Sword of Essence - The First Relic

Everything is black.

Descending the stairs lead me to a total darkness. I can't even see my own body anymore. Feeling uncomfortable, I take a look back and notice even the daylight was gone. I can clearly hear my own steps echoing in this small corridor. No light, no sound, a truly scary place.

After a while, my foot hit the ground when reaching for the next step. The stairs finally ended. Before I could even think about it, I saw the light in front of me. It was the light of the flame--Two rows of torches at each wall.

How long are these things lit? Is this a magic torch? Or maybe someone came here recently?

I started walking. This narrow corridor soon reached its end and I arrived in a somewhat big room. 

Are these...drawings?

In both sides of the room there were drawings in the walls. I know about those historical things, of course, but I didn't expect to see things like this here. Curious, I got closer to the left side of the room and tried to understand what the drawings wanted to say.

Let's see... Those look like that Spiriculus things... There's a bunch of them flying in the sky it seems.

At the right side of the room, I can see exactly the same thing. And that's the only thing in this room.

Nothing more to see here...

I kept walking and entered a new corridor. This one a bit less narrow and it also has drawings in it.

More Spiriculus? Seems like they are entering a forest.

Again, this happens in both sides of the corridor. I wonder if this has any meaning...? Walking a bit further, I can see a forest and a giant Spiriculus coming out of it.

Wait, this is not a Spiriculus... It's an egg!

At the end of the corridor, there was a drawing of those two eggs hatching. Yes, it is actually two different eggs and I can say that now because what came out of the eggs are different beings. On the left side, a white humanoid being with a long energy-like hair, similar to the thing I defeated before. On the right side, a black humanoid being with four antenna-like things in its head. A new large room waits me ahead. There I obviously find new drawings and this time I can see the two beings flying in the sky, also...

They are flying above... Humans? They seem to be waving to each other. And there's a entire flora around the humans... Hmm... Do they have any role in nature? That's what I can guess so far, at least. 

Up ahead a new corridor and...

The two beings are now fighting against... Something?

The things the two beings were fighting... They are giant cube-like things. It's hard to say if they are actual living beings. In the next drawing the two energy-like beings seemed to have defeated their enemies and then...

Oh...!

I reached a big pair of doors. The two beings, white and black ones, are there drawn on the doors. Their hands touching exactly at the door lock and there was also the drawing of a new egg. I touched both doors and pushed them. It was pretty easy to open. Beyond that door was a grand shrine. This place is quite different from everything else... The ceiling is not made of stone, but roots instead. Thanks to that, some daylight goes through the big roots and light up the shrine. I can see several particles of light floating around. There is an altar at the end of this place and a really big mural behind it. The mural seems to have a series of drawings divided by a vertical row of strange symbols right in the middle of it. The altar has a sword stuck in it.

Is this the Sword of Essence...? No, it's not. I'm pretty sure, somehow.

The sword didn't look like anything special. My Astra, a sword made by humans, looks a lot more like an ancient relic than this thing. I can't feel any energy coming out of it either. Looking a bit closer to the mural, the drawings seems to depict a certain sequence of events. There's a full armored warrior with long hair throwing tornadoes, rain and earthquakes at humans... Then humans being protected by an other warrior of golden hair, wearing a violet armor.

That's me. Or rather... It's Kiarathyto.

The sequence of events keeps going on. Kiarathyto and the warrior are shaking hands... And finally, there's a drawing of Kiarathyto with her sword up stopping all calamities. I'm not sure I understand the whole story. What about the symbols?

Wait, this is not just random symbols... It's a whole idiom. I think I can read it.

I pass my fingers through the symbols, trying to grasp this exquisite feeling of nostalgia and bring back memories I don't actually have. I then realize those symbols are starting to make sense in my head. It follows like this:

Ingratitude does these lifeforms shows. 
For they destroy what once my creators fought to bring to them.
What once gave them life, receive death in response.
I hear the cry of nature every day and every night.
I hear the human laughter even higher.
The once everlasting world is now a time-limited world.

I personate nature. And my fury is relentless.
It is not punishment, but a simply right of reply.
Where one does wrong, other can do right, is it not so?
However, the daughter of the cycle intervenes.
The one who wears the armor made by Sisikku, the Goddess of Death.
The warrior of justice, they say. What justice? I question.

I was certain nature's strength was unparalleled
But the warrior brandished its sword and fought me as an equal.
At the reflection of her sword, I beheld my origins turning against me.
I met a defeat I never expected.
And a compassion I never experienced.
So she held her hand extended.

