Anti-Hero: Journey Of Fear

"Let us never speak of how we got it." Tor panted.

"Agreed." I said. One and Two just looked glad the ordeal was over and Three had a grin on his face. We had exited the cave and returned to our campsite between the rocks in the burnt out forest. I held the cube but felt no ultimate power coursing through me.

We got a small fire going from the charcoal laying around and settled in for the night. The cube was about the size of my fist. On each of the six faces there was engraved hundreds of tiny symbols that had a faint blue glow.

It wasn't heavy and I couldn't place the metal. The Cube of Etherion, what a simple name for such an unknown. I thought about allowing the old man to regenerate but that was just asking for trouble. The following morning we began journeying towards the dome structure again with the idea that it might unlock some of the cube's secrets.

I had been tempted to sell it to Solid Steel, but I had no idea how much it was worth. We reached the large dome structure at the end of the day and had stew with the idea we would deal with the cube the following morning.

I was almost too excited to fall asleep. If this made me immortal, there would be a reign of terror so great and everyone would flock to my videos. I worked on managing my breathing and eventually I drifted off.

We got up the next morning and stood outside the large dome's signal entrance. We had discussed it and I would be the one to enter. I had left my weapons behind except for my regular sword. I walked forward, my metal tips of my chitin foot clinked on the stone. I stepped up to the pedestal and set the cube on it. I couldn't tell which side was the top or the bottom.

I waited….and waited….and waited some more and still nothing happened. I poked the cube but there was no beam of energy, no infusion of power. "Let's get the old man. Two you hold onto it and keep a look out while we question him." Two walked off and Three let the old man's heart drop out on the mountain top.

We all had our weapons read as he slowly reformed. Three made sure to put a large rock in his c.h.e.s.t cavity and a small one in each eye socket. The body shook and the old man took a shallow breath.

"Going to torture me some more?" He asked.

"No, but tell me how to unlock the secrets of the cube."

"The Cube of Etherion is magical construct that is beyond unmaking."

"Well how is it keeping you alive?" This old man was really pissing me off.

"Ah, well my soul was bound to it during the forging process so that I may forever guard it."

"You failed against the bugs."

"My greatest shame, for I had taken the-"

"You used the cube when they attacked your village. Tell me what powers it has!"

"You cannot force me to reveal that. I am bound."

"Insolent old man. I will call upon-"

"NO! I honestly cannot aid you in this matter."

"Can you tell me who made it?"

"No."

"Did I make it?"

"No…what?"

"Just answer if you can. Did the gods make it?"

"….." That was a yes. But this was going to be a challenge.

"Next question, is this the only cube?"

"..." So more than one.

"Are there six?"

"...."

"Seven?"

"....."

"One?"

"...…"

"Ahhhh! Answer me!"

"I cannot. You may do what you wish."

"Well who can answer?"

"I can't answer that."

"So what the heck should I do with it? You lost it once, so where should it be taken to? Can you answer that?"

"I know of no safe place, which is why I came to this island long ago. I have been out of touch with the world for a long time."

"Ok, you have a choice. Either you can answer my questions or I am going say something you don't want me to."

"Then so be it. My only regret is that I will be unable to watch what happens."

"You are going to be an offering old man. Everyone, whatever happens, let me do the talking."

"Kenji you don't think he might have a point?" Tor said.

"I want some compensation for this thing. Mental defense. Now…" I cleared my throat and held the cube above my head. "I call upon the Goddess Tafe, I have broken through the haze of this sanctuary and retrieved the Cube of Etherion, aid me now." The wind stopped, the sky darkened, and everything faded to a black and white monochrome.

A shimmering figure appeared in front of me. It was the lady in white, so I was right. Tafe and her were one of the same. "Which mortal dares call upon me?" Her gazed fixed on me and I was frozen. My…..thoughts…..were…..

"Ah, Kenji Shadowen. So you have called upon me. I see you have a Cube of Etherion. Such a small yet powerful thing." She reached for it but then pulled her hand back. "You have done a great deed breaking through the protections that layer this place." She looked down at my foot. "At some cost."

"Deal." I managed to breathe out.

"A deal, hmmmm. You have been to a cave system. Take the cube and leave it inside the entrance. If you do I will consider a signal wish. For there are more and I would like all of them."

