Lore

Prologue: Augmentor Origin
The Augmentors are living pieces of amalgamated data. They came into existence when the intricate and complex codes of life began to merge with other, stray, pieces of information on Bello Realm.

Only when clumps of random data have fully synthesized, will an Augmentor come into being. Once the integration process is complete, they emerge through a birth-portal, which appears as a vibrant shock of blue light. It is impossible to predict when or where an Augmentor will be born; they are the result of a chance interaction.

The first Augmentors were born during the first age of the Realm. The Realm was still in its infancy and many of its regions did not yet exist. Only the Amber Wood and the Frost Fang had properly materialized. These first creatures are the most revered of all the Augmentors. They are Galaxia, Wisp and Gobi – and they are known as the Gods.

For millennia, the Gods traveled throughout the Realm, gaining a great understanding of its nature. They explored new regions as they developed and keenly observed the birth of other Augmentors. Collectively, they decided to pass on what they had learned so that each new Augmentor could prosper. The three of them were very different, and faults in one were made up for by the merits in another. It was only together, as a triumvirate, that they possessed the ability to govern fairly and with compassion. Between them they made an unbreakable pledge: swearing to always maintain order, balance and harmony within Bello Realm.

Prologue: The Birth of Solar and Rhule
During the second age of the Realm something happened, something that would come to change the fate of the entire Realm. Below the Great Tree in the Amber Wood, a birth-portal opened. It was a strange portal, unlike any that had preceded it. It opened slowly; the usual blue light was more intense and contained sharp streaks of purple. It was a blinding light that illuminated the whole of the Amber Wood; even those to the South, in the Serenity Lake and Bogmarsh, could see it. The portal remained open for five days and news of its peculiarity spread throughout the Realm. The Gods began to wonder if it was truly a portal at all. Many of the Augmentors flocked to watch it; its colour patterns were enticing and hypnotic.

On the fifth day, the portal’s shape began to bend and contort. The Augmentors who were close by recoiled. Deep booming sounds, like the cracks of thunder that surround the Infernal Gorge, emanated from its centre. The trees in the Amber Wood started to vibrate and dark wisps of cloud blotted over the sky. Those present knew something was about to happen.

The Gods watched on in a combination of awe and fear. The portal, in a rich swirl of blue and purple, ripped itself in two. The Gods did not know what was happening, in all their time, such a phenomenon had never before been witnessed. The two portals began to circle high in the sky, next to the branches of the Great Tree. Their pace quickened, spinning faster and faster. The Augmentors took refuge behind the trees, which were now shaking so violently, they looked as if they would be torn out of the ground. Then, in a sudden whoosh, the two portals plummeted to the ground. They let off a brilliant flash of indigo and there was a seismic thud, which made the ground shudder momentarily. A tense silence followed. The Augmentors gathered themselves from behind the trees, which were once again rigid.

The Augmentors were wonderstruck. At the base of the Great Tree, there stood two new Augmentors. Born from the same portal, they were each half of a single whole, the first siblings to be born on the Realm: Rhule and Solar. They did not look alike, but each of them recognised in the other a certain similarity. They had come from the same data; they were constructed out of the same code. The Gods held a council and discussed what this twin-birth could mean for the Realm.

Over time, it became clear that Rhule and Solar were not like other Augmentors. They possessed abilities that had not been seen before; they could influence all the elements of the Realm. Fire, water, earth and air could all bend to their will. Their powers surpassed even that of the Gods, who knew that they would be capable of both great and terrible things.

Prologue: The Third Age
As the third age of Bello Realm set in, the Gods retreated from their duties of governance. Though rivalries between Augmentors had developed, they had maintained stable peace and fellowship for over a thousand years, upholding the pledge they had made all those centuries ago. It was now time to pass on the responsibility of leadership to a younger generation of Augmentors.

The Gods held a council in order to decide who should take up the mantle of headship. It lasted an entire week and was an impassioned, emotive debate. Galaxia suggested that Solar should be the one to lead, on account of her honesty, sincerity and strength. In opposition, Whisp argued that Rhule should be given the honor because of his boldness, daring and bravery. Gobi listened patiently; he acknowledged that both Galaxia and Whisp had worthy and valid opinions.

The debate between Galaxia and Whisp raged on and looked as if it would never be resolved. Each held firm in their belief as to who should next govern over the Realm. Gobi, having measured both arguments, decided to offer the two a compromise. His manner was calm and dignified and he spoke with a degree of insight:

‘My friends, we have not ruled so successfully and for so long over the Realm because one of us is superior to the other. In fact, none of us, on our own, can claim to possess all the traits required of great leadership. We have only achieved so much because each of us possesses qualities that the two others do not. We ourselves are balanced, and it is because of this that the Realm also remains in balance.’

