The Light of Edaylon (Part Four) Chapter Three: The Lord of Roartagor

Chapter Three

The Lord of Roartagor

Like blurs of motion, the vampire, the beast, and the machine moved through the branches; entire trees trembling from the weight of their impressive speed. 

However, it was the largest of their group, the savage Artilla-Beast, who was capable of covering great distances with relative ease.  An ability that allowed him to leap up and over several of the shadowy branches, his clawed hands gripping the wooden branches as he growled.  

Behind him were several metallic tentacles, each one carrying the victims of their latest hunt as they traveled through the darkness.  Maxle-Gun then looked back towards Vambridal, who flew behind them with enormous bat-like wings.  

Her eyes quickly searched for any stray beams of light that had broken through the treetops.  Yet the sun had already fallen far enough above the horizon to avoid her dreaded concerns.  So, the watchful android simply looked back towards Artilla-Beast, who jumped into the air, howling towards the setting sun.

Several animals then spread their wings and launched into the sky, vanishing amongst the clouds.  The creatures’ terror had filled Artilla-Beast with a sadistic smile.  Yet as much as he may have wished to attack them, he decided against it. 

Instead, they returned to their treetop base hidden amongst the clouds, knowing they had collected fresh food for their dwindling tribe on the eve of their eternal triumph.  Most importantly, he knew that his older brother was counting on him, and thus, he rushed back to meet those expectations —a feat that would further solidify his brother's reign.

“Artilla-Beast, my calculations would suggest an unnecessary rate of speed,” Maxle-Gun yelled.  “Our estimated time of arrival is well ahead of schedule, so we can afford to...”

Yet the scarlet-furred behemoth ignored the machine’s cries, leaping through the trees as he carried the corpses of the deceased.  

In response, a frustrated Maxle-Gun simply sighed through his nonexistent lungs as he raised his arm.  He then opened a small metal flap, which concealed a panel of multi-colored buttons; each one activated a hidden function as he typed in one of the many possible codes.  Once finished, however, he simply closed the flap; his legs now opening up to reveal several small rockets contained within.  

Fire then erupted outwards as he surged forward, leaving Vambridal behind.  Like a cat, she angrily hissed towards the speeding android as she struggled to keep pace with her monstrous companions.

“I never liked daytime hunts,” she muttered to herself.

Eventually, the two warriors stopped, landing on a large metal platform that had been consumed by rust and vines.  Artilla-Beast now looked towards Maxle-Gun, who replied by looking back, saying, "What?" 

  The scarlet beast grunted several times in response as though he were trying to speak, yet no words ever formed.  A sight that made Maxle-Gun immediately chuckle, for he knew that the beast lacked the proper vocal cords that were necessary for even the most basic forms of speech.

But after several seconds, Vambridal landed beside them.  Her massive wings had begun to slowly retract back within her rotting flesh as she tilted her head towards the side; her vertebrae cracking as a result. 

The journey had left her neck stiff, but now she could move it with little concern.  She then looked over towards Maxle-Gun, who stood watching her.

And thus, Maxle-Gun raised his arm, opening the small flap once again.

"Identification: Maxle-Gun, member of the Beasta Hunting Pack," he said, transmitting every word that he spoke through the use of a single button. "Food hath been retrieved; thus, we require entrance."

A light flashed inside the bark before the wood began to split, revealing a hollowed-out elevator shaft for the trio to climb.  Maxle-Gun then activated his rockets, leaping into the shaft. 

Soon, all that was visible of the robot was his exhaust, the light of the flames rapidly growing dimmer.  Artilla-Beast growled before leaping into the tube, racing after the vanishing android, leaving Vambridal alone once again.  She then sighed before her bat-like wings ripped through her rotting flesh once more.  

And thus, she leapt into the elevator shaft, her wings carrying her upwards before she vanished amongst the darkness.  The shadows now swirled around her, empowering her as she hid from the sun's rays.  A smile soon formed across the vampire’s face as she began to feel her full power return.  

