One True Vision: The One-Eyed King Trilogy, #3

By Kenny S. Rich

At last, Iori has discovered his true vision and emerged out of the darkness with mastery of his newfound powers. But as he prepares to rejoin Betty and her Resistance, the All-Seeing Army strikes again, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake.

With Betty's life now in the All-Seeing King's deadly hands, the time has come for Iori to confront his ultimate nemesis. The One-Eyed King must return to the Land of the Blind and engage the All-Seeing King in mortal combat.

The fates of two worlds rest on the outcome of this otherworldly battle of blind warriors. In their bout for supremacy, only one can become undisputed King of the Land of the Blind. But which king will survive to determine the future of the World of the Seeing? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Infotainment Press
• Release date: Jul 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533709790

Kenny S. Rich

Kenny S. Rich is a Cameroonian-born American author and motivational speaker. He graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in PR & Advertising, and recently earned his global MBA from Hult International Business School. Kennyrich has authored three books to date: 'The Glass,' 'The Black Plagues,' and his debut novel, 'The One-Eyed King,' which marks his first foray into the adventurous world of Science Fiction & Fantasy. He currently works as an entrepreneur, running his own online creative writing platform, Enrich by Kennyrich.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Unmasked

As sure as the sun rising, in less than twenty-four hours, roaring flames would sweep through yet another unsuspecting city, enveloping the bustling town in the swift and massive mushroom cloud of an apocalyptic nuclear inferno. This dreadful scenario had become the reality of the post-ARK World of the Seeing. However, when today would inevitably transition into tomorrow—a tomorrow no one wished for—that horrid scenario would not unfold as it had four times before. Because today, on the eve of the All-Seeing King’s next nuclear strike, the One-Eyed King finally stood ready to reveal himself and change the reality of the world, once more.

Alone inside the newsroom, as per his request to the police chief, Red Shadow took a deep breath and pulled down the red hoodie to uncover his head, but his eyes remained shielded by the crimson blindfold. Letting out another deep breath, the blind young man began his public address.

Almost twenty years ago, I was conceived in sin and born in controversy. And my birth would mark the beginning of yet another world war—the worst the world has ever seen. When I was a child, too many people said that I was cursed, and I’ll admit, I believed them for a while. But with the help of one I hold dear, I have learned to love myself as my parents first loved me, and to believe that, as unlikely as it seemed for many years, my life was a gift, just like everyone else’s.

The robot-operated, ultra-high definition cameras in the newsroom shone bright lights at the renowned superhero behind the podium as he spoke to the entire World of the Seeing via the One World News satellites. Today, this city, this region, knows me only as Red Shadow, the blind vigilante, but that is not the full extent of who I am. Raising both hands to the back of his head, the young warrior untied the crimson blindfold to reveal his unique pair of eyes—one hazel and prosthetic, and the other all-white and mystic.

"My name is Iori, son of Samson Selassie and Iris Haile, a young priest and a young nun, whose only crime—daring to love each other—proved fatal. That forbidden love is the reason I stand before you all today, unafraid of who I am and what I stand for. My life has truly been a rollercoaster. I have been a poor, blind orphan boy, and I have been a powerful, wealthy king. And yet, all the while, I have always been the same person inside. I’ve been as cursed as I’ve been gifted, as weak as I’ve been strong, and as hateful as I’ve been loving.

"Somehow, I think that makes me a normal person, because I can’t imagine that I’m the only one who’s experienced such highs and lows. You see, I believe that despite my unique circumstances and experiences, my life has in many ways looked like that of many others. As human beings, no matter our differences, strengths and weaknesses, we have more in common than we often realize or care to admit.

So, today, I have a message for this world, for all of you seeing people. Contrary to what you’ve been led to believe, I, Iori, the One-Eyed King of the Land of the Blind, am not your enemy. He shook his head, assuming a somber countenance. But I am sorry for the chaos gripping this world, for the lives lost to senseless nuclear strikes. I’m sorry for not revealing myself sooner and putting an end to this madness, but there was something I had to be sure of first. Now, all of you, all across the World of the Seeing, you have my word, no more harm shall come to you at the hands of the All-Seeing Army, whom you know as the blind assassins.

