home

search

Chapter 7: Shattered

  Earth. Vast, radiant, and breathtaking. Dante had never seen anything like it. From this vantage point, it was surreal—a sight he would have never experienced under normal circumstances. Becoming an astronaut required a level of discipline and dedication that would have been far beyond his reach. That path would have never been an option for him, not with the life he had chosen. Not with the choices he had made.

  But now, for a moment, he stood there, mesmerized by the sight of his home world through the Celestia’s viewing panel. The vastness of it, the sheer scale, made everything else feel small. Surrounding the world was the subnet pipe like a ghostly apparition. He couldn’t move, captivated by a view that he would never have been able to see.

  Yet, something was off. The voice within him stirred violently, thrashing like a caged beast, calling his name over and over. It was relentless, demanding his attention.

  And finally, he listened.

  “Dante. Do not try to fight her.” Phantasm hissed.

  “Why?” He glanced around the bridge, measuring his chances of success if things went awry.

  Phantasm sighed, “Just trust me. She is out of your league.”

  Dante felt as though something horrible was about to happen, but he wasn’t sure what. “Phantasm… what’s about to happen?”

  Phantasm said with sorrow, “I’m sorry Dante. But some things must happen…”

  Sophitia cackled menacingly. “Well, Tyr. Would you like to explain what’s about to happen!? Or shall I show him!?”

  Tyr pushed herself up and blocked Dante’s view of Earth.

  “My love… please don’t look.” She grabbed his hands and pulled them close to her.

  Dante stood there gawking at the world and then at Tyr. Then at Sophitia's hateful face. A face seething and cackling at the same time.

  “Go on Tyr. Tell him the truth! Tell him what we’ve done with worlds just like his!” She taunted.

  She struggled to get the words out, “Dante… I’m sorry… but…”

  “TYR! TELL HIM THE TRUTH!” Sophitia promptly stomped her foot which caused the Celestia to rumble.

  “I’m sorry Dante. But we’re… going to compress your world...” Her big swirling eyes were saddened.

  Dante looked on, confused by what that meant, “Compress my world? What does that even mean?”

  “Bah! Tyr! Don’t overcomplicate it for the stupid idiot!” Sophitia sneered.

  “It just means… your world is going to be turned to synenergetic dust…” Tyr started to explain.

  “By?” Sophitia waved her wicked hand to continue.

  Tyr couldn’t maintain eye contact, “By… the God Module’s void ray… and then the Celestia is going to devour that energy...”

  Dante’s eyes widened, “What? No way… You’re… going to destroy my world!? Wait a minute… why!?”

  Sophitia slammed her fist onto a console, “You. Insignificant. FOOL! MY Amulet is there! Stuck in your miserable useless planet. That’s why!”

  “No! No! I won’t let you!” The energy bubbling inside Dante's module was about to explode. With widened eyes, he faced a critical decision: fight Sophitia to end this madness or trust Phantasm and be passive like always.

  “Dante, you can’t hope to win against her. There is nothing that can be done.” Phantasm rationalized.

  “I was just given this power! I can’t just let them do this!” His fists shook.

  “You think you can take on all three of us, WORM!?” Sophitia sneered preparing herself for a fight.

  “Think about it Dante, they’re fully powered Kaleidoscopians. There is no way you can win at this point.” Phantasm argued. “Even she is powerful enough to take you out on her own. I can feel it. I can see it!”

  Dante thought about how powerful Phantasm is and how it can compete. “At this point!? What about you?” he asked. “What if I let you take over? Do you think you could defeat her?”

  Phantasm groused, “It is not foreseen, not in this scenario.”

  “Not in this scenario!? My whole world is on the line. I never said goodbye to anyone, they have no idea what’s happening! Come on, Phantasm!” Dante pleaded.

  Phantasm sighed. “I’m sorry, Dante. But this is meant to happen. We cannot fight against fate.”

  “Meant to happen!? What are you talking about!? Are you just going to let them do this to MY world? The world I spent my entire life on!? What about all the people on it!?”

  “OH WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP!” Sophitia stomped towards him, “WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO YOURSELF!?”

  She… doesn’t know? He thought, “What… you don’t know?”

