The Lord of Shadows Rises (17 page)

Yuan walks up to him and shakes Alexander’s hand.“I wish you the best, Grand Master Alexander.”

“We will also be training to increase our chances. Until then, may you find safe travel,” said Guan.

Mason nods his head in agreement as Lenora walks up and hugged Alexander. “Be safe and come back,” she said

.Xxx

In a factory were the citizens of Norway who were captured by the Lord of Shadows. The prisoners were overseen by a large man in leather armor. “The lord wants those weapons ready for his conquest of the free world.” He saw a young man fall down. “Get back to work!” yells the task master.

The prisoner struggles to get up. The large man stalks over to him and kicked him, sending him spiraling backwards. “No breaks for you scum.”

The prisoners look on. “Get back to work.”

He grabbed the fallen man by the shirt neck and dragged him kicking to break free, but the lack of food wore him down

Unseen to anyone was a shadow. “So this is what I was fighting for,” said the shadow in a whisper.

The large task master was dragging the prisoner when he saw a figure blocking his path. “Get back to work,” the task master was unable to tell who it is.

The figure pulled out a pike. “I am going to take you out for what you have done.”

“Oh! The Lord of Shadows has a huge bounty on your head, Kevin. One I will collect that bounty,” said the overseer as he pulls out a hammer. Kevin seems to vanish, then, materializes, holding a pike right through the overseer’s torso

“Normally I would be more honorable. However, you do not deserve such courtesy.” Kevin pulled out the pike from the taskmasters' body.

The large man fell and Kevin walked to the prisoner who had the look of fear in his eyes. Using his pike, Kevin slashed the man’s shackles. “Can you stand?” asked he asked, helping the prisoner up.

“Hungry,” moaned the man

Kevin took out a bag from his shoulder and gave the man bread. “Here eat this to get some of your strength back.”

The man gobbles the bread down. “Thank you.”

“Stay here while I free the other prisoners,” Kevin told him

Kevin sees several warriors, cutting them down without stopping. Continuing his assault, he gets to the heart of factory and takes down many of the guards with his pikes.

He was surrounded by ten guards. He twirled his pikes. Showing no mercy to his opponents, he tore into the small army.

After the battle, Kevin freed the prisoners. “. Do not squander this opportunity at freedom.”

Kevin turned to leave.

“Wait,” said the first prisoner Kevin saved.

“Something else you need?”

“Allow us to help you, Kevin. We can form an army to fight the Lord of Shadows.”

“I would not usually agree to it, but…” said Kevin, looking at the men and women around him. Seeing the state they are in, a spark of pride swelled in his heart. “I accept the proposal.”

Chapter 21: The History of the Shadows

The Lord of Shadows was sitting on his throne in deep though. Reaching up he took off his helmet.
Two hundred and thirty years since I threw away my humanity
, thought the Lord.
You must be rolling around in your grave, Master Aldor
.

“You are mistaken, Gode,” said a wise voice as a man appears wearing chain mail in a spectral form

“I am impressed, Master Aldor, your spirit survived,” said the Dark Lord. “You are wrong, Master, my name and humanity are long gone.”

“The fact is that you will be defeated, my pupil,” said the spirit.

“You were beaten by me with little effort,” said the Lord of Shadows.

“Yes, but you used deceit and poison to get the upper hand.

"But your prized student could not stop me nor can this new generation of masters. They shall fall like you and Master Eirik did,” said the Lord of Shadows.

“Your arrogance is what beat you last time,” said the master as he vanished.

Alexander arrived in Denmark, just as snow started to fall.
Better find shelter.
He located a cave and headed inside. He grabs some leaves and insulated the cave by blocking part of the entrance.

The snow got heavier as Alexander buckled down for the storm.
This snow will definitely slow me down
, he thought.

The next day, Alexander peered outside and saw snow drifts taller than himself. Deciding not to wait for the snow to get worse, he started his trek slowly, being careful of hidden ice.

After getting to the coast of Denmark, he hired a ferry and is taken to Norway. He headed north following the map he was given. Dodging several Shadow patrols, he gets to the clearing and sees a small hut with a straw roof.
This must be it.

Getting inside he saw dust covering everything.
Now what am I suppose to do
? he thought.

Suddenly Alexander starts to get dizzy. “What?” he said passing out

Alexander was floating in a white space. “So this is the Grand Master,” said a voice heavy with wisdom. A man with a bald head appeared. He was holding a staff of a full foot in length and was wearing the robe of the Grand Master. The man puts his staff on the teen’s head and white mist appeared. “Awaken young one.”

