Lord Shadow

‘You didn’t know?’

Will shakes his head and then said with a smile

‘I was somewhere else.’ Sofia almost stopped herself from saying

‘Are you living under a rock somewhere?’

At this moment, there is no one in the world that does not know the Death Monarch, the ruler of Pandemonium and the strongest man in the world.

After Death Monarch display of power in the World Government Island of Peace, that title The World Strongest Man that used to be Raymond title after Azief supposed death has been returned back to the rightful owner.

And her own title as the strongest woman in the world is doubted since Katarina has returned.

Many people still believes that Katarina is still the strongest woman on Earth just like Death Monarch is still the strongest man in the world.

Her sword the Red Snow is once again making an appearance as she seems to be hunting many monsters in Russia and participating in raids.

And with her position now as the High Chancellor of the Senate, her authority over the world events does not pale to comparison with Death Monarch.

Sofia shakes her head and then she said

‘Fine. I will tell you’ Sofia begins telling Will about what happen since then.

She told him about what happens after the Battle of Poland, told him about the summoning of all heroes in Azief camps, the seven Battlestar that departed and the great battle in the World Government Island of Peace.

When she reached the part where Azief usurps the Will of the World Will was clearly pleasantly surprised.

Hearing the story Will was shocked.

A lot has happened when he was absent. Then he smiles as Sofia finished telling him everything he needs to know.

‘Good. Let us go tomorrow to Pandemonium and met Azief’ Sofia was silent for a while and then she shakes her head

‘I will not go’ hearing this from Sofia Will frown. He was about to say something but he hold back his tongue when thinking about it.

Then thinking back he notices that each time Will talk about Azief there is this painful expression on Sofia face.

Subtle face expression did not really escape Will eyes. He is a Speedster meaning he is faster than most people.

Conversely it is because he is fast everything seems slow for him.

Nothing could hide from him, every slight smirk, a hidden snickering expression, as long as one did not carefully guard from him, he could see all this.

‘Did you and him…’ then he stop himself.

That was insensitive of him. He just nodded and smiles bitterly. The awkwardness between them increased.

Will then thought back to his journey all those years ago with Azief and then he sighs. He at least needs to help his sworn brother.

Then taking a deep breath Will said.

‘I don’t know what happen between him and you but….I know he really love you’ Sofia was just silent as Will continues his word.

‘When I was with him all those years journeying the many worlds trying to find our back home, he would tell me story about you every once in a while’

‘About me?’ Will smiles and chuckles a bit and nodded his head.

Sofia then shakes her head.

‘They would probably not many stories. Because we were not yet together at that time. I was the only one that had feelings for him at that time’

Will smile mysteriously.

‘Hmm. I would not be too sure about that.’ Then looking at Sofia he smiles and then said

‘You were in the same school when you were teenagers didn’t you?’ Will ask her. She nodded. It is probably why he saved her in the first place in that mall all those years ago.

Because they both know each other.

Will then laughs.

‘You want to know something about him? I don’t think he ever told you this. He had a crush on you when you were in high school’ Sofia was shocked.

She did not know this.

Then a little bit startled she said

‘He never told me that’ she said before regaining her calm back. Her eyes seems to be looking at Will and the Will knows she want to know more and he is happy to oblige

‘Yes, I thought so. It was an embarrassing moment for him. No wonder he would never tell you about it’

‘What does that mean?’ Then she said fuming a bit

‘Do you mean he was embarrassed having a crush on me?’ Sofia asks.

Will shake his head vigorously.

‘That is not what I mean’

Then he looks at the sky and with an apologetic expression he said

‘Sorry, brother. I will tell your woman your embarrassing story’

Then he looks back at Sofia and began telling the story.

‘He told me that when he was a teenager, he is timid and shy…especially to the people he liked. Every time he wanted to talk to you, the first thing he saw was your eyes. And each time he sees your eyes, he become speechless. His mind go blank and whatever he wanted to tell you, remain unsaid. Well, that is how young love usually goes. Thinking about it he is pretty innocent’

He did not say the other words he kept.

“Compared to now, he was really innocent during those teenage years” Will think to himself.

