No second chances: The beginning of the end

Chapter 14: Awakening.

About 5 days later, the elves had heavily increased the patrols around the forest, lowering the chances of Chronos moving freely after certain periods of time. However, Chronos had already prepared counter measurements to avoid being surrounded once again, using simple traps, his past experiences, thinking ahead of time, and trying to figure what other ways the elves could manage to hunt him down. I have only two days left to complete this trial; however, I will run out of spots to hide, eventually, I’ll have to fight them and win. I have a gapping disadvantage against them though… They have bows and magic, while I can just run away –He thought while applying certain herbs on his wounds and biting an edible root.

Archival simply kept guard in the altar where the egg was being incubated while drinking a brew specially made by the same medicinal herbs Chronos’ used on his wounds. “Who would’ve thought it’s been 5 days already and I still can feel that presence hiding in the forest” –Archival said while sipping the liquid as he looked at the egg. “So it is as I suspected, he is the holder of an absolute command as well. Blessed when born, chosen by Pandora and trained with sharp instincts, almost as if he was prepared and brought to us by God” –He muttered while turning towards the entrance of the altar.

That same evening, the elves managed to gather around the zones where Chronos was suspected to frequent, forcing him to show himself by casting magic and engulfing the possible hideouts with a controlled flame that was kept in place to avoid the fire to spread across the flora. After some minutes of scorching flames burning the hollow trunks, a foul scent of decomposed and burned meat began to emanate from one of them, making the elves surrounding it flinch for a moment. “Maybe he already died by starving to death or couldn’t close his wounds and suffered from an infection” –One of the present elves speculated while slowly approaching the inside of the trunk with confidence. Without noticing, the elf stepped on a simple branch and broke it, triggering a simple but silent trap, which consisted of a rather big log falling from another tree and knocking the elf to the ground. The rest of the elves quickly separated into two groups, one to help the elf on the ground and the next one to inspect the inside of the scorched log, just to realize Chronos wasn’t there. On another of the groups, most of the elves fell to the ground due to the effects of a mushroom’s scent after being burned along with the tree. A similar situation in which the elves were neutralized took place after an explosion was triggered in one of the hideouts after the elves burned the tree while a very flammable sap was purposely smeared all over the inside of the trunk. As the teams were simply taken down by traps, Chronos slowly resurfaced from a river in the vicinity, realizing the traps started to work judging by the explosions that shook the ground. It seems like it was good timing to prepare the traps. I figured they wouldn’t wait until the time was up for me to come out; those patrols were to study the zones of which I could’ve been, however they didn’t notice the traps. They won’t die, but this will surely make them think of me as more than just a prey –Chronos thought while making his way to the tribe’s settlement on the trees.

“I see they didn’t really manage to get you, and you might have also figured the week was just a bluff, since most of them have been massacred by us and feed the forest with their remains. You did manage to come here by yourself and even knocked out many of us, just with traps. Chronos, I will fight you and kill you, but if you happen to survive, I will teach you everything I know” –Archival said while narrowing his eyes towards Chronos who stepped in front of his hut with a different shine on his eyes.

While a group of elves who weren’t struck by Chronos’ traps was helping the ones out of combat, a great explosion followed by a huge and flexible tree branch destroying the entrance of the hut where Archival resided expulsed Chronos abruptly with a movement similar to a whip, slamming him against another of the trees nearby. What has just happened? Was that Archival? Using magic!? –One of the elves thought while witnessing the scene in fear as the branch quickly slammed against the next tree in order to crush Chronos with great momentum.

Archival simply looked down upon the dust lifted by the impact, slowly widening his eyes as he noticed Chronos wasn’t hit by the branch, and not even faced by the impact. “You are indeed worthy is being called a guardian, Chronos. But I’m the protector of this forest, are you willing to fight nature itself?!” –Archival threatened while many other flexible branches grew from the tree he was standing on. Chronos was held in place with the roots of the tree behind him, while the branches simultaneously began to build up speed and simulated whips violently attacking a single target. Archival simply watched for a couple of minutes until the whips began to tear apart from the wearing effect of the impact. I don’t think anyone can possibly come out in a single piece after that much force –Archival thought while silently casting another few branches. “However, you are a guardian and the holder of DD’s absolute command, Ad superstes” –He spoke while solemnly placing his staff in front and modifying the current branches, making thick thorns to grow from them. “Is your will enough to push forward, Chronos?!” –Archival finally exclaimed while giving a menacing look towards where the dust slowly settled as the branches began to s***h down upon Chronos once again, creating multiple explosive reactions that even made the whole forest shake. “I will be honest, I actually had high hopes of you since you made it this far” –Archival said while the branches slowed down with clear disappointment.

