And they'll Keep pressing forward, for that is His nature and Her curse.

  Chapter 1

  It Starts Like This: Part 1

  The Celestial War: No one knows when it began, but many believe it was at the dawn of The Sed Age. After saving the world from the destru of the moon, the three celestials, Sedna, Mother of the Deep, Orcus, Lord of Order, and Eris, The Uered, have fought for trol over the world.

  As the three God-like beings battle in the heavens, their followers wage wars across the Shatter Realm, a great ti broken into three religious fas.

  The war would’ve tinued forever, the three deities forever stu a perpetual stalemate. But the intervention of a single man ed by unchecked ambition would ge the very dire of this endless war.

  .

  ..

  “Quickly! Reload the ons! We ’t let these savages reach the holy nd!” One of the sailors screamed. His voice was nearly drowned out by the heavy thuorm and the waves that smmed into them threatening to capsize their ships.

  But the turbuleher might as well be a mere breeze to the children of the deep. For they were natural-born sailors blessed by the goddess of water herself. Even in the Harshes of weather, the Hallow Sea aided them while sinking boats that opposed Sedna. For turies, this is how the sailors defehe holy nd, Adlivun, until now.

  The oppositioedly fired their ons, and the cacophony of noise drowned out the r storm. The sailors return fire easily hitting their marks. But the sailors weren’t fag just a few ships, they were up against an armada. The destru of a few boats barely deters the invaders as they were quickly repced by another. Even with the sea assisting the sailors and swallowing the enemy ships, the invaders tiheir relentless assault.

  Fear begins to swell in the ceous children of Sedna. Most attackers would’ve begun to flee at this point, but it seemed that every ship the invaders lost only made them more ferocious. They found themselves w where their suicidal fidence was ing from. Their answer came in a horrifying form.

  The first to notice it was the captain of a ship. As he was shouting orders at his crew, he caught a glimpse of something dark flying past him. At first, he thought it was just a onball whizzing by until he heard his men scream. One by one sailors were snatched off the ship by a rge, winged beasts. His face pales wheices the dark red scales on the creature. “No, that ’t be possible.” He blinked rapidly, expeg the illusion to vanish, yet it persisted. Before his very eyes, he witnessed a mythical creature that was said to have been wiped out during the camity that ehe First Age. “Dragon!” The captain cried in horror as he watched his men being carried off into the night. A fsh of lightning revealed they were being taken to a mountain- no it wasn’t a mountain, it was moving- worse it had teeth.

  The mountain-sized beast opens its mouth wide. A bright radiated light formed deep within the creature’s throat illuminating the obsidian-scale beast. With a roar the creature spewed out the light, splitting the sea and eradig half of Sedna’s fleet.

  A thunderous beat came from the remaining ships as they repeatedly fired their ons at the beast. The creature tio march forward not even notig their pitiful attacks.

  Dragons dove from the sky breathing a cloud of fire that engulfed dozens more ships. The sailors’ screams echo across the sea as they were either ied or carried away by the dragons.

  “Retreat!” One of the sailors cried as what remained of the fleet began to slowly turn, fleeing to their holy nd.

  The massive beast opens its mouth again, preparing to fire another radiant beam at the retreating fleet.

  “That’s enough.” It was a soft voice, barely audible. But it mao get the creature’s attention. The massive beast turns towards the armada. It leans its enormous head towards the lone ship that sails towards it. The crew onboard pouheir fists against their chest and kneeled in revereo their emperor who stepped onto the deck. His presence was as heavy as the beast that towered over all of them.

  The creature focused its silted pupils on their king. The emperor was a man that looked to be someone in his te forties or early fifties. A golden adorned with a dozen colorful gems rested oops of his head. On his hip rested a long sword sheathed in a fine bck scabbard with an intricate gold design outlining the edges. But what stood out most wasn’t the opulent jewels on his person or even his imposing stature, it was his eyes that glowed a deep scarlet.

  [Abaddon, why do you stop me? You promise me a feast.] The beast spoke loudly in everyone’s mind. The crew clutches their heads in pain. While Abaddon looked up at the creature, annoyed.

