Songs of the Chained Ones’ fury: Chapter 8

     He was hovering hundreds of meters high above the Peace Pit, legs folded while he leaned back, slowly inhaling waves of the massive, coiling cloud of incense-smoke that flowed through three-yard-wide slits of his ventilation shaft which housed an underground chamber of Balboa incense that breathed their energy and fragrance into the roofless sauna house. Gentle winds whispered through the large matrix of reeds that canopied above Milo’s meditation area, and two massive wall-fans on opposite sides of the room twirled their giant blades. Betarung creatures slept in makeshift nests over them—wild creatures that found homes above fans that were never used at all except for the purpose of providing a constant, soothing whirring for Milo’s ears. On both sides of him, temple servant Sheenyo-Qis, who were floating from Milo’s telekinesis, were humming a soft, beautiful tune from their voices. Pondering the Sacred Jinn and how he was almost close to gathering them all, the Chancellors entered the temple.
                Giant doors swung open in Milo’s roofless sauna area, and the Chancellors entered Milo’s roofless, resting zone that jutted over the rich tundra of Sailarus region.
                “Milla, Farai—that’s enough for today. Thank you.”
                “Thank you lord.”
                “Yes. Bless you two.”
                His servants bowed their heads. Milo descended and brought down the women servants with him using his telekinetic power. When they landed on the pavement, they turned around, bowed again, and began departing the Peace Pit.
                When they ventured further, he wondered what the servants spoke of him, and though he possessed no mind in desiring what others thought of his ways, a vigorous curiosity birthed a powerful urge that challenged him against his ways of self-comfort. He sighed. Soon, he gave into that resilient, relentless curiosity that pounded away at the hard stone foundations of his self-erected fortress of mindful isolation, deciding to stray from his usual disposition of a solemn, reserved solitude, and he enhanced his hearing like one shamefully grabbing the bottle and giving into the temptation of drunkenness.
                The Chancellors neared, and the Emperor concentrated on the conversation of his servants Milla and Farai, “The others! They’d never believed how he showed us such reverence!”
                “And how self-confident and powerful he is! I don’t understand how some nations refuses to bow to him and accept this man who is so brilliant and powerful—so confident in what he does and never wishy washy!”
                “Wishy-washy? You idiot! He wouldn’t be a ruler of nations if he was.”
                “I’m just saying you twit! And some wishy-washy idiots do come to power when its handed to them or they steal the position! But Milo worked for everything brick by brick one day at a time!”
                He lowered his head, a great hail of doubt striking his mind, assailing his focus. If only he ignored their conversation. But, alas, through their interpolation of positivity that was supposed to carry him into some easeful mood, he was now made to confront his inner demons, sometimes worse than the real demons.
                “Brilliant”, “self-confident,” “powerful….”
                He gritted his teeth. As if those very attributes are at the center of my spirit. And I thought you two servants would slander me during your speech as I thought you should. But now you surely torment me…
                He fought against the urge to clench his fists in frustration, mindful not to show any disturbing emotions to his approaching Chancellors. And then—"Emperor Milo.”
                Milo nearly jolted from the sound of their voice, quickly resurfacing from the murky pools of his mind. Even though he’d seen The Chancellors coming, he was shocked to be startled anyway. He surely needed to be careful in losing himself in his thoughts. He looked at the approaching Chancellors and told himself not to speak in fear that his voice would betray his current unstable mood. Thankfully, his inner balance was bringing itself back into a potent sharpness.
                Chancellors, Julie, Adrianne, Miku, Lamech, and Meshach reached Milo who continued to stare, not trusting himself to speak just yet as he was still coming into focus.
                “Oh my lord…” said Julie as she shivered and smiled.
                “Lord Milo—what great vigor you’re in today!” said Miku.
                Milo smirked as if an intriguing joke was at play and he hoped his countenance exhibited something…joyful. Then he found himself emerging from his Kai Wheels of which he had no awareness of at the time of his thoughts. He gasped.
                Damn it.
                “Oh my lord Satan…” said Lamech whose legs buckled. And he was falling back while Julie caught him.
                Lamech’s eyes had closed. He lost consciousness.
                “Weak buffoon.” Said Miku.
                “It would’ve helped if Milo gave us a heads up but, I guess?” Meshach said.
                “Who would’ve thought our lord would be emitting this strongly?” said Adrianne
                “Lamech is still a weak, stupid idiot for failing to keep himself prepared.” Said Miku.
                Milo looked on as Julie was trembling and she said, “Lord Milo. Your vigor is too great today!”
                “If it’s a test of endurance, you definitely almost had me—though I think your energy is lasting a bit too long. I might just buckle and fall asleep anytime now too.” Chuckled Adrianne nervously.
                Milo realized that he was giving off too much Kai energy that was breaking his friends, then he ceased channeling into his Kokhott, Hakokhott, and Shekokhott—small, black-bluish waves of energy dissipating before his eyes.
                “My apologies.” Said Milo, inwardly disapproving of his lack of self-control—knowing that it was no excuse despite the thoughts hounding him.
                “Not at all. I’m actually glad.” Said Miku who ceased shivering. “Its best that the fool stays dead.”
                “Lamech only fainted.” Said Julie who also recovered from Milo’s impromptu unleashing of power. “But he’ll be up in a few hours so, I’ll leave him to it.”
                Meshach stared at her. “That’s unfortunate.” Then he stared at the Emperor. “But now onto the main reason of our arrival. The Salem Lords have successfully taken the Pillar of Marissa and bested Kezuo.”
                Milo nodded his head. “I see. So, the time has come.”
                “For the Second Event, almost.” Meshach.
                “And then we shall draw a step closer towards establishing The Union of Christ connection to prepare the erection of the Komis.”
                “Then the Great Union will soon be upon the creation. And we shall be reconciled through the supreme, Eternal Son Jesus Christ.”
                Milo trembled at their words, beginning to ponder the necessity of the plan he was executing, but the power currents of the Path of Darkness still flowed throughout his soul. He nodded his head. But as he did, a formidable guilt struck through the hardness of his darkness, exposing him to vulnerable, self-condemning despair. He closed his eyes and Adrianne said, “Emperor, it’s time for the next step. Before we move onto Montroy, your nephews must be fully sanctified so they are worthy for Molech’s Ceremony.”
                “But only one shall be chosen—the one he loves most.”
                Milo turned away from them, feeling some angst.
                Julie reached his left side and gently took his arm. “You’ve come far Milo. We must persevere and remain of one mind.”
                He looked her in the eyes. She smiled. The he concentrated his attention on the clouds of smoke that rose from his underground incense taverns. He breathed deep, reflected on her words.
                “…remain of one mind.”
                Then the hands of a horrid doubt grasped his mind and pulled on it, his brain seeming to split into two pieces.
                He turned around and Adrianne walked to an unconscious Lamech, grabbed him, lifted him up in ease with a single hand, and placed him onto her shoulder.
                He noted the extreme efficacy of Adrianne’s ability to merge her great strength with black magick that flowed through her flesh, and she said, “Whenever you’re ready my lord.”
                “Indeed. Let me have a moment with Julie.”
                “Indeed.”
                There was sometime before the Chancellors left the room. Julie and Milo looked at each other and then, he quickly tele-pulled her towards him. She wrapped herself around his body with desperate yearning as he did her. Their tongues wrapped around each other, and he munched his lips against hers, Julie doing the same. Her tongue kiss became stronger—more desperate—and she began squeezing his back with great vigor. He grabbed her hair and pulled her head away.
                “It’s been so long my love. I’ve been trying to spend some moments with you but it’s difficult for me to find time. I sleep only four hours every one week and even then, it’s still hard for me to—”
                Julie pressed her hand against his lips. Milo went silent. And then she forced her mouth onto his mouth, kissing hard and desperately.
                He grabbed her head and pulled her away again. “My goodness. I’m sorry my love. I’m—”
                “It’s ok. Now make it up to me with just a little longer of this.”
                She tried coming at him again and then he said, “Wait, there’s something I need to say.”
                “What is it baby?”
                He waited. “You know how we scorn Karikoga?”
                “I have patience with him. Do not worry. He won’t be killed as long as he descends eventually.”
                “Well, I feel like him sometimes.”
                “What do you—” her eyes widened. “Are you doubting any of this?”
                He simply looked at her.
                She caressed the Emperor’s face and said, “Milo, I believe in you. I believe in your truth concerning light and darkness. Have faith. Do not doubt. There is true fellowship to be found in light and darkness. Light can coexist with the darkness. There are no extremes. The darkness lives in the light and the light is one with darkness. You know this truth. It took me awhile, but I now begin to see.”
                “Lamech doesn’t understand. He only sees Lucifer as the one and only supreme god and lord of light. Why don’t we just chastise him and threaten him with death or banishment too?”
                She narrowed his stare. “Simple. Because he supports us. Karikoga, however, greatly questions everything we stand for and he’s starting to clash against this. At some point, he will act different and will be too set a part for his own good. Do not be like him Milo! You have convinced nations of the truth! And have grown in great power! The path is assured. So stop doubting, and keep believing!”
                He looked at her.
                Moments later she said, “Oh you gentle, honest, beautiful man.” She grabbed his cheeks with one hand, then pressed his face and mouth onto hers with fierce pressure like a warrior woman pressing herself onto a noob male virgin. They continued enjoying each other hot and hard in heavy exaltation.

                                                                        *****
                Milo hovered away from the Temple of Dreams within his keep, holding the hand of Julie who hovered alongside him through his power. Milo and Julie soon reached the Chancellors. Moments later, he paused midair. The hair of his neck rose while a terror caved onto him, feeling as if a thousand spiders of electricity were crawling into his head. Miku and Meshach halted. Adrianne turned around—Lamech still unconscious over her shoulder.
                Milo and Julie held each other hands even tighter.
               Milo closed his eyes. “Dead Hour nears.”

                                                                        *****

                Stars dominated the warm, cloudless sky of a Minefer night and emitted dreary glows. Staring at the massive, Kai-made tears in outer space, Tatenda, Chiedza, Garai, Rudo, and Sekai howled—their voices vibrating the air. Patmos cracked his neck in a manner to make him feel nonchalant and pretend he wasn’t disturbed by the demonic aura that hung in the atmosphere, but a terrible dread soon testified that he was never remaining cool to begin with. Lowering his hand from his neck, he too stared at the war-made tears in outer space. “Aye, it’s about that time of the year. Dead Hour.”