"Where is justice when the many suffer because of the few?" she said.
"What world exist where malice does not belong?" she complemented.
I lived for nature, hence I knew nothing about sentience.
I then heard something I must never forget.
"A feeling is like a flower. It grows if fed, it withers if not. Be aware of what flower you care."

I decided I did not have a place in this world anymore.
And gave the bright warrior the right to command nature in my stead.
I decided I would not fed the wrong flowers.
And felt at ease at the thought of a world guided by her spirit.
It was finally time to sleep.
The sword she held so dear was then placed in my arms.
She said I should be the one to guard it.

To the cradle of my mother I went.
To hopefully enter eternal sleep.
Together with the memento of my change of heart.
I, Unkladesh, am now one with nature.

It ends here. Unkladesh... He was the God of Nature. So this is how I, or rather Kiarathyto, got the elemental powers I have now. I...feel sad, for some reason. I closed my eyes. 

I feel a flow of energy running through this mural.

I put my fingers where the flow originated, right in the middle of the symbols. The energy was coming from a specific symbol.

Compassion...

I pushed the symbol and I heard a click. The mural then was divided, each half moving to one direction and a secret passage opening in front of me. I walked through it and heard the sound of the mural returning to its original state. No more drawing nor distractions, only my objective ahead. I started to run. I arrived in a wide, circular room. 

Huh? What... Wait, who is that?

There was a lot happening in this room. Large elemental spears went from a hole at one side of the room to a hole on the opposite side. Fire, wind and electric thick lines that somehow moved around in random directions. Also, there was a person at the middle of the room. Wearing a huge cloak, I could not distinguish anything about them.

"Hey! Who are you? What are you doing here?"

When the person heard my voice, they looked back and started to rush. I quickly became confused as I saw the person evading the elemental trap with some effort.

What... Wait, don't tell me...

Is it who I think it is?

Amuronakia...!

That is the only possible answer! The Polluted Hero must be here to put his hand on the Sword of Essence. I have to stop him! I created a wind shiled around me and ran as fast as I could, but--

"Ughh!"

I got hit by a fire blast and launched on the ground.

My wind shield was easily broken...!

Don't joke with me. I'm no normal person!

While seeing Amuronakia going out of this room, I got up and opened both my arms. I closed my eyes to concentrate and when I opened them again, I released the strongest gust of wind I could in all directions. The roar of the gale echoed everywhere and all elemental traps were stopped.

I must hurry!

Again, I ran as fast as I could. Beyond that room was something like a labyrinth.

Where did he go?

There are paths to the east, west and north. Choosing the wrong path is not an option...

What can I do?

I once again closed my eyes. Trying to find a solution as quickly as possible. Then I felt it.

A...wind current?

Yes. If there's a way out of here, that must be from where the wind is coming from. I just need to follow it! I went the east path and found out the paths just lead to more paths. It's an absolutely confusing place, everywhere looks the same as before no matter where you go. East, north, east, south, west, east, north--

I found him!

Amuronakia ran as if he knew exactly where to go. How?

"Stop right there!"

I launched a wind gust in his direction, but he turned the corner just in time to escape.

Not so fast!

I also turned the corner ready to attack---The moment I turned the corner, I saw small objects thrown at me. There was a small rope attached to the object. It was on fire.

A bomb?!

I put my arms in front of my face and saw my vision going white. The impact didn't hurt me, but threw me back. Beyond the smokescreen I saw the path blocked by rubble. 

Are you kidding me?!

I got up and created a earth spear in my hand. One hit from it made the rubble disappear from my sight. Just like Amuronakia also disappeared. I ran and ran... And I saw a light. It was the labyrinth's exit. Just in front of it was Amuronakia. He was standing there, looking at me through the hood that cover most of his face. We faced each other for a few seconds, but in the end, he turned back to the exit.

"I won't let you!"

I instantly drew my sword, charged by lightning. The moment I moved my arm to hit him with a lightning strike, he jumped to the side. By the earth shattering sound, my attack probably only hit the wall. Trying to catch Amuronakia, I ran to the light and exited the labyrinth. In an other huge wide room I realized. I didn't hit the wall.

"Who is it that disturb my sleep?"

The deep voice echoed in the ruins.

A golem? No... It is...

The giant armor got itself up. Dust falling from all over its body. It had a long red hair and held a huge greatsword. Several line patterns were now glowing and it had two shining fully blue eyes. The sword was covered by white root and had huge symbols much like the ones on the mural.

