(Omar begins his journey by ship to the Antarctic region, the mark in his eye guiding him on a path to the hidden continent beneath the earth. He finds that the ship has stopped amidst numerous icebergs)
Omar: Damn it! I have to get out and hurry before I freeze. I'm tired of all this.
(The storm rages around him, and the harsh snow causes scratches and other injuries to his body. This continues for more than two hours)
Omar: Curse it! I'm starting to feel like I'm losing consciousness. I have to keep going for a little longer; I'm close to arriving.
(He uses a potion that heals him)
Omar: What? How? I still feel tired. I expect he meant the 'underground land' is literally beneath me. Alright, let's try.
(He starts digging. He grabs his pistol and loads a large-caliber bullet that shatters into multiple fragments using the stone it's made with. He points it downwards and pulls the trigger. His body falls onto his back, and he finds himself falling from a very high place. He quickly grabs his sword to use as a brace to reduce the impact of the fall and drinks another potion that lessens the damage received from falling)
(He finally finds himself on the underground land)
Omar: I need sleep and warmth.
(He moves quickly but slowly to observe the shapes of the people, and whether they are safe or not. He hides slowly behind a wall of many strange shops, and many humans, but their eyes are black on the outside)
(He faints from spending hours in the snow)
(Several hours later...)
Omar: I have to wake up... Wake up!
(Omar faints)
???: Have you finally woken up?
Omar: Who are you?
Amadish: I am Amadish, and we are on the continent of Sin. You are human, aren't you? Humans haven't visited us for a very long time, about 900 years since the last time I saw a human being.
Omar: What are you if you're not human? And why aren't you afraid of a human like me?
Amadish: We are the Marloa race. We are much stronger than you physically, and our needs are different, but humans don't accept them. For this reason, the eyes we possess have abilities like high focus; we can see beyond the external appearance and the furthest things, and also predict an opponent's moves, but it's not very effective most of the time. You have to be very close for us to use it. As for why I'm not afraid of you, it's because I've read a lot about you and wanted to help a human. But in the past, there were disputes between humans and the Marloa, and their relationship ended with a few wars. This is from what I've read, but there is no longer any proof of this.
Omar: Why are you telling me your strengths and weaknesses? And how can you understand what I'm saying?
Amadish: Simply, I see beyond the teenage appearance you have. You are over 250-350 years old, which means you are originally above the level of ordinary humans, and your weapons are deadly; a single shot can kill a group of us. Do you understand? And it's clear from your terrifying appearance that you are not harmful to everyone, as I saw when you were lying on the ground and I brought you here. Also, we have the ability to communicate with any being.
Omar: Well done. And I see you as strong too because you're not afraid of me or even helped me without fear. I need to leave; I can't stay here, I have my goal.
Amadish: So, what do you want to do now?
Omar: I need to get out of here and find out if the Potion of Immortality still exists or not.
Amadish: Alright, if you need anything, you will find me here. And take this coat so no one sees you. And where do you want to go?
Omar: To the Queen or the King.
Amadish: Alright, go to the end of the road. There will be a castle in front of you; that's their castle.
Omar: Okay, thank you, goodbye.
(Omar leaves the house and heads towards the castle at the end of the area)
(He starts running, hiding so that no one sees him until he can reach the castle. The gate guards are in front of him)
???: Listen here, commoners can't enter. Leave before...
(Omar looks into their eyes)
Omar: Listen, I want to enter. I have things to do, I can't keep talking with you, I'm tired.
???: Fine, just ask the minister.
Omar: I don't have time.
???: Alright, go ahead.
(Omar enters, the soldier leads him to the minister)
Omar: I said the Queen!
???: I can't, I must ask her permission first.
(They enter through the door to the minister)
Omar: Let me see the Queen.
Minister: How dare you bring this person to me without my permission?
???: Sir, focus, he's human, look behind him.
Minister: Listen, I will ask the Queen's permission. You can do nothing but wait. Soldier, be ready for anything he does.
???: Yes, sir.
(A few minutes pass)
Minister: Alright, you can enter, but with your arms shackled.
Omar: Fine, but don't touch my weapons.
(Omar enters, shackled)
Queen: Welcome to Sector C, the front line of the Marloa kingdom. What do you want? You can call me Elizabeth.