                                                                        *****

                Sitting in a large resting room of the Sons of Morning airship that was taking them home, Shohiwa stared at the window lights and spot beams from some of the floating buildings of Minefer. As the jet passed through a sky lane in a clear city-lit night, three great moons hung in the heavens. One in the north, another in the east, and the final in the west. He turned his attention back to Karikoga. Shohiwa had been in Karikoga’s room for a while, watching Karikoga sleep. And Shohiwa wanted to reflect on the events on the mission by himself, but his thoughts would not linger on what had happened and how he could’ve done better. He was too distraught by the dark presence looming over him. He gulped in fear. His hearts thumped. Despite being in the room with Karikoga, Karikoga was far too gone in sleep to create more life in the atmosphere to make Shohiwa feel less scared. If only Karikoga was awake. Shohiwa darted up from his seat and decided to find a more open place to escape the claustrophobic pressure of the impending dread. He headed towards the bar lounge. Passing through the long dark corridor of the jet, he paused. He felt as if hands were reaching out towards him—dark hands. Demonic. Hateful. Oppressive. Gulping, he sprinted through the corridor and reached the bar lounge. Arriving there, he sat on a counter that could house over fifty crew members. Staring into the elaborate bar, Shohiwa grimaced. For the bar area transitioned from silence into a deeper silence. How was it possible for someone to hear silence become more silent? He didn’t know, but the sensation was incredibly disturbing, conveying a shift in the atmosphere. The environment became more still, like something was waiting in a corner. His soul was being pulled into some unknown dimension of terror that housed unspeakable nightmares. 
                Eventually Shohiwa heard voices, only to realize that it was Kronos’s and Abimelech’s who were heading into the bar lounge. Abimelech was doing tricks with a deck of cards like he was Gambit.
                Like any of these fools bothered reading X-Men. These people are wasting their lives not bothering to experience Old Earth’s rich pop culture. Frick’n disgusting. What a waste!
                Shohiwa fumbled with his fingers and said, “Hey yall.”
                Kronos and Abimelech stared at him, then Abimelech made the cards float all around him. Skeins of Abimelech’s tele-grip emitted aura from the cards.
                “Come over and sit next to me.” Shohiwa tele-gripped two seats and pulled them out.  Abimelech gazed at him with eyes that seemed to say, ‘What the hell are you doing?’
                “What up.” Said Shohiwa. He fumbled his fingers.
                “What’s this all about eh? I remember you guys wanting to scrub with me at first.” Barked Abimelech.
                “Look man. That’s been over. I don’t even care about that anymore.” Said Shohiwa.
                Kronos smiled. Abimelech crossed his arms while going, “Hmph.”
                “So, you coming over to sit down and have a game with me too or what?”
                Kronos stared at the bar. “Damn. You already set up a Godworld 777 (Triple Seven) Console and a big screen TV over there? How’d I fail to notice you smuggle videogames into a ship?”
                “You’re ultra-nice all of a sudden Shohiwa.” Hissed Abimelech.
                Shohiwa narrowed his eyes. “Because you know you feel it. Just as well as I do.”
                “Feeling what? Said Abimelech. “The hell are you talking about?”
                Kronos rubbed his neck, then proceeded to take a seat next to Shohiwa. “Get on over here man. You know what Shohiwa is talking about.”
                Shohiwa tapped the seat, gesturing Abimelech to sit down.
                “And what is he talking about?” hissed Abimelech. “Why you so scared Shohiwa?”
                “Who said I was scared? Hehehe, you scared too.”
                “No. You, you little buster!”
                “Scary bum punk ho.” Said Shohiwa.
                “Abimelech!” grunted Kronos. Kronos pointed at the empty seat.
                Abimelech sat down near Kronos.
                “That begs the question, why aren’t you checking on Karikoga during this time Shohiwa?”
                “Fuc—” Shohiwa breathed, keeping his composure, deciding not to cuss and continued, “Forget him. He’s sleep anyway. He ain’t feeling this.”
                “Talk about being your brother’s keeper.” Said Kronos.
                “He’s gonna be alright! I’m the one awake! Besides, Karikoga is only one dude and I’m trying to be surrounded by a bunch of niggas—pause. No homo.”
                “Pause?” said Kronos. “The hell does that mean?”
                Shohiwa mockingly smiled at Kronos despite the terror of something unholy hovering about Shohiwa.
                Shohiwa drifted into his thoughts, forcing himself to ignore the terrifying sensation. Then he heard footsteps. Shohiwa gasped and stared in the direction of the sound. It was Gabriel, emerging from the deck halls. Gabriel was rubbing his eyes, no doubt aroused from his sleep.
                Yea—that mess always gets you. It gets you when you least expect it. Just when you’re comfortable. Then boom. The goddamn Curse of God takes affect. Shohiwa scoffed. Some God He is, bringing that Dead Hour onto future generations who had nothing to do with that betrayal bull crap.
                “Join the miserable party.” Abimelech said and Abimelech hovered into the air and began shuffling the cards all around his body with small explosions erupting around him like tiny stars orbiting a giant being and going supernova around the being.
                “Ha! This nigga Abimelech really is doing some Gambit stuff and doesn’t even know it.”
                Abimelech raised an eyebrow and snarled. Grey aura now seeped from his eyes that began to glow. “Whoever that is, it better be a damn compliment.”
                Clueless! So clueless!
                Gabriel tilted his head at Shohiwa, then Gabriel said, “I had proceeded to relieve myself in the restroom. And then, as I stared into the mirror, the light went off.”
                Shohiwa gulped. The dread struck him harder.
                “When I looked into the darkness, I thought of Shohiwa, Karikoga, Michael, Milo, even you two fools, and when I tried to linger on positive thoughts, I said to myself, ‘It is simply the sudden absence of light. What is the issue? Why am I forcing myself to be calm with happy recollections when I am calm? Or am I not calm and I deceive myself? Ah but the lights malfunctioned. Nothing more.’ I turned around and gripped the bathroom doorknob. As I attempted to open it, there was a loud ‘plisk’ and I was locked in.”
                “You could easily break down the door with your superhuman strength or Kai blast it open. Duh.” said Abimelech.
                “My powers were not present. And even when my superhuman strength remained, it did nothing to move it, almost as if I was hitting a cosmic wall.”
                Everyone gasped.
                Gabriel continued. “So, I was locked in. I enhanced my vision and observed the cramped darkness. Moments later, a ghastly midst appeared above the mirror.”
                Shohiwa gulped and continued to listen. His heart seemed to throb in his throat.
                “And as I stared, the ghastly midst transformed into a dreadful numeric figure. And that figure was: Six-six-six.”
                “Gabriel!” Shouted Shohiwa.
                Kronos and Abimelech gasped. The tension in the air intensified.
                “And then the number of the beast slowly drifted down towards the mirror of that dark bathroom as I stared in apprehension. Soon, the mirror malformed into a misty portal and as that number entered the portal, tendrils of purple, twisted red darkness seeped onto the walls from the mirror-portal.” Shohiwa was having a difficult time breathing. He wanted to tell Gabriel to stop and run away, but he couldn’t. It was as if his mouth was sealed in place and he was chained to his seat. “Soon the tendrils of darkness grasped the walls of the bathroom, and a being appeared into the mirror-portal.”
                Gabriel walked towards Shohiwa, grabbed his shoulders, and stared deep into Shohiwa’s eyes.
                “And I saw it. That dreadful being, it’s yellow, crimson greenish snake-dragon eyes of ancient hatred staring into the windows of my soul. When it titled its head, its eyes studying me in lustful regard, I saw the horns on its head squirm. The being leaned closer and then I realized it’s horn-tusked head were malformed worms that slowly squirmed and oozed green bile from its thick, swollen bodies as thousands upon thousands of spider legs protruded from the wormy-tusks and roach hairs clothed those terrible, sharp, dagger legs.”
                “Yuck!” Abimelech shouted, rubbing his body and squirming in revulsion “Make it stop! Make the damn tingling stop!”
                “And as that draconic, human-faced being reached out of the mirror, I noticed a beautiful chain of gold wrapped around its wormy tusks, and onyx, rubies, and sapphire adorned that gold chain, glimmering brilliant colors in the darkness. A pentagram glowed on its forehead. And then the being said, ‘Before I prophecy to Abimelech and Kronos, tell Shohiwa,” Shohiwa gulped. This was too much for him. ‘To quit being lazy!’”
                Shohiwa arched in confusion and terror.
                And Gabriel chuckled.
                “Yo? Are you serious?” said Abimelech.
                Gabriel chuckled again. “No. Everything I spoke did not happen. I made it all up under the inspiration by the spirit of Dead Hour. That is all.”
                Shohiwa screamed. “Gabriel!”
Stressed by the horror story, Shohiwa’s eyes blacked out.

                Shohiwa had fallen off his seat and thumped his head onto the metallic flooring. His neck snapped—a loud bone crack in the air—as his lower body and legs were facing the ceiling, and then his lower body plopped to the ground and his neck popped back into place.
                If Shohiwa was a Sheenyo-Qi, he would’ve died and or permanently been disabled for life, but Kai were incredibly durable and there were nigh-infinite layers to their durability the stronger they became. Shohiwa healed in less than a second and continued laying on the ground.
                “Oh wow. He fainted.” Said Kronos.
                Abimelech grunted. “Eh, we’ll just carry him out.”
                “Faking it, he is.” Said Gabriel.
                “Is he really?”
                Gabriel sighed. “Find out, we shall Kronos.” He approached Shohiwa, then kicked his head hard. Really hard. Shohiwa’s neck broke again. Except this time, his spine pierced through his neck and blood squirted out. Gabriel unleashed a barrier to prevent Shohiwa’s blood from getting on Gabriel’s clothes. Shohiwa didn’t react. Then Shohiwa’s spine went back into his neck and his head snapped back into place by itself. “I stand corrected.” Said Gabriel.
                “Yea. We carry him out.” Kronos finished.
                Abimelech ceased playing with his cards and proceeded to turn on the Godworld 777 console.

                His eyes opened. He stared into a swirling, hazy darkness which caused him to suffer from such a maddening disorientation that the dark vertigo seemed to prod and pull at his eyes like some twisted angel of sight that desired to see Karikoga experience blindness. He grunted, rubbing his face while he moved his neck back and forth, fighting through the afflicting daze, only to realize that he was slowly awaking from his sleep. He lifted himself up, and when he sat up on his bed, an ominous, overbearing presence loomed around as if the room was suddenly being invaded by mysterious, malevolent beings. Karikoga primed into his Hakokhott Rukhaniim to ready himself, but anger’s fire scorched his sense of caution and afflicted him with soulful burns of vexing frustration.
                He grimaced, knowing that the third Sunday of the month was drawing closer.

                The jet touched down and began entering its landing-descent. They were home.
                Half an hour later, the jet entered a rest pit. Overtime, the dread of Dead Hour passed. Karikoga loosened his guard, deactivated his Hakokhott, and continued staring out of the window. Now, it was about that time to speak with Loreta. He needed it.
                He entered his comm-channels. She picked up.
                “Loreta, are you going to be working at the tower tonight?”
                “I am. What’s up by the way.”
                “The thing is—”
                “No, what’s up as in, ‘Hi Karikoga.’”
                “Oh.” Karikoga blushed. “Hey.” He thought about her for a moment. Then continued, “We need to talk. There’s a lot going on Loreta.”
                “Alright. See you soon.”
                Karikoga hung up.
                Sometime later, the door of the resting center had opened. Though Karikoga sensed no terrible, nightmarish aura of any kind, the energy was palpable. Beyond threatening. Dominating. It was definitely one of the Hurricane Beasts.
                Karikoga heard a soft sigh as if the Hurricane Beast was relieved, either because Karikoga’s safety was reassured or that they were pleased to get some peace and quiet away from the others. Karikoga didn’t know…but he continued to stare out of the window while the events of the recent mission was on his mind.
                There came a few steps, then another, until they said, “The Emperor wishes to finish up the rest of the protection ritual with you guys. Does the upside down cross remain on your chest?” Karikoga knew the voice. It was Kronos.
                Karikoga hissed through his teeth, bunched his jaws, feeling every fiber of his jaw muscle flex his angst. “Like it matters?”  Kronos said nothing. Karikoga continued to stare out at the urban darkness. “Whatever. I wiped that mess off. Didn’t like it.”
                “I’m sure it’s effect should still linger to maintain the cleansing process of it.”
                “Cleansing process,” scoffed Karikoga, “Gimme a damn break.”
                “Be ready to depart soon. We’ll escort you guys to the private keeps and finish things up.”
                Karikoga immersed himself deeper into the past mission without saying a word, and Kronos was leaving Karikoga by himself again and closing the door until a sudden creak startled the air. Karikoga sensed that Kronos hadn’t fully closed the door and was still waiting near it. Then Kronos said, “Hey, I hope everything is well with you man.”
                Karikoga looked away from the window and looked into Kronos’s eyes. Kronos’s concern was truly genuine. Karikoga lowered his head, feeling ashamed that he had been such a douchebag to Kronos, and Karikoga crossed his arms and laid back on his bed. “No. It isn’t Kronos. But I’ll manage.”
                Kronos lowered his head, seeming to enter deep thoughts. “I understand.” He left the room and closed the door.
                Karikoga wanted to tell him ‘Thanks for asking.’ But he couldn’t—as all he could think about was what happened, how he lost control so suddenly and how he failed to stop Gabriel. “Damn it. Goddamn it…” he hissed under his breath.
                Overtime, Karikoga was exiting the jet. He reached the door-ramp and the Hurricane Beasts and his brothers were already outside waiting for him. But Shohiwa was tele-gripped in the air, his eyes closed. Though Karikoga was irritated and didn’t want to talk, he was curious about Shohiwa’s current state. “What happened with him?”
                “He got a little overexcited and his mind went haywire. No biggie. Shohiwa’s gucci.” Said Abimelech.
                Karikoga sighed, then headed down the ramp. Reaching the group, he walked around them, avoiding Gabriel whose face was downcast. Karikoga ignored that silly look, not caring how Gabriel was feeling, even if Gabriel was somehow feeling like crap, which Karikoga highly doubted, and Karikoga descended the stones steps. They followed Karikoga. The group soon passed over the grand bridge of the temple-palace. Gabriel approached Karikoga. Karikoga, not bothering to look at Gabriel, cringed.
                “Let it be known brother, when the child touched me, I had no intention—at the time of course—for any lesser human to die by my han—”
                Karikoga’s right fist suddenly darted towards Gabriel’s face—failing to control himself—speeding fist causing an explosive bursting vacuum and gust of exploding wind, and his knuckles smashed clean into Gabriel’s nose and lips. The ground cracked beneath, and a greater gust of wind followed by a shockwave exploded. Karikoga heard bones crunch and the jet skid from the heavy impact. Gabriel’s head reeled back from the punch, but Gabriel stood his ground. Gabriel stared at Karikoga with shock in his eyes as blood flowed from Gabriel’s nose. Then he said, “Brother, I am sorry. I am so, so sorry.”
                Karikoga said nothing and walked away. Gabriel followed.
                “Karikoga? Do you forgive me?”
                Karikoga rolled his eyes. That’s not enough…
                Gabriel suddenly ceased walking and was staring at him with pain in his eyes.
                Oh no you don’t! You deceive me! Tears of manipulation. Won’t be fooling me.
                Gabriel soon tele-stepped to Karikoga.
                From the corner of Karikoga’s peripheral, Abimelech shot his hands forward until Kronos lowered Abimelech’s hands. Kronos shook his head. “We’re done breaking this up Abbey. They’ll handle this themselves now. Mission’s over so protective duties are absolved. Whatever happens, their fault and not our problem.”
                Abimelech grinned and crossed his arms, staring in excited anticipation. Shohiwa began groaning in his sleep, then proceeded to enter a fetal position within the air. His groaning ceased, and he slept soundlessly.
                “Karikog—”
                “Be more specific with your sins and what you’re sorry for, and then I would consider forgiving you.”
                “Brother, I apologize for everything.”
                “Not enough.” Gabriel stared in confusion. Karikoga continued, “I know what you’re doing. Say that you’re sorry for killing the family and for using the derogatory term, ‘Lesser Human.’ And do it,” Karikoga walked up to his face. “as you’re kneeling to me.”
                “Brother, I can not do that.”
                “Why not?”
                “Because...”
                “Then we’re done. Don’t talk to me and keep away from me.” Gabriel gasped, his jaws wide open in shock. The cool, calculating, smug face of ‘I’m the neat, powerful trickster who knows more than the world’ had transformed into a look of regret and sorrow. Noticing his pain, Karikoga smirked with anger, turned away from him, and walked off.
                Gabriel called out to him. “Brother, understand, that I did not mean to disrespect you. I truly did not.” Karikoga kept walking. Gabriel grabbed his shoulders. “I am deeply sorry for disrespecting you. Karikoga?” He ignored him.
                “Apologize for what you did sincerely.”
                “I am sincere. I am sorry for what I did to you. For trapping you inside the shield too.”
                Karikoga grinned his teeth. So you try’n to make it about that too huh? “About the people Gabe. About the people. And get on your knees!”
                Gabriel bowed down towards the floor while tele-stepping to Karikoga faster than the eye could blink. He grabbed Karikoga’s leg and placed his forehead on his boot. Karikoga was stunned. He didn’t think Gabriel would stoop this low.
                “Please. I love you. I never meant to slight you. After all you have done for me—I simply could not control myself. I have my sins. I have my sins.” Guilt gnawed at Karikoga while he continued examining Gabriel kneeling at his feet. “Brother.” Gabriel said, his voice breaking.
                Lord Jesus, why? Why do I feel like this? Why can’t I revel at this murderer’s sorrow? Karikoga hadn’t seen his brother so vulnerable in a long time, but, despite Gabriel’s weakness, Karikoga lacked the strength to say anything because in his heart, he couldn’t. Gabriel had done some things that really made Karikoga feel inferior.
                Darkness tugged on Karikoga’s heart. And a Godly sorrow flooded him, pulling him towards the Narrow Road. After remembering Gabriel reading books with Karikoga and eating pizza together after Karikoga taught Gabriel how to cook all kinds of food, Karikoga said, “I—I can’t,”
                He snatched his feet away from Gabriel. Gabriel looked in shock. Karikoga jumped from the bridge. “I can’t take this right now. I need to be alone.” He said to himself.

