CHAPTER 2: ONSLAUGHT ON ULTRA PLANET 2

Continuation....

TRIVIUM

"I can't believe this. We're supposed to be enjoying the match, not stuck guarding this box," Serpent complains.

"You're not the only one missing training. I am too," Zara adds. "But for Father's sake, let's protect the box from this Goliath's guy. What was his silly name again?"

"Erebus," I reply curtly. "Enough complaining. We need to focus."

"What exactly are we focusing on? Guarding a box hidden away in this building, surrounded by soldiers?" Serpent retorts. "Maybe Father doesn't want us to see how much our students are improving, or perhaps..."

"Enough, Serpent!" I cut him off sharply. "King Ultron isn't joking. Alabaster is among the Ten Infinite Weapons Goliath seeks. Erebus has been sent to retrieve them."

"Well, Father never mentioned Infinite Weapons to us before," Serpent persists, walking closer. "We've fought countless battles together, won wars, and he never mentioned Erebus or these weapons. Now suddenly he expects us to believe this fairy tale?"

"I don't care if you believe him or not."

"You believe him, don't you?" Serpent challenges, his face hardening.

"Yes, I do," I respond firmly, meeting his gaze. "Father warned of dire consequences if we fail to protect the box. Please, Serpent, don't let Father down."

Suddenly, a strange sound echoes behind Serpent.

"Something's happening," Zara observes, eyes fixed on the box.

As we watch, the soldiers take a cautious step back. The Alabaster Box starts vibrating, emitting an eerie noise that fills the air.

"The box has never made that sound before, has it?" Zara asks, glancing at me.

"I don't think so," I reply, eyes locked on the box.

"Someone is coming," Serpent announces.

"Prepare for battle!" I command loudly, and the soldiers draw their swords, gripping their shields tightly in readiness.

Without warning, a massive blue portal materializes, and two imposing figures emerge.

The first figure stands tall and muscular, exuding power and authority. His dark grey skin and imposing frame are accentuated by a deep red and gold armor, which gleams ominously. His helmet obscures most of his face, leaving only glowing red eyes visible. In his hand, he wields a massive sword, a symbol of his formidable strength.

"You must be Erebus," I address him, stepping forward with a stern expression.

"Indeed, it's a pleasure to meet you, Trivium," Erebus responds with a wicked smile.

The second figure is colossal, with scarred crimson skin and a massive, muscular build. Veins bulge under its tough exterior, and it exudes a raw, intimidating presence.

"And who might you be, four arms?" Serpent challenges.

"I am Gordon, loyal servant to my Emperor," the creature declares.

"So, you've chosen to serve this... 'emperor'," Zara remarks sarcastically.

"Enough talk. Surrender the Alabaster Box, and your soldiers will be spared," Erebus demands, his voice carrying a threatening edge. "Refuse, and they will die."

I pause, glancing at Serpent, Zara, and our soldiers. My heart races, but I steady myself. Even if we can't defeat them today, we must protect the box at all costs.

"You know what? I would rather die than hand over the box to you," I declare defiantly, raising my hand. Lightning crackles overhead, striking the ground with a deafening crash.

After the lightning fades, I stand before Emperor Erebus, feeling the weight of my armor settle comfortably. The golden plates gleam under the light, perfectly molded to my frame for both freedom of movement and regal presence. A crimson cape flows from my shoulders, adding majesty to my silhouette.

My helmet, crafted from brilliant gold alloy, leaves only my eyes visible through narrow slits. Intricate engravings adorn its edges, catching the light with shifting highlights. I hold my mighty axe—a blend of artistry and lethal functionality—in my hands, ready to defend.

Beside me, Serpent pulls a hood over his head, adding a stealthy edge to his fierce appearance. His armor, a mix of sturdy plates and flexible mesh, gleams with a burnished gold hue. Zara stands poised, her icy powers evident in her elegant armor and swirling orbs of frost magic.

"Enough chatter, Gordon. Let's retrieve what we came for," Erebus commands.