Looking at Sofia face that is slightly blushing Will added

‘He never told me how his crush on you begins. But he did mention to me that he once saw you crying in a rainy day once. He recognizes you at that time. But he reckons you do not recognize him’ hearing this Sofia eyes widened.

‘It was him?’

And then her memory brings her back to that moment as she thinks of that day.

She remembers how she was crying outside a convenience store, hugging her knees; the sky above her was dark and the rain pouring down heavily.

She let the rain fall down on her body, drenching her with water, shivering in the cold. She wanted to get sick. She didn’t care at the time.

She wanted to feel pain more than the pain her heart was feeling so that it could cover up the pain in her heart.

The reason was stupid when she thinks about it now. But at that time she was young and stupid.

Everything seems like a life ending crisis to her.

It was about love. It was always about love when it concerns her. She never got that lucky when it is about love.

She was always with the wrong guy and she always left the most important thing remain unsaid.

She feared getting abandoned, afraid of getting hurt, dreaded to be unneeded.

At home she is faced with an abusive and alcoholic father, but at school she is adept enough in hiding her scars and pain.

She was a woman with a secret, leading a life that was not hers.

And because of how adept she is at hiding her scars no one is the wiser.

Because at school she is a different person from when she is at home and she didn’t want people to know about her at home.

She was afraid people could see what she is. Because she herself don’t like who she is. A broken, pitiful child.

At school she felt more alive. There are people who love her…and needed her even though what they love and what they like was superficial

If Will knows about Sofia past he would surely say that Azief clearly had a type. Because all of the girls that he loves and loves him all have in some way father issues.

So, there she was crying her eyes out outside a convenience store. People passed her by and all were rushing to take shelter from the rain.

And then a person comes out from the convenience store.

He was standing beside her.

Without saying a word, that person shielded her from the rain without saying anything with his yellow umbrella

She keep crying, her tears keep falling and that man…..keep standing beside her, shielding her from the rain.

When the heavy rain subside and the rain only drizzle, that person put down his yellow umbrella beside her and run through the rain

Before she could even thank that person all she could see with her limited visibility and through the dark is his back.

She kept that umbrella for years before she lost in a New Year Eve of 2016.

Back at the present, hearing this story, somehow, something tugged her heart string and Sofia looking at Will, had tears pooling in her eyes.

And before she knew it, that tears falls down like pearls.

Then she slowly pushes away her tears with her hand feeling her heart in pain.

Will do not understand why she cried but he understand that it is not his place to say console her because he did not know how to and he don’t think it should be him who console her

This is their love story.

He could not console her but he could tell her what Azief said to him through those years they spend together.

So Will then said, his voice was gentle and calming

‘Every time he saw you he was speechless. Every time you were holding your hands with him, he was happy. Each time he kisses you on your cheek he was nervous. Every time he kisses you on your lips, he could not believe it that you were the person he was kissing and he was with you. Sofia…..all those years when we are searching our way back home, with no promise of returning, we need something to make sure we do not break’

He paused for a while and then staring at Sofia he said

‘For me, it was my sister. Each time I want to give up searching for a way home, I picture her face in my mind…and each time I did that I got the energy to go through another day.’

Then Will shakes his head looking at how Sofia tears is falling down faster and faster.

She is shaking her head, her hand keep wiping down more tears that keep falling down, her body is trembling and then Will said.

‘For him, it was you. You were his North Star. No matter how much he wanted to give up he knows you are waiting for him. So….he keeps his feet forward, each day taking a step moving forward to return home.’

Sofia then turn her face away from Will and Will understand. He was still sitting on his bark and she is still sitting on her bark.

But Will slowly got up and went away from the area letting Sofia to think about what he said.

Because he knew that Sofia had to face whatever she is facing alone.

This is not his battle and it is not a problem he should involve himself with.

Then just as he was walking a few steps away from that area, he heard the sound of an arrow being shot into the sky and then a voice echoes around the forest

‘Thank you for telling me that, Purple Speedster. We will meet again’ as the voice fades and Sofia is no longer here in this forest.

Up there on the sky, Will could see an arrow traversing the clouds.

Will sigh.

