Chapter 8: Ragnar?k

  Lord Talidor’s mind wandered back to his youth.

  He recalled the regent’s words, spoken when he was just a child, “Lord Talidor, future Ruler of the Universe, it is imperative you understand this history of Ragnar?k and your late father Ragnor.”

  The young Lord Talidor had been confused, having heard conflicting from his mother, “Mother said Father was a cruel, sadistic god,” he had said, “That he enslaved the Elves of Naku and conquered at whim.”

  But his history mentor quickly corrected him, “Your father, Ragnor the God of Gods, unified the gods for war against the demons and Warmongers. He sacrificed himself to preserve creation against the evil of hell.”

  Wiping away tears, the young Lord talidor, still innocent and unmasked, struggling to reconcile the conflicting accounts.

  The regent’s firm tone had silenced his doubts, “Enough! Your father was the God of Gods, leading us to salvation and saving all that is! He created Ragnar?k, founded the greatest dynasty you shall lead!”

  Lord Talidor had committed the official history to memory, passing his exams and quizzes with ease. As a reward, he had been awarded his first mask at the tender age of six. The silver owl mask had been presented to him with a solemn warning:

  This mask is to hide your identity from enemies and strike fear into their hearts.

  **

  Though Lord Talidor had worn many masks since, he had never forgotten the conflicting stories of his childhood, nor the indoctrination that had followed. The God of War’s words now stirred those long dormant memories, leaving Lord Talidor to ponder the truth about his father’s legacy, and his own destiny.

  **

  In the mist of Halo City’s busting streets, tensions simmered between Ragnar?k natives and Phantomlor newcomers.

  A demigod from Ragnar?k, fueled by resentment, confronted a Phantomlor demigod, sparking a heated altercation.

  Holy Knight Robin, ever vigilant, intervened with modest heroism, separating the combatants.

  As he patrolled the rooftops, he spotted Savage, his trusted ally, traversing the landscape with uncanny agility.

  Robin caught up to Savage, his eyes narrowing with concern, asking low and urgent, “So are we gonna do this?”

  Savage, clad in his black coat, turned to face Robin, revealing a transformation that left him stunned; glowing red eyes blazed like embers, and the marking of the beast on his chest pulsed with an eerie aura.”

  “What the hell happened to you!?”, Robin asked, his voice tinged with alarm.

  “I don’t feel like talking about it, quite honestly,” Savage’s expression turned enigmatic.

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  “BaHaHa, fair enough,” adjusting his bird mask, Robin’s eyes locked onto Savage’s, “Are we really going to kill a god?”

  Savage’s silence spoke volumes, his eyes glowing red with an unspoken determination.

  The night air seemed to thicken, heavy with the weight of their unspoken resolve.

  **

  That night, outside the GX Court, Savage confronted Xander with his eyes blazing with determination.

  Savage’s voice remained low and even, but his words dripped with defiance, “I’m not leaving until you tell us what happened to Kosmo.”

  Xander’s face contorted in shock, “You dare talk back to a god!?”

  Savage’s body began to shift, towering over Xander, his true form emerging like a dark and fiery aura. His eyes and the mark on his chest burned with embers as he stepped closer, his grip closing around Xander’s arm like a vice. He nearly lifted the God of War off the ground, his voice now taking a menacing tone, “And what is a god to a nonbeliever!?”

  The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Savage’s words hung in the air, a challenge to Xander’s divine authority. Darkness around them appeared to coalesce, as if the very shadows themselves were drawing closer, eager to witness the confrontation. It was truly unprecedented.

  Xander’s eyes widened as the truth dawned on him. He swiftly pieced together the mystery of Kosmo and Stella’s disappearance and the sudden appearance of GneoxBot servant bots. Without needing further context, Xander concluded Warr-Za was somehow responsible for their demise and had orchestrated a cover-up.

  In a surprising display of remorse, Xander enveloped Savage in a tight, apologetic hug, “Forgive me Savage. I seriously messed up. You’re right about the GX Court, and I regret to tell you that Kosmo is certainly dead, and it is likely Warr-Za’s doing.”

  Unbeknownst to Xander, Holy Knight Robin had appeared behind him, the tip of his Malantium blade pressed against Xander’s neck.

  “Let him go, Divinian,” Robin said calmly.

  “Your reputation precedes you,” Xander says with a hint of fear flickering within, “Are you really going to kill me, Holy Knight Robin?”

  Robin’s response was icy, “I would be happy to oblige.

  However, Savage intervened, signaling Robin to stand down.

  Robin hesitated for a moment before sheathing his blade and stepping back.

  Xander released Savage, his expression somber, “The GX Court is divided, and Warr-Za is manipulating events to tear everything apart. I propose we spy on Tott-Za, in the end I trust he will understand and join us afterwards, this will take time, but right now we must gather enough information and strike until the time is right to act.”

  Savage and Robin exchanged a weighted glance before nodding in agreement.

  Xander’s eyes burned with determination, “Together we can all forge a new future. We shall rename the Ragnar?k to Gneox, after the GX Court, symbolizing Hope and Unity, as it should be.”

  As they parted ways, the shadows seemed to whisper a promise: the dawn of a new era was near.

  **

  That night, as it wore on, a sudden, eerie glow illuminated the darkened halls of the palace. Every furnace, candle, and fire pit roared to life, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The pathway of lights led to the entrance of the throne room, beckoning Lord Talidor to follow.

  Groggily, Lord Talidor emerged from his chambers, his eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. He trailed the luminous path, his senses on high alert. The air was heavy with ominous energy, and Lord Talidor’s instincts screamed warning.

  As he approached the doorway to the throne room, he spotted Warr-Za standing frozen, her usual fearlessness replaced by visible trembling.

  Lord Talidor’s concern deepened as he gently took Warr-Za’s hand, “What’s wrong, my Goddess? You’re shaking.”

  Warr-Za’s eyes were fixed on something within the throne room, her gaze unblinking. Lord Talidor followed her line of sight, and his heart sank. A colossal, dark figure occupied his throne, its presence seeming to darken the very air around it.

  A low, rumbling voice echoed through the throne room, sending shivers down Lord Talidor’s spine, “I must say, I love what you’ve done with the place.”

  Lord Talidor’s grip on his Life Scythe tightened, his anger and authority ignited, “WHO DARES SIT ON MY THRONE!?”

  The dark figure slowly rose from the throne, its presence unfolding like a dark cloud.

  “Your throne?”, it repeated, its voice dripping with amusement, “This is my throne.”

  Ragnor, the legendary God of Gods, had arrived.

  Written by KR Kraken with Ryan D. Cox, Robert Kenneth, and David J. Lincoln

  Based on the Knightmare characters created by KR Kraken