                Gabriel’s eyes widened.
               On my knees. Even as I was on my knees. And he still could not accept me. His heart was struck with a pain that felt so familiar, yet so different.

                 Karikoga was running up the bionic, platinum concrete superstructure of the Emperor’s tower palace, wildly pivot-spinning over and around animalistic but angelically inspired cornices and pillar slabs that protruded from the tall, massive palace’s wall structure, stretching outwards and curving heavenwards and hellwards like long, sharp pristine teeth and talons as if dragon giants and wolf gods of old had became one with Milo’s temple and sought to make his tower-palace structure in their likeness.  Karikoga clenched his fists so hard that it pulsed with energy and he flip-hopped past jutting sculptures of cherubim and seraphim and, he swung through layered, golden friezes, arch columns, and angelic statutes, feeling tempted to destroy much of the architecture out of sheer wrath.
                He was falling apart, and he could cry at any moment. But he needed to keep himself calm.
                Finally, he reached the top of the tower-palace. He hopped between pyramidical columns while he thought of breaking them, bringing the massive roof down onto his head, but as he looked at the tower-palace’s room-hall keepers who were dusting the moon-bathed statues of seraphim and humanoid dragon children, his eyes watered. The thought of brick and mortar collapsing onto the bodies of the men and women who were cleaning in peace—a moment of calm and quietness that could’ve easily transformed into an event of death—was sickening. And it all would’ve happened by his hand. A cold chill crept through him. Karikoga walked passed the columns. A servant took notice of him and lightly clapped their hands, using a Sons of Morning gesture that told the others that a key figure was present, and they saluted Karikoga.  To think that these people could’ve unknowingly suffered the fate of being crush from his anger brought about by foolish inconsiderateness, uncontrolled fury and bitterness. No. They did not deserve this. They kneeled to him. In the distance, was Loreta, approaching him.
                “Hey Karikoga.” Loreta said. Standing next to her were servants Goms, Nila, and Ashers. The three bowed to him.
                Frustrated by their eagerness to be subservient, he said, “Don’t do that. Bow to each other or something.”
                Nila raised her head, “What did you say sire?”
                “No need to bow. At ease.” He said.
                He neared Loreta.
                They looked each other in the eyes.
                Karikoga faced Nila and said, “Tell the others to rise and leave from here. I need to be alone and speak with Loreta right now.”
                “Yes lord.” Nila said, “Mesharetim, laqum ume’aleh tann lanu le’azuv.” ‘Servants, rise up and let us leave’ The servants rose, bowed to Karikoga, and began to depart. Loreta examined Karikgoa with worrisome eyes.
                “Karikoga?”
                “Loreta, I’m struggling.”
                “What’s wrong?”
                “The way of the Salem Lord. I’m, I’m being torn…” She looked at him. He pointed at a stairway-bridge that went up towards the sky. The stairway itself was strong enough to support a large, private shrine room-balcony that faced the south. “Is it still—”
                “It’s still yours Karikoga. Milo hasn’t used it in years. In fact, he hasn’t used it since she passed away. He most likely forgotten that it exists up here.”
                He nodded and gestured her forward. He followed behind her. Reaching the base, she said, “Karikoga, tell me what’s wrong?”
                “Loreta, am I, still worthy to come to church with you?”
                She grimaced. “Don’t you dare ask me that. There is no sin too great for you not to be invited. The door is always open to you.”
                “I see.” His fingers twitched.
                “But that doesn’t mean you can keep doing bad and expect to be forgiven at your leisure. Repentance is important too.” She smiled.
                He chuckled. “Of course. That’s what those hypocritical Tsadiqiim do. Oh, but not you! You’re a real Tsadiq Gadol Loreta.” He said twiddling his thumbs. The smile faded from his lips once more.
                “Get open Kari.” She said. He liked the shortened style of his name. It was cute. Her tone made it more charming.
                “I hate the fact that I can’t descend.”
                “Karikoga, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. You still love the light. It’s absolutely ok.”
                “No, it isn’t. Because as I much as I love God, I need more power. And when it comes to having the edge, strength from the Rivers of the Dark Angels will help with that.”
                “Listen to yourself, you wish to be close to the Most High but seek to flirt with demons and the kingdom of darkness. Why this obsession with the things of below and not the things from above?”
                “Because darkness would’ve given me the extra strength to stop my brother Gabriel from killing a child and his family—that darkness, combined with the power of the Living God, causing my brothers and even the Hurricane Beasts to respect me more because I would’ve had greater strength to uphold my ideals and be successful at protecting others.”
                “I see…and so you feel that by balancing light and darkness, you’ll get to where you need to be?”
                “Of course, because it will help me to become a Protector and help Milo end this war. To be a part of the will of God and to end The Final Tribulation that has cursed all of humanity for generations.” She stared at him with a sharp glare. He continued. “Afterall, Milo has attained true power in The Way, and he has balanced light with darkness.”
                “Really? You believe your uncle is balanced?”
                “Of course he is! He is never indecisive and is always on fire. He successfully merged both paths of The Way.”
                “Oh Karikoga. His merging is not what you think it is. Milo’s merge is not true and it’s a complete fake of the real thing that you actually desire. In fact, Milo hasn’t even merged light and darkness at all. He’s only created an ideology, a new doctrine that only expounds upon these concepts at a theoretical level—and a theory that is not even remotely sensible.”
                “Not true. He’s always on fire.”
                “True. His inferno truly does blaze uncontrollably.”
                “Yes!” Karikoga hissed. “You understand. You’re right.”
                She nodded her head and smiled. He smiled back. She walked closer to him, and just when he believed she would say a few more words to spur him on and help make his choice, he saw something terrible in her eyes. Dread and confusion assailed him.
                She turned around and took off her shirt. His legs buckled. Hellish scars webbed her back as if some demonic spider lived within her flesh. “The hell?” Karikoga growled, channeling into his Kai energy. “The hell is this?” he grunted.
                “The fires of your uncle. Oh, how he is so on fire. How he is so balanced with light and darkness. How he is so in tune with The Way.”
                “He would never.”
                “But he did.”
                “No, he is too loving.”
                “But I’ve been around him longer than you have.” He continued to stare at the scars, bruises, and marks on her body as he tapped deeper into his energies. “And I can tell you from experience Karikgoa—my very body can tell you: you can not merge the powers of both Satan’s darkness and Jesus’s light—nor can you be allied to both.”
                He shivered, not knowing what to say to her response, feeling some dreadful warning and truth coming from her words. He said, “But why? Why would he do this to you?”
                “Because he still holds on to me.” Karikoga raised an eyebrow in confusion. “For your uncle made a deal with me: that I could still serve him and remain the head of the palace as long as he can beat me when he feels the urge.”
                He channeled deeper into his energy. “But why?” he growled.
                “Because I have not bowed the knee to darkness Karikoga.”
                “Then I will talk to him.” He marched away from the sky-steps and headed towards the elevator.
                “No!” she hissed. She grabbed his arms. “Stop it! He tolerates you as is. Don’t get him to look at you differently. Besides, I chose this way.”
                “What do you mean?”
                “Because I made a deal with Milo, Karikoga—a deal that as long he beats me, he can keep me, because God willing, I hope to one day bring Milo back to the light—to get him close with the Most High again.”
                “And so you undergo some Christ-like suffering and torture to win his heart? To do some good and maintain your goodness just so you can have a chance at reaching into him?”
                “Yes.”
                He growled. “This—this is exactly what I can’t stand! I try to do good, by keeping soldiers, enemy soldiers, alive during missions, and I’m considered an outcast—some goody two shoes—and through that—I slowly crush a piece of my brothers’ and fellow comrades’ trust!” he growled. Channeling into his energy.
                “Kari, sometimes, those who do good are persecuted. Sometimes we must suffer. If they done evil to Christ who done no wrong, what do you expect would happen to Christ’s followe—”
                “What?” he hissed. “Persecution? Suffer? And why? So we can turn the other cheek and be their targets? Lower our backs to be their steeping stool? Like what Milo did to your goddamn body?”
                “Yes. Because sometimes, doing good has negative consequences.”
                “But it makes no sense.”
                “Then if it doesn’t, how could you be a model to those who are watching you? If I gave up and bowed the knee, how could I be a model for the Emperor? If I gave up, I would fail to win the hearts of those looking my way.”
                “Ridiculous. Doing good just to maintain this image that Kai or Sheenyo-Qi expect you to maintain, and if you do one bad thing they scoff you.”
                “How do you think the Emperor of the Cosmos was treated?
                “Because Jesus Christ had power. He allowed that to happen to Himself because His confidence was in His power.”
                “Huh? Are you serious?”
                Karikoga turned towards the steps and clenched his fists. “For the Ancient of Days had said, ‘That I dwell in the thick darkness,’ and that then, David had proclaimed, ‘He made darkness His secret place; His pavilion round about Him were dark waters and thick cloud of the skies,’ and that, ‘clouds and—”
                “—and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and justice are the habitation of his throne.’ Said Loreta, finishing the scripture.
                Karikoga became intrigued by her knowledge. “So, you know what He’s truly capable of.” He said.
                “Yes, I do, but you’re totally misunderstanding the intentions and powers of the Lord. And the Lord didn’t have confidence in His power – even if He wanted to – but rather, His confidence was in the Father through prayer.”
                Karikoga narrowed his stare at her.  He began to emanate His aura as she simply looked at him.
                “Loreta, I began to realize, that Christ God had power because He was the light who had the power over darkness.” Karikoga exploded with Kokhott Rukhaniim and Hakokhott Hayessodiim energies. The air around the roof lounge-temple screamed. Loreta’s hair flowed over her face, and waves of energy cavorted round about Karikoga and Loreta like a hurricane of great power. “And if I controlled darkness to the point where my very energy itself would put hundreds of billions onto their knees, then that’s power.”
                 “First, there are layers to power so your idea is not as strong as it could be. Second, Karikoga, you must understand, that the darkness was meant in a different connotation, that the darkness The Lord created was natural and pure. Not the darkness born from the First Sin in Heaven.”
                “Wait, you know something.”
                She looked at him. “The Lord God has power over the darkness Karikoga. He created it, but, I will not explain what that other darkness actually is to you, unless you calm down.”
                “Ok. Ok. I’m calm.”
                “No, you’re not, because you are driven towards a different power and that might is not holy.”
                “Loreta, c’mon!”
                “Don’t you wish to know how God wielded darkness?”
                “Yes.”
                “Good. Then I won’t tell you.”
                “And why the hell not?”
                “Because I now realize that it’s not the time for you to know right now.”
                Pissed off that she wouldn’t explain the kind of darkness that God had mastery over, he growled, but he had enough of unleashing his energy. He dispelled his aura, the wind ceasing. Loreta’s hair ceased moving.
                “Until you learn that you can not serve both God and the Devil, you won’t understand one of the Greater Paths—the Path of the Mudziviriri. Don’t be lukewarm. Be hot or cold. But don’t be lukewarm.” She began walking away, then she Koshined, power beaming from her body.
                He gasped. He could sense her energy but he didn’t know that it was like this. “I don’t understand. I thought you were a Sheenyo-Qi. But how?” She said nothing. “Wait, Loreta, are you a Kai too? How is this possible?” he shouted with shock and excitement.
                She reached the elevator and opened its gates. She looked over her shoulder. “Kari, you are filled with so much sadness. So much sorrow. Though I know there is a source to your pain—as to why you entered the Path of Darkness—I won’t ask for it, but what I can say is that if you consult with demons and the satanic darkness as if they’re your wives, they will destroy you as the concubines had done to Solomon. You will find comfort in the One who walked the waters of Old Earth, when the Earth was void and without form and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and get the answers that you seek, but only when you truly embrace His way, the light side of The Way.”
                She turned away.
                “Wait—"
                He watched her walked towards the elevator, enter inside of it, and went down into the palace. He wanted to apologize for getting out of line with her, but he failed to do that too. He turned around. He decided on what he’d do.
                He went up the sky-stairs.
                Moments later, reaching the grand shrine—surrounded by limitless sky—he got on his knees, bowed his head, and clenched his fists. He opened his mouth but realized it was hard to speak. A piece of him just wanted to head down the sky-stairway and leave. No…Soon, rather than ponder the terrible events of the second mission, or think about his power in comparison to his brothers, he thought of Loreta. And how her delicate frame was able to generate strange power. And that was the last thing on his mind before he forced himself to get open and say: “Most High God, I—no matter how much I seek darkness, I struggle with maintaining the light. And I realize that I can’t let it go because I care about it so much. But why…why wasn’t I strong enough to stop Gabriel? Why couldn’t I save that child? Stopped that family from being murdered? Why didn’t you allow me to have the strength to overcome Gabriel’s barrier in time?” He grimaced, hearing his words echo his hatred and frustration. “But then when I see what happened, I realize that I was too stubborn to see Gabriel’s next move. Too absorbed in myself. And now I had to pay. God, I was blinded by own desires and blinded by looking at what my brothers have and what I don’t have—me, simply wanting to be great in the mission. And through that, I lost myself, especially too focused on Gabriel because of what he was capable of—how he conquered those Kai hunters with ease—my pride being crushed because I was too caught up in my own power, enjoying that moment when I crushed that mech when I wasn’t supposed to enjoy it like that, simply focused on completing that mission for my own sake and prestige to get noticed more by Milo and soon gain enough prestige to become a Protector.” He got off the altar and bowed to the ground. “But I am nothing. And though my little brother has more than me, I am nothing. But please. Help me make a difference. Give me strength! I’m walking blind right now. Show me the way to Your strength. Though I walk in darkness, I want to change the world as Christ had done. Forgive me of my transgressions because I need you. I pray all this in the name of your Son and my Lord—the True Emperor of the Cosmos—Jesus Christ. Amen.”
                He got up and looked at his hands. He felt as if he was back to square one when he entered the empire for the first time. He grinned his teeth. Tears flowed down his face. Heading down the steps, a thunder boomed from the sky, then a cool wind swept past him.
                He widened his eyes, looking towards the skies. What was all of that about?
                Examining the thick clouds, he figured it was nothing. It was getting cold, though his flesh wasn’t affected by the temperature at all. Arriving at the elevators, he went inside and the doors began closing. Something was happening though he didn’t understand.

