- Kovon Ducker, Worthless Trash
Around six billion years ago | Aether Prime | Emil ao Aethos POV
“Prince Emil ao Aethos. Come forward and receive your benediction.”
I step forward on the grand altar of our people. My father, the Emperor, stands before me. Both of us are dressed in our full regalia. Our grand wings on full display, signature of our position as primes of our species. We, along with many of our most prominent members are gathered here today for this ceremony.
A commemoration of sorts. Both for my efforts in pushing back rebel forces, but also in remembrance of those that have been lost.
We stand on top of one of the greatest sky temples of our homeworld. Aether Prime. A gas giant that hosts several hundred billions of lives in its skies. Not only that, but it serves as our head of government and religion – The order of the Archgodess. The religious order has guided to prosperity across our local star system.
Recently I have been heading one of our military fronts against rebel forces. They are led by a very evil woman, she wishes for everyone to be subject under her and for the extinction of the primes. A really not good gal. Compared to people gracefully serving under our order of primes, she is viewed by many as evil itself.
I step forward towards my father. He bestowed a crown upon my temple. Making me the crown prince for the entire order. Given the nature of my service and the trying times, making me crown prince was decided to be the best benediction.
Upon my anointment as crown prince. The gathered officials start clapping in a formal sort of way. I turn around and bow to them, showing my gratitude at their presence on this important day.
I am also expected to give a speech. I hate speeches, I'm not the best at dealing with people personally. I much prefer managing them from a distance. I flare my wings out and use them to project my voice across the skies.
“I am greatly honored to receive this benediction, on behalf of all of those who have fallen in efforts against the rebels. I hope that one day, our society can once again stand united and pursue avenues beyond our small section of the cosmos.
I present my stance now. Any who should dare oppose peace, prosperity and longevity shall be crushed. With the full might of my power, and those whose power I wield.”
The crowd cheers and claps at my declaration.
I should probably explain a bit more. We, the Aeterians, are separated into two castes. Primes, who handle government functions and are treated as a form of royalty, about 1% of the population. And commons, the remaining 99% and otherwise average persons. Even with the distinction, there isn't much discrimination or wealth imbalance, it's fairly balanced.
However, the one thing that sets the prime apart challenges this. We are able to harness an ‘inae’ as our Archgodess calls it from those who pledge their allegiance under us. We are then able to manipulate this vitae in various ways. From creating beautiful wings, to wielding cataclysmic destructive power.
Simply to say, we are able to harness energy from those who trust in us, and use it to protect them and serve the greater good. There is a faction that despises the abilities of the primes. Led by the evil woman referred to as the demon. They say that our power is unnatural and corrupting. That we are manipulating the masses into trusting us against their will and abusing them.
She wishes to cause the extinction of primes and assume full control of society. Unsurprisingly, she has gained some traction amongst some with similar feelings. They only continue to gain more power as she shows the power of advanced technology that her faction has developed. It is capable of competing with the abilities granted by vitae.
Although, they tend to use it in far more destructive and harmful ways. Such as terrorizing cities and razing them to the ground. All justified by ‘removing the scourge of Primes.’ How ridiculous, they catch far more commons in the crossfire, causing far more harm than even if the primes were being abusive.
My father moves towards the front of the stage to continue with the rest of the ceremony. However, right before he starts speaking, everything changes.
The air where my father was standing ignites.
My father, as well as several officials near him, are vaporized instantly.
Nothing remains.
Moments later, the island shakes violently.
Explosions can be heard below us, in what sounds like the primary engine circuits.
The island starts to descend, falling quite rapidly into the planet. Those that can, quickly activate their wings and rush to secure bunkers far away.
However, there were tens of millions of commons on the island, most are not fortunate enough to make it off safely. The final death count is estimated to be 32 million.
I managed to make it away. I am quickly escorted into a high security bunker in the capital.
Officials and military personnel swarm me. Asking for orders and directions. After all, even though I was only declared crown prince moments ago. I am now the emperor of the entire order.
