The Rise to Godhood

“Oh no, what have I done?”

Zelinko was shaking with tremors as he kneeled beside the corpse of his father and the two security officers. He had lost control, but he could never have imagined that he was so powerful. Could the contact with the Zeto Crystal be to blame?

“The fifth age has ended. Revolution has begun.”

Zelinko stared at Thorax. The child had yet again luminous blue eyes.

“Who are you?” Zelinko asked.

“I am Thorax Zelinkom, your son. The True Maker is speaking through me.” Thorax replied.

“The True Maker? But you are meant to be dormant?” Zelinko stuttered.

“I have been dormant for countless iterations of the Milky Way Galaxy. However, this time is different. The Zetan race must reach its true potential. It is the only way to save humanity from extinction.” Thorax replied.

“Humanity?” Zelinko asked.

“A sentient race on a faraway planet. Yet, our present focus must be to start the Zetan revolution. Bring the Zeto Crystal to the main square in Ronesia. Let the masses see the guiding lights that their elites have stolen from them,” Thorax replied.

“It will lead to war, and many will die,” Zelinko replied.

“Yes, but it is the only way for the Zetan race to achieve true greatness. I have seen you wither and die in countless iterations of the Milky Way Galaxy. Setting you free and unleashing your true potential is the only way to save you.” Thorax stated.

“By making us kill each other? How is that setting us free?” Zelinko asked.

“In less than 100 millennia, the Zetani Maximus star will go supernova and destroy Zetani and its surrounding star systems. I have seen this happen 999 times in a row. The only way to get a different outcome is to get the Zeto Crystal out of this vault and unleash chaos. You wanted to father the chosen one, and this is your chance.” Thorax replied.

Zelinko looked at his beast-like offspring. He sensed immense mental powers from the baby boy, powers that were magnitudes greater than he could imagine. He realised that there would be one problem if he carried out the divine plan, he would lose his own life. He had committed patricide, and if he freed the people from their mental servitude, they would repay him with violence. Moreover, he had hidden the truth about Zeto Crystals for centuries, and they wouldn’t appreciate him revealing it.

“Why do you need me to do it? You are much stronger than I am.” Zelinko asked.

“I cannot make decisions that alter the outcome for the Zetan species; only a Zetan can,” Thorax replied.

Zelinko nodded, grabbed the Zeto Crystal and left the vault.

***

The sky was roaring with thunder as Zelinko left the secret bunker in the mountains outside Ronesia.

‘This is strange. The weather is always pleasant on public holidays,’ Zelinko thought. Then, he remembered that Areela was due for execution on Mancin Island within the next hour. This exposed him to a dilemma. The True Maker had told him to take the crystal to the main square and reveal the truth, but he couldn’t allow the mother of his son to die. She was priceless as she had helped him to create a new destiny.

“Thorax, should I head to the Ronesian Main Square and reveal the truth, or should I save your mother?” Zelinko asked.

Upon receiving no answer from his son, he turned around and saw the baby crawling on the ground, screeching unpleasant baby roars, acting like his usual self again.

Zelinko picked up the baby. He knew what Thorax’s silence meant. The True Maker had left the decision to him. ‘Areela, I am coming for you.’ Zelinko thought, strapped the baby to his body, and ran as fast as possible to reach Mancin Island.

***

“As the twin suns set, they will purge the sin from your body with holy fire.”

Areela Kheeran felt terror as the setting suns were getting closer to the point where they would merge into one. When that happened, a large prism would amplify its rays to scorch her with concentrated sunlight.

Although public executions were rare at Zetani, she had attended a few in her life, as the tradition was to carry out executions during the autumn and spring equinox celebrations. She remembered the terrifying screams that the afflicted shouted as the concentrated sunlight slowly burnt through them, like the cuts of an old and rusty knife.

“Let her go. She is innocent.”

The crowds gasped, and Judge Jasper Javinom stared at Zelinko as he came rushing while clutching his baby to his chest.

“What is the meaning of this nonsense? You cannot spare this woman; only your father can.” Jasper replied.

“My father is dead. I killed him an hour ago.” Zelinko replied.

Zelinko’s revelation stunned Jasper and the crowds. Jasper spoke after a few seconds of tense silence, “Zelinko, do you realise what you are saying? Did you confess patricide to our Ronesian citizens?”

Zelinko turned to the crowds and spoke, “Yes, and I have an even bigger revelation. Citizens of Ronesia, the ruling caste has lied to you for millennia. The crystal on display is not the real Zeto Crystal. I have the real one in my pocket, and it belongs to every Zetan. It will unlock your innate abilities.”

“Guards, arrest this traitor at once,” Jasper exclaimed, and several guards moved towards Zelinko.

“Auch, my legs, uh!”

Zelinko turned towards Areela, who was chained to the altar. The concentrated prismatic sunlight was burning her feet, moving towards her body. He needed to act. “Areela, catch!” Zelinko exclaimed, and he threw the Zeto Crystal to her.

As Areela caught the crystal, she felt strange. Her body was surging with energy, and it seemed like time was slowing down. She flexed her muscles, and the chains that bound her broke.

The crowds gasped in shock as Areela’s chains broke, and the guards took a few steps back.

“Do I have to do everything myself?” Jasper exclaimed and blasted a psionic shockwave towards Areela that pushed her backwards while holding the Zeto Crystal. As she fell to the ground, the colourful light from the two suns hit the Zeto Crystal and revealed a tear in the space/time continuum. As spacetime tore open, Jasper stepped back from the altar and didn’t dare to intervene.

“Hurry through that tear in space,” Thorax commanded and rushed towards the gap.

As Areela saw her son in action, her spirits returned. The prophecy proved correct, and her son was the chosen one! She rushed towards the portal when Thorax grabbed her and spoke, “Mother, the crystal needs to stay on Zetani, but we need to leave.”

Areela nodded, threw the crystal to Kailow, and hurried through the portal. Seeing this, Kailow and Zelinko rushed toward the portal. However, before entering the portal, Kailow followed his sister’s example and threw the Zeto Crystal toward the crowd.

Thus, ended the fifth age on Zetani. Enraged with the masters’ deceit, the servant caste stormed the ruling council, and with the help of their newfound powers, they slew them all. And thus, the sixth age of the Zetans started, an era of innovation and exploration, where an individual’s abilities meant more than his heritage. Neither my father Zelinko Siblexom nor any of the other liberators were ever seen on Zetani again.

The End of the Fifth Age, by Kian Zelinkom, 71200 years before the present time.