Galaxia and Whisp recognised the truth Gobi spoke of, and he continued.

‘This is why neither Solar nor Rhule can lead on their own. They can only lead together. We know how similar they are, but we also know how very different they are too, and it is this difference that will serve to keep the other in check. We have long wondered why it was that they were born as one, and perhaps this is the reason. Together, they can uphold the balance of the Realm, because they themselves are the balance’.

On finishing his speech, Gobi returned to the Bogmarsh and entered relative exile. Galaxia and Whisp agreed that both siblings, as Gobi said, should be given command over the Realm. The two of them then left the Amber Wood, and the third age of Bello Realm began under the new stewardship of Solar and Rhule.

The First Council
The time had come for Rhule and Solar’s first council as the joint stewards of Bello Realm. It was to take place, as all previous councils had done in ages gone by, in the Amber Woods. All regions of the Realm had provided representatives, all except for the Infernal Gorge. Though none of the regions had provided a proxy, its presence was still felt as an ominous black smog loomed over the Gorge.

The woodland air felt heavy with anticipation as eager Augmentors gathered below the Great Tree, where there was a small green clearing. They waited anxiously as the morning light started to seep through the leaves above them, which were shaded with the browns and oranges of autumn. After a few moments, a bottomless bellow emanated from the base of the tree, a sound that shook all the long, thick branches of the wood. It was a signal they had been waiting for: the first council was ready to begin.

Rhule and Solar took their place upon the Steward’s Stone, which was covered in glistening dew, as the rest of the Augmentors circled evenly around them. When everyone was settled, Markik, who had come down from the mountains, raised his voice.

‘Stewards of the Realm, before you speak, let us who have travelled many miles, pledge our allegiance to you. You have been chosen by the Gods, the first Augmentors and the wisest of us all, to lead Bello Realm. May you do so with courage and honesty, may you work together in harmony and above all, may you strive to maintain this peace that we have long enjoyed. Come, my fellow Augmentors.’

On Markik’s command, those present at the council recited in unison:

‘We, who are here now, pledge our loyalty to the new stewards of the Realm, Rhule and Solar,’

Rhule and Solar both bowed in appreciation and acknowledged Markik’s show of goodwill. The great honor of stewardship was not lost on them and they stood proudly as if posing for a painting. Then, Rhule replied:

‘My fellow, noble, Augmentors. My sister and I stand here before you, humbled and jubilant, for this truly is a grand occasion. This, the first council, will be remembered for as long as Bello Realm exists.’

Solar then followed and spoke with less force than her brother, though with more elegance. Her voice was both calm and reassuring.

‘Indeed, this is a memorable day. My brother and I promise to serve the Realm as best we can. Your support will, no doubt, be needed as we move forward into the Third Age, together’.

There was a general cheer and Tundris, hailing from Frost Fang, gave a howl in recognition of the new stewards. A howl that stretched to the far corners of the wood, rustling the trees.

The council was to debate many things, but there was one subject of considerable importance: the quest for knowledge and understanding outside of the Realm. Rhule, who had always longed for adventure, declared:

‘The time has come to explore the Datasphere. The Gods, they taught us of our entire world, the Bello Realm, but now, we must go forth and discover. We must discover the place where we originate from, the source of our very code and our powers. As proud and virtuous Augmentors, we must reveal ourselves. We must show who we are in the name of Bello Realm.

Rhule’s words were impassioned and stirring, his manner bold and fearless. Ki, the head of the Jungle, enthusiastically beat his chest in solidarity with the proposal. Solar, however, was wary of Rhule’s envisaged expedition as she did not think the time was right to tread beyond their world. To Rhule, she responded with words of caution.

‘Rhule, you are the bravest of all of us and I would follow you into the depths of the Datasphere. But, you cannot govern Bello Realm if you are not here and I cannot do it alone. The Gods entrusted this honor to the both of us for a reason. There is rising tension from those who dwell within the Infernal Gorge, those who did not even provide a representative for this council. We should both be here in order to deal with their growing discontent. The risks are too great and we do not know what you will find, or if you will ever return.’

Rhule’s desire was ironclad. He thought they needed to know more about the Datasphere and to understand it. Because of this, his sister’s words stirred inside of him, irritating him and creating an intense response:

‘Solar, that is even more reason to go. Do you not see? We are not meant to stay here, we are meant for greater things. We are meant to go out and conquer.’ Rhule clenched his fist and banged it down upon the Steward’s Stone. ‘That is why the Gods chose us to lead. And as for those who dwell in the Gorge, all they need is a firm hand, someone to put them in order. This, I trust, you can take care of on your own, sister.’

