With his final amount of strength left, Richard arrogantly smirks. "We'll see...about that..." he said, speaking his final words. Richard's hands and head fall onto the ground. His hands touch the carpet, going limp as soon as they do.
"Oh you mortals...so arrogant. You truly believe your pathetic humanity can win against me?" he questioned, suddenly bursting into a devilish laughter. "Ahahahaha!" His laughter echoed across the entire kingdom and even outside the castle and out to the gates into the city. The group approached the wide open gates into the eerily quiet city of Iericho.
The rain steadily poured down onto the silent city, splashing onto the heads of the last hope of humanity. The group's eyes just stared into the city, gazing upon hollow buildings on stone. There was not a single whimper echoing to break the silence.
But then a sudden outburst of laughter ended the silence, sending a gelid shiver of fear down the spines of the group from Avdima. Moriah gulped saliva down her esophagus, her hands shook like a tree during the strongest gale.
Allister quickly shook off the fear that held him down. He fluidly tilted his head to the young magic user. "Moriah," he called, his hand with the Tablet of Zion turns to her. It pointed towards her like a bottle in the spin-the-bottle game. "Find Adrian and give this to him."
"Me?" she questioned, her eyebrow raised in question. Her pale blue eyes scroll down at the gray Tablet. "What about you all?"
"We'll hold off all of Iericho's soldiers," confidently answered the prince, a smirk of assurance cloaked his face. "You don't need to worry about us."
"But we don't know of what Zin is capable of!"
Varon glares at Moriah. His arms crossed like a knot. "Do you actually think we don't know that already?" he growled, his eyes closing. "It's obvious, isn't it?"
Moriah's eyes went down. "But...what if you're all killed...?" she mumbled.
Lite smiles confidently. "That won't happen," he assured. "Trust us."
Moriah sighed, reaching her hand out to the Tablet of Zion. Her pale skinned right hand clenches onto the Tablet, pulling it out of Allister's hand. "Alright..." she spoke, letting go of her concern. "But don't any of you DARE die!"
Allister places his hand which once held of the Tablet back down to his side. He shakes his head side-to-side. "None of us will ever let that happen." he stated. Moriah acknowledged that the decision is out of her hands. With Allister's assurance, Moriah dashes off to the left of the city. She hastes into a small alleyway with the Tablet in her right hand.
~+~+~
Four years have passed since the city of Lucio was under the threats of the general of the elite Zamorakian army. And thanks to the effort of a young albeit ultimately powerful boy, the city was spared. The capital of the rebellion against the tyrant god, Lucio, has been at peace.
The extremely unyielding hammers of snow had finally given way, bringing forth a beautiful efflorescing spring. The snow was no match for the great circle that offers life to many things. The white blankets have been traded for a great blanket of crisp emerald green. It was an effortless spring morning in the city of Lucio.
Inside the giant walls of granite that surrounded the city, the small placid town resounded with the everyday chatter of the townspeople. The smiles of the people bloomed effortlessly while the children played a variety of games. Within the tranquility of the everyday life hid the only hindrance of an absolute peace.
Inside the castle that protected the everyday life and lead the uproar of the rebels, the different atmosphere took hold. Zion, now seventeen, sat in a chair beside the entrance into the west wing of the castle. He was in the entrance room, which was an very wide open and tall room. Down the middle of the room was a five case stairway leading into the war room, rooms where the highest commands sleep, and where Lance himself sleeps.
Zion still wore his usual long red cape which was now tattered and ripped along the end. A hood still covered his face. He wore a white platebody and platelegs, his hands and feet covered by plated gloves and boots. His stolid emerald green irises beam down at the brilliant black and white marble tile floor beneath his feet. His hands tied up in a knot and they laid on his lap.
Transparent Modello had his back leaning against the stone wall just beside Zion. His arms were crossed and his head tilted down much like Zion's. His emerald green eyes were not revealed, covered the sheath of Modello's eyelids. Zion's face was cloaked by his hood. Without a single motion of his head, his eyes turn over to Modello. "What goes on, Modello?" he asked, concerned about his descendant. "Speak to me."