  “KNOW WHAT!?” she stopped and stomped her foot.

  “About the ultimate power that I have? Yeah… I’ll stop you. I’ll stop you right now…”

  Dante lunged at Sophitia, but she was too fast. She quickly slammed him to the floor. Tyr went to help him but Sophitia swiftly backhanded her to the floor, then fixed her sights upon Dante. “How… UTTERLY PATHETIC!”

  Dante tried to push himself up, but she held him down. Phantasm just laughed, “See.”

  The rage he began to feel. It was pulsating through his entire body. He was able to push himself up and uppercut the demon woman into the air. She then slammed to the ground. He was now on his feet. “Yeah… I CAN TAKE YOU!” he shouted.

  “Dante! Enough!” Phantasm screamed, “You have no hope of winning!”

  “Watch me!” he bolted towards her in an attempt to kick her while she was down.

  Sophitia effortlessly pushed herself up to her feet, grabbed him by the arm, and hurled him around her toward the other side of Celestia’s bridge. He smacked against the wall, hard, slid down, and landed on his head. The Celestia groaned loudly in response.

  Tyr stood up, “Sophie! Stop it! You’re going to damage the Celestia!”

  “DO YOU THINK I CARE!? NO ONE STRIKES ME AND LIVES TO TALK ABOUT IT!” She raged. “But… I have the best idea…”

  Dante slowly pushed himself up to his hands and knees. Then suddenly, he felt his hair being grabbed. He was quickly yanked around and forced to stare at his world.

  “Now… Dante. Watch… Watch what I can do. Hehehe…” She began to laugh maniacally. “The amulet will finally be mine! Ezekiel… you thought you could run. You thought you could hide! Inside a planet, absurd!” She stopped cackling and faced Dante. She stared at him with her dark red eyes and a menacing smile. “I want this to be the last thing you see BEFORE I END YOU!” Her red eyes widened with hate as her power surged tenfold. She lifted Dante by the hair and pointed her claw-like finger toward the Earth.

  A sense of dread gripped Dante as he mysteriously saw the choice he might have made in another reality. A vision of himself fighting against her and winning. He saved the world. With the vision motivating him to do something, he struggled and attempted to reach for Sophitia’s arm. There was a twinge in his body that he wasn’t prepared for. The invisible might forced him down to the floor and Sophitia stood over him.

  “Why do you keep TRYING!? Pathetic. Truly pathetic.” With a flick of her wrist, she caused Dante to lift into the air. He could feel pressure constrict around him. Then he was coerced to watch the catastrophic event.

  The sight was unreal as he watched in stunned silence. There was a loud whirring sound emanating from within the ship. Then a gargantuan dark beam extended from the mouth of the Celestia, as though it was Sophitia’s hand controlling it. The sound of the beam was louder than thousands of trumpets playing simultaneously. The beam pierced the Earth and shattered it into a cloud of colorful dust. Not an explosion, not an implosion. An impossible phenomenon. Then the magnificent beast took in a breath, the colorful dust particles sucked into its gaping maw. The once vibrant world was reduced to a faint glimmer of what it had been.

  Dante’s energy faltered, he became overwhelmed by the devastation. His spirit broke as he realized the enormity of the destruction. Hopelessness settled in as he was dropped to the floor. He sank to his knees and surrendered to the crushing weight of despair.

  Sophitia was about to execute him then and there. But instead, she came up with yet another great idea. Her voice cut through, cold and commanding. “Tyr, since you love every single little thing you set your eyes on, you can be the one to escort him, then you will rip out the module and throw him into space!” she ordered with severe disdain.

  He then suddenly felt an intense rage coursing through his body again. He stood tall and screamed, “Why would you do such a thing? There were billions of people and animals on that planet. Innocent creatures that you just put an end to!”

  “9,812,982,121 lifeforms to be exact and that is counting the sentient types,” Sylvaya added.

  “Bah, not even 10 billion. Hardly a dent to their precious material realm!” she mocked, “Oh, well. That’s one planet less.” She then started to walk away. Her confidence in her power and abilities oozed over him.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  He couldn’t believe what he heard, “You… you… don’t even care what you did? You’re a monster!”