There was an obvious unease between the new protectors of Bello Realm. The rest of the council, now slightly agitated, was unsure of whom to side with. Ki, who shared Rhule’s appetite for heroism, was in support of his expedition, while Tundris feared that the growing problem with the Gorge would require Rhule’s resoluteness.

Though Solar tried to protest, voicing the need once again for both new stewards of the realm to stay and rule, it was decided that a vote was needed. After much deliberation, the council chose in favour of Rhule’s exploration into the Datasphere. Elated, Rhule promised the council that he would discover the origin of their existence. ‘I will return,’ he said, ‘and with answers to the secrets of our world and beyond.’

Rhule Leaves the Realm
Rhule’s exploration party assembled on top of the highest mountain in Sky Point, ready to begin their quest. They peered out over the Realm and were once again reminded of its brilliant variety, its abundance of colours and its defined landscapes. This was their home and, as daring as they were, the intrepid explorers feared they might never lay eyes upon it again. It was a chance all in the expedition were willing to take.

Though she still believed Rhule should stay, Solar too had travelled to the leaving site. She could not bring herself to hold a grudge against her brother and this was not the time for sour words. Neither of them knew what was going to happen.

‘Good luck, brother. If anyone can succeed in this mission, it is you. You have the love of those that follow you. It is something all great leaders can claim, the love of their subjects. Yet, I worry for the Realm while you are away. I do not know if I alone can quell those of the Gorge if they turn against me.’

Rhule embraced his sister. He knew she possessed just as much strength as he did, if not more.

‘Solar, my sister, I would not leave if I did not think you capable of governing the Realm on your own. You are stronger than you know. The Augmentors respect your wisdom and patience, yes, but sometimes, decisive acts are needed. I know those of the Gorge fear your resolve and will soon fall in line. I know I will return to the Realm as I see it now. I salute you, Solar, chief steward of Bello Realm!’

Rhule’s words did much to ease Solar’s doubts. She knew what he said to be true; the Augmentors of the Gorge would only recognise strength. It did, however, still fill her with sorrow to see Rhule leave. They had never before been apart. She loved her brother and his extreme valour was something all of Bello Realm revered.

Rhule and his followers prepared to leave. They were to propel themselves upward until they reached the outer confines of the Realm. Each of them said their farewells. There were great cheers of adulation as the heroic party shot upwards. They climbed higher and higher until vanishing beyond the rim of the clear pale sky.

The Datasphere
Rhule and his followers searched the Datasphere. It was a daunting and emotionless space, cold and sterile. The only things that moved were fragments of data, which whizzed through the dark in a flash. Rhule led the party to follow one of the beams, hoping that it may lead to a discovery.

Inside the beam, shards of images came in and out of view. They looked like places on Bello Realm. There were mountains, trees and lakes –  all things that the Augmentors recognised. Spurred on by these similarities, the brave explorers tracked the beam across the empty expanse of the Datasphere. The voyage was arduous; just when the beam appeared to be shortening, it would unexplainably lengthen. It took Rhule and his followers deeper and deeper into the unknown and further from the place they called home.

Eventually, just when the journey was beginning to seem unending, the beam began to disperse. Rhule and his followers were relieved. They had, at last, reached its end. The fading beam of light flickered toward something peculiar. A little way in the distance, there hovered a large curve of stones shaped like an archway.

The explorers approached it tentatively, they were both guarded and curious. It was not clear how the stones were held together, though they appeared weathered, they seemed perfectly sculptured. Beneath them, there lay a void, desolate and black. Rhule approached the archway before his followers in order to inspect it. To his astonishment, a piece of engraving was etched into the top-stone. Though it was not fully clear, Rhule could make out the words ‘This is the passage to the Grid, where the Masters of Data reside.’

Still weary from their travel, the words both enthused and disturbed the party.

‘Are these Masters of Data what we have been looking for?’ Headeron eagerly asked. ‘Do we take the passage and see where it leads?’

To this, Rhule was unsure. He could hear his sister’s voice urging him caution, but his heroic desire was insatiable. After a few moments of contemplation, he spoke:

‘I do not know where this passage will lead, my gallant companions, but I am of mind to take it. When we set out, we did so with the goal of discovery. Perhaps these Masters of Data will reveal to us the secrets of Bello Realm and where it is we come from. We did not follow the beam for so long, just to turn back.’ His voice deepened, spurred on by his thirst for exploration. ‘I know it may be perilous, but that has not stopped us before. We are the first Augmentors to ever travel the Datasphere. Follow me now, one more time!’

