Strange Dream

Cedric was stunned by the sight that met his eyes.

The sky above was an amalgamation of red and black waves, flowing ceaselessly in the background. Mountains of corpses surrounded him, and in their midst stood two figures: one drenched in blood and clad in what was once a white robe, now painted crimson by the carnage around them. The other figure stood over the weeping woman, brandishing a massive blade that dwarfed Cedric's understanding of an Odachi's length.

Cedric could feel the auras of both beings locking him in place, making it hard to breathe. The woman's aura was warm, emitting incredibly high temperatures that did not ignite anything in its surroundings. The man's aura was constantly changing, shifting from one of sharpness to one of bloodlust, overwhelming anyone who came within its reach with a desire to slaughter. His eyes were like polished gold, radiating a resplendent golden glow, and his black hair was matted with blood. Cedric surveyed the scene and saw nothing but an endless wasteland of rock and ash, dotted with hundreds of thousands of corpses.

The battlefield that stretched before him was devoid of any life, except for the two beings locked in combat in the center of the carnage. As he focused on the figures, he could somehow confirm that they were both Archons, the most powerful beings in the known universe. The woman, with her scarlet tears and severed head of a loved one, was a pitiable sight.

Cedric felt a twinge of sympathy for her, even as he struggled to break free of the auras that held him in place. He could sense the immense power emanating from both Archons, and knew that he was in the presence of something far beyond his comprehension.

Snapping out of his reverie, Cedric heard the woman muttering, "It's all your fault. Why did you have to do this? Look at all this endless carnage that you've caused. When you first arrived, you were a brilliant sword in tune with the elements of the storm. You were so warm and carefree. I looked up to you. You've changed. You're now nothing more than a monster that ends all life wherever it treads. You're no different from the devourers you so despised. YOU ARE-"

In an instant, the female Archon exploded into a shower of blood. Cedric finally saw the being's face, which looked so familiar, yet he couldn't place it. "Where did I see this person?" he wondered.

The being took a moment to observe the destruction it had caused before looking at Cedric, its piercing gaze making him feel like he was getting cut all over his body. The being opened its mouth and said, "It was inevitable. For I was a dull sword, broken, roaming without any purpose, refusing to realize my true path. I now embrace it. I will no longer run."

Without looking at Cedric, the Archon lifted its head to look up at the nightmare these beings call sky. It took a deep breath before declaring, "I AM COMING FOR YOU, CASTIA, AND I COME BEARING GIFTS."

With every word it uttered, the earth around them seemed to crack, the corpses exploding and forming endless spires of blood that flowed up towards the sky. The fabric of reality was collapsing all around Cedric. As his sight darkened, he heard the Archon's voice one last time, a voice that felt like a piece of metal scraping against his head. "FOR I AM CARNAGE."

Cedric was abruptly awoken by a deafening noise, gasping for air as he saw everything around him was tinted red. An alarm was blaring across the entire vessel.

"What is happening!?" He hastily put on his shoes, grabbed his sword, and ran out of his room in a panic. He could not comprehend what was going on.

As he rushed towards the Trainee's lounge, Cedric saw hundreds of recruits, all with terror-stricken expressions, looking at a massive holo-screen that appeared to be broadcasting an attack on the ship. Looking out of one of the large windows on the side of the vessel, Cedric could confirm what he saw. A giant planet, gray and lifeless, with space debris scattered all around it, was floating right next to the Star-Shatter.

In his panic, Cedric ran around searching for Siegward and Dhan, and eventually found them standing by one of the windows at the edge of the lounge area, next to the training area.

"GUYS!" Cedric exclaimed, trying to catch his breath. Siegward's ear perked up as he turned to face the panicked Cedric. His usual smile was nowhere to be seen.

"Cedric, I'm glad you're here. They announced that a squad of elite void-knights was sent to defuse the situation. We should all take a moment to calm down. I-It seems like they have everything under control."

"How did we even stumble upon this planet?" Cedric asked, staring out the window at the massive hole embedded in the planet. Swallowing hard, he added, "Don't tell me this planet appeared out of nowhere, just like in the legends?"

A loud voice interrupted the trio from behind. "You're exactly right, Slag." They turned around, startled, and quickly saluted the Officer.

"Do not panic. We expected this to happen, in fact, it was unavoidable. We are now outside the Federation's borders, drifting in uninhabited space. We are accompanied by several titanium rank void-knights. Rumor has it that the Federation has also sent a hidden tungsten rank immortal to make sure we get out of this alive. Nothing to worry about. Just relax and enjoy the show. Dismissed." After Officer Sarah left, the trainees let out a collective sigh of relief.

As the clamor grew louder, the trio turned their attention to the window, where a gasp escaped their lips. The massive grey planet, which had been orbiting peacefully moments before, now had a palm print etched on its surface, as if it was gripped in a colossal hand. Cedric squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look, and that's when he saw her. A woman, with long silver hair, was floating in front of the ship, her eyes fixated on the planet. Her hand was curled into a tight fist, as if she was holding onto something round.

The three trainees watched in awe as the shimmering figure made a swift motion with her hand. Suddenly, the planet began to crumble and shrink, its surface morphing into a glittering, stone-like substance. Siegward's voice barely registered in Cedric's ear as he muttered, "An Immortal." It was a rare sight, even for those in the military. Immortals were beings with supernatural powers, gifted with the ability to manipulate the elements and change the course of fate. And here they were, witnessing one in action.

As the planet disintegrated before their eyes, Cedric couldn't help but feel a sense of awe mixed with fear. He had heard tales of Immortals, but never in his wildest dreams had he thought he would witness one firsthand. What other wonders and horrors lay beyond the veil of space, he wondered.