Twilight of the Gods (Universe in Flames Book 8)

by Christian Kallias

  She was right. Thor felt like something dead in him had resurrected. The warrior’s call of his heart was already singing songs of glory. He allowed the corner of his mouth to curl into a faint smile.

  “I won’t deny that.”

  “You’re welcome. Now let’s finish this off and celebrate with as much ale as we can drink afterward, my treat!”

  “Olympian ale? No thanks. I’d rather drink troll’s piss. But you’re welcome to try your resistance to a real warrior’s drink onboard the Mjölnir once this is over.”

  Athena chuckled. “That’s a date.”

  Thor’s eyes widened, and his tattoos turned off swiftly.

  “Relax big guy, I just mean I’m looking forward to drinks with you until we roll under a table. It’s been a long time since I partied that way. Glad to see your broomsticktectomy has been successful.”

  Colors slowly returned to Thor’s face and he allowed himself a warmer smile. “I’m looking forward to it as well.”

  CHASE DEFLECTED three successive fireballs from the nearest Fury target and decided it was time to thin the herd. He entered Ultra Fury mode, teleported in front of his enemy and disconnected the Fury’s head from its body with a powerful uppercut. He then grabbed the dead body and used it as a shield for the twenty or so fireballs another Fury sent toward him.

  A quick look around and he saw Chris and Argos, each busy dealing with a Fury of their own. They were holding their own very well, but they were pretty evenly matched with their foes.

  Chase could intervene but he knew Argos would not forgive him, unless it was absolutely necessary. Pride and all. As for Chris, Chase could sense he relished the idea of real combat to test his skills.

  The third Fury used Chase’s moment of distraction to strike a powerful kick at his face but found nothing but air. Chase had teleported behind him and sent the Fury flying for miles with a swift slap of his hand.

  Chase felt more energy signatures converging on their position. They had attracted the rest of the forces deployed on the surface. A dozen more signatures were incoming at high velocity.

  “We’ll have more company in a few minutes,” said Chase out loud.

  “Bring it,” said Argos in between his current combo.

  Argos blocked three of his enemy’s fireballs and assimilated their energy into his own. He brought his aura to the max and lit up his entire right arm with bright red energy. Before the Fury could unleash his next attack, Argos promptly cut him in half.

  “Two down,” he said, winking at Chase.

  Chris was taking the upper hand in his fight as well and decided to go for the kill. He somersaulted atop his foe, grabbed his head and smashed the Fury to the ground with extreme force, creating a large crater in the stony ground as he did so. Before the Fury could recover, Chris incinerated him with a powerful column of green energy. He then cracked his neck and stretched himself before the next wave of warriors arrived.

  That’s when Chase felt another set of signatures coming from the other side; it was the second wave he detected. They had sent reinforcements. Even though Chase could probably deal with most of these foes, he didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said before teleporting off the planet.

  ZEUS AND ORYN had been walking for a couple of hours, exchanging stories on their respective lives and Oryn was slightly more at ease with talking to her biological father now. He seemed genuinely interested in her well-being and apologized multiple times for not being there when it mattered.

  Oryn still just couldn’t see Zeus as her father. She believed both him and Chase about it now, but the man was still mostly a stranger to her. A kind stranger, granted, but a stranger nonetheless.

  “So, are you defecting or do you intend to return to work for Arakan?” asked Zeus.

  “I don’t know just yet. I won’t work for Arakan, and I intend to kill him myself.”

  “You should let Chase deal with him, Arakan might be too strong, and I don’t want any harm to come to you. And up until not long ago, you considered him your father. It might be more difficult than you think to kill him under the circumstances.”

  “I can’t let that animal live, not after what he did to my mother. I thought of all the people I know, you’d be the one who would actually encourage me to do it.”

  “I want Arakan to suffer and pay for his crimes as much as you do, and if you want, we can fight him together. I just don’t want you to get hurt. I already lost your mother.”

  Oryn noticed Zeus’ eyes becoming watery.

  “I won’t lose that fight.”

