1 Ghost of the Blood World
A young man in his early twenties hurtles through the atmosphere of Planet Molla, his dark hair tousled by the rushing wind. Despite his fierce descent, his ember eyes appear lifeless, failing to mirror the impending impact while his body bears the marks of a fierce battle, wounds oozing blood that traces down a harrowing arc.
Despite his protective outfit being engulfed in flames, his expression was dead and cold.
Ultimately, he knew that he wouldn't survive the day.
Falling down like a fiery meteor, his impact with the arid and unyielding ground gave birth to a vast crater, a testament to the sheer force of his collision. In his wake came a cascade of space debris, fragments of battleships that also rained down and struck the surrounding area.
It was the inevitable outcome of his rampage fueled by a one-time-use legendary artifact.
"Delilah..."
In spite of his dire situation, a name escaped his bloodied mouth.
Climbing out of the crater with his only arm, he panted heavily while looking at the horizon.
Before him lay the distant silhouette of the city district, shrouded in smoke and ruin. It stood as the sole remnant of Planet Molla to withstand the lethal onslaught of the Hyperion Empire's laser canons.
Once-mighty military strongholds and centers had waned from their robustness.
Amidst the ceaseless tremors that echoed the heavy bombardment from battleships in the sky, the relentless scream of agony from those ensnared by death, Alex pressed onward toward the city district.
Boom!
Out of nowhere, he got blasted to the side. A stray particle beam exploded beside him.
"Garhhk...!"
Propelled hundreds of meters away, dragged across the ground while coughing blood a couple of times, he stubbornly raises his hazy gaze and pushes himself up once again. 'How did this happen...? How did the Hyperion Empire manage to catch us off-guard? Where is Sir Aiden and Sir Cecilio?'
Numerous questions appeared inside his head.
Any promise of reinforcement was nothing but a fluke, the planet had fallen completely.
In bitterness, Alex contemplated these questions as he walked on, cradling his stomach with his sole hand. Billions of mages made an ultimate sacrifice in a desperate attempt to save the planet. However, they were caught off guard and failed.
Dead bodies and scarlet carnage sprawled across the terrain, depicting a gruesome tableau.
The ongoing devastation haunted him, but he had only one regret.
Delilah.
...
An intergalactic war between the Adudal Principality and the Hyperion Empire has been ongoing, a conflict spanning the ages. The very origin of their strife is obscured by the relentless passage of time. Yet the aftermath remained a grim testament, claiming uncountable lives in its wake.
It's a fierce battle between magic and technology.
Mages bolstered the might of the Adudal Principality, while the Hyperion Empire was graced with unabating advancement of technologies. A clash between philosophical ideals and way of life stood in stark contradiction, each vying to assert its dominance over the other.
Power becomes the absolute standard in such times.
Unfortunate and weak people will naturally be looked down upon by the fortunate.
A vital lesson that Alex learned at the age of nine.
Just when he was preparing for his talent assessment which eventually came out stating rock-bottom magical potential, a year before the death of his doting mother who heroically saved him from pirates.
"Do you know what's the most important thing in this world?"
Nine-year-old Alex gazed up at his father with wide, innocent red eyes. The question posed was far beyond the grasp of a child, evident from the furrow of his young brow. However, his eyes gradually lit up excitedly.
"I know! Mom always said that love and kindness are the most important thing in this world!"
Pampered with his innocence, his father chuckled and patted him on the head.
"I envy how ingenuous you are, son. But no... your mother is wrong," His father shakes his head, denying Alex's naivety. "As you're reaching the pivotal age, with the assessment of your talent due next year, it's time you knew the answer. It's power... Power is the most important thing in this world"
Tilting his head in confusion, Alex remained silent. His young mind trying to understand.
"I don't understand what you mean, Father"
"Love and kindness are luxuries, they are expensive things, and not real for the weak. Until you have power, until you become strong, stay away from those things. Luxuries can only be afforded by the strong..."
Alex's father has never talked much, he also grows distant in the coming years and his siblings soon follow suit.
It was because Alex was deemed talentless in the assessment.
But the words he said that day, the words that came unexpectedly, Alex remembered it all.
...
A few minutes later, after taking painful steps, Alex managed to reach the city district.
Soon he also reaches a humble abode, nestled amidst the ruins that exude an air of faded grandeur. Despite the upper half lying in ruins, the dwelling stands strong, offering shelter and solace from the chaos outside.
Emerging from within, Alex came out again. But this time, he was not alone.
Now he is embracing a striking woman, whose beauty still lingers despite being lifeless.
Cascading like a waterfall of flames, her blonde hair, the very hair that captivated Alex three years ago was still shimmering beautifully. Her once luminous amber eyes that had initially entranced with their sharpness now bore a disheartening defunct and bleakness.
Delilah... the name that once brings joy now stings his heart.
'I was hoping that for once, Father would be wrong. But it seems his words hold true'
"Love and kindness are not for the weak, huh..."
Uttering those words in a hushed tone, Alex felt the strength leaving his legs, and he sank to his knees. He carefully laid Delilah's lifeless form on the ground despite only having one arm. His touch is gentle in spite of the despair gripping him.
Soon, his hand rested on her stomach before a torrent of tears streamed down his face.
Alex couldn't bear to leave her body unattended, he was determined to offer her a dignified burial that matched her grace in his life. It would have been better if she had not come here, far preferable to what he is witnessing now.
But their impending parenthood made him powerless to stop her from coming here.