After closing his eyes for a contemplative moment of silence, Iori reopened them and glared into the camera, a deep scowl now creasing his otherwise gentle face. To you, Lord Rai, my message is simple. You once told me that when a man would stop at nothing to kill you, then you must kill him first. So, today, I say to you, I shall put that lesson to the test, if I must. This war, this vendetta, which you’ve extended to the World of the Seeing, is over. Stop the bombings. No one else has to die. I’m done hiding. You wanted me, so here I am.

He raised open palms before him. "I have come out of the darkness and into the light. Your message to me was true to form—loud and violent. And I shall respond in the only way I know a man like you could appreciate—louder and more violently. You taught me that sometimes, it was necessary to fight fire with fire. Well, Lord Rai, that is exactly what I’m going to do.

In three days, I shall return to the Land of the Blind, and when I arrive, I expect you to surrender the throne to its rightful king, and the All-Seeing Army to their rightful commander. If not, then you’d better be sure your fire burns brighter than mine, or I shall extinguish yours, forever." Closing his eyes again, Iori took deep, rhythmic breaths. A hint of a golden glow became apparent from behind his right eye as he balled his fists at his sides. In a flash, he reopened his eyes and a conspicuous gold glare shone throughout the newsroom.

As Iori’s right eye shimmered in its glorious, steady gold glow, he smirked. And may your mind’s eye always— he stopped short, his ears picking up the swooshing sound of a fast-moving object in the distance. His heart pounded, his pulse quickened and his neck hairs prickled. He felt a piercing stab inside his chest. Clutching his heart as sweat beads invaded his forehead, Iori began hyperventilating as if suffering from a severe heart attack. Tilting his head, he heard a series of loud, fiery explosions and felt the quaking earth in the distance.

No, no, no, this can’t be happening! Horrified viewers across the world watched as the newsroom where the notorious One-Eyed King had been speaking exploded in a deafening blast before the image on their TV screens scrambled into noisy static.

As a burned and badly bruised Iori stumbled about, fading from consciousness inside the crumbling building, his heightened senses picked up the sudden commotion of demolition surrounding him. Like an avalanche, roaring flames swept through Addis Ababa as homes, business, schools and other landmasses in the metropolitan city were enveloped in the swift and massive mushroom cloud of an apocalyptic nuclear inferno.

Chapter 2

Fallout

Agolden shield gradually faded from Iori’s stiff body and the hissing smoke emanating from his pores subsided under his burnt and tattered outfit. Shards of steel and stone surrounded him as he lay motionless, buried underneath the rubble. As the residual wildfires from the nuclear strike crackled around him, the gleam of a golden light appeared behind Iori’s right eye.

Suddenly, the lyrics of his favorite song, Out of Darkness, played inside his head, courtesy of a serene, angelic voice, as if compelling him to come back to life.

"Listen to my words leading you,

Leading you out of darkness.

Hear the devil’s call to sin,

Always turn away from him.

With the wind you go,

Still I dream of your Mind’s Eye,

Seeing you back home.

I will give my love to you,

Grow your power, feel it burn.

That light in your eye’s a deity on high,

Fighting to counter the shadow side.

Hearts will love, though having to break,

Leaving behind all things in the end.

Listen to my words leading you,

Leading you out of darkness.

Hear the devil’s call of sin,

Always turn away from him."

—May your mind’s eye always see you through—

In a flash, Iori opened his eyes, revealing the full luster of his Goldeneye. With a loud gasp, he regained full consciousness under his makeshift grave. His mind and body plagued by hysteria, Iori’s mouth parted with frantic breaths and his heart thudded inside his chest with a tempestuous thunder, as if threatening to explode under the pressure of his emotional distress.