  “Arakan is a powerful warrior. I’m not sure he can be brought down that easily. He also doesn’t fight fair and might use your weaknesses against you.”

  “Who said I was weak?”

  Zeus held both hands in front of him. “Don’t misunderstand what I am trying to say. I’m sure you’re a powerful warrior and I can sense your hatred for Arakan is strong. But he is a master at manipulating people. He’s let you believe you were his daughter for all this time; there’s nothing he won’t do to survive. I’m also worried what killing him would mean for you.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  “I may not have raised you, but we have a blood connection, as such, ever since you arrived on Olympus, I can sense most of what’s in your heart. You’re still wondering if you can’t take the throne.”

  Oryn stopped short and up until now her relaxed facial features hardened.

  “Are you reading my thoughts, old man?”

  “I don’t have to. I can sense your primal emotions and rage, vengeance and thirst for power are currently at the forefront of your psyche. I would never dare try to read your thoughts, but I can’t help feeling these strong emotions emanating from you.”

  “I don’t know what I’ll do. But killing Arakan, that’s a certainty. I’ll die trying if it comes to that.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t. At the very least let me, Chase and his friends help you in that task. We’ll stand a much better chance that way.”

  “Nobody but me kills Arakan. I’ve told Chase, and now I’m telling you.”

  “When the time comes to put him out of his misery, we won’t stand in your way. I just want to make sure you’re not undertaking this alone as that would be suicide.”

  Oryn didn’t like being treated like an inferior. It mattered not to her that Zeus was renowned as one of the most powerful beings in the universe. If she set her mind to kill Arakan, nobody could stop her, not Chase and certainly not Zeus.

  “I’d rather we talked about something else now, if you don’t mind. Or better yet, if you would show me a place to rest. I haven’t slept much in the last couple of days, and I need to recharge.”

  “Absolutely, let’s go back to the temple,” said Zeus as he gently put a hand on her shoulder.

  “What are you doing?”

  “This will be faster.”

  Zeus teleported them back to the temple.

  “Let me show you to your room,” said Zeus gesturing her toward a nearby door.

  Before she could take a step forward, Chase appeared in front of her.

  “Back so soon—”

  “No time! We’re outnumbered on Droxia and could use your help.”

  Oryn hesitated. “Chase, I told you I’m not ready yet to fully defect and attack my fellow Furies.”

  Disappointment permeated Chase’s face.

  Zeus put his hand on Oryn’s shoulder.

  “Oryn, go help your nephew, in fact, I think I’ll come as well. Time for the head of the Olympians to show his face to the enemy. I would really like it if you came with us.”

  “Coming or not, I have to get back to Droxia now,” insisted Chase.

  “Go ahead, Chase,” said Zeus. “If Oryn wants to come, I’ll bring her myself. If not, well, you’ll see me soon.”

  “Thanks, Zeus,” said Chase before teleporting away.

  Oryn turned her back to Zeus and
looked out at the distance, her mind lost in thought.

  “He’s your nephew, and so is Argos. Your brothers and sisters are fighting for their life in orbit around Droxia, you may want to lend a hand if you can. You might regret it if they lose their lives.”

  “We’re not yet acquainted enough for you to use emotional blackmail to get me to do your bidding.”

  “It’s not my bidding Oryn— and if you don’t want to fight your kind, that’s fine, I understand. But if you do, I’d love to fight by your side, father and daughter, and see the wonderful warrior you’ve become.”

  Oryn turned to face Zeus and looked deep into his eyes.

  ARAKAN WALKED in front of the five Fury warriors, his Prime Strike Force. They all had kneeled in front of his throne. Four men and a woman. Everyone heavily armored, with the center Fury wearing a dark gray cape. He also had more battle scars than the others and long white hair.

  “Rise,” said Arakan coldly.

  All five warriors gracefully rose and stood ramrod straight. They were the toughest amongst the Furies left for Arakan to use. Each and every one of them a potential candidate to replace Timoros. But that would take some time, and Arakan’s scientist had to finalize the new armor for the assassin’s position. So today all five of them would act as one. Even if one member of that team was missing. Not everyone was in the group, and the one missing was their commanding officer, Oryn.

