Heroes/K'arkh

Lore
Bolts of lightning tore across the skies of Dagan-Nur. The gate almost opened, and he was to be the second to enter it, right after Brog. Another journey to take, another world to visit, another little death. For the world, that is. K'arkh recalled past shifts, the cries of the dying, and his own unquestionable strength and power, full of endless hatred for the world that dared surround him. A familiar heat started to spread across his body, nothing unusual when enjoyable and exciting work awaits. Ilyssa's voice reached him a second after he started walking to the portal.

‘’You're too self-conceited, K'arkh, one of four Negators of All Creation! Turn around, for you are seeing these skies for the last time!’’

Ilyssa the Weaver, his partner in battle and one of the Negators herself, had a voice that K'arkh found incredibly annoying. A queen of one of many planets, she wielded the gift of prescience, but here and now the pesky wretch was wrong. K'arkh knew himself, and his own wishes.

Everything would go as usual: the four Negators of All Creation would devour yet another world until nothing remained, and K'arkh would return to the endless abyss of Dagan-Nuhr. He stepped forward and entered the Outland portal.

Darkness gave way to light, so bright it made K'arkh's sensory organs screech in hatred as they began readjusting to discern the world around. The gate brought the Negators to Dominion's exact center, and the game began. Blood, surprise in the eyes of victims, blood again, and death, death, death... K'arkh and the others spread death wherever they went, and nothing would ever compare to the pleasure they felt.

‘’Do you remember me, K'arkh? Do you?’’ came a whisper from behind the ruler of Dagan-Nuhr.

‘’Yes, Judge. I never forget you.’’ K'arkh stood straight and turned to face the man behind him. ‘’Many paths cross in Dominion. Perhaps it's a sign that you can't run from fate, isn't it? Remember how HE said that one day you'll protect those you hate and despise so much? You laughed and called his words a child's prattling, and yet today it will come to pass.’’

Lightning started to course through Judge's body. His voice carried no anger, only steeled resolve, with a light hint of fatigue.

‘’Your only hope lies in saving these people. Once you were the best work of our Creator, yet you envied everything else that he created. Your hatred drives you insane, K'arkh, yet the only one deserving of hatred is yourself. The Creator is gone, and Nebula and I can't find him.’’

‘’Why should I care, Judge?’’ K'arkh winced in disgust. ‘’Go look for HIM on your own!’’

‘’Why should you care, you ask?’’ Judge let out a bitter chuckle. ‘’Admit it: your strength is not what it used to be. How often did you allow yourself to be wounded by your foes? How many mistakes did you make, each a cause for unrest among the Negators? The Creator is gone and the world has lost control; the balance has tipped, and the laws of creation no longer work. Your strength is waning, K'arkh; and that will continue until HE is found. You are still strong and fearsome, yet, but how long can this go on?’’

Judge's words stabbed at his mind like sharp needles. K'arkh did not want to listen, but what he heard was true. He has to, he must help this miserable human rabble. Oh yes, he hates them so much, hates Judge and his pitiful friends, hates the Creator. But above else, he hates being weak. Ilyssa the Weaver, Brog the Conqueror and Vadjar: they will never forgive him. But what good is a common goal, when your very own life is on the line?

‘’Lead me.’’ K'arkh muttered to Judge. ‘’I will help you so long as I need it. And when the deed is done, I'll kill this planet and everything, everyone on it, will be torn to shreds!’’

Thick, grey clouds covered the grim skies of Dagan-Nuhr. The first raindrops, like tears for their lost master, started falling into the abyss, so dark and endlessly deep."

К'арх