CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The fall of the seeker-titans was felt by the rest of their titan-kin. Some seekers were gods and demi-gods. They did not feel the loss of the seeker-titans because the link was through the titan heritage. The titans were all children of Kronos, the father of all titans and that forged an unbreakable bond. Kronos, the God Eater; the Devourer of Gods felt the deaths of his ten children. He knew their losses were temporary but he did not have time to wait a thousand years for them to reform anew. He had to act quickly before the direct link to the seed of life housing the new world full of abundant life was lost. The influx of power from Oblivion was a beacon that they could follow, however the link to the children of Kronos allowed him the ability to teleport directly to the edge of the once hidden seed of life.

"My children, it is time for war!" Kronos yelled across the planes and his children heard him. In an instant they had all teleported magically to their father. There was a time he would have slew and devoured all of his sons, keeping only the daughters. If not for the control that the Forgotten One had over him, Kronos still would. He feared his children rising up against him. He had been defeated once before long ago by his children of old. Unlike other titans, he was ancient and could not be permanently destroyed even by special means. His children might one day reach such a powerful status, if he allowed them to. To destroy a titan required a ritual specific for each titan at birth. As that titan grew in power so did the ritual until they reached their final level of titanic power like Kronos. He had even managed to acquire divine power which was not needed by a titan to fuel their power but it was needed to empower them beyond the level of most gods.

"I smell the fresh deaths of my children. Let the hunt begin anew." Kronos roared as he and his children teleported to the seed of life. Kronos could feel the influx of power radiating from the seed of life as he also felt the lost lives of his children from the same area. He studied the mystical border. It was protected by an invisible field of force. His children could pass through it but he having the power of a titan and a god could not without first submitting.

"Wait here for me!" Kronos instructed his children. Kronos teleported to the hidden sanctuary of his sleeping master, the Forgotten One. Kronos was the only one allowed in the sanctuary. He approached alone, humbled and frightened. He might as well have been asleep and having a nightmare as he approached the sacred sea where his master slumbered.

"Master," Kronos dared to call out across the sacred sea. Nightmarish creatures more titanic than a common titan swarmed the area. They had no names for they were infinite nightmarish creatures from the horrific imagination of the Forgotten One. The sea was calm.

"MASTER!" Kronos shouted this time. The winds picked up abruptly. The sea rocked and waves formed. The nightmarish creatures scattered in terror and a massive beast of a nightmarish god arose from the sea. It was such a horror to look upon that Kronos had to look away to the rocky and sandy ground.

"Why do you disturb my slumber," an otherworldly, guttural voice boomed forth from the massive ancient god.

"We have found another seed of life my Master," Kronos replied.

"Have you forgotten how to collect seeds of life and bring them to me?" The Forgotten One asked in his naturally angry voice. His practices of toying even with his own minions was out of pure madness.

"No. Some of my children have sought refuge there." Kronos informed his master.

"You devour your children. What makes these ones different?" The Forgotten One asked, already knowing the answer. Kronos was reluctant to answer because of pride and embarrassment.

"They are the ones that defeated me long ago." Kronos finally admitted. The Forgotten One laughed at the mighty elder titan.

"Do you want me to handle this seed of life for you?" The Forgotten One asked, belittling his most prized servant. At that moment Kronos gained some bravery and looked upon the nightmarish form of the Forgotten One.

"I don't think you can," Kronos dared to say. The Forgotten One latched one of its many tentacles about the massive body of Kronos who stood nearly eye level with the Forgotten One's true form and squeezed him tightly. Kronos was uncomfortable but he did not have to breathe and remained still, awaiting whatever came next.

"You don't think you can be ended forever, but I possess the power to end you once and for all." The Forgotten One threatened.

"I know, Master. I just mean there are so many gods gathered together in one seed of life that my army might struggle. I think we may need your help." Kronos admitted.

"I will send a single avatar. That should suffice should it not?" The Forgotten One asked.

"I hope so, Master," Kronos replied. Most Greater Gods took days, weeks or even years in designing their avatars. The Forgotten One was a level of power far beyond that. In an instant a writhing, nightmarish blob of tendrils hovered beside the entangled elder seeker-titan. The Forgotten One released Kronos from his clutches.

"This is Insanium! He will aid you. Make sure these 'GODS' remember that name!" The Forgotten One roared. The avatar of Insanium and the elder titan, Kronos left the sacred sea sanctuary as the Forgotten One slowly sunk back down beneath the stormy sea. The winds calmed and the nightmarish creatures slowly returned.

Kronos teleported himself and Insanium back to his army that awaited his return outside the barrier of the seed of life. From the moment of their arrival, the avatar of Insanium was enthralled with the seed of life before them. Something about it just screamed POWER. The avatar touched the barrier to test its power over him. As an avatar, he was still an Over-Deity and more powerful than most gods ancient or new. The barrier snapped and crackled upon the otherworldly god's touch and stung him deeply. The pain that the god of madness suffered was great, but the damage to his pride was greater. Kronos gasped in amazement that his master seemed to be harmed by the barrier.

"Finally, a challenge!" Insanium guttered with excitement.

"Now do you understand?' Kronos asked.

"You were wise to ask for my aid. Someone or several someone's beyond the barrier have discovered ancient secrets to prevent even I from crossing without submission." Insanium admitted. He was enthralled with the power level of the seed of life.

