Chapter 2: The Sovereign Bluff
1995 Words
The silence in the throne room was so heavy it felt like it could crush a person. The purple flames in the iron holders on the wall were moving around like they were scared of Evander. They were staying away from him because of the energy coming from his body.
Zorion was standing still, holding his sword. His skin was usually a color, but now it looked grey and sick. His eyes, which used to be full of anger, were now moving quickly from Evander's face to the floor. The floor was. Breaking into pieces.
Evander was breathing slowly and quietly. Inside, his mind was working fast. The red chain on his wrist was hot and taking energy from Vespera. It was like trying to control a wild river with a small pipe. If he made one mistake, everything would fall apart.
Evander had a power called Deep Appraisal that gave him information about Zorion. It said Zorion was moving his weight to one leg, and his knee was hurting. It also said Zorion's energy was almost gone.
Evander did not wait for Zorion to get his courage back. He took another step forward, and the sound of his shoe on the stone floor was loud and scary.
I will not say it again, Zorion, Evander said, his voice calm but loud. Put down your sword. I will make this place your grave.
Lyra, the succubus spy, was watching from the side. She was looking at Evander and Zorion. She was the first to see that the power in the room was changing. She quietly stepped back. Put away her knives.
General Zorion, Lyra said, her voice careful and slow. I think you should remember your place. The ritual was meant to call a being from the abyss. If you attack out of fear, you might destroy us before the human army even gets here.
Zorion was angry. His teeth were tight. He looked at the generals, but they did not move to help him. They were experienced fighters. They did not want to fight someone who could control the shadows without even trying.
Zorion put away his sword. Said, Forgive me, my Queen. The front lines are. The humans are coming fast. We thought we would get a weapon, but instead we got... Something else. If this person can really save our realm, let him prove it in battle.
He. Walked away, his armor making loud noises on the stone floor. The other generals followed him. Thalia looked at Evander with curiosity. Lucan bowed his head. Lyra disappeared into the shadows.
When the last general left, the tension in the room went away. Evander stopped using the energy, and the room returned to normal. He was tired and sweaty, and his knees were weak. He had to hold onto the altar to stand up.
Vespera was also tired and pale. She looked at Evander with a mix of fear and anger. You almost killed us, she said. You took a lot of energy from me. If you had kept it up for a few seconds, my soul would have been destroyed.
Evander said, It was the way to keep us alive. If I had not done that, Zorion would have killed you. Used my body as a footstool. You are the Queen. You do not control your own army.
Vespera was angry. She knew Evander was right. She said, You are a human from another world. You have no power. My ritual was supposed to call a beast, but instead I got you.
Evander said, Then your ritual was wrong from the start.
He looked at his wrist, where the red chain had been. Now there was a tattoo with designs, and it was glowing. A notification sound came from his mind. A screen appeared in front of him. It said:
System Status Update.
Soul-Link Protocol: Working (100% connected).
Primary Constraint: If one of us dies, the other will also die.
Current Status: Shared powers started.
Vespera saw the screen. Was surprised. You can see it too? she asked.
Evander said, Yes.. It says our survival is connected. If one of us dies, the other will also die. We are like two parts of one thing.
Vespera was angry and scared. She said, This is crazy. I am the Queen of the Abyssal Realm. I cannot be connected to a human. There must be a way to break this connection.
Evander said, If you tell anyone about this, we will be dead soon. You have to think Vespera. The only thing keeping those generals from taking your throne is their fear of me. If they find out I am a human, they will use our connection to control you or kill us.
Vespera stopped talking and thought about what Evander said. She did not like that he was right. She did not like that a human was helping her more than she was helping herself.
Fine, she said. What do you propose, Abyssal Coordinator? We cannot stay here forever. The human army is. They have a new hero with great power.
Evander's eyes got darker when he heard about the army. He thought about Caelum, the person who had laughed when Evander was taken away.
We do not hide, Evander said. We change the rules of this war. You have power, Vespera. You do not know how to use it. Your realm is losing because you are fighting a war against an enemy with more resources. I am going to fix that.
He looked at the screen again. Started tapping on it. He unlocked a function and said, Activating Territory Management Mode.
