by Asher, Yarid
Even Leosher was intimidated by the size of this creature but then he calmed his nerves. He got back on the debris of the broken ships and gained his balance but the Leviathan grabbed him with one of its tentacles. Each of the tentacles had millions of sharp, small claws at the end which made them even more deadly. The tentacles were attached to the ribcage of the beast and some of them also hung down from the beast’s chin.
Leosher went unconscious again but this time in the grasp of the Leviathan, and again, it was Asurot, talking to him.
“Son, do not be intimidated by the beast, for help is on the way. Just remember, this is the last time you will receive help.”
Leosher finally responded “Mother, neither did I ask for your help, nor do I need your help. I will conquer this beast with my own might and I do not care what the gods think. I will take over Thraenus and soon, Aseroth, the heavens and even the underworld will be mine.”
Asurot, who was worried about her child, replied “My son, you are dear to my heart and you do not know what you say. You still have time, walk away from your evil desires, for if you do not stop, the guardians will find you and they will imprison you. Do not wage war on Aseroth, the heavens and the underworld, for you will turn the gods against you. Aseroth is yours to rule, for you are the prince of the gods but you have to be pure at heart and if you are not, I am afraid we will have to find someone who is worthy enough to rule but for now, concentrate on the beast.”
Just as the conversation between the prince and the queen ended, Leosher got back to his senses and became conscious again. He opened his eyes and found himself high up in the air, because the beast, the Leviathan, had thrown him up and was now standing with its pit-like mouth open, ready to engulf him. Just as Leosher reached the tip of the mouth of the beast, the beast was thrown out of balance with a strong blow and Leosher, instead of falling into the mouth of the Leviathan, crashed on the side, face first, and then in the waters. When he looked up and cleaned his bloody face to see, it was an earth giant, sent by Asurot to help defeat the Leviathan. This was the help Asurot had been talking about. It was a mountain given life, arms, legs and a body. It was covered in trees and was made of soil, dirt, sand, rocks and clay. It was almost as tall as the Leviathan, and a great fight broke out. Both creatures fought with great strength.
The punches were so intense that they created shockwaves which made strong waves in the waters and nearly drowned the swimmers. The battle was magnificent. Both giants fought in the rain and the thunder and lightning made it even more dramatic.
Leosher swam to his brother and asked him in a shock “Did you do this? Did you bring forth the giant?”
“No,” said he “I am not a great wizard. I cannot possibly bring forth this beast. I am just as shocked as the rest of you are. I have no idea where this beast came from, all I know is that he is helping us.”
Then Leosher walked to Azar “Did you do this?”
“No,” said he “No my lord, I did not do it, for it is far beyond a wizard’s power to create a beast of that magnitude. Only a god possesses the power to perform a feat like this.”
When Leosher heard that, it struck him. It was his mother that had done it and as the thoughts came into his mind, a burst of arrogance and anger came too for he did not want his mother to help him but she was. Angry, he ripped out the longest rope he could find out of the ships and said to his friends “I might not return.”
Neiham moved forward and increased her king’s morale “My lord, you shall return, you shall triumph over this beast for you are the king of The Empire, the rightful heir of Aseroth and the prince of all gods.”
Then Virgil came to his brother and said to him the poem:
“We are not ordinary,
for we battle with destiny.
We have great power,
the power to write our own fate.
There is a beast rising within us,
and our revolt is weakening.
The beast is at the edge of our souls,
and its might is strengthening.
The beast is raw and pure,
its power is like lightning.
We cannot begin to describe,
the storm that is inside.
But the beast will rise again,
to bring forth the eternal pain.
The sun of hope has risen,
and the battle has begun.
But we remember one thing,
we will always be one.
We let the beast within us, rise,
to bring forth our enemy’s demise.
We move forward with one creed,
for it is our need,
Clearly, we are not ordinary,
for we battle with destiny.”
Leosher was rejuvenated with hope and faith in himself. He swung the rope in his hands and wrapped it around the earth giant’s ear. He swung hard and jumped far, far up in the air and over the storm. He almost reached the top of the world and then he came down like a meteor, engulfed in fire. He took out his scythe out on the way down and got ready to battle but the Leviathan saw that Leosher was coming down for it. It closed its mouth shut, for it knew if Leosher attacked it at this pace, it would surely die. It shut its mouth and its teeth became sealed gates. Not even air could pass through them. It was the only thing the Leviathan could do because it was too big to get out of his way. Though he had created a barrier against Leosher, it did not stop him.
He crashed through the barrier with a blast and broke its jaws and the Leviathan screamed in agony. The giant helped Leosher by shutting the mouth of the Leviathan, close, and holding it in a tight grip and keeping the beast from moving and creating a steady platform for Leosher to fight on.
