They are heavy, tension breaths upon their neck, their weapons are afraid to strike. But their will is holding them tight on the throat to strike. The Sojourner and the first High End are seen standing before each other, waiting for who to make the first move, then the High End charged towards the Sojourner in high velocity, with consuming fire, the flames in his body bleeds out and burns every obstacle in it's part, it was as if it's alive, the movement and the rhythm of the flame, they all respond to the High End's reaction, he threw the burning rod toward the Sojourner, the speed of the rod caused a rift on the surface, the Sojourner opened a portal to diverse the movement of the rod.
In a blink of an eye, before the arrow entered the bottomless pit of the portal, the arrow changed direction on its own , moved to his left hand side.
"What ? The arrow just changed its course on its own ? " stream of thought flows through his mind in awe. Looking at the direction of the arrow, he stretched out his hand to open a portal.
While that was going on, the first High End was already beside him with a villainous grin on his face.
" You are leaving yourself wide open my friend " with the intent to hold him on the neck.
But the Sojourner reacts with an even much higher speed and creates a wide gap between both of them, for defence. Then he created a green flame from his hand as usual and charged the flame towards the High End, the rod came to his direction he opened a portal and escaped through the portal and came out from the mid air sending multiple blast towards the High End while the High also responded to this attack by disintegrated the blasts with his heat ability. He then stretched out his hand and it was like the rod responded to the call,and he caught the rod.
Then launches towards the sky and swings at the Sojourner multiple times in speed. Responding with higher speed, he dodges the attacks skillfully. He threw a couple of green fire balls at the High End, the end tossed his rod at him too, but the attacks cancelled each other out, causing a collision sound.
He opened a portal and hurled inside. And appeared behind the High End, but it was as if he knew where he was going to appear, he instantly turned his back, caught his spear in the mid air and swung it at him, with the aim of piercing his stomach with it.
The burning rod transformed into a whirlwind of flame, a fiery beast unleashed upon its prey. Eyes blazing like embers, the rod's wielder swung with precision, as if the rod fed from the Malice of the High End towards the Sojourner painting the air with heat and fury. The target barely dodged the infernal arcs, the scent of charred air trailing the rod's lethal path.
The Sojourner could barely catch his breath, every air breath came along with intense heat, it was like he was fighting in the sun. His body cried and yearned for fresh air. The High End moving too fast, the rhythm of his movement is full of hatred and malice.
But then, he can't afford to lose to this High End, his goal is bigger than this, defeating this High End will be a stepping stone for him. A purple aura could be seen around him burning with passion and resilience, charged at the High End in the mid air, with the aid of his portal opening, by opening portal one after the other in the air.
He is so good at this, that his movement is almost like a speedster, or someone with levitating ability. As he is about five meters away from the High End, he emitted black energy from his hand, this time around, not a flame, it covers his left arm. He directed the blast at the High End. The blast went with full force and it came out with a full force.
This time, it doesn't seem like something he could disintegrate, so he created a huge blast with his sun ability, and directed it towards the energy, while he was doing this, the Sojourner was already behind him.
"Don't turn your back on your enemy… sucker ! " The Sojourner mumbled a malicious word as he landed a kick on the High End's cheek.
The kick sends him miles away from the scene, causing strong sound as a result of the collision force. Then he crashes at some building, then he regains his balance by sticking his rod to the ground. And there was a dead silence that screams anger and tension that lies ahead.
" If that's the case, let's level the playing field" he mumbles with a grin on his face as he wipes blood from his lip.
He launched towards the Sojourner with immense force that caused a large shockwave in the air. With the rod in his hand, he launched the rod toward the Sojourner and then sent some fire blasts ahead.
The Sojourner also charged towards him, this time— he was able to diverge the rod's path with his portal and sent it back to the High End. Surprisingly, the Sojourner absorbed the blast, let its energy seethe and grow within and then returned with a roaring green inferno. Which exploded and the whole atmosphere was filled with smoke that could choke one to death.
The two colossal warriors exchange blows that make the atmosphere screams of distress. The High End and the Sojourner landed a blow on each other's face that sent them a few yards away.
" It appears this won't be as easy as I thought " the Sojourner thought to himself as he struggled to stand up.
—
Meanwhile back at Vormirem….
We are now deep inside the chamber of the Vormirem execution room, we all stood before the High End jurists. Their faces hidden in the absence of light , but their silhouette could be seen, five Jurists, one command, death is the outcome.