  “I have a mission of the utmost importance for you today. The most important mission of your lives.”

  “Shouldn’t we wait for our leader?” said the middle Fury and Oryn’s second in command. “No offense, Master.”

  “None taken, Zen’tar, but it looks like you’re the new leader now. I don’t know if Oryn is alive. And if she is, she might have defected.”

  The look in Zen’tar’s eyes grew wide for a moment. Then his eyebrows burrowed down, a look of anger radiating all around him.

  “I accept command, my Master. Thank you for your trust. I won’t disappoint you. What’s our mission?”

  “You five are to leave for Asgard right away, your ship has been pre-programmed to use a wormhole to cut your travel time substantially. Once you arrive, your mission is simple: kill Odin and bring me back his head.”

  The five Furies smiled. Zen’tar’s eyes even flashed a satisfying red at the order.

  “What of the other Asgardians?”

  “This is a surgical mission. I want you to be stealthy about it; only your main objective matters. If there is Asgard opposition, you are to take them down any way you so wish, but your only target is Odin. I want him dead.”

  “What if we meet up with Oryn?”

  “I’ve sent the homing signal, and if she comes to rejoin you, then have her call me before allowing her to regain command of the mission. If she’s defected—” there was a long pause. “Kill her.”

  Arakan clearly saw Zen’tar flinch at his words. The Supreme Commander knew Zen’tar harbored strong feelings for his stepdaughter, but Oryn had shown no interest whatsoever in him. Arakan sometimes wondered if she had any feelings at all. Beside himself, Oryn was the coldest living being he knew. And with his own heart mostly dead inside and turned to stone eons ago, Arakan knew a thing or two about a cold heart.

  Zen’tar bowed. “Thy will be done, Master.”

  “Be careful and act fast as your window of opportunity will be short. While the Earth Alliance is being distracted on Droxia, we must take that time to strike now. Unfortunately, with the Asgardian entering the fight on Droxia, I can’t guarantee that the Alliance won’t show up before you, even with the wormhole shortcut route. That’s why it’s best if you act stealthily, work in the shadows, stay undetected until it’s time to strike at Odin. Try to avoid direct confrontation with the one the Alliance calls Chase and his friends. Chase, in particular; while you’re my proudest warriors, you are all aware what he did to Timoros. Perhaps together you’d stand a chance, but alone, I’m afraid he’d kill each and every one of you with ease. You’re not to engage him unless absolutely necessary.”

  “Understood. What about the traitor Argos?”

  “He’s not part of your mission, if he interferes, deal with him as you see fit. Now go, there’s no time to lose.”

  Arakan’s Prime Strike Force saluted and left the throne room flying.

  “Will they be strong enough to kill Odin?” said the shadowy character.

  Arakan growled. He couldn’t stand the shadow’s presence. It felt like a leech. If he didn’t need his head clear, he would take his medicine. Though he had felt how much less powerful he was when he took it. Now that Oryn was missing, he wondered if it was really medicine, or a slow acting poison to weaken him.

  Arakan’s eyes lit up and burned like two red dwarves as a sadistic smile filled his face. “It doesn’t matter.”

  8

  Ronan, going toward the bridges main doors, stealthily moved away from the Fury, who was approaching the captain in a tempered and slow walk. The Fury created a fireball in her right hand when she was only a few feet away from her target. He couldn’t let her kill the captain. He had to provide a distraction of some kind. His mind raced as he approached the doors. At his feet laid a standard laser pistol, but Ronan knew it wouldn’t damage the Fury. Still, unless he was prepared to see his captain murdered in cold blood, he didn’t have much of a choice.

  Ronan picked up the weapon, aimed it at the Fury’s head and supercharged his shot. He heard the captain mumble something.

  “We’ll defeat you; I die free.”

  “No, you die knowing that your entire world will burn today.”