                Blankets of dark clouds coalesced in the sky. They churned and billowed like smoke from a great cauldron, and lightening flashed from within. There came a great thunder. And then, omni-eyes flashed within the sky before disappearing. A pool of light enwreathed the thick clouds of darkness, and the dark clouds began descending towards the tower-palace of Emperor Milo Tonderai.

                Shohiwa had arose from his sleep and went to a secluded place to be befriended by a cigarette while the Hurricane Beasts departed to their personal abode. Gabriel was left by himself in the throne room. Gabriel examined Milo’s fire energy which flowed within and throughout the throne room’s massive, translucent glass-containment walls and illuminated the entire area like an aquarium dedicated to Milo’s fire. One of the symbols of Milo’s power never ceased to intrigue Gabriel even though he didn’t wish to be enamored by Milo’s fire-energy, but when it never went out day or night and was vigorously active even when Milo was in another country, or even attending one of those secret meetings in outer space, it was impressive and showcased how much power Milo really had.
                Who could challenge it?
                Still staring at the flames which illuminated the inner chambers, the Emperor had called to him. Soon, Gabriel was in the presence of the Emperor. Gabriel chuckled to himself after he felt harsh waves of power emanating from his Grand Uncle. His energy could burn away Gabriel’s soul and make Gabriel shrivel if Gabriel was weak. Strange, and ironic, that such a mighty individual would get bossed around by five petty little lesser-human Chancellors as if Milo’s very life was spindled in their hands. But then Gabriel realized a scenario that was most likely the reality: that Milo was playing the weak-humble fool to make his lesser human scum feel significant so that they felt like they made a difference in things when they, in truth, were nothing. And now that Gabriel pondered this, this was most likely the case, knowing how—deliberately simple Milo could be.
                “You like that don’t you?” said Milo, gesturing at his great spiritual fires which encompassed the entire room, each of the great fires that was over one hundred meters long and over one hundred meters wide.
                Gabriel nodded his head. “Oh aye.”
                “Want to know one of the secrets of maintaining energy for this long?”
                “Do enlighten me.”
                “I never stop training.”
                Gabriel raised an eyebrow in intrigue.
                Milo turned to his inner library and looked halfway over his shoulder, “This way.”
                The young Salem Lord soon followed the ruler of the Sons of Morning empire inside.
                Milo was staring at his own fire-energy which also illuminated the large library—the glass containment walls emanating a unique heat as the ocean of fires swirled and flowed like the aura of outer space quasars.
                Gabriel said, “Emperor.”
                Gabriel couldn’t help but reflect on what the Chancellors wanted from Milo, or what Milo was doing for the Chancellors…
                He immediately pushed the thought into his mind as the Emperor said, “Gabriel, why are you so fixated on giving me my proper title of lordship rather than calling me Uncle Milo?”
                Gabriel looked into his eyes. “I do every now and then, Emperor.”
                Milo crossed his arms and pondered for a time. Then he said “You carry angst. And it has something to do with me. And this is true.” Gabriel said nothing. “But, knowing you, I do not know your heart because,”
                “The ways of a man’s heart are like deep waters. Who can understand it?” said Gabriel, quoting Scripture.
                “Precisely. And if no man can understand his own heart, how can he expect others to know it—even those he loves and are close to him?”
                “He simply can not.”
                “Aye.” Said Milo. “But, one thing’s for certain, I see into Gabriel Tonderai and I know for a fact that he harbors no lust for my seat. I sense no rising, no kind of spirit of rebellion from you even though you put sting on my imperial title.”
                “Ah, yes, the ol’ typical disgruntled teen who desires to dethrone the ruler and take his place. Haha. You are absolutely right about me being a little more complex than that.”
                “But alas, you call me emperor as if to remind me of what I am. And so, you are troubled. Now I ask: what’s on your mind?”
                Gabriel pursed his lips, deciding not to hold back. No tricks. No games. Only truth. “You stand alongside the lesser human animals who watch you wage your wars while they whisper in your ears to give council. Your palace is populated with vermin. And you rule a kingdom with rodent lesser humans as your subjects, filthy animals who are too stupid—too unworthy--to deserve your leadership.”
                “Animals? Vermin? What are you talking about? I always appoint an exterminator three times a month and I keep the palace super clean all the time. What, you spotted a roach peering at you as it emerged from your hot soup with water-goggles on it’s eyes or something?”
                Gabriel grunted in anger. Milo smiled. The young Salem Lord continued, “You know what I speak of! You do!”
                “I’m not a dirty ruler Gabriel. I take showers and animals can never whisper in my ear because they can’t talk.”
                “Lies, animals do talk. Millions of years ago, the Christ-Dragon named Agonam—gah! I see what you are doing! No! I am referring to the damn lesser human scum! Where is the way of the Kai? Are not the Chancellors supposed to be replaced by true humanity? Are not little boys and girls of true humanity supposed to fly around and focus on bringing glory to all things Kai?”
                “Little boys and girls? Now that’s a strange fact my grand nephew.”
                “Excuse me?”
                “I never took you to be one who harbored such, depraved fetishes. Might I, help you change some predilections by bringing you to some fine women who can—”
                “I abhor sick, twisted pedophiliac scum, and I would pry open my chest, cut out all of my hearts, crush them with my Christ-grip and damn myself forever if I had committed such twisted travesties!”
                “I see, then why bring up boy and girls?”
                Gabriel felt a vessel in his head about to burst. “I was referring to how generations upon generations of Kai are supposed to be the dominant peoples in your empire.”
                “Ah, Gabriel, now I understand. You have no fascination with children. No. For your fetish is with our entire species. Alas, I must speak to Adrianne concerning how we can help you.”
                The Emperor turned around, smiling and was heading towards the back chambers. Gabriel darted forward with great speed and leapt in front of the emperor.
                Milo laughed out loud.
                “Uncle, why do you try and mock me and test my patience?”
                Still laughing, the Emperor said, “I believe your patience has already been tested.”
                Gabriel stomped his feet and crossed his arms.
                Slowly calming himself, Milo said, “I jester with you Gabriel.”
                “I see no point in that.”
                “Because riling you up is so fascinatingly exciting and funny.”
                Gabriel was about to have a violent thought towards Milo until something else came to mind and he said, “Milo, the truth is—I saw Meshach and Julie reporting to some Blades of the Most High.”
                Milo’s expression went from a jubilant adolescent-like grin to a dour, solemn glare. “Gabriel, this is isn’t why I brought you to me.”
                Gabriel smiled and then chuckled. “What a beautiful face Grand Uncle. The face I wanted to see.”
                Milo’s countenance conveyed great anger, standing as if he was about to transform into something unholy, and energy unfurled from Milo.
                Gabriel tensed and he activated his energy, bracing himself.
                “Nobody,” Milo said, more power exploding from him, “and I declare nobody,” Gabriel cursed under his breath. “has ever given me such a good play around in a long while.” Milo laughed and his energy immediately died away. Gabriel relaxed, finding his chest heaving, realizing he himself was laughing.
“You had me going for a second, emperor.”
                When they calmed, Milo said, “Alright, all jokes aside, Gabriel, the Chancellors, and all the rest of the Sheenyo-Qi who populate my kingdom, they are friends—like a family to me.”
                “A family?” Gabriel said incredulously.
                Milo observed him. “I see where this is going. And that would explain what you did on the second mission.” Gabriel walked towards a grand table and sat on it, studying tapestries that covered the walls.
                “We are Metoraf Milo. What do you expect?” Gabriel said, looking at his nails to ensure their cleanliness.
                “Actually, there is something different about you.”
                “Oh?” Gabriel said, pulling out a mirror and shaping his eyebrows. “Whatever do you mean?”
                “What happened to you child? In your past. What did they do to you?”
                Gabriel nearly flinched from what Milo said, but he maintained his cool, giving nothing away. “Not surprised that you are a therapist as well.”
                “Were you raped? Molested by a Sheenyo-Qi?”
                Gabriel chuckled, shocked by the absurdity of the questions. “What exactly do you attempt to pry from me?”
                “Child, tell me your pain? What caused you to hate the Sheenyo-Qi so much?”
                Gabriel chuckled. Then the past flashed into his mind, but he instantly blocked any image that would reveal parts of his heart. Seeing that Milo wanted to know, Gabriel opened himself and said, “There was a Sheenyo-Qi…and when he approached me, he said, ‘I’m such a goddamn stupid fool. Me and my kind are. Please help me! Please do something for us.’ I stared in extreme, abject fascination and shock, and then pierced his belly with my fist, and rushed it through his head, splitting him in half. From that point on, I was awakened to the truth of things. And that truth was that the lesser humans are nothing.”
                “Ok Gabriel. Ok.”
                Gabriel chuckled with blood lust. He gave Milo nothing. No one should know about Gabriel’s past.
                “Getting back to the mission, I was surprised to see how you mastered the ritual of binding so quickly. I told you what the mission was about, but I never told you how to conquer the pillars.”
                “So, you did not expect us to succeed.”
                “No. I didn’t. You three were supposed to fail. Which now points to the conclusion that you know more than what you ought to know at the age of sixteen. In fact, more than what most Kai should know.”
                Gabriel crossed his arms.
                The emperor eyes beamed with fascination. “Tell me, where have you been getting your wisdom and knowledge of the Dark Arts and esoteric histories from?”
                “I am as eager to know what you know Milo, to learn from you what I desire to master and more. Is that not what a true student is about?”
                “Alright,” Milo said, nodding his head. “I’ll leave it at that for now.” He reached Gabriel and sat next to him. “So, how did Karikoga react to what you did?”
                “As you expected. I felt his pull into the darkness.”
                “I see. Sooner or later, he will descend. And then, his life won’t have to be in jeopardy.”
                “Indeed,” Gabriel got up from the table and stared at him. “But I will tell you now: I will not be doing that again. And if he wants to envy me, he would do so naturally—not when I deliberately exert myself over him by playing some stupid, all opposing idiot who thinks that he is above people. I will no longer play a false character to fulfill some part of your plan.”
                Milo nodded his head. “That concludes this meeting. Now, the Ritual of Protection for Dead Hour.”
                Unease crept into Gabriel’s mind, his chest seeming to swell from a sensation of panic that sought to push through his chest-cavity like thousands of flame-engulfed hands stabbing their icy fingers through his soul to escape, but he fought it back, rolling his neck and remembering that he himself had power, though the prospect of having confidence in his own strength began to disturb him. Whispers of his futility echoed through his being.
                Gabriel looked away, then—WHOOMP—yellow-snake-like eyes from a draconic, insect-like countenance in the likeness of a twisted man stared balefully at Gabriel. Its wide, imposing forehead oozed blood from a golden glowing six-six-six tattoo that was carved onto its forehead.
                Gabriel closed his eyes and shook his head, realizing that he was nearly freaking himself out from the image of a demonic entity that he had made up in his own story of which he had told to Shohiwa to frighten him.
                “What is it?”
                “Nothing.” Said Gabriel, rolling his shoulders, “I’m just tired of these rituals.”
                Milo looked at Gabriel with an inquisitive stare. It made Gabriel a little, uncomfortable.
                Gabriel heard footsteps echo in the throne room.
                “Anybody? Hey?”
                “Karikoga.” Said Gabriel.
                The Emperor headed out of the private library and Gabriel trailed him.  Entering the throne room, Gabriel almost gasped, feeling that something about Karikoga had changed. He couldn’t deduce what exactly it was, but it intrigued him—to an extent. But seeing Karikoga, he felt a little guilty.
                “Karikoga,” Milo said, arms outstretched as he was walking to him.
                “Where’s Shohiwa and Michael? Aren’t they supposed to be here with us?”
                Gabriel and Milo reached Karikoga. “Shohiwa, yes. But Michael would be accommodated when he is finished with his objectives to set up the war.”
                Karikoga nodded, then looked at Gabriel. “Brother,” Karikoga said, walking towards Gabriel. Karikoga reached him and placed his hands on Gabriel’s shoulders and squeezed hard, but it was a rough gesture that was also strangely endearing. “I forgive you.”
                “Really?” said Gabriel.
                Karikoga nodded his head.
                “Why, thank you, Karikoga.”
                Karikoga released his hands and stared at him with a sorrowful smile. A sense of guilt struck Gabriel’s mind.
                The Emperor looked at them and said, “I see. I’m glad there is an understanding between you both.”
                “Well, he still needs a lot of work.” Said Karikoga.
                “As do you, big brother.”
                Karikoga shrugged and smiled—a weak little smile that was unfathomably filled with love and compassion.
                Gabriel tilted his head in fascination. Something was oddly wrong with Karikoga—which was both uniquely good….
                …and terribly bad.