"Goddess, you shall not succeed." The old man bit out from the ground.

"Ah, what a pitiful excuse of a man to guard the cube." He began screaming. He hadn't screamed no matter what we had done to him. With rocks in his eye and body and slicing him up. He had been mostly stoic throughout the ordeal.

The screaming cut off as Tafe turned towards me. "Do we have a deal?"

"No." I squeaked out.

"NO!" For a second the world seemed to invert and then everything returned to the black and white suspension. "You are stubborn. I offered a great reward and you have spat in my face. Your time comes Kenji Shadowen, for as they say, your Fate is written in stone and blood. Now reap the whirlwind." The goddess faded away and the world snapped back into color.

"You fool! You have invoked a calamity!" The old man cried from the ground. I kicked him in the balls as hard as I could. Unfortunately I had used my bug foot so instead of blunt damage the bottom spike pierced his groin.

"Three deal with him." Three eagerly got to work cutting the old man's heart back out.

"We are definitely not going back to that cave….ever." Tor said. I just gave her a nod. My mind was still on the goddess's last words. The ground began to shake. We all went down to the ground. The domed building lit of a bright blue for a brief second before collapsing.

I saw Two trying to make his way back to the group. In an instant the ground in between us exploded. A cloud of dust and debris went everywhere. I glanced through the haze and saw a massive figure emerge. "Observe."

Greater Tunneling Worm

LvL: ????

Strongest Stat: Endurance

HP: ??????

MP: ????

SP: ??????

"Oh f.u.c.k." I whispered. A sudden wave of gravity hit the mountaintop and the dust and debris collapsed to the ground. There rising up from the ground was a seven foot wide monstrosity. I could see thick armored plates along its body. I could not see any eyes. As the creature swerved through the air like a plant in the wind I saw its mouth. Hundreds, thousands, of fine spikes spinning in circles alternating directions at each row.

"No one move. It can't see!" I shouted. The worm went over the side of the mountain and back into it leaving the ground shaking. "No one move!" I shouted again. I reached over to the side and picked up a large rock. Being as careful as I could I threw it as hard as I could towards the North side of the mountain. As soon as the rock hit the worm burst out of the ground obliterating the entire north side.

"Move this way!" We all began running. I felt the rumbling subside. "Stop." Everyone came to a halt. One almost kept going but managed to stop. "Two you okay?"

"Yeah, holy shit man. What was that?"

"Greater Tunneling Worm."

"There is a boat off the coast. But they are hanging back and I didn't see anyone come ashore."

"Shit, that worm was visible. They are probably debating if they want to risk it."

"It is our only ticket off this island." Tor said.

"Yeah, but I bet they are player hunters. Someone worked out where I was. Plus we seem to have a super boss after us."

"Listen to the wise old man. They get old by being smart."

"Well he was immortal so how was I to know?"

"I would hit you if that would mean our instant death by worm gullet."

"If we keep throwing rocks it is bound to catch on. If we can get to the coast, then hopefully the water will stop it." I said.

"Well you got us into this, get us out." Tor replied.

"That thing is at least fifty feet long and has a mouth that could eat a car no problems. It is also completely armored, senses tremors, and is after us."

"We need to sacrifice someone." Tor replied.

"Oh, shit!" One said.

"It is over thirty kilometers to the south beach. Even if we sacrificed everyone we would never make it."

"Whew." One said.

"The biggest problem is that it doesn't really eat anything. I can't just toss something down its throat and blow it up."

"Well we have a flame sword, flame magic, boost magic, swords, a war hammer, five people, an immortal old man's heart, and the Cube of Etherion. There has to be something we can do." Tor said.

"We wait." I said.

"Wait?" Tor looked surprised.

"Yes wait.

"You can't think of anything."

"You got it." She let out a long sigh.

"Just promise me, no more pissing off deities. You could try apologizing."

"What for-"

"Don't say whatever you are about to say. We don't need to invite more trouble."

"Got it." We stood there and time slowly dragged on.

"Anything yet?" One asked.

"Nope, you?" I replied.

"Nothing." He said.

Time continued to drag on as we waited and the sun slowly began to set.

"I need to take a piss." Two shouted over to us.

"Use your canteen." I shouted back.

"It is full of water."

"Well drink it and then take a piss. Oh and don't spill a drop or you are screwed."