There is no doubt... It is Unkladesh...!

"These ruins should never be violated by any presence."

Unkladesh removed his sword from the ground. He looks ready to fight.

"Wait, it's me Kiarathyto! I came to get the Sword of Essence!"

"Ah. It is good to see you again, my friend. You have changed. However, I am afraid I shall not let you reach the Sword of Essence."

"Why?!"

"I have a promise to fulfill. The Sword of Essence you remain here forever."

It's non-negotiable, after all!

"You leave me no choice!"

I point my sword at him and felt like he was satisfied with my decision. If Kiarathyto defeated him once, I can do it again!

Unkladesh took a samurai stance. Suddenly I feel the pressure of the God of Nature in my shoulders. A huge mass of invisible energy seemed to be trying to push me to the ground.

I can do it... I can do it...!

I jumped. Quickly concentrating my energy flow to my sword, I slashed the air and launched multiple wind gales against Unkladesh. He put his big sword in front of my attacks and easily blocked them. But I did not stop here, engulfing myself in flames I thrust my sword in his direction, flying like a meteor. As he was busy blocking the wind gales, my fire thrust hit his chest with full force. He took a step back with the blow and a few small pieces of his armor fell from his body.

"Hun!"

A surge of water suddenly came out of the ground around him to the ceiling and swallowed me. As this place were similar to the one of the mural, my body hit the roots at the ceiling which made it hurt less than it'd have been if it were a stone ceiling. Falling from there, I had a full view of the room, and there---

Amuronakia!

He was sneaking around the room while Unkladesh and me fought each other. He is close to the door, if I let him go...

"Out of my way, Unkladesh!"

With a vertical move of my sword, I created a huge vortex around him. And with a horizontal move, I transformed it in a fire vortex. Evertyhing went red.

My chance!

Using the wind to control my body, I fly in the direction of Amuronakia, who had to stop thanks to the strength of the vortex. He held his hood with one hand and protected his face of the other arm. He can't evade if I attack now! Once again creating lightning in the blade of Astra, I---

"You learned quite well how to control nature, I must admit."

What?!

Unkladesh's big sword pierced through my vortex and then immense ice thorns grew from the ground and destroyed my attack completely. One of these giant ice things went right in my direction, but since I already had a new attack ready, I destroyed it with one slash. Unkladesh received a lot of damage from my last attack, but seems like it was not enough. Far from it, actually. I should have expected.

I'm going to lose him...!

My eyes caught the sight of Amuronakia going through the door. I felt a really bad feeling growing in my chest.

"You distract yourself in the middle of the duel? What a disgrace."

"Wa-wait---!"

When I looked at Unkladesh again, he was already ready to thrust his sword. Huge amounts of wind circulated around the blade.

"HOU!!"

With a strong thrust, his attack was released. I then understood a basic difference between a god and a demigod. The destructive capacity. He simply threw a ultra concentrated tornado at me. I didn't have time to evade the attack and blocking it was utterly useless. I soon felt my body being crushed in all directions, a wind pressure strong enough to make me feel like I was loosing body mass inside this thing. It was like time slowed down. When my body violently hit the wall, my conscience was already fading out. I feel like I heard the wall getting obliterated, but my senses are numb right now. Those few seconds that looked like eternity ended, and I tried to stand up. It was hard. I saw a few pieces of my armor falling down and noticed a lot of cracks in it.

"Surviving this attack is an enormous feat by itself. You should be proud."

It was hard to even breathe so I didn't reply him.

"Unfortunately, I have no time to wait for you to recover. I must end this now."

He said and took his basic stance again.

"Do not...underestimate me...!"

Using all my strength I pierced the ground with Astra. The ruins started the shake.

"You created an earthquake?!"

Unkladesh looked around, worried about the ruins. A opportunity I must not miss! Like his ice thorns, I created earth spears from the ground that attacked him relentlessly. They ripped off pieces of his body violently. 

"UOHH---You...!"

I jumped again. I'll not let him recover! I launched several fire balls at him. While he defended himself, I approached and and cut him down with a lightning slash from my blade. A big cut from his shoulder to his waist became visible. Already on the ground, I turned to him and attacked one more time with wind cutters, tearing his limbs and head. If he had a human body, he'd be dead now. 

I must attack one more time!

I jumped again and charged Astra's blade with lightning. This lightning slash should be the last! I tried to slash him, but then...

"Seems like...you are the one who underestimated me."

