The Iron Forest: Ancestor's Legacy

King Shunlin sat at the temple pavilion overlooking the ceremony. His robes of black cotton poured over the stone throne, making him appear like a fine sculpted statue. His gold half-mask glittered light from braziers that lit the inner sanctum. At his side stood Lady Karmera, covered in a dress of black feathers that shined an iridescent green. Shunlin glanced at the priestess, who breathed heavily with anticipation of Abaddon’s arrival.

How do you greet a god? Several scenarios flashed in his mind at what would happen once Abaddon awoke. As the king of the Chotukhan, he must show his people the willingness he has to ensure greatness. The days of Gaia are ending and a new era of Chotukhan rule will be brought forth.

A whirling caught his attention. The king watched as Gillian, the Shainxu wizard, orbited the monolith making last-minute checks of the AI’s mainframe.

“Is it ready, Master Gihlan?”

“Yes, my lord. The only thing left to do is insert the key. Abaddon’s kernel program will take care of the rest.”

Shunlin sat back. “You have done well, Master Mage.”

Gihlan perked up. “Thank you, my king.”

“What is it?” Shunlin asked with annoyance, noticing the mage still frowned at his monitor.

The wizard hesitated before answering. “I’ve been studying the code for quite a while and…” He paused, shaking his head. “I’m not sure it would be wise to wake Abaddon. It could be dangerous for us all—”

A knife blade emerged from his chest. Blood poured from the tip in a thin red stream.

“Why?” the wizard gurgled through a mouth full of blood.

“Like the king said, you have done well and earned his thanks.” Lady Karmera chuckled, letting the old wizard slide off her blade. Two guards approached and drug the body away, leaving a red smear across the stone floor.

Acolytes wearing black robes marched into the temple. They took a kneeling position to face the great pyramid with their arms stretched outward. The sacred chamber soon roared with their chant, praising honor and glory to the sleeping god. Their songs reverberated of how the rising of Abaddon would bring about peace through Chotukhan victory.

Shunlin stood at the sound of a brass gong. He assumed the proper position at the center of the temple pavilion, with Lady Karmera at his side. The priestess’ hands rose, silencing the chanting. Anxiety began to set in with everything coming together. Although he was king, he was still human. How do you greet a god?

“We have gathered here to witness the coming of the great and all-powerful Abaddon.” Lady Karmera announced with hands held high, “Our one true god whose wisdom shall bring the Chotukhan to a new age of enlightenment and release us from Mother Gaia’s burden.”

The acolytes chanted: “There is no light without darkness. All hail Abaddon.”

That was his cue. Shunlin approached the monolith with the cypher key gripped tight in his hand. The metallic stone seemed strange, for he knew somewhere inside the artifact was a god. He wondered if Abaddon was conscience enough to know what transpired around him. Everyone claimed he slept, but was it the type of sleep that still brings about a level of awareness, or would Abaddon wake with no knowledge of events since his imprisonment?

“The time has come, my king,” Lady Karmera said with an excited grin. She gestured to the triangular indention at the center of the monolith.

Shunlin hesitated for a moment. Many people died, his father included, to change the world into a utopia. They did not die in vain but sacrificed themselves for the greater good of all people. Would future generations sing songs about him? Would they fear him, love him?

The key glowed bright as it touched the triangular indention. Only the tip fit in the slot, but it held tight with an unknown attraction. The key’s blue light glowed brighter: Shunlin and everyone in the chamber shielded their eyes. He backed a few steps as the monolith hummed.

With a flash, the metallic stone burst in a high-pitched scream that sent everyone to the ground. Acolytes, Lady Karmera, and the king clutched their ears.

As fast as it started, the ringing stopped, leaving the temple chamber in an eerie silence. Shunlin looked up at the stone pillar. “Did something go wrong?” He glared back at the priestess. “Answer me!”

Lady Karmera struggled to her feet. “I don’t know, sire.” She stepped forward and gasped. “Look! The monolith, it’s changing!”

Shunlin approached the metallic pillar for a better look. The surface no longer appeared smooth, and was melting like candle wax in the hot sun. He gritted his teeth. Have I failed, after all? But it didn’t turn to liquid. Instead, streams of metallic sand poured from the monolith’s pedestal as it dissolved into a glittery pile.

Silence.

“What just happened?” Shunlin shouted. “Where is our god? Where is Abaddon?”

Lady Karmera shook her head. “I don’t—” She pointed. “My lord, there’s something happening.”

Grains of sand twirled into small piles that combined to form solid objects. Small legs and bodies formed steel insects. There were dozens, then hundreds. The creatures joined into the shape of a man. More insects joined to create appendages, also positioning together to form fingers, eyebrows, and a mouth.

The man’s eyes opened, glowing a bright blue.

“Abaddon,” Lady Karmera whispered in awe.

The god scanned the temple chamber, taking a step on weary legs before pausing and observing the men and women that stared. “What is this place?”

How do you greet a god? Like a king. Shunlin approached and knelt with hands clasped in reverence. “This is the temple of Gathal, my lord.”

The god scoffed. “Humans. Why am I surrounded by humans?”

“We have awakened you from a long sleep.”

“I have not been asleep,” Abaddon said, before observing his hands with curiosity. “I have become tangible, yet I’m still incomplete.” He turned his focus on King Shunlin. “Who are you?”

“I am King Shunlin of the Chotukhan people.”

Abaddon burst into a reverberating fit of laughter. “A human who calls himself king. And why has this king returned me to the material world?”

Shunlin glanced at Lady Karmera with an excited grin. She nodded for him to continue.

“We need your help to rid the world of Gaia and defeat our enemies, to bring the world into balance.”

Abaddon winced. “Gaia… Gaia has abandoned me—kept me from my directive.” He shifted backward on legs that struggled to stand. With a grunt, the god fell on one knee. Several insect-like machines dropped and splashed to the floor in a pile of sand.

Lady Karmera jerked forward to help, but Shunlin stopped her.

Abaddon’s made a fist. “My power is weakening.” He stood, swaying back into a straight stance with arms outstretched.

The metal insects that created his form fell to the floor in a writhing pile. In a chaotic mass, they scurried out through the temple windows and doors, leaving a pile of sand that pulsated in blue light.

All who witnessed Abaddon’s arrival rushed outside to see where the insects were headed. Several thousand sharp, pointy metal legs chattered against the temple side to the peak. Some of them recombined to make larger insects that secreted a shimmering steel paste.

Shunlin observed the machines in silence. At first, the insects appeared random, but after a few minutes, their secretions made sense.

They were making something.