Alexander opened his eyes. “What?” His eyes widen in shock. He sees the whiteness of the area and opens his wide in shock. “Where am I?”

“Calm yourself. You are in the void realm where the spirits are sent. I am neither amongst the living nor those who have passed.”

“Who are you?” asked Alexander.

“You are the Grand Master, yet you don’t know of me. What do they teach kids these days? I am Grand Master Eirik.”

“It is an honor, Grand Master.” Alexander bowed his head to the ground. “I need your help to win a war.”

“I thought as much. Tell me what you know of this evil.” said the Grand Master.

Alexander sighed. “Not much, just that you defeated him.”

“I see. Before I can train you, we must get rid of your dark side.”

"What do you mean?” asked Alexander.

“To be a true Grand Master you must overcome the Darkness in your soul, like I did. I had to go through the ritual during my tenure as Grand Master. I will start your training after you beat the Darkness.”

“How do I beat this darkness?”

“Follow me.”

Further into the vastness of the void they walked. After a mile, they come on to a small altar with a gold dome roof and an arrow on the roof pointing to the sky. “Inside that dome is where you will meditate and face the inner darkness.”

Alexander steeled his nerves went forward. Getting to the middle, Alexander sits down and begins to meditate. As wisp of smoke flew out of him.

“Those you call friends will betray you,” said a dark voice. “You should join the Lord of Shadows.”

Alexander opens his eyes and sees an exact copy of himself with black robes and eyes with yellow iris’ of a demonic look.

“So you are my darkness?”

“What is the point of fighting when afterward the world will go back to a bunch of squabbling nations?” asked the dark Alexander.

“True, but the fact that the nations are willing to put aside their differences gives me great hope.”

“So you won’t take my advice?” The dark copy grabbed his two swords, the good Alexander doing the same.

The two clash as they try to overpower each other. Alexander goes for a strike, but it is blocked by the dark entity. The evil one tries to go for a kick which is caught by Alexander.

The two continue to battle, neither able to get the decisive hit.

Outside the altar, the spirit of Eirik watches as Alexander continues to sit there silently. “Let’s see what he can do. Taming the evil spirit is difficult.

. Let us try something else,
thought Alexander Switching his style to the dragon style, his opponent went into the snake style.

“You think the world powers will change after this war?” Dark Alexander landed a hard punch to good Alexander’s chest only to receive a kick to the left side.

“The fact remains that they are willing to fight for the greater good. After that, it is up to them on how to proceed. Be thankful for what we can accomplish,” said Alexander. “Darkness or light it makes little difference. Even the light can stray from the right path. Instead of fighting you, we should cooperate and become a whole puzzle instead of just pieces.”

“The light and dark can’t coexist,” said Dark Alexander.

“We will never know until we try. Without darkness, light cannot exist and vice versa,” said Alexander.

“So you say, but it is not possible.”

“We will never know without the attempt. What do you say, partner?” Alexander had his hand outstretched.

The darkness sighed. “I will try.” They shook hands and the dark Alexander disappears.

Eirik smiles.
So he accepted the darkness and is going to work with it
, he thought.
That is a first.

Alexander gets up and walks over. “Master, I have decided to work with my darkness and stay whole."

Eirik smiles at Alexander. “Well done on choosing a different path. Before we start your training I must tell you who the Lord of Shadows really is.”

“Wait. You knew?”

“I told you how to be Grand Master I had to overcome my darkness?” Eirik receives a nod from Alexander. “However, I was not the only person to be chosen for the honor.”

“What are you saying, Master?”

“There was another student training next to me. His name was Gode and he was a prodigy with the sword. Even I was unable to beat him in all of the spars,” said Eirik. “He outclassed me in all areas.”

Eirik grew silent as he recalled the summer of 1779. He had spent most of his life training in that old monastery. Though he had fought hard, sparring everyday with his master, he had always felt like he was behind. That day had been no different. He had met Gode in the training hall like any other day. The dark haired man had sparred masterfully against the baldheaded Eirik. The man had slammed his staff...

A dark haired man fought in a sparring match against a bald headed man. The dark haired man slammed his staff into the other man’s chest knocking him down. “Come on, Eirik. Is that all? I thought you would have gotten better,” the dark-haired fighter said with a smug look on his face.

“Well, you train yourself into the ground. That will kill you,” young Eirik said.

“Enough,” said a deep voice as another man walked out wearing a monk’s robe and chain mail underneath.

