Legacy
Chapter 14

The middaysun had perched itself above the castle of the Nova of the north. Unlike those of the other holy leaders, the Nova of the north’scastle was of a size that would have made even the wealthiest ofkings envious. But even in all its grandeur, the castle was lesscomplete than others, as a portion of its roof was missing. Thegaping hole was centered directly above the throne room, allowing thesun to bathe the room in light.

As wascustomary for that time of day, the Nova was seated upon her throne. It was made of the purest gold and twice the size of an averagethrone. And the robe that the Nova wore was of a white so brilliantthat it practically radiated.

“There’sno need for you to continue hiding in the shadows,” she said. “I’ve known you were here from the moment you crossed mythreshold. So why don’t you come into the light where I can bettersee you? That is, if you’re not afraid.”

Shadow Kahnstepped out from an oddly placed patch of shadows in the corner andto the edge of the sunlight. “Do you really think that I fear thelight?” he asked. “You seem to have forgotten that I once walkedin the same light as you.”

Outside,the soldiers Andrew had sent to protect the Nova lay in a heap. Theyhad been no match for their unstoppable foe.

“I takeit you’ve come here seeking retribution for the actions that weretaken against you,” said the Nova. “Isn’t that right,Kenneth?”

“I nolonger go by that name. You will address me as . . .”

“I willaddress you by whatever name that I deem fit,” said the Nova,cutting off Shadow Kahn. “Now, I’m well aware of your recentexploits, and I must say, you have been busy. But that all comes toan end now. For there is no place in this world for someone likeyou. So I’m afraid I can no longer allow you to exist.”

“Oh, butthere is a place in this world for someone like me,” said ShadowKahn. “The fact that I even exist is proof of that. This depravedworld has for centuries yearned for someone to set if free from itsmisery. And that is why I am here.”

The Novabegan laughing. “And who are you to judge man? ‘Tis not theplace of a mere mortal to pass judgment?”

“Thenpray tell. Whose place is it?”

“Only ourGod may pass judgment.”

A grinappeared on Shadow Kahn’s face. “I am God.”

“Enough!”exclaimed the Nova. The mere raising of her voice was all that ittook to send a powerful force slamming into Shadow Kahn. Had he beena normal man, Shadow Kahn surely would have been torn to shreds byits sheer strength. But the force that struck him did little morethan ruffle a few of the hairs upon his head.

“So, thestories they tell about you are more than mere fables,” said ShadowKahn. “There is something different about you.”

“I couldsay the same about you,” said the Nova. She then removed herselffrom the throne and made her way to the opposite edge of the light. “I was trying to take your head off. But it would seem that Ifailed.”

“If youwant to kill me, then you will have to do far better than that.”

The grouphad returned to their journey after spending the rest of the night ina makeshift shelter made of leafy branches and mud.

The greenof the forest looked a more vibrant shade after its cleansing and nota cloud could be found in a now pristine blue sky. The beauty of thenewborn day gave them hope that things could possibly turn in theirfavor.

After a fewhours into the latest leg of their journey, the group could see theNova of the north’s castle in the distance. They were so close totheir destination now that they felt as if there was absolutelynothing that could stand in their way.

Shadow Kahnstepped into the light pouring in from the roof. He did this to showthe Nova of the north that he was unfazed by removing himself fromhis beloved darkness. But after only a short time, his arrogant aurachanged.

“I takeit the light is not to your liking,” said the Nova.

“A littlepain is a small price to pay when one is given the opportunity to doaway with the only stumbling block left in their path,” repliedShadow Kahn.

“Then byall means,” said the Nova, “do away with me.”

Evensurrounded by light, a darkness began forming around Shadow Kahn. Itattempted to expand to a larger size but the light refused to allowsuch a thing to happen. It fought back and kept the darknessconfined to only a small area around Shadow Kahn.

When theNova spread her arms, the light shining in grew in radiance.

“Look,”shouted Aiko, pointing at the sun.

