Page 54 of Fated to the Alien Chieftain

“I’m the strongest. I’m the War Chieftain!” Gorexius thunders in defiance, his eyes glowing brighter, releasing tendrils of crimson.

I snarl with pain as he twists my hands and fingers, threatening to break them. He’s too strong even when gravely wounded. Desperately, I deliver a leaping headbutt aimed for his already broken nose. Thankfully, he releases me to avoid the blow before stepping back. We both breathe heavily as the rain washes away our sweat.

Gorexius clutches the shaft of the spear, breaking it off with a grunt. Then he pulls the bladed end through his body, dropping it onto the stoney ground.How can he still be standing?

Green blood leaks from his leg, nose and punctured midriff, yet he moves unhindered. It’s a truly terrifying display of resolve. I begin to wonder if he can be killed.

“Is this primitive enough, Krogoth?” Gorexius demands, extending his long claws and charging with renewed vigor, slashing wildly with blindingly quick attacks. I dart and weave through his frantic cuts with efficient precision. My Rush, still stoked to its zenith, roars within me, making his blows appear slower as I move faster.

With each of his attacks I evade, I retaliate with my own. My claws rend sickening strips from his flesh, moving with blinding speed. Yet he does not stop, he does not retreat. He roars defiantly, growing more desperate to kick, grab, slash, anything to land a blow upon me. I lose track of time, hacking and dodging as the heat from our bodies evaporates the down-pouring rain.

Gasps of horrified shock emerge from the crowd. It’s then I stop to look upon Gorexius in disgusted disbelief. His body, so torn and shredded, reveals a metallic cybernetic core hidden within his flesh. “What have you done?” I demand between gulps of air, feeling sickened to my stomach.

Gorexius’ broken face twists with a smile. “Become stronger,” he roars, renewing his attack, showing no signs of fatigue or damage. I struggle to keep up with his frenzied assaults as my Rush wanes in this prolonged battle. Soon I’m covered in cuts and gashes from narrowly avoided slashes.

Despair grips my chest, seeing no way to overcome this monstrosity that offends the very Gods. Throwing a desperate slash aimed for his towering head, his piston-like arm shoots out, grasping me around the wrist with incredible crushingstrength. My muscles bulge and ripple, trying to tear my hand free, but he’s too strong.

The bones in my wrist splinter into a hundred broken pieces. An explosion of agonizing pain rattles my mind, causing me to scream out in suffering. “I’ll shatter every bone, Krogoth,” Gorexius promises, snarling down at me as I fall onto one knee. He takes my little finger and snaps it backward as easily as snapping a twig, causing another jolt of anguish to pierce my mind.

“The universe will hear your screams.” He bends my next finger, snapping it, as my mind reels from the pain. “A cautionary tale echoing for millennia.” His massive hands ply my middle finger out as he breaks it as well. I roar defiantly, desperately struggling to free myself. “So all understand the cost,” he snaps my index finger as I snarl madly, feeling the anguish and concern of Pebbles through our sacred bond, twisting my heart further. “Of defying me, the War Chieftain!” He screams, leaning down into my face. Taking his huge hands, he grasps my upper arm in an iron grip, bending it until it breaks with a deafening snap. I cry out between ragged breaths, the pain threatening to overcome my sanity.

“This is sacrilege!” I vaguely recognize the voice of Rylar through my haze of suffering. “You’re more of a machine than Klendathian. This violates the Krak-Tok!” His voice rings out over the eerie silence.

Gorexius snarls as he releases my destroyed arm, causing me to collapse onto the ground. “Strength is strength, regardless of source.” He looks into the crowd. “The Scythians enhanced me. Immortal, I stride as a God of War,” He spits down at me. “This is our future, the one he rejects,” he roars before stomping his boot down onto my rib cage.

An explosion of pain rips through my already crippled consciousness, as several ribs crack and break under his massivebulk. I dare not look at Pebbles. Her agony through the bond is as unbearable as Gorexius’ brutal torture.Avert your eyes, my love, you have suffered enough.I pray, hoping she can read my thoughts.

The air liquefies as it enters my shattered lungs.

Goodbye, my beautiful brave Pebbles.

Chapter 20

Roxanne

Salvation

Ifall to myknees, my spirit cast into a bottomless pit of pain.I can’t bear to watch this. It’s too cruel to see my Krogoth so brutally tormented.My throat is raw from screaming and my heart races as I glance around frantically, hoping someone will stop this disgrace.Why does no one intervene?I feel his agonizing torment searing through our bond scorching my mind.Please, Gods, make it stop.

My teeth clench in defiance, forcing myself to look. I promised to be there until the end, witnessing his last moments, no matter the pain it causes me. The crowd groans and averts their gazes as Gorexius, a disgusting fusion of man and machine, stomps brutally down onto Krogoth’s poor chest. His harrowingscreams echo over these bleak mountains, twisting my heart with despair.

Yet, I endure it.I’m here, Krogoth. Can you feel me now?I will not look away; I will not abandon you. Together we loved, and together we suffer. My eyes drift upward, noticing the purple sun and moon shining brightly above.Dagdorix and Machsin? Remnants from a distant past?I feel a tug at my soul through our shared bond, something hidden within and lingering. I open myself to this unraveling.

Suddenly, my essence pours into Krogoth, through our sacred bond. Wisps of hazel color rise from my eyes, but it hardly registers as my gaze fixates on my beloved Mortakin-Kai. The man who whisked me away from Earth, teaching me the meaning of true love. My voice enters his mind, projecting my most ardent wish, “Live, Krogoth,” I whisper, like a ghost in a dream.

Krogoth raises a trembling hand, his eyes ablaze with purple and hazel light swirling together, a brightness that’s hard to endure. Many gasp in shock at the sight as Gorexius lifts a foot once more, a look of uncertainty flickering across his raging face.

A small vortex, the size of a fist, appears suddenly, swirling with cosmic hues, that belie the terrifying power it represents. Gorexius attempts to drive his foot down, but he cannot. “Who interferes?” he demands, roaring as his muscles shake and strain in his futile attempts to move. “Your eyes!” He shouts at Krogoth in fear, clenching his jaw as the veins on his neck stand out, resisting the incredible force.

Gorexius’ crimson eyes glow brighter as his hair is pulled into the cosmic abyss that floats near his shoulder. His cries of pain echo out as pieces of his metallic body warp and bend until breaking off, consumed by the void. Many from the crowd gasp and avert their eyes from the horrifying sight, but I do not. I want to see him suffer for what he put Krogoth through.

The War Chieftain breaks down piece by piece, revealing the true extent of his metallic augmentations as each part of him is twisted and pulled into the cold abyss that awaits him. It’s where he belongs amongst the unfeeling emptiness, until there’s nothing left of him, only a terrible memory and my broken Mortakin-Kai.

The vortex blinks out of existence as Krogoth’s arm falls to the ground, prompting me to rush over, my heart aching with worry for him. A hushed silence falls over the spectators as my footsteps echo over the stones. Then, Xandor raises a call, “High Chieftain!” His excitement is contagious, and others join in the chant, even those among the Magaxus Clan. “High Chieftain!” They pound their fists against their chest and stamp their feet in unison.

I clutch Krogoth’s uninjured hand, feeling a pang of sorrow at seeing him in such pain, tears streaming down my cheeks. Despite his suffering, he manages a warm smile. “My tiny Pebbles,” he chuckles softly before a wave of agony twists his face.

“Don’t move,” I urge, gently cradling his weary head on my lap. “You did It, Krogoth. You’ve freed your people,” I declare excitedly, glancing out at the cheering crowd.

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