Left to his own devices, Moyo got up atop the mountain that he sat on, rage and grief warring within his chest as took shallow breaths. He wasn’t thinking straight, he could sense it, and whatever plans he began to make right now would be tinged with grief and the urge for revenge, but that could come later, right now the clan needed to see him in control, they needed a sense of direction that only he could provide. Feeling a group of ascenders below the mountain, he turned his attention to them gently watching as they stood at a respectable distance from the Shieldborne who hadn’t still moved.

His mind brushed that of Josh, watching as the Valoris perked his head up, towards his position before nodding and allowing the ascenders to pass through, a group of diamonds with a few golds among them. He could sense his boons on their presences, the order of the titan, those who followed him in tenets and pure veneration. Silent as he began to fuse the mountain with a bit of his aspect, more at the uppermost levels while reducing it gradually as it reached the bottom half.

Another brief flex of his supreme control over aether and the mountain forged a chair for him, smooth and comfortable as it jutted out of the flat peak he currently stood on. He sat on it with patience, weaving the weather of the planet into a brighter and more relaxing one, watching and feeling as thousands of eyes realized it in the first minute and then more, all eyes turning to the mountain that Ajax had revealed. The moment they began climbing, they staggered for a second, eyes wide as they felt his aspect press on them, not just on a physical level but also within their souls.

They were being tested, they knew that, and if they didn’t and assumed he was doing it for some sadistic reason, then all fine and good. Not everyone would survive what he had in mind, that could simply be his anger speaking, but even within that anger, he was beginning to see the truth Martha had been trying to instill within him.

His logic wasn’t wrong, but it also wasn’t right as well, he could protect the weak, his mandate and tenet was to protect the weak, but the ignorant or untested couldn’t do that. They were strong, but they lacked experience, they had powers at their fingertips, their very world, the reach they had access to, all these ensured that whatever force would even remotely attempt to come after them would think twice.

But when it came to strategy, to experience, and to adapt in battle, all they had was the spider, and the legion, and with the enemies or in this case, the enemy that was now in front of them, it wasn’t enough. The spider was gone, Martha, the woman who always saw two to three steps ahead of them was gone and the legion was still no doubt reeling from the losses they had suffered from the battle they had just finished. His masters were there, holding their respective planets, even from here he could feel them, but they felt like brittle glass.

Any push right now and they might shatter, Boyle, the Forgelord would no doubt have been hit the hardest, he was the closest to Martha after him, and he would have to prod gently there. Samantha was somewhat of a wildcard, perhaps she’d be raving for revenge, or perhaps she was calm, time would tell. Ayo would no doubt be preparing her clan and forces, waiting for his orders, the patience of an archer was instilled within her, she would always answer his call. Annika was the most assuring yet concerning factor, no doubt, biting at the leash to be set loose, and Moyo had just the mind to do so.

Her words had cut him like a knife straight to his heart, and as much as most of it came from a place of mild resentment, deep down, he knew it was true. He shouldn’t have caged them back home; he should have let them experience the horrors of the Archailect head first and learned to adapt to it. Those were in the past though, and they could only look towards the future, assuming they had one at the end of all the tribulations. So he turned his attention back to the ascenders climbing his mountain, watching as they pushed on regardless of the weight of his aspect upon them.

One step after the other, they climbed their way to the top, weathering the force till they got to the top, grasping for the edge to push themselves up. The first to appear was a light skinned ascender, diamond ranked with a staff strapped to his back, panting as he sat on the smooth peak before turning to stretch a hand out to the others coming behind him. Moyo tapped the armrest of the chair he was sitting on, a pulse of his power moving towards the diamond who jolted, eyes wide as he turned to Moyo. The message was clear, they would either make it to the top with their own strength or they would fail and go down back.

Nodding and walking towards the titan, the diamond bowed at the waist and waited in complete silence. Ignoring the diamond and waiting for the rest, it took a few minutes, but they made it to the top as well, panting softly, the golds almost dead on their feet but hiding it well enough as they bowed and awaited his words. Moyo glanced at them all.

“Are you all that’s left of the order?” he asked.

The first diamond spoke, going to his knees as he bowed his head.

“No lord titan blade, we are those who braved your wrath to come here” he replied.

Moyo said nothing, tapping his finger on the chair before gathering his thoughts together.

“I see, my wrath, you said?” he asked.

The diamond shifted uncomfortably.

“My lord- “

“It is not an accusation, neither is it a condemnation, it is merely an observance” Moyo cut in, calming the diamond who spoke.

“We, I mean the higher echelons of the order” the diamond clarified.

“Your name, what is it?” Moyo asked, cutting in again.

The diamond swallowed nervously, perhaps to calm his nerves, or was it his aura pressing down on them unconsciously?. Moyo checked, affirming it wasn’t from him and simply waited for the diamond to gather his thoughts together.

“Jonas, Jonas on the path of the silver spear” the diamond replied.

“Good Jonas, carry on, and please, sit,” Moyo said, waving his hand as chairs appeared, startling the ascenders.

