Time for a few announcements about this series. One, please stop sending me hate messages for my slow upload schedule. I’m in college and this is a busy semester. I have about 3 hours a week that I can dedicate to writing so I put as much in as I can. Two, a new, much less drama story is in the works. It’ll be a slice of life style story about a Hunter and a Warlock. That’s all I have for now but I hope you enjoy this chapter. [----------------------------------------------------------------] Gobo stood over Helios who was laying completely flat on the floor. Gobo leaned down and was about to enter Helios’ dream when he noticed something off. Helios’ hand was very lightly smoking. Gobo gently grabbed Helios’ hand and inspected it. “What is mark?” Gobo asked out loud. “No problem, I will find out for self.” Gobo placed his hand over the mark on Helios’ palm. [------Inside Helios’ dream, Shortly after Helios’ revival------------------] A loud clash of steel rung through the air only to be met with another loud clash of steel. Helios and the Vandal both jumped back letting out a few breaths as they attempted to regain their composure. The Vandal let out a laugh before charging head-first at Helios with his swords. Helios looked quickly at his sword before thrusting it forward into the Vandal’s chest. The Vandal was stopped cold. Helios grabbed his sword’s hilt with his other hand and threw the Vandal’s body off the blade with one swing. A Fallen Captain walked out from the shadows slowly clapping their hands. Helios turned to the Captain with a fierce look still donned upon his face. Helios’ expression soon turned to that of one of joy. The Captain walked up to Helios and gave him a few pats on the back. The Fallen Captain started to speak to Helios in Fallen tongue. “Well done Helios. You’ve bested yet another one of your brothers.” The Captain said to Helios. Helios responded in Fallen Tongue. “Hehe, yeah. When will you ever give me a challenge Kureks?” Helios said to the Captain as he wiped his blade with a cloth. “I’m tired of fighting weaklings.” The Captain chuckled and began to walk to a nearby tent. “In due time Helios. For now, we must make sure that our greatest asset stays vigilant and ready.” The Captain leaned down and grabbed a small armband and tossed it to Helios. “In the meantime, we had this crafted for you. It should help you in your journey.” Helios caught the band and began to inspect it. “What is this exactly?” Helios asked. “It looks like trash.” “That may be true.” The Captain responded. “But you are not like our kind. You are of a race that can gain strength from these articles of wear.” “Oh, you mean the light takers right?” Helios said. “But I’m not like them right? I’m better. I’m like you.” The Captain chuckled. “Yes Helios, you are not like them. They are evil and only want to betray you.” The Captain placed a hand on Helios’ head. “We are your kin now. Not the Guardians. Never trust the Guardians.” Helios gave a quick nod and slid the armband up his left arm. A Dreg ran into the camp directly up to the Captain. Frantically he yelled “Sir we spotted guardians on the perimeter!” Kureks let out a small groan before saying “All right, get everyone to the ships. We’ll leave for now and move to another encampment until they pass.” Helios stood up and walked over to the Captain. “Kureks, let me go deal with them. I’ll buy you time.” “Helios you know I can’t let you do that.” Helios only gave Kureks a stern look. Kureks groaned and placed a hand to his face. “You’re allowed 10 minutes to fight them. After your time is up, disappear into the forest. Is that understood?” Helios smiled. “Yes sir.” As the Fallen ran to board the ships, Helios grabbed his sword and began walking towards the perimeter of the camp. He was ready to annihilate the Guardians. He would preserve his life. His home. His family. These Guardians would only try and destroy his world. Helios walked around until he reached the last known location of the guardians. He quickly scaled up a tree to get a better view. He scanned the area until he saw a lone Titan walking around a tree. [i] Gotcha. [/i] Helios thought to himself. He jumped out of the tree and ran over to greet the Titan. “Well hey there buddy!” Helios cheerfully said. “Whatcha doin wanderin around here?” The Titan jumped back in shock, startled by the sudden appearance of Helios. “Oh, I’m here on a mission.” “And what would that be?” Helios asked. “We had reports of Fallen setting up camp here. We’ve been tasked with clearing them out.” The Titan replied. “We?” Helios asked. “You aren’t alone?” Helios began to feel a bit nervous. “Well of course!” The Titan chuckled. “You act like you’ve never been on a fireteam before.” Helios let out a small chuckle. “Well of course I have. They’re just away right now.” Helios began to fret a bit. He didn’t need to fight more than one. He wasn’t ready to exhaust himself. Just how many others were there? Helios suddenly had an idea. “Mind if I help you finish your mission?” Helios asked. The Titan placed a hand to his chin and gave a hard ponder. “Aren’t you busy with something else?” “Not at the moment. I’ve finished my mission and I’m reporting back. I have time to kill.” Helios replied. The Titan let out a mighty roar of a laugh. “Who am I to say no? The more the merrier eh mate?” He slapped a hand on Helios’ back. Helios let out a small chuckle. As the Titan laughed a Hunter and Warlock walked up to them. “Who’s this?” The Warlock asked. “Looks a bit fishy.” The Hunter said. “Lads, he’s a fellow guardian! He’s gonna help us finish up our mission!” The Titan said cheerfully. “The sooner we finish the faster we can grab some bevs! My treat.” The Warlock and Hunter shot each other a look and nodded. “Just don’t let him get in the way.” The Hunter said with a pompous attitude. “Fellas, we have a job to do.” The Warlock interjected. “The game plan is this, me and Titan will go around through the forest to flank the Fallen. Hunter you go ahead and start sniping to cause a distraction.” “What about me?” Helios asked. The Warlock looked around the group with a quizzical expression. “Go with the Hunter I guess.” “Eugh, why’s he stuck with me?” The Hunter said with disgust. “Because you’ll actually be able to watch over him.” The Warlock replied with a snort. “Lads! What did I say about fighting?” The Titan bellowed out. “Whatever…” The Warlock and Hunter replied in unison. The Titan chuckled and made a hand motion to the Warlock that it was time to move. He waved goodbye to the Hunter and he and the Warlock walked off into the woods. The Hunter turned towards Helios. “Stick close to me newbie.” The Hunter said. Helios took a step back and reached for his sword. “I’ll give you one chance. Leave now and never come back, and you’ll be spared.” “What?” The Hunter said. Helios snickered. “Your call.” Helios lunged forward and sliced the Hunter into 6 pieces in one fluid motion. The Hunter’s face was left preserved in a shocked expression. The Hunter’s ghost appeared shortly after. Helios reached out and grabbed the ghost. He crushed it in his bare hands. As Helios opened his palm to let the small bits of the former ghost fall to the ground, he turned to the direction the Titan and Warlock left in. [i] I’ll need to act fast, before they make it near camp. [/i] Helios thought. Helios gave his sword one swing to clean the blood off of it. He turned and began walking towards the Titan and Warlock. [------To Be Continued-------------------------]