Yet such feelings were equally as incredible as they were enticing, although it remained short-lived for the eternal vampire, for as long as the sun still shone, she could never truly recover her strongest potential.  And with every flap of her wings, she drew closer to the exit - an exit that would lead her back into the light.  It was a thought that annoyed her greatly, for she found life within her power.  Yet her companions opened the doors regardless, flooding the chamber with a dimming light.  But all she could do in response was grit her teeth as she flew through the entrance, counting the seconds until nightfall.

Torches then ignited all around them; the rusted doors slid closed, while the bark of the trunk, along with its leafy vines, fell to cover the hidden entrance.  Growling could be heard around them as various creatures of different sizes leapt down, surrounding them.  

Yet their would-be attackers all shared a resemblance to the mighty Artilla-Beast, although none could match his sheer size nor his cybernetic enhancements.  Vambridal then looked around; the starving beasts had slowly crept closer, their mouths dripping with saliva.

Artilla-Beast’s mechanized tentacles then sprang to life as the creatures roared, stumbling backwards.  Maxle-Gun turned towards Vambridal, who watched as the robotic appendages lurched back, tossing the three deceased bodies onto some nearby platforms. 

The smell of fresh meat gave the creatures a reason to turn away, rushing over to devour their latest meal instead.  Thus, the Beasta Pack tore into the fallen hunters with a savage ferocity, their growls and snaps echoing through the rusted chamber.  Such a feeding frenzy remained undisturbed until they heard the sounds of the wooden drums.

  The large metallic spider-like legs, which carried the monstrous Roar Lord, operated with a slow, almost inhuman motion; only ceasing once his clawed feet had touched the surface of the rotted metal.  His head then surveyed the crowd as the fifteen-foot-tall Artilla-Beast fell to his knees, bowing his head. 

“Thou hast done well, brother,” the monstrous Roar Lord growled.  His voice was loud and deep, yet his words boomed with a serious snarl.  

For it was quite plain to see that his voice had inspired fear within the masses, as they whimpered before him like a pack of horrified dogs. 

  He then looked towards the meat, sniffing its flesh before leaning down to devour a chunk of it.  For his fangs could easily rip through the bloodied skin as he forced it down his wolf-like snout.  His body could already feel the meat’s restorative powers as he howled towards the sky.  

His glowing eyes soon turned towards Maxle-Gun and Vambridal, who remained standing.  He then raised his pearly white metallic arm, pointing its claw towards the mechanized warrior.  Energy soon formed against its tip, crackling into the shape of a small glowing sphere.  The other members of the Beasta Pack turned to investigate as the sounds of panicked whimpers echoed throughout the masses.

   For the sound of explosive energy, colliding with his chest was all that could be heard as both Vambridal and Maxle-Gun were knocked backwards.  

Yet the android’s metallic body soon smashed against the entrance before the several-hundred-pound vessel collapsed onto the ground; his crimson eyes flickering on and off as he lay there.  His chest was now cracked as the scorched metal began to smoke and sizzle.

With widened eyes and a shocked expression, Vambridal turned towards the Master of the Beasta Tribe, who now stood before her, anger reflected in his eyes.

  The vampire’s wings quickly flared with panic, while her talons scraped uselessly against his unyielding grip. His glowing claw was now aimed skyward, building a charge as she struggled to summon the mist.  Yet her powers had failed her, for the veil of darkness was far too weak in an environment so close to the setting sun.  His grip around her throat now tightened as her resistance grew weaker.

“For him, I hast to carve out his brain and devour it for dinner,” Roar Lord sadistically joked.  “Yet, all I hast to do for thou is toss thy worthless hide into the sunlight.  Then you’ll burn away like the Diggot thou are.” 

“Don’t…”

“That’s right, thou fears death, don’t you?” Roar Lord asked, tossing her to the ground.  

His glowing claw slowly dimmed as the energy dissipated.  Finally, he approached her, placing his massive, clawed foot against her back, pinning her to the ground.  