                Soon, some of the Chancellors were gathering inside the throne room, and when Shohiwa entered, the last part of the Dead Hour was about to transpire. Karikoga looked at Milo and said, “Can you tell us what this last part of the ritual is about?”
                Milo, whose eyes were once filled with life, had looked at Karikoga with an ominous, fearful glare, “You will know when it arrives. But, first, I must prepare the gear.”
                Karikoga’s heart lurched. Oh no…I hope it isn’t that one.
                “Gear up? Please don’t tell me!” said Shohiwa.
                “It may be precisely the one we dreadfully anticipate, isn’t it uncle?”
                The Emperor said nothing. Then the Emperor narrowed his stare. Karikoga and his brothers turned to see Meshech with his eyes close and facing the heavens. Julie and Lamech were doing the same. They were questing. Karikoga tensed. Suddenly, the throne room’s air seemed as if it was about to collapse into itself and crush everyone with its overbearing weight. Karikoga’s heart thumped.
                What was he feeling?
                Milo sharpened his gaze and quested along with them.
                Shohiwa reached Gabriel and said, “Hey, it seems the Emperor is doing what they’re doing.”
                “And?”
                “How is it that they can do what Milo does even though they aren’t Kai?”
                “Because they use dark, occultic arts to gain mental and physical acuities and abilities that we naturally possess. So, energy signature readings aren’t beyond them at this point.” said Karikoga.
                Karikoga lowered his head, knowing that the power of the Sheenyo-Qi’s capabilities were complicated and involved another discussion and so continued to pay attention to them. Gabriel said, “Alas Shohiwa, focus and witness. An unknown event transpires before us.”
                “I sense nothing. Julie, where is Adrianne and Miku?” said Milo.
                She opened her eyes, “Milo, that’s why we’re questing honey-bun.”
                Lamech opened his eyes. “Honey-bun?” he growled.
                “Lamech, what is it you sense.” Milo said with authority, cutting off his question.
                Lamech quested again. “It’s intriguing. But nothing threatening. Therefore, let us continue with the Protection Ritual.” He opened his eyes again. He walked towards Karikoga’s family while Meshach and Julie ceased their quests and began following him inside the deeper throne room. Soon, they entered inside the grand library located on the Throne room’s west side.
                Karikoga relaxed. But that air of power was too strange to ignore for him. He heared a soft whisper. The spiritual fires within Milo’s room slightly flickered. “What?” said Karikoga.
                “I saw that too.”  Followed Gabriel.
                Milo’s fire-energy began swirling like a virulent DNA helix, and then the intersecting flames twisted in blistering speed. Great white light seeped from them.
                The Salem Lords gasped at the strange phenomenon which began to bathe Milo’s throne in a strange color of celestial light.
                The throne room’s entrance doors flung wide open, the thump of the massive doors thundering in the fire-lit air. Karikoga eyed the remaining Chancellors, Adrianne and Miku, who hurried inside.
                “Milo? Where’s Milo?” asked Miku.
                “They went inside the Library.” Said Shohiwa. Adrianne sprinted through the throne. Shohiwa shouted, “Dude, what the hell? Look at her go!”
                “Fast. I didn’t think she was that fast.” Karikoga said.
                She burst through the doubled doors and entered the personal library. Gabriel said, “Too fast…”
                Karikoga stared in fascination. But then the air intensified. Remembering their Chancellor’s haste, he said, “Miku, what’s going on?”
                “A strange storm violently forms above the tower-palace as we speak.”
                Karikoga eyes went wide. Remembering the brooding, sulky mood of the sky when he was at the Sky Shrine, he said, “I could’ve sworn the weather was getting too funny. It was getting too cold so suddenly.”
                Gabriel looked at him. “What could it be?”
                “I’m as lost as you are bro.”
                Karikoga felt a great pang in his stomach and grunted, grabbing his elbows with paranoia screaming inside of him. The air thickened and enveloped Karikoga like an invisible cloak of doom and awe forming onto him; utterly fascinated by it’s empowering energy of peace but inexplicably terrified by its unexpected, overbearing embrace. Karikoga felt goosebumps explode all over him.
                Then a great wind blew into the room.
                “Quest!” Gabriel said. “Quest now!”
                Karikoga listened and quested.
                “I’m getting nuth’n.” said Shohiwa.
                “You probably fail to perform it properly because of your supposed competence in thinking that you can quest when, in actuality, your ignorance of the procedure rules over you due to a lack of training because of your omnipotent laziness.” Gabriel said.
                Shohiwa snarled.
                “Gabe, I’m actually getting nothing.” Karikoga said, his heart thumping.
                “But even so.” Hissed Gabriel. Shohiwa flicked off Gabriel who scowled, shaking his head with a look of disappointment. Gabriel stared at the throne room’s door and sharpened his glare. “Where is this great wind coming from?”
                “I don’t know.”  Said Karikoga. Without warning, strange energy pushed against him. “Do you guys feel that?”
                “Feel what?”
                “The damn energy Shohiwa!”
                “Big brother, a moment ago, you declared the non-existence of energy.”
                “Then measure it now Gabe!”
                Gabriel shook his head. “I feel nothing.”
                Karikoga’s heart thumped faster. What the hell was going on? Why didn’t Gabriel himself sense it?
                He looked at Milo’s fire-energy. And why were those fires behaving like that?
                Great groaning and murmuring erupted within the room’s halls. Karikoga’s eyes went wide. Remembering that he was a warrior, a Salem Lord, Karikoga clenched his fists and darted towards the throne room’s entrance.
                “Lets go Salem Lords.”
                Karikoga jump-leaped forward, his brothers following suit, and Karikoga darted his hands forward and unleashed tele-push. His body jolted from the gravitational interaction between his telekinetic thrust and its heavy impact on the doors, and the massive doors burst open. Karikoga landed in the hallway. Before Karikoga could incite himself to further action, his limbs stilled. He froze in terror. He stared into the grand hallway, filled with palace servants murmuring in fear. He looked behind him to see more palace servants staring in the direction of some great energy that beamed on the other side of the grand hall. Shohiwa and Gabriel landed near him. Karikoga enhanced his Kai vision to see what it was.
                There was nothing. His heart tensed. The foreign energy became stronger. Then Shohiwa shouted, “Oh hell no! Gotta protect the servants!”
                Shohiwa jump-leaped towards the gasping servants like a virulent missile.
                “Shohiwa wait!” Shouted Karikoga who extended his right hand and tele-pulled at Shohiwa to snatch him back. Karikoga’s arm jolted, his aura exploding from his palm and whole arm and even Shohiwa’s entire body. For the force of Shohiwa’s leap was so powerful, Karikoga’s arm and body quaked from the violent friction between Shohiwa’s momentum and Karikoga’s telekinesis. Shohiwa burst through Karikoga’s Christ-grip and Karikoga’s arm was knocked back. Karikoga’s attempt to snatch back his little brother using his power failed. Soon, Karikoga saw a great shadow pass over the hallway as if the wings of a massive dragon from some terrible but magnificent dimension passed over it. Shohiwa stopped himself mid-air and came to a violent slamming landing on the floor which burst apart. Shohiwa then leapt away. A foreboding silence soon oppressed the hall.
                “Whoa,” Shohiwa said, “whoa!” he whispered, his words of shock echoing through the hall. Suddenly, a great, opaque midst of shadows, and lights and darkness flowed into the hallway. And as it entered deeper into the halls, its massive form translucent enough to see through its lights, shadows, and darkness, the servants dropped to their knees and hissed in terror—their voices straining. Karikoga surmised that if they so much as scream, they would die.
                Gabriel gasped. “This…what is this…”
                Karikoga began to lose control of his breathing. He had never heard Gabriel sound so terrified in his entire life. Whatever this was, it was simply extraordinary. Majestic. But outright dreadful.
                The midst slowed. Karikoga gulped and he channeled into his Kai Wheels. Lamech entered the hallway and cursed under his breath, his eyes filled with terror. Lamech began to chant under his breath. Karikoga breathed. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. What’s happening? What is this? Is this, is this the end? Or, is it…
                Lamech chanted harder, faster as if it would cost his life if he remained quiet. Gabriel said, “Brothers,”
Gabriel looked at them as his eyes went wide.
                Gabriel is extremely terrified. Is this Dead Hour? But now? Wasn’t it too early?
                “This, I need to know this! I want to learn this! Whoever this is!” Gabriel whispered. “I want to learn this power! This power that looms before us!”
                What did Gabriel mean? Learn what?
                Lamech’s chants grew louder, “Praesidium, neque alliges, Vinco, Submittere—Praesidium, neque alliges, Vinco, Sumbitere—”
                “Gabby, what is this nigga say’n?” Shohiwa said in terror.
                “Protection, Bind, Conquer, Submit—Protection, Bind, Conquer, Submit—”
                Upon hearing Gabriel’s translation of the words which Lamech invoked, Karikoga’s hearts dropped at the protection spell. That meant it was serious. He growled in angst and began powering up. A wave of power swirled all around him, his body feeling twenty times lighter than his usual mass as he saw the world in a great brightness.
                “Karikoga’s in Lemuel’s Angel Armor now. He’s gone Angel Armor!” Shohiwa shouted.
                “Brothers, prepare yourselves!” said Gabriel.
                Glowing aura emitted white strands of long, fiery dreads that flowed over Karikoga’s eyes and he saw the world in brilliant light, but the mysterious power and form of the dark cloud of power that invaded Milo’s temple-tower-palace remained unchanged despite Karikoga’s Godlike eyesight and semi-divine perception.
                Lamech breathed in terror and he shouted, “In Obscurae Pater et ego expulsurus sum tibi—in the name of the Dark Father, I expel thee!”
                As the tower-palace servants laid prostrate underneath the cloud in fear, the dark cloud churned and billowed and shriveled in.
                Lamech grunted and crossed his arms. “You see children, when you learn enough from the occultic paths as I have, you can subdue powers such as thi—”
                “What?” Gabriel shouted.
                Shohiwa sprinted away from his brothers, his movement causing gusts of wind to rip through the hallway and knock down murals, chandeliers, and draperies, and Shohiwa bolted into the throne room.
                “Shohiwa!” Karikoga shouted, “Get back here soldier! Salem Lord Shohiwa, you cowar—”  A great stomach pang speared Karikoga’s body, and he grabbed his stomach, reeling as if a thousand spears pierced his very soul. Despite the pain, he maintained his distance from the threat. Lamech trembled in terror and Karikoga strained to look down the hallway. The cloud expanded, slowly but surely, like a great, amorphous entity being born from a life-giving breath of a titan, and the cloud fully shrouded the prostrating servants who squealed in terror. Great thunders and storms erupted from the clouds with violence, an actual thunderstorm walking through the room as if cut out from the sky by a sword—tearing apart the diamond walls, paintings, windows, chandeliers, statues, furniture, and all other physical symbols of Milo’s taste and power while the said, walls, painting, chandeliers and the like reformed back into themselves as if they were never destroyed.
                Destroying and regenerating power? Deity level demonstration of the Omnificence Quadrant of the Four Quadrants of Power? The hell?
                “Where is the noise? The sounds of destruction? It rips apart then heals the environment in silence? How is this thing making no loud noises in its passing?” said Gabriel.
                Karikoga recovered from the terrible pang crippling his being. Worried about the other servants, Karikoga looked behind him, and they were all laying weak and prostrate on the floor, trembling without control. Then Karikoga faced the other end of the cloud-invaded hall.
                “Oh, crap.” Karikoga said under his breath. For the invading cloud thunderstorm of power expanded more and more until it passed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It now dominated the hallway and even grand portions of the sky outside! Karikoga looked outside the floor-to-ceiling windows to see hundreds of thousands upon hundreds of thousands of imperial citizens from the streets below and from the balconies of skyscraper apartments and abodes staring at the tower-palace, pointing and speculating, confused as to what was happening inside the palace. Accompanied by small Zevai cyborg-mechs and Zevai series attack-drone machines, Imperial soldiers, decked in B2R tactical combat suits, ran inside the halls. The moment they aimed their Nylon 330 Assault Rifles and Blastus laser cannons at the threat, the imperial soldiers dropped down and laid prostrate, succumbing to the terrible, awe-inspiring power. The cyborg-mechs and the attack-drones powered off instantly though they lied dormant as if they were paying respect to a divine being.
                The thunder roared and Lamech lifted from the ground and was thrown onto the wall. And then he was slammed against the wall a few more times and thrown down onto the ground as if a hand of doom had punished him. Lamech writhed on the floor in agony. Then the cloud burst through the room like lightening—a white flash appearing in Karikoga’s vision. It all happened so fast. Karikoga was dazed, not able to see absolutely anything.
                DOOM—BAM—a loud slam erupted near him. Once the vertigo lifted from Karikoga, his Angel Armor still activated, he looked to see Gabriel getting up from the ground. Karikoga pushed himself up.
                “Brother! The throne-room! The Emperor!”
                “CRAP” Karikoga shouted. “An attack? A declaration of war from a nation?”
                “No! This can not be Kai-aspected! This must be something other worldy!” Gabriel grunted.
                A loud yell blared from the room, but the Throne doors were shut. Gabriel and Karikoga tele-pulled against it.
                “It’s stuck! I don’t even know how!” said Karikoga
                More yells of terror blared through the door.
                “Crap! Crap! It’s Shohiwa! He’s in there!”
                “We must keep going Karikoga! The entity is forcing this door closed!” Shouted Gabriel.
                The grand doors finally gave way to the throne room.
                “What? The damn thing just opened for us!”
                “That is irrelevant elder brother! We must go!” said Gabriel.
                Gabriel sprinted into the room.
                But it does matter, because that entity let us in! We would’ve never gotten that door open! So why did it let us in?
                 Entering into the room, Shohiwa was pressed into a corner, aiming a beam of power at the churning cloud in great terror.
                “Fire you idiot!” Gabriel shouted
                “I’m scared! Nigga, you fire!”
                “Fine.” Gabriel hissed, a great ball of energy formed into Gabriel hands and he gasped. “Damn it…I—”
                “Gabriel?”
                “It is not that I cannot move. It is just—I am too, cautious. My mind is willing, but my body, heart, and soul is submitting.”
                In Karikoga’s mind, he switched out ‘cautious’ with ‘terrified’ and ‘submitting’ with ‘cowering’ because, in truth, that was how Karikoga felt…and Gabriel most likely probably didn’t want to admit that about himself either.
                Karikoga prepared his Bakhanitt Teuratt, but his body was gripped by the hands of fear. “Damn it! No way! I can’t unleash!” Karikoga shouted. He simply could not attack from an unconscious fear that became conscious and absolute. And this feeling had to have been something that his brothers and everyone else had felt. He tensed. The cloud scattered across the room, and Milo’s spiritual, elemental fires of the throne room began to recede.
                “Milo’s energy! It’s overcoming and dispelling emperor Milo’s fire-energy with ease!” shouted Karikoga.
                The cloud of power covered the entire room, and Karikoga’s legs began to drag like tons of platinum buildings chained to his legs as they were trapped in mountains of mud.
                The air’s pressure was too great—even while in Lemuel’s Angel Armor.
                “This pressure.” Said Gabriel, also moving slow. “My goodness!”
                Soon, the fires of Milo shriveled and collapsed onto themselves. They were doused.
                Karikoga’s eyes went wide. The room went silent, and the thunder cloud disappeared. Karikoga’s body eased. Gabriel breathed deep and Shohiwa sighed and fell on his back, staring at the high ceiling. Gabriel looked at Karikoga and grinned his teeth. “Gabe?” said Karikoga.
                “We could have easily been murdered.” Karikoga stared in shock. Gabriel continued, “And this is exactly why we need more power.”