Omar: I want to ask you, do you have the Potion of Return that brings a person back from death?
Elizabeth: And why would you think we would give you such a potion, even if we had it?
Omar: Simply because I don't want to search for it myself, and I don't want to harm or be an enemy to anyone.
Elizabeth: Alright, we will give you the information because we do not have the potion. And for your information, we really don't understand why you are looking for such a potion. Right, because you humans don't live like us; we reach 1600 years, which is enough for us, but you only get 100.
(She starts laughing)
Omar: What is the price for this information?
Elizabeth: The price is that you will help us with one mission. You will go and eliminate the monsters who are holding humans captive. And don't worry, this mission is difficult enough for you to die without us having to fight you. And our strongest fighter, Hova, will go with you. If you die, we will take your belongings. It also doesn't matter if you kill the humans; they are nobodies.
Omar: I am Omar. I accept the mission. Give me a map.
Elizabeth: Unshackle him, soldier.
Soldier: Here, this is the map.
(Omar scans the map with his eyes until he has pinpointed the required location without looking at the map again)
Elizabeth: Summon Hova.
Soldier: Ah... Right away, my lady.
(After a few minutes)
Hova: Yes, Your Majesty?
Elizabeth: You will go with... what's your name?
Omar: My name is Omar.
Elizabeth: You will go with Omar.
Hova: Yes, my lady. Where are we heading?
Elizabeth: To the Moroa monsters.
Hova: But my lady, that's dangerous. Even if any human entered, their chances of survival are slim.
Elizabeth: He is strong enough to win, from the looks of him. And if he can't survive and dies, bring me his body.
Hova: Very well.
(They stand behind a large door. When the door opens, a wall is in front of them, and they climb it)
(They see the monsters before them. Omar descends and sees a timer for each tank containing unconscious humans. When the timer ends, everything inside the barrel is destroyed and minced. He sees that the time written above the first group is two minutes and 15 seconds. Omar goes down, throws his sword at them, and plunges it into the first monster's stomach, then shoots a fire bullet at the second monster. He bypasses the one with the sword in it, puts his mouth on the third monster, summons his sword, and kills them both together. He throws another bullet at the fourth. He enters, uses his sword, and kills the fifth. The explosions begin; he hears every bone shatter from every human. He goes angrily to the second area with a group of the dead behind him, enters, and kills all the monsters. Only seconds remain; he manages to free only one person and moves quickly to the third gate, unable to save anyone. The mission ends with a large door that leads him out to a green land)
Omar: Why didn't you help me?
Hova: The Queen only asked me to come with you; she didn't say I should help you.
Omar: Even when you know there are humans inside? Are you kidding me?
Hova: As I told you, even if I tried to save them, they wouldn't be the last or the first people to die in front of me, and I won't tire myself to save them.
Omar: Stop talking to me like that. Don't make me kill you right now.
Hova: Try and I will—
Omar: I don't care right now. Where are we?
Hova: What we were in was a gate for the near-dead humans, those moments away from dying. Other humans can enter, but they can also die. As for us now, we are on the other side.
..........
Sword of Eternity: Journey of the Long Covenant
Lone Duelist of the Legion: Hova
Hair: Red with a black streak
Age: 1045 (looks 21)
Eyes: Yellow on the inside, black on the outside
Height: 178
..........
Omar: Take me to the Queen.
Hova: Alright, but the mission is not over yet. She said "the monsters." This gate was only the weakest part of the gate. We still haven't done the full gate.
Omar: Then take me with you so we can finish this.
(Hova opens a portal through the air and reveals a hidden black door)
Hova: Please enter.
(Omar and Hova enter. The number of monsters is much greater than the number he killed last time. There are no humans in the area. Omar throws his sword behind him, far away, and a stone behind him. Both make a sound, and the monsters gather and split between them. He loads fragmentation bullets, fires his pistol at the group gathered around the stone first. The fragments from the bullet kill them. He summons his sword, and two of the remaining monsters die. He attacks the rest with his sword, stabbing them one by one. When Omar strikes the last one, he begins to hallucinate, but he uses a potion to restore the energy he consumed during the fight)
Hova: You can rest if you want.
Omar: I want to finish. There's no time for rest.
(Hova opens the third gate. Omar readies his weapons)
Hova: I'll tell you this just so we can finish quickly. This group can't hear, but they see future steps and infrared.