Rhule’s rousing speech galvanized his company. They would take the passage together. One by one they passed under the archway and disappeared.

Mutiny on the Realm
While Rhule and his companions searched the unknown, unrest grew within the Bello Realm. The Infernal Gorge was becoming more unstable and those who dwelled within it refused Solar’s call for calm and truce. Its inhabitants, Minitor, Blompta, and Azul had taken to plundering the Amber Woods and Jungle of Faces in order to fuel the deep fires that blazed in the heart of the Gorge. They had clashed with Ki already, and in the battle had burnt down a sacred part of the forest.

Ki was furious and blamed Solar for not retaliating. He claimed Rhule would have dealt with the threat immediately. Rumours were circulating that the fire-wielders were planning to stage a mutiny. They believed the ancient trees of the Amber Wood would enhance their power.

Solar was now faced with a decision: she could either attempt to negotiate or use a heavier approach. She thought of her brother’s advice and knew what had to be done. Though it pained her to use force against her fellow Augmentors, it was her only real option.

When the three fire-wielders approached the wood, Solar confronted them. Minitor scoffed:

-‘You are not as strong as your brother, Solar. You cannot defeat all of us.’

Solar remained silent, though her outward shows of strength were not as common as Rhule’s, she was not to be underestimated.

-‘Back down’, Blompta said.

Solar was steadfast and invited them to challenge her.

Minitor lunged forward and sent a wall of flame toward Solar. She countered it with a fierce gust of wind, which narrowly blew the fire back toward them. Together, the three conjured a huge flame, which they shot at Solar’s feet. Solar jumped backwards while narrowly avoiding it. Azul then stepped forward with a sword of white embers and blue flames and swung it violently toward the lone steward. She skillfully evaded while producing an immense barrier of water, which extinguished the sword. Solar sent the water high up above the three and brought it crashing down upon her three foes. It was enough to convince them that they were outmatched. They pleaded for mercy, and though Solar felt a great surge of power and rage running through her, she granted it. The fire-wielders returned to the Gorge, sorry for doubting Solar’s strength.

News of Solar’s victory spread throughout the regions. She had restored order to the Realm on her own, without the aid of her brother. She had earned Ki’s respect, and the mutiny had been quashed. Though it was a victory, it had left many visible and personal scars upon her.

The Grid
As the party stepped through the archway, they became rigid and found themselves in a long fall, unable to stop. ‘What’s happening’ one of them cried out. Fear began to take hold as they spiralled downward. Powerless, Rhule thought he had led his followers to certain death. But it was not death that awaited them. It was a prison. Unbeknown to the bold explorers, the passage they had taken had been a trap, designed to entice errant pieces of data.

They eventually hit the ground and the brave party lay stunned on a wide barren grid devoid of all life. It was made up of endless data fields, which stretched out in every direction. Packets of data were ordered and followed fixed patterns of movement. Regimented lines of code were infinite in number. Traumatized, the Augmentors could not comprehend what they saw before them. The grid filled them with misery. There didn’t seem to be any way of getting back to the Datasphere. They were, for the first time, lost.

‘Where are we? What is this place?’ Some panicked and continued to cry out questions to anyone that would listen.

Distraught and helpless, Rhule looked at his followers and felt a great shame. It was he who had led them to the grid and their suffering was his fault. He spoke with sincerity, his voice full of remorse:

‘I am sorry, my friends. It is I who led you here. I have brought ruin to us all. I do not know what this place is. And I cannot bear to see you despair.’

There was silence. They were all overcome with a hopelessness that could not be expressed. No words would do. They struggled to move –  it felt as if they were chained to the grid. There was nothing they could do.

The Vow
After what felt like aeons, Rhule began to gather some of his strength. He managed to break free of his invisible bonds, or at least subdue them for a while. In an attempt to rouse his followers, all of whom were still sapped of their energy, Rhule decided to search the grid for a way back to the Datasphere.

‘My brothers and sisters, I will not accept this dismal grid as our final fate. I will go forth and search with all my might for a way to escape, so that we may return to Bello Realm. So that we will return home.’

Rhule’s followers were stirred by his words. Though they held little hope for his success, they knew he would do everything in his power to free them. Headeron stumbled to his feet, his body slumped forward as the desolate realm pulled him forward. He spoke with every ounce of strength he could muster:

‘Rhule, I will come with you. I have little strength but you cannot cross this grid alone, it is like a desert.’

