Chapter 13: Invitation

Chapter 13: Invitation

“Aaaarrrrrrrrr”, A muscular man screamed at the height of his lungs collecting a terrifying amount of destructive ki. A bright yellow aura surrounded the man’s body at first and then flared above him coming to a point. The aura resembled a giant flame flickering above the man and dancing as it continued to grow and gain strength.

The man then condensed the aura into a dense ball as he yelled more. The entirety of the energy was then released a single ball of destruction. It flew at an amazing speed towards a mountain where it made contact with the mountain side. A giant eruption followed with a large chunk of the mountain side being totally and utterly obliterated.

The man heard a clap to his side and looked over at a second muscular man. The man clapping said, “Damn Jacek! I’d hate to be on the receiving end of that blast. You have to be the strongest person in our age group, easily.”

Jacek stood in a pair of tight pants and chest armor specific to his family, the Heraklinos Family, and it bore his family crest on it. He laughed and said, “I haven’t met anyone stronger in our age group. These are the benefits of real combat experience. I suppose I should thank the rebels for giving me live combat training. Wouldn’t you say Vega?”

Vega jumped from his relaxed seated position. The two men were both 27 years old with muscular builds, and both men stood at just over 6 feet tall.

Vega saluted Jacek and said, “Yes sir, Lord Heraklinos.”

Jacek laughed and punched Vega in the shoulder, “Cut that shit out when we are training. We’ve been best friends since we were kids, and there’s no one I trust more to be by my side in battle than you.”

Vega laughed and said, “And yet you take none of my advice when it comes to girls.”

Jacek threw Vega a set of chest armor and said, “Put this on, are you ready to spar? And I’ve told you a thousand times... your relationship advice is simply dreadful!”

Vega put the armor on over his head and said, “Ready to spar. And I know, I know. You have a perfect girlfriend as it is. I’m not advocating to break up with her. I mean... you can’t really? Can you? I’m just saying she’s better on paper than she is in real life.”

Jacek and Vega took fighting positions 15 yards opposite of each other and both began to build massive amounts of energy as it collected around them.

Jacek then launched from his fighting stance throwing a punch propelled by his ki. Vega blocked it and followed up with a short-range energy blast of ki in Jacek’s chest sending him flying backwards.

Jacek stood up with a charred mark on his chest armor, and said, “I can break up with her, but I don’t want to. As you said, she is perfect even if she is more perfect on paper than in person.” He then launched forth once more at Vega and punched him again.

Vega formed an ‘X’ with his arms to block the punch; however, this time, the punch was several orders of magnitude stronger, and Vega was sent flying back into the mountain side. He crashed into the mountain as he was completely embedded into the bedrock.

A large flash of yellow light then emanated from the rubble, disintegrating the rock surrounding Vega, and he stepped forward without a scratch as he said, “On a different, yet maybe related, topic... How about Princess BloodStar’s successful foray into international politics?”

Vega jumped up into the air and formed two yellow ki blasts in his hands and sent them flying at Jacek. Jacek smiled and batted both energy blasts away into the surrounding mountains. The entire Earth shook with a rumble as the two men casually sparred exchanging punches and energy blasts.

Jacek called out while exchanging blows, “Very impressive. I have heard stories of her of course. And I have heard even more stories about her family from my father.”

Vega laughed and said, “She’s the opposite of your girlfriend. Xenia is terrible on paper, but she’s perfect in person.”

The two approached the royal fortress grounds. A patrolling officer spotted the two and gave a signal to another officer on duty. Seconds later a loud trumpet played as the officer announced their return, “Lord Heraklinos and General Magnus on deck!”

The soldiers nearby rushed to form a welcoming line for the two as they entered the massive gate door. The soldiers held their positions in salute as Jacek and Vega passed into the fortress-like structure. Jacek called out, “At ease soldiers.”

Vega also called out, “You heard our Lord. At ease you bastards.”

The men held their positions still though. Both Jacek and Vega might only be 27 years old; however, they had led their men to numerous overwhelming victories on the battlefield. The two men often times ordered their soldiers to stay back in risky battlefield situations in order to minimize deaths amongst their ranks.

Their immense strength, outstanding leadership abilities, and genuine care and respect for those who served under them had propelled them to the rank of Heroes within their country and especially within the Province that Jacek Heraklinos himself oversaw.

Jacek reached the entrance to the Royal Command Center and turned around to see each and every soldier still standing at attention. He shook his head and said, “You respectful bastards. Beers on me tonight!”

The soldiers finally broke rank and began to cheer. They knew that when Lord Heraklinos threw a party, it was a party to remember. No one would miss it if they could help it.

As the soldiers cheered in celebration, Jacek and Vega entered the Royal Command Center. They careened through the structure until finally they reached a private room where both men removed their chest armors and lounged comfortably and began to converse casually.

Jacek took a sip of water and said, “You know. You’re right. Not about the smoking hot babe stuff or the challenging me stuff, but we really do need to get to know The BloodStar Empire more if the world is to change for the better. If they are to exist alongside us like we have chosen, rather than obliterating them, then we should make it a peaceful co-existence.”

Vega nodded as he drank a water as well and said, “All kidding aside. The BloodStar Empire has made an effort. It is our turn to reciprocate an effort. We have both found that cooperation can go a long ways towards peace.”

The two men paused in silence and Vega then said, “Oh but also... all kidding aside... she is still a smoking hot babe.”

Jacek chuckled and shook his head. He then said, “Fine, let’s make it happen. A sparring match it is.”

Vega picked up a phone and spoke into it, “Yes Colonel, please report to our current location at once with haste.”

Only moments later, the Colonel on duty arrived, “Yes Lord and General. How may I assist you?”

Jacek proudly said, “Draft an invitation for a friendly sparring match.”

The Colonel nodded his head, “And whom am I to invite, Lord?”

Jacek chugged his water bottle and tossed it aside, “Princess Xenia BloodStar of the BloodStar Empire.”