We looked over as Two began chugging away. Once he was done we all held our breath as he took a piss. Thankfully his aim and control was good.

"Got it." I said.

"What?" Tor asked.

"I know how we are getting out of this."

"If you make me ask, I swear you are in for a world of hurt."

"We wait."

"That is what we are currently doing."

"Trust me. We probably need to wait another three to four hours."

"Whatever this is, it better work." Tor muttered. We continued to stand there.

"Urg, too much blood and flesh. I am getting full." Three said. He had been gnawing away at the old man's heart to keep it from regenerating. Blood cover the front of his clothes where it had dripped down. The only thing that made it possible was that the regeneration was fairly slow when it was just the heart.

"You can either chuck it away or you can keep eating." I said.

"Eat." Three returned to gnawing.

We waited another hour.

"Just tell me." One w.h.i.n.ed

"Use your brain. It isn't that hard to figure out." We continued to wait. The sun went down and that was when it happened.

A small pitter patter as ran began to full down on the mountain top. "Don't move." I picked up a large rock and threw it off to the side. The worm didn't emerge. I picked up two rocks and threw them, still nothing. "Everyone pick up some rocks and throw them where I do." Everyone copied me but still the worm didn't emerge. I took a step and nothing.

"Ok, we are good." Everyone let out a sigh and began to take a piss. Three threw up all over the place. I didn't have any idea how he fit that much inside of himself. Maybe I should have told him to cut off pieces and put them on his head and wait for them to disintegrate. Meh, he managed well enough.

"Everyone good?"

"I think I have a cramp." One muttered.

"Well uncramp. Let's go people. Toss stones out to the side as we travel. If the worm does come I want to be ready." We began our retreat down the south side of the mountain.

"So how did you know it would rain?" Tor asked.

"It has rained most nights we have been here. Also the cloud cover was fairly heavy. Actually Two gave me the idea. Good job." He just let out a grunt. We had gotten down into the tree line when the rain began to slow down.

"If you feel anything shout, stop, and throw stones in front of us." Everyone just gave an exhausted yes. We hadn't been able to rest all day and now we were rushing through the forest at night with all our gear while picking up and throwing things off to the side.

Dawn came and we were following a stream bed hoping the water would mask our footsteps. I called a halt about a kilometer from the beach. "If it attacks it will be on the beach. Plus we have to fight our way onto that sloop."

"I missed the Shut-AHHHHH." Two said.

"Best ship ever." One replied.

"It was a good ship." Three said. I just kept quiet since I hadn't ever seen it. We waited until the sun had set.

"Ready?" Everyone gave me a tired nod. We followed the stream to the beach and saw the boat about half a kilometer to our right. "Okay everyone stay in the surf and let's go." We continued from the stream to the surf and began moving up the shoreline.

The boat was about a hundred feet from shore. Myself and Two would have a problem making it with our weapons and armor. "Alright, they want me then they can get me. See that boulder over there on the shore line. All of you hide behind it. When I attack boost me and attack as well." I walked out onto the shoreline while the rest of my team hid.

"Flame on." My sword burst into flame. "Who do I have to ask for a ride?" I shouted. People began piling onto the deck and staring at me.

"Who are you?"

"A person who needs a lift. Have room?"

"That's Kenji Shadowen." There was a hush when someone shouted that.

"Yes I am. So you can leave me here, or you can try and capture me."

"Out of the way!" A massive woman pushed her way to the edge of the boat. Oh god, it was one of the She-Hulks. "You!" She raised a massive sword and pointed it at me. She was definitely compensating for something. "Sisters we have found him." Three more She-Hulks came out onto the deck.

"So which one of you ladies wants a spin. It is more than big enough, even for She-Hulks like you."

"You will pay you insolent whelp."

"Calm….sister. We….together….overwhelm…..dangerous."

"I see only one boat. At most two of you can come at a time. That is the problem, mass carries over with body size."

"And reach." The one woman swiped her massive blade through the air.

"Sisters, leave the armor. Our prayers will protect us." They began to strip and chant. I noticed that One was swimming out to the boat. That was good thinking. I walked to the very edge of the surf.