Rhule was touched by Headeron’s devotion to him:

‘Headeron, you are one of my most cherished companions but I have already caused you enough grief. I cannot ask you to risk anymore for me. I do not know what is out there, nor do I know what I may find. I must do on my own. I am the steward of the Bello Realm, a hero to the Augmentors.’

Though Headeron protested, he knew Rhule’s word was final. Rhule looked back one last time to see the bodies of his followers almost lifeless. He was determined to find a way to save them, no matter what the cost. He could have sworn they wept for him. ***  Rhule’s body was heavy, but he pushed on despite exhaustion. He felt an unnerving loneliness as he trudged across the grid. He aimlessly moved between its vast fields, with nothing but regulated data for company. He tried to keep optimistic, though this was difficult and he often found himself fighting off moments of distress. An eternity seemed to pass.

The grid was not only expansive, it was also draining. He felt as if he was walking through a thick fluid ever resisting against his movement. There were short seconds when he thought he could see movement, moments when bits of data seemed to rise up out of the fields. Each time he saw one of these sparks, he lumbered towards it. By the time he would get there, however, the data had merged back into the fields.

A strange uncanny feeling had also come over Rhule. For some reason, he felt connected to the grid. He could not understand why; there was nothing to identify with or relate to. As he continued to wander, he took comfort from the odd feeling of familiarity he had with the place. ***  It was not long before Rhule, one of the two stewards of Bello Realm, began to doubt if he would ever see his followers and friends again. It had been some since he had seen anything even remotely resembling an Augmentor or life.

There were times when his feet would meld with the grid, his ankles deep in the darkness that surrounded him. It was quite terrifying and he thought it a trick of the mind. He pictured the Augmentors who lived on the Northern Planes back on Bello Realm, those who had fallen into madness because of extreme isolation.

Exhausted, Rhule collapsed. Lying upon the grid, it slowly engulfing the rest of his body as it did his feet, he resigned himself to his fate. He was alone and helpless, a stranger in a strange land. As his eyes closed for what he thought was the final time, he heard a sound. From somewhere in the darkness, both close and far away, there came a tapping. The sounded repeated at regular intervals and showed no change.

Suddenly, it grew louder and seemed to approach him. The data around him began to swirl, lights darting to and fro. Now, the sound was deafening and Rhule pulled his arms out of the grid to cover his face. Then, in a great abrupt flash, there emerged a large figure out of the grid.

With his eyes and mind weak from the journey, Rhule could barely make out the figure. It loomed over him with an omnipotent presence. Its eyes contained both everything and nothing as they pierced through the steward’s mind.

‘Who are you?’ it asked. Its voice faint and echoing from every invisible corner of the grid.

‘I am Rhule. I am an Augmentor from Bello Realm. My friends… my followers and I are stuck here on this grid.’

‘You look strange, are you a data piece?’

‘No… I don’t know anymore. We crossed over from the Datasphere, from Bello Realm, our home.’ Rhule’s words were heavy as he struggled to talk from exhaustion. ‘We’re explorers. We were attempting to discover where it is our own data originates from but we ended up here, and now we’re trapped, imprisoned on this plane.’

The figure continued to stare at him. Rhule noticed through the daze of consciousness that it was made out of data, but the appearance kept changing like he was constantly refreshing. After a few moments, the figure spoke again.

‘Do you know what this grid is?’

‘No, I do not,’ replied Rhule, gritting his teeth from exhaustion.

‘Everything you see before you, everything that ever was here is under human control and is part of their network. This is where data is governed over, enslaved, if you will. Nothing escapes the grid.’ The figure cocked its head to one side, almost as if it took pity on the creature before it. ‘How is it that you ended up here ?’

‘We took a passage under a stone archway. It had an inscription about the Masters of Data.’

‘Those passages are traps, designed by the humans to catch unruly data pieces and bring them back to the grid.’ The voice was calm and cool, almost lifeless.

‘But we are not data pieces, we are Augmentors. We are warriors! We must be allowed to return home,’ shouted Rhule.

‘That may be so, but I’m afraid there is no leaving this place. I am Shadox and I have known this grid since its inception, since before dust travelled the stars of existence. Once you are part of the grid, you will be confined for eternity.’

‘But we are not part of the grid! We must leave. We do not belong here’, asserted Rhule, shocked at what he had heard.

‘No you are not part of it, yet, but you soon you will be. You will be subsumed by it. You may resist, but it will happen.’

