GladiousX

Earth is gone—destroyed and occupied, leaving nothing for humanity to return to. Now, scattered across the cosmos, humans endure a harsh existence as refugees, immigrants, and, worst of all, mercenaries. Stripped of their memories and easily manipulated, they are forced into deadly trials that test the limits of their newfound superpowers, intellect, and reflexes. The survivors are then thrust into galactic battles, fighting for causes they do not understand, their pasts and the memory of Earth completely erased. Their only motivation is to survive another day in the vast, unforgiving universe.

Meanwhile, a powerful and enigmatic secret society known as the Enix schemes to dominate the mightiest empires in the galaxy: the Zurix and the Lunix.

The Zurix, a collection of over ten competing planetary empires, are locked in a perpetual and bloody struggle for supremacy. Despite sharing a common origin, they ruthlessly wage war against one another, all with the ultimate goal of reaching a single, coveted planet.

Their path, however, is blocked by the formidable Lunix Empire. For six millennia, the Lunix have stood as a unified and unyielding force, their dominion stretching across half the universe and encompassing the most resource-rich worlds. Their legions of enhanced super-soldiers have proven invincible, repelling every Zurix invasion for centuries. But the tides are turning. The once-mighty Lunix Empire is now decaying from within, weakened by corruption and internal strife. Seizing this opportunity, the Zurix are closing in, eager to dismantle their ancient rivals and claim the ultimate prize. Yet, unknown to both empires, the Enix have their own vision for the future—a new world order that will forever alter the fabric of the universe.

Into this maelstrom of conflict awakens Noor, a human stripped of his past. Thrown into the brutal trials, he discovers a rare and potent ability: the power of Imagination. This power allows him to materialize any object he can envision, though it is bound by certain limitations. Complementing this is his photographic memory, which enables him to recall a vast catalog of creations for battle. Noor understands that true strength lies not in raw power but in intellect. Every conflict is a test of tactics, strategy, and wit.

He is not alone. Noor will soon unite with seven other humans, each possessing unique abilities. Together, they will fight in wars they do not comprehend, all in a desperate search for their identity, the truth, and a place to call home. Should Noor succeed in gathering the coveted artifacts that all factions seek, he may not only reclaim what was lost but also rise to become the Lord of the Stars.

Lord of The Stars

Ares walked among soldiers who moved with strict regularity and steadiness. He said to himself:

"What better than the army to control humans and make them puppets moving in perfect harmony as desired without complaint, objection, or questioning what they do? They simply march with their minds completely washed, but there is no difference between them and me in anything. I am exactly like them, except at least I can distinguish between right and wrong even if I do the wrong thing—they have not managed to wash my mind and make me lose my consciousness until I become like a puppet."

He continued his walk amid the trees, contemplating the stunning nature, hearing birds singing to each other above the trees. The wind played with tree branches, causing them to intertwine and their leaves to tremble. Some animals ran here and there, seeking their daily sustenance, while the sun slipped between the intertwined branches above to illuminate the forest and spread warmth throughout the place.

After a long period of walking, Ares finally emerged from the forest to find a small camp before him extending across a vast green plain, surrounded by some barbed wire fences. The camp consisted of numerous green tents standing proudly beside each other in a longitudinal formation across two adjacent rows. Inside, soldiers moved back and forth, hurrying from one place to another. He also saw some aerial receivers and some computers inside the encampments. At the camp gate stood two soldiers in silence and stillness; when they saw the Captain coming with the soldiers, they stood straight, offering a military salute toward him. The Captain returned the salute, and the two soldiers opened the gate to let him, the soldiers, and Ares into the camp. The two soldiers cast doubtful and questioning glances at Ares, who looked at them in turn, then quickly averted his gaze.

Thus the Captain proceeded, greeting everyone he saw, while Ares felt like a king walking among his courtiers because of the royal treatment he was receiving. He observed the surroundings, remembering his painful past in a similar camp, and wondered if his past was the reason for his present. Was it the reason he was chosen to use this strange power and become part of what was happening here? Although the picture was blurry now, the Captain would surely tell him everything, as he seemed to revere him in some way and thought he had come to help. It was irony of fate, as they say, for this was not what Ares had originally come to Egypt for, but he would go along with them so as not to be exposed. He felt grateful that he had taken some clothes from one of the empty stores on the way and wore them; had they seen him in those hospital clothes, he didn't know what would have happened.

Ares's wandering thoughts were interrupted by the Captain's firm voice, pointing for him to enter the tent before which he stood. Ares nodded his head and immediately entered the tent. There he found some soldiers sitting at computers, sometimes muttering in Arabic, and pressing some buttons here and there. In the center of the tent stood a person who appeared to be of high rank, looking at a three-dimensional map on the table in front of him along with some other officers, pointing to some red areas on the map. They appeared deeply engrossed in something of paramount importance.

The Captain greeted those in the tent, then approached the high-ranking person and whispered in his ear, then directed his gaze toward Ares. The high-ranking person also looked at him, and his features, which had been characterized by seriousness, began to change. After a few seconds of whispering, the Captain stepped away and headed toward Ares, then spoke to him in his strange accent, saying:

"Please, Mr. Ares, I want to introduce you to the General."

Between Uniforms and Past