Without a Title {Prologue, Unedited}

The quick, steady pulse of my heart pounded against my eardrums like the beat of a drum in a soldier's march. My legs were trembling with fury, yet strong with muscles taut like a rubbery titanium as I stood tall and strong in defiance of my foe. His cold grey eyes were icy and bleak, as if all that resided within the sharp angles of his skull was a barren arctic landscape. But I was the wolf, and I would traverse that landscape without fear. I would survive the blizzard of his hatred. Only I could do what had to be done.1

I would overthrow this monstrosity.2

I would kill Scorpio and all those who chose to stand by him.3

---4

He stood upon what was left of the stone wall which once surrounded the prospering city of Malia. Now it was only a harsh reminder of what had plagued the city in its final days and left it to ruins. Ash blanketed the once clean, marble walkways of the city and the trees and plants had been burned, losing their blossoms and fruits which had provided a beautiful touch of colour within the city.5

My emerald green eyes locked with his and for a moment no words were exchanged. I stood there under the shade of an oak tree, muscles tense with the fury that was drastically increasing within me, now that I was facing the man who had destroyed whatever life I had left.6

Finally, he spoke.7

"Julian...It's a pleasure to see you here," The grey-eyed demon said, a sinister smile upon his lips, "Did you manage to find your beloved ones?" His smile burst into a grin.8

I grit my teeth, furious that he had brought it up, but I tried to contain myself. I knew before I came here that he would use my past mistakes to weaken me on the inside before he would attack me. 9

"I've had enough of your games Scorpio." I declared fiercely. He seemed abashed.10

"Game? You think this is a game? It's simply a means of keeping you at bay. And look how it turned out; I won after all. You wasted all this time and look where it's left you, alone, bitter...Weak." I cringed at the words, unable to fight the fact that they were true.11

"I have nothing left to lose. My life is now only dedicated to destroying you and the others so I can end this nightmare before it can conquer other worlds."12

"You'll waste your life fighting for a pathetic cause. I had high hopes for you actually. I thought that maybe I could convince you to join our army, you'd gain all the power you wanted. But sadly, you chose to remain weak and die a futile death. I guess I'll just have to put you out of your misery." Saying that, he summoned his staff by his side and descended from the wall, almost gracefully.13

I braced myself, preparing myself for what I had waited years to face. My heart, racing faster, filled me with the adrenaline which set the spark for the battle to advance.14

Scorpio charged first and immediately I analyzed where this fight was heading. He was going to try and fight me head on, using close combat and if I attacked from a far range he would defend. It was now that I finally praised all those crucial years spent training with Master Nabil. If I had not sacrificed those years, eating away at my youth as the Dark Matter had eaten away my homeland, I would have died at Scorpio's first strike.15

He was attacking vigurously, trying to tire me and prevent me from making a move, but I was swift.16

I calculated each attack he tried to fire at me and managed to maintain my speed and strength as I quickly avoided each blow.17

"So..." Scorpio said as he paused for a moment upon the branch of a tree, "You're a fast one aren't you?"18

I raised a curious eyebrow at him. He had been analysing my moves, testing me. He was a little bit smarter than I had expected but I had not seen the full extent of his powers...yet.19

He stared boldly down at me, a smirk played upon his lips.20

"Speed and far range are your only advantages. Without it you'd be dead in a minute. And if I were to break down those strengths...Well, at least your death won't be slow and painful." 21

Suddenly I could see him lunging towards me, his staff mere centimetres from my head. I avoided the blow and as I heard the deafening smash of the staff upon the tiles, I thought - for a brief second - 'I won't even have time to pray'. By the time I'd decide to, I'd be dead.22

Scorpio wasted no time in recovering from his missed attack and charged once more, faster and more determined to end this.23

'Do a spell, do a spell,' I urged myself, but I just couldn't. He was too fast. I needed to wield an element in order to defend myself and keep him away if I wished to reach my destination.
Remembering where the canals were, I continued dodging Scorpio's attacks as I hurried to get to the water.24

"Where are you going Julian? You're not willing enough to fight?"25

I felt the wind smack my back and I heard the piercing sound of the explosion. The air thickened with dust. I stumbled but quickly regained my balance and turned around to see the large crater which had formed due to the impact of the staff. 26

He had power on his side. I had luck.27

I snapped back to reality and started racing into the city, searching for the canals with Scorpio on my tail and blasting away like some sort of angry god. I was fortunate that the only injuries I sustained were scratches from the flying pieces of tile. I could have had my head blasted away by now.28

Another explosion from the staff sent me splashing into the deep canal. I flailed about for a few before I gained control. My eyes shot open and I could see Scorpio, not clearly above the surface of the water, but clear in my mind.29

