"I understand your frustration ... but let us have hope. The boy's skills show potential."
Lights flashed, walls shook, and the ground quaked.
Blue streaks of light, moving at impossible velocity, darted across the gloomy caves, and they each got countered by invisible forces.
Emerging from the shadows was the Circus master, flying across the cavern with determination and annoyance evident in his eyes. His deep brown overalls were untouched, and his warm smile was as bright as the suns, he seemed to be chasing something. Someone.
He flew past several rocks studded with beautiful crystals, as the rare stones glittered around the cave, with gorgeous sparks of blue, yellow, white, and red. The circus master dug his fist into a large rock and pulled out a handful of the dazzling blue stones, Emerthost.
"Found you!!!!" The circus master said excitedly.
He hurled the stones at hypersonic speed at the shadows, towards a dark and damp cave.
And from the cave emerged a madman.
Worker 45 hurried out of his hiding cave with impressive reflexes, skillfully dodging the stones aimed at him. He looked like a malnourished beggar on the roadside, with sunken cheeks and deep blue eyes, but his smile was different. It wasn't insane or wild; it can be described as terrifying.
"I guess hide and seek is over." Worker 45 cackled like a wild animal.
He sidestepped an emerthost, quickly grabbing it with his nails, and trning it to dust in his grip. Worker 45 locked eyes with the Circus master, with his petrifying smile emitting a presence of violence and pure bloodthirst.
Worker 45 dodged the first 5 waves of Emerthost using agile flips and jumps. As the last 2 stones were closing the distance, they suddenly grew in size, turning about 8 times the original size.
"Let's entertain ourselves," The Circus master appeared behind Worker 4s. "Don't you think that'sinteresting?"
Worker 45 spun back for a kick, but he saw no one behind him. The Circus master stood atop a large stone pillar with dazzling stones, pulling out a hat from thin air and softly placing it on his head. He made a dramatic bow and raised his head to see Worker 45.
"LET'S HAVE SOME FUN, SHALL WE!!"
Rocks were being hurled at Worker 45. The terrain of the large cavern changed; drawings on the wall, consisting of prehistoric paintings of spear warriors, came alive.
When Worker 45 closely evaded more barrages of lethal stones, he saw a greater threat - Stone golems stood at attention, live prehistoric paintings lifted their spears while chanting in excitement, and the floors of the cavern grew grimy human hands with eyeballs placed around them.
The scene was so uncanny that it was quite comical.
The stone golems lumbered towards him, but Worker 5 swiftly destroyed them with a flurry of kicks. The grimy, amaciated arms grabbed him, which sparked anger in his chest. The drawn warriors lunged at him, trying to pin him down with their inky spears.
In a single step, the circus master was face to face with Worker 45 and positioned his hands for a devastating blow.
"No, you don't!!" Worker 45 screamed.
Walls of bright blue light sliced through the entire army, devestating the terrain. The golems shrieked as they turned to dust, the warriors screamed and exploded into ink, and the eyes on the arms rolled back before dissolving into shadow.
Still smiling, The Circus master appeared on the roof. Curled in his fingers were black chess pieces: a bishop, a knight, and a pawn. He dropped the pieces casually, and they transformed mid-air. The Bishop turned into a 10 creter statue with a book in its hand, the knight turned into a larger jouster sitting on a calvary horse, and the pawn turned into a smaller soldier with two large cleavers connected by the hilt with a chain.
"Yes, keep it coming." The Circus Master announced, dancing on the roof of the cavern.
The three chess pieces advanced towards worker 45 with blistering speed, their weapons aimed for his vitals. But in the face of certain defeat, the madman grinned.
Worker 45 appeared atop the pawn, seizing its cleaver. With a swift twist, he wrapped the chain around the soldier, snapping it into dust. The Knight descended from above, waving its heavy spear, but 45 kicked through the horse and penetrated the joster's chest. The Bishop was steadfast, its book sending scalding flames, chilling water, and blade like whirlwinds in rapid succession. 45 stepped on the book, leapt into the air, and drove the Knight's spear into its face.
The circus master appeared next to 45, trying to deliver a right hook, but 45 dodged. With fluid movement and mastered techniques, they exchanged blows. This was a fight that relied purely on hand-to-hand combat. No grace, no divinity, no Sacred runic; just straight hands.
The Circus Master appeared beside 45, swinging a right hook. 45 ducked low and countered with a palm strike. Circus Master twisted in the air, but 45 was below him, trying to land a headbutt.
Blows cracked the air. Shockwaves echoed off cavern walls.
Worker 45's fist was engulfed in pure light, twinkling with blinding intensity.
"Heaven and Garden."
