The Rise to Godhood

Zelinko’s life was flashing in front of his eyes when the course of the images reversed. “You’re not ready to die yet,” A soft ethereal voice said.

He opened his eyes and felt a burning sensation from something in his pocket. He had forgotten to give Areela one of his charged sapphires, and it had discharged its energies to bring him back to life. Zelinko took out the sapphire from his pocket and studied it. It had reverted to a regular crystal, but it still had a faint glow.

“Help me, please.”

Zelinko turned to the voice and saw the wounded Hadib Nabilom, bleeding from a bullet wound in his stomach. Watching the man who had tried to kill him moments earlier, Zelinko felt pity for the enforcer lieutenant. He had known Hadib for many years, and he had always been a good man, so would he let one mistake be Hadib’s undoing, or would he save the lieutenant?

“I’ll save you. Hold tight.” Zelinko said and used telekinesis to remove the bullet from Hadib’s body. After the shell was gone, he placed the sapphire on Hadib’s bullet wound, and its energy healed the enforcer.

“Wow, how did you do that?” Hadib said in awe.

“It’s the power of the Zeto Crystal, stored into this sapphire. It belongs to all Zetans.” Zelinko said. “Thank you, Master Zelinko. I owe my life to you.” Hadib replied.

“Good. Then come with me. We must stop Jasper from murdering my family!” Zelinko exclaimed and hurried to intercept Jasper’s group before his family came to harm.

***

“Get up; the enemy will be here soon.” Kailow urged and shook his sister.

“It’s too late. Jasper is here,” Areela replied, shed a tear, and pointed toward their enemy who approached them.

“Rebel scum. Zelinko is dead, and you need to tell me how to open the portal back to Zetani.” Jasper commanded.

“We are not helping you. Your brother brutalised my sister, and she killed him in self-defence. You didn’t even let her defend herself in court.” Kailow replied.

Jasper had no desire to debate the merit of Kailow’s accusations, so he sent him flying with a psionic blast that hurled him hundreds of meters.

Jasper laughed and taunted. “Worthless vermin. It feels good to unleash my unmasked powers now that I no longer need to hide behind the law.”

“You monster! Why did you kill my brother?” Areela exclaimed.

“Oh, did I? We can’t know that until we find his body.” Jasper mocked.

“Kailow, I’ll avenge you,” Areela shouted and blasted Jasper with her newfound psionic powers. Unfortunately, Areela was no match for Jasper, so he deflected her attacks and knocked her into submission.

“Silly woman, you shouldn’t have done that. I better get physical with you.” Jasper said and approached Areela.

“Leave her alone.”

Jasper froze when he heard Zelinko’s voice. ‘How can this be? I am sure that I killed him moments ago.’ Jasper thought, turned around and spoke with fake confidence. “Look who is here. You shouldn’t have called me out, Zelinko; you would have a better chance if you stabbed me in the back.”

“This madness must end. I am offering you a chance to cooperate for the good of our species.” Zelinko urged.

“I will do something even better. I will kill you, Zelinko!” Jasper exclaimed and sent a psionic bolt towards Zelinko.

Zelinko deflected the bolt, but he felt weak. Coming back from the dead had convinced him that his purpose was to defeat Jasper. Yet, when he took the heat of the initial blast, fear started creeping back into his mind.

Jasper unleashed a flurry of bluish bolts from his hands while Zelinko tried to deflect them. Their fight deflected psionic energy bolts everywhere, and the enforcers threw themselves to the ground to take cover. After deflecting a dozen bolts, Zelinko missed one and got hit in the face, which caused 3rd-degree burns.

Jasper walked up to Zelinko, grabbed a mental stranglehold on his throat, chuckled, and taunted. “Ha-ha. You might wonder how I beat you twice in a day. The trick is repeated exposure to the Zeto Crystal. I attuned myself to the crystal more than you did. That’s why I am far more powerful.”

Zelinko had an epiphany. His father’s presence in the secret Zeto Crystal vault wasn’t a coincidence. His father had also been there in secret to increase his powers. Yet he had kept his son in the dark. So great was the allure of power and the fear of losing it.

Jasper squeezed Zelinko’s windpipe and spoke again. I’ll kill you slowly this time, and I’ll make sure you are dead!

*Pow, pow, pow*

Jasper gasped in shock and collapsed as three bullets from a pistol struck him from behind. Then, he saw Hadib, whom he had left to die with his last dying breaths.

Zelinko got up and shook Hadib’s hand. His decision to show mercy to a fallen enemy had paid off, as Hadib had extended the same compassion to him.

***

Zelinko was out of breath, and he felt severely unwell. The aftereffects of death and resurrection were catching up with him. Furthermore, it didn’t help that he had walked 490 kilometres in 7 days without food, water, or sufficient sleep. He needed to get up and make his way to the teleportation spot, which was less than 10 kilometres away, yet it was too difficult. So close, yet so far!

“Kailow, you are alive!”

Zelinko opened his eyes, and he saw Areela hugging Kailow, who also had experienced a rough day, as silvery bruises covered the young man’s body.

“Yes, I must be stronger than I thought,” Kailow replied and smiled.

“I am so glad to hear that,” Areela said and hugged her brother.

“So, what are we waiting for? Disyerto-2 is less than 10 kilometres away, and I can’t wait to have a drink.” Kailow enthused.

Hearing Kailow’s enthusiasm raised Zelinko’s spirits. Why would he allow himself to die here when he was so close to reaching his goal?

Zelinko got up, cleared his throat, and spoke, “Our target is 8 kilometres that way. We should be able to get provisions once we reach Disyerto-2.”

The enforcers nodded, and two of them helped Zelinko on the last stretch of his lengthy trek. A couple of hours later, they reached the teleportation spot.