Coughing and wheezing from the dense mushroom clouds of black smoke permeating the atmosphere, he struggled to get up, shoving heavy cement blocks and swiping thick layers of dust off his aching body. Free of the debris, he removed what was left of his ripped hoodie and tattered shirt altogether, revealing conspicuous burns, lacerations and bruises on his naked torso. Iori couldn’t actually see the death, pain and chaos plaguing Addis Ababa, but at his very core, he could deeply and intensely sense every molecule of the surrounding world and its humanity fading as countless breaths and heartbeats diminished into complete silence.

Glancing around in a frenzy, the otherworldly blind young man felt the palpable death and destruction all around him. Oh, my God. A world on fire was all Iori could discern from his surroundings. The raging flames burned loud and bright from one end of the city to another, and the resulting smoke clouds rose so high that they appeared to blot out the sun. Under this grim canopy of polluted darkness, lifeless bodies and body parts littered the streets for countless miles.

Like a waterfall, a flood of tears poured from Iori’s eyes as he came to the stunning realization that within mere minutes, the populated city he’d fought so hard to protect over the past two months had been reduced to ashes and dust. Kneeling in his exasperated state, Iori pounded the ground repeatedly with both fists, unleashing deafening cries that echoed over the burning sounds of a once-recovering city turned cemetery and crematorium.

Chapter 3

Return of the Oracle Three

Gathering himself at last, Iori took a moment to inspect his body for the first time since regaining consciousness in the midst of the infernal chaos. He rubbed his bloodstained palms together, examining them before patting his dirt-stained face. I don’t get it. Why am I still alive? How the hell did I survive?

Because your work is not yet done, a familiar voice replied to Iori’s rhetorical questions. Alarmed, the blind young man scanned his periphery but quickly realized there was no one else present.

Guided solely by instinct, he adjusted his body to sit Indian-style, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Speak, I’m listening.

It’s good to hear your voice again, Iori dear, Lady Oracle’s soothing voice sounded off inside Iori’s head, we’re terribly sorry for the loss you’ve just suffered.

Alas, there was nothing we could do, added Oracle Sage.

We’re so sorry, Iori, we didn’t see that coming. This time, it was Oracle Child’s boyish voice sounding off in Iori’s mind.

I-I can’t hear them anymore, you know? said Iori, his voice breaking from his heartache as tears riddled his eye rims. I’ve spent the past half-hour listening harder than I ever have, feeling the earth with my hands and sniffing harder than a pack of wolves, but I can’t sense anyone. Iori began sobbing in earnest as warm, salty tears rolled down his cheeks.

The Oracle Three remained silent on their end, listening to the grieving boy’s pain.

I don’t hear the babies crying anymore, or the couples arguing. All I can hear, smell, touch, taste and feel, is evidence of a city in flames. Of genocide. I fought so hard to save these people, and yet, I’m all alone. I’ve lost them. I’ve lost this fight. I can’t do this anymore. I just... I can’t.

Listen, Iori, the only thing you can’t do is give up now, said Lady Oracle.

She’s right, added Oracle Child. We understand that the pain you feel right now is overwhelming, beyond anything you’ve ever felt.

But you can’t give up, Iori, you can’t let the All-Seeing King win, concluded Oracle Sage.

Iori drew a heavy breath, shaking his head. I don’t know. I’ve failed this city, I—

But you won’t fail the whole world, Iori, said Lady Oracle, you can’t.

That’s right, added Oracle Sage, that’s what’s at stake here. So, please, do not wallow in your despair. Let the deaths of these people be the fuel to the fire we know you sense growing inside of you.

What do you mean? asked Iori, ever puzzled by the words of the Oracles of Optima.

The only solace to be taken from tragedy is the motivation it provides to those who survive.

I’m sorry, but I’m just not strong enough. I couldn’t save these people.

Look around you, my child. The entire city is on fire, and yet, here you