Then he thinks about Azief and shakes his head with a smirk on his face

‘Loki did say you have a complicated love matters but I didn’t think it was this bad. Thinking about it even your love life with Na Eun on Earth Two was not smooth sailing’

He shakes his head as he return back to the campfire area. He saw the half uneaten meat still on the grill over the fire and the empty bark opposite him.

He sat back down on the bark and then thinks back to his plan.

He moves one of his fingers and the uneaten meat flew to his hand. He takes a bite and smiles in satisfactions, the chees dripping on the side of his mouth.

‘Should I really go to Pandemonium right now? Judging from what just happened probably the Divine Archer is returning back to Pandemonium. Or should I seek the Temple as fast as possible and take the Legacy away?’

He took a deep breath and then he sat back down on that bark and grabs his cup of hot chocolate and takes a sip.

If only Azief could see him now. He didn’t like chocolate but his sister always did. The smell reminds him of his sister.

He could not visit her….because he fears opening a pathway for other creature to enter that world.

It happened before on Earth 2 and he would not risk it on the very world where his sister is at. The world where his sister is at is medieval and backward in terms of technology and even in science progress.

Even though his sister is only at Pillar Forming on that Earth she was already stronger than most people on that Earth.

Earth Prime however is a little bit different.

Not to mention there is a lot of powerful people here that could even end the invasion of the Demonic Kind but there is also the debuff effect of the World Orb.

It was why the Weronian were so disadvantaged on Earth. If not for the World Orb weakening them considering their prowess they would have easily conquered Earth

Will especially knows a little bit more than anyone else even more than Azief about how special the World Orb is.

In the years after he found the Temple of Asargan, he had learned many things, secrets of the universe that involves a Great War five thousand years ago.

And the fact it happens on Earth or to be more accurate happen because of Earth was shocking for Will.

Earth is special.

But in the past it was because people thought Earth was special because it could sustain life but it turns out there are millions of planets out there that could sustain life.

But that is not the only thing that makes it special.

Will know this.

‘Hmm’ he sighed as he lean his body back to the branch of the tree.

Only five temple left. He had learned about the history of the Speedster and the Savi’krian race and the Eterna of Speed Asargan from his teacher.

He learned about a Supreme Being called the Destroyer, the very personification of all Destruction and the Creator the personification of all creation.

His teacher told him all about all this and she also told him about herself though it is not much.

His teacher was reduced to a white lightning bolt consecrated in one of the Temple of Asargan to hide from someone.

His teacher took a female form because that is what she is before on her home planet. She was a Speedster like him, but her lightning color is white and she is faster than him

While he could move forward and could theoretically break the space time continuum and go to the future, she could move backward and at time even reverses time.

‘The Destroyer’ he said as he looks at the sky and his face turns solemn.

He heard this name mentioned many times when he was in the Three Thousand Worlds of the Jade Empire.

He heard it on the Giant Ice Walls of the Jotuns. He heard it when he was crossing the Duat Crossing while avoiding the creatures of Osiris.

What kind of power that a being such as the Destroyer possesses that he could devours stars and extinguishes Universes just by breathing?

And what kind of existence is the Creator that could raise an entire multitude of Universes just by willing it to exist?

Will thought he had seen powerful beings in his journey but hearing the feat that these two mighty beings could do fills him with a feeling of fear and dread.

‘The Eterna what kind of race is that that they could contend with these two forces?’ he muttered.

He comes out from the Speed Source because he also wanted to seek the temple on Earth.

He needs to find his Path…just like his brother. He never knew what Azief Grand Path is but Will could guess it even though Azief did not say anything.

And he also wanted to meet Azief.

He had spent time with him as brothers and they would die for each other. This kind of trust….Will have never experienced before and vice versa.

And he owes Azief too much. How many times his brother have saved him from peril. He would not hesitate to do anything that Azief would ask of him

In adversity their bonds were forged.

They were like a true family. No, they are a family

Because of that he wanted to see him….because he didn’t know if this journey of him would be successful or not.

If he is successful then all is well. But fi failed then his life would also be forfeited. At least, he wanted to say farewell if this life of his will end.

He might be afraid of dying in the past but he now knew.