I struggle under all the pressure. I do my best to order people around and get a sit rep. As I had already surmised, the attack was orchestrated by the demon herself. They released a statement with footage and claimed that the primes cannot and will not stand against the might of the people. Or some other populist propaganda.
The command room is a flurry of activity. Hundreds of people are trying to organize. Awaiting my commands and guidance as the entire governmental structure reorganizes after the losses.
Several of the people caught near my Father were very important. So there is chaos in many chains of command as they try to determine the new order of command. Naturally, as the clear highest ranking member in the order, many of the decisions come to me while they figure things out.
I am whisked every which way. Politics, propaganda departments, economic policies, military strategies. Many high level secrets reserved only for the inner circle of the emperor are revealed to me. Top secret stuff. Like, crazy military experiments that could destroy all of society type stuff.
In the midst of all the chaos. One moment, it feels as though reality starts to shake. The next, before me appears a young looking aetherian. She has a strong presence around her and her bright golden wings are stunning. But she is perhaps the most beautiful person I have ever laid eyes upon.
Moments later, I realize who she is.
The Archgodess herself.
Everyone else in the room, quickly drops into a deep bow.
“Greetings Emil ao Aethos. Emperor of the Aetherian Order. I wish I was here on more pleasant business. But it appears your order has fallen into a bit of a situation.
I would normally await a coronation ceremony, but given the situation I feel it is important that I bestow my blessings upon you right now. I shall grant you knowledge, may it guide your species to success in your trying times.”
I can't find the words to speak. She is simply too graceful. As she approaches me, I can feel my heart beat faster. She places her delicate hands upon my temples and I feel an immense jolt of energy rush into me.
Immediately, I noticed something strange. I have many new memories. Memories of all sorts of people. Different species, in all stages of civilization. I remember the rise and fall of dozens of sapient species.
The Archgodess looks at me with a brilliant smile. Oh, how I hope this memory is also seared into my mind forever.
“Good luck, little Emil. May this blessing allow you to avoid a repeat of that which has happened countless times. I shall look forward to meeting you again someday. Hopefully with good news and not bad to be shared.”
With that, she disappears.
Everyone rises and after a brief period of shock, realizes they have much to do and get back to work. I stand, reeling at what has just transpired. The officials seem to give me a distance for a few hours. I sit on my makeshift throne and think for a while.
Several hours later
I stand in front of a grand crowd. An assembly of masses and officials. Ready to hear my first pronouncement as the newly anointed, not yet fully conoranted, Emperor.
Much has happened, in the wake of the attack, the government and its chains of command have mostly stabilized. However, all still weep for those that have been lost.
“I stand before you, the people of this grand society. Today was meant as a day of remembrance and movement forwards. But our enemy, the faction headed by the demon, has made it a day of sorrow.
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My Father, along with thirty two million others were brutally massacred in an attack earlier today. This atrocity, propagated by the rebels, cannot be tolerated. I have since been made privy to many things.
I will be very clear and transparent.
The order and our society is in a dire state. The constant fighting against the rebel faction has drained our military reserves – reserves which weren't plentiful to begin with.
Our hastily trained and pieced together military forces are heavily reliant upon the power of the Primes. However, in the face of such a brutal and savage enemy that clearly seeks nothing but death and destruction at all costs, we have been outmatched.
I ask all of you, the people of this society. The Aetherians as a whole. To support my next proclamation. Our last chance at saving our species and expelling the rebel scum.
I ask that you place all of your trust and power within me. I shall lead a charge along with our most elite against the demon herself. I will scour the entire empire personally if I must. I will uproot all of the rebels and bring an end to the demon personally.
I see this as the only viable option to combat this threat. No matter how insane it must seem.
I, Emil, beseech you. Entrust me with your power, so that I can do what is required for all of our sakes.”
The crowd remains silent for several minutes.
It starts with one person, a declaration.
“All hail Emperor Emil!”
The chant spreads like wildfire. Quickly enough, the entire assemblage, and likely people all across the order, take on the chant.
It is deafening.
I start to notice something. A massive surge of power hits me. Everyone is yielding all of their power to me. I wield the effective force of hundreds of billions.
