Ed's Journey, Vol.1: Shadows of the Nights Tournament

By Beckett Baldwin

This is the sub-plot of the “Celestial-Terrestrial Warriors” series, that takes place after the events of ‘Planet Empyrean; Ed’s Journey’ and the first of the trilogy; Ed, after being transported somewhere else after the capture of his friends, is now on his own and he must do what he can do defeat his arch-nemesis in order to save the others and do what he can to save the world of Empyrean from the rule of Persephone, the traitor Seraphim’s who has betrayed her own group and has sought power in the beginning.
Along the way, he meets other people who help him on his journey and he’ll do what he can to succeed in completing his task to defeat the dreaded Queen and save the others. Ed has lost someone dear to him and this makes a huge impact on his behavior as he travels with the others in the attempts to save Empyrean, from the horror of her clutches, and all that she’s enslaved on here as well. Along the way, he prepares for the worse, as his arch-nemesis issues a tournament in which the best of the fighters are to compete and he must prepare himself for an ordeal coming to him. Forced into the tournament where he has to win in order to save the people that he loves and cares about. As well as facing off against some the most toughest opponent that they’ll be facing and only through then, will the determination that they have shine on through to defeat their foes otherwise.
This is the sub-plot of the Celestial-Terrestrial Warriors series, in between both Volume#3 and Volume#4 and the first volume of the trilogy, as Ed is preparing for the tournament’s preliminaries and he’s about to face off against strong opponents. There is where he meets the other ‘Destined Children’ named Gabriel who happens to be survivor of a legendary, disappearing clan and they prepare themselves as they’ll face off against each other in the near future. One that’ll create a battle that’ll be passed down in generations of the planet. Will Ed succeed in his quest to uncover his powers and save the others?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beckett Baldwin
• Release date: Jul 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370834822

Beckett Baldwin

"Ellison Wright Baldwin" is the pen name of the author of the "Celestial/Terrestrial Warriors" (Tentai/ Chijō no Senshi) and "Saintly/Angelic Warriors" (Seijin/ Tenshi no Senshi) series, Garland J. Bennett, III, who's old writing nickname was "Garbo, The Diverse Writer". Adopted the pen name based on the various writing styles, many literary tropes, as well as with it's characters as well, paying much homage, admiration, and respect to the literary giants of the 20th Century such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, who were his main inspiration for his second masterpiece, the "Saintly/Angelic Warriors" series. This is considered to be Garland's first and foremost pen name. In honor of three great literary Black Authors who came before him; Ralph "Ellison", Richard "Wright", and James "Baldwin".For more information of the Author, check out his website athttp://www.celestialgraphics.net

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Ed's Journey: Shadows of the Nights Tournament (Volume#1 of Ed’s Journey Trilogy)

The tournament of blood-orchid and chaos to bring about the mayhem that it’ll bring...

Garland J. Bennett, III {‘Garbo, The Versatile Writer’}

June 21st, 2005

6/21/2005

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Synopsis {:}

This is the sub-plot of the  Celestial-Terrestrial Warriors series, that takes place after the events of ‘Planet Empyrean; Ed’s Journey’ and the first of the trilogy; Ed, after being transported somewhere else after the capture of his friends, is now on his own and he must do what he can do defeat his arch-nemesis in order to save the others and do what he can to save the world of Empyrean from the rule of Persephone, the traitor Seraphim’s who has betrayed her own group and has sought power in the beginning.

Along the way, he meets other people who help him on his journey and he’ll do what he can to succeed in completing his task to defeat the dreaded Queen and save the others. Ed has lost someone dear to him and this makes a huge impact on his behavior as he travels with the others in the attempts to save Empyrean, from the horror of her clutches, and all that she’s enslaved on here as well. Along the way, he prepares for the worse, as his arch-nemesis issues a tournament in which the best of the fighters are to compete and he must prepare himself for an ordeal coming to him. Forced into the tournament where he has to win in order to save the people that he loves and cares about. As well as facing off against some the toughest opponent that they’ll be facing and only through then, will the determination that they have shine on through to defeat their foes otherwise.

This is the sub-plot of the Celestial-Terrestrial Warriors series, in between both Volume#3 and Volume#4 and the first volume of the trilogy, as Ed is preparing for the tournament’s preliminaries and he’s about to face off against strong opponents. There is where he meets the other ‘Destined Children’ named Gabriel who happens to be survivor of a legendary, disappearing clan and they prepare themselves as they’ll face off against each other in the near future. One that’ll create a battle that’ll be passed down in generations of the planet. Will Ed succeed in his quest to uncover his powers and save the others?

