Man of Stories

The Monads and the Elder all stared at the Dark One, his massive skull like head peering at them from the darkness from which it seemed; he was most comfortable.

"We do not fear you dark eater!" shouted one of the Monads, one of the hivelings got ready to strike at them, but was stopped by Bog.

"Fear me? Now why would you fear me?" asked the Dark One as it began to circle them, still hidden in shadow and only it's head being visible. The coldness was like thorns; just like having an insect on your back, it was like the Dark One's presence was crawling up their back. The Monads all stood straight, yet still some had fear in their hearts.

"Theres nothing to fear, I'm not going to hurt you. I only desire one thing and one thing only, tell me where you've decided to discard it and I will let you all walk free." said the Dark One

"Do not treat us like we do not know better! We know you won't let us go! So save us the trouble! Just get kill us now and get it over with." shouted one of the Monads.

"Yea, we aren't going to fall for your trickery!" said another Monad shakily. The Dark One's head turned just a bit towards some hiveling, they stomped over and grabbed the two monads and began to drag them away. The other Monads looked back as the two men began to kick and scream immediately. The other two Monads were a bit less brave than before, however the Elder still stood tall. The Dark One looked at them.

"Whatever sliver of loyalty your clinging to, throw it away. No one is going to save you. However you can save others. Save your people." The Dark One said

"NO! We'll never...ne-...never turn to you! We know what you want! the destruction of everything!" shouted one of the Monads.

"If destruction was what I desired; I'd just destroy you and everything else. Besides...destruction is such a meaningless thing. What goodness does it bring?

Nothing, but burning down what could be conquered. What could be made better." The Dark One said

"Yet you've destroyed, you've done it forever. Evil doesn't change, neither does you." said the Elder Monad

"Hmp, perhaps. Yet now I seek to do something much more than that, and that can't be possible without your precious anti-monad.

Which brings me back to your little creation. Your discovery, you held destruction in your hands and what did you do with it? You studied it, you brought it comfort and made it home and watched it. Creation and Destruction go hand in hand. You can't have it one way or the other.

Both must be harnessed, both must be understood. There is nothing beautiful about one or the other. Beauty can only be understood when both are witnessed in their natural element." said the Dark One as the Monads and the hive looked upon him. The Dark One then came out of the shadows and showed himself to them, this gigantic figure standing before them.

"Tell me, Elder one In that lab of yours when you were watching and harnessing the power of destruction, did you think of me? Or think of the power you would gain from such a thing?" He asked

"You don't know what we planed to do!" shouted one of the Moands

"Oh don't I? You speak of destruction as evil and yet there you were, hiding it and keeping something so dangerous right under your own kind's noses. Did your savior even know? Know that the people he was protecting were soon to doom themselves due to curiosity.

Its men like you that abuse destruction, but me. I understand it, I understand it's strengths and weaknesses. I know destruction, you are merely a witness." said the Dark One as the Monads looked at one another.

"Which is why I will ask one last time, where is the anti-monad?" He asked, yet they didn't answer him. They kept their silence. The Dark One looked at them, and saw in their eyes a emptiness even darker than himself. He then pointed towards a doorway where it opened up to reveal the families of the Monads. They looked over in fear and shock.

"Oh my god." said one of the Monads

"I give you a choice, either take your freedom, or damnation." said the Dark One.

"Go or stay." He said, the Monads looked at him and the to their families. The Dark One and the hive watched them, they then saw as the Monads beside the Elder one run over to their families. They ran to them and as they did the doorway would close them behind them. The Elder Monad watched, as he did he'd look down; the Dark One wrapped an arm around him.

"Now hows about we talk about, that anti-monad. Just you and me. Let talk about who really is the one hoarding destruction." said the Dark One as the hive began to chuckle and as screams rang out from behind the doorway.

The events of the entire world seemed to be unraveling, would it truly be possible to defeat the hive? or perhaps the heroes of the Canvas may have more internal problems than previously thought. Withe the moon awakened and the Dark One's moves now beginning to take form, it will take all of the Canvas's best to put a end to this. Especially with no hero in sight.

End of Book 1