The Lord's Trials

With a sword pointed at my throat, and ice cold, yet stunning eyes piercing my soul, I explained to her absolutely everything. From me falling from the world above, the path of strength that I walked - the path of Beastly Evolution.

"Then I found two talking birds, stole a digital AI, Killed some beasts and ate them, and here I am. I have no name. I just call myself Star. Not John Star, just Star."

"Okay, John Star." she still held her blade toward my neck, and I was still in a defensive stance. "Why should I believe you?"

I pretended to ignore her smarm. "Because it makes sense, and it's true. Everyone here can see the cracks in space that leak blood. Do you know what that means? I'm sure you have for a long time." I slowly reabsorbed the wings into my body, and stood up.

"There are many, many other worlds out there. Not just the one I came from."

She finally dropped her blade, letting it fade in her hand.

"Other worlds…" She looked up at the sky. The sky in which she felt had always suppressed her. She closed her eyes for a second, and took a breath through her nose.

"Follow me, then, John Star." she finally conceded.

I shouldn't have even mentioned the name "John Star", how long would this haunt me?

We walked upon the liquid metal, which was completely still. The spire had appeared to be shrinking slightly, and began to glow of azure light. As we approached the tower, nothing appeared to be happening.

We stood mere feet away from the now glowing monolith. It was beautiful, sharp and pointed, metallic crystals upon crystals. The Light Blade, whom I now decided to refer to as "Light" for simplicity sake, was hesitant upon approach.

"Don't worry, Light. Daddy Star will protect you." I only said this to upset her.

It worked.

"Who's Light? Call yourself Daddy one more time and I'll kill you." she wasn't cute at all when she spoke.

"Go touch it, see what happens." I suggested.

"You touch it, you're the one made of metal." she argued.

Damn, she made a good point.

"Don't be a little bitch." I was further taunted by the Lord of Stars.

"I don't believe anything bad will happen, I will warn you if any foreign substance starts to invade." Au-ha was very helpful.

I sighed. What was a man to do in this situation?

"Fine, Daddy here will risk his life for you."

I approached the stunning, azure glowing spire. I placed my hand on it, and the entire world began stretching into an infinite, narrow tunnel. My field of view was narrowing into a nothingness, and soon enough, in a dark void, a voice spoke to me.

You are not of this world. You are not the one who I called upon.

Yet, I sense a Lord's blood within you. Lord of Blood, who came from above. What do you want with this world?

The voice was imprinted directly onto my mind. It boomed and echoed within, raspy and tired sounding.

I responded warily.

"I was told to come find The Lord of Alloy. He told me going up would end in my death, that I must first go down."

It seemed to think for a brief moment.

Hmmm, of course. Above layeth the Envoy of Heaven, which suppresses all existence below. The world's closest to the top are the weakest, facing heavens' constant suppression. I spoke to the Lord above, on many occasions, before he lost his mind.

Soon, I will face a similar fate. Meanwhile, beasts from elsewhere seek to devour our world.

There was a prodigal child, born decades ago. I had placed my hope unto her. I expended a great deal of energy to whisper a few lines to her, half a decade ago. Now you appear, and you too, may be worthy.

The girl cannot speak to me, only you, with the status as a Lord, can communicate with me. It is fated then. But first, let me ask you a question. What is your goal?

I did not hesitate. My path was set from the beginning, fated by the stars. Although they are frozen, I believe they are still guiding me. They whisper the destination, and I follow.

"My goal is to replace the heavens with the stars, as it should be."

The voice was silent for a moment.

Those are grand ambitions, child. The grandest ambition that anyone could ever have. To replace the heavens with their own will.

More silence, and the voice began to chuckle.

I have no doubt, you are worthy.

The old trials shall begin now that there is one more. It shall be the Two of you. Remember, this is a Trial on what makes a lord.

Then, the voice was gone.

Dramatic transformations suddenly occurred, as the spire slowly began growing brighter and brighter. At the very top, lightning began striking the tip repeatedly. Magnetic storms began brewing all around the lake, creatures of magnetism came forth in gaseous forms.

Creatures of Liquid metal arose from the Lake. They did not solidify, and maintained a soft flexibility combined with metallic strength.

At the top of the spire, lightning blasts of all colors struck so fast it was deafening, it was blinding and brilliant. Every strike, a creature slowly formed.

Every strike, a leg formed. The final strike was by far the strongest, and formed the body. One thousand and one strikes later, the creature was fully formed, wrapped upon the top of the spire.

A being of pure Lightning, wrapped around a metal spire that continued to feed it electricity.

A millipede, made of bright white lightning.