  Chapter#1; Beginning of his Journey; Anna and Mikey

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Man, I’m in trouble. Freaking a lot of trouble right now; as to how I’d got myself into such a predicament that I’m in right now, is so freaking...argh..., Ed voiced his concern, he continued to walk down and down, totally scared and clueless still, unto how is he going to bring out all of his potential, and use it to make him strong enough to take on an ‘Seraphim’s’, that just could kill him, at any moment, if they knew where he was.

Hmmm...man, I’m scared. I mean who knows what kind of un-holy amount of danger, I’ll be getting my butt into too. Let alone even take them on, by myself, at this certain magnitude. This ‘Seraphim’ could be loaded with colossal amount of power. How am I supposed to actually battle against them, if I don’t have any way to make me stronger? Let alone, even get a chance to master my own natural powers, to a high extent level?’, Suddenly, Ed then felt strangeness, coming from one of the trees, Ugh...who’s there?’ Ed was kind of-cautious, unto who was stalking him, and why. Ed then quickly clenched his fist, as he was ready, for anything that was going to come his way. Whatever he needed to do, to defend himself, Great. Exactly, who would be stalking me at a time like at... ? Then, coming from out of nowhere, the figure then jumped up and leapt from where it came, and called out something the Ed hasn’t heard before.

Runa! Runa!, The figure then shot the magic that was coming from out of his hands, and then the magic was coming straight at him, and then Ed got scared a bit, as it then suddenly flashed. But after that happen, Ed didn’t feel hurt at all. As of matter of fact, he felt better though.

Huh? That’s strange. I don’t feel any pain. I feel a little boast in strength, then before. This kind of feels great, Ed felt a bit relieved to feel a little better about himself. Ed then looked at the figure, and wondered to himself, unto why did this character actually help him, other than harm him.

"I’ll bet you like that one huh? That was my move, Doma Heal; it’s supposed to look like some attack that’s coming at you, but instead, it’s supposed to make sure that the character I targeted is healed and augmented in strength for a little bit; it’s good for fooling your enemies into thinking you’d betrayed someone in your group,’ the figure explaining his method of the attack. Then the character then revealed himself to be of a young teenage boy with small muscles and an equally small body to add along with it...Around 15 years of age, and was very inexperience with magic and anything that was out of the ordinary.

Well I’m glad to know that I haven’t got on your bad side at all, Ed was happy to have met someone that he could be friends with.

...Anyways..., the new character towards Ed, cleared his throat, and decided to introduce himself. ‘...the name’s Mikey. I’m a magician and I plan to become the best illusionist that ever lived.... like a certain someone does...’ Mikey seemed thrilled about his great dream that he had, of becoming the most famous illusionist. But Ed then got even more confused, and then asked Mikey something.

‘Ugh...well, it’s pleasing to meet you and I feel really happy that you have a goal to look forward to. I’m...’

‘I know who you are, no need for an introduction; You’re the Sun-ray named Ed; the one of the few Sun-ray who are the ‘chosen’ one’s to fight the ‘Great Evil...,‘ Mikey seemed to know about him pretty well...Along with the people that he had also worked with.

‘Wait? You know my name? And where I came from?,’ Ed was quite stunned about his appearance.

‘Yeah, I’ve studied you, your ancestors, and what became of your destiny is, to save us all against this threat,’ Mikey laid out more stuff that he wants to know about this clan.

‘...,’ Ed grew quite shocked, to see that this character knew plenty of him, and who he is as a person...as well as his Sun-ray heritage.

‘And you’re a Sun-ray; a technologically advanced, angel like race that first founded the beginning of this alliance in the first place, in the efforts to regulate balance and harmony. The ones who managed to summon the heroes of the ‘Empyreal 5 to take on the monster named Hellde Z. Sugoi , who then came back as...,’ Mikey was quite confused at the moment, as he can’t remember unto what he was talking about again. Ed sighed, as he can tell, that this was going to be quite a while to tell this character, everything that he needs to know in advance.

‘He came back as Cerberus, and now he’s a serious threat to the world of Empyrean once again. Therefore, we must stop him, at all cost,’ Ed refreshing his memory. The words that went through Mikey’s head, suddenly made him remember something that once brought him a great deal of pain, from a long time ago.

... Oh, that’s right...how-how-in-the-world-could-I-ever-forget-that?’ Mikey then got depressed when he now remembers what happened to him. That literally haunted him, for so long, Yeah, that’s right. Those monster’s children of his did a lot of sinful things to us: destroyed my parent’s house, killed my parents, and nearly tried to do away with me, all just for some sick pursuit for paradise. I’ve nearly survived at all, and so did my younger sister, too. She’s a year younger than me. Thanks to our training and teaching, we’d managed to survive and we’ve been surviving out here, in the woods, ever since we were ten. But that was five years ago, since that happen, though. I’m just glad that my sister’s okay...though there are times, where I swear that she can be a bit scary at times...very scary...,’ Mikey smiled a bit. 1000000000000253000001F735F7AD8D505912BC.jpg