Seated with baited breaths, Jonas continued.

“We assumed that your absence or silence from the clan must mean you are dissatisfied with us, the order, specifically,” Jonas said.

Moyo stopped tapping his finger on his throne, glancing skywards.

“Why would I be dissatisfied with the order?’ he asked again.

He felt them glance between themselves nervously.

“Lord Matthew is dead, lord titan blade,” Jonas said.

“a fact I’m well aware of at this point, you think I wouldn’t be aware my own herald is dead?” Moyo asked.

“No lord, we merely assumed with everything happening around- “Jonas said as Moyo raised a hand, silencing him.

Glancing wearily at the assembled ascenders, he could see why they came here, they needed direction, and who else than the man whose very presence their entire order was created after?. He spoke, slowly but clearly.

“I am aware Jonas, of everything within the system” he started.

“I’m aware of the forces of the primordials and the hundreds of planets not filled with refugees, I am aware of the core worlds held together merely by the presence of my masters and allies” he continued.

“I’m aware of the thousands that whisper my name, trying to draw my attention to themselves, their eyes burning with hope,” he said.

“I’m aware that you all considered making Matthew some sort of saint, yes, I heard and saw,” Moyo said as their eyes widened.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The meeting had taken place right within the now destroyed heart of their building here, on Ibere, the rest of their order moving back to Titanprime to recover from the devastating blow dealt to them. He continued.

“I’m aware of a lot of things Jonas, and yet, do you think that makes me a supreme being?” Moyo asked.

Jonas shook his head vehemently.

“No, lord Matthew as clear on that, you are as much flesh as the rest of us” he replied.

Moyo gave a faint smile, he was the farthest thing from human any longer, he wondered even if he could still be classified among them. Then again, diamond rankers were akin to the old deities of Gaia if he was to be frank with himself, they were no longer human in the more literal sense. Nodding to the reply, he sat up, focusing on Jonas.

“Take the order back to Titan Prime, empty your vaults of all its weapons, both restricted and sanctioned, yes, I know of them, and I wonder why Matthew- “Moyo said, pausing at the pain he realized that the pontiff wouldn’t be around any longer.

“Whatever reasons he chose to restrict those legendary ranked weapons, they are useless now, gather them and await my call” Moyo ordered.

He saw the embers of a new flame stoked in their eyes as they nodded, raising one finger to halt their blossoming conviction.

“This is a battle in which I can assure nothing, not even your lives, make that clear to the entire order,” he said.

“The order marched for our pontiff, we would fight to the last of our breaths” Jonas replied, bowing again.

They got up as Moyo spoke.

“Matthew, his body, where did you keep it?” he asked.

Jonas turned to him.

“We retrieved it back to Titan Prime, we were hoping to lay him to rest, what’s left of him, within our sanctuary itself” Jonas replied.

Moyo nodded wordlessly as they left, allowing the mountain to reclaim the chairs he had made out of it. Getting up as it reclaimed his too, with a deft move of his hands, he forged a blade from the very stones of the mountain, calling up his Hud in the process as he glanced through it.

Name: Moyosore Titan Blade

Path: Titan blade

Body: Draconic Titan (+100% defense against mental attacks)

Bloodline name: titanic body(A)

Race: Human

Rank: Primordial

Level: 1000

Titan Aspect: Tier 5

Mythical core user: realm of the titan

Mantle: titan’s armor

Title: bane of the hive, draconic slayer, evolving ascender, mutator’s bane

Skills:

Esu’s Hunger(M) 1000:

Channeling the insatiable hunger of the trickster deity Esu, this skill empowers the titan with relentless ability to siphon a portion of a foe’s essence and steal a vital portion of their very being. As the ascender's level increases, the siphoning effect becomes more potent, capable of stealing even from rulers and beyond.

Sage's Sight(M) 1000:

Unleashing the profound wisdom of the ancient sages, this skill grants the ascender unparalleled insight into the battlefield. By activating Sage's Sight, the user's perception transcends mortal limitations, allowing them to discern hidden weaknesses in their foes, anticipate incoming attacks, and exploit strategic advantages. The clarity of vision and tactical acumen bestowed by this skill scales with the ascender's level.

Ogun's Step(M) 1000:

Tapping into the unmatched power of the Orisha of iron and warfare, Ogun's Step allows the ascender to instantaneously traverse vast distances. By invoking this skill, the user can teleport from one location to another in a mere fraction of a second, seamlessly bypassing obstacles and gaining tactical advantage on the battlefield. The teleportation range and precision increase as the ascender's level nears its peak.

Oshosi's Ferocity(M) 1000

Attuned to the primal instincts of the Orisha of the hunt and justice, Oshosi's Ferocity heightens the ascender's perception of impending dangers. This skill grants the titan blade an acute sense of awareness, alerting them to looming threats before they materialize. The premonitory instincts become sharper and more accurate as the ascender ascends closer to the pinnacle of their power.