  Sophitia barely turned around to scoff, “You’re right! I don’t care about your stupid useless dying world! It’s like the rest of these stupid planets. All existing for the same fate. SO WHY SHOULD I CARE!? Now… TYR TAKE–”

  Dante swiftly attempted to strike her, but there was a force that would not allow him to move.

  “Dante… don’t antagonize her.” Phantasm pleaded. “Stand down… a time will come to redeem, but now is not.”

  “Let me go! You didn’t help me at all! You just let my world die, coward!” Dante attempted to wrench himself free, but the force was too strong.

  “Enough!!!” Sophitia screamed. “Look!” She pointed at the window which zoomed in closer and closer. A small twinkling object was in view. “The amulet…” She looked around for her sister, who was standing far away, “TYR!!!”

  “Yes sister, come Dante.” She gripped his arm, and pulled him with her. Dante did not want to move. He did not want to let them win. He tried to pull away but she insisted. There was nothing more he could do. He lost.

  “Do as they say. Trust me.” Phantasm commanded.

  Compliance tore Dante apart. He wanted nothing more than to bring about an end to Sophitia and her hatred. He seethed inside. Making an oath that he would end her. But as Tyr pulled him along, he saw that desire fade away.

  Tyr, her expression torn between sorrow and duty, pulled Dante along. Her voice was low and apologetic. “I’m sorry about all this.” She led him back to the entrance of the ship. Sophitia's enduring rage echoed through the ship as she lost all control and smashed a console to bits. Tremors coursed through the corridors.

  The door opened, and deep space was beyond. Tyr grabbed Dante’s shoulder, “I’m sorry for everything. I had hoped things would have been different, but I guess not. Some things aren’t meant to be.”

  She touched the module in his chest. Her big beautiful swirling eyes filled with guilt and sorrow. Dante gazed into them one last time. She was lost in thought while she caressed the module. Then an idea came to her and she locked onto his eyes. With a big toothy grin, such a shift meant something more.

  She glanced toward the bridge door and then back at Dante. Her face beaming. “Okay, time for the real plan! We must be fast. Go to the amulet and grab the jewel. Ezekiel will do the rest! Make sure you hold on tightly, okay!?“

  Dante was instantly confused, “What are you babbling about? What’s the point? My world is gone! There is no point anymore!”

  Her face dropped, but she understood the brevity. “I know, Dante. I know. I wronged you. Sophitia cannot see through her anger, she is completely blind to it. She doesn’t believe in my plan. But know this, the amulet will still help you. I promise that things will be made right. See, I’m not going to do what she says! I truly do love you. Now go. Grab the amulet. He’ll do the rest!”

  “She speaks the truth, Dante…” Phantasm whispered.

  “You shut up! You all lied to me. Kept things from me. My world is gone!” Dante’s anger rose.

  Tyr smiled and placed her hands on his face, “It’s difficult to explain, but it’s not destroyed.”

  Dante was flabbergasted, “What…” he stuttered, “What do you mean it’s not destroyed!? I saw it turn to that weird dust before my eyes!”

  She smiled brightly. “I don’t have time to explain! Just go, Dante. Grab the amulet, hang on tight, and then meet Ezekiel. Okay!? He’s a good person. He will help you! I’m sure of it!”

  Dante threw his hands in the air, “Unbelievable…”

  “WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE!? HURRY IT UP!!!” Sophitia bellowed.

  Tyr grabbed his hands and held tight, “Look what other choice do you have? Do you want to waste time and continue arguing!? Or do you want to redeem everything!? Just go! And remember, we don’t fly with our wings!”

  Tyr slammed against Dante, hard, and rocketed him into space. He floated for many moments struggling to breathe until he realized he didn’t need to. Perhaps he forgot about his transformation? No normal person could survive without a suit. He was not normal anymore. He laughed at himself and felt like a true idiot. And then, he propelled himself through space. “How… is this possible? Oh, right… we don’t fly with our wings.” He looked around with his telescopic eyes for the amulet and noticed an exuberant amount of color around him. It was most likely the subnet and various particles. There were also satellites floating out of orbit due to the planet missing. Multiple satellites came toward him, which he dodged with ease. The amulet was situated at a considerable distance, prompting him to propel himself forward with considerable exertion. There was no possible explanation, but he flew through space without wind or air. It must’ve been the synenergy that allowed such a thing. There was no scientific explanation. He tried to adjust his eyes to see, but it only made everything colorful. The Kaleidoscopic power led to no discernible explanation.