‘Wait?! Five years?! You’re telling me that this has happened like five years ago?!,’ Ed was shocked to learn that he wasn’t sent to a different dimension but rather instead five years ahead in the future.’ I don’t freaking believe this!! I’ve been sent forward into the future, five years later?!,’ Ed then got pretty mad, about this, I can’t believe this! That stupid Elder transports me five years into the future, and now it’s already by that time, that there could be no hope of saving my friends now,’ Ed was really mad now. This really made him real mad, as the revelation has happened, that the ‘Children of Grimoire’ has risen and conquered the entire bank of Empyrean, and its entire people. ‘ That crappy old geezer. He sent me forward five years, so now how am I going to save everyone now from his/her grasp?,’ Ed was pitied with doubt now. Mikey looks at Ed, as he can tell, that Ed is really pissed off about knowing that his journey is back-tracked, since he doesn’t have full control over his unknown power, and the great enemy, might already be too strong.

"Yeah, I kind of know how in the world you feel about this. But let’s say that you and me go to my house. Therefore, you could be able to get a good night’s rest, and continue your journey, if you don’t really mind,’ Mikey being real nice towards Ed, then leapt up back into the large, tree-trunk, and went on his way, as Ed was following him.

"‘Hey, wait up! I’m coming,’ Ed said, as now he was following him, upward.’ So, what is it that you like to do, anyways?,’ Ed wanted from his new stranger of which he just met.

‘ Well, sometimes, I would just go outside, and just focus on my own magic skills, just to do all kinds of effects. It’s really gets you through these lonely days, especially if my parents been done away by those monsters. Along with most of my other relatives,’ Mikey still had a nice smile on his face, as he really got through that part, of missing his lost family members.

Yeah, I see what you mean, really, Ed felt a lot more terrible. Once they got there, they came across a big, enormous tree, with a median house under it.

‘So, this is where you live? Look’s kind of more like junk for a house,’ Ed didn’t want to insult his new friend. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult the place that you live in, it’s just that...well...,’ Mikey came up Ed, puts his hand on Ed’s shoulder, and makes a faint smile at him.

Ah, don’t worry about it. I know that. It’s just all that I have left about them. Anyways, we should be going in, Mikey proclaimed, as both him and the young Sunray Ed, were stepping in. Some of the people that were out in their houses were taking a good look at Ed’s appearance. As soon as they realized that he was the chosen one that has left a long time ago, their faces became distraught and resentful towards him; believing that Ed has deserted them and now they have nothing to do with him anymore since he wasn’t there for their time of need.

"(Sigh) great, just what I need to start off this journey; not a person here thinks I have a good reason here at all. Why am I not surprised?’, Ed feeling sad that he felt like he’s let these people down. Even though he was transported five years into the future, so he never would’ve been able to save these people if he would’ve tried.

‘I’m sure it’ll light up in due time; it’s hard for them to put their trust into you since you’d been gone for so long and well...guess people have their time when they just gave up on you and now, here you are now,’ Mikey saying things that were obvious but was not making Ed feel any better about his situation and how he’s let the people here down due for not being here in time to help them. The sadness was continuing to show in Ed’s face as he’s such an asshole for leaving these people and not being able to accomplish what he knew he was trying to accomplish. ‘Why don’t we just go inside and see if my sister is inside. I’m sure that she’ll like ya,’ Mikey said as they were going inside to see his sister. Hoping that she doesn’t have the same resentment as the town has for Ed and believing that he’s left them a long time ago.

‘Yo! Anna, hey! I’m home, and I brought someone with me, that you’re not going to believe...,’ suddenly, coming from out of nowhere, a girl then exerts at high force, and just punches Ed, over in the face, as she made him fly, really fast.

‘Take that you fiend!’ She cried out, really upset, and angry.

* * *

‘Anna?! Just what in the world, is wrong with you! Do you have to punch everyone that comes in contact with you?! Jeez, if that’s the case, why not just sock me, too, if you don’t mind!’ Mikey was pretty darn mad.

‘What?! Don’t I have the right to protect myself? Besides, most of the people you bring end up taking our stuff, and trying to do away with us. But who’s to say, that this is just another scumbag, that’s trying...too?’, Anna got surprised fast, as Ed got back up, and he had a huge mark on him, as well. The full appearance of Anna was a curvaceous, good-looking girl with large thighs, and light shoes. She wears tights with circles around it, and her hair is wildly black from all around.

‘This can’t...be...the Sun-ray Ed...a.k.a. the ‘chosen two.’ Ed looked at her, and got a little scared faget back at him after disappearing on us for the past five years like that. ’st.

‘Ugh...whatever it is I did, I’m sorry. Real sorr...’ suddenly, Anna then jerked towards him, and started to hug the mess out of him, as a shear of honor.

