Battle for the Afterlife Saga, Blue Courage (Action & Adventure Fantasy): Part 1, 2, and 3 Bundled

by CJ Davis

  Arshan walked over to the window and looked out at the orange and red colors of the setting sun.

  "We have to advance his training," Anna continued. "He must be better prepared for the Centennial. If the Reds were smart they would do something to stop him from fully developing. If they suspect he’s an Inseparable, they know they cannot afford to let him gain his full powers.”

  Arshan turned to Anna.

  “You may be right,” he replied. “We’ll do everything we can to protect him and progress his abilities, but most importantly we must continue to keep his secret from him. The fact remains, that his Inseparable powers will be worthless if he's aware of them. History has proven to us that he won’t be able to make the necessary sacrifices.”

  Anna let out a sigh,” Ugh, I’m sick and tired of hearing about all these sacrifices we have to make. News flash, every soul in the Afterlife knows about the sacrifices Blues and Reds make.”

  “You know that’s not what I mean.”

  “Do I?” Anna replied. She walked up next to him and peered at the beautiful sky. “Sometimes I feel like Reese, myself, and the other Centennial warriors are getting used around here.”

  Arshan glanced over at Anna. “You don’t think that I too had those feelings?” I was in three Centennials before you even made your first visit to the Afterlife.”

  Anna stared blankly for a moment. She turned sharply and walked toward the center of the room.

  “I’m sorry,” She said. “This can all be so overwhelming.”

  “I understand,” Arshan replied. He still looked out the window.

  “I do really think his training is coming along nicely though,” Anna remarked. “The last fall in the balance floor scenario was very impressive and he did take down those Red pledges today. I think if we stay focused on the right training exercises, his powers will be developed enough to give us a considerable advantage in the Centennial.”

  “I agree, he’s getting stronger by the minute,” Arshan replied. “You’re getting stronger as well. I’ve been very impressed with your progress. I’m eager to see what sort of special power will spawn for you. At the rate your energy is growing, you’re likely to see something soon.”

  Anna smiled at Arshan.

  “Why do you think Reese went in the maze today?” Anna asked.

  “Ling is a very powerful manipulator,” Arshan replied. “She has developed the power to control minds. The rumor is that she has her limitations, like not being able to control people. However, supposedly she’s able to control some of the beasts in the Centennial, and it’s possible Ling somehow used her ability to get Reese to follow something down there.”

  “I did see a little girl playing by Reese,” Anna said.

  “Controlling the mind of a child isn’t out of the realm of possibility,” Arshan said.

  Anna bit her lower lip. “The last think I want to do is fight a super predator at the command of a Red Centennial warrior,” Anna remarked.

  “Ling is a very formidable opponent,” Arshan said, “and she’s not even the most powerful Red you’re facing.”

  “Thanks for the confidence booster,” Anna remarked.

  Arshan’s stomach turned as he thought of Reese’s vulnerability. It was very likely the Reds were laying out plans to handle Reese at this very moment.

  "Regardless, we have come too far, and now we might lose it all because of Ling," Arshan said.

  Anna walked up next to Arshan and stretched her arm around his broad shoulders.

  "Don't worry too much," Anna replied. "They may have Ling, but we have Reese."

  Chapter 22

  The Red Council sat around a very large oak table in the tallest tower of the Red temple. A blazing flame lit the room. Heat radiated from the enormous fireplace, causing sweat to collect on the foreheads of several in the room.

  “Thank you for joining us today,” Morkel said. The light from the fire flickered across his face. “I especially want to thank the Red Centennial team who has stopped their training to join us. In deference to their tight schedule, I want to jump right into today’s business.”

  A few of the men and woman shuffled nervously in their chairs. Morkel truly savored his moments at the head of the Red Council meetings. It was one of the only times in the Afterlife he got to be in complete control.

  “You all of course know Ling,” Morkel remarked. He lifted his arm toward Ling.

  Ling perked up. Presenting herself as a twelve year old girl, and one of the only Centennial warriors under the age of thirty-five ever, she stood out in the group.