Leosher was now in the chest of the Leviathan. It was like a castle, only made with meat, flesh, bones and blood. Leosher swung his scythe and started to cut the internal organs of the Leviathan. First he destroyed its lungs by cleaving them down the middle and then he broke the rib cage. It was huge, it was like columns but Leosher was a god, he kicked and punched and finally, they broke because they were not strong enough to hold on against Leosher’s anger. Afterwards, Leosher saw that the heart of the beast was there within sight too. He approached the heart but the beating was you intense, that it made Leosher’s ears bleed. The heart was bigger than the the Galleon Leosher had been traveling on. It took him some time to finally make his way towards the heart, for it beated to hard.
He grabbed the heart and ripped it out of its place. Blood squirted everywhere and Leosher could hear the Leviathan scream in pain and agony, even when he was inside its bosom. Now, there was a flood and Leosher had to get out of the body, for if he did not, he would drown.
He jumped with all the power he had left in his body in a desperate attempt to escape the body of the Leviathan. The bruised and battered warrior jumped high and ripped out through the head of the Leviathan. He came out of the top, piercing through its skull and brain. When he came out, it was like a volcano that had just erupted. Blood spurt out of its head with such a pressure. The giant quickly backed up and Leosher shot up in the air. All the warriors rejoiced because their nightmare was over, the Leviathan’s terror was over. He was dead and their king had killed it. Now they had faith in Leosher, for before, they thought he could not possibly defeat the unbeatable.
When Asurot saw that her son had succeeded, she ordered the Giant to retrieve. The giant smiled at Leosher who had fallen back into the water and slowly melted and soon, it vanished in the waters, and left no trace behind, it was as if it was never there.
Leosher was now unconscious, for he was dried out of his energy and the injuries were prominent. He had been battered the most but luckily he was still alive. The battle was over now. The Leviathan fell in the water too but the only difference between Leosher and the Leviathan was that Leosher was alive. Both were equally injured but the difference was Leosher was made stronger after every injury he survived. That was the way he was created, a warrior god. After
every battle, he became stronger and stronger.
Virgil saw and he fished his brother out of the water using magic and brought him back to one of the few ships the had left. All were in very shabby conditions. Some’s sails were ripped and some’s paddles were incapacitated.
It was not long before Lampus returned with his mermen and mermaids too. They were happy that the beast that had been troubling their kind for centuries was now defeated but the grief of losing his throne was prominent on Lampus’s face. It was as if he had not been expecting Leosher to be able to defeat the Leviathan but instead, Leosher had ripped its heart out.
He went and saw that Leosher was unconscious and covered in his own and the Leviathan’s blood. His ears, eyes and nose were bleeding because the tentacles had damaged him internally but the blood came out when the vibrations and shockwaves from the heart widened the wounds.
“Bring him and the rest to the castle,” said Lampus “For they need to rest and recover from injuries.”
They all jumped in the water and ate the red flowers and all the men were able to breath underwater. They all swam in the castle, where they were looked after by the beautiful, glorious mermaids and only in a matter of hours, all had recovered except Leosher.
His injuries were far beyond repair and even the lava flower elixir was not working. They all worked a bit but there were some wounds such as the rips in his heart, which were beyond repair and just needed time to heal. Virgil was devastated that his brother was injured and there was nothing he could do to help him, therefore he prayed to Asurot and asked her to help them. Asurot being a listening god answered the prayer and came in Leosher’s dream. They both stood in a blank, white void, Leosher covered in blood, and Asurot, clean and fresh.
“Son, you have made me proud by slaying the Leviathan but that does not change the fact that you have changed. You are strong but you are not invincible, therefore you need my help.”
“No, mother, do not help me. Am I a helpless child that you need to help me everytime something happens?” said Leosher angrily “I do not need your help. I defeated the Leviathan without your help and I am going to get better without your help. You can leave me alone now, please, for I do not wish to disrespect you more.”
His mother left his dream disappointed, but on the way out, she increased the speed of the healing, permanently. Now, if he was to get injured this badly, he would live and not die. Leosher did not know that she had done so but he woke up in a little over five hours, fully rested and rejuvenated.
CHAPTER 7
“Where is Lampus?” asked Leosher, right after he woke up. He swam out of the bed chamber and asked again “Where is Lampus? He owes me a little something.”
When Virgil heard him, he came to him “How are you now, brother?”
“I am fine. Where is Lampus?”
“He is over there” said Urey, who was standing close by, while pointing towards a hall “He is in the dining hall with Usere and the others.”
Leosher walked in the hall and sat on the grand dining table “When is my crowning?”
“Whenever you want” replied Lampus humbly “I am ready, just as we decided.”
“Let us do it right now.”
“Hold on” Usere interuppted “Do not you want to have preparations before the crowning? I mean, we are underwater right now, how can you not want to make the moment special, my lord?”
“Alright,” said Leosher, while looking at Lampus and the rest “Make all the preparations you need, in two hours and after that, I am the king of the mermaids.”
