Continuation of Chapter 3

RADNAK

I quickly descend onto a building stained with the blood of war. The walls are splattered as if hit by a wave, and lifeless bodies lie cold on the ground. Reverting to my humanoid form, I approach Garma, hoping to reason with him and stop this madness.

“Father, you need to stop this madness! You’re too old for this!” I shout.

“Wait!” Garma commands, halting the Bloody Scars as they start to advance. “Follow my command,” he tells them before turning back to me. “You think I’m too old to give orders? Let me make it clear, I am not. You’ve lost your way, child. Erebus is the true Helios, and he will rule this planet with the envoys. In the end, those who accept him as their emperor will enter the Light City.”

“Sounds like you’ve caught Erebus’ madness. Only crazy people think that way.”

“And you think Didius Julianus is the right man for this planet? You’re living in a fool’s paradise, son. Didius doesn’t have the capacity to rule the multiverse. He’s the younger brother of Erebus! Tell me, is it possible for a young man to rule over his brothers?”

“Yes, it’s possible! If you and the others would give him a chance!...” My voice cracks as I try to hold back the tears. “I’m so disappointed in you, father! You’re betraying your own family just for a higher rank. You’re comfortable with this mess! Comfortable with killing people!”

“Why didn’t you stop the humanoids from destroying Helios property in the first place!? Answer me!”

His question pierces me like a dagger, reminding me of what my daughter said: “Why don’t we hold a meeting with the humanoids and discuss this matter?” My face crumples, weighed down by guilt.

“Listen, the reason I’m working for Erebus is to make this planet a better place. Rebellion is what’s best for us. I wish you could understand that.”

“I do understand, but we don’t want that, Dad. I don’t want that. It’s our right to decide what we need on this planet!... Please, you need to stop this. This is not the way to make things better. You can’t force people to accept what they don’t want. I’m begging you.”

“I’m sorry, son, but this is my fate. And I won’t let you interfere... Why don’t you join me, Radnak? We could build the future together and live for eternity.”

“No. I won’t. And since you refuse to stop, I’ll do this the hard way.”

I transform back into my unique, powerful creature form and create a weapon with an ax blade and a sharp spike, mounted on a long staff. I take my fighting stance.

“The hard way, then,” Garma replies.

He transforms into a towering, intimidating creature, his armor a golden relic from ancient Egyptian mythology. He’s a massive figure, with rough iron cuffs and a bony head protected by ridges. His body is an anthropoid with broad chest, thicker bones, and a muscular neck. 

I launch myself at Garma, halberd raised, and bring it crashing down. But he catches the weapon with his left hand, pulls me forward, and hurls a punch with his right. Pain shoots through my back as I crash down, but I push myself up and fly back at him. We clash again; I strike with the halberd, but he parries, snatching the weapon from my grip and landing a solid punch to my face. My back slams into a wall, my vision blurs, but I force myself up and out of the building, creating a new weapon, heavy and lethal.

I charge at Garma once more, but he meets me with a fierce punch.

“Oh, Radnak. I expected more from you. You’re unskilled, untrained, and unworthy,” Garma taunts.

“You forgot one... Unstoppable,” I reply, getting back to my feet.

To be continued….