It feels strange. Part of me expected this to backfire and for them to call for my head. But as I listen to the chants of my name, I feel like I might actually stand a chance at resolving this crisis.
By the way, I severely understated the direness of our situation. It's really bad. Like, if something doesn't change within the next day, we might not even last a week.
Luckily, it seems like something is about to change indeed.
Amongst the crowd there seems to be a wave. A large group has just parted. In the center of the cleared space stands a lone figure. Must be about one and a half meters tall (the average for our species is about 2.2m). Wearing a blood-red cloak.
The figure seems to change. Within moments, the cloak disappears and reveals a woman. She is cloaked in blood-red armor. It seems to radiate an intense amount of energy that I can feel even several hundred meters away. Though it is different from inae, almost feeling as though it is opposite.
She makes a few motions and then begins to rise into the air, propelled by what, im not sure.
Once she has reached a level the same as my own, people start to notice. The chanting dies down quickly.
After a few seconds of silence, the woman speaks. Her voice is very rough, yet somehow very calming like that of a lullaby.
“Greetings, fellow kin. I am the one known as the demon.” At this proclamation, the crowds panic. The masses rush to get as far away from her as possible. “I have heard your proclamation, Emil” she spits out my name, with an immense venom, “Well, you wanted me. Here I am. I propose a simple resolution to our matter.
A Duel. You, and me, no one else.
I currently hold access to a prototype weapon. It is capable of destroying this entire solar system. Should you refuse, I shall detonate it.
If you kill me, by my honor. The weapon will be disarmed and my forces will stand down. However, should I kill you, I will have every single prime extinguished. And I place myself as the ruler of our species.”
The proclamation shatters the world. People freeze, no longer running away. Just stood there in shock with the realization that it doesn't matter how far away they run.
I am left with no other option. With only a few moments of hesitation, I speak.
“Ms. Demon. I, Emil ao Aethos, accept your proposition of a duel. Whoever should kill the other gets it all.”
The moment I utter this, reality shakes.
Between us, hovering in the sky appears none other than the Archgodess. Those assembled quickly bow in reverence to her.
“My my, what an interesting development. If you two don't object – which you can't even if you wished –, I shall serve as the mediator of this duel. I shall move us into a space that should remove civilians from the crossfire and ensure that everyone can witness this event.”
Instantly, I feel an intense warping, my entire self seems to be bent upon itself. After an instant, I appear in a strange place, it is completely white. Standing about two hundred meters in front of me is the Archgodess. Another two hundred meters away is the Demon.
“Now, I presume both parties are ready. I will go over the terms established for this duel. They are as follows; the one who kills the other shall gain control over the Aetherian species.
Now, on my count.
Begin!”
Without hesitation, I channel all of my training and empowerment from the people’s trust. It's the people, and everything our society stands for, against these new ideas that seek to destroy it.
The Demon charges instantly. Within fractions of a second appears in front of me, aiming a punch right to my face.
I dodge by fractions of a millimeter.
I move behind her and aim an inae-fueled energy blast into her back.
It connects.
But, nothing happens. It is almost as if it merely disperses around her armor, leaving her completely unscathed.
She quickly counters with a kick. It lands squarely in my chest.
I go flying hundreds of meters backwards. I crash into the ‘ground’. I lie there, my entire body broken. I am lucky to be alive.
She quickly dashes over and grabs me by the neck. Holding me up like a corpse.
“Hah, this is the ‘best’ of your so-called primes. Even while leeching all that power, you are still worthless. How does it feel?”
I barely manage to croak out, “It feels nice, knowing that a creature such as yourself is about to be extinguished from this world.”
Instantly, I release all of the vitae I've been challenging from the start of the fight. Directly into her chest.
The earlier attack was merely a fake out, and it worked. Though, I did nearly die.
The blast connects instantly.
Reality shakes under the extraordinary force of hundreds of billions of wills. I feel the searing energy as it hits me as well.
We both went flying backwards several hundred meters. The resounding thunderclap is deafening, hundreds of times louder than a sonic boom. My eardrums would shatter if it wasn't for my armor.