I muttered, "Tafe, you are a bitch who likes to eat pig shit." I felt a rumble that wasn't the water. The four ladies hoped into the boat and began heading towards me. I waited until they were twenty feet out. "Flame off." I then threw the rock onto the sand.

There was a long pause. I threw a throwing dagger. The worm burst out the ground in an explosion of sand and water. I leapt to the side as it flew towards me. It hit the water and reared its head out. "Have at yee, you foul feast." The She-Hulk with the massive sword and jumped off the row boat and struck the creature. Sparks went everywhere but she didn't penetrate it.

I swam through the water as the She-Hulks and the worm occupied each other. My armor was weighing me down and draining my SP quickly as I tried to keep afloat. I heard screams as the battle continued behind me. A rope was thrown out from the boat and I grabbed onto it. I was then pulled aboard by the sailors. One had an arm wrapped around the neck of a small girl with a sword pressed into her side.

Moments later the rest of the team was aboard and the sailors began unfurling the sails and raising anchor. I looked back at the She-Hulks and was surprised they were still alive. The worm must be having a lot of trouble in the water I thought.

It had come completely out of its hole and was darting across the water attempted to strike the She-Hulks. Despite its apparent bulk, it floated very well and the She-Hulks had taken to ducking into the water to avoid its attacks. The boat began to pull away one of the ladies let up a cry but Three made the row boat burst into flames.

"Take care ladies. Maybe you shouldn't let the steroids go to your head."

"Rain of Blood I am going to rip off you-" She dived out of the way as the worm leapt at her. Despite my jokes, they were amazingly good. So good that the only their sheer stupidity allowed me the chance to escape. If they had kept just one person on the boat this would have turned out far differently.

"Who do you think will win?" I asked Tor who had moved next to me.

"Indestructible worm of the goddess versus four stubborn ladies. I am going with the She-Hulks."

"I will wager a nice dinner on the worm."

"Accepted." They were still going at it as we got further and further away, making it impossible to make out any details in the darkness.

"I am the captain of this vessel. Tell your man to let my daughter go." I turned around. I pulled out my flame sword and thrust it into his gut.

"Flame on!" He began to shriek as he was cooked alive. I used his thrashing to turn and then pushed him over the railing. He disappeared into the water with a splash and a hiss. "Listen up. I am Kenji Shadowen. I don't take shit from anyone. Lord Breckley annoyed me so I killed him. If you move I will kill you or have one of my men kill you. Fear aura one minute."

Two of the sailors passed out and three more pissed themselves. "You are all my slaves. Since you have picked me up you are in my favor at the moment. The captain was in my favor but then he made demands. Set sail west around the continent for Goratat. You, what is your name?"

"Hanark, your lordship." He was barely a boy of seventeen where most of the sailors were middle aged.

"Congratulations Hanark you are now in charge. Everyone, you obey Hanark. If he tells you jump, you jump. If he tells you to bend over, well you bend over. If there are issues talk to Hanark and he will talk to me. Now Hanark get us some food and arrange our beds." The poor boy got to work yelling at people twice his age. I looked for anyone hesitating, but no one did. Unfortunate since I wanted to make an example.

We had fish and light beer but it was a nice change of pace. There were five hammocks set up in the Captain's cabin. I took first watch while everyone else slept. "Thanks Tafe, sorry about all of that." A gust of wind hit the ship and it tilted to the side heavily but didn't capsize. Hopefully she wouldn't send the worm after us. I was soon relieved by One and got some much needed sleep.

I woke up the next day and saw the coast off in the distance. I checked the wind and then took a piss off the side of the ship that wouldn't blow it back on me. I was leaning on the rail and enjoying the breeze when I heard shouting. I turned and made my way over to where Hanark and other crew member were arguing.

"-the deck."

"That's your job Captain." The sailor sneered. I put my hand on his shoulder. He spun around and I moved out of the way of a punch. He then paled when he saw who it was.

"Hanark is there a problem?"

"No problem my Lord, um sir."

"Lord is fine. If there is no problem why was there shouting?" Hanark looked nervous. "Speak."

"I told him to swab the deck so it looked nice. Normally that was my job as the newest aboard ship."

"Ah, so he is lazy."

"Hey, I-" I pulled out one of my swords and rested it on his shoulder.

"Don't distract me, I might slip. So Hanark, what are you going to do?"

"Ummm, I am sure Bill will get right to work."