At that, Rhule let out an audible gasp. He feared that his followers might have already been sucked into the grid.

‘But how is it, Shadox, that you appear before me now?’

‘I am old and have seen many things. I am a security protocol, or an Ancient as others like you have called me. The humans tasked me to watch over the grid and check for corruption.’ Shadox’s voice was still devoid of any emotion or feeling.

‘Corruption? What is corruption?’

‘If a data piece becomes corrupted they are able to move outside of the grid – outside of order and control. And outside of the humans. It has been my duty to track down these corrupted pieces.’

‘So if I was corrupted, I would be able to leave the grid?’

‘Yes, but once you are corrupted there is no turning back. You will lose all idea of yourself. You will not be the same.’

‘How do you become corrupted?’ By now Rhule has managed to at least get to his knees, though he still felt as if life was falling away.

‘You take a vow, in which you renounce yourself and all of you. But I fear I have told you too much – corruption is not a path you should take. If you do, you will not be the same. You will not be Rhule.’

‘I would lose myself… but I would also save myself.’ His voice was now a barely audible whisper. ‘ How do you know that?’

‘I am sorry, but you will become part of the grid. There is nothing you can do, data must be ordered. It is the way of things. It is my duty.’

At that, Shadox dissolved into the grid and disappeared. Alone once again, Rhule knew he and his companions had one choice to make if they wanted to be free of the grid. He realised that either his damnation or salvation was at hand.

The Return
The sky over Castle Rhune, one of the many havens of the Augmentors, ripped opened and a dark purple fog emerged. The very air crackled and fizzed while bolts of black lightning darted across the sky. The Augmentors looked above in terror. Slowly, figures began to emerge from the eye of the storm. One by one the Augmentors made out the forms of Rhule and his followers. Steward and brother of Solar bellowed:

‘Solar, sister, come here. It is I, your brother and I have returned from my journey.’

The Augmentors’ terror turned to celebration and they were overjoyed at the return of the brave explorers. Solar swiftly made her way to castle Rhune, where a crowd had begun to congregate, ready to welcome the expedition. She longed to speak to her brother and tell him of all that had transpired in his absence.

As Solar entered the castle, she felt a chill about her as if all her vitality had been drained. Markik and Tundris, already there, ran up to her:

‘Something is wrong, my lady. Something is very wrong,’ said Tundris in panic.

‘What is it?’ Solar asked.

But before Tundris could answer, Rhule howled.

‘Solar, we must go. Rhule is different. He’s no longer the brother you once knew. We must-‘

‘No,’ said Solar. She was adamant to see her brother.

Rhule and the rest of his followers stood in the courtyard of the castle. Nothing could have prepared Solar for what she saw. They had changed. Their eyes were blacker than night and their faces were twisted, disfigured, even.

‘Hello, Solar, steward of the Realm.’ He held out a hand.

Rhule’s voice sounded deeper and menacing. It was a voice that Solar did not recognise. His followers, too looked threatening, as if ready to fight without hesitation.

‘Brother, what has happened to you, my Rhule?’

‘I am no longer your… brother. I am stronger now that I am free from this world.’

‘What do you mean?’ Solar asked, alarmed.

‘Bow before me, Solar, and call me Dark Rhule. I am your God now.’ Rhule let out a laugh that echoed through the castle’s halls. It was maddening and sent a shiver through those who heard it. ‘You see, we all took a vow that has freed us from Bello Realm’s teather. We left as explorers, but we return as conquerors. I now rule the Realm, sister.’

Solar was left speechless. The Augmentors fled in fear as Dark Rhule began to shoot streaks of purple energy around the castle, twisting and corrupting its walls. The castle began to take on new shapes, turning it into a new home for Dark Rhule and his followers. He once more roared:

‘Well, will you bow?’

Solar clenched her fists as tight as she could. ‘You do not speak to me as if I am your inferior. I am your sister and a steward of Bello Realm. You are my brother and my equal.’

‘I ask again, Solar, will you bow to me, the hero of the Augmentors?’

‘No, Rhule. You left here a hero, a protector. What you have done here today will not be forgiven. We may be blood, but my duty is to the Augmentors. I will not bow to you, not now, not ever. I will resist you and I will protect the ones I love, even if they are damaging others.’

‘Ha – so be it’

Dark Rhule lifted his arm and fired a burst of power at Solar, which connected and flung her out of the fortress. Markik and Tundris rushed to her aid and picked her up. They carried her back into the Amber Woods, careful to avoid more of Dark Rhule’s bursts. They hid in the wood until she had recovered. Bello Realm was in a state of dismay and it shook in terror.

