Betrayal (Full Story):  Written by Exodus, Original Story by Exodus  

Ten years since the tragic death of the queen, Iyaxxl had been very busy, he had 
secretly been gathering troops to serve him, he had corrupted some of the most 
loyal people, with an evil influence, and had them trained in his own fashion.  
Anyone who found out about his secret agenda, and not willing to serve Iyaxxl, 
were now dead.  
Finally, Iyaxxl chose today to be the right time for the takeover.  
He marched into the front courtyard of Kylandia Castle with a small number of 
his troops, dressed in a blue royal uniform with yellow cuboid shoulder pads.  
“Troops, hide away until I give the signal.” he said to them.  
Commander Javes was walking by, a blonde man and one of the highest ranking 
soldiers.  
“Advisor, what are you doing here? Isn’t this your day off?”  
“I need to speak to the king, its quite urgent.”  
“If you’ve got something to say.” said Javes a little suspicious, “You can tell 
me, and I’ll tell the king when he’s not busy.”  
“No.  It won’t be the same coming from you...” said Iyaxxl, raising his arm to 
the side.  
“Huh?”  
Six troopers came out of hiding and jumped Javes, drawing their knives, they 
showed him no mercy, the last thing Javes was able to do was reach the alarm 
before he met his end.  
Sirens echoed around the castle.  
“Damn, you let him get to the alarm.  Kill the others.” growled Iyaxxl.  
Armed castle guards ran in, but unfortunately, the new troopers were superior to 
them in every way.  
The last two high guards entered, Lieutenant Gret Berkeley and Ensign Victor 
Snide.  
Berkeley had short black hair, and Snide’s dark hair fell to his shoulders, 
though they were both hidden by their helmets.  
“How could you do this Iyaxxl?! Come with me Victor, let’s destroy this scum!”  
“Yes Sir.”  
As Berkeley ran forward, a dagger drove into his back, he turned around to see 
the grin on Snide’s face.  
Berkeley dropped to the floor, and Victor removed his castle guard uniform, 
underneath was Iyaxxl’s symbol on his brown and gold armour that all of Iyaxxl’s 
normal troopers wore.  
Victor Snide was naturally a bully and a sneak, he’d betray his own mother if 
the price was right, in this case, it was high enough.  
“Good work Snide.  Take care of things down here, then destroy all the citizens 
in the city, I’m sure their homes will serve my troopers well.” explained 
Iyaxxl.  
“What will you do Sir?” asked Snide curiously.  
“I’m going to deal with the king personally, Morn, Krytus, Brutor:  You’ll come 
with me.”  
They ascended the stairs, Snide smiled and got down to what he loved doing 
most...  

The doors of the throne room swung open, Edward turned away from two leaders of 
neighbouring kingdoms, Haprin and Grandulen.  
“Iyaxxl, what are you doing here? Never mind, why did the alarm go off?”  
“Take a guess...” he replied simply.  
The two leaders ran at him, though they and Edward were equals, he’d helped 
their kingdom a lot, and they weren’t about to let Iyaxxl end his life.  
Krytus and Brutor jumped forward and plunged their weapons into the two men.  
They died almost immediately.  
“You?! But... why?...” questioned Edward.  
“For years I’ve been advising the Scion royal family, mainly taking care of your 
late mother while you were out saving the world.  Do you know how annoying it is 
to cater for an immature prince when he won’t listen to a word you have to 
say?!” shouted Iyaxxl, though that wasn’t the reason, Iyaxxl had been waiting a 
long time to stand up to Edward.  
“That can’t be why you’re here.”  
“I now pledge my loyalty to a higher power, but I get to rule the kingdom! 
Krytus, Brutor:  Take care of things.”  
As the two advanced on Edward, his fists suddenly activated green flames around 
them.  
Elenora might have been long dead, but Edward still kept the magic she had 
gifted him with.  
“What?!” screamed Krytus.  
“It cannae be!” shouted Brutor.  
“You two are despicable.” said Edward, shooting a beam of plasma at them, they 
fell to the floor unconscious.  
“Strange, I suspected your daughter would inherit Elenora’s magic, but not you.  
Morn!” shouted Iyaxxl annoyed, he had not known about Edward’s powers.  
“I’m on it Sir!”  
Morn drew a sword and charged, Edward struck again but Morn activated a silver 
belt around his waist which enabled him to leap up high, he brought the sword 
down but Edward quickly raised both fists and fired.  
Morn flew all the way back into the wall and fell to the floor hard.  
Morn sustained heavy damage to the head through the force and the magic, and 
lost most his conscience and sanity from that moment on.  
“Just you left.” said Edward angrily.  
“I did not plan that you could have harnessed Elenora’s power.  But no matter, I 
shall defeat you just as easily.”  
“As easily as what?!” shouted Edward, knowing deep down what Iyaxxl would say, 
but not wanting the subject to be about Elenora.  
“So, you believed the rumours about her death.”  
“... Everyone said that demons attacked and poisoned her, but how could they 
have... if we destroyed them all?...  I’ve been such a fool!”  
Iyaxxl smiled, telling him more than words ever could.  
“You’re the reason the most kindest loving woman I’ve ever known is dead! You’ll 
pay for this Iyaxxl! This treachery cannot go unpunished!” shouted Edward, 
retrieving his spear and charging forward.  
“Yes, lose yourself in rage.” taunted Iyaxxl, “It makes it so much easier to 
kill you!”  