  It wasn’t long until Sophitia noticed that Tyr did not deal with Dante as instructed. She crashed through the bridge doorway and summoned a massive claymore from the purple fog. The blade was dark and long with holes along the edge. She stomped and crashed against the corridors towards Tyr who stood helplessly before her. “Such defiance! Move!” she glared and bellowed at Tyr, who reluctantly complied as she stepped aside looking onward as Dante continued to speed towards the amulet.

  Sophitia blasted her way through the hatch and pursued him with deadly intent. Her speed was unreal since she caught up with him in seconds. She screamed with intensity as she swiped with her claymore. The force of the thrust blew Dante away after he narrowly dodged the blade. At least that helped bring him closer to his target.

  He turned to face Sophitia, her face of rage and hatred as she lifted her sword to take another swipe. Dante attempted to block the blade with a wing, but her sword sliced through the feathers like butter. The severed feathers floated away as Sophitia took another swift swipe. Dante dodged the strikes, however, due to her godlike speed, he was not left unscathed. Her sword was a blur, and he could only imagine what it would be like had he been a simple man. The blade slid across his cybernetic armor, pieces of which floated away. All it would take is a critical strike from her, then it would all be over.

  Phantasm screamed, “Go, Dante! Move faster towards the amulet! I’m able to block her psychokinetic abilities, but she can still cut us to pieces!”

  “I’m trying! Can’t you see I’m a little busy!?” Dante shouted as he bent backward to avoid a horizontal swing followed by multiple stab attempts. Each one grazed his sides and arms which tore through the armor. At this rate, he’d be naked again.

  “Why do you keep talking to yourself!?” Sophitia screamed and continued her onslaught. “Just shut up and die already! You cannot have my amulet! I won’t let you!”

  Dante could not block her sword. He also could not find an opening for a counterattack. She was too fast. And that blade was too devastating to leave himself open. He could only dodge and weave and let the swings push him forward. One wrong move and it would be game over. However, this game over would result in an utter end. There was no restart or continuation.

  Dante was finally within touching distance of the amulet. He reached for it and touched the chain when he felt a surge of agony as her sword penetrated through his lower back and protruded from his abdomen. A colorful light poured from the wound. He reached to touch it.

  “What… is this? Blood? No…”

  “Dante quit gawking! We’ve just been stabbed, you fool!” Phantasm screeched.

  Sophitia then pulled him back and grasped his throat. Her evil eyes glowed and burned with hatred. She ripped the sword out of Dante’s abdomen and summoned it away.

  “You think you’re so powerful because of some little blue ball!? I’ll show you just how weak you are!” Sophitia screeched as she drove her hand into his chest and shattered it like glass. Glowing material is expelled from the gash. He felt her hand grip the pulsating module while she attempted to rip it out.

  Any longer and the module would have been removed. It would have been a cruel end to the story, but Dante knew he couldn’t let it happen. Without hesitation, he gripped Sophitia's hand, twisted with all his might. There was a loud snap as her arm broke off at her elbow. Synenergy was pumped from the nub and the severed appendage. She screeched with agony as he pulled her limp hand out of his chest. Then he kicked her away.

  “Keep your hands to yourself!” He screamed as he threw her lifeless limb square to her vicious jaw. The triumphant force of the blow sent them both sprawling. As he floated in agony toward the amulet, there remained two gaping wounds in his body. He looked down and could see the inside of his body. It was filled with light that poured out. He touched it, which felt warm like blood, but it was not.

  “What is this stuff?” He asked himself as the light spilled out.

  “It’s pure synenergy, Dante. Don’t worry so much about it… you won’t die. Unless of course, you continue to stay here gawking at it!” The voice rasped snidely.