  “Are you truly tent with eating cowards? If you want a true feast thehem flee, let them lead us back to their holy nd where their God resides.”

  The creature hungrily gazes at everyone onboard for a moment that seems to st ay. And then, almost relutly, move out of the fleet’s paths.

  [Fine, but do not fet the oath.] The creature whispers in the emperor’s mind.

  “How could I fet?” Abaddon mumbled as he traced the dragon tattoo on the back of his neck.

  The weather grew more turbulent as the emperor chased after what remained of Sedna’s fleet. The heavy raied the crew weighing down their clothes, the wind howled, ripping apart anything that wasn’t tied, and the waves snatched anyone who was unsteady on their feet.

  “Steel yourself men!” Abaddon shouted. "For the sea itself worships our enemy, it’ll do everything in its power to stop us. But we are warriors of Ayon, querors of the Shatter Realm! Mere water won’t defeat us, will it?!”

  “No sir!” Abaddon’s men shouted in unison.

  “Then follow me! I’ll lead all of you to glory as I’ve always done!” Abaddon’s soldiers roared, emboldened by their Emperor’s words.

  [Humans. Always so eager to throw their life away for someone else’s ambition] The beast’s cag echoes in Abaddon’s head. [Sinen are in a rush to die, perhaps you offer me some of them as a snack.]

  Abaddon ighe beast. His attention focused beyond the fleeing fleet. He felt it before he saw it: Adlivun.

  An isnd shrouded in shadow. To everyone else it looked like a normal isnd, but Abaddon’s crimson eye could see it clearly. An invisible, formless energy known as magic surrounds the isnd.

  “So, this is Sedna’s elusive holy nd.” The wide smile on the king’s face quickly vanishes wheices the fleet stop fleeing. The remaining ships formed a line creating a blockade to impede the invaders.

  The wind suddenly died down, and the rushing water ceased entirely, causing the entire fleet to halt in pce. A young demure-looking woman with long blonde hair that cascaded down her back, step off a boat and walked on the surface of the sea.

  “My name is Arna, Emissary of the Deep.” Her voied across the sea. “Heed this warning Abaddon, turn baow or face Sedna’s wrath."

  Abaddon raises an eyebrow at the mention of his name.

  “You seem surprised that I know your name. Reclusive as we might be, we’re aware of your exploits. Abaddon, the Mad Emperor. And that creature following you is Typhon, Father ons."

  The children of Sedna whisper amongst themselves, fear evident in their voices. Every single one of them heard tales of the madman who not only refuses to join a side in the Celestial War but even indiscriminately attacked the worshipper as he expanded his empire.

  Abaddon tilted his head. “Mad Emperor? Is that what everyone is calling me now?”

  “Only a madman would ally with a mai and decre war on all three celestials.

  “You call me mad but I’m merely seeking a legacy like all good men strive for.”

  “You’ve quered over half the ti. Men, women, and children tremble at the mention of your name. For better or worse history will remember your name. Isn’t that enough?”

  “That’s the question, isn’t it? When should oisfied?” Abaddon’s gaze became distant as he thought back to all his battles, to everything that led him to this moment. “I have felled nations, slept with the fi women, aed the stro of warriors. Those who hear my her coward in fear or kneel in reverence. I suppose I should be tent with this, but I’m not. No, I want something more than nd, and gold. Something no men had ever quered! I desire the stars themselves! So, call yods! so that I, Abaddon, may spread my glory to the heavens!”

  Abaddon’s words reverberated across the sea. The Children of the Deep stood in silence, baffled by what they heard.

  “You, truly are mad.” Arna’s body trembled with rage. The water trembled as if the sea itself was responding ter.

  Abaddon instinctively bent his knees. He could feel something big was ing. A smirk spread across the emperor’s face as he pced a hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword.

  “Men!” Abaddon shouted. Before he could finish speaking. A massive tentacle bursts out of the water and lu Abaddon.