Iyaxxl drew his sceptre and blocked the first hit, he had trained himself well.  
“Don’t think you deserve sympathy.  My wife ran away from me, taking my child!”  
“She probably saw the monster inside of you long before I did, you deserve all 
the punishment you get for what you’ve done!”  
They continued to thrust and jab their weapons towards their opponent, but were 
equally skilled and blocked each hit.  
“You’ll never get away with this Iyaxxl, even if I die, the people will never 
accept you as their ruler!”  
“Oh, they’ll accept me, it might take some lies though.”  
Edward struck out in anger, Iyaxxl’s sceptre was swatted away, and then Edward 
dragged the sharp point across his face and damaged Iyaxxl’s eyes.  
He screamed out and fell to the floor, and held his face with one hand.  
“It is over, traitor.”  
“For You...  Morn!” shouted Iyaxxl.  
“Yes... Sir...”  
Morn picked himself up and pressed a button, behind the throne, a wall panel 
turned around, all that was there was a vortex that started sucking everything 
in, Iyaxxl was just out of range, but not Edward, he ploughed his fingers into 
the carpet but it wouldn’t hold him for long.  
“You remember that portal you had Morn build, don’t you?” gloated Iyaxxl.  
The Void was a virtually inescapable place, once you went inside, you were 
trapped in an empty realm devoid of life.  
“Only one chance...” muttered Edward, “I must transform into Energen, the 
guardian spirit of the plasma users, but if Iyaxxl gets in the way then we’re 
both doomed.  Surely he won’t sacrifice himself...  ENERGEN!!!”  
“Ene-what?”  
Edward’s body glowed, he was surrounded by green flames, and his body parts 
became sharper.  
His eyes burst into flames and he grew a little.  
“You can’t escape! You won’t escape!” screamed Iyaxxl, one hand covering his 
blood filled eyes, he was blinded, but wouldn’t give up on ruling.  
“GET OUT OF THE WAY, IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE!” said the booming voice of Energen 
through Edward.  
“Never! I shall be rid of you!” retaliated Iyaxxl.  
If Iyaxxl could see what he was up against, he might have thought twice, running 
forward and working on hearing alone, he collided with the king, a huge 
explosion occurred and Iyaxxl’s body was ripped apart, the force threw Energen 
back and forced him to retire, Edward was flung into the vortex, and was soon 
trapped in the desolate world...  

Later, the three soldiers woke up.  
“Ugh...  What happened?...” asked Morn, picking himself up.  
“That creep! ‘ow dare ‘e troi ta obli’erate me!” screamed Krytus, straightening 
his flame red hair.  
“Never mind that! Look!” shouted Brutor, reattaching his brown helmet.  
They looked at the mutilated corpse of their emperor.  
“Oiyaxxl...  ‘e’s...”  
“Don’t think that way!” interrupted Morn, “I am a scientist, with my knowledge 
and machinery, I can bring Iyaxxl back!”  
“’ow?...” questioned Krytus.  
“If ye could actually dae that...” commented Brutor, “Why would ye dae such a 
thing? Ye’ve always been ordered aroon’ bah him.”  
It was strange that Morn wouldn’t seize this opportunity to take control.  
“Because!” he replied, “No one will believe that we weren’t responsible for the 
defeat of Edward.  Only Iyaxxl, his ‘loyal advisor’, can convince the people of 
this kingdom that he is the rightful ruler.  We’re not in a position to take on 
the other allied kingdoms yet.  Until he returns, I’m taking charge of this 
operation.  You two must capture the princess, as long as she’s free, she’s the 
heir to the throne.”  
“Then le’s kill ‘er.” said Krytus simply.  
“No!” screamed Morn, “That wasn’t part of the plan! The world doesn’t even know 
of her existence, and it must remain that way.  Iyaxxl promised I could research 
her Gaian power.  Just think.  I could gift each one of Iyaxxl’s troopers and 
yourselves with powerful magic.  Now get her before she escapes!”  