  “Her reputation certainly precedes her as one of the most dynamic Reds in history,” Morkel added. “For those who were not aware, she most recently was the secret leader of a massive criminal organization in China, before her untimely demise.”

  The room filled with ohms.

  “Ling recently had the most fortunate run in with a Blue,” Morkel said. “Ling, go ahead and share your story with the group.”

  Ling stood up and bowed solemnly to those gathered.

  “A few pledges and I were on our way to search for Lost Souls to destroy in the Garden of Babylon hedge maze, as part of my training, when I noticed Reese sitting alone at a table by the hedge maze entrance,” she said. “He was not completely by himself. Anna and Arshan were nearby. I took it upon myself to play a little game of cat and mouse with Reese by controlling the mind of a little girl who was playing with her friends nearby. I used the girl to lure him into the hedge maze and separate him.”

  “I heard he was recently lured into the Red temple as well,” Cyrus said. “Their getting more scatter- brained and useless for each Centennial. I love it.”

  The Reds at the table laughed.

  “Yes, it didn’t take much to get him to leave Anna and Arshan,” Ling said. “Actually, the pledges joining me were also there when Reese was recently discovered in our beloved temple. In fact, they were in the group who attacked him on the floor before Arshan ruined their fun.”

  “Arshan tends to ruin other’s fun,” Genghis Khan said from across the table. He looked directly at Cyrus. "Especially when it comes to lady friends." Some men chuckled. Cyrus rolled his eyes at Genghis.

  “Well, the pledges begged me to allow them to attack Reese,” Ling said. “They wanted to finish what we started in the Red temple, and since Reese surely has not finished any considerable amount of training yet, I decided to let them have a go at him.”

  Ling paused, waiting for everyone’s undivided attention. “The men attacked Reese,” Ling continued. “Reese was on the ground, taking several blows to the head, basically defenseless. I thought for a brief moment that I would be facing one less Blue in the Centennial, but…”

  Cyrus placed his elbows on the table, and leaned forward.

  “Reese fought back, but there was something unusual about it,” Ling continued. “It all happened very quickly so it was hard to tell exactly what happened, but before I knew it the pledges were literally flying across the room. Reese had grabbed them and counter attacked so quickly that it was difficult for me to see his movements.”

  “With the limited training they have had, the only way a Blue Centennial warrior could move that fast already, is if he’s an Inseparable,” Cyrus remarked. “Would the Blues really be stupid enough to try that stunt again?”

  “I’ve seen desperate men do more unlikely things,” Genghis Khan says.

  “True Genghis,” Morkel replied. “The Blues are facing their fifth straight Centennial loss, and know we’re on the brink of surpassing their ability to fend us off, if we break the truce.”

  “Yes, they know we’ll be able to rise up and crush them if we win again,” Kublai said. “Ten of their warriors would not be able to stop me!”

  Many around the table smiled and started to do the Red chant with the excitement of absolute victory over the Blues in the air.

  “We’re glad to have your passion on this year’s Red Centennial team Kublai,” Mor
kel stated. “Your Earth life experiences as a Kahn and Chinese emperor have served you well.”

  Kublai nodded at Morkel.

  “We must not get ahead of ourselves,” Morkel said. “We haven’t won anything yet.” His tone dropped an octave. “As risky as Inseparables can be for the Blue strategy, they could overwhelm our warriors with their unique abilities.”

  Morkel looked at the crackling fire. He let the emerging silence captivate his audience.

  “Yes, but just like the last Centennial with Inseparables, I will exploit the love stricken fools,” Cyrus replied with confidence.

  “We have nothing to worry about," Cyrus added.

  Morkel paused and looked around the room.

  “Cyrus, the Blues have a nickname for you don’t they?” Morkel asked. He had a slight snarl.

  Cyrus gulped hard.

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “I thought they did,” Morkel continued. It’s the kind of calm that resembles the eye of the storm. “The Blues call you The Defector don’t they?”

  “Yes,” Cyrus replied.

