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17th of Onis, 5 BVE.

Lower Human Basin, East of Nitri.

Dominax held his hand out, igniting a flame in his palm that burnt away the encircling darkness. His flickering light illuminated the interior of the strange pod, revealing that it consisted of a single spacious chamber made of the same pure white metal from the exterior. Yet unlike the exterior, it’s walls were curved into a more circular shape, topped with a high domed ceiling that he could hardly make out through the oppressive darkness. The floor was decorated with a massive symbol that he hadn’t encountered before, vaguely in the shape of a crescent moon.

A thin pedestal began to rise from the center of the floor, sticking out into the empty space of the room. Waist high, a strange orb sat atop its peak.

With careful steps, he approached the pedestal. To see an object move without the assistance of man was mystifying, yet its strangeness was null compared to the item it presented. The translucent spherical orb was as dark as the void of space, yet it erupted into thousands of different specs of color as the light from his flame shined through. Though it was small enough to be concealed using two hands Dominax felt a dizzying depth as he peered into it, as if someone had stolen a piece of reality and condensed it into a ball.

With a glimmer of desire in his silver eyes, he slowly reached out towards the strange object with his free hand. Yet before his fingers could brush its surface, he instinctively shot his arm up into a defensive position when the image of a larger sphere projected above the orb, wider than a grown man could wrap his arms around. Dominax slowly lowered his guard, examining the semitransparent globe. Glowing slightly, he could see oceans, rivers, and mountains, yet he recognized none of it.

“What sorcery is this?” he asked, waving his hand through the projection.

“Uuuu iiii oouu” a sound whispered quietly inside his mind in what could only be described as a light vibration. It was as if the orb itself was communicating with him, though even stranger, he understood its intentions. As if delivering pure data directly into his brain he suddenly looked at the globe in understanding.

“How…can this be…?” he asked himself, staring at the projection in pure astonishment. As possibly the first human in history to do so, Dominax looked upon a map of the entire world. With one massive continent facing him, he had to squint to recognize practically anything that he was familiar with. All of their maps and all of their travels amounted to practically nothing.

The projection flickered, before disappearing entirely. “Wait…no! Come back!” he cried out in his deep voice, looking at the orb in panic.

Though his fire lightly illuminated the chamber, all color instantly drained away from his surroundings. The flame seemingly froze in place, as if time itself had stopped. Dominax tried to move and realized once again that he had left his frozen body, just as he had during the slaughter. He stepped fully out of his physical form, feeling deeply unsettled and confused as he looked upon himself.

“Dominax….” a low, weak voice echoed quietly through the chamber. He quickly turned to his right, only to be met with the presence of the ghostly figure of the cloaked stranger who had saved him.

“Who…what are you?” Dominax asked, taking a step backwards as he readied himself for a fight.

The figure slowly approached him, his steps making no sound on the cold metal floor. He stopped when he was a mere four feet away from Dominax, granting him a better view of his hooded face. He appeared FAR older than he had during their first encounter, with wispy white hair and deep wrinkles. A black robe concealed his elderly body under his cloak, slightly dragging on the floor. Yet the feature that delivered Dominax a tingle of unease was the man’s silver eyes, matching his own nearly identically.

The man slowly began to reach out with both hands. “Come…let me look upon you…”

Dominax eyed the man suspiciously, standing firm as he studied the cloaked figure. He was three inches taller than the stranger, forcing his ghostly fingers to reach up at a slight angle as they sought out his face. Yet as both wrinkled hands met his skin, he felt…nothing, as if he hadn’t actually touched him at all.

“Look how much you’ve…grown…” the stranger muttered in what was nearly a whisper.

With caution, Dominax slowly attempted to grab the figure’s wrists to pull the transparent appendages away yet was disturbed to discover that his fingers simply passed through the figure as if he was nothing more than an illusion.

“Do not be frightened…child…” the man said, his fingers shaking as he pulled them away. His voice was low and strained, as if the man could only conjure it through great effort.

“Yet you’ve failed to answer my question,” Dominax replied with visible wariness. “Who are you?”

