The fierce sandstorm finally began to settle.
From its choking haze emerged four mighty warriors—each one a monster in his own right, loyal only to one man: Lucas.
The first to appear was Demos, the God of Thunder. Lucas's first and most loyal ally. He rode a skeletal warhorse, its bones glowing faintly with an eerie light. In his hands were twin thunder-spears crackling with lightning. Demos's black knight armor gleamed with menace, and his torn crimson cape fluttered behind him. His glowing red eyes pierced the storm through the visor of his helmet—only his mouth and nose visible beneath the steel.
Next came Thoras, a blind giant of a warrior. He was bald, towering, and carried a massive hammer that looked as if it could crush mountains. He rode a wild bull, its horns nearly as thick as his arms. Thoras wore the fur of a demon bear wrapped like a skirt—one he'd slain barehanded. Twin belts crisscrossed his muscular torso like battle scars.
The third was Shisui, a seasoned swordsman with a heavy beard and long black hair that flowed in the wind. He wore a kimono, leaving his scarred chest exposed—scars that told stories of countless battles. Four cursed swords hung from his waist, and he rode a black stallion, eyes like obsidian.
Last to arrive was the most unsettling—Clown, Lucas's second-in-command. No one knew his real name. He didn't ride. He walked. Dressed in a long coat and worn-out hat, his face was covered in grotesque clown makeup. He carried no weapon—none were needed. His presence alone radiated madness and dread. That wide, twisted grin never left his face.
Suddenly, the sky roared.
A golden dragon descended from above, its steel-hard scales reflecting the dying light like molten armor. With a thunderous screech, it landed beside Lucas, casting a terrifying shadow over the land.
Lucas casually reached up and petted its massive snout.
"Good boy, Khaos."
The dragon huffed and grumbled, its voice strangely clear.
"Oy, Lucas! I'm not your pet dragon! I'm the mighty Khaos! And stop that—it tickles!"
Lucas chuckled. "You always say that."
"Chii chii chii…"
Clown's high-pitched laugh echoed around them, unsettling everyone.
"Lucaaaaasss, can we pleeeease start the invasion now? I can't WAIT any longer! I'm so exxxxccitedddd!"
Shisui facepalmed.
"Oh god, still as childish as ever…"
Clown's grin twitched. "Childish? My foot! I outrank you, I'm the superior one, idiot!"
Shisui narrowed his eyes, hand resting on his sword hilt. "Want to switch places then?"
Before tension snapped, Thoras spoke, calm and firm.
"Enough. Let us hear our master's command."
The four bowed their heads.
Lucas's voice was warm, but firm.
"Relax, my friends. That last war ended before we even realized we were fighting. Still, I value your thoughts."
He glanced at Clown.
"I already know your answer. You want to erase Meriot off the map."
Clown laughed wildly again. "Chii chii chii chii!"
Lucas turned to the others, his voice turning colder.
"I can already guess your mindsets. So let's not waste time."
He raised a hand and smiled.
"Let's start this catastrophe."
In one smooth motion, Lucas mounted Khaos, the dragon soaring into the sky. His warriors marched behind him toward the doomed city of Meriot.
As they moved, Demos muttered, "Meriot... once protected by its proud warriors... now stands defenseless. Its women and children—innocent lives—should not be dragged into this, we should stop it Lord lucas."
"Oh for GOD'S SAKE," Clown snapped. "JUST SHUT THE HELLLL UPPP!"
Demos didn't said anything after that and they all continued marching.
Meanwhile in Meriot, Queen Yulene sat quietly in her room, clutching the hand of her young son, Prince Judas.
A terrified gasp echoed through the palace. A maid dropped her binoculars, shattering them on the stone floor.
"My lady!" the woman cried, running into the Queen's chamber. Her voice trembled with dread. "It's… it's them... they've come…"
Queen Yulene didn't respond. Her face was frozen—calm, yet utterly unreadable.
Judas looked up at her, worried. "Mom... how's Dad?"
She pulled him close, holding him tightly as her eyes focused on the maid. "What else did you see?"
"I–I saw a storm, and then—"
Before she could finish, screams erupted outside.
Yulene, Judas, and the maid rushed to the balcony.
Below them... was hell.
Flames devoured buildings. Meriot burned.
A golden dragon soared through the smoke, spewing fire that turned streets into ash.
Yulene staggered. "No... this can't be real... it can't be..."
She collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Mom, don't cry," Judas begged, holding her tightly. "Please…"
Then her sobbing stopped.
"...Mom?"
Thick, warm liquid dripped onto Judas's face.