  “While that’s a lovely nickname, you might earn another nickname here today,” Morkel replied.

  “As one of our most decorated Centennial warriors of all time, I need you to think carefully about every possible scenario,” Morkel continued. “So unless you want your nick name to be something much worse than The Defector, I would work on thinking through all the possible scenarios before dismissing a threat. So, are there any other scenarios that can play out?”

  Cyrus had tiny beads of sweat collecting on his upper lip. He tightly clenched his fists on the tabletop.

  “Yes,” Cyrus replied.

  “Good,” Morkel replied. “Now does anybody have any suggestions on how to limit our Inseparable risk?”

  “We can start the Centennial early,” Ling replied. “The Blues will not be prepared and we can catch them off guard. Most importantly, Reese will likely not have his Inseparable powers.”

  There is a long silent pause. The Reds at the table wait to discern what Morkel thinks before reacting to Ling’s response.

  “Ling is right,” Morkel finally said. “We must start our Centennial immediately. While nobody has ever started the Centennial early before, the rules are clear. We can start it as soon as the Opening Ceremony is finished if we chose to. If we give Reese a chance to complete his training, and he actually is an Inseparable, we’ll be at a great disadvantage. Does anybody have any questions?”

  Everybody looked down at the table. Nobody replied.

  “Excellent. Now to our Centennial warriors,” Morkel continued promptly. “Stay focused and have no mercy. Mercy is for the weak. And above all think first.” Morkel looked directly at Cyrus as he said this. “The Blues are especially desperate. There’s a good chance they’ll pull out all the stops to win. Be prepared and focus on destroying all of them, but your primary focus should be getting to the winner’s podium.”

  The Reds hum the Red ohm chant.

  “Be the first ones to the podium, and the Reds will undoubtedly rule the Universe,” Morkel declared.

  Chapter 23

  It had been less than twenty-four hours since Reese was nearly beaten to death in the hedge maze. It was a grim reminder that his training was far from complete.

  Reese sat alone in the Blue common room. He was glued to the holovision studying the end battle of the last Centennial.

  Outnumbered three to one against the Red Centennial warriors, Menelik made one last push against them, close to the finish line.

  Under the circumstances, Reese had a hard time believing that Menelik not only survived the last Centennial, but also nearly won it. It was the bravest thing Reese had ever seen.

  After just finishing the scene he pressed the repeat button on his controller to watch it again.

  Surrounded by a lush exotic jungle, Menelik stood courageously at the foot of the stairs of an ancient granite structure. He breathed heavily after a fierce battle by the galorim lake with a super croc, a beast ten times the size of the largest modern day crocodile. Menelik was fortunate to survive the attack and destroy the creature, a fate he didn’t share with the last member of his Blue Centennial warrior squad, who had been bitten in half.

  Behind him, the recently destroyed super predator flashed in a bright light and disappeared. Between him and victory were two Reds facing Menelik with their deadly blades drawn, and Cyrus who was running up the stairs towards the Centennial winner’s podium. To win Menelik had to defeat the powerful Red warriors guarding the stairs, and somehow get to the podium before Cyrus.

  When the two Reds buried their heels into the ground, crouching like King Cobras ready to strike, Menelik ran at them. In a desperate move, Menelik threw his only weapon at the Red on the left whether by super power or some inner sense, the blade pierced into the chest of the Red, destroying him immediately.

  The surviving Red swung his blade at Menelik’s head, missing it by inches. In a single stroke, Menelik drew his weapon from the lifeless body beneath him and stabbed the other Red under the chin, severing the jugular vein.

  The bodies of both Red’s flashed and disappeared into the ethereal.

  Menelik dashed after Cyrus who was fifteen to twenty steps ahead of him up the stairs. With only a few steps to go before Cyrus reached the winner’s podium, Menelik desperately flung his weapon towards his opponent, only to have Cyrus block it neatly.

  “This is perfect,” Cyrus said, facing Menelik, who stood weaponless before him. His tone was sinister and his chest puffed out. “I absolutely adore choices. Do I win the Centennial with a Blue survivor, or do I win the Centennial without any Blues left standing?”