In Edwina’s room, the fighting could be heard, she huddled near her beloved 
knight, and prince-to-be, Lance, he had matured and become very responsible, and 
it was planned that they be married someday.  
Edwina was a beautiful young lady now, with long blonde hair and deep blue eyes, 
she was currently dressed in a red casual dress rather than a luscious royal 
one.  
Lance was quite the man now, he still brushed his short parted turquoise hair 
back except for two long strands which overlapped his face, he wore silver and 
pale violet armour, and used a huge sword with a purple hilt.  
“Lance, I am scared...” said Edwina nervously in an English accent.  
“Don’t worry princess, I won’t let them near you.” replied Lance in an equally 
posh accent, it was the way they were brought up.  
“Lance, I-”  
She was interrupted as three long claws stuck through the gap in the doorway and 
slashed down, destroying the hinges, the door fell over and there stood Krytus 
in his favourite pose, arms crossing each other and his fighting claws sticking 
outwards.  
He smiled menacingly.  
“Sly?! You’re in on this too?!” questioned Lance.  
“oo’re you? Ah yes, the silly prince-ta-be, or is that king-ta-be?”  
Edwina knew exactly what he meant and gasped, “Daddy...”  
“’e’s gone ‘Missy’! This place belongs ta Oiyaxxl now!”  
“You... killed the king...  You’re going to die!” screamed Lance, drawing his 
huge sword and bringing it down, but Krytus caught the flat ends between his 
hands and pushed Lance back.  
Krytus noticed the tears in Lance’s hateful eyes.  
“You’re cryin’...  You lil’ girl!”  
“Be quiet!” he screamed, “The king was my father too! Maybe not by blood, but in 
every other way!”  
“Of course.” remembered Krytus, “You were orphaned ten years ago, you’re Lucas’ 
lil’ boy!”  
“Don’t speak of him! He died protecting the castle from demons!”  
Krytus smiled, “So you got suckered in boi that rumour too.  Jus’ loike Edward.”  
“What did you say?!”  
Krytus felt so much joy in being the bearer of this news.  
“There were no demons! That was us!”  
“That means... Mommy... and Teresa and Lucas...” shuddered Edwina.  
“All dead boi Oiyaxxl’s command, but Oi hold a special place in moi heart fer 
Lucas, you never forget yer firs’ kill...”  
Every ounce of possible rage filled Lance, he had fought alongside Krytus for 
years, thinking that they were friends, but all that time he was working to kill 
the king, and all that time it was him that made his life so miserable.  
“You killed him?! I trusted you, I fought with you and all that time you were 
not only plotting against the king but you killed my father?! YOU’RE... GONNA... 
DIE!!!”  
Lance threw faster swipes with his blade and smashed one of Krytus’ claws with 
the extreme force, he was about to finish the job when Brutor leaped through the 
open window and hurled a knife in Lance’s back.  
“Arggghh!” he screamed.  
“Thanks, pal.” said Krytus.  
“Any time.” replied Brutor.  
Krytus grabbed Lance’s neck with one hand and raised it, Lance held onto his 
sword with one hand, while the other was feebly trying to remove the dagger.  
“Yer father was moi firs’ kill, and you shall be...  Well Oi’ve los’ coun’ of 
that, but you’ll make a foine addition...”  
Krytus drove his claws into Lance’s chest, then pulled his arm and Lance back a 
little, and hurled him forward, out of the window, and through the balcony 
fence.  
He didn’t stand a chance, they were on the third floor of the castle, and all 
that lied below Edwina’s balcony was a long drop, jagged rocks and the merciless 
ocean below.  
“LANCE!” screamed Edwina.  
She rolled to the side and picked up her crossbow, and immediately fired three 
shots at Krytus, he knocked away each one while Brutor disarmed and restrained 
her before she could try again.  
“Now, now, that’s nae very ladylike.” he said.  
“We win.” said Krytus proudly.  
“My father, where is he?!” ordered Edwina.  
“’Daddy’s’ gone on a lil’ ‘oliday, fer the rest of ‘is life!” taunted Krytus.  
Her head sunk down, all the special people in her life were gone, there was 
nothing left for her now.  
“You traitors...  You will never get away with this.” she sobbed.  
“On the contrary, we already ‘ave.” replied Krytus, “The world doesn’t know of 
yer existence, no ones gonna save you, an’ without an ‘eir, Oiyaxxl can take the 
throne and rule the kingdom as ‘e pleases.  ‘e’s planned it all an’ there’s 
nothin’ you can do about it.”  
The last ounce of hope left Edwina, and her heart was broken.  
“We have won.” said Brutor, before he and Krytus started to laugh out loud...  

Next:  “Empire’s Beginning”  

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