Rise Of The Spatial Dragon

"Oh how wonderful to see you," a beautiful woman smiled at Kedan as he made his way across the threshold of the manor. "I heard you finally up, came to see it for myself. Oh look at you, so scrawny and frail, you need more hexham jades or does your disciple have enough."

Though she had adopted a motherly appearance, and even went ahead to put on a motherly act, let it not be mistaken that she was by no means a benevolent being. Shanara, one of the most fearsome sisters of the Mother Fwetha's Western Divine Priory.

She had always been Dane's competitor, and though the work of a prior or prioress was different from that of a Faction Protector, they were very much alike. Priors or prioresses were servants who elected to follow one who had become powerful enough to become a god, or goddess.

While these individuals were extremely powerful, they were heavily reliant on the power of the being they worshiped. They used worship as a way to draw the power of the being, and using that, they executed the will of the god, or in this case, goddess.

Great Goddess Fwetha had her own private collection of solar systems which she personally managed. When a solar system or a planetary system was owned by a faction, there were various religions established since they belonged to multiple entities, however, if they were owned by one entity, they assumed the role of supreme being. They took over entire religion and any invader would be labeled a demon to be cast out and rejected by mortals.

That was the way many preferred, however, it came with great responsibilities. As supreme ruler, the goddess had to maintain security, safety and general well being so as to continue the believe going on. This was the most important part of a priory. They acted as divine angels or holy spirits who watched over the various planetary systems. However, they were also personal guards who protected the goddess' territory against any attacks. Of course, few would dare attack such a supreme being's domain.

As a purist, goddess Fwetha had only selected humans as priors and prioresses. Once, one of the most promising Faction protector needed a favor, and to her great bargain, he agreed to become a prior for 5 galactic centuries. That's when he'd met Shanara.

As his guide, Shanara had taken Dane to one of her pet planets, and to her chagrin, the idiot actually overturned the planets worship system. While the humans have always been a predominantly patriarchal communities, in this system, she had successfully adopted a matriarchal religion. While many were mostly immoral, the goddess adopted a morality, hence the men were submitted to powerful women.

Dane managed to form a rival faction, where he convinced some young men to rebel. He then built a different story about the kindness of the mother and how she wished the men to rise and take their positions. Impressively, Dane managed to make this new belief so powerful it eclipsed even the old, and to Shanara's shame, even the women were convinced.

The truth is, Dane had played dirty, and played at Shanara's naivety. By nature, human males, that is, men, were stronger than women. As such, to win the approval and build a society, the one thing one should provide was security. Though Shanara managed to build a sect of female warriors, Dane's societies were more liberal.

It wasn't imposed that men should take lead, everyone had a chance. The first generations had women leaders of course, but by the time he was ending his covenant with the goddess, he'd managed to get extremely charismatic men on the throne. He didn't just do all this just to annoy Shanara, he wanted to learn how to influence a society. The goddess had just offered a marvelous way for him, and he wouldn't refuse such a golden opportunity.

Shanara had really been just in his way, but she chose to take it personally. Dane was a recognized hero, there was no shame in losing to such a veteran. After his fall from grace, she delighted in putting his image down. There was no order to harass his followers, but she just enjoyed picking on his weak aides. However, Kedan was not that weak.

"What do you want, Flame witch?" Kedan asked. He could see through her cover and pretension.

"Oh please, don't stand on ceremony. I suppose by now you already know what happened to your dear master. This is just to let you know that whatever you and your puny scheming mind want to try, just know, the oaf is no longer welcome in his faction, He is BANISHED!"

Kedan's fist was so tightly formed, and arcs of lighting could be seen all around him. He couldn't stand to hear his master being so insulted by someone he'd played like a fool. Given how powerful they both were, starting a fight here would be condemning the castle to ruin, hence he hesitated.

"Run along to your god, while I still allow it."

As he watched Shanara ride away, he thought back to the message buried deep within his soul. A message he had to give his master, but one that was confidential. At that time, the messenger had said that they trusted him, and should he have no other choice, he was permitted to read the contents of the message and gain a sense of the urgency.

No longer hesitating, he decided to read it. Maybe this may have some way of saving his master from his fate.

"We'll get her, that bitch!" The Baron exclaimed as he too watched her leave.

"She was right about one thing, I am still very weak, I need time to recover, see that I am not disturbed in my chambers, but you may allow that pretty maid to come back again, I liked her company."

To put you in perspective, they were gathered to received a distinguished guest. An immortal at that level would be considered extremely important, even revered by the mortals that served them. As immortals themselves, they had to show some decorum to one another, and hence they had gathered to receive this distinguished prioress.