"Nothing..." he softly mumbled. "Just a little concerned..."
Zion's mouth mimics a smile. "Is it about your comrades at Avdima?" he continued to question.
Modello shook his head to correspond with Zion. "Yes." he answered.
"Zin has not won - not yet anyway," he answered. "I know exactly what he wants and he won't let your friends get killed just yet."
"They aren't my friends, just my comrades." softly replied Modello. "They shouldn't be sacrificing themselves to save me. It's unnecessary."
"Because you would rather have others save themselves than save you?" he questioned. "Modello, I've already told you. You are humanity's last hope to stop Zin. Nobody else can."
"Yes, that is true," he acknowledged. "I'm going to have to end this madness, once and for all..."
"Well, it's good to see you're finally accepting your destiny." Just as the two finally finish their conversation, from the two of the staircase stared down Alicia. She was eighteen now and seemed very mature. She wore a light smile on her face, her right hand was clenching onto the stair's railing.
Zion gazed upon at the young Alicia, his emerald green irises lit up like a sun onto the darkest day. Alicia started to walk down the stairs, not really taking her time. Her gaze didn't let go of Zion for a single second. After a brief minute, Alicia made it down the stairs. She reached her right foot down onto the marble tile, her black ballet flats touched the hard tile.
Her chocolate brown hair was braided in a French braid and she wore a dark blue evening gown. "Hey Zion," she greeted Zion, her voice bubbled with joy.
Zion's hands latch onto his ruby red hood, he pulls it down to reveal his face. "Hey Alicia," he greeted back, looking up at Alicia. "Where are you off to?"
"Just off to meet a family that's been our family's friend of generations for dinner," she answered, smiling. "You're welcome to accompany me if you'd like."
Suddenly, the wooden doors into the castle burst open. It reveals a soldier, clenching tightly onto his left shoulder. His left arm dangles lifeless as a stream of blood rivered down his arm. He was covered in blood from head to toe. His steel med helmet was gone, revealing his brown shaved head and a slight goatee.
Zion immediately bolts off his chair and looked in shock at the wounded soldier. Alicia gasped in surprise, pressing her hands against her mouth. Her eyes widened and her breath utterly stolen. The soldier's blood dipped like a leaky faucet, it made a lake on the marble tile. "Lord Zion..." he weakly mumbled. "Please...help!"
The soldier dropped down on his knees, clenching tightly on his arm. Zion rushed down to the soldier, clenching his left hand on the soldier's right shoulder. "Harland!" he loudly called. "What has happened!?"
"The Zamorakian elites..." he stated. "They're approaching the city!"
"Harland," called Alicia. "Where is my father!?"
"He told me to come get Zion..." he stated. "H-He's fighting the elites right now..."
Alicia's eyes began to flood with water, she walks closer to Zion. "Zion..." she cried, her voice breaking. "You have to save him! Please! I'm begging you to save my father! He's all I have!"
Zion turns his face to the frightful Alicia, his face masked by a stern and anger mask. His hands are knitted into tightly sewn balls of pale skinned fabric. "It shall be done," he assured. His eyes tightly closed shut, his mind placed on the thought of what the gates into Lucio look like. An intense focus was placed on the exactly look on that area.
Zion opened his eyes, turning to the young and concerned Alicia. A smile grew on Zion's face, assuring confidence of the hysterical woman in front of him. "You don't need to worry, Alicia," he once again assured. "You just worry about getting Harland to the medic room and then wait here, understand?"
Alicia shook her head. "Al-alright..." she replied, her face turned to the seventeen-year-old Zion. "And thank you..."
Zion shook his head. hands grew like plants up to the edges of his hood, pulling it up to conceal his face. The ruby red hood cloaked his eyes from the view of the public eye. His eyelids slammed shut on his emerald green irises, the grin on his face disappears and is replaced by a serious and stern face.
The young man is suddenly enveloped by the grasp of a snow white light, it was like an outline of him was colored by white. The warm light reached out to the two with it's compassionate touch. Alicia and Harland looked at the young man, confident of his success. Just as suddenly as this white light around Zion appeared before the two from Lucio, the gaze of the pure light vanished along with Zion.
