\u201cOF ALL THE BONE-HEADED CRAP YOU DID, THIS TAKES THE CAKE, ORBAK!\u201d Arsha shouted at the Under-king as he was learning how to pop a wheelie in his new wheelchair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve heard that from my own family, the rest of your lovers, your parents, Lardeth\u2019s parents, and Marshii,\u201d grunted Orbak, \u201cand, frankly, that\u2019s too much!\u201d He set the front wheels back down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a thing called necessary violence, and what you just did TOOK IT PAST ALL THAT!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha, I will bet my crown that YOUR father would do the same thing if he had the same abilities as me!\u201d Orbak grabbed the handles on the driving wheels\u2019 covers and he left the room at the same speed as someone walking. Arsha snarled\u2026then sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hate it when you\u2019re right,\u201d she muttered to herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStubborn man, ain\u2019t he?\u201d asked Malnar as she entered the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe had hobbies, many of them requiring legs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKnowing Daddy, I\u2019m pretty sure he can find a way to at least still be able to bake.\u201d Arsha smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026It would be nice for that to happen. He\u2019s always loved that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gorgons and Gryphons met with the Falchineve Driders the next day. They sat down at the table, with some trepidation from the Falchineve delegation. \u201cYour Majesties,\u201d began Hanjar, \u201cour first discussion here was one where we accused you of encroaching on our lands. We believed only your Driders could be capable of such acts. \u2026We were proven wrong. Someone played on our pride and hid the details from us. Realmfleet then sent those who opened our eyes on who was really behind the encroachment of our lands. For the Gryphons, it was a rogue human, a member of the Under-king\u2019s family, that convinced others that his way was the only way to stay neutral when they would have been the first target. Orbak swiftly dealt with that problem and has given us ideas on how to use the fort for our purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor the Gorgons, the object was the result of a careless Realmfleet Captain who ignored the Dwelga Accords and constructed a cloaking device so long ago,\u201d continued Erudsa. \u201cRealmfleet was made ignorant of it thanks to a high-ranking Admiral and now the Supreme Admiral had to clear the mess. We\u2019re using the ship now as a multipurpose facility for housing, gardening, trade, and medical care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut there IS something we need to settle,\u201d supplied Hanjar. \u201cKing Hekcho and Queen Yumbii, how can we ever make amends for the slander we threw at you?\u201d The two Driders looked at each other, equally confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2026er\u2026\u201d stammered Hekcho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI mean, I suppose\u2026\u201d Yumbii was just as lost for words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not our usual manner, we\u2019re aware,\u201d assured Erudsa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have long held the belief that Oyed would settle things quicker than Realmfleet,\u201d explained Hanjar, \u201cbut his forces have forgotten us, and we were reduced to a low end on the totem pole. So, if we may be selfish for a bit, we would like to stick it to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You know, that\u2019s something we ALL can get behind,\u201d chuckled Yumbii. \u201cLet\u2019s discuss new relations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While that went on, Arsha decided to go for a little stroll with her, her lovers, her parents, and her future in-laws. She was feeling very proud of herself. \u201cWith the once-buried races now on our side,\u201d she mused aloud, \u201cwe actually have a shot at winning this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know it seems like we\u2019re winning,\u201d cautioned Jeefef, \u201cbut let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves. We still need to dismantle Dr. Borg\u2019s economic system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s right,\u201d remarked Orbak as Elgrad pushed him along. \u201cWe need to keep on our guard. The Blood Contract hasn\u2019t been fulfilled yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, but we can smash them at a faster rate now with fewer casualties!\u201d insisted Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you quite sure of that?\u201d asked a voice. Everyone turned their heads to see Oyed stepping towards them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s over, Oyed!\u201d proclaimed Arsha. \u201cYour buried races defected to our side!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd for that, I am absolutely livid!\u201d snarled the Titan. \u201cHowever, I\u2019m also impressed. You managed to keep your faith in my children despite what they did to them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey humbled themselves when they realized their mistakes, something REAL Gods do!