Like how Azief found his determination to keep paving the way forward, he also comprehends what Azief comprehend.

To be strong in this new era, to become strong so that he could protect the thing that is precious to him, he must have the determination to bet his life on the line

Only by having that determination could one put their feet on the starting line on the long journey of attaining strength.

Will also want to share what he knew about Eterna with Azief. This race of powerful being that used to dominate the starry skies and all of Heavens of Many Worlds.

They conquered the Vast Universe, enslaved the Dark Universe and seal the Heavenly Universe among many of their feats.

Will heard from his teacher that in the Vast Universe there is a supreme being that fended off the Eterna attack by his lonesome and so the Vast Universe was liberated.

When the Eterna wanted to mount another attack in the Vast Universe, the Destroyer the harbinger of all Destruction, the Devourer of Worlds wiped them all.

But even then, the Destroyer could not destroy their Undying Will that permeated the whole Universe and embed itself on the fabric of existence and reality.

And every creation since then could tap their power by rituals, by invoking deals, by activating certain rites or inheriting their legacies or inheritance spread out in the whole vast universes.

William also knows the full story of what happens to the original first temple.

The Will of Asargan created the Ten Temples. The voice of his teacher still echoes in his head telling him the history of Speedster, reminding him of who Asargan is.

The Holy Creator help in preserving the Will of Asargan when he pushed the Unholy finger of the Destroyer from destroying the ten temples

But the Destroyer dark aura corrupt one of the ten Temples and it turned into an avatar of the Destroyer, a Death God for Speedsters.

His teacher said this was predestined.

And of course Will also learn the name of the Death God for Speedsters

The Cosmic Speedster, the embodiment of the pale white lighting created from the Will of Asargan and the will of the Destroyer.

Will have never seen the Cosmic Speedster but from what his teacher said to him, it could leap through planes of realities, and travel Universes with such speed that he could force time to reverses, halt, accelerate and bring back destroyed Universes with each steps and when he passes that Universe will accelerate back and become its original form once again.

He could travel everywhere and anywhere in the whole Universes and no Speedster could rival its speed.

His teacher herself almost failed to outrun the Cosmic Speedster. To be more accurate, his teacher did not outrun the Cosmic Speedster. She outwitted him

Will smiles thinking of this.

His teacher actually should have died a long time ago but she was too fast for Death to catch so the Cosmic Speedster chases her.

Her planet had their own Death God.

When her time was up, the Death God wanted to reap her soul. But her soul runs away and Death was exhausted in chasing over her.

It was then that his teacher learns of the existence of the Cosmic Speedster.

The Cosmic Speedster descends from the Divine Dimension and come out from the Cosmic Source to chase his teacher

But she found a way to evade recognition from the Cosmic Speedster.

She never told him the method to escape the Cosmic Speedster but she did promise she would tell him later.

One of the other Temple was destroyed by the sound of the Bell tolling through the Universe but the destruction of that Temple created a planet to pass the legacies of Speedsters.

Then one of the Temple was stolen by the young Jade Emperor Yu Wang who was running from an army of Asuras.

Emperor Yu Wang until now is still bearing karma because of that day

Ten temples.

One was destroyed by the finger, one was destroyed by the tolling of the bell that resounded in the whole Universe and another was stolen.

Only two was destroyed at that time.

Only eight temples were in existence since then.

But then when Will teacher broke out from the Temple, the temple was destroyed leaving only seven temples in existence.

There is another Temple of Asargan on Earth.

Then there was one on Interium.

That is Wargod broken star and even Will teacher is afraid to clash head on with Wargod. She said that Wargod is not like what he seems to be.

Wargod…like his teacher also is hiding from something.

And then there is of course the Divine Residence of the Jade Palace…which is one of the Temples of Asargan.

He still owes Karma to the Will of Asargan.

But to reach the Three Thousand World is easier said than done. The last time it was by a fluke that he managed to found a passageway that connect him to the Three Thousand Worlds.

At that time Will was randomly running. The other is still scattered throughout the Universe.

Will sighed.

‘When could I visit all the Temples?’ His teacher told him that the legacy of all Speedsters is inscribed on the Walls of the Temples of Asargan.