Silence ruled across the entire forest right after the branches stopped shaking the ground with continuous hits. Archival assessed the situation and gazed towards the groups of elves slowly gaining back their consciousness. Suddenly, a horrible shiver ran down Archival’s back as well as many elves began to puke after feeling an overwhelming presence and killing intent, just as if they were facing against something beyond dangerous. The egg in the altar cracked once again, and Chronos simply looked up towards Archival; blood sliding from several parts of his body and steam slowly fuming from it. In a defensive stance covering his face and neck, Chronos quietly, with blood-injected eyes, glared at Archival. His presence was simply enough to make Archival sweat cold and hesitate on what to do next.

Not only were the ones in the forest affected by this brief nightmarish effect, but it also woke up the earth dragon sleeping in the caves and raised several disaster alarms in the nearby cities and towns, immediately alerting the main military forces and the rulers of Delcyt, Falladis, and Nando. The west of Delcyt was paralyzed for a moment as there were major meetings in the capital; many important figures were seeking shelter as fast as they could and the Ruler of Delcyt decided to make an appearance in the intelligence recollection buildings of the military in the capital to confirm that DD’s corpse was still kept in there.

“Report of the situation” –Said the ominous yet formally dressed ruler while walking next to the head of the research department and the head of the main assault team of the Capital forces.

“Disaster alarms detected the presence of massive life form, it is possible to compare it to the very DD’s presence, however, there hasn’t been any eyesight’s; the location is Pandora’s forest, we suspect the elves were raising or even kept hidden a primal dragon since the scale is so large” –The head director of the research department explained.

“Destroyers and stealth drones were already deployed to assess the forest integrity; the report should arrive as soon as they approach its vicinity. It should take an estimate of 3 hours; also troops designated to protect these cities nearby are taking defensive formations to both calm down the masses and regulate the traffic within them” –The general explained while giving some reports of the fugitives incident.

The ruler reluctantly took the report and headed to a large meeting room on which many reporters have already set a press conference and discussed the situation with the current minister for both internal and external matters. Once the ruler entered the room every reporter with a camera took pictures of him as he casually waved to them and took over the podium while the minister sat behind him. A lengthy yet convincing and well-structured explanation was given to the media about what is happening and what to expect in the future. Naturally, the interviewers kept asking questions about the alarms and the recent fugitives that crossed the border. However, there was no unanswered question left and the conference eventually ended.

On the forest, Chronos approached Archival slowly as he simply stayed still, as if he was paralyzed by the sight of something even greater and more fearsome than the earth dragon he petted 5 days ago. Clearly, any movement he could possibly make would end up on his death, or it just felt so to him. Chronos seemed to not fully understand the situation but still pushed forward until he grabbed the staff Archival was holding and broke it easily, or rather the staff quickly deteriorated in his hands.

After analyzing the situation, Chronos simply kneeled and stared at Archival into his eyes. “I believe I managed to pass the Trial, right?” –Chronos asked with certainty on what the answer was. Right afterward, he stood up and went towards the altar which was almost intact in spite of the fight.

“After all, despite taking good care of it, the disease was also inherited, and couldn’t withstand it. It died right after breaking the egg, but it is surprising it didn’t die before so I did my best to help it incubate” –Archival explained while following Chronos.

While leaning against a wall, Chronos slowly sat down while seeing the broken egg and a small dragon motionless and covered into a black viscous substance that kept pouring from its mouth. Archival stood right next to Chronos, feeling how the air became thicker due to his silent grief. Chronos didn’t let any tear come out; he simply reflected in his mind what his purpose was now that the only thing he needed to protect is no more.

“I’m willing to teach you magic, Chronos. Maybe once you understand the laws behind them-“–Archival tried to reason before being interrupted by Chronos.

“You said Pandora wanted me to fulfill her dying wish, right?” –Chronos asked with a rather decayed tone.

“Yes, you were chosen to become the bearer of Pandora’s memories. The trial was just a fraction of how difficult your journey will become if you are willing to carry on with Pandora’s wish” –Archival warned Chronos with a sigh. Chronos simply nodded and stood up while the tree slowly began to surround the corpse and broken egg with flexible branches as if it wanted to consume it. “The forest will now take care of it. We can begin as soon as you-“–Archival was once again interrupted by the noise of destroyers in the proximity of the forest. He suddenly turned around and a new branch recreated the shape of the staff Chronos destroyed.

“It seems like you caused quite the commotion across this kingdom. However, since you are a suitable candidate, we can’t let them have you, so I hope you understand there will be a fight soon” –Archival said while walking outside of the altar, chanting a rather long spell while many trees began to break and reshape into massive bipedal beings.