The Crimson Champion

Karnak Side Story: The Lone Heir Of Tartaros

(Author's Note: This side story takes place over 300 years before the main story, and it's mainly from Karnak's point of view during various parts of his life, please enjoy! Also the god Eclipse is a character that belongs to my doomtastic best friend Doom!)

King Ramses Tartaros sits on his throne in silence, but then his son comes up to him. "Father, I have news!" Ramses raises an eyebrow. "What would that be, Samson?"

Samson thinks. "The bastard child has been born, and it looks like he takes after you." Ramses nods. "Alright then, order the guards to transport the woman back to where she came from. She cannot be allowed to stay here any longer after this."

Samson walks out to carry out the orders, leaving Ramses to his thoughts. "Since this child takes after me, I unfortunately cannot just send him away with his mother..."

Ramses thinks deeply. "Hmm...I must raise the child myself, because I cannot just kill him, so I should make sure he is trained. Then, I can send him off to battle Solaris's armies. With any luck, he will meet an untimely end and my secret will have no chance of being found out..."

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I make sure my staff is strapped to my back, then I leave my room to go to the training courtyard. As I walk through some halls, I come across a familiar woman and I wave. "Hello, Gilna. How are things?"

She gives me a slightly annoyed look. "Not that good, Karnak. Once again, someone didn't check their books back in on time, so I need to take things into my own hands." Gilna walks off angrily and I almost feel a little sorry for the poor person who forgot to bring back what they borrowed.

I reach the training courtyard and I see my only friend, Graham, so I go up to him. "Hey, Graham. Ready for some training?" He turns to look at me and smirks. "Always."

Graham grabs another staff from a rack as I grab mine off of my back, but as we both get into battle positions, my older brother Samson walks in and laughs. "The bastard and the lowly soldier, what a dynamic duo!"

I growl as he calls me that. I was told that I was half human by my father, and I told Graham too one day, although very few others know. Samson knows calling me that name pisses me off, and he enjoys it. "Samson, what do you want?"

He grins as he walks over and snatches Graham's staff. "I'd like to fight, of course. Unless you're too scared of me to try, which I would definitely understand. I am very intimidating, after all." I just roll my eyes and prepare to face him.

Samson leaps at me without warning and I'm barely able to block his swing. I try to retaliate, but he brutally attacks again, hitting me in the side, making me fall over.

Samson laughs as he stands over me. "You're weak, Karnak!" I try to get up, but Samson just kicks me. "You will never be as good as I am, "brother"!"

Graham glares at Samson. "Get the hell away from him." Samson raises an eyebrow. "What are you going to do if I don't?" Graham opens his mouth to say something, but then we all hear an explosion, followed by screams, and I immediately take the chance to stand. "What the hell was that?!"

Samson growls. "I don't know, but it sounded bad." He looks at Graham. "Soldier, go find out what happened." Graham nods and leaves, then Samson turns back to me. "Let's go see what Father knows." I just nod and follow him towards the throne room.

As we enter, we see Father pacing around the room and he turns to us. "Good, you're here! I don't know how they managed to do it, but Solaris's armies are attacking the city!" I look at him in shock. "What?! What are we going to do?!"

Father thinks. "You two are to spread out and evacuate as many people as you can using the ships while I take the passage and escape." I think to myself: Ugh, is he really doing this...? Samson just nods and turns to leave. "I won't let you down, Father! Come along, bastard." I just silently leave with Samson.