NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: The Naming and the Trial
Deep within the labyrinthine corridors of the hive, where bioluminescent fungi cast an eerie, shifting glow upon ancient walls, John—no longer merely human—stood before his most trusted warriors. Every heartbeat echoed the pulse of the colony, a reminder that his transformation was complete.
"I cast aside the name of mortal weakness," he declared, his voice resonating with newfound authority. "From this day forth, I am Xerathos, the Devouring Sovereign!" The proclamation reverberated through the chamber like a decree of destiny.
His eyes swept over his Royal Guards—figures who had fought by his side through battles of blood and bone. Turning first to the agile warrior whose obsidian blades had cleaved through countless foes, Xerathos continued, "You, swift and deadly, shall now be Serratos—the blade that carves our path to victory." The guard inclined its head in silent, unwavering acceptance.
Next, his gaze fell upon the massive figure whose unyielding strength had halted even the mightiest of attacks. "You, with strength to shatter mountains, are reborn as Carapax—our living fortress, the shield that protects this new reign." A deep, rumbling assent came from the armored warrior.
Finally, he regarded the lithe, shadow-like guard, whose speed and precision had saved them on more than one perilous day. "And you, elusive and fierce, shall be known as Velox—the phantom that strikes before the enemy can even react." The sleek guard's eyes glinted with determined fervor.
With their new names etched into their very souls, Xerathos spoke once more: "These names are more than titles—they are our oath, the embodiment of our power. Now, we shall test our might to ensure that our destiny is sealed in blood and triumph."
A low rumble began to stir deep in the recesses of the hive. From a hidden fissure emerged a hulking menace—a grotesque, mutated burrower whose very form was a collision of stone and sinew. Its roar shook the tunnel walls, and the creature lunged with primeval fury.
In an instant, Xerathos sprang into action. His claws, honed and lethal, sliced through the heavy air as he engaged the beast head-on. Serratos darted forward, his obsidian blades gleaming with precision as they struck true, carving savage patterns into the creature's hardened carapace. Carapax moved like an immovable bulwark, intercepting crushing blows that threatened to collapse the tunnel, while Velox circled the foe with a blur of motion, delivering rapid strikes that left the creature reeling.
The battle was a cacophony of raw power and synchronized grace. Xerathos channeled the collective strength of his hive—each pulse of energy causing the very ground beneath them to tremble. His Royal Guards fought in perfect unison, their newly earned identities manifesting in every calculated move and decisive blow.
As the creature faltered under the relentless assault, a final, thunderous strike from Xerathos shattered its resolve. With a deafening crash, the monstrous foe collapsed, its threat extinguished by the combined might of the Devouring Sovereign and his champions.
In the quiet aftermath, as dust and echoes settled, Xerathos surveyed the scene with solemn pride. His heart beat in tandem with the hive's ancient rhythm—a promise that their dominion was only just beginning.
"Today, we have proven our worth," he pronounced, his voice a steady rumble in the stillness. "Our names are not mere words—they are the essence of our power, our unity, and our unyielding ambition. Let this trial be the first step in an era where every corner of this world succumbs to our will."
Serratos, Carapax, and Velox stood side by side, their loyalty and strength now undeniable. Together with Xerathos, they advanced from the depths of the hive into the unknown, ready to carve a new destiny from the very bones of the earth.