Omar: Thanks.
(Omar enters and fights them, but he strikes more, using an electric bullet on them. He manages to kill most of them and slow down the rest, then he jumps on them one by one and kills them. Omar finishes the third gate)
Hova: Do you want to rest?
Omar: The next one, please.
Hova: Alright.
(She opens the fourth gate)
(Hova helps him and summons her power, subduing all the monsters, putting them on the ground, and holding them for a period)
Omar: Why did you suddenly decide to help?
Hova: There's no time for that. Finish them.
(Omar enters and kills them, wiping out all the monsters)
Hova: What? Damn it!
(Hova faints. Omar finishes the fight and notices Hova. He opens an energy potion and makes Hova drink it)
Omar: Hova, why didn't you tell me you needed to rest? You used so much energy to open all these gates.
Hova: This is embarrassing. That I'm the one who wants to rest while you're the one fighting all the time. I'm better now. Do you want to continue?
Omar: No, I'll open the gate and end the situation this time, and you help me with the next one.
(The fifth and final gate):
(Omar enters alone. He sees a large monster, apparently their leader. He sneaks up slowly, gets behind it, and plants an explosive charge. He cuts open its stomach with his sword and, with his other hand, inserts the pistol and detonates it from the inside. The rest of the monsters gather around him, and he kills them one by one. A bullet to the head, then a fire bullet, then he throws his sword directionally at them while firing the electric bullet to hold them in place. Their numbers increase)
Omar: Alright, it seems I have to try.
(He makes a cut on his finger to draw blood. He summons the sword; it becomes much more powerful but drains his energy intensely)
Omar: Let's go!
(He begins to plunge the sword into each of their heads, throwing it at them and then summoning it back. He discovers he can control its direction due to the abilities of the potion he got from Aseel; he has the power of control and the power from the blood)
(He keeps running, gathering them behind him, and throwing the sword. He repeats this several times, stumbles, and falls to the ground. He uses a potion to reduce any damage he takes, and the monsters swarm him. He uses another fragmentation bullet on the ceiling. The monsters start to gather on him, and in moments, debris and rocks fall on him. The rest of the potions he had are destroyed. Hova hears the explosion and moves inside, using a health potion she has with her)
Hova: This is just in return for what you did for me.
Omar: Ah, damn it! All the potions are destroyed. It doesn't matter, the important thing is that I'm finally done. Let's go back, please.
Hova: Alright.
(Hova draws a circle on the ground with strange symbols and uses different types of the dead's stones, opening a portal connected to the main location. They enter the portal)
Hova: Take this potion. Keep it with you; you'll need it.
Omar: What?
Hova: Hide it, there's no time. When I charge at you, use it.
Elizabeth: Well done, Hova, really. And you, you've completed a gate for us with no reward. Hahaha, thank you.
Omar: What about the promise?
Elizabeth: What promise are you talking about?
Omar: Alright, as you wish.
(Omar summons his sword, and with his first step, as he moves his foot, Hova raises her sword at him)
Hova: You won't move a single step from here, or I'll kill you.
Omar: What?
Elizabeth: Seize him, soldiers!
Omar: I swear to you, I knew it.
(As Omar approaches the queen, he breaks the shackles and summons his sword. He kills the soldier and heads for the queen. Omar places the sword at her head)
Omar: Really, I didn't want to do this, but you forced me. If you don't give me the information you have about the potion, I will kill you.
(Elizabeth pulls a small knife from her boot, stabs Omar with it, and flees behind the soldiers)
Elizabeth: Alright, alright. Hova, finish him!
Hova: With pleasure.
(Omar drinks the potion Hova gave him; it's his last hope as he is in a weakened state with no potions and full of damage from the fights. Omar faints, and in his moments of unconsciousness, Hova draws blood from Omar's neck and plunges her own sword into his heart)
Elizabeth: Well done, soldiers. Dispose of the body and take all his belongings.
Hova: I request to have his pistol and bullets.
Elizabeth: Take whatever you want.
(They throw his body into the lake)
(Omar wakes up the next day, coughing)
Omar: What happened?
???: Hova had me bring your body here.
Omar: Who are you? And what was the potion she gave me?