“Master Aldor,” acknowledged both fighters.

“Gode, do not gloat over your victory. It shows a lot about who you are,” said Aldor.

“Well, Master Aldor, what do you say?” asked Gode holding up his staff “Let me prove what you have taught me is not wasted.”

The master faced his student. “Very well. Time for today’s lesson.” The master brought up his staff.

The two clashed. Aldor proved to be the superior fighter by breaking his student’s staff in two. “That is your lesson for today. There will always be someone stronger no matter how strong you are.”

“Yes, Master,” said both students bowing.

“Come, it is time pick my successor." The three walk entered monastery.

Both fighters went into the temple and waited until Aldor sat. “I have made my decision. Eirik shall be the new Grand Master.”

Gode stood up. “Master, why him? He is not stronger than me,” he asked with a dark look.

“True you have demonstrated great skill, but that is not the main quality I am looking for in my successor. Humility and restraint are another part of being a grand master. You have not shown either.”

“Oh and Eirik has!” shouted Gode as he shook with rage.

“He has not shown as much skill in battle, but he has shown great restraint and humility. He has never gloated when another opponent lost and never struck to incapacitate in spars.”

“You always did play favorites,” snarled Gode as he stormed to the door. “Master

Gode slammed the door of the monastery shut. Aldor sighed. “I hope he does not do something rash. Come, I will show you the responsibility of the grand master.”

Xxx

In the Army of the Order of the White Rose, Master Yuan was garbed in armor, with ten of thousand of troop behind him. “Onward to victory.”

In front of them was an army of soldiers that numbered the same strength as the Order. They black armor with swords and guns. A man wearing the emblem of general smiled while observing his opposing force. “Destroy the rabble!” shouted the man, and his troops charged forward.

“Attack!” yelled Yuan as the army went forward, brandishing the guns.

Xxx

Eirik’s head snapped up. “I sense a battle going on." Alexander looks at him. “Your friends will prevail; have faith in them and you will have faith in yourself.

“The sooner I finish this training, the sooner I can help. Let us continue, Master.”

Xxx

Yuan saw his side start to take casualties and joined the fray. Using his curved sword, he cut down many of the dark soldiers before they knew he was upon them.

The general of the Shadow Army ordered a full scale charge, hoping to overrun the Order. They came upon the Order of White Rose forces with a vengeance.

The force marshaled to combat the Shadows, firing their guns, scoring kills as they grabbed their knives and melee weapons and came upon the enemy with a stampede.

Blade to blade, both sides fight with reckless abandon. Yuan taking out soldier after soldier with his blade. Becoming surrounded, Yuan closed his eyes and calmed himself as the opposing soldiers level their gun at the Master. Opening his eyes, he sent them back with a powerful blast of chi.

The enemy commander growled, seeing his forces decimated, and rushed toward Yuan, killing any soldier on his side and his opponent’s that was unfortunate enough to get in the way. Yuan slashed the oncoming general, decapitating him with a stroke of his blade.

The soldiers, seeing their general fall, fled the battlefield. Yuan rallies his troops and pursued the fleeing troops killing many in their retreat.

Xxx

Eirik smiled “First victory goes to your comrades,” he said as Alexander was doing pushups.

“So we won the first battle?” Eirik nodded. “That is excellent news!”

“War can have turning points at any time. The real victory is the last battle. Now continue your pushups and we will move on after two hundred,” said the former grand master.

The Lord of Shadows meditating when a messenger appeared. “Sir, I bring news from the front lines.”

“Oh?” asked the dark lord

“First battle goes to the White Rose my lord. The commander you put in charge was killed.”

“This loss means little. However, we can’t let this defeat sit,” said the Lord of Shadows.

“Orders, sir?”

“Begin Operation Snowstorm.”

“All shall fall like my former comrades,” the Lord of Shadows said and looks out the window to the snow.

The snow swirled like it had that winter ten years after he had been overlooked as the Grand Master. The cold air had been nothing compared to the hatred in his heart. That is where he had changed his fate.

Gode was walking to a cave when he was approached by a dark-hooded man. “It is a pity you were not picked; with your skills, you should have been chosen,” said the man.

“What do I owe this second visit, Shadow?” asked Gode.

“I wish to help you, as I offered ten year ago. I did tell you they would never accept you.”

“Yes. I have decided to join you, Shadow. After all, I came this way to renounce my loyalties to the Order of White Rose.”

“Let us begin your final training.” Shadow walks into the cave.