Last Son: Book One

Chapter 4 Ride with the sky: Part two

Samael carefully surveyed the area, taking note of the small and outdated training room he found himself in. He approached an old wooden round platform that seemed to be intended for children aged six and above. Stepping off the platform, Samael continued his exploration but found nothing of significance. Determined to uncover the secrets of his past, he pressed on and entered another room. To his surprise, this new training room was much larger and designed for older children and youths. The combat training platform was wider and made of wood, although it showed signs of wear and tear. Samael couldn't help but be overcome by fleeting memories from his childhood. The purpose of this education and the significance of this school remained elusive, obscured by the passage of time. As Samael left the room, a monitor discreetly observed his every move. The scene transitioned from the room to the hallway, leading him to yet another room. Curiosity piqued, Samael wondered what lay beyond the door. With a sense of anticipation, he entered the room and was met with a sight that dwarfed the previous training areas. The scale of the room was immense, surpassing the combined size of the children's and youths' training rooms. "Whoa!" Samael exclaimed, taken aback by the sheer magnitude of the space. However, disappointment soon set in as he realized that everything within was nothing more than useless junk. As he attempted to make his way towards the exit, he discovered that the door was locked, its sign indicating that only staff members were allowed access. Suddenly, the door swung open on its own, causing Samael to instinctively raise his sword in defense. To his surprise, there was no threat awaiting him beyond the door. Perplexed by the strange occurrences, Samael proceeded down the hallway, unaware of the watchful eyes of the monitor. Eventually, he arrived at a set of double doors. As they swung open, he entered a round room adorned with a platform made of steel plates. Intrigued, Samael approached the platform, reminiscing about his childhood and a particular book he had read. "No way... this room—it's like something out of a comic book," Samael thought to himself. Suddenly, a holographic image of a female guide named Abbie materialized on the steel platform. She introduced herself as the tour guide for the upcoming tournament, which would feature six legendary warriors and one true champion. "Hello, guest! I am Abbie, your guide for this adventure. While I am not the first AI, I am a replica of Abbie. Welcome to the first ground level of Aza World's premier. Allow me to explain the current and upcoming events of this adventure," Abbie greeted Samael. She proceeded to describe how each adventurer would start at ground level one, choosing a class corresponding to their skills and abilities. The available classes included warrior, hunter, spy, mage, striker, and summoner. Abbie emphasized the importance of selecting a class that the adventurer had mastered through education and training. Samael carefully considered his options and ultimately chose the warrior class. Abbie applauded his choice, explaining that warriors excelled in close combat and dealt heavy damage to their enemies. Samael's starting weapon would be a common long steel sword. With his class chosen, Samael stepped onto the round steel-plate platform. Slowly, it began to ascend, while Abbie provided further guidance. She cautioned Samael about the dangers that awaited him in the digital Aza World. This replica of the current world was teeming with adventure and peril, filled with both potential allies and formidable monsters. As the platform continued to rise, Samael braced himself for the unknown challenges that lay ahead. The journey into the digital Aza World had begun, and he was prepared to face whatever awaited him. Samael looked at Abbie with a mix of concern and determination. "Monsters, you say?" he questioned. "Yes! I will explain more about them as we continue on this adventure," Abbie replied. Samael's curiosity grew as he asked, "What is the purpose of this digital world?" Abbie promised to explain once they reached the top. "I don't have time!" Samael exclaimed, his urgency evident. "I need to return to the real Aza world." Abbie sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation. "I apologize, Adventurous. The steel plate doesn't descend, only ascends. The only way out is by defeating the Aza world." Surprised and frustrated, Samael retorted, "Why didn't you tell me before I stepped on Abbie?" Abbie's response was apologetic. "I'm not programmed to inform the Adventurous about the exit of the Aza world." Samael questioned further, "Who made you?" Abbie replied, "I'm also not programmed to identify my creator." Samael's frustration grew as he asked, "Then what are you programmed to do?" Abbie explained, "To ensure that all Adventurous are informed about the purpose of this digital world." Undeterred, Samael declared, "Let's see about that." The round steel-plate platform reached the top level, marking the beginning of Samael's adventure within the digital Aza world. Abbie would serve as his guide. Samael turned to Abbie and inquired, "So, Abbie, what is the purpose of this digital world?" Abbie answered Samael. "Adventurous! Now I can tell you the true purpose of this digital Aza world," Abbie began. "It was created to allow children and adults to become great Aza fighters." Samael seemed puzzled as he asked, "Fighters? But why?" Abbie explained, "So they can face the dangers of the real world." Curiosity piqued, Samael pressed further, "What kind of dangers?" Abbie's voice grew somber as she shared the history of the world. "The world was once ruled by an evil emperor. Initially, the emperor was not evil, but he succumbed to the dark side and lost his connection to the light. He turned against the people of Aza, punishing them for their goodness." Samael chuckled, a puzzled expression on his face. "The emperor of Aza turned evil and decided to punish the people because of their goodness?" he questioned. The AI paused briefly, and Samael finally grabbed Abbie's attention. "Yeah, anyways! Are you ready to begin your adventure, Adventurous?" Abbie dismissed the confusion, focusing on the task at hand. "What's the adventure again?" Samael inquired. Abbie clarified, "The main quest is to stop the emperor before he empowers himself and causes the downfall of the Aza world." Samael sought clarification, "Are you referring to the real Aza world or this digital world?" Abbie's response was grave, "If Aza falls, you will lose, and then the entire universe will be no more." Samael's