Matters didn't go so well, and after a spicy exchange, the received guest exited as she had just arrived. Many present of course knew about powerful beings, and how it was absolutely important to never offend them in any way. The way the woman had spoken, her tone of voice, the absolute confidence.

Then there was this new entity that apparently was the Master to their Baron. It seemed so powerful that when he was angered, arcs of lighting were seen on his body. It seemed a male human, but who could tell for sure.

The one most terrified was Marion, as she had just been all but summoned by name. How could he be refused, and he had requested for her. Though it could end up in her favor, seldom did such matters devolve in that way. Mostly she'd end up as a pet, something to be used then discarded.

As these thoughts went through Marion's head, Kedan, who was eavesdropping couldn't help but chuckle, maybe that's what he'd do, maybe not. Either way, he might have some fun. That'd come later, for now, there was a message to be read.

Sitting back, he fell into a state of deep relaxation. With his powerful soul, he quickly entered into a state of meditation and got to the message. A moment's pause, and then, he reached out and opened it.

***

The crowd was on their feet. This was Khalia's second fight, and after the splendid performance he had put up in the first fight, everyone waited with baited breath to see what ingenious ways he would dazzle them.

A bow and a quiver of arrows. His two friends each wielded clubs, but they had no super power. One, Darrin, was one of the kids he had saved from the slavers, and since then he had been fiercely loyal. This was the only team among the arrows that was any good, and had a chance, but it was really an outside of a chance.

Unfortunately, their opponents this time were Jades. None of the superstars were present, but it was quite a fact that the jades hardly lost to anyone, and though there were a few who weren't quite up to standards, they were the minority. They were a force to recon with. The problem was, the guys they were up against were quite tough, and hadn't lost yet. Either way, one party would break a winning streak.

The Gong went off, and a moment later, an arrow was flying towards the lavel in the middle's c.h.e.s.t. The lavel tried jumping away, but strangely, the arrow followed him. Having no other option, he raised his club as shield instead of taking the arrow head on.

In a movement faster than a blur, his opponent had turned over the attack and it seemed as though he had the advantage, but Khalia wasn't so easy to overlook. The arrow veered off course, heading to the jade lavel's heart instead.

Just as the arrow was about to pierce his opponent, a club struck at it and deflected it harmlessly. It was a move by one of the opponents, and she was actually a girl. It seemed as though she had come out of nowhere, and suddenly interfered.

Darrin lunged at her with all the viciousness he could muster, intending to crush her into paste. Just as he was about to grasp at her, she nimbly dodged, escaping his outstretched hands so fluidly, it almost seemed as though she passed through his arms.

With a turn, she twilled her club aiming at her opponent, and with a powerful strike, he was out.

In a team of 3, if one is out or incapacitated, the other 2 were at a massive disadvantage. Seeing his teammate so instantly beat down, Khalia turned his attention to the hellish lavel. Three arrows in quick succession, and as he was reaching for the fourth, he noticed that none of his arrows actually found the mark.

He was a good shot, in fact, one could say he was the best shot in the settlement. With his combination of accuracy and control of the wind, he could make some pretty difficult shots, even some that most considered impossible. He could shoot an arrow without properly aiming since he could modify it midair as it traveled, increasing his shot. In fact he had grown so accustomed to it that it was like second nature, he didn't have to think too much.

Yet despite all that, none of his arrows found their mark. She was like an apparition, shifting place just before his arrows hit her. Could it be, had she awakened an ability. As shock and realization dawned on him, his eyes changed as his absolute confidence faltered. He didn't see the club as it flew at him, knocking him senselessly out.

With the fall of his captain, the last team member hardly stood a chance. With a sigh of exasperation, he dropped his club and surrendered, deeming the fight unwinnable. All in all, Maple's second performance had dazzled again. However, it seemed that this time, her secret was out.

She had been the distraction. The wild card for the team. Everyone knew of Hasilo and Bamboo's power, but she was still an unknown. Yet she was winning every fight she was in. Well, it was no matter, it was bound to come out, and oh would she shine. For now all she could do was celebrate.

Dane, who was watching all this from the clouds, suddenly felt a jolt. Sudden pain erupted in his brain, making him shout in pain. At that moment, everyone down below went down on their knees as the sound was more horrifying than thunder. Fortunately, Dane had controlled himself.

When he figured out what the source of the pain was, a light smile came over his face. His second part of the plan, the flip side that he placed so close to his heart, had been activated. Kedan was finally awake, and now it was time to bring back reckoning like never before.