But therehad been no need for Aiko to make her announcement, as the others hadseen for themselves the peculiar event taking place. The sun hadbegun to pulsate and looked to be of a much larger size than usual.

“What’sgoing on?” asked Jaycee.

The groundbegan to shake so violently that Jaycee was sent falling into James. Aiko lost her balance as well and fell to the ground before Archercould catch her.

Thetrembling of the outside world could do nothing to match howviolently the Nova’s castle was shaking. Unable to withstand suchpower, large portions were beginning to crumble, and if thingscontinued to play themselves out as they were, there would soon benothing left of the grand structure.

“There isno darkness that can block out such a light,” said the Nova. Thepressure that was raining down upon the room would have been morethan enough to flatten any normal human being, but the battle thatwas taking place was being waged by the two most powerful entitieswithin the world of the living, and mere crushing pressure would dolittle to them.

With hishead lowered and his body perfectly still, it looked as if ShadowKahn was unable to counter the attack. It seemed as if he could dolittle more than stand his ground. “I was told to wait beforedoing this,” he said. “I was told to bide my time until I wasready. Well, whether the time be right or not, we are about to replaceout.” When Shadow Kahn raised his head, his eyes were of thedarkest shade of black.

Theblinding light entering through the roof abruptly returned to anormal level and the crushing pressure that came with it dissipated. The shaking that had nearly brought the castle down also came to anend, bringing about an uneasy calm.

“I see,”said the Nova. “So your power comes from the same darkness thathas inhabited this world since its inception. Feeding off thesuffering and pain of the mortals. Perhaps at another time yourpower would not have been unmatched. Perhaps I would have been ableto best you, but not even I have such power.”

Shadow Kahnfaced the palm of his hand toward the floor, prompting a ball of whatcould best be described as darkness to begin forming in it. “Howironic it is that I would use the very hatred that the mortals havefor one another to rid this world of them,” he said. His body thenbegan to tremble terribly, as the price for summoning such a thingwas a heavy one. “If only they had learned to coexist. Now theyhave no one to blame for this but themselves.”

“It is myduty to protect this world and everything within it,” said theNova. “No matter what the cost. So prepare yourself foroblivion.”

With whatthey assumed to be only a temporary calm presenting itself, the groupmade a mad dash for the castle. They knew the events taking placewere related to something that was happening inside, and if theywanted to stop it, then time was against them.

“You mustdie for your sins once again,” exclaimed the Nova. “But therewill be no coming back for you this time.”

The lightshining down once again intensified.

“Howfoolish,” said Shadow Kahn. “To think that a light exists thatcan save you once Hell’s Fury has been awoken. You really haveforfeited the right to exist.”

When ShadowKahn faced the ball of darkness toward the Nova, it badly dimmed thelight shining down. So volatile was the interaction between darknessand light that it created an explosion of energy so tremendous thatit reduced the Nova’s castle to nothing but rubble.

When theshock wave reached James and the others, it knocked them completelyoff their feet, leaving them all badly dazed.

Aftertaking some time to collect themselves, the group continued to whatremained of the Nova’s once grand castle.

“Whatcould have caused this?” asked Jaycee.

“I don’tknow how it happened,” said Archer, “but one thing’s for sure. Whoever was in this castle couldn’t have survived an explosion ofthat size.”

There wasno body of a divine holy leader among the rubble nor was there thebody of a man hell bent on bringing about the end of mankind. Littledid the group know that the body of a supernatural being neverremained in the world of the living. For once they had expired, narya trace was ever left behind.

“Do youthink . . . he was here?” asked Aiko.

“I’msure of it,” replied James.

“Doesthat mean it’s over?” asked Jaycee.

“Yes . .. it’s over.” Despite what he had just said, James couldn’thelp but think that he might not have actually witnessed the dramaticconclusion to the most malevolent man to ever walk the face of theEarth. Part of him believed things were only just beginning.