Edicts:

Da pa da Shi Irapada

Attributes:

Titan’s Strength: 10,000 Titan’s Tenacity: 10,000 Titan’s Edict: 10,000 Titan’s Physique: 10,000 Titan’s Agility: 10,000 Titan’s Revival: 10,000

BOONS

Resistant to rucar poisoning Resistant to lava Resistant to razorback poisoning Resistance to elemental lightning (10%)

Soul abilities of the titan

Gates of the titan Deific vault of the titan Throne of the titan

WEAPONS OF THE TITAN BLADE

Name: ORO

Type: Katana (sword)

Tier: Arcane Mythical rank

Swinging the sword idly, he stared at his stats, stared at all the maxed-out attributes and boons, at all the titles he had accumulated that told the tales of his journey through the Archailect. Moving through the steps that came easily to him, he danced across the sheared mountain top, each swing of his hand whistling through the air with every fiber of his being. He allowed muscle memory to play out and allowed all the cumulation of swordsman training he had learned and achieved to amalgamate within him.

Anshara was in his soul, his blood, his flesh, and his very being. Every swing was one of short precise movements that ensured every move was calculated. He neither grew tired nor weary, his body bursting at the seams with raw endurance and power, he was the blade incarnate, pushing all his anger, his rage, his shame, and pain through each movement. His mind began to relax, his burden eased bit by bit, his dance working through his body, his soul, and core. All around him, he felt eyes on him, hundreds locking onto him as they tried their best to imitate him, feeling Anshara begin to saturate the entire planet.

He coaxed aspect-tinged aether out of his body, watching as the ascenders around somehow filtered it, allowing them to follow his steps a bit easier, the swordsmen among them that was. He was lost in the moment, a smile on his face as he remembered every memory of Martha, her smile, her laugh, the way she held him stable, a second parent to him.

He raised the stone blade skywards, fine cracks on its form as it held together simply by his will, swinging it with a thundering roar. The weapon exploded as the skies above him cleared, his eyes burning with power, all eyes turning to his position, he had moped enough, and he would mourn when he had the time, the titan was back.

************************

Typhon and Wukong sat aboard a vessel, quietly staring at a board filled with delicately carved clay structures, hundreds that moved with speed, smashing at each other. They pored over this board in silence, both primordials, beings who had thought they were at the top of the food chain at one point, and they were, in a sense. They felt it the moment the aspect in the system began to roil, the quiet underlying power of the titan slowly bubbling to life, waxing stronger with every second.

“Well, about time” Wukong murmured, eyes flicking around the board with prenatural speed.

His pieces were colored in the bright green of the forests of his home world, a world that now sat at the border of the system. They pushed at the pieces of Typhon, the king of monsters’ pieces coated with dark grey colors, his pieces aggressively looking for a manner to circumvent those of Wukong. Typhon nodded.

“He has experienced true pain as a power, I will admit, I’m surprised he’s thinking rationally” the king of monsters replied.

Wukong chuckled.

“Not all of us can raze three systems to the ground in a quest to recover some safekeep of their beloved,” the sage said.

Kairos laughed.

“It won me Tiamat’s’ love,” he said.

“true” Wukong murmured.

They felt the explosion of power, the wave of titan aspect tearing through the planets and systems, invigorating every single being around, even their primordial bodies basking in it.

"he's like a hundred nexus points in one body,” Wukong said, eyes turning to the direction of Ibere.

“Try a thousand, Azael played his game right, break the titan by breaking those around him” Typhon replied.

“Too bad we can’t make our way to the last citadel, my people tell me it’ll take a while, probably a few days, by then, it would have fallen,” Wukong said.

“Same as mine, the Runebearer should have been one of our important priorities, Azael knew his worth when he killed him,” Typhon said regretfully.

Ashira, the daughter of the king of monsters tore a pathway through into the room they were in, masters verdant and Malia behind her. She turned to the direction of the planet, a fierceness in her eyes as Typhon nodded, without speaking to the two primordials, she opened a pathway to the planet as raw titan aspect bathed the room. The king of monsters could feel the very presence of the titan blade gazing at them as his aspect reared its head in turn, it wasn’t a clash, more like the two aspects assessing each other.

And then she was through the pathway, the pathway closing up behind her silently, Typhon glancing at Wukong who nodded his head.

“I’m beginning to see merit to your plan, count me in,” he said.

Typhon chuckled as their games continued.

**********************

Ajax sat in front of a recording crystal, feeling the power of Moyo saturate the air above him, he nodded, smiling as he drew himself to his full height. He had done his part; it was left to the titan to pick up the pieces and learn from them. The death of Martha would not be the only death he would witness in the long run, it was better he learned to deal with such grief right now. He turned his attention to the crystal and then the blade sitting right beside him, one he had recently forged.

It wasn’t his blade, Voidbringer was behind him, lying on a slab, this was another, one he had crafted with such precision and concentration that he still felt the echo of power he had drawn from his still acclimating core within him. He took a deep breath, smiling into the recording crystal as he spoke.

“Hello child” he started.