Will once ask his teacher since there is already three Temples that were destroyed would the legacy be complete?

He asks this question and his teacher only laugh.

She said since Asargan is the Eterna of Speed that also comprehends the Laws of Time and Space, Asargan probably would have already predicted two of his Temples would be destroyed.

The moment their race was destined to perish, all the things that come after that were predestined.

Will do not understands what his teacher was saying even until now.

And for the third temple.

Even though it was destroyed by his teacher, his teacher already memorizes all the inscription in that Temple.

His teacher told him if he travels fast enough, truly fast enough he could see past, present and the future simultaneously.

It was only that time a Speedster could be released from the cycle of creation and destruction since that Speedster is now out of time.

Will don’t know if he would ever reach that level but….he did want to learn the legacy of the Speedsters, the legacy of the Savi’krian race.

He tries to take another sip of hot chocolate when he realizes that the hot chocolate in his cup is no longer.

He chuckles a bit and he got up. Then he felt something was wrong. All around him, dust , leaves, even insects are slowly floating up.

Will felt the danger with his entire fiber of being.

It was then his entire being jolted awake as the time around him slowed. He could feel the danger and his body produces purple lightning that coils over all of his body.

He is now moving inside the Speed Time

Everything around him slows down, the Laws of Time and Space around him distorted and the dust near his feet slowly floating up.

But that feeling of danger did not dissipate as he move slightly to the left as a whooshing sound could be heard just passes him by.

Then the Speed Time went to normal and BOOM!

The force of him moving in Speed Time causes the area around him to compress and explode, creating a large clearing of flat land in the area where he was dodging.

But fortunately he moves to the left as a hand in piercing motion missed him just by an inch.

‘Tch’ the voice startles Will.

The force created from that piercing motion leave a deep hole where he stands before.

Will quickly moved away, his feet covered with lightning as the dust around him exploded with him moving so fast as he was tangled with this mysterious assailant

He was running, generating speed and heat that causes the area around him to exponentially rising in temperature and sound of exploding could be heard every few seconds.

The forest immediately were not as peaceful as the ten kilometers radius in every direction of this clash flattened the area, killing the many beast and monsters around it, dissipating their corpses into atomized dust

BOOM!

BOOM!

Two purple lightning seems to be clashing producing thunder like sound and shakes the earth.

Each time these two bolt lightning collided with each other they produce storms of sharp gale winds, and space was rips apart, blowing the area around them into chaos and large crater formed each time they punch each other.

In the vortex of this chaotic energy.

Will punch with his fist, powered by the Speed Source and his punch miss that person.

The force of his punch shattered an entire river, turning the water into mist that condense up into the sky

The weather around their clash changed as the sky suddenly turn dark and then returned back to clear skies and then returned back to being cloudy and stormy.

It was like the sky around them is crazy.

The bolts of purple lightning tangling one another in a circle that created a terrifying time pulse as Time Tornadoes swept the area.

Each time these two bolt of lightning flashes by in the area, the resulting speed flattened the area and compress the area and even Time around it.

So when they pass an area for a few second the Time reverses and the flattened area return back to the time few seconds before it was flattened.

This weird phenomenon is not seen by any people because this forest is isolated and there is no population center around it.

But Will while being surrounded by the Time Tornado could not help but sweat.

‘How? This is not possible. She is not a speedster!’ He ask himself, lightning is coiling over all of his body as he keep running, the surface beneath his feet seems to be burning

Behind him was that weird woman with five triangles shaped mark on her forehead, chasing her, her entire being shrouded with purple lightning, time and space around her is being compressed.

She was moving as fast as him, and producing the same color of lightning.

