Renku stared into the distance, the storm clouds above him flashing with pale lightning. His blue armor reflected the cold light as the wind caught his silver hair. Within an instant his best friend Valak had vanished into thin air. The coast of Zerrax was now a barren wasteland that fed on the dead. Blood soaked into the sands as the three remaining Orions stood in complete silence. Each one of them was trying to accept the failure before them, but Valak's actions would now change everything. Renku took one more look at the destruction before him, then he turned away and headed towards the ship. Somewhere far away, beyond worlds and dimensions, Valak was moving forward with a plan that threatened everything and Renku could feel it like a shadow creeping closer.
The Realm of the Gods, a divine place that sits far beyond all of existence where no space or time existed. The sky was an endless sea of universes, all of life that was created by Lynassa was mere fiction to this realm. In this realm the gods could watch the mortals without any of them even knowing. At the center of this divine realm sat a throne carved from black stone. Upon it rested a figure who radiated overwhelming authority, Vaelor the God of Destruction. Valak knelt before him as his crimson armor glowed faintly in the starlight as he lowered his head.
"It has begun," Valak said quietly. "The first steps have been taken."
His eyes lifted slowly while Vaelor watched him carefully as a faint smile touched his lips. Valak could feel the intense aura radiating from Vaelor. However, Valak noticed something about the aura. It was warm... almost too warm. He had thought the God would of had a heavy aura. One that would strike instant fear into the being who was near him and would make t near impossible to breathe. This aura felt warm and calm as if the sun was bathing on his skin releasing all the stress from his body.
"You have proven your resolve." Vaelor said as he rose from the throne.
The air rippled around him as fragments of floating stone began to orbit his body, drawn by the immense gravity of his power. The realm seemed to rumble with each step that the God took. Valak kept his head bowed as the God approached him.
"You may burn cities," Vaelor continued. "You may break kings." His violet eyes gleamed like distant stars. "But to conquer worlds…you will need an army."
A portal opened behind Valak. Green energy spiraled outward, revealing a distant land burning beneath a blood-red sky. The Demon Realm appeared on the other side of the portal. Valak stepped through and instantly noticed the change in the air. Heat rolled across the ground in waves, and the sky above glowed crimson as lightning tore through thick storm clouds. Before him floated a colossal fortress suspended in midair. Jagged towers rose from its center like the claws of some ancient beast, while rivers of molten fire flowed beneath the massive structure. Black banners fluttered along the fortress walls. The symbol of demons. Valak stared at the fortress with quiet determination.
"The Demon Realm." he said with confidence.
If he was going to reshape the universes, he would need allies powerful enough to help him remove the current regime. Removing the Angelics would require not only strength, but a cunning plan that would allow the Angelics to think they have all the cards.
"Recruit Zavala," Vaelor stated from beyond the portal, "If you cannot bend a king of demons to your will…" His violet eyes narrowed. "…then you are unworthy of mine."
Valak turned slightly, his crimson eyes burning with confidence. "I will return." He said looking back toward the floating fortress. "With an army."
Far below the Realm of the Gods within the mortal universe, stood the shining capital of the Angelics. Unlike the demon realm, this world was a vision of perfect order. Towering crystal structures rose into the sky like spears of light. Bridges of radiant energy connected floating districts, while sleek aerial craft glided silently through the bright blue heavens. At the center of the city stood the Council Hall. Inside, the most powerful leaders of the Angelic order gathered around a circular chamber filled with glowing holographic projections of countless worlds.
One of the councilors spoke. "We believe Valak has entered the Demon Realm."
The room immediately fell silent once hearing those words. The demon realm had not been accessible ever since the first demon war. the realm had been sealed off after the defeat of the demons over a millennium ago. The massive projection of the universe hovered above the center of the chamber, slowly rotating.
"Without sanction." Another councilor's voice followed. "This exceeds Orion authority."
Another councilor spoke grimly. "The Orions remain silent."
The chamber doors suddenly opened. Renku stepped inside, his blue armor shimmered beneath the golden lights as he walked forward alone. Every council member turned toward him.
One of the elders leaned forward. "You come alone, Orion?"
Renku stopped in the center of the chamber. Renku knew that the events that had just transpired would follow with severe consequences. However, Renku came alone knowing this in order to protect Andreia and Zether from punishment.
"Yes." His voice was calm. "Valak's actions fall upon me."
The elder studied him carefully. "Responsibility is admirable, but consequences are inevitable."