  [That human is mio devour.] Typhon grabbed the tentacle with deft speed that betrayed its enormous size. The slimy appendage ed itself around the scaly giant attempting to pull it under.

  In an instant, the still sea turned into a deep unduting valley. Lightning raced down the sky, striking the dragons, waves swallowed ships whole, aacles pulled any ships close to them into the depths.

  “Push towards the beach!" Abaddon yelled as loud as possible.

  “I won’t let that happen!” Arna snap. A jet of water erupted under her feet ung her in the air. With cat-like agility, she spun her body around nding on the deck of Abaddon’s ship.

  Another wave smmed into the ship knog the soldiers off their feet. Arna took advantage of the situation and dashed towards the emperor. The puddles on the ship gathered in the palm of her hand. Twisting until it took the shape of a spear. Still struggling to get to his feet, Abaddon threw his hand in front to shield himself. The spear of water pierces his hand. Arna gritted her teeth as she tried to pull her on free, but Abaddon grabbed the on with his wounded hand. Arna’s eyes widened as her water spear froze and snapped in Abaddon’s grip.

  “Why so surprised? If you know who I am, you should know I’m a mage. A very powerful o that.” Abaddon threw a right hook aim at Arna’s head. Seawater rushes onto the deck of the ship to intercept Abaddon’s attack.

  Abaddon’s eyes shimmered and the stream of water froze. Abaddon’s fist easily broke through the ice wall and tiowards Arna. She raised her arms just in time to block his attack. The force of the inhuman blow lifted her up off his feet a her flying off the ship into the sea.

  “What remains of the Sedna’s fleet fires at the armada. The bombardment ripped into Abaddon’s ship “We o retreat, our ship isn’t going to “ Before the coward could finish speaking Abaddon threw the soldier overboard. “I have no use for cowards. Only men who relish a challenge.” Abaddon pointed directly at the isnd and shouted “Full speed ahead! If our ships give out on us, then we’ll just steal there’s!”

  “Full speed ahead!” The crew echoed their emperor’s words until everyone in the fleet could hear his and.

  The ons tio rip apart Abaddon’s fleet as they bravely sailed towards the blockade.

  Abaddon took a step bad darted towards the bow of the ship. He leaped in the air at the same time his ship collided with the blockade. The impact sent him flying directly onto the ter of the enemy’s boat. Behind him, he could hear screaming and the ships colliding with each other.

  Abaddon didn’t bother to look back to see how many of his people made it. He darted ahead towards a mage casting a spell. Abaddon grabbed the mage’s throat and easily crushed it with one hand. He threw the mage into the sea and dashed across the ship. Blood and limbs flew across the boat as Abaddon used his preternatural strength to rip apart anyone foolish enough to get in his way. In seds, Abaddon found himself already oher side of the ship leaping into the air and nding in shallow water.

  Before Abaddon stood Sedna’s holy nd: Adlivun, already in fmes. Dragons swoop dowhing fire across the beach. Sedna’s troops retaliated by firing their arrows and ons at the flyis.

  “Shouldn’t you help them?” Abaddon turo the five hooded figures approag him. “I’m assuming you guys are the stro here. If not, then bring them, for they’re the only ce you have at stopping me.”

  Typho out a deafening roar as he ripped the tentacles off its body. The sea roared back. A dozen more tendrils emerge from the depths. They g onto Typhon’s body attempting to pull him under.

  “Typhon groans in pain as his back splits open. Large jet-bck wings emerge from his back. With one fpped from his newly formed wings, the mountain-sized beast rose out of the sea tearing itself free from the tentacles.

  Typhon fired another radiant bst directly at the sea, disiing the appendages below.

  The sea trembled as something massive below screamed in pain. The head of a great serpent burst out of the water. Ehe serpent grabbed Typhon with one of its tentacles and smmed it into the water.

  While the Titans wrestled in the sea, lightning rained down from the sky, striking enemies and allies alike. While zigzagging across the beach, Abaddon hurls a ball of fire at one of the mages casting lightning. Immediately after the fmes left his hand, the emperor pointed his fi two es, firing a beam of magic at the mages. The mages dived out of the beam path that tinued unimpeded towards the sea, ially, slig one of the tentacles ed around Typhon’s neck.