“Thou live because of thy knowledge, but thou exist to kneel.”  He then looked back towards Maxle-Gun, who was slowly rebooting his optics.  “As doth he and every other Beasta Tribe member!  Hence, swears thy god!!!”   

The group then erupted with glorious howls as he turned to approach his large, rusted throne that rested crookedly off in the distance.  He took his seat, smiling as he revealed his bloodied fangs.

"Now, you may eat," he said, raising his hand.  

The Beasta Tribe immediately leapt up, lunging towards the bloodied remains of the Exadonian hunters.  The sounds of peeling flesh and snapping bones soon surrounded him, as even Artilla-Beast surrendered to his primal instincts, attacking his fellow tribesmen so that he could receive a bite of their dwindling food source.

  Yet the vampiric witch known as Vambridal had finally given him a means to an end.  And thus, he looked towards his brother, watching as the hulking Artilla-Beast perked up, racing towards him.  He then bowed his head, but Roar Lord stopped him.

“I require thy presence elsewhere,” Roar Lord said, looking out for would-be listeners.  Artilla-Beast then raised his head, nodding before the two walked off in a gorilla-like fashion, disappearing into the darkness.

After several minutes, the two could be seen entering an old command center that sat far off in the distance.  However, Roar Lord soon closed the fleshy curtain, sealing the door behind them.  

The inside was decorated with rusted metal and broken machinery.  Vines, along with other plants, hung from the ceiling, wrapping around the tables.  Exposed cables flickered weakly as Artilla-Beast ducked beneath the narrow ceiling, his heavy frame barely fitting in the decrepit corridor.

However, the hallway wasn’t too long, and thus, they had cleared it within seconds of their arrival.  Roar Lord then looked towards the main entrance of the primary room, flipping the switch that activated the emergency generators that provided the room with much-needed power. 

The lights that still functioned immediately surged to life, while others crackled and sparked before fizzling out entirely.  Artilla-Beast was stunned by the numerous flashing computer screens.  For such a room had barely been used, yet the sight of it never failed to impress the mentally challenged Artilla-Beast, who always watched with innocent amazement.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Roar Lord asked as he approached one of the still-functioning computers.  He then pressed several buttons along the keyboard while his brother grunted repeatedly.  The sounds were similar to speech, but the words never truly formed into anything that resembled language.

Suddenly, the floor began to open as the sounds of screeching gears and wailing pistons roared to life.  

A large, cracked table had begun to slowly rise through the opening as Artilla-Beast looked on with amazement.  After several seconds of cables grinding against rusted metal, the table fully emerged, locking itself into place as the room's centerpiece.

Roar Lord then approached it, sliding his claws across a damaged screen.  Yet the device still flickered with a fading life, flashing as it projected a sizable replica of the planet.

"Brother, doth thou see it?" Roar Lord asked, pointing towards the holographic display.

His brother then responded with several loud grunts before Roar Lord smiled, turning towards him. "This is the key to our tomorrow."  

In response, Artilla-Beast pounded his chest, growling with satisfaction.  

For very few knew of Roar Lord’s plan, but those who did knew very little of what it truly entailed.  Yet his deadly brother, however, had been informed of all the details, and despite it all, he remained proud to serve him as they prepared for what was soon to come.

Artilla-Beast looked towards him and smiled, placing his massive arm across Roar Lord’s shoulder. For the beast was attempting to hug his older brother, yet his hulking size had rendered such an action awkward and strange. 

And yet, the Master of the Beasta Tribe accepted it regardless, for this was the only place that allowed him to show such affection.

Such was the trouble with leadership.  It required strength and cruelty, but it neglects the other, kinder forms of expression.  Such was the weight of the crown, which he now carried upon his head.  

A crown, which had turned him cruel when he wanted to be kind, and desperate when he needed to be calm.  Most importantly, it had robbed him of a relationship with his youngest brother.  For they had their friendship, but the circumstances of their tribe had demanded soldiers in a war of extinction.

"Computer, please present the celestial clock," Roar Lord asked, pulling away from his brother’s embrace.

