.
???Oropheus,??? he began, ???Meldon???s last words to me were rather interesting. He said that you shall be slain by his axe, and his axe alone. He never said anything about who wielded the axe.??? Odieg smiled a wide smile as the irony sunk in. The crowd however laughed and mocked him. They obviously weren???t aware or had forgotten of how he managed to dispatch a hundred of them beforehand.
???You think you can stand against me when your superior fell? You are a curious fellow, but nevertheless, a dead man!???
With that said Oropheus raised his blade and seemingly flew at Odieg. With great force he brought his sword down upon him. Odieg, however, managed to meet the blade with Meldon???s axe, and in an instant he broke away and swung at his foe. The dark knight swiped at the axe with Hell Breaker, and it made Odieg recoil. The sword was now coming down upon him and he wouldn???t be able to swing the axe to meet it this time. Instead, he abandoned the axe by rolling to the right as the sword flew straight into the ground. It caught a few of the hairs on his head, which gave him a grim sense of how close he had truly come.
In an instant Odieg sprung up and jumped onto the blade, preventing his foe from lifting it with ease. From there leapt up and kicked the dark knight in the head. Oropheus hobbled a few steps backward and held his hand up to his helmet. Odieg landed, and without hesitation he summoned up a fireball and threw it into the chest of his opponent. Oropheus flew backwards and tumbled with sword in hand. He managed to stand up almost instantly, as if he was barely phased and rose his sword ready for more action.
???You fight too well to be just a mere soldier! What is your name???? His voice once again boomed, but this time Odieg felt no fear. It was a proud moment, like how a child overcomes his fear of thunder.
???My name is Odieg! And I shall make it famous by slaying you!??? He said with a wide smile.
Odieg took a few steps back so that the axe remained at his feet. Meldon???s last words came back to his mind once more. This axe really was going to be the death of Oropheus.
The dark general charged at him, his sword now enveloped in the same blue and red energy that had destroyed Meldon. Odieg summoned all the fire he could and concentrated all of it into a small orb around his fist. Oropheus was on top of him in an instant, and that was when he thrust his fist into his chest and released all of the energy he had built up. Flames shot through Oropheus??? chest and blood could bee seen flying outward and turning brown from the heat. The force was immense, and if he had not been wearing such heavy armor his body would have been ripped to shreds as he flew backwards once more.
His sword flew with him, and stuck itself into the ground at angle right next to where he lied down. Slowly, but surely he managed to get up to his knees, but that was where he remained. Odieg looked up, exhausted from the massive outburst of flame energy. After a few deep breaths, he straightened out and picked up Meldon???s axe. He walked towards Oropheus with no haste for his opponent was a dead man either way.
???Men aren???t supposed to have an immense power such as that! What are you???? Oropheus whispered.
Slowly, unbeknownst to Odieg, Oropheus was gathering more of that malicious energy from the sword for one last strike.
???I am a servant to Akaragi, the Phoenix God. He has bestowed these powers directly to my being, unlike yourself. You derive your powers from your weapon.???
???It doesn???t matter,??? Oropheus said, and without warning he swung his arm around from behind is back and shot Odieg with the red lightning.
Odieg felt it hit the side of his stomach. It began to tear apart violently, but instead it seemed to move up into his back. The red lightning shot out of his back and through his armor. Blood shot forth in a crimson wave. Strangely, it didn???t cause Odieg much discomfort.
???That was all? One final big attack with a magic such as that and you fail to truly rip me to shreds???? He said with a strong and unshaken voice as he raised the great axe high above his head. He swung downward and cut deep into the helmet of his enemy. Blood poured out from every crevice of the armor as the body went limp and sprawled out by his feet.
Odieg stood tall, and wore a triumphant smile upon his face as he turned towards the sword that he had fought against.
???A worthy prize indeed,??? he said to himself as he pulled it out of the earth and rested it across his shoulders while holding the handle with one hand. It was a double-edged sword, but it could not cut through his armor.
He then looked around at the crowd that surrounded him. They were terrified of him. It seemed as if they wanted to attack and destroy this being who had just torn through their leader, but they were too hesitant to run to their death.
Odieg smiled and raised his sword high as he rushed into their flanks. The enemy began to retreat and those who fought for the Gods had won once again.
Odieg had managed to truly show that he had the makings of hero, and for it he was made the new general. He was the supreme figure of the side of good.
???The side of good?????? Odieg said aloud to himself as he sat by the small fire he had started, ???If only there was still a definite line that separated good and evil.???
He thought back to the events over the past seven years. His immense devotion to one god had won Akaragi most of the credit. Apparently this angered other supreme beings, even other gods themselves. Before long, it wasn???t just the Gods versus the Devils, but the Gods versus the Gods themselves. So many factions had arisen and there lacked the unity that they all once had. It made everything unstable, an instability that would eventually have led to his downfall.
Odieg sighed as he looked into the glowing blade of the sword. The recent events began to come to mind once more.
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Thanks for reading it. Please post whats on your mind ;D. I'm not afrad of constructive criticism.
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