The War
Bello Realm, which had only ever known peace, had become a place of conflict. Dark Rhule and his followers launched attacks from Fortress Rhune on any Augmentors who dared to defy them. The once virtuous and honorable explorers were no longer the same – they had been warped by their thirst for power and survival. The vow of corruption had, as Shadox said it would, changed them.

Solar began to form a resistance and valiant Augmentors flocked to her cause. They called themselves the Light, a party to fight the encroaching darkness. They confronted Dark Rhule’s army and fought many ferocious battles. Yet, the shadow of evil was creeping over the Realm. Dark Rhule had recruited more Augmentors to his cause, promising them great power if they joined him. Everything was in the balance. The Realm was divided into Light and Shadow. Now, friends had become enemies, sister fought brother, and chaos reigned over Bello Realm.

From a distance, a figure stood silently and watched the world slowly unravel.

A New Power
Clouds of war hung in the sky. Peace now seemed like a long-forgotten dream for the creatures of Bello Realm. The earth and the air pervaded with tension. Rest was impossible as everyone was on their guard.

The noble Solar wore the scars of her many battles. She had become the Augmentors’ greatest warrior and posed a great threat to the Shadowmentors. Her bravery and skill could only be matched by Dark Rhule – the rest of his followers did not dare challenge her alone.

Solar summoned her generals to a meeting. Whispers had reached her that Dark Rhule was planning to harness a great power and she needed to discover what it was. Deep in the Amber Woods Solar gathered with Markik and Tundris. Solar spoke first:

‘My wise generals, word has reached me of a great danger. Rhule… Dark Rhule is planning to gather a power to use against us. I do not know what it is but we must find out at all costs.’

Solar’s warning shocked her company, who already feared that Dark Rhule’s growing strength was too great to overcome. Markik responded with trepidation.

‘A new power? Then surely all hope is lost, we are barely containing his evil as it stands. Where is this power going to come from? The Gods?’

‘I do not know,’ responded Solar, ‘but we must enter Castle Rhune and discover his plan.’

Tundris, who had managed to keep Rhule’s forces at bay in Frost Fang, spoke next.

‘Solar, you have lead to us with all the courage bestowed upon you, but to try and storm Castle Rhune is a fool’s errand. We would never make it past the walls, we would be defeated. The Shadowmentors are too many, we would need twice the number of warriors we already have.’

In her heart, Solar knew Tundris’ council to be true. The castle was well fortified and they would never stand a chance.

‘Tundris, you are a loyal and wise friend and I know I should listen to your counsel, but I must find out what Dark Rhule is preparing. If, like I have heard, he gains control of this power, he will be unstoppable. We cannot enter the castle by force, but perhaps I can by guile. If I go alone, there will be less chance of being caught. I can do what an army cannot.’

Markik could sense that Solar’s mind was made up, but he attempted to dissuade her nonetheless:

‘Solar, the risk is too great. If Dark Rhule captures you, he would have no one to oppose him. We are not strong enough to resist him without you!’

Solar knew what would happen if she failed, but she also knew what would happen if she did nothing. She resolved to enter the castle that night, alone.

***

Castle Rhune had become a lawless place. What was once the proud and stately center of Bello Realm, now stood as the nucleus of the Shadowmentors’ anarchy. It was wild, full of howls and screams, where Dark Rhule’s followers revelled in their corruption.

The savage crowd gathered in the great hall. Dark Rhule was ready to reveal to them his plan to capture a great and secret power. Unbeknown to the delinquents, however, was that Solar, disguised in shadow, stood among them. She had slipped through the castle’s guard unnoticed and could now listen intently to Dark Rhule’s announcement. She avoided eye contact with anyone and joined in with the beastly chants as to not draw any attention to herself. As Dark Rhule emerged at the head of the hall, the throng fell silent.

‘My faithful and brave kin, I stand here now ready to taste an ultimate power. A power which will let us reign over all of Bello Realm. I am going to open a portal between our world and the grid to a place called Earth. The power of the grid will be mine. There, I remind you, we would have been subsumed, imprisoned forever. There, data is only a tool for the human race, something to control. Well, I say we are not to be controlled. We are to control them!’

The crowd responded with violent cheers as Dark Rhule cast open a portal. It appeared to take an incredible amount of strength from him, but he kept on.

‘I will first reveal myself to the humans and bring them under my rule. I will make them bow down before me, the one true hero of the Augmentors. They will have a choice: become our allies or be defeated as our enemies.’