Flames suddenly ignited in a perfect circle around Renku's feet. A divine seal, a symbol of judgment. The council had already begun their deliberation as the council chamber fell into a tense silence. At the center of the vast circular hall, Renku stood alone as the flames of divine judgment burned in a perfect ring around him. Their golden fire cast flickering light across the polished floor. Above him, the members of the Angelic Council watched from their elevated seats. The Angelics were a proud race who took their role in the universe very seriously. They were hand picked by the Gods themselves, they were the only race to consist of light blue skin and snow white hair. The Angelics would live up to a thousand years and would never fight amongst themselves. They believed they were of higher power and that the Orions were a gift to them to help them bring balance and peace. One of the elders leaned forward slowly, his sharp golden eyes fixed on Renku.
"Valak acts beyond the authority of the council." His voice echoed across the chamber like distant thunder.
Another council member folded his hands together thoughtfully. "The Orions were created to maintain balance across the realms," he said. "Not to ignite wars between them."
Murmurs spread quietly among the council but Renku remained still, though a bead of sweat slid down his temple. Renku remained calm as the chaos between the members erupted. Valak had made a move that no one had expected, but with that move the fear slowly began to overtake the chamber.
Another elder spoke, his tone colder. "Valak has chosen to go against the Gods…" He paused, letting the weight of the words settle. "The consequences will not fall upon him alone."
His gaze hardened as he continued "They will fall upon every Orion."
The chamber grew even quieter. The oldest among them slowly rose from his throne-like seat. His long white hair fell over golden armor as he gripped the staff in his hand. Oldol was known as the High Elder, the one who was to oversee everything within the universe. Oldol has been groomed for this position since his birth and had gathered hundreds of years worth of wisdom.
"The balance between Council and the Orions has endured for over hundreds of years," he said solemnly. "One reckless Orion could shatter it, but we must still have hope that we can amend this problem."
At his gesture, the council table awakened. Light surged from its surface, forming a massive holographic projection above the chamber. The image expanded until it filled the air before them. A burning world appeared. Jagged mountains consumed by rivers of molten fire with a colossal fortress floating in a crimson sky. The Demon Realm. Every council member turned their attention toward it.
The elder's voice cut through the silence. "We will come back to this in due time. For now we move forward."
He turned toward one of the council analysts. "Heidel…" His eyes remained fixed on the projection of the demon fortress. "Report."
A young angelic woman rose from her seat, she was young for an Angelic. Her long white hair flowed freely as her expression tense as she gathered the information before speaking.
"We have confirmed Valak is in the Demon Realm. How he was able to enter the realm is still unclear." Heidel said with a firm tone.
Odol nodded his head towards Heidel in acknowledgement before speaking. "We will need to figure out the next course of action. A war between realms could be inevitable if we don't stop this."
Renku's eyes widened as feelings of fear and shock pulled at him. For a moment, he couldn't even speak. The mention of Valak entering the demon realm had triggered something deep within his memory.
A sharp voice cut through the tension. "Speak, Orion."
One of the council members leaned forward, eyes narrowed with suspicion. Renku forced himself to focus.
"If Valak is there…" he began, his voice steady but strained, "…then this must have something to do with..." His words stopped.
A memory flashed in his mind. A pair of burning yellow eyes, a throne of black iron and a kingdom of fire. Renku tried hard to remember who this person could be. Suddenly more of the memory came back to him. The screams of people dying, the sound of steel clashing against each other and the blue hell flames of the Demon King.
Renku's pupils tightened. "Zavala…"
Far away, in the Demon Realm where the sky burned crimson. A massive fortress floated above a sea of molten fire. Its jagged towers pierced the blood-red clouds while rivers of lava poured down from its foundations like blazing waterfalls. This was the Demon King's domain. Valak stood on the edge of a shattered platform overlooking the fortress. At his feet lay the broken body of a fallen demon soldier, armor cracked and smoking from the impact that had just been dealt to him. Valak barely glanced down at him. His attention was fixed on the floating fortress ahead.
"This," he muttered calmly, "is what a king calls a kingdom?"
Inside the fortress, upon a throne carved from obsidian and iron, sat the ruler of the demon realm. Zavala did not look like a normal king, he wore no crown or any form of armor. Instead he wore a dark red coat that sat over is shirt. His red hair stood out from all the other demons who had black hair, but it was his golden eyes that stood out the most. He lounged comfortably in his throne, one arm resting against the side as if the chaos of his kingdom bored him.
Suddenly...
BOOM!
The massive doors to the throne chamber exploded open. A demon soldier crashed across the stone floor, sliding violently through the debris before coming to a painful stop. The soldier groaned, struggling to push himself up. Around him, the demon guards stiffened, gripping their spears. At the far end of the chamber, Zavala watched the scene unfold with quiet amusement before a shadow appeared in the burning doorway. Valak stepped through the flames as if they were not even there. The fire behind him twisted and roared as chunks of stone fell from the shattered entrance.