  [I don’t need your help!] Typhon growls in Abaddon’s head.

  “I wasn’t trying to hel-“Before he could finish speaking, Abaddon noticed a glint in his peripheral. He leans backward, narrowly avoiding the bde aimed at his throat. The swordsman stepped forward as he tried to catch the emperor with a return swing. Abaddon grabbed the bde and threunch at the swordsman’s abdomen. An ally mage quickly created a wall of light in front of the swordsman, but Abaddon’s fist easily broke through the barrier and tioward the swordsman. The swordsman released his bde and threw himself backward to avoid the deadly blow.

  “You guys are kind of a disappoi,” Abaddon said as he causally examihe sword before stabbing it into the ground, daring the swordsman to recim his on. “I expected more from the mages that guard this holy nd. Is this how far your faith goes? Or is yod weaker than I thought?”

  The mages ch their teeth to hold back their growing fury. Abaddon cocked his head in surprise. “I guess some zealots think rationally. But...” Abaddon’s voice trails off. He gnced behind him, the battle between his men who mao make it to the beach, and Sedna’s soldier. “But do you think this is the time to be patient? From the looks of it, I’m winning. And surely, I don’t o tell you what happens when invaders reach your home.”

  “That won’t happen!” The swordsman dashes toward the Mad Emperor, who holds his arms out like he is going to embra old friend.

  A mage fires a magical energy bolt at the Mad Emperor. Abaddon’s eyes glow faintly as he turns his attention to the ining spell. He grabbed the bolt of energy with his bare hand and flung it back towards the caster. The spell smmed into the utterly shocked mage, g his chest in.

  The swordsman ches his teeth and tio charge at Abaddon, and in one swift motion, he pulls his sword out of the sand and swings it at Abaddon, who easily sidesteps it. The swordsman unleashed a flurry of ssh at the Mad Emperor who casually evaded every attack.

  “Yetting closer.” Abaddon tease.

  “Shut up!” The swordsman angrily raises his bde over his head. Abaddon took advantage of the momentary gap in the swordsman’s defense and struck him in the face with a jab. The swordsman staggers backward, dazed. Before he could recover from the blow, Abaddon threw another punch which sank into the man’s stomach. The swordsman hunches forward, his face falling into an uppercut. Blood ah flew in the air as Abaddon tiriking the swordsman’s face with sadistic glee. The three es rush to the swordsman’s aid. Abaddon grabbed the now unsan by the ned threw him into the sea.

  The three mages rushed to their friend's aid. Abaddon chuckled at the fools for dropping their guard. While they were busy helping their friend Abaddon prepared a spell.

  The earth shook as Typhon crashed onto the beach crushing the fes before Abaddon could finish them off. Several tentacles ripped into Typhon’s body while the sea serpent dug its fangs into the beast.

  “Now that looks more fun.” Abaddon approached the two titans. “Need any help?”

  [No! This is my meal!] Typhon shouted in Abaddon’s mind. Typhon opens his mouth to bite the serpent but one of its tentacles impales its jaw.

  “Are you sure you don’t want my help?”

  “!!!” Typhos out a frustrated roar pierg through the sky, and crag the air. Twe bck cws emerge through the crack, widening it just enough so the full-fledged dragon escape. The newly formed dragohed a gout of fire on the sea serpent.

  The serpents fil around to rid themselves of the fme. Typhon smmed its body into the creature pushing it bato the sea.

  Abaddon gnced back at the battle on the beach, silently debating whether to assist his men or Typhon. Before he could e to a decision, a faint whisper caught his attention.

  In the distance, he spotted Arna, hands csped in prayer.

  “Oh, you’re still alive?” Arna tinues her t, ign Abaddon. “May you fi and the Deep One’s embrace,” she muttered. The sea rose, being a wall of water that swallowed everything in its path, including Typhon and the sea serpent. Abaddon quickly raised his hand creating a dome of light around himself. The tsunami sms onto the beach, ing everything as it travels innd.

