Putting his hand down, Garvin's eyes trailed over to Talen's headshot. "A candidate, sir." He answered.
Keeping his expression passive, Ashen glanced at Talen's headshot. 'It is inevitable.' He thought, his eyes on Garvin as he waited for an explanation.
Garvin turned around, pressing a button on his chair. As he did, the hologram displaying the candidates twitched, switching to a recording of Talen and the Red Scorpion's battle.
As the battle played, Ashen's eyes turned analytical as he observed each of Talen's movements.
Movements which impressed him greatly; Talen's movements were near perfection. There were no wasteful movements. Each strike and dodge was calculated and a perfect setup for a follow up.
However, there were occasional mistakes, due to his lack of experience. 'You have done well training him.' Ashen thought, as Talen delivered the final strike to the scorpion's head.
As the recording twitched to an end, Garvin pressed another button on the chair, splitting the display in two.
On one was Talen's battle with the Red Scorpion, and on the other, his battle against the Poison Spider, both playing simultaneously.
After watching and analysing both recordings, Garvin paused both at specific moments.
Using his fingers, he zoomed in on Talen's eyes. "Sir." He said, presenting them to the Admiral.
Glancing at Talen's Zone eyes and Garvin's expression, Ashen knew there was no avoiding it. This was a much more preferable way to inform Garvin.
Admiral Ashen spoke, his eyes still on the hologram of Talen's Zone eyes. "Talen is a dual enhancer, one of a kind."
Shifting his gaze onto Garvin, his flat tone continued. "I am in control of him. His existence is known by those necessary."
Although Ashen's tone remained flat, his words and gaze carried the message loud and clear to Garvin; Talen's unique Zone type was not a secret, but it was also not public knowledge.
Gulping down his nervousness, Garvin maintained his calm as he replied. "Of course, sir." Garvin stood, waiting for Admiral Ashen to terminate the connection.
Rather, Ashen continued. "I have time now, so I will be briefing you on your next mission."
Garvin's nervousness returned. He had words swimming in his mouth, but he could not speak them aloud.
Taking a deep breath, he managed. "Sir, am I not to receive missions only from Admiral Jester, as my squad is under her."
"Under normal circumstances, that is correct." Ashen replied. The hologram displaying the recordings of Talen's battles went blank.
It then flickered back, displaying a star burning in all its marvel, magma bubbling on its surface. A row of four planets, ranging in size, orbited it.
On the bottom of the hologram was the name of the Star Belt. 'Star of Knowledge.'
The hologram then zoomed in on the smallest planet, the one farthest from the burning star; the planet was slightly smaller than planet Roku.
From orbit, the planet resembled a floating ball of mist.
Looking at the planet, Garvin smiled wearily. 'Mist.' He thought, already dreading the mission.
Ashen continued. "Your squad has already set camp on planet Mist. You will be joining them after delivering the ensigns." Ashen paused.
Glancing at Garvin, he began. "Your mission is to secure the immortality script and quash the Knull war."
"First, you retrieve a copy of the map to the Immortality Script, from either the full blood or the mixed."
"Second, you will send a copy to Hexagon for decoding. You and your squad will also be attempting to decode it."
"Third, you will be ambushing both sides to weaken them, while awaiting a decoded map." Done briefing Garvin, Admiral Ashen's hologram dissipated abruptly.
Watching the Admiral's hologram dissipate, Garvin dropped into his chair, sighing. "Not even a break between missions." He complained, stroking his beard as he went back to observing the candidates.
.....
In a dimly lit office, a man of tall stature with broad shoulders stood overlooking the bustling civilization of Zyros from the window.
Ashen Zyros stood looking at his people, his eyes as dead as usual; however, behind them, something stirred. 'I should have asked about Calistis.' He thought, clenching his fist.
'I am certain my princess is doing great.' The light in his eyes sparkled at the thought of Calistis's smiling face.
As Ashen reminisced about his daughter's and wife's memories, a smile crept its way onto his passive face. 'Cynthia.' He thought, when suddenly there was a knock on the wooden door.
Moments later, the door opened, and a man walked in with blue information tablets in his hands.
His eyes still looking out the window, Ashen commanded. "Report." The smile on his lips crumbled, the light in his eyes extinguished.
Obeying his orders, the man spoke. "I have discovered a half-decoded map was leaked to both sides of the Knulls by someone, their intention being to start the war."
He paused. "This someone is Vincent, a half-breed Knull. His suspected sponsors are the Harbingers."
As soon as Ashen heard the name Harbingers, he clenched his fist so hard it turned white, the muscles on his face tightening. "The Underground Market?" He asked, his tone restrained.
"Our Underground Market correspondents have confirmed their early suspicion. The Black Pagoda will be attacked in a week, with the aim of stealing data chips regarding World Gate locations." The man reported, fixing his glasses as he read through the tablet.
"Very well. Both will be handled accordingly." Ashen replied.
Turning around he continued. "You trained the boy well." Ashen complimented, tone flat.
"As you ordered, sir." The man replied, bowing.
"You may leave." Ashen commanded.
The man dropped the blue information tablets and walked out of Ashen's office.
All the muscles on his body tightened, his jaw and fist clenched. 'I will ensure you are dead this time, Harbinger.' Ashen thought, his blinded eye twitching.