A small grin began to creep across the man’s face. Or rather, if he actually was a man, instead of some decrepit demon. “Child…I no longer possess the…need for a name. Though if you must know, I was once…called Dorian…”

As the words oozed from the figure’s old mouth, an inkling of familiarity tugged at Dominax’s memory before a strange realization stabbed him abruptly. “Dorian…or Doriin?” he asked carefully, the monumental implications of his question sinking in. Though nearly every Chiefdom throughout The Human Basin held differing beliefs regarding the origin of the world, nearly all contained some variation of the name Doriin.

“Ah…yes, Dorian…Doriin…Dirian…Darian…all have been used to refer to…me,” he replied, confirming Dominax’s suspicions.

As if looking at the strange translucent figure through new eyes, Dominax suddenly felt a surge of importance radiating from the man. Dominax hadn’t simply confronted some childhood ghost, but rather if their legends were correct, he had been lured to the very creator of the world. He felt as though he should wish to throw himself at the feet of this strange being, to utterly praise the man. Yet, the urge to bow remained elusive to him, absent from his mind. Only the weak bowed, even to a God.

When Dominax didn’t answer, Dorian gave a gentle nod. “I…understand that you may be…overwhelmed with such a revelation…” he began in his usual strained voice. “Yet time is of…importance. Even here…where my power should be at its…strongest, I can barely reveal myself. I…severely damaged my power…when I rescued you…”

“An act that still confuses me,” Dominax replied, thinking back to the slaughter of Nitri. There had been no doubt in his mind that he was about to die, yet the stranger had granted him just enough reaction time to escape his fate. “Why choose to save me?”

With a kind smile, Dorian’s silver eyes seemed to slightly glow as he answered. “How could I not save…my own child…”

The revelation hit him like a fist to the gut, and Dominax had to take a step backwards to put some distance between himself and the strange man. “That’s…impossible…”

Dorian held out his hands in a calming gesture. “Do not be alarmed…my child.”

Though his mind whirled, Dominax snapped out of his thoughts to deliver an insidious glare. “Alarmed? You not only claim to be the creator of the world, but my father as well. Yet you dissuade me from being Alarmed?” His voice contained more bafflement than anger, still processing the implications of such information. “Why should I trust even a single word of it in any case?”

The ghostly figure nodded in understanding, before slowly waving his hand. As he did so, a faint glowing rope of pure white began to reveal itself, extending between them. Though virtually no visual indicator existed, Dominax instinctively felt as though Dorian was the source of the strange rope-like beam with Dominax at the end, as if somehow sensing the nature of the connection.

“There is more to conception…than mere blood,” Dorian began to explain, gesturing to the beam as it hung between them. “Parents give up a piece of their soul…to create their child. A literal line exists between them…connecting them across time…and space. Concentrate, and you will see…the truth of my claim…”

Too intrigued to refuse, Dominax focused his attention on the ethereal line between them. Within moments, it was as if he had received information directly from it, understanding its purpose entirely. The undeniable bond between father and son was directly in front of him, absolute proof of the man’s statement. “How is this even possible?” he questioned, the unmistakable look of ambition in his silver eyes.

“In time…I will teach you,” Dorian struggled to say, seemingly fighting to continue speaking. “Though it is unimportant…for now. I must…rest…and regain my power.”

The glow in Dominax’s eyes disappeared as his face dropped into a look of disappointment. “No, you cannot go yet, I must know more! Tell me, Dorian, the purpose of my birth. Tell me why I was created, why I was gifted with these…powers!” His voice was low, though demanding. He had always known that he was meant for something greater than a life as a simple warrior of an insignificant settlement. Born with abilities that none had encountered before, he had been certain that there had been a reason for his existence. Yet now the possibility to learn the answers he had always yearned for was in his grasp.

“Purpose?” the old man asked in a confused voice, before a look of realization overtook his features. “Ah…I see. I found your mother on the eve of…approximately one thousand years…since the creation of this world, Ayphieal. I refrained from any interference…for a sufficient amount of time…to allow events and decisions of its inhabitants to occur…naturally. I wished to see what my creations would do…without my guiding hand. Only then did I allow…my vanity to take hold, giving into…my desire to produce an heir to my power.”

A silence filled the chamber as Dorian paused, allowing his words to fully sink in.

He then continued, though his tone shifted to one of sadness as if the memory particularly pained him. “I brought your mother to my ship…and granted her my seed. Throughout her pregnancy…I cared for her, gifting her all of my…knowledge, knowing she would…one day train you. Yet after your birth, I sent her back to the surface…in the pod you stand in now.”