Azar smiled “My lord, please do not be so anxious, for the entire world is yours for taking. You just have to wait.”
Leosher smiled mockingly and then left the room and went into his bed chamber. He slept for some time but then Virgil woke him up
“Get up brother it is your big moment.”
There was a big smile on Virgil’s face because he was happy for his brother. There was a grin on Leosher’s face as well. He swam over to the armoire and pulled out his broken armor and his red cloak, for he was getting ready for the crowning. The cloak and the armor hindered him in swimming but he wore it anyways. Then he tied his hair back and brushed his beard thoroughly even though it made no difference. He was definitely the youngest, and the only humanly king of the mermaids, for he was only a little over 18 years old.
The he latched his scythe on his back, for that was the only weapon he had left. He had lost his spears in the Leviathan’s tenetacles but he had managed to keep the scythe. He left the bed chamber and into the halls and then he followed the red carpet out of the castle.
There was a big crowd outside the castle, waiting for Leosher, their new king and Lampus was standing in the front to crown Leosher. There was a big, childish yet sinister smirk on Leosher’s face and soon, it got even bigger when he stood in front of all of the citizens of the sea. There was everyone in the sea from mermaids and mermen, to sharks, from trouts to swordfish. There were eerie and bizarre creatures too but they were all the way in the back, where Leosher could not pay attention to them.
Lampus came close to him and stood next to him and addressed the crowd
“This is the man who possesses the power of a god and the strength of the Leviathan, for he conquered the beast that had been troubling our kind for centuries. I am proud to say that this man, standing next to me shall be your king.” Then he looked at Leosher “You are the most courageous creature I have ever met.”
There was a thunder and Ramases came down in the water. He came down like all the other gods came down, engulfed in a fire ball. He was wearing a gold armor, just like Arusus, for all the gods wore gold armors. He came down on a chariot which was being pulled by blue and green man-sized sea horses. He wore a battle skirt and had a thick red beard and long red hair. He was white, unlike Arusus and Leosher. He wore sandals just like all the rest wore but Leosher was better than him at something. Leosher was a great fighter and his body showed it. Leosher’s body showed every muscle and it was very toned but Remases’s body was not. His body was not toned as much as Leosher’s, which showed Leosher’s superiority over him.
He came down and blessed Leosher “You truly are the prince of all gods, for only you could do such an incredible thing like the one you have done.”
He put a gold crown on Leosher’s head. The crown was jaw dropping and lavish. Then he gave him two spears. They were a gift from another god that Leosher had scored. First the Scythe, forged in Aseroth, a gift from Arusus, and now the Spears, forged in Aseroth, a gift from Remases.
Ramases looked at the crowd and said “I pronounce, Leosher, the prince of Aseroth and the king of The Empire, the king of the sea. From this day forth, the sea will favor and help Leosher in every situation, whether it is bad or good and all its residents shall listen to Leosher’s command no matter what.”
There was a chant all around the sea “Long lives our king, Leosher.” Even Lampus, instead of being jealous, chanted for his new king. Leosher loved all of this and wanted it to never stop but alas, he had to leave, for it was time to find the hidden valley.
“We do not have any more time to waste,” Leosher said out loud, “Let us go to the surface and continue towards the hidden valley, for we have other, important matters to tend to.” He looked at Barian “Get the men ready, we leave this moment.”
Barian and the others swam up but Leosher just jumped and soon, he was out of the waters and onto the ships. Just as all the men resurfaced, the effects of the red flowers wore off and now, if they tried going back into the water they would die. Leosher stood on the bowsprit and shouted out “All sails ahead.” Barian’s crew quickly listened and soon, the ship was moving fast. No one knew where to go, for none had seen hidden valley because only Leosher could see it and the people protecting the weapons could see it.
On the way, Leosher felt something around his neck; it was the Talisman of Remases. It was around his neck all along and he finally realized that this was wh
at kept him from drowning when he was fighting the Leviathan “Alas, even if I did not want any help, I was given help.” He was slightly angry, therefore he ripped off of his neck and stared at it “You were great help but I do not need help, for I am Leosher, the prince of Aseroth.” He dropped it in the water and leaned back on a pole and stared ahead.
Leosher and his men stayed at sea for two days and still there was no sign of the hidden valley and they were running low on provisions.
“Master,” said Barian “We only have a day left until we completely discharge ourselves from food. We have already eaten some of the animals we had and we do not wish to eat more of them, for we might need then in battle. Maybe you should ask for help from the gods.”
Leosher looked at him angrily “You know I would rather starve than ask for help from the gods. If they give it as a gift, it is fine by me but I shall never ask for help.”
“Brother,” Virgil joined the conversation for he knew the condition the men were living in “Do not let your stubbornness and arrogance deprive you from the throne, for finding the hidden valley is our highest priority right now. You should talk to the gods because if you do not have any men, you will never be able to take over Thraenus.”