Xerxes

The great war

It was dark and cold in here. I could not see in this murky water. Where had the monster taken her to? I had to get her back, no matter what. Driving myself upwards, I burst out of the pond for the sixth time, gasping for air. I could not do this alone, but everyone was either passed out or tired. Harry was the only one alive and well, however, he had to protect them from harm. Without wasting another second, I dove back in determined to find Trina this time.

Using my hands, I searched the rocks and seaweeds to no avail. It was a futile effort in this dark place, but I had to try. Pushing past my limits, I persevered until I felt dizzy. I needed air, it was time to get back to the surface. Driving off the wet ground, I began my gradual ascent. I had no choice, I would need to wake up Roman. He could help with his vast knowledge on things. I was close to the surface when something cold wrapped around my ankle. Looking back, a pair of yellow eyes glared at me with murderous intent. I had been caught, I had to get out of here.

The creature held onto me, but I was not going down without a fight. Searching my pocket for a weapon, my hand grazed along a sharp object which I found to be a fork from the already wet cake I had forgotten to eat. Taking it out and stabbing the creatures tentacle, I was freed, but only for a moment. For as I reached the surface, my whole body got wrapped in tentacles which squeezed me tight before dragging me back. Taking my last gulp of air, I watched the little light from the surface become distant as I was taken into the depths. Its grip was tight, I could not escape.

***

It was still swimming with me as its hostage. How long before it was finally over? The air in my lungs had gotten thin and I needed to breathe. It was useless fighting against this creature. Its strength was unlike anything I had ever faced before, not that I had faced much anyway.

My head got dizzy as I struggled to set myself free.

Air.

That was what I needed, air.

Was this it? Was this the end?

Everyone was depending on me to save them, I could not throw in the towel like this. There must be something that I could do, anything was better than nothing. I was a sitting duck in this pond, I cannot lose to this creature. I have to fight against the King and save my people.

Clenching my fists, I held onto the fork tightly. There was no way to use it, my body was restrained by the tentacles. I was really in a fix this time. I couldn't help but think about my hidden powers. There must be something that I could do.

I had a thought, the voice that spoke to me during the bar fight, I needed it now. Trying to connect with my inner self did not seem to help my situation, I was running out of time. The only solution was to get out of here. Straining my restrained hands away from my body, I put out the fork to feel for rocks. I had a plan to escape. It would not be easy, but it would give me the break I needed.

Something scratched against the object giving me hope. Using my weight as leverage, I twisted my body to the direction of the rock and hit my legs against it, bouncing off with much force. The creature had not seen that coming for it let go of me as I was freed from my prison. It had worked, finally I was free.

I felt a warm sensation flow from my head as my body throbbed with pain.

Blood.

What had happened? It had worked, right? Then what was the issue?

I was still moving in the opposite direction of the rock I had bounced off from, before hitting another rock which pierced my back. The little air I had in me got knocked out almost immediately with the pain getting worse by the minute. I concentrated on finding out a reason for why I had bled in the first place and I came up with a theory. The terrain of this pond was rocky, I must have scratched my head on a pointed rock as I had used so much force to twist and ricochet off the other rock.

I was in a bad spot now. The rock had pierced me deep in the back and it was holding me down. My body was too weak to move as my lungs filled up with water. I should have woken up Roman before jumping into the water. The creature growled in anger before rushing to me with its yellow eyes. I closed my eyes, preparing to meet my end, when something unexpected happened.

"I'M GUESSING YOU NEED MY HELP NOW," a deep voice rumbled to me with fearful authority.

My body became numb with fear as I opened my eyes to find myself standing face to face with a giant demon sitting on a throne. What was this? Where had the water gone to?

"FINALLY YOU'RE HERE," it said. "WE MEET AGAIN, XERXES."

***

Its smile was evil and the aura it gave off was so much that it choked me with it. I could not move, I was shaking in fear. I was alone in a room with a creature that was fifty, no, a hundred times my size. I was as big as its toe nails. Was I dead? Was this hell?

Falling onto my knees, I looked down to see my reflection. My face was battered up and bloody.

"What do you want?" I asked with a shaky voice. I had to be careful or one wrong step and I would be done for.

"I..." it said with hesitation in its voice. "WHAT DO I WANT?"

I looked up to see a man about my size standing in front of me. The throne was empty. Where had the large monster gone to?

"I AM A FORCE, WHAT I WANT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS," the mans voice rumbled angrily. "THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

Was this man the same creature that had been on the throne? Was he a shapeshifter?

He walked up to me with the aura around him forming some sort of glowing cloak. The air started to get supercharged as lightening crackled around us.

"What are you?" I asked with conviction this time, standing up. If I was going to die, I might as well learn something about this demon.

"YOU REALLY ARE TROUBLE, AREN'T YOU?" he sighed. "IF I WAS NOT LINKED TO YOU, I WOULD HAVE KILLED YOU ON THE FIRST DAY I WAS AWAKENED. BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE BECAUSE YOU AND I ARE ONE."

What was he talking about? What did he mean that we were one? Was he the source of my powers?

"YES, I AM THE SOURCE OF YOUR POWERS, AND CAN YOU PLEASE STOP THINKING!" he yelled in anger. "WATCHING YOU GET BEATEN IN EVERY FIGHT PISSES ME OFF, I DONT NEED TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS TOO..."

"Why does my father want you sealed away?" I interrupted, ignoring his complaints.

He walked away from me as the lightening started to fade leaving only his glowing cloak.

"IT'S VERY SIMPLE," he replied. "I AM THE FORCE OF DESTRUCTION."

His answer was not much of an answer and I wanted more.

"LET ME TELL YOU A STORY," he said, sitting on a throne that had appeared out of nowhere.

"ONCE UPON A TIME..." he began, with his voice fading away as angry voices started to echo behind me. I turned around to see six people standing over a table arguing.

I recognized them in that instant; my father, Roman in a dark attire with darkness hovering around him, the head god, Uranus, with lightning crackling around his body, Zemeta the goddess of speed, Oceania the god of the waters, Senile the god of war and Gagontae the goddess of forgery. They were the most powerful gods in history and with their powers they had brought about the creation of the world as well as its destruction when they had fought the great war.

"We cannot let that creature come forth," Uranus banged his hand on the table, smashing the top in.

"We have no choice but to do so," my father countered. "If Zenok is alive just as Mars said he is, then it means that the world is in danger."

"We have to create the creature, Uranus," Senile requested. "It's the only way."

The atmosphere was getting tense as Uranus had a frightening frown on his face. He closed his eyes and sighed.

"I guess we have no choice but to bring forth Callipso, the force of destruction."

My eyes widened at the mention of that name. I had read about it in the underground library at the monastery. I was witnessing the beginning of the end. The moment the force of destruction was awakened and the reason for the great war.