With a wave of Dorian’s hand, the orb’s hologram of the planet reactivated. “She wished…to spread her new knowledge…to every corner of Ayphieal,” he said, gesturing to the large globe. “Your settlement elders, however, rejected her explanation…of their origins. They executed her…in front of the entire village…”

The mention of his mother’s drowning brought a sharp pain of anger to Dominax’s chest, causing him to clench his fists.

“They…KILLED her…for the truth she spoke,” Dorian continued, sounding genuinely devastated at the loss. “I could do nothing…except watch her die. It was only her wisdom…in placing you in the care of Cendra…that spared your life. Had the elders known you were…of her blood, they…would have cast you into the river.”

“Then their foolishness only increases. She offered them the truth, and they rejected it. If only she could have seen their slaughter at the hands of the Zilrinians,” Dominax replied, his words dripping with disgust. Yet despite the anger that Dorian’s explanation delivered him, he began to feel his respect for Cendra increasing. She had risked her life to save him, knowing that the revelation of his true parentage would earn her a swift death. She had raised him, spreading a false narrative amongst their people about simply adopting an unspecified friend’s child. The thought of her loss was suddenly brought to the forefront of his mind, and he had to grit his teeth to suppress his emotions.

“Yet their actions gifted me…a realization,” Dorian said, continuing. “As your mother drowned…any ambition I possessed for your future…died with her. I nearly lost you…” the old man said, his voice quivering nearly imperceptibly. “You ask what your purpose is, and so I will…give it to you. Live…your life.”

The simplicity of the statement was anything but what Dominax had expected. He had envisioned grandiose designs thought up by the ancient mind of a God, plans that would echo across the world. Yet instead, all he received was…this? “Live my life?” the younger man asked with contempt.

Dorian nodded, ignoring the clear hostility. “Find a woman, settle…down. Perhaps even start a family. Just…live in peace. I only wish for you…to be happy.”

“A simple life?” Dominax repeated, as if bitterly tasting the words.

“That is my wish for you. Find…peace. There is far too much death in this world. The pod…will protect you. Use it. The orb…contains instructions on creating highly durable steel, of which this very pod…is constructed. Use it and sell whatever you manage to…forge. It’ll bring you enough wealth for a comfortable life, safe…from the world’s horrors.”

The chamber once again went silent as Dominax processed his words. The request was intriguing, a way to prevent himself from ever being forced to experience anything similar to the Nitri slaughter. A way to prevent himself from suffering the loss of any further loved one. Yet as each benefit flowed through his mind, there was one problem that continually made itself known to him as he turned his silver eyes towards the holographic globe. One confliction that refused to free him from its grip. “You ask me to live a simple life, one of peace and comfort. An existence that any ordinary man would eagerly accept. Yet…I am no ordinary man. My answer is no.”

“No?” Dorian replied with an expression of shock, clearly not expecting such a blunt answer.

“No,” the younger man repeated, his voice firm as his eyes remained locked on the large representation of the planet. “You request that I live a simple life, and I say no. For too long I’ve allowed inferior men to act as rulers. For too long I’ve sat back, concealing my powers while this world is torn apart by conflict. I did nothing to avenge my mother, and I did nothing as The Elders put us in a position to be attacked.”

“My son…The Elders of your village are dead. Whatever vengeance you seek to achieve…has already been inflicted upon them.”

“Ah, but vengeance has never been at the forefront of my desire, and that remains true even now. Yes, The Elders are dead, but they were merely a small piece of the problem. This world you’ve created, one where leaders fight each other for control, is wrought with chaos. Merely five days ago I had a settlement and a family. Now, only a few lucky survivors remain.”

Dorian observed the young man with curiosity, listening to his passionate words.

“This can no longer be allowed,” Dominax said as he reached out, as if grasping the immaterial globe. “I will take this world, and I will give it order. I will inflict my will into every part of it. No longer will civilizations clash over petty disagreements. No longer will people live their lives in fear, wondering when the next attack will strike. No longer will chaos thrive,” he stated as his eyes began to slightly glow. There. He had said it. The very thing he had desired for as long as he could remember, placed out into the open for only a God to judge.

Dorian folded his ghostly arms, choosing his next words carefully. “If this is the path you choose…you are asking me to sit by…and watch you risk your life in an attempt to do…the impossible.”

