[b]origin chapter: Loose ends[/b] A queen. A tyrant. A forgotten pawn in a game long over. Champions rise and fall in the game the gods played. They would fight, they would die, they would be replaced. Often by more worthy champions, stronger champions. Or by eager seeds waiting for blood to water their growth. This is the story not after but before Akron. They called her Umbreo, the queen of shadows. The coiled serpent of Oshirik waiting to strike. With the gift of the champions she had seen three lifetimes, and with a fourth looming ahead her threat became imminent. Replaced champions do not quietly fade into obscurity. They are wiped out with force. When a champion is robbed of their support and strength they turn their eyes to tempting offers. Gods of chaos always provide enticing deals, but always end with one losing themselves to the chaos. So when Oshirik's view of his old follower was clouded he had reason to suspect his chaotic counterpart had a hand. Umbreo was now a threat. That is when the eager seed comes into play. When Akron Stormbringer is sent to hunt down the old queen of night. He was a younger champion, his thoughts and powers unrecognized. But the wrath he could inflict never aging. Gifted with his Crimson ring the champion controlled the power of blood. The stuff of nightmares. But nightmares come in blood and shadows. And Umbreo held the latter in her still living breath. This would be Akron's first and most deadly trial. He approached the gates of the castle. It was crumbling with age, the faded brick melting into a shadowy substance. It rested on a jagged cliff side offering no solace to seafarers or peace to the men on foot. What she did resting in there was unknown but she could not be permitted to live any more. Be it treason and desertion or evading death, judgement awaited her. He walked toward the massive grate blocking his path. He looked at it and with a startling creak they clambered open. Akron exhaled sharply and his hand brimmed with energy. "Looks like I'm expected." He walked through the deteriorating gate, they fell to the ground after he stepped through. Inside lay a scattered courtyard of ancient duels. Rusted armor lay scattered throughout, the skeletons holding them in place rotted away. Newer ones still remained intact showing the final pose they struck before their demise. All of these deceased unnamed undeserving of that fate. Some crowns of royalty lay broken next to corpses. Swords and shields were shards and dented metal from futile attempts of victory. Who knew what their names were? The queen would know. The most haunting was the sigil of Akron and Umbreo's own God carved into a particularly dark warrior. A champion that failed his task, Akron his successor to the duty. He continued forward, onto the doors of the castle themselves. They were already open, forced open. As the young champion progressed he saw the bolder men that got further. More intricate armor, more powerful relics that lay unused. Statues along the hallway served as inanimate sentries, they all were motionless but eager to see the newcomer. The torches did not cast light but only made the shadows darker and more haunting. Akron reached what would be the throne room. No one had gotten this far. No corpse decorated the ground, no weapon lay scattered. A small hand sized symbol lay over the locked doors. Hesitantly Akron reached out and touched it. A faint light emitting from the symbol dimmed and the dark clung to Akron. With a jolt he pulled his hand back and looked at it. As he did the doors opened revealing the hall of the queen. It was an intricate room. Black stained glass gave it a dark beauty that lighter lands couldn't recreate. Grand spacious halls accompanied by the looming stairs leading to the throne gave a sense of insignificance to the subject addressing their monarch. A black gilded throne rested in the center empty of its occupant. Torches followed the same design as the halls casting shadows not light. Akron did a full rotation examining the room then turned back to the throne. "Are you another king?" Akron quickly got into a combat stance at the sound of the voice. He looked around but the room was still empty. "Or another foolish raider or warrior?" Akron exhaled slowly then regained some of his posture. He spoke loudly trying to make his voice heard if Umbreo was hiding "Your doom." "Ah." The shadows condensed around the throne forming a humanoid shape. They gained detail and color and soon a black clad woman sat on the throne. She had pale skin and stark white hair, her eyes almost cast a light in comparison to the armor and aura she cast. On her lap was a black sword that mirrored her dark nature. She tapped her fingers along the sword