He literally disappeared. I saw a flash of light and his body just disappeared.

"I said you learned well how to control the elements, but you are far from mastering them."

I looked at the direction of the voice, he was in the air behind me! And again, in a flash of light, he disappeared and reappeared in front of me. I blocked his giant blade with mine and was launched to the end of the room. Far from him, I finally started to understand what was happening.

He... He is warping himself?! No, he is becoming lightning itself...!

The giant armor are moving at lightning speed, it's impossible to fight back! He moved to my side instantly and hit me with a strong kick, making my body hit the wall once again.

"It ends now."

He prepared his wind thrust once again. Huge amounts of wind circling his blade and whistling my defeat. With the injuries I already have, it's impossible to evade.

"HOU!!"

Once again I saw the tornado of total destruction hitting me with full force. This time, though... It was quick. When I regained consciousness, I was in the ground.

"You never had a chance to win an elemental battle against me."

I felt my hair untie. Most of my armor was broken already. And Astra... Astra was still in my hand. My will to fight had not faded. But he was right, I can't win an elemental battle against him... Can I? My body felt so heavy it was hard to even lift a finger. I can't simply give up, though. I can't. I mustn't. I may have no plan, but I still must do something. Why, though? I don't know. I don't need to know. I just need to get up and fight.

"I see... I respect your will."

Unkladesh saw me slowly standing up again and readied himself. I am also ready. I'll just try everything at once, it's all or nothing!

I closed my eyes. In the darkness that followed, I put everything I had. At Astra's blade... Lightning, fire, water, ice, wind, earth---The blade of my sword started shining strongly at the same time my enemy dashed at me at lightning speed. However, it doesn't matter. While he is moving, his body has no mass. Hence, he needs to return to normal before he could attack me and a block is all I'll need!

A huge mass of plasma engulfed Astra's blade. A normal sword would probably disintegrate instantly, but the weapon made of the goodwill and talent of those who support me endured the plasma as much as I had to endure the pain my body is feeling right now. Unkladesh appeared in front of me, I was 200% focused in blocking the path of his blade---A thunderous roar echoed in the ruins as the two blades clashed.

"This power... Impossible!"

The plasma started cutting Unkladesh's blade down and before he could do anything, half of his blade flew to the opposite direction, the other half hit the ground hard enough to stuck on it.

I must release it now, all at once!

I jumped and slashed him down with a vertical move of my blade. A thin and tall plasma blast followed the movement of Astra and cut the giant armor in two. The plasma dispersed, allowing the shining red hot blade to finally rest. As he saw an arm and a leg fall, Unkladesh put his remaining limbs on the ground.

"I lost, after all."

"Haah... Haah... I'm sorry..."

"Don't worry. I will not die since you have not destroyed my core. I will just go back to my sleep."

Looking closely, I see he is an empty armor. But now I can see a shining orb in his center, like a heart. My last attack hit him from his right shoulder to his right waist, so his core was untouched.

"I'm... glad to hear that..."

"You have something to do, am I wrong? Go."

I took a deep breath and started walking. When I was almost out of his sight, I could hear his last words.

"Until we met again, my old friend."

I can't ran. I can't even walk fast. My body hurts a lot. I feel like I'm wasting my time still trying to catch Amuronakia. But then I heard and felt the ruins trembling.

He is still here...!

I suddenly started walking faster without even noticing. As if my body had got a bit more of energy. I finally arrived somewhere. A new shrine-like room... An empty altar and---

Oh, no!

I saw Amuronakia in front of a stairway illuminated by the daylight. The trembling just now must have been from him opening a way to leave the ruins. In his hands...

"The Sword of Essence...!"

When he heard my voice, he looked back at me.

I lost one of the relics...? No, it's not over yet.

I concentrate to create a wind attack even in my actual state. I don't care. He is just a human. I could defeat him even sleeping...!

Before I could attack, he pointed the Sword of Essence to me. Then--

Spiriculus?!

The Spiriculus came flying from the exit and went through him in my direction. I tried to change my wind attack to a wind shield, but there was no time. My body was hit by the Spiriculus and I was sent back forcefully, hitting the ground and feeling all the pain in my body increase tenfold. I lift my head just to see Amuronakia going up the stairs.

At the same time he disappeared, so did my hopes. And my strength. Worse yet, I didn't lose consciousness, so I just stayed there, lying down on the ground and looking at the ceiling. I feel horrible. Both physically and emotionally.

I lost the Sword of Essence.