He opened his eyes to a horrific sight—and screamed.
A spear had pierced straight through Yulene's head—from behind. Her skull split apart, blood and brain matter splattering as her lifeless body collapsed.
"No... NOOOO!" judas screamed, crawled back...breathing heavily as his heart beat rapidly and his brain couldn't process what has happened in a moment.
Demos appeared behind his mother's corpse.
"Poor kid..." he wispered quietly, stepping forward.
Judas scrambled back, screaming, before trying to run.
Demos hurled his thunder-spear towards the running kid.
SLASH—it severed Judas's left hand clean off.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" the boy wailed, collapsing.
Clutching the bleeding stump, Judas stumbled forward, covered his wound with his other hand, dragging himself across the burning palace, he bit his lower lip to hold his screams and kept running away despite having an unbearable pain.
"Dad… Mom… someone… help…" he murmured, tears slipping continuously from his eyes.
A massive boulder from the collapsing burning castle crashed down on him.
His scream rang out—
"AAAAAHHHH! MOM—DAD—PLEA—ugh…
Judas's bones crushed under the weight, yet he crawled in this helpless state and managed to free himself from the boulder. As he emerged, he saw a pair of feet before him. His gaze traveled upward, meeting the cold, emotionless eyes of Lucas.
Lucas's cold gaze settled on Judas, his voice devoid of emotion. "You," he said, pointing at the young prince. "Who are you?"
Judas trembled, still reeling from the pain of his wounds. "I-I am Judas... Prince of Meriot."
Lucas's expression remained impassive. "Prince of Meriot? I see." He bent down, grasping Judas's collar, and pulled him up with single hand out of the boulders. "So, kid, do you have any ambitions?"
Judas's anger flared despite his fear. "I-I'll kill you! Y-you killed my mother...my father!" he yelled, his voice shaking with rage while eyes continue leaking tears.
Lucas's smile was unsettling, he wispred in Judas's ears, "I like your ambition, kid. I'll let you live." He leaned in, his eyes glinting with intensity. "I can see the flames of revenge burning in your eyes. Become strong, hate me, and then fight me, afterall....its been too long since ive fought with a worthy opponent. Go and become one."
With a swift motion, Lucas hurled Judas out of the palace's window, few floors above from the ground. Judas sailed through the air, his scream echoing off the walls as he crashed to the ground. The pain was excruciating, and his vision began to blur.
Judas saw the devastation around him: his parents murdered, his people dead, and his kingdom in ruins "Mom...dad...everyone". The last thing he remembered was his family and the pain of his severed arm.
He lost consciousness.
When Judas came to, he found himself in a serene landscape, green long grass waving in the soothing warm air, the sky was pure and sunlight shines everywhere, the landscape lasts till the vision of eyes can go, judas was sitting on a wooden bench beside a beautiful young lady in a black dress. She was casting a spell on his severed arm with focus and closed eyes, and Judas felt a strange sensation as his limb began to regrow with a green aura.
"Who are you?" Judas asked, still disoriented.
The lady didn't respond, focusing instead on completing the spell. As she finished, she smiled at judas, Judas's wounds healed, and he felt a surge of gratitude, "T-thank you lady.
Judas woke up, gasping in shock, this time for real. He looked around, taking in the ruins of his burned kingdom. He noticed that he wasn't feeling any pain, and his left arm had regrown.
"No… no way!" Judas gasped, his eyes wide in disbelief. "I thought... that was just a dream..." His voice faltered as yesterday's memories surged into his mind like a flood breaking through a dam.
A raw scream tore from his throat.
Clutching his head, he bolted toward the ruins of Meriot. The once-proud castle, the bustling city, even the vibrant market—all reduced to cinders. A silent graveyard of fire and smoke.
But something felt off.
He dashed through the wreckage, heart pounding, breath ragged. Not a single body. No civilians. No soldiers. Nothing. As if the entire city had been wiped clean from existence, only ruins everywhere.
His footsteps echoed through the hollow remains of the castle. He stopped at the chamber where his mother had fallen, but even there, he found nothing—only dried bloodstains smeared across the cold stone floor.
Tears streamed down his face as he traced the stains with trembling fingers.
"MOTHER—ugh... Mother…" he sobbed.
Then he fell silent. The sorrow in his eyes hardened into rage.
"I'LL KILL YOU, LUCAS!" he yelled, his eyes blazing with hatred.
Judas, determined for his revenge found a dagger in the ruins of castle, he tied a cloth on his waist and hang the blade with it. Clenched his fists and set on his journey to kill a god.
---{end of chapter 3}