"With pleasure," Gordon replies, and the battle begins.

The moment Erebus gives the command, Gordon lunges forward, a monstrous blur of muscle and rage. His four massive arms hammer the ground as he launches himself at us, shaking the earth beneath our feet.

Before I can react, the three hundred warriors standing behind us surge forward, shields locking into a near-impenetrable phalanx, their swords gleaming under the storm-darkened sky. They roar as one, charging at Erebus and Gordon with deadly precision. The battlefield becomes a sea of clashing steel, war cries, and flashes of elemental fury.

I summon a bolt of lightning in my palm and hurl it at Gordon. The air sizzles as it tears through the battlefield, striking him square in the chest. But instead of staggering, he grins—a deep, guttural chuckle rumbling from his throat. The impact only seems to enrage him further. In a flash, he barrels toward me, swinging a massive fist. I barely dodge, rolling under the strike as his fist crashes into a column behind me, shattering it like glass.

Beside me, Serpent leaps into action, his chain whipping through the air, the barbed tip aimed straight for Erebus. But Erebus moves with unnatural precision. He catches the chain midair and yanks Serpent forward with terrifying force. Serpent barely has time to react before Erebus drives a colossal knee into his gut, sending him skidding across the ground.

The warriors fight valiantly, their swords clashing against Gordon's monstrous form. Some manage to land blows, steel cutting into his thick skin, but he doesn't falter. He swings two of his arms in a wide arc, sending bodies flying like ragdolls. One soldier tries to drive his spear into Gordon's ribs, but Gordon catches it mid-thrust and snaps the weapon like a twig before grabbing the man by the throat and slamming him into the ground with a sickening crunch.

Zara moves with chilling grace, her hands weaving intricate motions as jagged ice spreads beneath her feet. She sends a frozen spear hurtling toward Gordon, aiming for his throat. It hits—only for him to shatter it with a laugh, his skin steaming from the contact. He swings two of his arms at her, and though she manages to dodge the first strike, the second catches her midair, slamming her into the dirt. A sharp crack echoes through the battlefield.

Around me, soldiers fall one by one. Erebus moves through them like a specter of death, his red eyes flashing as he evades their strikes with effortless precision. With a mere gesture, he crushes a dozen men under an invisible force, their bones snapping like twigs. Others charge at him, their shields raised, but he simply steps forward, and the gravity around them warps, sending them sprawling to the ground where they are helpless to move.

"Enough," I growl, summoning the storm within me. My axe appears in my grasp, humming with power. I raise it high, calling down a cascade of lightning. The sky tears open, white-hot energy streaking down like judgment itself. It engulfs both Erebus and Gordon, the ground beneath them turning to molten rock. I exhale, expecting them to fall.

But the smoke clears, and they are still standing. Erebus' body pulses with energy, absorbing the very force I unleashed. He meets my gaze, and for the first time in centuries, I feel something unfamiliar—unease.

Gordon roars and launches himself at me, moving faster than something his size should be capable of. I brace, raising my hammer just in time to meet his punch. The impact sends a shockwave outward, but it's like striking a mountain. Pain lances through my arms as I'm sent flying backward, crashing through debris. My breath catches as I force myself to stand.

Erebus strides toward me, unfazed. With a flick of his wrist, a gravitational force seizes me, locking my limbs in place. I struggle, but it's useless. His red eyes bore into mine as he raises a hand, forming a sphere of raw cosmic energy.

"You were never worthy," he murmurs, and then he hurls it.

The explosion engulfs me. Agony sears through my body as I'm sent hurtling through the battlefield, crashing into the remains of a stone wall. My vision blurs, and I taste blood. I try to rise, but my limbs fail me.

I turn my head in time to see Gordon lift the Alabaster Box from its pedestal, its surface shimmering with untold power. Erebus watches impassively before turning his gaze back to me. He doesn't need to speak. The message is clear.

We have lost.

With the box secured, Erebus and Gordon vanish into the portal, leaving only destruction in their wake.

To be continued...