Mas: I am her subordinate from the city. The kingdom is divided into three parts. The second part is where you are now. Hova is in the third, which is the line of defense and combat. The second is us, the citizens. As for the third part, the King and his court, they are the ones you can get information from, not the Queen, whom you shouldn't take words from or trust, but the King. As for the potion, it causes paralysis but literally prevents any harm to you. Any harm, if a sword entered your stomach and came out or didn't, it would dissolve, and you would return to how you were as quickly as possible.
Omar: So, why did she help me?
Mas: I don't know, but ask her when she comes the next day. She comes here once every two weeks.
Omar: Alright, where are my weapons?
Mas: She has your pistol. And as you know, you can summon your sword.
Omar: Okay, let's try.
(Omar draws a drop of his blood, controls it, and summons the sword with great force, so much that it breaks through the ground and doors, until the sword reaches him)
Omar: Alright, we got the sword.
Mas: You know you're very stupid. You didn't even try to find the truth; you believed the queen immediately. And what's the reason that drives you to come here?
Omar: Because it's tiring to talk to everyone and try to believe them. Just, if they're not right after everything I've done for them, I kill them. If I can't, I'll ignore the matter and understand that they don't have it or don't have the information. But if I do a mission like this one, it's logical that they would have it. Therefore, I'll find out the full story from Hova tomorrow.
Mas: Okay, you need to let your body rest. Even summoning your sword requires rest. And tomorrow, I'll bring you new potions to replace the ones that were broken.
Omar: Alright, good night.
(The next day)
Omar: What do you normally cook here?
Mas: We have good food, mostly a mix of monsters and normal human food.
Omar: I want to prepare the food with you until Hova arrives. At least, to repay what you've given me.
(After they finish, Hova arrives)
Hova: Hello, you look well. Here, this is your pistol.
Omar: Ah, right, thanks.
Mas: Let's eat.
Hova: How wonderful, Mas! Did you make all this?
Mas: No, Omar helped me.
Omar: Why does the queen treat you with such disgust?
Mas: I or Hova wanted to rule instead of her, but she was the third in this group and betrayed us. When the queen was replaced with a new war queen, we agreed not to run so we wouldn't be divided, but she ran and won. The problem is she didn't think about us, just considered us soldiers, and if we disobeyed her, she would kill us.
Omar: What about you?
Hova: I was young when my father and mother gave me up in exchange for my siblings and some money. Half the money they take automatically goes to my father, mother, and siblings. I can't control this. I just wanted to live my life freely or without a place like this continent. We don't see the sunlight except through holes surrounded by snow, with high precision, so we can't break out or leave because of the monsters on the other side.
Mas: What about you? Why do you want this potion?
Omar: My story is much longer than both of yours. Do you want the details or the short version?
Hova: Please, the details. This is a lot of food; I want to enjoy it while I eat.
Omar: Alright, alright. I loved a girl who was on the verge of declaring her faith and following the religion I follow. Due to my mistakes, she died without saying it. Because of this, I drank the Potion of Immortality to avenge her without realizing the grave mistake I had made. I tried to move on, traveled the lands, and learned information about the potion makers. And yes, I'm looking for the potion to bring her back. And here we are.
Mas: Really, your situation is very bad, man.
Hova: I can't say I understand your feeling, but I can understand that you are suffering. But, we all suffer here, right?
Mas: Yes.
Omar: What is your religion, by the way?
Hova: We all believe that the Creator is the one who created all beings, and it's logical that He has no relatives, children, or parents, as there would be no benefit in that, and it would cause conflict among them.
Mas: Also, we have issues with the ideas of God they believe in. There are many complexities and contradictions.
Hova: Here in the city, we are divided into two parts. One part follows a religion to the letter, and the other part, like us, follows the true religion from the beginning.
Omar: Ah, so you mean you are of the same religion as me.
Hova: Yes, prophets and messengers came to us, and we believed in them.
(After finishing the meal)
Omar: So, what did she give me? And why did she help me?
Hova: I helped you because you are the first human I've seen in my life, and strangely, you are not as we were told. I didn't live freely; I lived underground for years. All we saw were despicable humans and their many sayings, but you are different. I didn't want to see you end up like this, even though you didn't break the promise, so I helped you. And I really hate her with all my heart, that fool. She forced me to do everything I didn't want to. You will go with me to the King to ask him, and then you can leave if you want.
Omar: Thank you. Shall we go?