Inside the gates of Lucio, people began to flee and take shelter in their homes. The scarred face general of the Zamorakian army stood in the center of the village, his face cloaked by the smile off the face of a demon. All of his soldiers just behind him.
He was facing the gates into the city, looking up into the atmosphere. He was raising his hands up towards the sky like he was worshiping the sun. "Hahahaha," he laughed. "Yes, you peasants - run and hide for your pathetic lives! Without your worthless savior, you do not stand a chance against us!!"
"You should know better not to come here." stated a very serious voice from behind the general. The Zamorakian turns his head back down to the earth as he heard the strangely familiar voice. There he was, the red hood he recognized worn by his worst enemy standing before him. The lower half of Zion's face was all that the general was able to see.
The Zamorakian looked angered by the presence of Zion, he latched his right hand onto the handle of his Steel Longsword. "So the savior himself has come out from hiding," he declared, his voice sounding somewhat joyful. His hand pulls his blade out from the leather sheath it was originally encased in. "It is about time you showed yourself, boy!"
"Leave this place now," angrily demanding Zion. "Before I kill you."
"Kill me?" he repeated Zion's words. "You can't even save your pathetic city. What makes you think you stand a chance against my army?"
Zion's tightened hands loosen up, his face and his entire body became very relaxed. "Because your army is dead." he quickly riposted.
The general looked confused as to the statement made by Zion. He turned his head behind, to his soldiers. His face changed from somewhat joyful to extremely infuriated. He sees all his Zamorakians soldier holding their own swords towards their abdomens, their hands swayed like trees. A mass commotions erupted, turning into panic.
"I-I can't move!!" screamed one of the soldiers.
"What the hell!?!" yelled another soldier.
"G-General...Talburt...!" fearfully called a soldier.
The general glared at his soldiers. "What the hell are you fools doing!?" he loudly questioned, his voice angered. "Put your weapons back!" Suddenly, all of the soldiers thrust their own blades into themselves. Their swords impale through their armour, leaving everything they want to protect utterly helpless. The blades pierce right through the inferior vena cava vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body to the heart.
Blood drips like rain onto the stone pathway below their feet. Pain flooded whimpers smothered the hearing of anyone who stood in this area. The smell of blood and death caped the air. The general eyes just then burst open, turning into the size of full moons. "What in Zamorak's name are you idiots thinking!?!" he furiously roared. Even the transparent Modello, who usually is akin to violence, stood in shock.
At the same time, each of them pulled their blades out from their bodies. They began dropping like flies, they fell into a great pool of blood mixed with the blood of their comrades. The general began quivering in absolute fear, his mouth hung ajar. Bullets of sweat raced down his forehead faster than a race car. Breath was no longer drawn from any of his soldiers, their faces suffocated in the pillow of crimson.
Zion kept his very apathetic mask on his face. "Learn from this mistake," he calmly said. "Leave or be the agent of your own destruction."
Talburt's fear quickly erupts into anger. His teeth grit tightly, he jerks his head over to the seventeen-year-old Zion. Talburt was utterly furious, the grip on his blade was almost painful. "You...impudent fool!" he yelled. "I am General Talburt of the elite army of Zamorak!! I SHALL NOT be humiliated by YOU!!!"
Zion's stolid glance locks onto the general's utterly scarred face. "I'll give you one last chance to redeem yourself," he softly stated. "Tell me what you have done to Lance."
His mind flashes back upon an older soldier that stood his ground against Talburt. A diabolical smirk made it's residence on General Talburt's face. "You mean that old fool?" he questioned, recalling an event in the recent past. "Nobody can save him...not even you!"
Zion's emotionless irises are cut off from the view of the world. His eyelid close like a door on them. "Once again your impatience causes you to make a quick and wrongful judgment." Zion calmly stated.
"Enough of this talk!" roared the general, he stormed over to Zion. His thunderous footsteps swiftly crashed onto the stone pathway like hellish lightning strikes. "I shall avenge my comrades!!"