"He tried to hit me and argued with the person I put in charge. He is challenging me when he challenges you. So you can punish him or I can. Trust me, you don't want me to think up of something."

"Three lashes."

"Just three?"

"And then he has to swab the deck."

"Very well, oh and if he screams or says anything for the next five days or slacks off in his work in any way I will handle things? If me or my people are attacked again, you will be punished Hanark. So feel free to discipline anyone who doesn't listen."

"Yes my Lord." I left the sailors to sort themselves out. I just didn't want to have to crew the ship or do any work. I wanted to rest after the island. I ignored the stares as I made my way to the galley. They hadn't seen my foot clearly the night before and probably thought the ripples of fire were their wild imaginations.

"So I saw someone getting lashed. You're doing?" Three asked me. He still had that heart in his hand. I swear it was like a pet or something.

"Yes, but try to not kill them. I really don't want to have to sail this ship or cook or clean." I said.

"Yeah, no problem." Three said. Everyone else slowly came in but Tor who was probably going to sleep until mid-day.

"Alright, I told Three but try and not kill of the crew unless you want to do all the chores. Also take inventory of what this ship has and search everything. If there are any issues, bring the person to me." I said.

"What about the cube?" One asked.

"For now we keep it. I put out some feelers, but without having its power unlocked it is more a curiosity than anything else. For now we head towards Goratat and then into the desert."

"What about the sand worms?" Two asked.

"I am still working on that. What we really need is some sort of flying craft. I would kill for an airship."

"You would kill for almost anything." One replied.

"True, but I really want one ever since I heard some players are trying to build one."

"We should steal it." Three said.

"It is being built up north in Multhenn. Problem is that is crazy protected. Only a few people are allowed access and they have mages and enchantments on the workshop itself along with a host of soldiers. If we had another fifty levels on us then maybe, but right now…" I trailed off.

"A balloon might work." Two said. That wasn't a half bad idea.

"How would we control it?" One asked.

"At different levels in the atmosphere there should be different air currents. We get to the right level and sail directly to the tower, grab the book, and then keep on going. With the flame sword we have near unlimited heat." Two said.

"How did you come up with all that?" One asked.

"I really hate deserts and walking. I did a lot of outdoors stuff when I was younger. Deserts were not fun. Also seeing that worm was motivation." Two replied.

"I like it. Good job Two. When we get to Goratat we are going to take over so we can make this happen. First, there isn't really a guard or soldiers. Instead the barbarians rule through contests for control of the city. The way I understand it, only people of great renown can make a challenge. They have to fight the leader's champion. If they win then they get to fight the leader."

"So you are going to fight?" One asked.

"No, that would just lead to everyone else challenging me. I am putting out the word through my fans. Kill all the barbarian rulers in Goratat, a special prize will be given to the winner. Probably an awesome weapon."

"We weren't able to bring the bug scythes so what are you going to offer?" Two asked.

"It's a lie of course. But that should cause enough chaos. We come in, use the player base to supplement our man power and have them kill and pillage. We build a balloon in two or three days using slaves. Once the barbarians get their act together we will be long gone."

"That sounds like a…interesting idea." Tor said from the doorway.

"Good morning. Fish?" She sat down and began eating.

"The barbarian NPCs would just kill all the people. We should sneak in, build a balloon, and then cause chaos before we leave." Tor said.

"Hmmm, alright." There was s.u.c.k.i.n.g sound and we all turned to look at Three who had his mouth around one of the heart tubes. He stopped and looked up. A few seconds later he we went back to his meal quietly at least. "Alright, Two you are in charge of the balloon project. Tor and One you get supplies. Three….just keep hidden until we cause chaos. I am going to assist Two."

Everyone agreed and we continued on our ocean journey.

***

Ramponator: I think the princesses really Hulked out

6996: Whatever street cred they had, just got eaten by that worm

TheLordBreckley: Why….why did they all leave their ship

GODHAXLOL: WORMY!

PowerOfFaith: Because their muscles were bigger than their brains

UltimataSecret: Remind me never to vacation there

Ramponator: Don't vacation there

FuriousGhost: How could they fail...AHHHHH

Envy: They did not have Rain's awesomeness

Hosey: They got hosed

RoidBeast1: Why was the worm even after him in the first place?

***