  “Why don’t you throw down that weapon and fight me like a true warrior?” Menelik challenged. “Let us find out who the strongest really is. You against me, right now, fight to the end. Winner takes the Centennial.”

  “I’m certain you would love that chance,” Cyrus countered. “But it would be so much more fun, and easy, to just simply destroy you.”

  “Just do it!” Menelik cried. “Destroy me!”

  Cyrus smiled slowly, and tapped the side of his blade against his hand.

  “Actually, I think I will just cut off your limbs,” Cyrus said. “I imagine that will make life difficult for you here in the Afterlife. I would rather have you experience what life is like as a derelict, with no arms and legs. How long do you think it would take for you to turn into a Lost Soul in that predicament?”

  Menelik didn’t flinch. It was suicide to try to run past Cyrus. There must be another way.

  “Arshan told me what happened between the two of you,” Menelik said. “You’re a coward.”

  Cyrus raised his eyebrow.

  “What would you know about what happened in the Ancient times?” Cyrus asked. “Pantea was a fool to be Inseparables with Arshan. I was the one for her. She simply made the wrong choice. And as you are intimately familiar with in your current situation, wrong choices lead to bad consequences.”

  With that, Cyrus leapt up into the air with a driving downward slash aiming directly at Menelk’s head. Menelik arched his back just in time to evade the blade. The clunky maneuver caused him to lose his balance and roll down the tall stairs. It was a painful tumble all the way to the dirt floor. Menelik sprung to his feet and darted off into the dark jungle. Cyrus pursued him down the stairs, but suddenly stopped.

  “Come back here and face me like a man!” Cyrus yelled. “You must think I’m a fool if you think I’m going to chase you through that jungle.”

  “Come and get me,” Menelik growled from the jungle outskirts. “I’m right here!”

  Cyrus rolled his eyes, turned and walked up the stairs. His blade dangled by his side.

  As he reached the top of the temple stairs, he looked over his shoulder one last time. Menelik was nowhere in sight. He strutted into the winner’s podium room.

  Cyrus took a big breath and slammed his hand on the winner�
�s podium.

  The Red’s won the Centennial.

  A shot of an arena filled with an excited Red crowd displayed on the holovision. They were celebrating wildly, when the holovision unexpectedly turned off.

  “Hey, who…” Reese said before being interrupted by Menelik.

  “I think about that all the time,” Menelik said. He stood leaning against a pillar. “I’ve not seen the replay of it in a long time. It’s funny how your memories can change over time. I don’t remember Cyrus getting that angry when I brought up Pantea.”

  Reese was glad to see Menelik. Out of his three teammates, he had spent the least amount time with him.

  “Yeah, he looked pretty mad,” Reese agreed. “But that super croc looked even angrier.”

  “Yeah, I still have nightmares about that thing,” he replied. “I think we got pretty lucky though. There has been far worse guarding the temple in other Centennials.”

  “True,” Reese stated. “Like the Spinosaurus from the second Centennial. That beast ate almost all the Centennial warriors that year.”

  “Hopefully we don’t face something like that!” Menelik said. He shook his head. “So, how are you feeling?”

  “I’m doing much better,” Reese replied. “The healing chamber really is amazing. I should be able to start training tomorrow.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Menelik said. “We only have a few more weeks of training, and some of the most important parts of training are coming up, like how to handle the cloud forest in the peak of the Forbidden Mountain, and how to survive the Raptor Jungle, outside of the galorim pool.”

  Reese looked seriously at Menelik.

  “So, how did you know you were ready in the last Centennial?”

  “I’m not sure,” Menelik replied. “I guess I just knew. You’ll know too. I had certainly unlocked all of my abilities, and was comfortable using them in training.”

  Reese thought about some of Arshan’s advice about unlocking new abilities. He had already become noticeably faster during his limited training.

  “It’s strange,” Menelik said. “Sometimes your changes can happen very slow and sometimes very fast.”