Hao. The Awakening of the Chosen (Finish)

Chapter 9.1

Viktor could see from afar as Lua dodged the Leviathan's first attack, but the second one struck her directly in the stomach, sending her hurtling at high speed toward the wall behind her.He couldn't let that monster finish her off, so he shouted at the top of his lungs with all the strength his vocal cords could muster. The creature stopped looking at Lua and focused on him, while he prepared to flee the scene.The monster turned toward him, disregarding the orders shouted by its rider, gaining momentum and launching itself toward Viktor. He began to run through the corridors he had been through before, buying time for Lua to recover from the impact.At a certain moment, he managed to shake off the creature, so he cautiously made his way back to where Lua had been lying on the ground. Upon arrival, he saw that there was no one there, neither Lua nor any guard. He was confused. Where could Lua be now? Captured?After several seconds of contemplating what to do, he decided to search for his parents; they would know what to do. He glanced at the piece of paper, the map, that Champi had drawn for him to navigate through the building. After checking the directions, he dashed off, hoping not to encounter any guards.Upon reaching the kitchen, it was empty. What he didn't expect was that the adjacent room, the war room, which had always been guarded during his previous excursions, was now without any security guards watching over it.He continued his path, now nearing the dungeons. He descended the spiral stairs to the lower floor and was surprised to see the number of cells in the dungeons, all filled with prisoners.He spent quite some time searching through the maze-like corridors of the dungeon, hoping to find his parents in one of the cells. After much anguish, he managed to find them in cell 666, alongside two more prisoners, who coincidentally happened to be two sages, part of the council of sages. Upon seeing him, his mother jumped with joy from her metal cot and ran toward where he was, hindered only by the metal bars separating them. He quickly looked for a way to force the lock, but it was impossible with the means he had. Thus, he sought advice from his father, who, disregarding the situation, began to tell a story from their past.— On a sunny day in the desert, about 300 centuries ago, something unexpected emerged from the sand: a small cherry blossom branch, pink. To give you some context, in that desert, they hadn't seen a drop of water for a long time; it never rained, and due to that situation, no flora had grown as far back as their memories could recall. Thus, the people of that era were incredulous about this event. After 50 years of growth, that cherry blossom gradually became the hope of the people because it could only mean one thing: the drought was finally going to end. Every day, dozens of townspeople gathered around the cherry blossom and made requests, as if it were a deity, to the extent that temples were built in honor of the tree, then called Bioç. Annually, its fruits were collected and planted in the arid desert soil in hopes of more like it.As often happens, after several years of following this method, some grew tired of the tree and wasting the little food they obtained, planting it uselessly. Thus, demonstrations were called to harvest the tree's fruits and feed the needy; many people turned away from the religion for this reason, and their faith faded without results.One day, the tree split open at its trunk, revealing a wooden door. From within emerged a being resembling a townsman, the first Antler. He introduced himself as Omega, explaining to the townspeople that his species, the Antler, had rebelled against the tyrant Zyon Vexar, leader of the Renegade system. They had expelled them from the system, and they had to flee. Unluckily, their colonial ship was intercepted by space pirates. They were forced to separate onto different planets, and he had landed there. After recounting his story, he requested help to repair his signal transmitter to call his own kind. In return, he would offer them his knowledge.Upon acceptance, Omega created a staff with a pink stone at its tip. With the staff, he touched the ground, and the earth trembled. Each of the seeds that the townspeople had planted began to bloom, creating a completely new landscape in a matter of days.This new environment allowed the townspeople to advance technologically for many years while also attempting to repair the transmission antenna unsuccessfully. It took several years until the antenna could be properly repaired. After that, Omega contacted his people, inviting them to his location.Gradually, dozens and dozens of ships appeared daily in the sky of that place. Little by little, the settlement of the Antler and the townspeople flourished happily, cooperating together.Unfortunately, one day, Omega died in an aerial accident while trying to assist an Antler ship. After the incident, the Antler blamed the townspeople for the aerial accident, but neither his staff nor his body was ever found. It was said that they exploded along with the ship, but it was never confirmed.Your mother, several sages, and I have been searching for years for the staff because it holds unprecedented power that can help us reunite with the Samiz.The problem arises from the other sages not agreeing with this quest, feeling it is counter-revolutionary. That's why they've imprisoned us.— Son, it's no use getting us out of here. Go to our office and investigate the whereabouts of the staff. Only a person with a pure heart can wield the staff; when you are close, the staff will guide you to its location. But first, you must save Lua; she's too important for you to let her die like this. Meet up with Axiom; he will know what to do.