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Off the continent of Valaheim, past the eastern skies, lay what was once the Dawn Islands, before the conquest it was home to the Summer Empire, once ruled by the Asahina Dynasty and one of the greatest nations of Aetherium. Now it is known as the Stygian Islands where the sun no longer rises and the winds are cold and bitter. The lowlands and mountains had become deserts and mining pits, its rivers clogged with the waste of industry, the skies blackened through industrial smog and volcanic ash. The city of Solarium once the capital of this empire is now an industrial nightmare called Pandemonium. The factories, refineries, and pipelines stretched on for miles and surrounded the city. Only ruins of the old city were left but even they were being removed and built over with prisons and other buildings dedicated to the perpetual war machine.
The city was completely devoid of life with only SWAT-bots and their civilian counterparts called labor units inhabiting it. These units were once the former inhabitants of the city put through a cyborg conversation process. Some still had organic components and served in maintenance and waste management. Others were fully transformed just a brain, and some whispered the soul as well, trapped in a metallic shell. They served as obedient slaves as they mined, refined, and constructed the very tools that would enslave their fellows. An excellent example of the Dark Lord's cruelty and efficiency, not only did it aid him it also made many rebels much more cautious about how to damage his facilities less they kill their own kind before they could reverse it.
All over the world special facilities called conversion centers were built to quickly convert the local populace into labor units. They were transformed depending on need or converted to full machines as punishment for rebellion. But over time as their organic components break down or the needs of the Domain demanded it. They would soon gain more cybernetics and put to work in heavy industry while newly converted individuals took their places. Each convert had a barcode burned onto their heads, their names erased thus becoming no more than a number on the Dark Lord's spreadsheets.
Above the city towering over it like a shadow of death was the Steel Acropolis, a vast citadel built atop the ruins of the old Imperial Palace. Inside its highest tower is the Dark Lord's throne room; floors and walls made from black stone, red marble pillars, a black metal throne built into the wall with a large chrome bull's head above it. The horns made the frame for the window above while lava poured out of its nostrils and flowed into two trenches at the edges of the room.
As he sat upon his throne three holographic screens floated in front of him, showing him a fireteam of SWAT-bots fighting the Star Warden and Princess Kaguya. His mechanical claw caressed the black scales of his pet dragon, Nightshade, her all yellow eyes giving the screens a disgusted look. The Dark Lord had sent a legion of rats to annihilate the town of Koba for harboring priests of Kira and destroying his SWAT-bots in open rebellion. He sent a recon team to investigate when he received no reports. Finding that the Princess and the Star Warden were involved was an unsurprising revelation.
“What a farce.” The disdain and condescension in his reverberating voice were clear. “What is the point to continue to play the hero? To revel in praise? To bring false hope to the enslaved masses?” A sinister laugh emerged from underneath the mask. Daimos cared not for Samuel and considered him a foolish young boy. Only his wielding of Dawnbringer and his traveling with the Princess gave Daimos license to spare him even a moment of his thoughts.
“Have your fun, boy. Just don't lose your head.”
“Master,” spoke Nightshade. “It appears someone has taken offense to your joke.”
Daimos' face turned to a block of ice sitting on a podium. “My apologies. I meant no offense I assure you.” He telekinetically pulled it to him and caught it in his claw. “I spoke only in jest regarding your son. We've crossed paths before and he did not measure up as a heroic figure compared to you, but I should not have been so insensitive as to demean your own fate. Can you ever forgive me, Lord Bailey? Oh right, you never liked that, can you ever forgive me, Eli?”
In the block of ice was the perfectly preserved head of Eli Bailey. The two of them had a long history, those who shared such knowledge could be accounted for on one hand. They had been both friend and rival before events and choices set them down the path of becoming enemies. He kept his head as a reminder of his victory and to spite Eli one last time by denying him a proper burial.
“Ah, the cold shoulder, I understand.” He sent the block of ice back to its podium. “Rest assured when I execute your son he will join you here as well. For he nor the Princess will stop me.” The live feed turned to static when an old bell landed on the Minotaur warrior. He pressed a control panel on his armrest closing the screens and replaced it with a 3D projection of Aetherium.
No matter how many times he looked at it he could never overcome the sense of annoyance he felt, as the planet defied logical classification. Seen from orbit one would call it a gas giant, yet solid landmasses floated across the planet's atmosphere. Landmasses that could support both animal and plant life, contain river and lakes. The gravity was stable across them all strong enough to hold the landmasses together but also light enough to allow evolution to create flying beings such as faeries.
He focused the map on the central continent of Valaheim and then overlaid it with reports of insurgency. A coastal land came to the evil one's attention, the land was named Monmouth. The former principality still had more active resistance and his forces only controlled the major roads and the Castle Town where said Princes once ruled. A quick look through his database mentioned reports of the local order of knights were spearheading resistance efforts.
“They have been bothersome of late,” he said mockingly. “it is only fair they repay their debt to society as my new test subjects.” He pressed a second button and a wire-frame face projected into the air. “Sonia, ready my rocket transport.”
“Acknowledged, Master,” said the AI.
Nightshade hissed. “Your next experiment. Will it hurt?”
“Indeed.” His word was followed by a low sinister laugh as he thought about what lay ahead for his enemies. “You'll enjoy it my little pet. While my enemies scurry like ants striking me with pinpricks.” Daimos rose from his throne as the winds of passion swelled within him.
“I have been studying and scheming over the past year. This experiment is only the start, the foundation, as the wheels of fate turn as I directed. When my work is complete the Mystic Woods will be cinders, the Enchantress a corpse along with the Star Warden. While Princess Kaguya is tortured till the end of her days.”
He stepped over to the balcony and looked down upon his city with a sinister chuckle along the way.
“Once Camelot falls all rebels on this world will follow!”
Red flames in the form of eyes appeared underneath his faceplate. As his voice emitted a booming electronic echo and changed to a deeper pitch.
“THEN THIS WORLD WILL BE UNDER MY FOOT FOR ETERNITY!”
A burst of maniacal laughter followed with Nightshade adding her own laugh to his. An ominous thunderclap roared in the clouds above.
Yes, because the BBE (Big Bad Evil) fits well in a desolate doomed area. Heheheeheehehe!
ReplyDeleteAnd so some of the Skeletor comes through! Ill get you Gadjet! I mean SAM! AND PRINCESS FROM ANOTHER CASTLE!
Quickly slaves! Do muh bidden!