Sitting down in his chair, he let out an exasperated sigh, remembering the face of the man that took his eye, the face of the leader of The Harbingers.
.....
In a distant star belt, on a planet overflowing with mountains, caves, and sinkholes, lay a cave.
The cave was nested deep in the planet's deepest sinkhole, forming a wide, circular hall.
The hall was filled with rocks that were shaped into furniture.
At one end of the hall was a large throne made from obsidian black rock, its clear surface reflecting the light infiltrating the cave.
Sat upon the throne was a giant, a giant whose body occupied the whole of the enormous throne. He sat in silence, unmoving, his breathing in sync with the planet's winds.
Each muscle on his body was well-defined and trained. Across those well-defined muscles was a maze of scars, except for his feet, which seemed to be made from the same material as the throne.
His face was veiled by the shadows.
At the other end of the wide hall stood a prodigious stone door reaching the cave's ceiling; on the door were engravings of a marvelous battle between light and darkness.
A battle too vast and marvelous to be captured, a battle that seemed to destroy and shape reality itself as it occurred.
The grandiose hall stood in tense silence, until it no longer was.
The prodigious grand door that dwarfed the giant slowly began to open, filling the hall with the grating sound of stone against stone.
The door opened, revealing a lifeless abyss beyond it, and from the abyss, a man entered.
He stood fairly tall, his skin a beautiful, smooth cocoa-brown hue, his face veiled by radiant golden dreads.
He walked through the hall dressed in gold and purple robes, like a messiah of golden wealth. His fingers, ears, nose, and neck were adorned with gold jewelry.
He walked through the hall, heading for the throne, his golden sandals silent against the stone floor.
He shone as he walked through rays of light that infiltrated the cave.
His left hand wielded a golden Takoba sword; its hilt was gold, its sheath purple with golden stars dancing around it.
A long golden chain silently followed behind him, wrapped around his right hand, tugging at something, or someone.
Pausing, the man turned around, clicking his tongue. "Move them feet." He ordered, his tone icy.
Clenching the golden chain, he sighed. "It ain't nobody's fault you failed, so move your goddam feet." He spat out, taking a step back as he yanked at the chain.
Following his yank, two girls were thrown into the hall, their knees hitting the stone floor with a thud, tearing the skin.
The two girls looked like twins; they wore the same sleeveless grey and black bodysuit, a Hexagon emblem on the front, and the numbers 080 and 034 on the back.
The only difference between the two was their hair colour; Laura had blonde hair, while Alice was a brunette.
Both girls raised their heads simultaneously, looking at the man, golden chains digging into their wrists.
"Pathetic." He sneered, as he slowly began walking towards them.
Watching him approach, they hurriedly scrambled to stand up, the golden chain finally making a sound.
Groaning, they both stood up, the skin on their hands clinging to bone as it shivered, their faces and bodies gaunt and malnourished, eyes sunk deeper than the cave.
"You think I got time for this? I is busy." He roared.
Delivering a powerful kick to Alice's stomach, lifting her off the ground. Ribs broke.
She wanted to scream but had no air to. Landing back on the floor, Alice lifelessly slumped to the ground, blood pouring from her mouth, her eyes rolling to the back of her head.
The man smiled with satisfaction. Glancing at Laura, he spoke. "She'll live." Light danced off his golden tooth.
Laura watched, too exhausted and hungry to scream, cry, or even help her sister. 'They promised we could punish Hexagon for not saving grandma. But why this.' She mourned, as lifeless tears rolled down her cheeks.
Turning around, he continued walking, dragging Alice's body, painting her trail red with blood.
Standing before the giant throne, he bowed on one knee.
Glancing behind him, he saw Laura standing with lost eyes. 'What insolence.' He thought, biting his lower lip.
Violently, he tugged at the golden chain, causing her to smash her forehead into the rocky floor of the cave.
She groaned, blood dripping down to her nose, a metallic stench growing.
Turning back around, he kept his head down. "Fourth rank David, reporting. Harbinger." He declared with zeal.
Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Them sisters sent to sneak into Hexagon failed."
"Very well then." Harbinger replied, his voice echoing through the cave. "After they are turned, transport them to Planet Mist with the others." He continued, waving his hand.
As he did, the cave's floor moved like liquid around the sisters, and then a giant stone hand rose from the ground, engulfing the two.
Laura watched the fingers close in on her like a cage. She wanted to escape, to struggle, but she couldn't. She could only whisper a slow, desperate, "No."
The hand swallowed the sisters, and with a gesture from Harbinger, it moved through the cave's floor like it was water to an opening, which it descended into.
"Go and assist Vincent. Ensure the Immortality Script is retrieved." Harbinger commanded, resting his hand on the throne.
Raising his head, David asked. "The Knulls?"
"The boy has been doing well. Fulfill his wish and wipe them out." Harbinger answered, his tone even, his voice echoing through the cave.
"Of course, lord." David said, standing up, his head held high, revealing his face.
It was beautiful. All his features, such as his broad nose, thick lips, and high cheekbones, blended together in harmony.
Turning around, he began walking out of the hall. As he did, the golden chain melted into him, causing him to groan. 'The fun never ends.' He thought, as he walked into the abyss beyond the hall.