"Then die..." mumbled Zion, opening his eyes rather suddenly. Just after the seventeen-year-old opens his eyes, Talburt just froze like a rock in his haste over to Zion. Panic was written all on his face, his forcefully still body shaking like a leaf in the wind. It felt like his body betrayed his order and forsaking him for Zion.
"What...sorcery is this!?" he fearfully questioned. Not a word whimpered from the voice of Zion, his eyes glued tightly on the general like an eagle on it's prey. Unexpectedly, Talburt felt something horribly wrong. His heart just suddenly halted in it's daily tasks. He collapses onto the ground without a sound from him.
Just as a few minutes pass, Zion acknowledges that the general is no longer of this world. Zion turns around, facing the gates into the city. He began to quietly walk away from all the death he forged. His pace headed towards the outskirts of the city, vanishing like a ghost within a half of a minute of walking.
Zion reappears on the outskirts of Lucio, just about three football fields from the gates. The red hooded young man shuffles his head left and right, peering all over to find any sign of Lance. Just within the first minute of searching, Zion's emerald green irises gaze upon the body of the soldier he has so desperately searching for.
Zion casually strolled over to this body, his eyes gaze with concern upon the man. His mind gathers a single army of thoughts that draw down to the very same belief. The man before the red hooded young man no longer took in the draw of life. This man was definitely Lance.
Just as Zion comes to this tragic conclusion, his ears capture a soldier of soft and sorrowful whimpers. Behind him was the young lady he told to stay at the castle, Alicia. Her hands dangled lifeless as she was on her knees. Her eyes rained down water onto the blood stained spears of grass.
Zion knew exactly who it was behind him. Without an inch of hesitation, he readies to launch cannonballs of voice over to Alicia. "I thought I told you to wait at the castle," he spoke, lacking lament.
Her once inanimate hands clench into tightly sewn balls of thread. "You can't expect me to just sit in a castle while my only family is possibly dead!" she yelled, her voice broke like glass. "...And it seems to have come true..."
The pain in Alicia's crying was like a knife had been stabbed one thousand times into Zion. His emerald green irises partially blanketed under the covers of his eyelids. "Please..." he painfully whispered. "...Stop..."
Zion got down on his knees, digging the plate armour that wrapped around his body like a turtle's shell into the ground. Alicia's ear caught the whispers that came from the familiar red hood and the echoes of his moment. Her tear flooded eyes gaze up at Zion. "Zion...?" she called. He didn't return any words to her. This concerned her even further. "Zion, what are you doing!?"
The seventeen-year-old young man closes his eyes, reaching his hand out towards the forehead of the lifeless father. His right hand glues onto Lance's forehead. "I'm going to fix this," he answered. "For you..." Zion's face relaxes, entering a chamber of calm and racing thoughts.
Zion's mind aimed onto one single thought among the drag race of thoughts. It was of the being of what made Lance who he was. Alicia seemed utterly confused as to what the young man before her was actually doing. Flashes of everything Zion remembered of Lance shoots faster than a bolt of lightning in his mind. And without a second's notice, Zion just suddenly starts falling onto the ground.
Alicia's eyes widen as she darts over to him as fast as she could. Just before his red cloak touches down onto the surface of the grass, Zion ends up in the embrace of Alicia. His body limp and seemingly without life, the terrified rocking of the panicked Alicia begin. She shook Zion greater than a angry sea rocking a boat. "Zion!" she loudly yelled for. "Zion - what did you do to yourself!? Wake up!"
Not a single word even whimpered from Zion. His limbs hung lifeless in her arms, not even a breath was drawn into his lungs. Tears rush down Alicia's eyes, her entire body shaking like leaves."Zion, please!" her voice breaking apart, she pleaded to the unresponsive. "Don't go!"
Alicia began to hear gasps of life echo into her ears. But it wasn't from Zion. Her head turns to the source of the breathes. They came directly from her father, Lance. Once her eyes gaze upon her father, she looks into the open and alert eyes of her living father. "F-Father...?" she mumbled.
Lance sluggishly turns his head over to Alicia. A look of confusion masked his face. "Alicia dear..." he mumbled back, the life in his voice was soft but utterly true. "What has happened?"