He nodded somberly. “I am, Dorian. You are my progenitor, my blood. I would not exist without you. You’ve granted me these abilities, this power, yet you request that I do nothing with them. I…can’t, not anymore.”

Throwing his hand out loosely in a gesture of bewilderment, it was Dorian’s turn to disagree. “They will allow you to protect yourself…and your family! That’s FAR…from nothing!”

Dominax stroked his short beard. “Though the fact remains that you desire me to live happily, correct?”

The translucent being nodded in confirmation.

“This potential life you’ve illustrated, one where I live as a simple man. I…” Dominax began, searching for the correct words. “I do not wish to live as others do. I desire…to rule. If I cannot, if I must spend my life among ordinary beings…then the elders may as well have thrown me into the river alongside my mother.”

A long silence filled the surrounding air, the world around them remaining paused. Dominax had been outside of his body for so long that he hardly even noticed, the strange colorless existence swiftly becoming natural to him.

When Dorian finally spoke, he kept his voice low and calm. “What you seek…will be difficult. You’re in the most decentralized area,” he explained, gesturing to The Lower Human Basin on the globe. “Other areas have formed kingdoms, even…empires, yet your people still fight as tribes.”

An insidious grin formed on Dominax’s lips. “Ah, but you miss the advantage. Tribes are far easier to subjugate than empires. I shall consolidate surrounding Chiefdoms through conquest, amassing a force strong enough to consume the continent.”

The tired eyes of the godly entity seemed to dim somewhat, as he looked upon his son’s ambitious form. “Is this what you…truly desire, my child?”

Dominax’s eyes seemed to glow with increased intensity as he turned to gaze at the vast globe. “More than you can possibly imagine.”

“Then…I will not deny you,” Dorian reluctantly agreed, his ghostly form barely visible. “Yet be warned. I no longer possess the…strength to save you. You…are on…your own…”

“That is a risk I am willing to accept. To die as a ruler shall always be preferable over living as a common man.”

Dorian looked at the younger male, clearly pondering. Whatever opinion he now held of his son, he gave no voice to. “Then go. We…will speak again soon…though I…must rest. Goodbye for now…my boy…”

Dominax watched the figure slowly fade from existence before he was suddenly returned to his body. The abrupt transition was disorienting, causing him to stumble slightly. The beam connecting them had vanished from sight, yet he could sense that its presence remained.

Only a moment passed to allow himself to readjust before he picked up the alien-like orb. It felt cold against his bare fingers, yet he could feel something more. Something…powerful, deep inside of it.

Dominax turned to leave the chamber, exiting through the doorway he had entered by using an exact copy of the outside hand scanner. The outside light was overwhelming as he stepped through, pausing to allow his eyes to adjust before stepping through the doorway. As he did so, he felt as though he had been changed in a way, relieved of a deep weight. He had revealed his deepest desires, and now nothing would dissuade him from seeking them out.

A simple warrior had entered the pod, though a future emperor had emerged.

***

16th of Twic, 5 BVE.

Lower Human Basin, East of Nitri.

In the month that followed, the small group of nearly one hundred Nitri survivors had settled down around the pod, building a camp with only the most basic defenses. Though it could hardly be considered a settlement quite yet, Dominax had affectionately named the camp Domani after himself.

In addition to the benefit of the nearby river, the large clearing surrounding them consisted of mostly flat land, granting them ample room to spread out and grow in the future. A location that fit his plans well, as Domani would need to expand considerably to meet Dominax’s goals.

The reluctance to settle down away from their ancestral home continued to linger amongst a few members of their new camp, though Dominax had placed his attention elsewhere. For several hours each day he studied the strange orb from the pod’s chamber, hungry for its secrets. Dorian’s claims concerning the fact that the ball contained information had been true, as Dominax eagerly attempted to pierce its depths. Though it communicated only in its bizarre vibrating language he continued to understand whatever it broadcasted into his mind, allowing him to navigate its contents simply through thought.

Within the first few attempts to coax out its secrets, he had learned of the process required to forge the white metal that covered the pod. With a simple iron dagger taken from their incredibly limited stockpile, he showered the blade in both his electricity and flame. With only the exact amount of intensity being capable of transforming the metal, it slowly turned black over several grueling minutes as he struggled to retain his concentration. From the information he had absorbed, Dominax knew that the metal would slowly become stronger the darker it became. Then, an instant after the blade had turned as black as the void of space, it suddenly shifted pure white, allowing him to cease his efforts. It would now be nearly impossible to reshape the dagger, as it had reached its peak strength.