A big 3D map appeared in front of them, showing the Underworld. It had mountains, forests, rivers and forts. Some areas were red, meaning they were controlled by the army.
Vespera took a step forward to look at the display. This is a map of my realm. Even my own people who make maps do not have maps this good. How are you doing this?
This is what an Abyssal Coordinator does, Evander explained. He looked at the data on the screen with ease. The humans do not like this job because they only look at the numbers. They want someone they can send to fight. They do not know that the system gives me control of everything.
He pointed to an area on the map. This is the Ironclaw Ridge. The system says General Zorion has strong demonic units here. He is trying to stop the humans by using force. This is a mistake.
Why Vespera asked. The Ironclaw Ridge is our defense. The walls are solid. Cannot be moved.
It cannot be moved from the ground, Evander said. You do not know what the enemy has. Get me the information about the humans who are coming.
The screen. Showed the enemy's information.
Enemy Vanguard:
Lead Unit: Holy Vanguard. Strong.
Support Units: Magi and flying griffins.
Vespera looked pale. The flying griffins are not coming through the ravine. They will fly over the ridge.
Yes, Evander said. They will fly over. Attack from above. Once the ridge falls, the way to this place will be open. General Zorion is not ready to fight. He is walking into a trap.
We have to warn him Vespera said. We have to tell him to go
If we tell him to go now, he will think we are weak, Evander said. The humans will chase his troops. We need a plan to stop their advantage before they know what is happening.
He looked at the system. Found something. System Alert: We can use the area under the Ironclaw Ridge. It has rocks and crystals.
Evander's eyes lit up. I need you to give me control of the units near the caverns Vespera. I do not need the ones. Give me the ones.
What will you do with them Vespera asked. They cannot fight the griffins.
They do not need to fight, Evander said. They just need to dig.
Vespera gave him control. Evander felt a lot of information come into his mind. He could. Feel what the weak units could.
Move, Evander told them. Move the crystals. You have six hours.
Vespera watched him. She could see the intensity in his eyes. For the time, she felt respect for a human. He was not using magic. He was controlling everything.
Are you going to blow up the ridge Vespera asked.
I am going to change the land, Evander said. When the humans come, they will expect to fight. I will make the land trap them.
As the hours passed, Evander controlled the units. They worked fast. Did not waste time. Every crystal was placed correctly.
It is time, Evander said. The humans are coming.
He looked at Vespera. The human leader is coming.
Can you see them Vespera asked.
No, Evander said. I will feel them.
He closed his eyes. Connected with the units. He could hear the griffins. Feel the magic of the human leader.
Evander's finger pressed a button. The earth exploded.
The obsidian walls of the ridge fell inward. The humans had no time to react. The griffins were pulled down. Crushed. The Magi screamed as they were buried alive.
System Notification. Many enemy units were eliminated.
Evander breathed out. He felt satisfied. Raw power means nothing if you do not know how to use it.
Vespera looked at the map. You wiped out humans without losing any of our soldiers.
But it is not over, Evander said. The human leader is still alive.
Suddenly, a loud alarm sounded. The screen changed to an interface. This was the system of the Radiant Empire.
A voice spoke. It was High Priestess Seraphina.
To the person who fell into the abyss, a voice spoke. It was cold, and it did not care. It sounded very old and very scary. You think you got away from the Empire and their idea of what's right and wrong. You think you can hide with the demon queen.
Evander's eyes got big as words made of gold started to form; they were like a map. They showed exactly where they were, the demon queen's home.
The computer thing in their heads started to malfunction it was flashing a message that really scared Evander.
It said: Someone or something outside is taking control of the connection between machines.
It said: Evander is the target.
It said: We will take his mind out of his body in five seconds...
Evander looked at Vespera he tried to reach for her. His body started to break down into tiny pieces like dust, and it was glowing. Vespera screamed his name she tried to grab his hand. Her fingers went right through him.
It counted down: Four. Three. Two.
The room they were in disappeared. The dark place they were in was gone, and a bright golden light took its place. It was so bright it hurt. It pulled Evander's mind back to the world he was kicked out of.
- Writer