Remaining silent, he started clawing a grave to bury Delilah.
Overwhelmed by sorrow, Alex halted, unable to suppress his grief. Kneeling beside the makeshift grave, a bitter chuckle escaped his lips as a once-great day swiftly turned into a nightmare. Blood continued to seep from his wounds, his gaze fixed on the sky dominated by descending battleships.
Not even a minute later, a loud roar resounded from his mouth, "MIGEL!!"
Despite his wounded condition, his body surged with a fiery warmth. The fuel of wrath coursed through his veins as he bellowed his brother's name, the one responsible for the death of his precious little family.
Both his wife and unborn child are dead!
No matter how much he thought about it, this was not a coincidence, the timing was terrifying.
Migel, his very own brother that ceased talking to him from the day he married Delilah suddenly turned generous, offering his private spaceship for her to travel here right before the attack happened.
It was almost as if he has other motives in mind other than kindness.
A strain between them had been present ever since the day of his marriage, however, Alex couldn't believe that it would escalate to this extent. Suspecting Migel as the conniver is the only thing he could do in his final moments.
He wants his revenge! He wants to know the truth from Migel's own mouth!
But he was powerless.
It was also at that time, Alex could hear armored footsteps approaching from the side.
A squadron of Mech-Soldiers in power armor jogged over to him.
Catching sight of these Mech-Soldiers, Alex clenched his teeth, his eyes widening in urgency. He resumed digging his wife's grave with fervor, determined to finish before the encroaching Hyperion Empire's usurpers could take him down.
Oblivious to the saddened moment, the Mech-Soldiers open fire at him.
Each thick plasma laser, fueled with a high-voltage power supply flew past him in a frenzy.
Splash!
"Gargghk!"
Alex grunted when one of them struck his chest, momentarily halting his motions before he pressed on stubbornly. But his efforts to dig the grave proved futile as another blasted his remaining arm entirely.
Now, armless, he could only unleash an enraged roar.
"RAARGGHH!!"
Halting their steps, the squadron of Mech-Soldiers pointed their guns at him.
The squadron regarded Alex with caution, their wariness evident even though he had no arms to retaliate. Forming a cautious ring around him, they maintained a safe distance, a clear indication that they weren't underestimating the last remaining opponent on this planet.
"Be advised, this mage decimated 3 motherships, 21 battlecruisers, and 117 skyspears"
"A red-grade threat... permission to mark his location for a focused attack"
"Copy that, sending location to the main mothership. Move back, laser canon incoming"
Upon hearing their conversation, Alex was furious.
"CAN YOU AT LEAST LET ME BURY MY WIFE?!"
Even though he wanted some honor, to be given time to have his wife buried properly before passing from this life, the squadron of Mech-Soldiers doesn't seem to have any intention of honoring his request.
"If you're angry, blame it on your rat superiors. Bunch of magic clowns"
One of the Mech-Soldiers, the captain, opens his helmet, exposing his distasteful look.
"What...?"
"You heard me. You've been tipped off, and this planet is the trade-off"
Upon hearing this, Alex's eyes snapped wide open in shock. His mind whirled in a maelstrom of confusion as he instantly understood the captain's words. Reluctantly, he began to comprehend the grim reality unfolding before him.
In addition, he also found that there was no reason for the captain to lie.
Just when he snapped out of his trance, he could feel burgeoning hatred flaring inside him.
Alex yearned to cling to life, yet his body remained unresponsive. At that moment, a radiant light flickered in the sky, it was a laser canon from the main mothership aimed to pulverize his entire body.
'Please, God... anyone! If someone is out there, give me another chance!'
Despite the distance, the mechanical hum of the impending attack reached him.
Within him, a sense of crisis started to build.
Knowing the glimpse of the truth of this tragedy that befell Planet Molla that took his loved ones and billions of people, he wanted to keep on living. Long enough to exact his vengeance on anyone involved in this barbarity, especially Migel.
No matter what, he was unwilling to let them live peacefully.
'I don't need a chance to prevent this from happening, I just want my vengeance!'
Following that, a bright light descended towards him.
Clamping his bloodied teeth together, his eyes transformed into pools of bloodlust as mind-consuming anger gnawed at his soul. With a thunderous roar, Alex growled at the top of his lungs, a primal cry meant for anyone who could hear.
"HRAARGGHH!! Save me from this!!"
Kaboom!
...
Meanwhile, inside a parlor of one of the grand mansions of the Reighton Family.
"It's done, young master Migel. Alex and Delilah are no more"
An old man wearing a fancy robe knelt down and reported with reverence.
Sitting on a grand chair inside a golden room in front of him is a youthful man who hasn't even reached the prime age of twenty, he also has a stark resemblance to Alex, especially his daring red eyes.
"Have their corpses delivered to me, I want to see them in the flesh" Migel replied.
Crossing his legs in an arrogant manner, he then continues, "I don't want either of them to survive and bring trouble in the future, especially Delilah. Despite being an outcast, the imperial family would probe around if they found her death unnatural and that would bring trouble to the family"
"I understand, young master. I'll deliver your request to the empire" The old man bowed deeper.
Migel then cracks a devious smirk that he can't hide any longer, "Also, brand them as the martyrs that stayed behind to defend Planet Molla in the name of the Supreme Elders. It's the least that embarrassment of an older brother could do with his feeble life for this family"
"Having a happy life? Hmph! Weakling like him doesn't deserve it..."