Our souls scream for saviour, but the fact was handed over to us by reality, no one is coming to save us. Twenty-five civilians, waiting to be sentenced to death.
"Let the accused be sent forth" a voice that sounds like a man in his late 80s echoes from the Jurist's sit.
Then the Correctors dragged one of the civilians to the lectern with a shackle in his hands.
" Is it not true that you possess specific intelligence regarding the being responsible for the attack on the High Ends at Zone 9?" one of the Jurists threw a question at the civilian standing on the lectern.
" I swear I know nothing about it, I'm just a victim of circumstance." The civilian pleaded in tears.
" These sneaky bastards are actually accusing us of a crime we didn't commit! " Aiden thought to himself.
The accused civilian is seen being dragged away from the lectern by the Correctors.
" For the crime of treason,for shielding knowledge that would aid the adversary, there is but one judgment under Vormirem law. The sentence is death. Take him to the place of execution." The third Jurist passed out his final verdict on the civilian.
" Oh boy, this is bad. These people are just using this as an excuse to kill " Aiden thought to himself again.
" It is advisable for you all to comply well with the Amezors, as this will be considered crime and violence towards lord Zephyron's warriors" the fought judge explained as he saw a lady civilian who was trying to fight back from being pulled away from the rest.
And then, I thought to myself, who is he referring to as Amezor? Is there someone in the room that goes by the name Amezor, or is the word Amezor a rank? This was a conundrum I needed to solve, but I can't do that if I'm dead.
By every means necessary I have to survive, and dig deeper into this. Opportunity comes but once. The certainty of me compromising into becoming a High End for survival is zero. That is a line I have no intention of crossing.
And then Grant laid his hand on me with a faint smile on his face, you could tell he is scared, but old age doesn't permit him to look frightening in front of a man he sees as a child.
"Don't worry kid, you'll be fine, we will be fine. Everyone here will soon be fine" he reassured me with the same frail smile on his face.
At first, my impression about him was maybe he was insane, nothing of what he seems to be making any to me. At this point, I already consider death as the ultimate end for me.
"Do you reconsider becoming a High End or face the death penalty ?" One of the Jurists asked the lady with a solemn tone.
" I…. Reconsider…. I want to become a High End " the lady sobs as she answers this, and compromises the Jurists choice. No one could blame her. You could tell she is fighting for survival. And looking into her eyes, the guilt she is dealing with whispers self hatred. But all in the end, this is a survival game.
While one thing puzzles me though, why didn't they ask the other man to join the High Ends, it is certain that as desperate as that man is, he'll definitely join the High Ends.
And then they dragged Grant away from me. Well, I didn't really give a hoot about the old man, but you could feel the fear in his eyes. Which is why I would have loved to save him.
I tried holding onto his frail body, but a punch landed right in my face and I was sent flying on the floor. One of the Correctors approached me and gave me a kick in the stomach, causing a severe pain. I held on to the stomach in pain, couldn't move and did nothing but watch how he was sentenced to death.
Like a dream, the Jurist ordered the High Ends to send us to a room called "Evo 246" which we were all packed to the upper flow of the Vormirem court. And it turns out that Evo 246 is a room for turning humans into High End. Turns out I'll end up becoming the very thing I despise so much that I'd choose death over it. A High End !
—
Back at the Sojourner's battlefield…
The two power houses are seen trading blows and blast, pushing their body beyond its limit, knowing too well that slowing down could mean their death. With this, they truly fought because their life depended on it.
"What sort of High End is this? He is more powerful than any High End I have encountered. Is there something I'm missing?" the Sojourner thought to himself as he exchanged blows with the High End.
The High seems uncharacteristically silent and more cautious, the rhythm of his movement could be said as the fact that he is paying more attention to the Sojourner's fighting pattern. Then the High End made a grin.
" Huh, studying your fighting pattern just revealed one thing… you are one of us, aren't you?" The High End exclaimed and held the Sojourner's neck then threw him against a rock, without letting him land on the floor, he blasted him with a fire ball. And the Sojourner lay flat on the floor. He is unconscious.
"Oh how mighty has fallen" with a victorious and satisfied voice, the High End raised his chin up in pride as he emerged as the victor of the battle.
The High End approaches the Sojourner's body. He lifted him up by the leg, in order to be certain that he is truly unconscious.
"It seems I pushed you to your breaking point eh ? " said the High End as he returned to his normal state.
TO BE CONTINUED...