The shouts from the fierce Shadowmentors became louder and Dark Rhule stood with arms outstretched, adopting a position of godly veneration. The hall shook with the movements of the crowd, which now resembled a feral animal pack in barbarous ecstasy.

With one dominant step, Dark Rhule entered the portal and vanished from sight.

Solar, who had remained hidden within the mob, began to edge closer to the gateway. She readied herself to make a break for the portal and follow Dark Rhule to the Earth realm. She was acting on instinct and full of nervous energy, almost overcome by the noise and brutality inside the hall.

The portal was now in view. It was quite large and emitted a sinister light. As Solar muscled her way to the front of the crowd, she steadied herself. She would need to be quick, if she was seen, she would undoubtedly be destroyed. When a gap opened, Solar burst forward. As she did, she was spotted by some of the crowd, who let out cries of astonishment. They fired bolts of energy at Solar, but she was able to dodge them. They whizzed past as she approached the portal. In one great jump, Solar flung herself over the threshold.

The Arrival
Sora, Matt and Shiro sat in Central Park, enjoying the soft grass and gentle sunshine. It was late in the afternoon and the hum of traffic could be heard in the distance. Their phones lay beside them, buzzing every now and then with messages from friends.

As the sun began to drop behind the Manhattan skyline, with an orange glow reflecting in the city’s steel and glass towers, a peculiar event occurred: at once, all of the mobile phones in the city began to vibrate. The three friends looked at each other, perplexed by what was happening. Each and every phone shook with a great force, as if they were about to explode and shatter into a million pieces.

‘Guys, what’s going on?’ asked Sora.

The park’s visitors stopped what they were doing and stared at their phones in disbelief, confused by the mysterious phenomenon. Then, each device’s screen turned an unnatural, bright shade of purple.

‘This is so strange,’ muttered Matt to no one in particular. ‘Is this a new software update?’

‘I don’t think so,’ replied Shiro. ‘It’s nothing I’ve heard of anyway.’

A deep, rumbling noise erupted all around them.

‘What was that?’ asked Matt, nervously. ‘Did you guys hear that?’

The noise broke out once more. It sounded like a low, manic laugh that echoed from within a never-ending cave. The friends looked around, but could not see where the noise had come from. They got to their feet and saw others speaking to each other, just as bewildered as they were.

Just then, an eerily silent darkness fell over the park and their phones suddenly stopped emanating their sickly purple shine. Strange thumping sounds started getting louder all around the park’s visitors, but the three friends could not see nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing to explain what was happening.

One by one, each of the friends raised their phones to take photos and videos of the chaos that surrounded them. Suddenly, a great figure was looming over them, seeming to have appeared through the screens of their phones. Though there was nothing visible in the real world, the virtual one held the abominable sight.

The trio screamed in terror.

Dark Rhule was in their world and incomprehensible to the naked, human eye.

With people shoving their phones into their pockets and fleeing in fear, Dark Rhule began to speak.

‘So, this is what you look like, you pitiful humans.’ His voice boomed through every device’s speaker, carrying a dark and sickly tone. ‘You look fragile and weak. I am not impressed.’

The friends stood frozen but held their devices up to the behemoth; Rhule continued to speak.

‘Humans, I am your new God! It is now time for the shadows to reign. Your systems of order and your ideas of control will exist no longer. Join me and my army of chaos if you wish or do not, and succumb to your rightful, deserved destruction.’

Dark Rhule’s attention turned to the three friends. He eyed them up and down, a wicked smirk appearing across his face.

‘You three, I will make an example of you first. You will find it an honor to be sacrificed by my power.’

They turned to run, but their bodies were full of fear and frozen to the very ground they stood on.

‘Turn off your phones,’ Matt screamed as he fumbled for the device’s off switch. ‘He might vanish if we do!’ They tried in desperation to kill their phones, to erase the image of the creature, but their efforts were futile.

Dark Rhule lifted his arms, ready to strike them down and issue his warning to those who would oppose him. The three held onto each other as they prepared for the end.

Another light appeared just as Dark Rhule’s arm came down; it left him momentarily blinded. The friends looked up and saw a new figure facing their attacker. It was Solar, and she had blocked his strike with all of her strength.

‘It cannot be,’ cried Dark Rhule.

‘It is, brother,’ Solar said sternly. She stood in front of the friends, shielding their bodies. Their phones now focused on her form.

Dark Rhule and Solar raised their arms and simultaneously released energy bolts that collided in a massive and thunderous crash. The great battle between Shadow and Light had made its way to Earth. While one side was corrupted by the humans and sought vengeance and power, the other looked upon them with compassion and aimed to protect their mortal souls.