  The waves shove Abaddon through multiple trees while tinuously pounding on the barrier that protected him. The smirk on Abaddon’s face slowly became a strained smile as cracks formed on his shield.”

  “This seemed like the perfect time to use it.” Abaddon uhed his sword. A starry night sky reflected off the surface of the bde.

  I call it Stargazer! The words of an etric bcksmith echo in Abaddon’s mind. A perfect on for a man who gazes at the stars and only sees more worlds waiting to be quered.

  “I suppose before I challehe stars, I o quer the seas first.” The swave off a deep purplish glow as Abaddon eled his mana into his bde. While Abaddon prepared his decisive blow, Typhon was dragged deep into the water. The serpent pulled Typhon towards a of baby serpents. They hungrily sheir teeth waiting for their mother to feed them.

  [You io feed me to your children?] Typhon cackles, it es out in bubbles.

  [I’m the devourer! And all of you are my lunch!] Typhon opens his mouth wide. Inhaling a rge quality of water while a dazzling light builds deep within his throat.

  At the same time, both Abaddon and Typhon unleash their attacks. Abaddon swung his sword releasing a crest iridest light that cut through waves as it flew towards its target while Typhon's beam swallowed the sea serpents and everything in its path.

  The rushing water slowed and theually came to a halt. Abaddon burst out of the water gasping for air.

  “Not a bad on.” Abaddon raises the bde in the air. He sighed in admiration as he gazed at the starry sky embedded in the bde.

  [Human, you’re still alive.]

  Abaddon dropped his on startled by the voi his head. The sea trembles as a bck mountain bursts out of the water.

  [I’m gd you’re well. Only I’m allowed to devour you.]

  “I’m surprised you’re alright. You looked like you were struggling back there.”

  Typhon snorts at Abaddon’s ent.

  [Barely an appetizer.]

  “Well, if you desire something more filling. Then follow me. A feast awaits us further innd.”

  Typhon's mouth opened slightly, revealing his teeth. Abaddon assumed it was the creature’s weird attempt at smiling.

  A soft sapphire light broke through the storm clouds, enveloping a body floating ier. Blood p out of the deep gash in her chest, Arna weakly raises her hand towards the blue p in the ter of the sky.

  “Aw, Lady Sedna. I knew you wouldn’t abandoears welled in her eyes as she stretched her arm, desperate to touch the Celestial that seemed to be at the tip of her finger. “Please, let me sink into the deepest, darkest depth of the sea, where I rest forever in your loving embrace.” Arna’s arm falls back to her side. Wearing a tent smile, she begins to sink into the depths.

  Typhon scoops Abaddon out of the sea. His eyes locked on the celestial body, ready to pounce. “So, you finally decided to show up, Sedna?” Abaddon shouted at the heavens. “And all it took is for me to burn your hallow ground.

  [She’s not the only one we o worry about] Typhon looked behind to see a scarlet p c the ey of the eastward sky. The Celestial body bathes all that id east in a deep red light.

  “Is that Orcus?” Shock, Abaddon backs away but stops wheices another presence behind him. An emerald-gree hung in the west, casting an Emerald glow on all in its domain.

  Sedna, Mother of the Deep; Orcus, Lord of Order, and Eris, the uered. The three celestials, who had been at war siime immemorial, now stood side by side, looking down at the human a that dared to defy them.

  [Abaddon, You and everything you build ends here.]

  The air shook as thousands of indistinguishable voices bombarded Abaddon’s mind. Most would’ve gone mad or fallen on their knees in fear or awe. But Typhon and Abaddon cackle loudly, their eyes filled with ambition and hunger.

  “And here I thought I would have to burn down half the world and order to get your attention. I guess you all finally realize I’m the true ruler of this world!”

  Typhon hungrily gazes at the sky [Human, is this the feast you promise me?]

  “Indeed, my friend. Everything we desire is right in front of us! The age of celestial ends here!”