(The three of them move to reach the King)
Hova: I would like to enter to see the King, please. I have an important person with me who wants to meet him, and I am Hova from the front-line soldiers.
Guard: You cannot enter. We will consult the King. If he agrees, only he will be allowed to enter.
(After some time)
Guard: Alright, please come in.
King: Who are you?
Omar: My name is Omar. I am from Egypt. I am searching for the Potion of Return.
Morpheus: Well, and I am called Morpheus. As you know, you have legends about me, that I control the sands, but the dream thing is a lie. And I will give you information about the potion.
Omar: I completed the mission for Elizabeth, and in the end, she stabbed me, and I was about to die.
Morpheus: Alright, I will explain something simple to you. The potion no longer exists; it has disappeared. Try to search for it on the second continent; you might find it with Awara, who has knowledge and wisdom. But we cannot help you now because we are in a conflict with the Aram. Therefore, I will compensate you with three wishes. Wish for anything you want.
Omar: Really, this is great generosity, Lord Morpheus. But why?
Morpheus: If you do not state your wishes within a minute, you will be thrown out.
Omar: Alright, my lord. I want Mas to take a position instead of the Queen. How can you let a woman like this hold such a rule? She did not tell the truth, she did not help me, but betrayed me.
Morpheus: That would be lovely for me. But before that, do you know something? Do you know why there is no tyrant yet?
Omar: I don't know.
Morpheus: Because there has never been and never will be a human who rules the Earth. Simply because he would be killed and despised, and there would be no justice in him. And even if there is justice, he would not want to spend his life ruling humans when in the afterlife, he is dead. And because God is the only ruler, the rule of any human will fall before His rule. That is why our world does not have the pure evil that covets control of the Earth.
Omar: I think I understand what you mean.
Morpheus: What is the second wish?
Omar: The second wish, the Potion of Return.
Morpheus: As I told you, I don't have it. I have a friend on the hidden continent named Awara; I think he knows where you can find it.
Omar: Alright, do you have a white stone?
Morpheus: It no longer exists. But take this sand; I got it from the sands of time. It might serve the purpose for weapons.
Omar: Really, thank you. Can I give the last wish to Hova instead of me?
Morpheus: Hova who?
Omar: She will introduce herself when she enters.
Morpheus: Let her in.
(After Hova enters)
Hova: Thank you, my Lord King, for allowing me to enter. But why did you let me in?
Morpheus: He asked me to let you in and give you the wish instead of taking it himself.
Hova: I want to leave. I'm tired; I've been fighting for over 400 years.
Morpheus: If you want to leave, then leave. But remember that we are on the verge of war. It's possible the entire population could die because you are not with us.
Hova: I will come if the war starts. I will never betray you; this is a promise on my honor, my lord.
Morpheus: Alright, you may go.
Omar: Lord Morpheus, thank you. You are truly a just king.
Morpheus: I know. Now, go.
(Omar and Hova leave and meet up with Mas)
Omar: Mas, you are now the war chief instead of her. This is what you wanted, right?
Mas: Really? How? And why did Hova go in with you?
Hova: I need to tell you something. I'm leaving. I've retired temporarily because I can't continue.
Mas: You're not joking with me, are you? You and I can protect the kingdom and the land from the enemies.
Hova: You know I'm tired. I've been fighting for a very long time. I'll come back in times of war if you need me. And you can do this by yourself, you know that.
Mas: Alright, until the next time, Hova.
(Hova leaves with Omar, heading out to the second continent)
Omar: Why are you following me?
Hova: Don't you want me to come with you? Is that why you told the King?
Omar: No, no, I didn't want anything. I just said to give it to her.
Hova: Hmmmmmm... Are you kidding me, right? Tell me you're kidding. I'll go by myself in the other direction…
Omar: You don't even know the way. I'm just kidding with you. Let's go.
Hova: I didn't know the world was full of snow.
Omar: Have you even seen the world?
Hova: No, not really. I only saw the light from the surface entrances, but I haven't seen humans like you.
(Omar stops)
Omar: You know, what do you think about going somewhere else instead of the continent? Let me show you some parts of the world.
Hova: Can we even visit these countries and lands?
Omar: Yes.
Hova: Then, let's go.
Here ends the eighth chapter of Sword of Eternity: The Long Covenant's Journey.