                                                            *****

                 The Emperor and the rest of the Chancellors burst into the room, and Milo outstretched his arms and heaved. “My fire!” Milo yelled. “Whose doing was this?”
                Karikoga examined the glass, containment walls. The fires never came back to life. A symbol of Milo’s power and rule was put off. A power play? But by who?
                Soldiers flooded the room and a commander shouted, “My lord!”
                “This upheaval, had this to do with the storm?” said Milo.
                “It had to be.” said Adrianne.
                “Where were you guys? We would’ve appreciated the help.” Asked Karikoga.
                “The doors were jammed. And for whatever reason, Milo refrained from simply using a blast wave to gain us access into the throne room .” Said Miku.
                “Caution was needed in this situation.”
                Karikoga soon looked at Milo when Milo said that. Milo crossed gazes with him. Caution? Is this really true? But Karikoga was wise enough to veil his inquiry.
                “The threat is gone Emperor,” said Gabriel. “But the problem still remains, when will teach you us the dark side of The Way?”
                Milo grimaced. Then he shifted his attention to the commander and said, “Status report.”
                “A great strange cloud like the thunders of Heaven assailed the tower-palace, placing the servants in great duress. It passed along the main corridors, moving past the guard of the Salem Lords and entered the throne room. But that was all we saw.”
                “Salem Lords status report.”
                “Emperor,” said Gabriel, “you deflected my question. I asked when—” Karikoga grabbed Gabriel’s shoulders. Gabriel paid him heed and Karikoga shook his head. Gabriel grunted.
                “Emporer Milo, the report is as the commander had said—except that as we entered the palace throne room, the thundered dispersed around the room and doused your flames. That ends the report.” Said Karikoga.
                “What could this mean?” said Julie as she was in deep thought.
                Milo stared in Shohiwa’s direction where Shohiwa was still laying on the pristine floor. Shohiwa had now been taking a nap. Milo extended his hand towards Shohiwa, flicking his wrist while shouting, “Salem Lord—get up!” and a burst of power latched onto Shohiwa, a glowing tendrilled-webbing stretching from Milo’s glowing hand to Shohiwa’s body which was encompassed by Milo’s Christ-grip energy. Milo flicked again. His telekinetic energy launched up Shohiwa who gasped and flailed in the air until he found his sense in space and landed onto his feet.
                “I’m sorry sir! But I was so scared that I got tired.”
                “Terrifying.” Karikoga admitted.
                “Yea,” Shohiwa said, his voice trailed away.
                Milo clapped his hands together and a chain of massive fires roared into the house-sized, glass furnaces again. He didn’t need to weave signs with his hands and chant to do it. He was that skilled. But still…
                Julie hissed under her breath, “There had to have been a reason for this.”
                “Well, this seemed to have transpired during the time of the ritual, which means certain plans may be noticed by a foreign element.” Said Meshach.
                “That’s what I speculated.” Said Karikoga. “But the way it moved, Gabriel could also be correct. It might not have belonged to a Kai. Rather, the thunder presence was otherworldly.”
                “Otherworldly, you say.” Milo said, staring hard into his flames. The room was silent for a moment. Then Milo’s eyes went wide. “I see…” He looked to commander Yumir and the squads of soldiers who flanked him. “Anyone hurt?”
                “No, thank you.” said the commander who rolled his shoulders and said, “Wait, actually, there is one exceptio—”
                “Damn it.” Shouted Lamech. “How did this happen? Where am I?” Lamech charged through the opened door.
                Once Lamech entered the throne room, suprise flashed through the commander’s face and he said, “Never mind. I guess no one is hurt anymore.”
                “Where is it?” hissed Lamech. “Where did it go?”
                “Your occultic powers made it go away…” Said Gabriel.
                “Ah, yes. Of course. Lucifer is always good and blesses us with—”
                “…your occultic powers made it go away after the cloud realized how weak and despicable you and your pathetic powers were and decided to venture into another realm that was worthy of it’s attention.”
                “Damn you, you insolent child! I’ll—”
                Before Karikoga knew, Gabriel was already holding Lamech up in the air and strangling him with his bare hands. "You false, pathetic, parasitic scum of a lesser human whore—posing like some devoted student of darkness when you know absolutely nothing. Sick you are. No wonder Yahweh God Himself completely ignores you and Satan cares not for your pathetic devotion. Nobody cares for you, not even the lowliest of demons or kindest of angels, you rabid, puss sucking pompous bastard. No worries, my hands shall embrace you and slowly wring the life from your—”
                “Gabriel!” shouted Karikoga. “He’s not worth your time.”
                Gabriel hissed strange, unknown curses under his breath and threw Lamech onto the ground.
                “And lo, how the stupidity of man is exemplified from high-ranking advisors and military commanders even in the throne rooms of kings. How such asininity is made known to the world.” Testified Meshach.
                Gabriel growled. Karikoga shook a finger at Gabriel and made his little brother slowly cease the deadly build-up of his volcanic rage.
                “Emperor Milo, your orders?” said Miku.
                “We must move quickly and finish what we started. Obviously this, distraction,” Milo said, gesturing around the room, “Is probably what the enemy wanted. Commander Aaron, reestablish order throughout the tower-palace. Also, from now on, security will be heightened.”
                “Yes my lord.”
                “But, we continue the process of Protection. Something tells me this is far from over.”
                Karikoga stared and nodded his head, confirming what Milo said. Then he continued, “But what vexes me is: Why haven’t I seen it or, at least, felt it coming? How could something so—formidable—slip past my senses? Hidden energy? Of this magnitude? A power waltzes by my nephews and my soldiers as if they were pebbles in a massive street…Mmm.” Milo thought about it once more and, this time, Karikoga felt perturbed.
                Milo stared around the room, looking at the groups of soldiers as if he was trying to find something wrong among them. Relief flooded Karikoga as Adrianne said “Come Milo, let’s finish.” She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him in the direction of the chamber.
                “Soldiers, you have your orders. Dismissed!” The men departed the throne and commander Aaron followed. From the halls, servants’ conversations of conspiracy theories and terror echoed into the throne room.
                Gabriel closed the door with his tele-push and hissed, “Finally—how their stench overwhelmed my hygiene!”
                “Alright Salem Lords, let’s get ready.” Said Karikoga. He began heading out.
                “Karikoga?” said the emperor. Karikoga froze like a rabbit encountering a dragon. “I’m sure you‘ve seen or felt something. Someone had to have experienced some phenomena of any kind.”
                Karikoga crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, pretending he didn’t anything of significance and was annoyed. But in truth, he did have an idea on the entity’s origins. He hoped it didn’t betray his fear in knowing something that he probably shouldn’t have known.
                “Never mind.” Said Milo.
                “Come on then. It’s time for the plan.” Adrianne said.
                Milo seemed to enter deep thoughts after the statement. Then he quickly shook his head and sighed. They entered the personal chambers.
                Karikoga loosened. He almost fainted from what could’ve happened had he answered truthfully. Afterall, he was never adept at telling lies.

