The Shadow Man

SevenTeen

I awaken, wearing armor that doesn't belong to me.
It flows with Nolite energy, energy that has been returned to me.
A helmet sits in front of me on a table.
Along side it is my staff.
Immediately I grab it, and I feel it's familiar warmth beneath my armored fingers.
The gauntlets cover all but my index, middle, and my thumb.
I reach up and place the helmet over my head. Hydraulics hiss the moment the helmet is placed.
The armor tightens and whirrs as it connects with my body.
It feels natural, like I'm connected to it in the same way as my staff.
Neon glows around me in blue, lighting up the room.
Lines of green energy flows in shapes that are familiar to me.
How do I recognize them?
They becon me to leave this hallway.
I walk to the other end of the hall, and doors open vertically, revealing an open field in front of me.
White trees stand tall outside the doors.
I step out and instantly I know I'm not on earth anymore.
I hear voices speaking softly all around.
Instinctively I pull my staff, but it refuses to shift its blade.
"Step forward, warrior."
Calls a single voice.
I obey, moving through the Forrest of white trees.
I emerge from the trees to see a black floor. The moment my metal boots clang against the blacktop, it ignites with Nolite symbols all around me, the same ones etched into my staff.
They tell my story, they tell everything about me.
"The Strong One. The One who defeated Dāku."
The voice says.
"Where am I?"
I ask.
I hear murmurs come from all around me.
"You, are in the Nolite Crucible."
The voice says.
"Show us just how Strong you are."
Says the voice.
Across the field, I see the pale trees part, as a monster emerges from their depths.
It screams and flexes its four muscular arms. It's grey skin is torn and rugged, bearing scars from countless previous battles.
"You may ignite your staff."
I hear the voice call.
I pull the staff from my back, and extend its blade.
Blue mist eases from off it as I walk forwards.
"H'edra. The beast of the Gallows."
The voice announces.
The voices scream in both fear and excitement. I look around to see faces of people, My people. They watch as I stare down the jaws of this creature.
It charges towards me on all six of its appendages.
"Okay."
I mutter.
I race towards it, and leap just before it reaches me.
A clean cut severs its jugular.
It falls to the ground, sliding a few more feet before its body stops all motion.
I land on a fist and a knee with my blade pointed behind me, completely unharmed.
People Gasp all around.
Another challenger emerges from the tree line, armed with a spear.
The ground beneath my feet shifts and changes.
I'm standing on only my two feet.
A side glance reveals that the floor has configured to my feet, only staying where my boots are planted.
The challenger leaps into the air, and into the abyss that surrounds me.
I look down to where he was, only to see him rise, lifted by the same stilt-like supports as I.
He runs towards me, the floor drops where his feet leave and emerge where his feet land.
He continues running fearlessly towards me, not staggered by the abnormal circumstances of our confrontation.
He leaps into the air with his spear poised to strike.
I swipe the blade away from myself, and with a single punch to his jaw I send him reeling back. The ground rises, catching him before he plummets.
He stands, twirling his weapon behind him before pointing its blade at my chest.
I don't know where I am, and these people are trying to kill me.
With the monster I held nothing back, but this is a person, and I don't want to kill him.
He charges at me, spinning his lance, trying to land a hit on me.
I leap and roll over my head, the ground configures to my movements, that's going to take me a lot of getting used to.
He lunges forwards with the spear.
I block his stab, and pull away his weapon.
I hold my sword and his spear, ready for this to be over.
He reaches behind him, and produces a large Kukri knife.
I bring the back end of the spear into his head, knocking him back.
Moving in closer I hook my leg around his, knocking him off balance.
With my sword I swing the knife from his hands.
The unarmed man surrenders to me.
"Let me out of here!"
I shout.
"No one gets out of here."
The man below me says.
I look down at him.
"What?"
He removes his helmet, and takes a knee.
"You don't know where you are."
He observes.
"Are you going to tell me?"
He thinks for a moment, before getting to his feet.
"In this place, time stops, and ancient beasts roam. Here dwells the ones exiled from the Earth. Here Death, is now yours."
He drops to his back, and the ground does not bring him back.
I watch him fall to his death as he plummets into the darkness below.
The ground returns to level.
All I can do is stand here in disbelief.
I know where I am.
I'm in the G'hunawae home world.