"Souls and Phantoms."
"Truth seeking praises."
Circus master tilted his head. "Oh, you want to play that game."
The Circus master grabbed his top hat and placed it on the floor, as a cane appeared in his hands. Stone golems emerged, Ink warriors chanted, and eyeballed hands clawed the air.
"Surrendering my pride."
"Laying down my virtues."
"The forger of souls."
Grace and divinity flooded the cave, threatening to destroy it. Worker 45's light grew in intensity, and Circus Master's phantoms beckoned in fury and battle cries.
"Hear my plea, CROSS OF LIGHT." 45 screamed.
"Reward me faithfully, DREAMS OF CHILDRENS." Circus Master declared.
Just as they prepared to unleash twin uppercuts, a high-pitched tone split the silence.
"Circus Master. Worker 45," a metallic voice echoed, "You have already killed the beast."
Both men froze.
They turned. There it was—the monster's carcass, grotesque but still fresh. Its five white eyes stared blankly from a decapitated head. The yellow hide was shredded, stained red, and fading to a ghostly white.
They exchanged glances.
"Fancy a bite?" 45 said dryly, nodding to the grimy corpse.
A large bonfire crackled in the monster's abdomen, illuminating the dark cavern. The two warriors sat on the body of their spoils, tearing charred meat with their teeth, the warm light illuminating the cavern like a forgotten hearth.
"I can't believe we killed the beast while trying to kill ourselves." Worker 45 said his mouth was filled with meat.
"You were the one who started it," the Circus Master raised his drink. "I just called your stance stupid, and you rushed me."
Worker 45 laughed. "What an unfortunate beast."
The two soldiers laughed, enjoying their company and victory.
"Two more days," the Circus Master muttered. "Then we head back to the mainland."
"Can't wait to see my nephew," 45 said, reclining against a bone spike. "He got accepted into Black Meadows."
"Congrats," Circus Master replied, tossing a chunk of cooked meat into his mouth.
Silence settled... until 45 spoke again. "Ever wonder why the King sent us here? Why this wasteland?"
The Circus Master paused, then dug his hand into the beast's body and pulled out an organ, tossing it into the fire. "That's the smartest thing you've asked all day."
He stared into the flame as it flickered briefly blue.
"Even the King doesn't know," he said. "The real orders come from above. The higher-ups "
Off the corner of his eyes, Worker 45 saw the shadows moving in a sinister motion.
"Above the King?" 45 said, trying to ignore the paranormal occurrence. "That's mad, I thought the king was supposed to be the leader?"
The circus master smirked at him, "Even though you are closer to royalty, you don't know an awful lot."
Worker 45 scoffed and tore a piece of the meat.
"But no," the Circus master said, "I'm not even sure who is above the king, but people gossiped that Zion's government system changed. According to them, it transformed into a pseudo-pro-militarized system, run by a platoon of knights instead of a monarchy.
Circus master gulped down his drink. "The King's just a puppet."
45 stared at him. "So, let's say I buy into this conspiracy theory of yours, let's just play pretend, shall we. So who's pulling the strings?"
The Circus Master's smile faded. "I simply do not know. Secrets pass by, murmurs follow the wind. But I heard that whoever is above the king might be responsible for the Blackest Night incident."
Stones began to roll with no force pushing them. The flames crackled louder and burned hotter.
45 raised an eyebrow. "The night the Rainbow clan went extinct. An entire clan of grace-refined individuals disappeared."
"Let The Almighty be praised," Circus Master poured more drink into his cup. "You should hear what people said. 'Zion is too perfect' or 'Zion is a land built on God's hands'. But I just feel a subtle feeling of... something. Something really, really ... I don't know the right word."
45 sighed. "You mean...mysterious."
"Yes!!," The Circus master snapped his fingers. "But, maybe I am overthinking this. Zion has always been the kingdom that all aspire to be. We are just, so, so, so, so, so, so, so... perfect. Low crime, low poverty, low infant death. Just perfect.".
Worker 45 noticed the cave floor swaying, as if made of rubber.
"What the...?" 45 tilted his head. "I didn't know you were such a worshipper of the regime."
"Oh, I'm not," the Circus Master said, picking up a chunk of seared flesh with bare hands, unaffected by the heat. The cavern felt submerged in shadow. The stone growled, the walls trembled, and the fire blazed higher.
"Then why all the praise?"
His eyes darkened further. The bonfire burnt brighter, the shadows seemed to move, and the wind seemed to increase
"Because," Circus Master said calmly. "Zion is simply too perfect to exist."