  “Right! Okay!” Dante repositioned himself to figure out where the amulet was. He could see it. Dead ahead. He propelled himself towards it. Sophitia screeched in the background as she floated away, incapable of stabilizing.

  With a stretch, he touched the chain of the amulet. Gripping it slightly, he pulled it towards himself. He examined the jewel, it glowed profusely from the inside with an eerie emerald light. It was crafted by an expert, with an almost perfect cut gem, a slight chip could be seen. He turned to face Sophitia.

  “You want this? Huh? Well… too bad!” He mocked.

  Sophitia stabilized, summoned her sword, and charged toward him with it pointed – prepared to slice through him – but she was too late.

  Dante gripped the amulet jewel and held it above his head. The gem reacted violently in his hand and coursed searing heat throughout his body. “Ahhh!!!” He screamed with agony. The energy was overwhelming and made him feel like he would explode at any moment.

  Phantasm cried out in sheer joy at first, “Is this the answer to my freedom!? Finally, after so— wait! No… no, no, no! NO! It wasn’t supposed to be like this! THIS WAS NOT FORES–” It writhed in agony until it shattered into fragments as Dante’s body shifted violently. He, too, was breaking into pieces.

  Dante could no longer sense the presence within him. Panic surged through him.

  “Phantasm!? What’s going on!? I—I can’t see anything! It hurts! Arrrrghh!!”

  Agony ripped through his body as raw energy lashed out from the gem embedded in his module. The pulsations grew erratic, each throb feeling as though it were siphoning the very essence from him.

  Then, without warning, a blinding white light erupted from his hand, consuming everything in its path. The sheer force blasted Sophitia and the Celestia away. Her enraged cries were swallowed by the brilliance, her ship vanished from the light.

  Dante was engulfed.

  Hundreds of radiant portals exploded around him—fractals of shimmering mirrors cascading endlessly. He was moving, yet had no control over the direction. Faster and faster, he spiraled through the tunnels of light, turbulence slamming him violently against the shifting walls.

  Each impact sent a fresh wave of pain through his body. Pieces of his armor and feathers were torn away, sucked into the endless vortex.

  “Argh! What is happening!? Phantasm!? Are you okay!?”

  No answer.

  For the first time, he wasn’t sure how he felt about the silence. Was it relief? Or dread? Did it… die? The thought struck him as he continued tumbling through the void.

  His hand burned, emerald flames licking at his fingers without consuming them. The amulet—he couldn’t let go. He knew that much. But the turbulence grew stronger, each jolt trying to pry it from his grasp.

  “What is this thing!?”

  The amulet trembled violently, as if alive, as if desperate to break free. A deep, unrelenting force within it struggled against him. Whatever was trapped inside had a singular, all-consuming desire—to be released.

  The tunnel shuddered, pulsing with energy.

  “Is this the subnet!? A wormhole!? What is this!?”

  No answer. Nothing but the overwhelming hum of reality bending around him.

  The amulet ripped itself from his grip, but he lunged, catching the chain just before it slipped away. The force yanked him forward, dragging him through the vortex at an even greater velocity.

  Then—he saw it.

  A shadow, forming within the emerald glow. Wings unfurled—massive, powerful.

  Dante’s mind hitched as the shape pushed free. A dragon?

  With a single beat of its wings, the creature's wing slapped his face.

  “AGH! Stop it!”

  The beast didn’t listen. Instead, it opened its maw and exhaled a torrent of green fire. Searing heat washed over Dante. His armor cracked, then disintegrated. His body felt like it too was about to come apart. The dragon grew larger. A reptilian humanoid, monstrous in form, its wings expanding as it solidified into existence.

  “Who are you!?” Dante gasped. “Are you Ezekiel!?”

  No response. The creature's eyes gleamed before it lunged. Dante barely had time to react. He tried to grab hold of its tail, but the beast twisted, screeching as it swiped at him. A single slash. A single moment. An incredibly searing pain as his wings shattered.

  The impact sent him spiraling away, helpless, as the dragon vanished into a portal.

  Dante tumbled through the tunnel, the world around him dissolving into pure illuminance.

  Then— Everything stopped. Time itself seemed to halt, and he was left suspended in an endless sea of light.

Recommended Popular Novels