Mt. Ohm - God Slayer by K. van Marshall (top android ebook reader txt) 📕

“Obviously - I mean, where are we getting hummers?”, said Knoah, sure she knew what he was asking in the first place.

“Yeah”, added Judor, it hadn’t even occurred to him to ask where they were heading.

“Don’t worry, Desp will let us use his”, said Els.

“What!!”, said Knoah and Judor together.

“He has a few spare. His family are super wealthy”.

“You mean your family. Are they unpaired?”, quizzed Knoah.

“They should be”, said Els, with a cheeky smile. “I stuck some appleweed oil in their water, they should be unpaired by now”.

After their pledges, Els enlisted the help of Saeko and spent the last few days researching Mt. Ohm and hummers. Knowing her dear older cousin Desp had a decent sized stable, she did not even attempt to look anywhere else for transportation.

“Earlier while you two were racing around like idiots. I fed the birds, to make sure we had a way off the island”, said Els confidently.

“How did you know?”, asked Judor.

“Saeko, probably”, said Knoah, replying for Els.

“Yes, he found out a small portion of appleweed oil will make the giant birds forget their master, my dough-faced cuz Desp”, said Els.

“Hey!”. As the three got to river bank, Saeko stopped them - he had a few things more things he needed to tell them - he had grown a lot more confident since returning; at 13 cycles he had already decided to live a life without regrets, thanks to Knoah.

“What’s up Sae?”, asked Knoah.

"I just wanted to see you off”, said Saeko.

"You are so cute", said Els. “Why didn’t you say from the beginning?”.

“I don’t know”, said Saeko. “Actually I do, I wanted to tell you all to be safe, there is much unknown about the northern seas, especially around the area of Mt. Ohm...”.

“Don’t worry scroll bug we will be back before you know it”, said Knoah, stopping Saeko from speaking something horrible into existence. “You know better than this, words have power lil bro”.

A warmth spread in Saeko’s heart as Knoah’s words lifted his spirit. “... Are you sure you want to go without the Chieftain's blessings?”, asked Saeko, innocently.

“Saeko, please do not tell anyone we have left until you are sure we are off the island, especially your ma”, instructed Els, ignoring the question she climbs into a raft sat on the banks of the Wei.

“Yeah, are we sure?”. Judor crashed into the topic, dragging the aired question back to relevance and seizing this moment to try and sway Els.

“Let’s go”, said Els and Knoah in unison.

Judor threw an evil look at Knoah, pure venomous spite bulged through his eyes. This was part of Knoah's dangerous side, his reckless nature that dives into any situation without a thought of the consequences.

The rest climbed into the raft, rowing hard, they propelled the tiny boat down the river. Maybe it was the realisation that this could be the last time they would see their homes, or the mission ahead of them, or maybe they truly had nothing to say, but not one of them spoke. Not until they reached Desp’s home located in the posh upper west of Vaandeville.

Discarding the boat, the group climb the back stairs to the entrance of the lavish tree homes; cautiously avoiding the tree lift.

Leading the pack, Knoah stopped suddenly, and looked back at Els. “So what's the reason you wanted to leave the island?", asked Knoah, his grip tight to the narrow stairway handle rail.

“Told you not until we leave”, she replied. Wincing, she could barely look pass him with the streams of sun rays blurring her eyes.

“I want to know as well, Els”, shouts Judor. Directly behind Els, he was taking a steady route behind her in life guard mode.

“We are almost near a point of no return, once we borrow the birds I don't plan on coming back, not mortal, so?”, said Knoah.

“Ok, ok... I had a vision, in the Glyphtomes... It was Venzeca, completely destroyed, everyone was enslaved. You, me, Judor, the Chieftain and many others - dead”, said Els.

“What else?”, quizzed Knoah.

“... What do you... Aaah, you really don't get it”, fumed Els, feeling for, then gripping the next safe point, and dragging herself up. “The world is becoming volatile again, I saw it in that demons memories. We are lucky to have safety now, that demon Javan was strong... Not the strongest out there, but strong. You saw what a few godly powers did. We will be annihilated if, no when a whole army of demons or a powerful nation like Youllo or Quorth, or any of those other vicious countries come to the island”, states Els.

“Yes, but we have the alliance”, said Saeko, with a slight breathlessness to his voice. Although he was doing well, walking eighteen levels is not easy.

“Your naive, a huge chunk of Lonston is gone - the other cities in Venzeca couldn't even come to our aid in time”, replied Els frustrated. There are nations with patron gods, it's time the alliance had their own as well”.

Knoah continued to climb. “In my vision, I saw Sabo at Mt. Ohm”.

“What?!”, exclaimed Els.

“Are you nuts? Is this the reason you have gone along with this suicide mission, how could he be there?”, shouted Judor, this sudden revelation almost made him lose his grip, and worse, it confirmed his suspicion; Knoah is mad.

“Shhhhhhhh!”. Els sniped a harsh shush at Judor.

“I don’t know it, but I need to go...”, said Knoah, a vision of the powerful place flashed through his mind's eye. “And anyway, I also saw myself empowered by Mt. Ohm", replied Knoah confidently.

“Really!”, said Saeko excitedly.

“Woooow, that’s a good sign. What did you see Judor?”, asked Els.