The holographic image flickered and changed as it shifted upwards, displaying a moon orbiting the planet of Edaylon.  A countdown clock then appeared, ticking down the hours of an approaching apex orbit.  Roar Lord stared at the numbers, committing them to memory.  His superior brain memorized every decreasing second and fading minute.  

For he had only hours to accomplish his mission, and thus, he needed to act quickly.  The survival of his race now depended on it as he bowed his head and sighed.

"Computer, tell me the status of the Pillars of Reflectarath," Roar Lord demanded.

"The Pillars of Reflectarath... Status known, pillars are functional and awaiting usage in the Deserts of Dizor," the computer barely answered, its voice full of static from centuries of silence.  However, the message remained clear as Roar Lord faced his younger brother, who stood awaiting his command.

"We must act quickly, brother!  For the moon is soon to rise, and with it comes our chance to activate the Great Pillars of Reflectarath,” Roar Lord decreed.  Artilla-Beast then smiled and shook his head joyfully as Roar Lord added, "Go now and round up the others, we must be prepared to march at moonrise!"

Artilla-Beast howled in agreement before quickly racing towards the exit, vanishing into the darkened hallways.  A faint chuckle then escaped Roar Lord’s lips as he watched his brother flee, yet his focus soon returned to the holographic display.  

"Computer, pull up drone feed 42-97B: Target, Exadon." 

The image flickered before morphing into a live visual of the villagers as they rushed back and forth, struggling to finish everything in time for the prince’s celebration.  Yet they remained blissfully unaware of the invisible drones, which stalked them from a distance, watching their every step.  The villainous Roar Lord now studied their every motion as he tried to understand the landscape of their village.

"Every day, we edge closer to the brink of extinction, yet thou continue to grow and thrive," he said, watching as the Chief King put forth his expectations for his son’s celebratory meal. 

And with every stir, they nodded their heads, cracking an egg as their king stood by with an unending gaze.  Such innocent bliss could only fill the monstrous master of the Beasta Tribe with horrid disgust.  Yet, he watched on, seeking to learn as much as he could about his would-be foes. 

"Yet a deal was struck, and thus, the fates have concluded a different outcome for our tribe.  One where magic, no matter how dark, will reclaim the Jungles of Edaylon in the name of the Beasta Tribe.  For such is our right… It's always been our right."

His eyes now moved from screen to screen, memorizing the layout of the large crater in which the village rested.  Yet his gaze remained fixated on the sight of the royal palace. 

  For such a structure had been built from the remnants of a collapsed skyscraper, and thus, its size was massive when compared to the village as it lay across the ground above the crater; its upper levels dangling over the village like an ever-watchful eye.  Yet he could see a hidden passageway had remained, carved into the stones themselves as a place of refuge from a would-be attack.  

Yet such a feat could only be obtained through the use of the many waterfalls that encircled the village.  For there were four in total, and thus, a deep moat had been created; one that would require boats to cross, while serving as the ocean princess’s main point of entry.  

He knew that she would never come alone, and thus, he’d need to be prepared for a battle against her ground troops, and quite possibly her Royal Guard as well.

Yet the Beasta Tribe remained at a disadvantage when faced with the fact that their tribe only possessed a few hundred members.  Although Roar Lord remained convinced that they could infiltrate the festivities unnoticed.  

For a party of this size was guaranteed to produce blind spots within the city's security.  And when faced with their speed and size, all they’d need to do is exploit a single gap, and then their inferior numbers would quickly gain the advantage over the Exadonians’ armed defenders.  In doing so, the ensuing chaos would then catch the others off guard and hopefully tilt the odds further in Roar Lord’s favor. 

Yet only he and his brother were cybernetically enhanced, but with the added power of Maxle-Gun and Vambridal; he was confident that there’d be no warrior that could halt their invasion. 

As for the Exadonians’ weapons, he knew that a natural-born member of the Beasta Tribe could resist most of them, but not for extended periods or when faced by multiple groups. Therefore, they’d need to eliminate or subdue various individuals relatively quickly if they were to minimize casualties.  