                Once they left the room, Gabriel stared in shock and Karikoga rubbed his neck looking as if he just escaped with his life. Shohiwa hopped on Milo’s chair and breathed out some relief. Had they not seen the emperor’s face? How he looked onto the platinum pavement with fear and uncertainty lingering in his eyes and marring his countenance after the Chancellor Lesser human fool had mentioned something about “the plan?” What the hell was the Chancellor referring too? And why did the Emperor, who is filled with power, stare like one about to pass through the gates of some unknown yet terrible fate?
                Gabriel rubbed his chin. Thinking what it all meant, he said, “I see,” to himself as revelation dawned on him. He remembered that Milo looked the same way when Lamech told Milo to hurry and get out of the war room to set up the first half of the ritual involving the upside-down crosses. Gabriel cast a sharp glare at the closed doors of Milo’s personal chambers. Now that Gabriel thought about it, the ritual seemed to be changing almost every other week but in progressive, incremental phases, easing into or building up to something.
                But what was Milo up to and why did he seem so disturbed?
                Gabriel would find out soon enough.

                                                            *****

            Karikoga stared into the hollow pits of the Seraphim Guardian Statue’s eyes. His hands trembled. Gabriel was standing upright with arms crossed while he spoke with Shohiwa who was sitting slouch-back on Milo’s throne seat, both speculating about what just transpired. Karikoga was subsumed by the hollow gaze of the Seraphim Guardian. He looked at his brothers whose vast distance in the room was akin to staring at them through a torn portal from another dimension while drifting into a black, foreign abyss of isolation.
            Karikoga had to admit, he was terrified. But alongside the cold embrace of fear, an unknown hope dwelled in his heart. He walked towards them.
            “Gabby, it had to be one of the nations man. A feint for some big assault that we might not see coming.” Said Shohiwa.
            “And which country would be foolish enough to wildly harness the gull to make the Sons of Morning as prey? Cordelia? Govad Mhepo?”
            “Or it might be those people whose asses you kicked bro.” speculated Shohiwa.
            “And, to whom do you refer to?”
            “You know! The chick with the head band and her big gang of goons—from that last mission man! You forgot?”
            “Absolutely not. They are simply too insignificant to be much of a threat Shohiwa.”
            “Revenge man. They brought that storm in here.”
            “If they had done so, then their suffering would be of their own doing. And oh, how the fate of them would be like the Sheenyo-Qi where history hath shown how they are the architects of their suffering, making the world so broken and cruel because of their very own stupidity.”
            “I think you meant to say ‘man’ Gabriel. ‘Man’—which includes us Kai.” Said Karikoga, forcefully entering himself into the conversation to not only be noticed but close this strange void that he felt and take his mind off certain things concerning the event just past.
            Gabriel pursed his lips, ignored Karikoga and continued, “As I was saying, they would regret it and become the architects of their suffering.”
            “Thundercloud was summoned big bro.”
             “No Shohiwa, it wasn’t. Rather, it was as if it was…entering—visiting—of it’s own volition.”
            “A power move. Using that Haka-cat technique!”
            “It’s ‘Hakokhott’, and, no—that most certainly was not some technique unleashed from elemental energy. It was something else. Something…primordial…”
            “Primordial?” Shohiwa gasped.
            “Indeed."
            Karikoga studied Gabriel, “You mentioned that you wanted something that it had.”
            “Oh?” said Gabriel. “Oh yes. Well, it had such a great ability to mask it’s energy. To move with such great force whilst being as silent as the dead of night. To destroy and to regenerate at will…what Kai would not desire to master such power and abilities and make it apart of themselves?”
            The doors of Milo’s personal chamber opened, and a wave of energy permeated throughout the room. While Milo entered inside, the energy grew palpable and fell onto everyone like a cosmic blanket settling onto the soul. Karikoga was soon enveloped by a wave of power that comfortably wrapped around his body until an ineffable discomfort assailed him.
            And this all emanated from Milo.
            In this moment, the emperor was focused, conveying a gaze that Karikoga had never seen before. And Karikoga noticed the loving, big hearted glimmer of joy in Milo’s eyes was completely obfuscated by an unknown, deadly shroud of something malevolently dark. Who was this man? Was this the true temperament of the emperor?
            Loreta’s battered and scarred body flashed through Karikoga’s mind’s eyes. No!
            Karikoga clenched his fists and dispelled the horrid sight of the angering memory.
            Milo went deeper into the dim throne room. Massive dread wreathed around Karikoga’s spirit. Something else disturbed Karikoga: Milo was wearing the Robe of Remembrance. Karikoga looked at his brothers. They gazed at him. Knowing what the robe meant, they approached Milo. Milo offered a gentle smile, but its pleasant gift was marred by staring eyes filled with a heavy, brooding admonishment and dark hate. 
            Karikoga’s stomach tensed. Tightening his right hand into a fist, Karikoga said, “Now? Are we really doing that ritual now? Again?"
            Milo closed his eyes. “The protection is necessary Karikoga, and especially after what had passed, we must not fall sway to indecisiveness. We must move quickly.”
            Karikoga grunted.
            Tapping his feet, Gabriel said, “But the thunder could not have been an apparition or some agent of Dead Hour. It was something else. We still retained our powers.”
            “Is that so?”
            “Yes, normally, when the event of Sunday arrives, we are feeble. But whatever it was, it was so great we simply could not react immediately, though our Kai energy was alive. Regardless, the point is: this ritual would serve us no benefit to the very thing we had experienced today. If anything, we should receive our real training now.”
            “Real training? And what benefit would that serve?”
            “Because if we were fully capable, who knows what we could have done to it. We might have been able to commune with it. But we lacked experience. If we had training and you arrived to meet the thunder entity in time, our current circumstances may have been dramatically altered.”
            “I see. But who is to say that the unknown entity wasn’t from the Spirit World? A being from the Realm of Darkness?” speculated Milo.
            Gabriel raised his eyebrows with curiosity.
            Milo continued, “My child, whose to say that we aren’t under demonic attack? That a spirit of darkness has mastered the art of spirit-power control to deceive you all, thinking you had full use of your powers—only to trick you into attacking it, opening you up for satanic possession?”
            “Oh no…” Shohiwa whispered.
            “A de—a…a demo--?” Karikoga stumbled onto his words, afraid to mention what it could have been and said, “But…aren’t there limits as to how far they can go?”
            “They do what they wilt if God allowed them.” Warned Uncle Milo.
            Karikoga stared in terror.
            If The Lord allowed it…
            Shohiwa snickered. “That’s stupid, if He’s such a loving God, why the hell would He allow something like that huh?”
            “The other day, Commander Tori of the Tenth Legion hired goons to surround his daughter Misha who stolen money from his safe, giving them parameters to push her around to not so much as hurt her. Tori allowed goons to scare his daughter. And then, you praise him for it. I always wondered why you done that.” Said Karikoga.
            “Ugh—the skank deserved it. A damn lying trickster. And to think I used to date her.” Barked Shohiwa.
            “And yet God does the same thing when he sends the Evil One to torment evil doers and the like.” Said Karikoga
            “Huh? That’s different!”
            “No it isn’t Shohiwa.” Hissed Karikoga.
            “Yes, it is!”
            “No—”
            “I see what you did there Karikoga, correlating the event of Tori’s daughter to God’s form of justice to get Shohiwa to feel what God feels. A tactic I would use.” Said Gabriel.
            Karikoga smirked.
            “So you’re his cheerleader now Gabby?” barked Shohiwa.
            Gabriel smirked.
            Shohiwa, at first angry, smiled and said, “Didn’t God send Satan against Job? And Job was good as hell. Job ain’t do anything wrong. Job was innocent. Therefore, God is a damn bully.”
            Gabriel said, “You know nothing of the mind of God to fathom His ways.”
            “Bull! That’s a copout.” Said Shohiwa.
            Gabriel and Shohiwa proceeded to argue about the Sovereignty and righteousness of God, but as they done so, Karikoga’s mind remained on the subject about God sending spirits to punish. Soon, Karikoga thought of the Thunder Being. Karikoga’s eyes went wide. Was that Thunder Being sent against Karikoga? As a punishment? Karikoga flinched, recoiling in fear.
            “Big brother?” said Gabriel.
            “I—I just thought of—”
            “Yo, that was some schizophrenic stuff big bro. You sure you’re alright?” asked Shohiwa.
            Karikoga nodded his head. Karikoga was so disturbed, he had inadvertently knocked them out of their intense argument.
            From his peripheral, Karikoga noticed the emperor studying him.
            “Karikoga, are you sure you’re not troubled by something? Don’t be afraid to get open.” Said Milo.
            “I’m fine. It’s just, this war is getting, weird...”
            The room went silent.
            “I’m with ya bro. Nothing’s make’n sense.”
            “Which is why we need to get stronger.” Finished Karikoga. “Besides, I haven’t even got to fighting with Lemuel’s Angel Armor. Maybe the entity would’ve reacted differently had we more control and skills in The Way…”
            “Agreed.” Followed Gabriel, eager to prove a point to Milo.
            “As I said, no telling who or what the Thunderstorm was or what it could’ve done to you all had you reacted.” Milo reiterated. “But your time will come soon. Now,” Milo pointed to the entrance of Moira’s chamber, “Come with me. It’s time for you all to be purified and protected.”
            Milo walked down his temple room and Karikoga and his brothers followed. The dread intensified, nearly clenching Karikoga’s muscles. Karikoga grimaced. Sunday was coming, and he was getting sick of dealing with it. They all were.
            Arriving at the massive, barred gate at the end of the temple—the gateway speckling with jewels—fire flickered from the walls of the narrow corridor. Milo raised his hand, using tele-pull to open the gates. Then they proceeded down the corridor covered with tapestries. Walking down the torch-filled hall, Karikoga examined the detailed tapestry drawings of the Word of God: Jesus Christ, the Lord, walking on water and calming the seas and storms; Moses jamming a staff in the Red Sea, causing waves to split apart; Elijah praying to God who caused a fired to descend from the sky and light a sacrifice on fire; the Angel of the Lord descending from the cloudy skies of darkness with His mighty sword. But none of this imagery of hope and power made Karikoga feel any better.
            Once they reached the end of the corridor, Milo snapped his finger, and chandelier-fire awoke from the ceiling, washing the room in a gloomy, dim light.
            A massive pool of four-foot water rested within the center of the circular room surrounded by columns, and darkness flowed from narrow passage ways that led to the chambers of servants and other areas that were restricted from anyone barring Milo and the Chancellors. But then there were other, more sacred chambers accessible only to Milo who went to them only in times of isolation and prayer.
            Smacking his teeth, Gabriel went to an ornately decorated pillar-column and leaned against it. He crossed his arms, glaring with defiance.
            Milo ignored Gabriel, walked around the Pool of Hope, and stood at the stair-entrance of the giant pool. 
            Shohiwa cursed under his breath, ‘I’m not feeling this right now.”
            Milo lifted his right hand and snapped his fingers. Servants appeared into the room, entering from the doors and passageways of the Chamber of Hope. The male and female servants donned splendid masks and carried alters with a large golden bowled formed onto them, and gentle flame-light reflected from their masks, intensifying the deeply intimidating but beautiful angelic masks which covered half of their entire faces. The servants aligned themselves around the pool, five on each side of the pool and two at the south-center of the pool.
            “Twelve.” They said in harmony.
            Gabriel rolled his eyes, and Shohiwa took out a pack of cigarettes. Opening them, pulling out a cigarette, and placing it in his mouth, Shohiwa took out a lighter and lit the cigarette. Karikoga rested his hand on Shohiwa’s left shoulder and rubbed it as Shohiwa looked at the pool. Karikoga was truly tired of doing this ritual. Milo looked around the room, his eyes beaming with cautious vigilance. Emperor Milo snapped his fingers again and another twelve servants entered the room, each of them carrying goats. The goats’ mouths were strapped to prevent ear piercing screams from what was to come. The first twelve, who had first appeared into the room, pulled out long daggers when the goat-carrying servants reached the Altars of Sacrifice. Placing the gagged and tied goats onto the altars, the second twelve sat crossed legged and entered prayer positions.