I saw in my mind those bitter grey ices open in shock, motionless as he lay still, bleeding, the rest of his body growing cold like his heart.30

He would die.31

Harnessing my power, I emerged from the water - with it still clinging to my arms - my feet still on the surface. If I just stayed here for a while Scorpio would be dead in a matter of minutes.32

I unleashed a wave upon him, sending him flying into one of the still standing houses. Recovering from the shock he tightened the grip on his staff and raced towards me. I built up a shield of ice but he shot at it. I stumbled backward in my position but quickly jumped from the canal and began using the water as my own sword, counterattacking his strikes. Our weapons clashed powerfully and I knew that using the frozen sword wouldn't last for long. With prompt thinking I melted the sword and wrapped it around his leg like a whip and flung him unto the ground, making sure his head hit the pavement hard enough.33

He tried to scramble up and reach for his staff but I flung him again, this time further and he collided into a statue.34

"Had enough yet?!" I screamed, approaching him, "Was that all you were giving me? You thought you could win?"35

"Uhn..." he groaned and tried to get back up, pathetically failing to do so. I grit my teeth and pressed my foot down on his chest, bracing him down along with the ice which formed around his feet and hands. He looked up at me, his grey eyes glistening with different emotions, one, I noticed keenly, was fear.36

A part of me, deep within which I tried to keep sealed away, told me to spare his life, but I crushed it. After all I had been through, I could not have compassion for the man who had so brutally murdered my wife and daughter. He had taken two precious lives from me, the only regret was that I wouldn't be able to kill him and more of his kind right now.37

"Tell me who's in charge of all this Dark Matter," I demanded. My foot pressed down harder, causing him to wince from the pressure.38

"I-I am," he stammered, trying to maintain a sense of bravery.39

"Liar!" I shouted, growing impatient, "You're too weak, I know someone else is controlling this, you're just the figurehead. Tell who started this," I aimed an ice sword at his throat and the fear in his eyes returned.40

"I created the Dark Matter, when I was a boy and looking through a dark magic book. He witnessed my power and harnessed it from me, developing it through the years. He used me and the rest of his subjects as figureheads so He could do everything in secret..."41

I blinked at him, trying to absorb all the information I had just gathered. Someone had adapted the powers from Scorpio. At that time, it probably wasn't even anything threatening, but when you had a motivation to twist it and form it into something of great power, it could cause wonders...and destruction. 42

"Who is 'He'?"43

His lips formed into a hideous grin.44

"You'll have to find that out for yourself...But I guess you never will..." His eyes gestured upwards and I craned my head back to see the Dark Matter enveloping the sky in its black-purple mist.45

'No...' This would all be a waste if I didn't get to the gate in time. Not only would the Dark Matter be able to claim me in its endless sea of darkness, but Scorpio too could keep me from my goal. The growing mass of darkness was empowering him, and slowly draining me of my power. My thoughts were disturbed as I heard Scorpio let out a low, evil chuckle.46

"You wasted all this time. Now you'll suffer the same fate you and your little family did."47

"No...No, I'm going to stop this, starting with you!" I held up my frozen sword, aiming for his heart. The point didn't reach its target. Instead, I suddenly felt myself being flung back with incredible force. My body was thrown into one the buildings and debris tumbled down on me. 48

"Damn it," I muttered, coughing up dust. I shouldn't have underestimated him.49

"You thought it would be that easy?" He proclaimed, picking up his staff, "now that He has sent the forces here, I am invincible." 50

Dark spheres of light flashed in his arms. He appeared to be glowing. His power was growing the longer the Dark Matter was here.51

My heart was now beating against my chest with intense vigour and panic ran through my veins. If I didn't get to the gate in time, I would either die fighting Scorpio be disintegrated by the Dark Matter.52

I had no choice but to run.53

I shot some spikes at Scorpio from the canal but he blocked them with a shield of dark energy. Desperate to get away, I took the chance to jump into the water and began racing against the current, journeying towards the farthest point in the city, Niuray Falls, where the gate to the other world was.54

I surfaced, bringing my head above water for air and gasped - not for the air - but in shock. The water behind me was being poisoned by the Dark Matter - more specifically - Scorpio.
I bolted out of the water, coming back onto the land. The water was now black and murky. However it provided me with the advantage of working with dark magic. I wasn't sure how that would work out against Scorpio and with it being my first time, but I was willing to try anything to defend myself.55

However I had no time. I continued my race towards Niuray Falls. I was quick on my feet, avoiding the beams of dark light which shot past me and hit the earth, damaging what was left of the city. Above my head, the fog of Dark Matter was thickening and coming closer to the earth.56