To do this, however, they’d need to disarm them before they could launch a proper counter-offensive, and thus, they’d only have to contend with the weapons of a standard Exadonian citizen.  

He then shifted his focus towards the town's armories, marking them on his holographic screen.  Once they were all successfully cataloged, he downloaded the information into his cybernetics.  

Even now, his drones had already marked their entrance point, guaranteeing safe passage into the city.

The noble princess of the seas would be arriving to pay her respects to the dying prince, yet her presence remained a wildcard in the eyes of Roar Lord, for she alone could ruin his plans due to her elemental abilities.  Although such powers remained common to the denizens of the sea, none could do it as well as she.  

For she was so powerful that he’d even heard tales that she possessed the ability to create water from nothing, a feat not even her Royal Guard could accomplish.  Such a thought gave the monstrous leader pause, yet his focus soon returned to the mission at hand.  So, he looked towards the waterfalls and pondered a way to limit her powers over them.  Slowly, his eyes squinted at the screens until something caught his eye. 

"Computer, zoom in on the palace," he ordered.

The holographic display then flickered, moving as the drones adjusted their cameras. Slowly, the image came into focus as he saw the mechanism holding the dangling palace in place.  He then raised his hand to his snout, wondering about the stability of such a device.  

His eyes soon shifted towards his mechanical claw as he pondered its destructive capabilities, for he knew that if he could destroy that device, everything would collapse.  The people of Exadon would be destroyed, and the survivors would be too weak to defend themselves properly.  Even the sea princess, for as powerful as she is, couldn’t protect them all from a falling skyscraper.

"Computer, scan that mechanism and say to me its maximum durability strength."  A yellow circle then enclosed the device as several lines covered its metal exterior.  

Different types of numbers and letters flashed across the display as they formed complex equations that even Roar Lord failed to comprehend.  However, it soon finalized a singular equation, manifesting it before the circular shape disappeared entirely.

"Zzzzt… Is highly durable," the computer struggled to answer. "Large amounts of… Zzztt... Needed for proper destruction."

"Do we hast the firepower to destroy it?" he asked.

"Scanning," a beam then shot out from the computer, analyzing Roar Lord's mechanized claw.  After several seconds, the computer spoke, "Alone, it does not contain enough power to destroy the... However, three separate attacks are also not enough.  But a unified attack would result in the imminent collapse of the structure."

"Thank you," Roar Lord said with a sadistic smile. "Now, power down.  That shall be all."

"Very well," the computer replied.  

The holographic display then flickered and vanished; the glowing screens powered down and darkened.  A grinding sound soon filled the room as the table slowly descended beneath the floor.  

Roar Lord then turned towards the other machines as the table vanished behind a closing tile.  He slowly approached them in an ape-like fashion, pressing several sequences of buttons upon his arrival. 

The lights then flashed before the other computers began to power down.  Finally, he went to the doorway, he then turned back and sighed.

"Tonight, Edaylon burns, and we rise," Roar Lord growled, his metallic claws twitching as he flipped the final switch.  Darkness engulfed the room, but his fiery vision burned with the promise of conquest.  

By now, his brother had readied the tribe for war as he went down the hallway.  His blood was boiling as he prepared to give a speech that would rally this generation and everyone who’d follow.  

Change was coming to Edaylon, and no one would stop him.

To Be Continued In: The Light of Edaylon (Part Five) Chapter Four: Birthday Ambush....

Hello everyone! We hope that you've enjoyed the latest chapter of The Light of Edaylon. This has been a story that's very near and dear to me because of how much work went into it and I can't wait for everyone to see what's coming in the future for these characters as the story unfolds and their adventures continue. I can't wait to hear everyone's feedback on this as we continue to introduce new characters and stories, while also updating and revamping our older characters to fit this bold new direction that we're going in. And if you'd like to support us along the way then feel free to donate to us using this link here: PLEASE DONATE- Only $1 Per Month | The JC Multiverse  We're really grateful to all our readers out there as we continue to grow and expand. Once again, I want to say thank you and God bless!