            The first twelve raised the daggers vertically towards their faces.
            Milo exhaled and unbuttoned his Robe of Remembrance. Extending out his arms, Milo looked at Karikoga and nodded his head. Still rubbing Shohiwa’s shoulder to keep his little brother comforted, and ignoring Milo’s indirect demand, Karikoga said, “Where’s Michael?”
            “Attending to duties.” Milo said.
            “As usual.” Gabriel grunted.
            Sucking on the cigarette, removing it from his mouth, holding his breath, then exhaling a torrent of smoke, Shohiwa placed his hand on his forehead. Stress conquered Shoihwa, no doubt. “Michael’s gonna come and get protected with us too—right?” Shohiwa asked, his eyes focused on the floor.
            “Michael will be fine Shohiwa. Rest assured, Chancellor Miku and Adrianne will oversee Michael’s protection before Sunday morning approaches.” Assured Uncle Milo.
            Gabriel shook his head and looked away as if to say, ‘Whatever.’
            Shohiwa began trembling.
            Karikoga narrowed his gaze. “My emperor, I hate to be rude but is all this really necessary?” Milo raised an eyebrow. “I mean, the death, burial, resurrection of our Lord was enough to cement His power over darkness and give His children enough assurance to be protected through His blood. So, there isn’t really a need for any of this come Sunday morning. Our faith and prayers will be enough.”
            “Nephew, just take off your shirt.”
            “My emperor, the ritual isn’t necessary! Our confidence in Christ is enough! Afterall, our ancestors were with Christ long enough during His Thousand Year reign to know that true protection lies in believing in the power of His name which trumps over pointless rituals and ceremonies.”
            “Your words remind me of Loreta.” Karikoga’s heart sank. But before Karikoga could ask about her, Milo continued, “This event is only used for good faith.”
            “This is too much like the Old Covenant and the old stuff is done away with.”
            “You’re right, but as I said before, Karikoga, this is only to exercise good faith and used as a symbol and remembrance of what He did for us—just like communion.”
            Karikoga let go of Shohiwa, finding some logic in Milo’s statements. It was true that communion was a simple ritual, but they did it for goodwill towards Christ anyway. Karikoga decided to take off his regalia and other upperware. A Cherubim arm of light protruded from his back. Karikoga lift his arms up, and the limb of light went down, grabbed his clothes, and proceeded to take them off and lay them on the marble floor.
He then made the limb press its palm onto the floor. And the limb stretched, hoisting Karikoga into the arm. And Karikoga hovered in cross legged meditation pose.
            Shohiwa rubbed his forehead and said, “Wait…we don’t need to do all this. Why we doing some black magic kind of thing while we’re trying to get stronger in the Path of Darkness?”
            “Have not you forgotten one of our core tenements child? For the sons of Morning are the embracers of light and darkness in themselves, clinging onto the light whilst we hug the darkness.”
            Shohiwa gulped.
            Hissing with annoyance and anger, Gabriel glared at the emperor. “Master Milo, this is ridiculous.” Milo looked at Gabriel. “This is exactly why you must give us our real training now! Or, at least teach something so that some of us can understand this mixture of light and darkness that you so preach!”
            “It is more than a doctrine Gabriel. The embrace of light and darkness is a way of life. After all, God created the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil for a reason. And when Adam and Eve ate from the tree, they immediately knew good and evil. But ask yourself, if God was to successfully make the tree, didn’t He Himself need to have knowledge of evil?”
            Upon hearing what Milo said, Karikoga hearts’ thumped in alarm at hearing something strange. “What are you talking about? How does God—”
            “The Lord is above evil. There is no need to know evil and be intimate with it to make what He made.” Gabriel said, interrupting Karikoga. Karikoga was about to open his mouth until Gabriel patiently raised his left hand towards Karikoga to give him his chance to speak. Examining him closer, Gabriel was up to something, so Karikoga decided to let Gabriel have his way.
            “I’m not sure that makes any sense Gabriel.” Said the Emperor.
            “It does! Now then, tell me, what does this,” Gabriel pointed at the pool. “Have to do with us embracing darkness?”
            “It is to help remind us of the light and our origins.”
            “Is that right? Then why is this called, the ritual of Purification and Protection?”
            “To be cleansed for the dark time to come.”
            “What?” Gabriel hissed, “We are living miracles of The Ancient of Days—Christ Himself. Our power and might is enough to forgo these ridiculous antics and handle Dead Hour with our own strength.”
            “Is that so, Gabriel?”
            “Yes.”
            “Then why don’t you utilize your powers and keep yourself protected from the Kingdom of Darkness during Dead Hour?”
            Shohiwa dragged on his cigarette harder as he heard, ‘Kingdom of Darkness’. Then he threw the cigarette down, stomped on it, and Koshined so hard, his shirt and armors blew up and disintegrated from his explosive energy which buffet across the chamber. The pool waters trembled from Shohiwa’s Koshin. “Let’s get this going.” Shohiwa said nervously.
            Milo narrowed his eyes. “Do you have a solution, Gabriel?”
            Moving away from the pillar, Gabriel approached one of the twelve servants, stared at the alter with disgust, then snatched a goat from the altar.
            “Child.” Milo said with a stark warning behind his voice.
            Gabriel raised the goat in the air with his right hand, “We do not need the blood of these animals for our protection!” Gabriel said, his voice pitching high, a sign that his cool was breaking. “We just need more power!”
            “Indeed?” Milo asked.
            “Of course,” Gabriel thundered, “Only more power! Just forsake this and do what you promised to do for us! Give us our real training now! By nurturing our Kai energy, immersing ourselves deeper into the powers of The Way, we do not need this pathetic attempt at being purified! Our training and development of our abilities will soon be enough for Dead Hour!”
            “Really? Oh child, how Kundai had told me that you were a fast learner. That perhaps you wouldn’t fall prey to stupidity. But alas, you prove that we all do not know more than we believe we do. That your behavior is a stark reminder of our ignorance and stupidity and of how we have all fallen so low as mankind.”
            “I am not stupid.” Defended Gabriel. “And I know more than you think I do!”
             “Then show us your power to move freely through the soul-breaking domain of the fallen angels. Once you do, I will gladly learn from that example.”
            Gabriel slammed the goat onto the altar, the snap of bones echoing in the air. The goat moaned and writhed in agony. The servants had flinched from the sound, but Karikoga noticed that they were poised enough to endure Gabriel’s behavior.
            “It does not matter. I have faith that, sometime in the future, we will be able to walk untamed through the Kingdom of Darkness.” Said Gabriel. “After all, some of the Ancient Eighteen have done it before…”
            Milo narrowed his stare at that.
            Then, Milo said, “Well until that time comes where we can freely roam that part of the Spirit World, please, be with us in the meantime.”
            Gabriel grimaced, turned around, and marched towards the exit of the Chamber of Hope. But during his walk, he paused and stared half-way over his shoulder and said, “Or could this ritual have something to do with the bending of the knee towards the Chancellors? Doing some unknown act to appease them for some mysterious purpose?”
            Karikoga noticed Milo enter a slight grimace, then stare at Gabriel with patience again. Whatever Gabriel said, he might have triggered something in the emperor. But if that was so, then Gabriel might have said something he shouldn’t have said for his own good.
            Gabriel continued his departure, but Milo said, “Child. If you wish, forgo the ritual. But when the time comes, you will not be with us when Dead Hour arrives come Sunday.”
            Gabriel chuckled. He phased through his regalia and upper clothes with grace and efficiency. He gripped them midair with his telekinesis, walked towards a female servant of the second twelve who was on the ground and threw his regalia over her face. The woman gasped in shock but did not move from her position. 
            “Must you really be so petty nephew? Get your clothes off her face.” Uncle Milo said.
            Gabriel walked towards the main twelve who were standing at the south center of the pool. “Let us begin this already Emperor.”
            Milo shook his head in disproval. He waved his hand and tele-pulled Gabriel’s clothes off the woman’s head. The woman servant smiled in relief, and whispered, “Thank you my lord—”
            “Silence you wretched worm! Who told you to speak you fool?” shouted Gabriel.
            The woman recoiled in fear but didn’t face Gabriel’s direction.
            Karikoga glowered at Gabriel.
            Gabriel smiled. “What is the matter dear brother? I did not call the lowly wretch a, ‘Lesser Human.’”
            Karikoga sighed with great annoyance.
            Gabriel chuckled.
            Gabriel, you racist idiot.
            Now that Karikoga and his brothers were shirtless, the chandeliers’ fires bathing their muscled, black skinned bodies in an orange-crimson glow, Karikoga walked to Gabriel who stood near the south-centered servants of the dagger-wielding twelve.
            “Ka’ett, natekhil bekhipush!” commanded Milo.
            The dagger-wielding servants of the First Twelve raised the daggers in the air and carefully drew them to their respective goats’ neck. Cutting through neck ventricles, the goats spasmed from the stabs. Blood oozed through sliced flesh and the servants quickly slit their throats, blood spewing from the cartilage, ensuring they died a quick, merciful death. Pulling out the daggers, coated in blood, Shohiwa reached the female servant of the pool’s south-center location. Milo headed towards Shohiwa’s location and stood next to him. Karikoga extended his arms on both sides and Milo and his brothers did the same. The servants dug their left hands in the sliced open neck of the goats and placed their blood-covered hand over Karikoga and his family’s’ bodies. They drew a cross on their chests, re-bloodied their hands, and drew a cross on their foreheads. Then they smeared Karikoga, Gabriel, Shohiwa, and the Emperor’s arms in blood.
            “Consecrate and purify us, and let the blood of Christ, The Lamb of God, whose blood is symbolized through the blood of these offered goats and serve as a reminder of what Jesus had done for us, be used to protect us from the principalities and wicked spirits of the dark realm.”
            Karikoga almost said ‘Amen’ but then realized a few things wrong with the speech of the servants: Was it a prayer? If so, who was it addressed to? Whose name was it in? Karikoga trembled. What if Milo was praying to Sata—Suddenly, Karikoga found himself panicking. No, he couldn’t think that.  Not now. He had to push through. Soon, he would get the power he needed from the Emperor. Then, when the time came, he’d run away with his brothers.
            Just omit this speech. It’s fine. Get a grip Karikoga.
             He calmed himself with his thoughts so as not to give nothing away.
            They went to the entrance of the pool and descended the stairs. Aligning themselves in the middle of the massive pool of four-feet water, Milo raised his hands in the air and said, “Yotserim ett hageshem!”
            All twelve servants who stood on the precipice of the pool had grabbed the goats and squeezed their blood into the golden bowls. They then grabbed the bowls and lifted them into the air.
            Milo pressed his fingers together in an upward, prayer palm position which was vertical and parallel to the center of his face. “Naniakh lageshem shel esh vedam vesheminu meqalakhatt vekhenn lehagenn ‘alinu!”—‘Let the rain of fire and blood shower us and protect us!’
            Milo sharply exhaled, and the blood from the bowls flew into the air. The chandeliers shook like being struck by a ghost, and the fires escaped from the light-carrier as if being freed from prison. Swirling in the air, minor tendrils of smoke engulfing the flames, the fires swam low and hovered a few feet over their heads. Karikoga embraced the warmth of the large flame while the blood then flowed over the room and joined the floating tempest of fire. Coalescing together, the blood and fire resting like a wild planet filled with orange and red rivers, Milo exhaled again, and it dispersed over the entire pool, the blood-fire raining down on them. They then submerged into the bloody inferno pool. As afraid as he was, there was some soothing aspect to its nature that gave Karikoga some comfort and a strange sense of tranquility.
            Inside the water, Karikoga closed his eyes.
            A moment passed.
            Then another.
            Without warning, within the water, Karikoga’s senses heightened. He looked above and saw the thunderstorm pile driving down towards him.
            The Thunderstorm Being!
            “GAAHH—”
            It struck Karikoga before he could make any meaningful cry of alarm to alert his family.
            No one heard.
            Something strange occurred. Something that was never a part of this routine ritual. Something so profound that it was going to change his life forever.