The bonfire turned swamp green, shaped into a skull laughing with glee. The shadows transformed, turning into an unseen crowd of cackling audiences. The stones turned to giant golems, shaking the cavern with their mountain-splitting laugh. Eyes appeared on the walls and in the air, some staring, others weeping, and a few crying.
"Praising them is encouraged," The Circus Master continued. "But why is questioning forbidden? Zion is too perfect to be born from good leadership or abundant resources. Babylon, our next-door neighbour, has that, but they are constantly in civil war."
Circus master took a bite from his food, "This kingdom is too deep in questions, and we are scolded if we ask."
Worker 45 tore his gaze from the Circus Master, staring at the green laughing flame, surrounded by terrifying divinity. He knew that the Circus Master grew up questioning the world, the system, even the gods.
But he was silenced for his overwhelming knowledge. Worker 45 wished for a person to spark the flames of curiosity, tend to the will of adventure, and raise the zeal to explore the world in his companion.
He wondered if anyone could reignite that fire that once lived in The Circus Master—or if it had burned out forever.
During the overwhelming silence, A low hum cut through the silence.
45 flinched, then dug into his coat, pulling out a dented metallic device. "Didn't think this thing still worked after the battle," he muttered.
The Circus Master gave a soft smile.
45 casually glanced at the screen, then froze. His breath hitched.
The meat fell from his hands.
Sweat began to bead on his brow. His lips parted, but no words came.
He shoved the device into his pocket, rose sharply, and ran.
"Circus Master, move! Now!"
The Circus Master blinked, startled. "What? What's going on?"
"Black Meadows." 45's voice cracked. "It's been attacked."
The Circus Master caught up. "Isn't your nephew...?"
45 stopped.
His blue eyes shimmered with horror. "Yes... Chalybe." He clenched his jaw."He was my pride..." A pause. A tremble in his voice. "And now...my pride has been impaled."
.................XXX......
Was Caesar startled?
Yes.
Was Caesar curious?
Definitely.
The Being looked down at Caesar, like inspecting a new object she purchased... or inherited.
Caesar had too many questions - Was he dead? Was he in heaven? And if he was, what level? What happens to his companions who are battling the villain? And why can't he feel his heartbeat?
The Being seemed to catch on to Caesar's frustration and smiled.
"You...alright...death...me." Her voice was sweet and melodic, as if every letter held the fate of Caesar.
Caesar tilted his head. He stood up sharply, wiped his tears, and forced a look of determination.
"Who are y-you?" Caesar pointed. "A-and where am I. I demand this instant."
The being looked confused, then her smile returned. Caesar could barely make out her face due to her aura of blinding light - Flawless face, pink lips, and a stark white veil.
"Me...You."
Caesar sighed. "Me...Caesar."
The being's smile grew. "Me...Pandorica."
At the utterance of the name, the entire synagogue quaked. The chairs disappeared, danced around the room. The figures illustrated on the tinted glass sang hymns, hymns that Caesar did and didn't know at the same time.
The ceiling dissolved, and Caesar saw the magnificent. Stars, planets, and other celestial bodies also danced with the hymns. The 7 moons danced in a parade, the 4 suns... wait, 4... danced on their axis, and a peculiar star, pure black and menacing, spun around rhythmically.
The entire synagogue was filled with songs and dancing, from as small as the podium to as large as the suns. Pandorica also seemed to dance, her smile brighter than all the stars combined.
Then suddenly, everything appeared back to normal, as if reality didn't celebrate the name utterance of the being that Caesar was in the presence of.
"Mortal...death...peasant.... millenia," Pandorica said, her voice slightly annoyed.
"I...can't...understand...you," Caesar said while waving his hands. " Do...you...want..."
The large cross on Pandorica's back rotated clockwise, catching Caesar off guard.
"It's...here." Pandorica said, her smile disappearing.
A roar was heard, and Caesar's legs felt weak. He fell to his knees, as his essence felt stolen... or devoured.
Caesar turned back and saw pure terror.
The beast was larger than Black Meadows, and its presence more threatening than comforting. It was a large skeleton, its skull shaped like a human's, but engulfed in black flames and with a large purple orb stationed in the middle of its face, serving as an eye.
"What the hell?" Caesar muttered.
It had a body of pure bones with no organs or flesh. It possessed 8 sturdy pillar-like bone arms, crawling like an insect of death.
"Why is it so..." Caesar's breath hitched.
Hovering above the beast was another skeleton, smaller than the monster but still large enough to dwarf a building. Its entire body was covered in black and purple flames, holding a dagger with no blade. The two phantoms roared, sending waves of wind.
But even through the fear, the wild glint of Caesar's eyes appeared, and his smile beamed.
"WHY IS IT SO BEAUTIFUL?"