Chapter 25: The Deal

The day continued with bouts of excitement, mostly fueled by the feats of amazement that occurred before the eyes of the Uritalians. But the people of the city would hardly dare to gawk and stare at the fighters for the prize title of Kasouzu King if they had any idea of the great power that seethed by itself. Indeed, Jtaos seethed, fueled by the anger that fed from the continuing success of the fourteen year-old pyromancer.

And a moment later, Jtaos felt his brethren calling him, out to the great Void they inhabited. A part of the furious Ancient remained, cloaked in shadow before the people of Urital, and another still left the planes of mortals entirely.

"What do you seek?" he asked. Five figures stood before him, arrays of light more than anything else. These were the Ancients, all six of them gathered in the deep darkness of space.

"We have come to make a deal," answered a voice that seemed to emanate power. The speaker was the First, the Ancient borne before all others. From the expanse of Nothingness, the First was created. Revered as the leader of his two brothers and three sisters, the First was the final authority in all decisions made.

"What deal do you offer, oh Firstborn?" Jtaos asked, bowing in respect. The Firstborn's stare penetrated his brothers soul, searching no doubt for some private though. Jtaos kept his mind as a blank slate, to protect himself from discovery. A minute of mortal time passed, and the First considered his search proficient. He spoke again.

"We want to offer you dominion – dominion over the world of mortals."

Jtaos stretched his form of shadow out, finally assuming his true form. In the void in which they spoke, he was not visible, but his presence was clearly felt. "Why?" he replied.

Jtaos brethren stirred, communicating silently with one another. Again, the Firstborn spoke. "We know of your plan, and offer you absolution. You will never be able to overthrow us, as we are all part of one another. But if you accept our deal..."

The shadowy Ancient remained still for a while, pondering. They would not offer him such a thing unless there was something that he would not like. "What is the catch?"

"You will be tied to the plane of mortals. You will lose your bond to us, and your soul will become the lifeblood of the world you seek to enslave. The Void will be unreachable, and you will never speak with us again. But, in return, you will have absolute power on your world. You may shape it to your will."

"What if I refuse?"

At the end of this remark, Jtaos brethren grew in size and and an overwhelming light filled the blackness of the Void. The light grew in exponent, and Jtaos beheld the Firstborn's power. The light began to dim, and the First spoke again.

"If you refuse... you will be reduced to nothing."

With those words, Jtaos agreed silently. The nonverbal agreement was enough for his brethren. In a great flash of light, the meeting of Ancients was adjourned, and Jtaos was cast among the world of mortal men, as its eternal master.

He rose to his feet, and cracked his hands. He was forever sealed within the body of a man, but his power was absolute. Jtaos could feel it rising within him. He knew of every living creature that walked the land, every blade of grass that was tickled by a passing wind, every drop of water in every sea and every ocean,

And he knew that he, Jtaos, could change it irreversibly. With a great snap, the lush area around him decayed instantly. The earth rumbled as his form rose above the earth below. "If I am to rule this world, then I am to make it." The earth began to rise, and mountains were made around his risen form. In the center of the multitude of peaks a great volcano crackled from the earth. Lava and molten rock spewed in a great explosion. In an instant, the explosions had quelled, and a great hall was carved out of the volcano, a lair for its master. The towering giant of earth and lava settled, thousands of feet above the surrounding peaks. It was built as such that all the surrounding lands would see the might of the Ancient Jtaos.

"Wait," he realized. He was no longer an Ancient... and thus, did not require his brother's chosen name. "I am no longer Jtaos... I am Kyrth, and this world is now named Kyrthrone, my throne."

Yes. Kyrth examined the great peaks and his lair, which was adorned with great battlements and black steel that twisted around the volcanous lair. It was a great display of power, but it was not enough, Kyrth soon realized. For hundreds of miles, the landmark would signal the coming of a new age, but eventually, the curvature of the world, Kyrthrone, would hide the creation from view.

And so it was that Kyrth got a grand idea. Not without great strain, he pictured the continents moving to one location. And soon, it happened. All of Kyrthrone shook, and the continents slowly moved, to form a great continent. In the center of the continent was the lair of Kyrth, which he named Vulcan. And as he named these places, all of the people of Kyrthrone knew that a new power had descended upon the world, and that things had forever changed.

Two rivers descended from the Vulcanese mountains, one flowing North, and one flowing South. These rivers would twist and fan out to supply the populace of water, and to provide a chance for agriculture.

Kyrth examined the new world he created one more time. "It is done," he declared. The world had been remade, and a new age was dawning. An age of one Supreme ruler, without interference from the Ancients. And soon, a great tiredness draped over Kyrth. For the first time, he yawned, as a mere human would do. And so, Kyrth descended into the Vulcan to sleep for a length of time. Not weeks, not months, but for a year he slept in the way that mortal men did. In that time, a great energy had been released and would not sit still.

It was in that year that Inferno attempted to make sense of the new world, and unite man against the final assault against mankind. For he knew not when, but that soon, the world and all mankind would face its greatest challenge of survival yet.

End Part Three

End Book One

To Be Continued in "The Rule of Inferno".