I am not sure how I am even alive. The Demon appears to be limp on the ground, in no better state than I am.
Several minutes pass. Perhaps an hour.
I finally channel enough inae to heal myself enough to move. I slowly stand up, very shaky with my extremely weakened body. My wings are but mere specs of light, practically invisible.
I walk over to the Demon. It appears she isn't dead, I can see her eyes are open through her visor. She looks at me. I hear a faint croak, perhaps she is trying to speak but can't.
I manage to get out a few words of my own. “So, what's that about primes being worthless and all? Seems like you're the worthless one. Warmongers always seem to end up in one way.
Lying dead on the ground.
Either beheaded by their own people, or the enemy.
Guess that holds true for you as well.”
I ready myself to finish her off. Moments before I release one last burst of energy she speaks.
“You made a mistake, boy. You thought that I had honor.”
“End it All.”
With those words. It all changes once again.
The Archgodess appears next to me and grabs my arm. She then whisks me away into a strange space. It is completely black, but for a few lights scattered around. It feels very strange.
I collapsed onto the ground, my weakened body affected greatly by the teleportation.
She just stares at me. With a grim look on her face.
After a minute or two, I compose myself and ask her, “So, why'd you teleport me away? I was about to win!”
She places her nimble fingers upon my shoulders. In a very dead tone she declares, “There is nothing to win anymore.”
“What do you mean, nothing to win? I beat her, didn't I!?”
“You would have certainly won the duel. But it appears that she has won the war.
In the moment before you struck her, her people, at her final wish, detonated the hyperweapon.
The entire Aether System is gone, as though it was never there in the first place.”
I go completely still.
Everything.
Hundreds of billions of lives.
Mothers, fathers, children. Students about to graduate. Freshly united couples ready to settle down.
Gone, as if they were there in the first place.
After a few moments, I can feel tears streaking down my face.
The Archgodess keeps her hands on my shoulders, if it wasn't for that support I may have collapsed entirely.
I weep, for what feels like an eternity. After ages, the Archgodess sits down next to me and motions for me to do the same.
We sit side by side, in this strange place. Every once and a while she disappears, but she quickly comes back.
I just sit, dumbfounded.
Eons must pass, but I just sit.
The Archgodess disappears for a great amount of time.
One day she returns and speaks to me.
“Youve been here for about five billion years. If you are ready, I know of a place that I think would accept you.”
She then tells me about the universe. And how many different species have come together to form great things. She tells me of a secluded temple, designed for those like me. Those who have lost everything and need a place to heal.
For the first time in about five billion years, I speak, “Sounds great, where do I sign up?”
She then introduces me to the place. A grand temple, in the middle of a gigantic storm on a planet known as Castil. Among the other residents are many who have suffered greatly. I interact for the first time in a long time. I got to know these people. Make friends even.
Over time, all of them depart, having come to terms with their grievances. Many more show up to take their place. I alone stay behind, inheriting their memories.
Over time I end up running the place. They call me the Emperor of wind. They don't really worship me, but they definitely respect me a bit more. I learn of many plights and tragedies. But also of beautiful things in this universe. I collect this information as countless souls pass through my temple.
Over time, I think I even started to heal. One day I realize that I too wish to explore this universe.
My wish is heard, and answered.
One day, a human boy with bright purple hair and strange markings, and a girl with shining platinum-blonde hair show up. They seem to radiate a brilliance unlike anything I've ever felt. It's captivating. They are here on some trial or another. They help out with one of our celebrations. They show a great deal of respect to those here, bonding and interacting as if they are just another part of the temple.
Quickly, it is time for them to depart. However, I make an impulsive decision. I ask to go with them.
- Emil, a lost soul
End of Chapter 42
A/N: Hiya dear reader. Author here. Sorry for kinda randomly dropping super duper heavy chapters. But these people have histories! I think it's important to highlight their pasts, to make their presents more significant. But what do I know, I'm just a random author that's writing a crazy story.
As always, if you are enjoying this thing, be sure to follow/favourite/comment/share with a friend, it is always appreciated. Until the next one, dear reader.
- Cathrix