  When the Fury pointed her fireball hand at the captain’s head, Ronan knew he had run out of time. His heartbeat went into overdrive as he shot the Fury in the back of the neck. To his surprise, the Fury didn’t see it coming and his supercharged laser shot burned the back of her neck. Her fireball died off and she turned around, locking her murderous gaze with Ronan, her eyes shining red.

  “Fight someone who still stands, you cowardly bitch,” Ronan said before running quickly out of the bridge.

  Before he was halfway through the first corridor, he felt a strong wind behind him just before a foot kicked him on the back of his head with such strong force that he was catapulted forward, crashing onto the ground and skidding for yards on his face, resulting in a very painful burn on one side.

  “You should have stayed quiet,” he heard before he found the strength to turn around.

  No way was he facing death with his back against the enemy; that was not the Droxian way. Unlike the Furies, Droxians placed honor above all else, and there was none to be found dying this way.

  When he was fully turned on his back, with every one of his bones and muscles aching, he saw an opened palm aimed at his head, as well as a mad smile across his executioner’s face.

  In a desperate last attempt, Ronan tried kicking the Fury’s hand, but she unleashed a powerful shockwave that locked him into place on the floor.

  That was it. Ronan knew he couldn’t get free, and he knew his time had come. Lightning crackled inside the woman’s palm as the shining in her eyes intensified.

  But to his surprise, someone grabbed the Fury woman and locked her into place. The captain! He held on to her with every ounce of power left in him.

  “Go! Ronan, get the hell out of here!” he shouted.

  Ronan felt adrenaline shoot inside of him and it quickly covered any sensation of pain. He jumped back to his feet and launched himself toward the Fury, landing the most powerful blow he could muster to the warrior’s stomach. She screeched and blood flew from her mouth, the first sign that she wasn’t invincible. Ronan kept pummeling at her with one punch after another ignoring his captain’s plea for him to save his life.

  “No, Ronan! Just run to the nearest escape pod and save your life. If you stay here, she’ll kill us both! Ronan! That’s an order.”

  That made Ronan stop briefly, and that gave the Fury the respite she
needed to fire two deadly red laser shots from her eyes. They impacted and pierced through Ronan’s left shoulder, and he was thrown back to the floor, blood gushing through the twin holes, and intense pain shot back throughout his body.

  The Fury laughed out loud. The captain tried as much as he could to hold onto the Fury, but she kept laughing louder.

  “You’re just cockroaches, the both of you. You think you fight with honor, but when your enemy is ten thousand times more powerful than you are, is it really honor? Or utter stupidity? We’ll kill each and every one of you today, and rid the universe of the stench of your inadequacy. Only the strong shall survive, and Droxians will be remembered as yet another pathetic race who chose the wrong side in this war.”

  Ronan’s shoulder was pounding so badly he thought he would lose consciousness. With each heartbeat, more pain radiated throughout his already half-broken body. Was his captain right? Should he have run away and left him to die? That wouldn’t have been honorable, and Ronan couldn’t have lived with that decision anyway. Still, the Fury’s words hit him hard. Was fighting in desperation, when the difference in power between their races was so high, still honorable? Or just futile?

  The Fury warrior intensified her aura and it grew in size exponentially. Flames engulfed the captain, burning him alive, but he wouldn’t let go.

  “Ronan—” he muttered in anguish through clenched teeth.

  But Ronan couldn’t move anymore. Even if he was to resign himself to try and flee, he didn’t have the energy required to do so. He was now bound to the captain’s fate and all he could do was witness the horrors he knew were coming.

  The Fury warrior threw her head back with such force that the captain got thrown into the air as a result, and she swiftly turned around and telekinetically locked the Droxian’s body in mid-air.

  “I’m going to enjoy this,” said the Fury with a manic tone.

  She extended a grasping hand toward the half-burned Droxian. His head was thrown forward as the rest of his body stayed in place. Neck bones were the first to crack, then tissues and muscles as the captain’s head was severed by an invisible force and flew in the Fury’s hand, her echoing laughter again filling the Manticora’s corridors.