making a clinking sound as she spoke. "Of all the men before you, only one has said that." "But unlike them I will succeed." She smiled in a cruel grin and slowed down her tapping. She looked at Akron and Akron her. Their eyes were similar, both showing coldness, only Umbreo's through a calm curtain and Akron's through hardness. "Who are you? For we both are no strangers to death." Akron summoned his red tinged blade. The hardened blood of the primordial chaos god melding into a weapon "If we are no strangers then you know why I am here." She stood up and held her blade in her hand. She looked at Akron with almost remorse, like she didn't want to fight him. "Death has always been our torment and comfort." She dematerialized from sight leaving the room empty again. Akron's eyes narrowed and he took up his defensive stance. He held it for a split second then swung his sword diagonally. As he swung Umbreo reappeared mid swing as well. Akron's anticipated attack parried her strike with a sharp ring. She stepped forward with an open palm and attempted to strike with her palm. With Akron's free hand he pushed her wrist up and over so her open palm went above his shoulder. A shrill shriek let itself loose from her hand and a small wave of shadows spat from her hand flying over Akron. Behind him the wall became shadow stained, a foreign substance oozing and twitching on the mark. Akron looked at it with shock then averted his attention back to Umbreo who still kept her hand there. She jumped on Akron's bent knee using his thigh as a booster and jumped and spun over him. As she spun she kicked Akron on the side of his helmet as she fell. He spun and staggered back three steps then shook his head. When he turned his head back to Umbreo she had vanished again. She suddenly reappeared with her sword arm ready. Akron swung horizontally but she vanished before the blade made contact. While Akron was recovering from the swing she appeared again and swung low slicing into Akron's thigh. He staggered again and almost fell but switched weight to his other foot. He struck Umbreo with a fist and sent her back. She did a back flip and landed on her feet and looked at Akron curious. Akron looked at his leg. It wasn't too bad a wound but leaving it unattended left him at a disadvantage. With his free hand he aimed his palm at the wound. His ring glowed and the blood hardened and sealed itself. He looked up to turn his attention back to Umbreo. She made a face as if she wished to speak but instead continued her assault. They met head on, they brought the edges of their swords towards each other and they met in the middle. Her sword caught on the edge of one of Akron's red thorns. They broke the embrace and both swung high and the swords met again overhead. Akron spun his sword counter-clockwise his strength surpassing Umbreo's. She rolled underneath the blades, the sudden lack of resistance making Akron's sword drop forward. She swung again at his back but he brought his sword behind him vertically to block the swipe. He stepped forward then spun around. Then opened his palm again. He shot out a bolt of lightning that connected with her. It sent her flying back and she fell and landed on her back hard. Akron jumped forward and tried to stab but she melted into the shadowy floor. Where Akron landed another dark substance adhered itself to the floor. It glued his feet to the ground and he tried to pull them out by force. The puddle turned into jagged Edges and they sliced into his feet thousands of nails piercing through then branching out inside. Umbreo appeared again in front of Akron and stabbed forward. He redirected the blade away from him then stuck out his open palm once more. The blood seeping from his leg turned into red lances and shot themselves outward piercing the queen as well making her release an exhale of pain. She punched her fist up connecting with the lower part of Akron's helmet. The shadows on his feet along with the force of her punch made him fly up and over and hit the ground with a loud thud. Akron groaned and slowly got up while Umbreo gripped her wound. She smiled cruelly then spoke. "You have strength. It brings me comfort to see a worthy successor." Akron sealed his foot then looked up to her. "I am no successor to you." She tilted her head then sneered again. "No? We have a lot more in common than you think. You don't think your fire comes from you alone did you?" Akron paused with curiosity then spoke again. "What are you playing at?" "You never wondered what being conceived you into existence? You think your blackguard of a father created you alone?" Akron's eyes widened with terror as the idea brought itself to mind. "No...you..." ((Text limit. To be continued.))