"I thought demons were the superior species…" Valak said calmly.
The guards snarled, baring sharp fangs as they raised their weapons. Without a second thought one lunged forward with a roar. Valak didn't move, he simply clicked his fingers which sent a crimson pulse of power exploded outward, expanding beyond the sight of the eye. The charging demon soldier became a frozen statue that stood lifeless in the crimson void. The remaining guards were all frozen in time, unable to move. For the first time since their birth, they had become completely useless. Zavala's eyes sharpened slightly and interested. He leaned forward in his throne, studying the intruder carefully. The Red illuminated Valak's armor as he stepped closer towards Zavala.
"Very interesting…" Zavala murmured. "I have not experienced this power in centuries."
Valak stopped walking and faced the throne in which Zavala was sitting in. Zavala smiled faintly before the hooded man. Zavala knew that this hooded man wasn't an ordinary being, he had felt this power before during the demon war.
"Tell me…" His golden eyes gleamed in the firelight. "What is an Orion doing here?"
The red void that consumed the entire environment went completely silent. For a moment, his hooded face remained hidden in shadow. Then the red light caught his eyes. They burned a deep crimson and a faint smile appeared beneath the hood. The meeting between Orion and Demon King had begun.
Meanwhile back in the Capital.. The council chamber was silent. Towering pillars of pale stone stretched toward the vaulted ceiling and streams of golden light descended like frozen waterfalls behind the council seats. The circular chamber was designed so that no voice could escape unheard and no decision could be made lightly. At the center of the room stood Renku. His silver hair caught the light as he faced the assembled council. The symbol embedded in his chest armor glowed faintly blue, pulsing softly like a quiet heartbeat. One of the elder council members leaned forward, his long white beard resting against his golden robes.
"Why would Valak seek Zavala?" he asked.
The question hung in the air like a weight as Renku remained still. For a moment, even he did not answer. A bead of sweat slid down the side of his face as he thought hard to himself about the answer he was looking for.
"I do not yet know," Renku admitted.
His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. Then his hand slowly clenched into a fist. "But if you sanction it, I will uncover his aim."
A faint crackle of energy flickered across the lines of his armor as his gaze hardened. "I will pursue Valak… whatever the cost."
The council chamber grew in tense, the longer the silence carried the more uncertain Renku became. The elders exchanged glances, this was no small decision and one that could change the course of the war. Finally, Oldol raised his staff, at its tip, a circular sigil of radiant light flared to life, illuminating the chamber in gold.
"By unanimous decree," the elder announced solemnly, "the pursuit is sanctioned."
Renku did not smile, but his eyes did not waver.
Later…
Renku stepped into the strategy chamber where two figures were already waiting beside the central projection table. Andreia stood to the left. Her golden armor shimmered beneath the chamber lights and her long blonde hair fell across her shoulders like a banner of sunlight. Her golden eyes studied Renku carefully. Across from her stood Zether. Dark-haired, sharp-eyed and dressed in black-and-gold armor. He leaned casually against the table with a faint smirk.
"They approved it… didn't they?" Andreia asked.
Renku gave a single nod.
Zether chuckled softly. "You have that look."
Renku stepped forward. "The council has confirmed it." His voice was steady. "Valak is in the Demon Realm."
The words shifted the mood instantly as Andreia's expression tightened and Zether's smirk faded into something more serious. A holographic projection ignited above the strategy table. A crimson fortress appeared in the air, massive towers, jagged spires and rivers of lava glowing beneath its floating foundation. The stronghold of the Demon King.
"I believe he seeks Zavala," Renku said.
Andreia crossed her arms thoughtfully. "Why would Valak need the Demon King?"
Renku watched the projection carefully. "I do not yet know," he said quietly. "But I intend to find out."
Renku turned toward them as the projection shifted again. A second hologram appeared, this one showing a distant world surrounded by tactical markers.
"Andreia," Renku said. "We have been given the green light. You will meet up with the Silver Wings. The Arcadian army advances on Garrix and Zarella is in need of some more firepower. The war with Arcadia is still taking it's toll and we can't just abandoned it."
Andreia nodded without hesitation as Renku then turned to Zether.
"Zether, You will enter the Demon Realm." Renku stated, "Scout Valak's movements. Learn his objective."
The dark-haired warrior smiled faintly, "A quiet infiltration into the Demon Realm," he said. "Sounds relaxing."
"What will you do?" Zether questioned.
"I will go to the Realm of Fate." Renku answered.
Both Andreia and Zether looked at him sharply.
"I need to uncover the truth." He continued.
For a moment, no one spoke, because they all knew what that meant. If the Realm of Fate held answers… Then the truth about Valak might be far darker than any of them expected.
End of Chapter 2