Though this newfound advantage wasn’t all he had discovered, as mere days after forging the dagger he had forced the orb to inform him of the source of his cloak’s unique material. Among the warped and multicolored grass encircling the pod, several small plants with white stems and black leaves stood under a foot tall. Each had several rose-like appendages, producing an odd silky material. Woven together, the silk produced a very resilient fabric that was capable of resisting fire and regulating temperature.

Immediately, Dominax had ordered a few of the non-combat experienced survivors to gather the strange plants, which they quickly named Chimira flowers, to begin farming them nearby. Meanwhile, the rest of the group remained busy by building simple defenses and huts, while others hunted for food.

Only when he felt that his people were stable enough to endure his absence did he begin to plan their retaliation. They had virtually no chance of conquering the Zilrinians on their own, though an option quickly presented itself as Dominax studied the damaged maps of the surrounding land. They allowed him to see the general location of nearby Chiefdoms, while the holographic globe provided him with detailed knowledge regarding the surrounding landscape. The deceased Elders of Nitri had been foolish enough to ignore the necessity of allies, a mistake that Dominax refused to repeat.

From information gathered before the slaughter, Dominax knew that the Chiefdom of Omrin was less than friendly towards the Zilrinians, making them prime candidates for an alliance. He had informed his people of his intentions to travel south and make contact with Omrin, though with no intention of leaving their newly formed camp undefended. Therefore, he had selected only Clin, Salduin, and Hesin to accompany him, with the intention of sending for the remaining warriors when the time was right to attack.

The trio had been the only ones to speak up during his seizure of command, placing them above the rest of the group in Dominax’s mind. The others had simply given themselves over to him, neither voicing specific support nor descent. It was only right that they obeyed him, as it appeared evident to him that simple-minded beings must serve the strong. Yet, they were only pawns. If he were to be successful in his ambitions, he’d require input from a select group of individuals worthy of advising him. Clin, Salduin, and Hesin contained potential, and Dominax wished to assess their usefulness.

“I’m not sure how I feel about you traveling in such a small group,” Briza confessed, standing in the center of their large tent as Dominax prepared his supplies. He had allowed no one else inside of the pod, choosing instead to sleep with both Briza and Xenia inside of the largest tent that had been constructed.

“At the very least I should be allowed to accompany you,” Xenia added, folding her arms. Days after their first riverside lovemaking Dominax had explained the situation to Briza, allowing both women to openly embrace their position as his lovers. Though it had been awkward in the beginning, they had come to accept the arrangement as Xenia concealed her ill intentions toward her female rival. “It would be wise to bring a healer along.”

Dominax finished preparing, straightening up as he turned to address the two women. “Perhaps, though it is far wiser for you to remain here and assist the rest of the camp,” he said, slinging a satchel of provisions over one shoulder. The heavily damaged chest plate concealed the top portion of his black tunic, while his crudely patched up white cloak hung from his shoulders. “In any case, I require both of you to manage the group in my absence. If all goes according to plan, we won’t be apart for long.”

“You’d better be right, because I’m not having this baby without you,” Briza remarked, placing one hand on her hip and the other on her athletic midriff.

Neither woman had begun to show, yet their pregnancies were undeniable. Even if they had ignored the subtle signs indicating conception, Dominax had managed to follow the orb’s instructions and glimpse the spiritual ties between himself and his two unborn children.

The knowledge that they were both carrying his offspring had led to less than gentle lovemaking, his desire nearly insatiable regarding their fertilized bodies. Yet while both women had given themselves eagerly to his touch, he hadn’t yet involved them together. Such an intimate act would have to wait.

“It’s certainly a risk, though whatever the outcome, trust that I will not fail. You must simply do your part when I send word to attack,” Dominax stated, thinking back to his plans. Though he would certainly promise the Chief of Omrin to send for his warriors to join the attack on Zilrin, the Chief may be surprised by his actual intentions.

“We’ll attack Omrin while their warriors are away under your command, just as you ordered,” Xenia acknowledged with an ambitious smile.

Dominax gave a quick nod. “Then all is prepared. The next time we meet I won’t simply be a Chief, but a High Chief.”