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI AM a real God! I will not bow to any of you defective insects!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s why you fail! You believe yourself perfect, but your children don\u2019t see themselves as such. They did, once, but that led to the War of the Depths. They\u2019ve long accepted that they are as imperfect as the rest of us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is THEIR stupidity! Everything is according to MY design, NOT theirs!\u201d Oyed then fired an energy wave and knocked everyone to the ground. He then spoke in a commanding voice that echoed and froze them all in place, speaking the long, yet powerful speech of the Gods. \u201cI am the First Being: Oyed the Titan, the Father of Gods, who was before the One World before the Realms and made it! The darkness of my design lies upon this fractured world and all that is in it bends to my will in the fullness of time! But, upon you and all whom you love, my desire shall weigh as a cloud of doom, and it shall bring you and your precious ones down to darkness and despair! Wherever you go, you shall be confronted by my warriors and beaten down! Whenever you speak, your words will fall upon deaf ears! Whatever you do, your actions will bear no fruit! You shall die without hope, cursing both life AND death!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf that\u2019s your curse,\u201d growled Arsha, \u201cthen here\u2019s mine for you, Thrall Oyed! What I say doesn\u2019t come from the teachings of your children, the Divine Ones, but from my heart in this very hour! You are NOT the Master of the Three Mortal and One Immortal Realms and those who dwell within both, and never WILL be! All Realms may yet fall under your dominion, but, beyond the Circles of All Realms, you will not pursue those who refuse you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrue, beyond the Circles of All Realms I will not pursue them, for I have no reason to, as beyond the Circles, there is nothing! Within the World, however, none shall escape me until they fade into nothing!\u201d Arsha\u2019s face contorted into angered disbelief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou lie as usual!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou shall see, and you shall confess that I do NOT lie about this!\u201d Oyed then snapped his fingers and his enemies\u2019 eyes burned for a good minute. Arsha\u2019s, however, did not. She tried to cast healing spells, but it did no good. The treatment stopped and something went wrong. They weren\u2019t seeing their immediate surroundings, but Oyed\u2019s! They could see Arsha leaning over their bodies and could see themselves picking their bodies up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWha\u2026what\u2019s going on?!\u201d demanded Elgrad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook you now through me!\u201d replied Oyed as he advanced on Arsha and grabbed her by the throat, hoisting her above himself and strangling her. \u201cLook as you witness how darkness and despair shall come upon your savior whom you have delivered to me! You have dared to mock me and have questioned the power of Oyed, Master of the Fates of the Realms! Therefore, with my eyes you shall see, and with my ears you shall hear, and the death of your hope will never be hidden from you, even as you shut your eyes!\u201d Oyed then rocketed up to the sky with Arsha in tow, then stopped when he neared the clouds. He then slammed his fist into Arsha\u2019s face, sending her flying straight backwards until Oyed zoomed past her and grabbed her head before pounding her spine. The pain shot straight through Arsha as she cried out. Oyed then continued pummeling her for a good minute until she was covered in bruises, cuts, and her own blood. She was too weak to lift a finger. Oyed then formed a blade of dark mist from his hand and sliced across Arsha\u2019s abdomen before letting her tumble to the ground. He floated there for a minute until he raised his hand to his head. \u201cDid you get all that, Doctor?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery grisly detail,\u201d confirmed Dr. Borg\u2019s voice. \u201cGood work, My Lord. We\u2019re setting the charges on the Realmgates now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcellent.\u201d Oyed then vanished and ended his curse on Arsha\u2019s family and lovers. Elgrad and Hanako had long fallen to their knees in disbelief as they saw their daughter defeated in such a violent manner and left for dead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cOF ALL THE BONE-HEADED CRAP YOU DID, THIS TAKES THE CAKE, ORBAK!\u201d Arsha shouted at the Under-king as he was learning how to pop a wheelie in his new wheelchair. \u201cI\u2019ve heard that from my own family, the rest of your lovers, your parents, Lardeth\u2019s parents, and Marshii,\u201d grunted Orbak, \u201cand, frankly, that\u2019s too much!\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,237],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-4179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-4-trials-of-light-and-dark","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4179"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4180,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4179\/revisions\/4180"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}