Even as they were running through rivers and hills, mountains and the sea, Will managed to read her lips that seems to be mumbling something

What he read from her lips is

[Assembling of energy analyzing]

[Analyzing composition of Universal Energy. Breaking down the composition. Need further analysis]

As he said this Will could see that her eyes seems to be covered by matrixes and runes, and even hieroglyphics that resembles the writings he saw in the Duat Crossing

[Detected: Eternian source of Energy}

[Identifying source of power. Opening the Encyclopedia of the Known Energy of the Universe]

[Identified: Asargan, The Eterna of Speed, Time and Space. Connection with the Savi’krian race]

[Breaking the composition of the source of energy. Analyzing. Information insufficient. Converting the energy of Earth to synthesize into a suitable form of energy to replicate]

[Analyzing. Analyzing and synchronizing with the source of energy has reached fifty percent. Copying successful. Copying synchronized with target source of energy]

[Identifying Speed Source. Attempting replication]

[Rejection from the Source of Energy. Conclusion: only a few of the abilities of the Speedster could be used]

[Analysis complete] her eyes glowed with blue color and then her speed becomes even more faster

The cyclone of Time around them is going crazy and the compressed Space around them is cracking and almost rips from its seams.

Their speed is affecting the area around them

Reading her lips Will felt shocked.

‘What kind of thing is this woman?’ He said as he was running all across the world with the woman following him from behind.

He was now closely heading to Pandemonium. In Pandemonium seating in the innermost room of the Centre Palace, Azief opens his eyes.

MEANWHILE NEAR THE BORDER OF THE MILKY WAY GALAXY

Inside the main mothership a few creature that resembles the woman with the five triangle mark is monitoring Earth with something that looks like a radar.

The only difference is that the radar-like thing is connected to something that looks like a biological mechanism that has life.

This creature differs from the five triangle woman creature eon Earth in few features. They seem to be in a liquid form and looks like jelly.

But they could solidify their body and most of the creature that sits on the chair has solid body resembling that of a human.

And they only have four triangle marks on their forehead.

It was then the radar-like tech blink. One of the creatures siting on the floating chair, his head connected to electrodes quickly yell

‘She is detected’ the creature jump down from his chair and rips apart the electrodes on his head.

‘It is Sithulran. We must capture her this time and put her in the Moongrave. I told our Council a long time ago she should not have been imprisoned on the Demonic Realm’

One of the other creature look solemn.

That creature slowly took a form that resembles a human male.

‘I know your worries, Captain. We will enter Earth atmosphere. Fire up the FTL drive. We will meet the leaders of Earth and explain to them what horrible monster that was unleashed on their world. Remember, do not show hostility. Earth is protected under the Intergalactic Alliance Treaty’

They all nodded as the creature in the ship become busy, their forms solidified as they all turns into a creature resembling a human.

Their mothership increases their speed following the Star Map and when the FTL drive was activated, they suddenly appear near the moon.

The satellite of the World Government, The Republic, and even the League of Freedom who is piggybacking the World Government satellite was alerted when a huge fleet of alien mothership suddenly appeared near the Moon.

Azief who was in his room was about to fly to the sky and become the vanguard alongside Raymond, Katarina and other heroes when he senses something is coming to Pandemonium with extreme speed.

He immediately senses that energy and he was happy at first because he recognizes that energy before he suddenly frowned.

Then his eyes turns into rage as he jumps out from his Palace breaking the roof of the Palace, alarming everyone as he rush towards the oceans of Pandemonium

And then the whole Pandemonium heard it.

BOOOMMM!

A large explosion sounded on the sea the force forces the sea water to explode bringing a large tsunami heading to Pandemonium.

Tonight…..no one seems to be able to sleep tight. On the other side of the world, the Republic mobilized their Battlestar as it headed toward the Moon.

The League of Freedom embarks on their Star Ark and the World Government brings out their Iron Fortress sailing the air to the moon.

Their movement alerted all the other factions in the world and then when the news reached them, they all were shocked and they all quickly prepare themselves.

An alien fleet of unknown origin is stationing itself around the Moon. Then another news exploded.

The Death Monarch seems to be fighting with something and has already sunk a few islands within the few initial clashes with that thing.

The world that night was suddenly experiencing chaos and unease. It was not long before the news reported that there is an alien fleet on the Moon and many people were instantly reminded of the Weronian Invasion a few years ago.

No one could sleep tight tonight.

***

Here is the new chapter. Hope you all like it. leave some comments and vote. From now on I will cut my chapter if it is too long. If you wnat to read full chapter without cutting you can go to my *******.

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