"What should we do, Master?" Kronos asked, hoping that the ancient god had a trick to bypass the barrier so that they would not have to submit to pass through.

"We will have to submit so that we can learn more of our enemies beyond the barrier." Insanium answered without a second thought. Kronos sighed in defeat.

"I am not like normal gods. Even as an elder titan turned god I cannot access the divine ability that allows me to create an avatar like you." Kronos said, almost whining.

"I can restore your power when we are done dealing with these foolish, would be saviors of reality." Insanium assured his most trusted servant.

"Go forward my children and destroy our enemies!" Kronos roared. The seeker-titans passed through the barrier without any issues for they held no level of divine power being of titan-decent. Insanium never even wondered why the gods that he assimilated didn't last. He secretly knew how the titans that he assimilated felt about gods. After all, he was also a titan. If he were less powerful and unable to keep control of Kronos the titans might well turn against him as well. Titans believed that they were created long before gods. Some might argue that they were right if not for the existence of gods such as Insanium.

*****

Keltorilax flew through the sky. Massive clouds seemed to form out of nowhere and blanket the night sky. The winds began blowing hard. Lightning crackled and flashed in the sky. Thunder clapped and boomed, roiling across the sky like the sounds of the heavy footsteps of angry gods. The dragon was not fond of omens or gods other than the Crimson Lady, the mother of all dragons. He had been not only raised from the dead, but he had been transformed into a hideous insectile-version of his former self and he was angry. He wanted to shed the blood of elves, especially the one called Fauna. His eyes were once very keen and could see very far. Now they were many and allowed him to see all around but not as far as he once did. At least he could not be snuck up on from behind anymore. It was a fair trade as far as a dragon was concerned. He began descending upon the elven city. A bolt of lightning split the air beside Keltorilax and struck a tree below. The dragon scoffed. He saw the armies of elves bolstering the gates but none looked to the sky. Keltorilax prepared to unleash his breath weapon upon the army of elves at the west gate as he continued his descent. A massive spear launched from a ballista he had not seen and pierced through his left wing. His flight was hindered and maneuverability became difficult. The dragon was forced to land. He glided down to the open courtyard and unleashed his breath weapon upon all around him. The acidic cloud melted the flesh off of every elf it enveloped. They screamed in agony before death took them and their flesh continued to melt away. The ballista fired again and struck the hind quarter of Keltorilax. This time the dragon spotted the ballista and the elf that manned it. Sir Fellis prepared another spear and began cranking the wheel that drew back the firing line of the ballista. Keltorilax inhaled deeply and unleashed his breath weapon on it before another spear could be fired. Sir Fellis saw the cloud of painful death blasting toward him and dove from his perch. He knew he had to either suffer the painful fate of the acidic cloud or chance his fate with a thirty-foot fall. The ballista disintegrated in to ashes smoking as it crumbled apart. Sir Fellis fell from the ballista tower and slammed to the ground, thirty-feet below. Keltorilax yanked the spear from his hind quarter with his maw and turned to close the distance between him and the unconscious elf. Sir Fellis was gasping for air. He opened his eyes as a flash of lightning crackled overhead. He lifted his head to see Keltorilax crawling towards him. He rolled to his feet but collapsed to one knee. His right leg had broken form the fall. Dog seemed to come out of nowhere and leaped into the air at the dragon. He bit onto the neck of Keltorilax and latched on tightly. Eleanor rounded the tower and helped Sir Fellis up. Annalisa was at her side with Fauna. Both had arrows notched in their bows. The Vile, Valenor, and Sir Sendrick rushed in to meet the dragon in melee and help Dog. Keltorilax whipped his neck around and Dog lost his grip. The faithful dog flew across the courtyard and slammed against the stone wall of the ballista tower. Arrows were let loose before the three charging warriors could reach the dragon. Keltorilax slapped the arrows away with his tail. He clawed at the Vile. The Vile swung his club at the claw as it came in at him. The club shattered on contact as it broke two of the toes in the claw of Keltorilax before striking him. The Vile was gashed across chest and abdomen by claws the size of short swords. He fell to the ground bleeding and unconscious. Valenor came in swiftly with a series of blinding strikes. Keltorilax accepted the damage of the monk's fists so he could take in a deep breath. He saw Fauna and his eyes were focused on her. Fauna and Annalisa notched another arrow and let them loose. One arrow pierced the left ear of Keltorilax while the other found one of his insectile eyes. This time it was not a fatal shot. The dragon unleashed its acidic breath at the two archers. Sir Sendrick leaped into the air swinging his bastard sword with two hands at the neck of the green mutated dragon. Screams were heard as Sir Sendrick finished his clean cut and landed on his feet wiping the blood form his blade as the severed head of Keltorilax slammed to the courtyard floor. The body still stood and twitched as the muscles contracted.

Eleanor heard the screams and turned to look over her shoulder with Sir Fellis who had reached a safe distance from the fray. An elven body melted from the acidic breath and turned to dust before their eyes.

"NO!" Eleanor screamed in horror. Fauna had pushed Analisa out of the line of the dragon's breath weapon but had not been able to escape it herself. Analisa saw her friend die just a few feet in front of her after pushing her to safety. The horrific sight of flesh melting away from the bone and then the bones crumbling to ashes , all-the while hearing Fauna's final screams echo in the night.