I quickened my pace, eventually finding myself on the grasslands of Niuray Falls' garden. Ahead of me was the large body of water, surrounded by the falls which fell into it. Straight ahead, beyond the bridge across the water, was the gate. I was so close. 57

"You can run but you'll never make it Julian," I heard Scorpio's voice declare. Suddenly I felt the gust from another blast hit me and I fell to the ground face-first. Before Scorpio could fire once more, I turned around, still slightly lying down and launched several large frozen spikes at him but he blocked it with a shield, hurdling them back at me.58

I got up, melting the spikes quickly. I gathered all my strength and using the water around me, filled the area with a thick mist, shielding myself out of Scorpio's sight. I then proceeded to continue running towards my destination. I was closer now, and I had no time for fighting, the Dark Matter was giving him too much energy and coming down too fast. I had only shot if I wanted to get enough time to make the spell.59

Being at what I would consider a safe distance, I built up a frozen wall before me, hoping it would be strong enough to keep Scorpio at bay. I then hurried to kneel before the gate. Unlike the rest of the city, it was still intact, a simple wooden arch with an ornate symbol at its centre. I extracted the pendant from my cloak pocket - the precious item I had carried with me so dearly - and put it in the centre of the ornate circle. I placed my palms before it and started to chant.60

In the back of my mind, while I was chanting the spell, I was also praying, for several things. One main issue was the fact that Scorpio wouldn't break the shield and find me before I completed the spell. Second, I hoped I actually made it through the gate to the other world. 61

But one thing troubled me.62

I could not leave until Scorpio's heart ceased beating.63

The spell had been complete and the gate flashed a brilliant blue, showing the dimension of light which I would have to travel through to reach the other side.64

I stared at it for a moment, contemplating my choice. Common sense told me to jump through it while I still had a chance, but my heart, and all the painful memories of my past told me to end this once and for all.
I grit my teeth and turned around as the mist began to clear. Scorpio was making a bold attempt at breaking the ice shield and it was beginning to crack drastically. This was it. I would end him at any costs.65

I melted the ice and released the wave of water upon Scorpio, pushing him with great force and knocking the staff out of his hand. He crashed against the waterfall and came falling down into the pool, slightly dazed from this sudden attack, but not entirely shaken. In fact, he chuckled.66

"You disappoint me Julian. Your attacks are very ineffective. That didn't even leave a scratch." 67

I glared, feeling the hatred run through my veins and fill me with immense power. Everything had led up to this moment. I could not fail now.68

He shot after me and I feigned avoiding it, in fact letting it hit me and push me back a far distance. I had to take the blow, however great it was. And this had managed not to maim me drastically because I had intended on making it appear as if I had gotten hit, but if I had foolishly stood there and took the full blast, I would have died pathetically.69

I lay down on the ground, anticipating Scorpio's approach towards me. He was smirking of course, his grey eyes shining with pride. I did my best to maintain a look of defeat. It wasn't that hard to feel as if I had given up and lost. I had felt it so many times. It was too natural to me.70

Scorpio stood above me, soaking up all the glory. I glared at him, still keeping a hint of weakness and pathetically tried to sit back up. He stomped on my chest, pushing me down. His hands were glowing with dark power and his eyes were now filled with evil.71

"I knew it would be a matter of time before you would eventually fall short of your plans. You brought about your own fate by being so reckless and choosing to face me like the fool you are. Now all your hard work will go to waste." He aimed the sphere of darkness towards me, getting ready to end all I had worked for.72

"Any final words?" He asked with a smirk.73

So typical.74

"Actually, yes..." I said casually. He raised his eyebrow, questioning my lack of fear or anxiety, but he kept his composure, prepared for any tricks I might have up my sleeves. However, he wasn't prepared for one trick...75

"Well? Aren't you going to speak? Or are you to weak to make a final effort?" He sneered. 76

"No...I have one final request...don't move."77

"What?"78

Shock filled the once prideful face as the realization hit him, straight in the heart from behind. He hadn't seen it coming. The ice blade had pierced right through him, and blood was dripping unto my leg. I didn't care. I could not care for anything else at that moment other than his life being sent into the pits of hell where it belonged.
I got up from my position as Scorpio's body fell to the ground in a heap, motionless and bleeding profusely. He was finally dead. But he was only 1 of the 12 figureheads who represented the leader of all the chaos which had arose due to the Dark Matter. And when I got through that gate, I would be one step closer to destroying them all.79

My hatred had now subsided, and a new feeling of calm washed over me. My heartbeat had relaxed for only a few seconds before I remembered the gate. The portal would disappear soon. I sighed and walked towards it, anxious for what awaited me in another world, far more different from my own.80

With one final look at Scorpio, I stepped in, letting the blue light engulf me and take me away from the painful memories of my past, and into the unknown chaos which rested within my future.81