— I will do that, thank you.After bidding farewell to his parents, shedding a few tears, Viktor left the cell area through the same path he took before to reach there.As he ran, he tried to pay attention to every sound, hoping it might help him find Lua. But it was in vain; he didn't find her anywhere in the castle. Upon exiting the castle, feeling defeated, he noticed at that moment how the right tower exploded, releasing a large plume of smoke. Quickly, he made his way towards the tower, as that could be the signal he had been waiting for.As he ran, he saw that the fallen soldiers had disappeared. Hastening his pace even more, this time he followed the traces of blood to see where they led.He reached a gigantic room overflowing with soldiers. Luckily, he had entered through one of the balconies, not the main door, which was guarded by several security guards. After observing the scene for several minutes, he saw the guards moving aside, making space for a sage who was accompanied by a chief guard. In the center of the room was a semicircular oval door emitting a blue light. From it emerged two men, one dressed in black armor with fluorescent yellow figures, and the other man wore a more modest armor, red and black, with a single symbol on it, representing the Teherita flag.He knew the sage; his name was Santhiago, one of the three most important sages of the Antler, whose position was above that of the grand master, his father's rank. As they were all silent, their conversation was audible.— Welcome to the dome.— Thank you, Santhiago, — replied the man in the black suit with a smile.— Shall I introduce you to the city? — asked the host.— I'm sorry, but this isn't a sightseeing visit. We've come for a specific reason, — the man in the black suit responded again, removing his helmet to reveal a man whom Viktor knew well, named Luther. His parents had told him many stories about him and his reign of terror with the Night Whispers.— We've found 4 chosen ones thanks to the locator we placed on the Antler. What was his name again?— Lukotico — Hektor chimed in.— Thank you, Hektor.— So, we've built another portal in the realm of the Samiz thanks to the technology you provided, and we've sent entire battalions of troops to get the chosen ones. — And what has been the result? — Santhiago asked.— The twenty-fourth battalion was destroyed, and the thirty-third retreated from battle. According to the reports I received, wave after wave, they're destroying my army. They've managed to create a shield capable of withstanding our attacks.— Don't forget Lukotico and his spirit pet; he's finishing off our officers, — Hektor said as he removed his helmet.— We believe someone here has been leaking information about our plans, — Luther continued.— We know that; we've already captured them. They're called Halfonso Valtorium and Kerry Xylonis, and we have them imprisoned along with an agitator. If you'll accompany me, gentlemen, the prisoners are over here. — Santhiago said cheerfully.— Perfect, let's interrogate them, — said Hektor with a malevolent smile.The three of them headed towards a part of the room where there were three iron rings, with prisoners tied by their extremities to these rings. Any movement would cause an electric shock from a staff emitting electrical charges. Upon focusing his sight, Viktor saw that those prisoners were actually his parents, and off to the side, apart from them, was Lua. He couldn't believe it. He had just spoken with them a moment ago, and now they were going to be interrogated.The first to approach was Santhiago.— Hello, Halfonso, how are you, old friend?In a fit of rage, my father spat in the sage's face, immediately being struck with the electric staff by one of the guards.— Criminal, we haven't come here to talk but to subdue you. Do you understand that? — Luther asked.My father refused to speak, looking angrily at the sage, his face still red from the blow. Santhiago signaled for another guard to strike my father again.— I'll ask you just once, how many chosen ones are there, and how do we defeat them?My father refused to answer that intrusive question. Another blow was dealt to his already bloodied body. Seeing what they were doing to my father, my mother screamed.— Stop it! I'll tell you everything, but don't hit him anymore.— Lie to us, and you'll die, — threatened Hektor.— First, what have you done to my son, Viktor?— Give me some information, and I'll tell you where I have your son, — Santhiago quickly replied, bluffing.— Give me a sign of life from Viktor, and I'll tell you everything you want to know, — mother said.— Incorrect answer, — replied the sage, giving another signal to the guard to shock my father again. He cried out in pain.— Okay, okay, I'll talk, if I recall correctly. The prophecy said the following:Six chosen ones you must find,And a wise leader must be shown,And to find the great solutionTo the terrible and grand agitation.— Six chosen ones, of whom there is one leader, right?— According to the prophecy, yes.— Then, if we eliminate the leader, the rebellion will end, won't it?— If you want to believe that, it's up to you. A rebellion started will never die until the opposers fall.— So, let's resolve this here and now; who are the ringleaders of the rebellion?— We're all leaders of our own rebellion, aren't we? — father said exhaustedly.Luther glanced at Santhiago, who approached father and, with his arm, broke both of my father's legs, leaving him suspended only by his arms from the upper part of the metal ring.— I'd rather die here than kneel before you, traitor, — father said, looking at Santhiago with angry eyes. At that moment, Luther looked at Santhiago and nodded. Santhiago approached father again, this time seeming to have good intentions.— I forgive you, but my spear doesn't, — Santhiago said, kicking the weapon out of the guard's hand and, with another kick, thrusting it into my father's right side. He let out a final sigh, still with a smile in his eyes, and closed them for the last time.My mother let out a scream so loud and piercing that blood began to drip from her lips. I, on the other hand, felt disoriented. Those three beings had just killed my father, and surely, they would soon go after my mother. So, without even thinking, I lunged at them headfirst from the balcony.