Last Son: Book One

Chapter 9 Gates of Aza Empire

Samael finds himself washed up near the gates of the Aza Empire, awakening to the voice of Abbie calling out to him. He gets up, takes in his surroundings, and asks, "Where are we, Abbie?" Abbie appears on his right side and responds, "This is it! We have arrived at the Aza Empire." Excitedly, Samael asks, "The Aza Empire?!" Abbie confirms, "Yes, adventurous! This is the Aza Empire. Walk through those gates and ask around to find someone who can take you to the emperor." Samael nods and says, "Alright, let's go!" Samael begins making his way towards the front gates of the Aza Empire. As he walks, a shadowy creature flies over him, catching his attention. He looks up at the sky, but the creature has already disappeared. Samael wonders to himself, "I wonder if Keino is still alive? And if he is, where could he be?" Suddenly, one of the Aza gate guards calls out to him, "Hey, mister! What is your name?" Samael replies, "I am Samael." The other gate guard chimes in, "You may enter the city of Aza!" But before Samael can proceed, the second gate guard adds, "But first, answer this question: What is our code?" Samael ponders for a moment, and Abbie appears on his left side, answering, "Terra of Pterodac." Samael confidently responds, "Terra of Pterodac!" With that, Samael is allowed to enter the city of Aza. The bustling city is filled with a large population, marketplaces, blacksmiths, schools, and educational programs to train Aza fighters. The city is constantly growing, with new homes being built daily and the land expanding. The Aza fighters and Aza imperial knights are abundant, creating a sense of security. As Samael takes in the sights, he turns to Abbie and asks, "So, Abbie, where do we go from here?" Abbie appears on his right side and reveals a holographic map, saying, "Follow this street until you reach a bridge. Go under the bridge, and you will come across a location easily recognizable as the Aza Terminal Program." Curious, Samael asks, "Aza Terminal Program?" Abbie assures him, "Yes, adventurous! Go there, and I will provide you with location updates as you progress." Samael nodded, following the given coordinates, and eagerly helped a little girl reunite with her friend. "Hey, mister!!! Mist—mister!!! Can you... help me find my friend?" the little girl pleaded. Samael asked, "What is your friend's name?" The girl replied, "Her name is Dolly!" Samael reassured her, "Okay... stay put—I will find your doll." Grateful, the girl said, "Thank you... mister!" Samael continued his journey, keeping his eyes peeled for Dolly, the little girl's beloved doll. As he followed the coordinates, he eventually arrived at a bridge depicted on the holographic map. Following Abbie's guidance, Samael ventured under the bridge, where he suddenly experienced visions of a mysterious dark hooded man. The vision was blurry, but Samael's Azureus orb provided the only source of light. The dark-hooded man spoke with a sly tone, saying, "You're not too far from the Aza terminal program—I will be your guide from here on." Samael, cautious and unable to see the dark hooded man's face, expressed his distrust, stating, "I can't trust you if I can't see your face." The dark-hooded man let out an evil laugh and replied, "You don't need to see my face—just believe... my sincerity! My voice is the voice of truth, and I will not lead you astray." Samael, unimpressed, retorted, "Hmmm...let's see about that." Undeterred, Samael continued to follow the dark-hooded man. As they walked under the bridge, Samael noticed disturbing markings on the walls, and his vision grew even blurrier. The dark-hooded man urged him to keep going, promising that they were almost there. Doubts crept into Samael's mind. "What if he's lying? What if he's leading me into a trap?" he wondered. The dark hooded man continued to laugh, and Samael tried to refocus his vision, but it remained impaired. Eventually, the dark-hooded man instructed Samael to go ahead of him, assuring him that he would reach the Aza terminal program. Samael continued his journey, passing by the mysterious dark-hooded man. The man let out a chilling laugh, and Samael couldn't help but respond, "Are you coming?" Amused, the dark-hooded man chuckled and replied, "I will meet you again." Samael's vision cleared, and he turned around, only to find that the dark-hooded man had vanished. Instead, Abbie appeared on his left side, bringing a sense of familiarity. "We are here, adventurous!" she exclaimed. Samael acknowledged their arrival, realizing that they had reached the Aza terminal program facility. "This is—the Aza terminal program," Samael questioned Abbie.  "Correct! Welcome to the Aza terminal program, adventurous!" she responded. As Samael entered the facility through its grand steel doors, he laid eyes upon a round steel platform, reminiscent of the one in the real Aza world. The facility itself was vast, with imposing steel walls holding untold secrets within and beneath their surface. Samael knew that the Aza terminal program consisted of three secret floors, but he wondered what mysteries they held and where they were located. Undeterred by the unknown, Samael stepped onto the round steel platform, with Abbie appearing on his right side. Determined, he declared, "I'm ready." Abbie, matching his enthusiasm, replied, "Okay, adventurous! Let's go." With a resolute nod, Samael approached the panel and pressed the button that would take them down to the sixth floor. As the round steel platform began its descent, Samael's mind raced with anticipation. What awaited him within the steel walls of the Aza terminal program? Would he encounter formidable foes, cunning traps, or malevolent entities lurking on the sixth floor? And would fate reunite him with the enigmatic dark-hooded man? As the platform continued its descent, Samael steeled himself for the challenges that lay ahead. The air grew thick with suspense, but Samael remained steadfast in his resolve. He was prepared to face any obstacle, fully aware that the Aza terminal program held the answers he sought. With unwavering determination, Samael vowed to navigate the facility peacefully while remaining vigilant. He knew that beneath the steel surface and within the secret floors of the Aza terminal program, countless enigmas awaited him. Samael was determined to unravel every hidden secret, confront every challenge, and uncover the truth that lay shrouded within the steel walls. As the round steel platform reached its destination, the doors opened to reveal the sixth floor. Stepping off the platform, Samael braced himself for whatever lay ahead. His senses heightened, he was ready to confront the unknown within these steel walls. Abbie stood by his side, a loyal companion in this new chapter of the Aza terminal program. The next chapter of Samael's adventures in the Aza terminal program would unveil the secrets of the sixth floor. What adversaries, trapped entities, or malevolent forces would he encounter? Only time would reveal the answers. Yet, Samael was prepared for any challenge that awaited him. With unwavering determination, he would overcome every obstacle and unravel the truth hidden within the steel walls of the Aza terminal program.