“I... I become a great warrior”, said Judor hesitantly, after an awkward silence.

Finally the group made it to the top, and Desp’s home. The reason Knoah, Els and Judor took the long journey down the river was the giant hummingbird stables located at the back of the house. All high level members of society, elite Roru Zulon's and wealthy families have at least one giant hummer, they are the premium way to travel on the island; Desp has at least 30 different types.

The riverfront mansions here are some of the most sort after homes in all of Venzeca. A beautiful scenic location next to the river Wei and an unfiltered view of the island. The scene witnessed from Desp's home makes the view from the Oda household seem like a picture of squalor. Desp’s home is one of the more modern homes. Shaped like a disc, the large structure is supported by several massive ropes, all attached to the huge branch above.

Knoah went around back and broke into the stables through a side window. It was easy, knocking the window in with an elbow. The four dived through the window and got on with the tasks Els had assigned. Saeko suggested the breed due to their suitability for the task, but kenpions are famously temperamental. The largest of the hummingbird breeds and with their extreme stamina, they are able to sustain flight for long durations. Although not as fast as other species of hummer, Saeko deduced they would be able to take them to their destination with minimal stops.

As the four enter the pen, the more skittish birds fling their wings skyward, puffing out their chest. It was an obvious sign of aggression and an attempt to make themselves look bigger. Stunned, Els did not move, seeing the massive birds display of protection, stunted her usual confidence.

Generally, kenpions share many of the same features as other hummer breeds. Four perfect round black marble eyes, sit snug around their short nub of a head; able to see in all spectrums of light and almost no blind spot. A striking long black sword shaped beak sticks a metre out form their heads. All hummers have four wings. In pairs their larger wings sprout from their shoulders, while another shorter pair above the base of their tail feathers; physically, the kenpion's wings have a much larger span than lightweight hummers. Furthermore, kenpions have thick black mask like bands wrapping their eyes, and running around the neck, ending in spiral pattern on the breast. The rest of their bodies are painted in a majestic blend of colours. Every hue from the brightest of greens to deepest blues can be seen amazingly shimmering across the metallic glossy feathers of unpaired birds.  

“Woooooow, Desp has got a load of hummers, why?”, quizzed Knoah, then turning to Els. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you fed them earlier”. Her purple hue had gone a few shades lighter.

“Yeah, but I didn’t come in. I just stuck the appleweed into the honeywater, then pushed Saeko in”.

“Khaaakhakhakha”, laughed Knoah as he stepped forward.

“Leave the jumpy ones”, said Saeko, following Knoah.

Striding through the middle of the nest loft, Knoah looked around, searching for potential rides with Saeko closely behind. Chest high his every step exuded confidence, there is no other way to approach hummers. Seeing the fearless Knoah forces the more aggressive birds to back off. With fight or flight instincts in full flow, many take off to the upper levels of the stables, taking refuge in the nests high up in the rafters. Judor stood protectively in front of Els, performing his role as bodyguard perfectly, as usual. Unusually his presence next to her was enough to drain the tension from her.

“Thanks”, Els whispered, resting her hand on the huge back of Judor, warming his heart. Usually Judor's big strong act would steer her to frustration, but this was one of the rare times she truly appreciated his incessant chivalry.

“It looks like the appleweed worked, these few look good”, yelled Knoah, beckoning Els and Judor to him and disturbing the pairs mini moment.

“Ex, excellent…”, Els stammered. “Judor, get the gate”, she said pointing to the hefty black wooden gate opposite.

Judor walks across the long room leaving Els at the door. Yanking down the lever, the gate raised removing the obstacle to the calm green night sky. Meanwhile, Els and Knoah grabbed a few saddles, and satchels. With Saeko's plan in mind, they will strap the fuel filled containers and food rations to one kenpion, and prepare the rest for the long flight.

“Don't be nervous, these four are calm”, said Knoah, guiding Els to their rides.

Only four adult Kenpion's still walked around the floor of the pen. Unfazed by the approaching huemans - two peck at each other, while another fed from the hanging water beds. The last one was so oblivious to the presence of Knoah and Els it still slept soundly.

“I'm not scared. Just don't trust them”, replied Els, giving the strange birds a long nervous look. “I mean look at them, are you sure about this one”. Els pointed to a round shrinking then expanding mass of feathers, snoring in front of her.

Knoah herded the three active birds to one corner, strapping the saddles to each of them gently, while Els approached the sleeping kenpion. Its legs were hidden, tucked away under its feathered boulder like body. Sitting on its belly, head flattened the giant bird still dwarfed Els in height. Sleeping with its beak facing directly up, the Kenpion looked like someone had stabbed a sword into an absurd feathery blue boulder.

“Are you sure about this one?”, Els asked again.

“Yeah, just wake him up!”, said Knoah.

Els waited, while looking closely at the bird, it continued to snore away. Its body expanding to twice its size, before deflating. Reaching out, she softly poked it, quickly. No response. Exhaling, Els took a step forward, and jolted the bird to life with a firm shove.

Flapping and squawking the kenpion awoke in a moment of tornado like madness - slapping Els back with its wings - Judor was on hand as usual, catching her before she could land on the hard dusty wooden floor.

“Khaaaaaakhahahah!”. Knoah bellowed.

“Why would you do that?”, screamed Judor.

Ignoring the plight of