Manifest Destiny Read online

but remains relatively unharmed. He touches the relic on his belt and begins to glow red while letting out a ferocious battle cry. All of his fellow barbarians begin to glow with the relic’s power and the two armies charge each other.

  In the midst of the battle the alchemist captain runs to Eve’s side to receive orders.

  EVE

  Take a squadron around the battlefield so you can fire on them from behind. If we can get them fighting on two fronts then they won’t have any opportunities to regroup.

  ALCHEMIST CAPTAIN It will be difficult to sneak by unnoticed even with all of this chaos.

  EVE

  Use the forest as cover. We’re going to need that tactical advantage soon.

  The captain nods and runs off-screen, gesturing for his men to follow.

  Meanwhile, Naxid is taking down several alchemists while having a conversation with the barbarian captain.

  BARBARIAN CAPTAIN Those infernal contraptions they carry are making it very difficult to get within bludgeoning range!

  NAXID

  Very well. As your king I shall lead by example. Assemble in a V-formation. I’ll break their ranks while your men finish them off.

  The alchemist captain and his soldiers begin to enter the forest. They stop to find an army of hunters being led by Janora. When she pulls out the relic knife the sounds of the battle slow down and she becomes obscured in a shadowy aura.

  She dashes forward at super speed and stabs the Alchemist Captain’s neck. The other hunters join in behind her but she leaves them, going into the heart of the battlefield. After taking down several soldiers, she stops and looks around for a new target.

  In the distance she sees Naxid, singlehandedly beating a squad of alchemists. The two lock eyes. Excited by this new challenge, she wastes no time shadow dashing in for a killing blow. However, Naxid catches her by the neck, causing her aura to disappear. He then slams Janora on the ground and she drops the knife.

  Naxid is about to crush Janora under his foot when he is struck in the eye by one of Virgil’s arrows. Virgil runs at the king who swings his fist. Virgil ducks under the fist and grabs the knife off of the ground. Once he touches the knife the aura appears around him. He then grabs Janora and shadow dashes away. Once safe, Virgil skids to a stop, dropping Janora’s body along with the knife.

  VIRGIL

  C’mon Jan, stay with me! I’ve seen you walk away from much worse.

  Janora tries to speak but coughs up blood first.

  JANORA Lucky shot.

  VIRGIL

  You’ll get him next time. Right now we need to find a healer.

  Virgil tries to stand up but Janora grabs him by his shirt collar and pulls him back down. Clearly struggling, she picks up the knife that Virgil left on the ground and places it in his open palm.

  JANORA Finish it.

  Janora goes limp. Virgil stands up and looks over the battlefield. Kick ass rock music starts playing. Virgil runs out in a POV style montage where he cuts down both barbarians and alchemists alike.

  EXT. - BATTLEFIELD - FINAL BATTLE

  Eve and Naxid once again meet eachother on the battlefield. Naxid is sporting a fresh bandage over his eye.

  NAXID

  Are you ready to fight fair this time?

  EVE

  I’m ready to take you out of the equation.

  Eve raises her arm up into the air. A force field materializes to isolate Naxid and her from the rest of the battle. They fight hard and both manage to land devistating blows. However, Naxid eventually grabs a hold of Eve’s arm and breaks it, along with the device she wears. The force field fades away.

  Naxid stands over Eve as she collapses to her knees. He then solemnly raises his fist to finish her off. Suddenly, Virgil appears behind Naxid and slits his throat. The king falls and Virgil turns off his shadow aura.

  EVE

  Thank you. For your service to the Empire I-

  VIRGIL

  Do you remember a young couple who refused to let their village become a part of your precious empire?

  EVE Excuse me?

  Virgil rolls Naxid’s body over and pops the second relic out of his belt. He looks at it instead of directly at Eve.

  VIRGIL

  No? Then how about the little boy that you left homeless,

  (Pause) and drenched in his parents blood.

  EVE

  I realize that some of our early territory disputes caused collateral damage. But they were a calculated-

  VIRGIL

  I don’t give a damn!

  As Virgil says this he clutches the second relic tighter and begins glowing red. He glares at Eve. When Virgil yells again the ground shakes and cracks around him.

  VIRGIL

  You took everything from me! Just to get your hands on this.

  EVE

  I will not apologize for doing what was necessary.

  Virgil raises his fist in the air with the relic pulsing inside of it. Eve, still kneeling on the ground, just lowers her head. To her surprise, Virgil drops the relic in front of her. She reaches out to touch the relic but Virgil stomps on it, narrowly missing her hand. The second relic is crushed and when Virgil lifts his foot it becomes dust.

  VIRGIL

  Stay the hell out of my forest.

  Virgil walks away, leaving Eve broken on the ground. Then looks out at all of the damage that the battle has caused.