thoughts raced, overwhelmed by the weight of those words. He quickly regained his composure and declared, "The emperor must be stopped! Where can I find him?" Abbie reassured him, "That's why I'm here. I will ensure you are guided to the emperor's empire." Samael questioned the distance, "How far is this empire?" Abbie responded, "It's approximately twenty miles from here." Realizing the urgency of their mission, Samael asked, "How much time do we have before the emperor strengthens his empire?" Abbie replied, "I believe until midnight, so we need to move quickly!" Samael nodded, determined not to waste any time. "We can't cover much ground on foot," he stated. Abbie pondered for a moment and then suggested, "I can use cheat codes to provide you with a faster mode of transportation." Samael stared back at Abbie, and said, "Cheat codes? Is this a video game?" Samael chuckled. Abbie responded, "You have a sense of humor, Adventurous! Let me see what I can do." As they continued their journey, they suddenly heard screams up ahead. Samael observed a man running from four-legged beasts that resembled triceratops. "Run!" Samael heard himself say, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the terrifying scene. "What are we going to do, Adventurous?" Abbie asked urgently. Samael made a bold decision, "Let's follow the tracks." Abbie cautioned him, "Are you crazy? Those are Aza triceratops!" Samael, surprised, asked, "Whoa! I thought triceratops went extinct?" Abbie explained, "They did, centuries ago. But these are clones of the original triceratops, and they are incredibly dangerous." Realizing the urgency, Samael said, "We must save that man. We need a plan to rescue him and ensure our escape." With determination, Abbie responded, "I can suggest tips and help you carry out the plan." And so, Samael and Abbie devised a plan to save the man from the Aza triceratops and escape unharmed. They planned to create a distraction to draw the attention of the beasts away from the man, then swiftly and quietly rescue him. Afterward, they would find a safe path to escape, using their skills and teamwork to outsmart the triceratops. With adrenaline coursing through their veins, they set out on their daring rescue mission, ready to face the dangers of the digital Aza world and stop the evil emperor before it was too late. Samael charged into battle, his long steel sword raised high, ready to face the Aza triceratopses head-on. With a swift movement, he blocked the attack of one of the beasts, but his sword was no match for the sharp horns of the triceratops. Samael found himself defenseless as his weapon was pierced through. "Damn! My weapon," Samael exclaimed in frustration. But he quickly used his teleportation ability to dodge the next attack. In that moment, the Azureus orb bestowed upon him an unusual long steel sword. Samael gripped the weapon tightly, ready to take on the remaining triceratopses. Using his teleportation skills, Samael fought with incredible agility and skill, swiftly dispatching the Aza triceratopses one by one. Finally, only one beast remained, and Samael took a moment to catch his breath. As the dust settled, a man approached, amazed by Samael's heroic actions. "Wow! What is your name?" he asked. Samael turned around, a smile forming on his face as he swung his sword over his shoulders. "I am Samael," he replied confidently. The man introduced himself as Keino and asked about Samael's purpose in the area. Samael, finding the man's question amusing, asked in return, "What brings you out here?" Keino chuckled and replied, "What do you think? I'm hunting me some Aza triceratops." Samael smirked and laughed. "If it wasn't for me, you would've been in danger," he teased. Keino scratched his head and chuckled, admitting, "You got me, pal! I needed your support. So, Samael, what kind of sword are you carrying?" Samael swung the sword, stabbing it into the ground, and waved his hand in slow motion, showcasing the weapon. "This sword... is a mighty sword," he declared. Keino was taken aback by the sight of the unusual long steel sword. He couldn't help but beg Samael to hold it. "Hey, Samael, can I... can I hold your weapon?" Samael shook his head. Keino fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face, begging Samael to grant his request. But Samael walked away without giving in to his plea. Keino stopped crying, looked up, and called out to Samael. "Hey mister, aren't you forgetting something?" Samael turned around with a nonchalant expression. "Nah, I got everything." Keino ran to catch up with Samael, insisting, "So, uh... are we going together? Take on more huge monsters? Hey, pal, I think you and I could be great partners!" Samael smirked and laughed. "I don't have time for weak ones." Keino rushed in front of Samael, pointing his finger and yelling defensively. "Who are you calling weak?! Imbecile! I'll show you tough, pal. Keino is never weak! I have killed tons of monsters, and I've lived here all my life. But you, on the other hand, I have never seen before. So, uh... where do you live, pal?" Samael took a deep breath, gazing at Keino before answering, "I live far from here, in the land of Azazel." Keino burst into laughter, finding Samael's response hilarious. "You got me again! I'm sorry, pal. Dang, you're funny. I didn't see that coming from you!" Confused, Samael questioned, "What do you mean? Azazel doesn't exist anymore?" Keino stopped laughing, taking a moment to catch his breath. He replied, "Azazel doesn't exist anymore, pal! Haven't you heard from the emperor?" Samael nodded, intrigued. "You know the emperor?" Keino chuckled, placing his hand behind his head. "Yeah, of course! I know the emperor, you imbecile." Samael's eyes narrowed with determination. "Good. Take me to the emperor." Keino nodded eagerly, a big smile on his face. "So, uh... we're partners then." "Yeah, point the way and follow my lead," Samael replied, ready to embark on this journey with his newfound partner. Keino asked if he could return home to gather some supplies, but Samael refused, stating that there was no time. However, Keino confidently declared that he had a faster way to travel. Intrigued, Samael looked up at the sky, realizing that daylight was running short. "Alright, let's head to your home. How far? Keino took the lead, mumbling to himself, and replied; "Not far pal!!! We are there in uh few." The two journey together as partners, heading back to Keino's home and will soon be on their way to the emperor. Samael has flashbacks of his previous partner and the very phrase he said to Samael; "Ride with the sky." What does that phrase mean? And will Samael find out in his next chapter on this journey?