***

Taking only the bare essentials, Dominax, Clin, Salduin, and Hesin set off towards Omrin. Lacking both Lixidion mounts and a boat, they were forced to travel on foot. Yet despite the fact that their journey would take them a greater distance than their exodus from Nitri, they were able to cover far more ground each hour without the burden of leading the group of survivors.

“Salduin, may I ask you something?” Clin politely inquired as they trudged through the vibrantly green forest.

The large man nodded, his stature calm as he seemingly basked in their momentarily tranquil surroundings.

“How can you possibly find peace in these circumstances?” the blonde-haired warrior asked in genuine curiosity. “You appear as calm as you had before the attack, despite the fact that we may be marching towards our deaths.”

“The better question is how aren’t you able to?” Salduin replied, before gesturing to the surrounding foliage with his heavily muscled arms. “The very definition of life surrounds us. I simply listen to the nearby animals and insects, knowing that we are but one part of nature.”

“Yes, it’s quite beautiful,” Hesin interjected with notable sarcasm. “Especially when monstrous creatures pounce from the foliage to maul us.” His cloak’s hood remained pulled over his head despite the absence of rain.

Salduin held up a thick finger, eager to retort the statement. “That is possible, though you must train yourself to cast such thoughts aside. Yet in any case, one shouldn’t fear death, as it is merely a natural stage of life.”

The answer seemed to displease both Hesin and Clin, though it was Dominax who spoke up. “Three thousand new Graves in Nitri would disagree with you,” he replied, gritting his teeth as an image of Cendra’s bleeding body flashed through his mind. “Though I don’t plan on meeting my end until I’ve quenched my ambitions.”

“You may not get a choice in that,” Salduin stated, his voice sturdy but calm. “The slaughter of our people was a tragedy to be sure, though I’m certain that they are all at peace now.”

Under his hood Hesin made a scornful expression. “Give me life over peace any day. Though I am curious as to where your little obsession with life and death originated from.”

The large man suddenly appeared to be reluctant to carry on the conversation, in stark contrast to his eager explanations. A long moment of silence passed before Salduin finally provided the group with a response. “Perhaps one day in the future I will explain all you’d like to know, though now is not the time.”

None of the other warriors seemed willing to disagree with the muscled man while Dominax led them in stern silence.

***

Deep into their first night, the group was awoken by loud cries of anguish originating from Clin. They all quickly jumped up from their simple bedrolls, sprinting to their companion’s location.

Clin had settled down a few meters away from the group, just far enough that his screams were slightly muffled by the trees. Dominax reached him within seconds, pulling the cloak off the man’s body and preparing his white knife to stab any creature that had slipped under it to bite the blonde. Yet oddly enough, he saw nothing that could be causing the warrior any pain.

Realizing that Clin’s eyes were actually still shut, Salduin reached down and roughly shook the man, waking him from his sleep. Clin’s screams ceased instantly as his eyes flew open in confusion.

“What’s happening?!” the blonde warrior asked in panic, beads of sweat dripping down his face.

They looked down at him in bafflement, before Salduin replied. “You were screaming!”

In his disoriented state it took several seconds before a look of realization spread across Clin’s face. “Ah, I had hoped that we’d at least reach Omrin before this happened,” he stated in an apologetic tone, though when they continued to stare at him in confusion he continued. “I apologize if I disturbed you, though there’s nothing to be concerned about. I suffer from…unspeakable nightmares every few nights, which is why I’ve taken the precaution of distancing myself.”

Dominax peered down at his companion, rising to his full height. “That is…peculiar.”

Clin nodded understandingly. “Yes, I didn’t want to unsettle you, though I can assure you that they won’t hinder my effectiveness in battle.”

Standing on the other side of Clin, Hesin gave a subtle grin at the man’s explanations, an expression that didn’t escape Dominax’s notice. The young Chief had known of the two warriors’ turbulent past before setting out towards Omrin, though the origin of their mutual dislike had remained elusive. Now, seeing the hooded man secretly take pleasure in Clin’s suffering made him wonder if he had made a mistake in bringing both of them along.

Yet momentarily satisfied with Clin’s explanation, Dominax ordered his companions back to sleep. Whatever the cause of their rivalry could be delt with at a later time, as conquest loomed over Dominax’s mind.

Chapter Continued In Part 2