Oh, it’s an honor to meet the Sunray in his presence. I’m real sorry that you got hit, by me. I’m real sorry, Anna continuing to hug him to stay on his good side due to hitting him in the face so hard.

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‘It’s okay...really...it’s okay.’, Ed wasn’t getting in much oxygen, but Mikey laughed on by.

‘Boy, are in a vine.’, not so played out joke, but it’s kinda funny.

Meanwhile, back where central command was at, the very fort, that stood in its unholy wrath, their lived the commander, who ride away the co-commander, and there was the general himself, which I can’t quite explain who he is, but we’ll get there.

’ Commander. What should we do, in order to fix this problem?’, The soldier asked the cunning commander.

‘ Go get more troops down there, to investigate upon where that diabolical little trouble maker is. I want this minor threat to be taken care of, once and for all.’, The commander made his claim, as the troops obeyed.

‘Yes sir!’, They went on their way towards the misty forest, for that’s their first sign that they’re going to run into.

‘Something tells me, if I remember correctly, that has to be the ‘chosen two’ that disappeared, long ago. Well this’ll be my first time to meet one of them, if he actually get passed my minions for troops.’, the commander then looked up, to where the general was again, and then laughed some more.’ The general will be pleased, when he hears about this type of news, that we have found the Sun-ray, after five whole years of waiting...he returns back to give us more of his shit once again...now this is where things are going to get very, very interesting from here...time to test the young and very confused sun-ray." The commander said, as he was interested to see the potential that lives inside of Ed and see how much stronger Ed will become by his own merits.

, The commander couldn’t stop laughing, as he couldn’t wait to get his chance towards fighting the Sun-ray. Back where the three are, Ed then told about his story of how he got here, and what kind of destiny that he has enrolled himself into.

‘ So you're saying that the Elder that was gone from a long time ago has teleport you to this place, that you lost your love one, Bastet, and now you don’t even know how your powers work in the first place?!’, Mikey yelled, as he was kind of shocked, not knowing that the Sun-ray doesn’t know anything about his unknown powers.

‘ Yeah, I know it’s embarrassing, but I go to know fast, my friend’s lives, are at stake, against this certain ‘Olympian-Angel’ that I must face; the one that Bastet told me, when she died though, too.’, Ed had to find a way to activate his powers, no matter what. He still felt sadness and grief for losing the girl of his dreams to the madness of the world and was unable to cope with losing her and all the people that he cared about.

‘I’m sorry that you lost her Ed....’, Anna trying to be a comforting as she could possibly be. Knowing that Ed’s feelings are hurt due to losing the girl of his dream and being unable to let her go, as he loves her so much.

‘...Thank...you...’, Ed was having a small flashback to the time he held Bastet, the girl that he fell in love with it, and how he could still remember the look her face, as she was happy to see him again, after being gone for five years. He couldn’t let it go in his heart, as he was really hurt by it.

‘Well, did the Elder ever give you any information, about how you’re gonna even get some of it, to work?’, Anna asked him.

‘I don’t know. All’s I know is, I’ve felt it a couple of times, when I went up against certain foes in my journey, that’s all I know...it’s like it’s triggered whenever there’s a great deal of emotion that’s suddenly being shot up and then before I could even think about it too much about it, I start to form power from out of nowhere and I start to get that bursting feeling in my gut. As though I feel like I’m going to do something big and massive. One of my biggest battles was against the bastards Spinal, when he’s had it out for me for a long long time. It was become of my inner power that I was able to stall him for long, and be able to...’, They heard some men coming out, as they hide really quick.

’ Over there! I think that there might be someone in there. Could be our little troublemaker, let’s go check over there.’ The men went over, to go see what the entire racket was.

‘Darn! There back....damn it Mikey, I thought you drove them away for sure?’, Anna complaining to him.

‘I did. It’s not my fault that they came back.’ Mikey said, as he went towards to where the men were going to lay haste on their remainder of their home.’ I hope that this works.’, Mikey then used his wand, that he has inherited from his grandfather, and then concentrate, on making a type of scary bird, and then flashed it over to where the men were.

‘Look, over there.’, due to their less intelligent and misunderstood minds, they thought it was for real.

‘ Aaaa! It’s a spirit! It probably haunts this place! Let’s get out of here!’, The men went running scared and all.

‘Yeah, that’s right; you get the heck out of here! And don’t ever show your disgusting face, towards people again, you faggots!’, Mikey was really happy, of scaring off the little ninnies like that.

‘Wow...lame Mikey. Real, real lame.", Anna felt the need to say that about her brother, as she felt that he was such a dork for saying that the way he did.

‘ Well, my work here is done.’, That he thought, when a left over ogre, then came out of nowhere, and just wanted to attack the young magician, from where it stood.

‘Arghhh!!’, the thing of evil screamed, as it was coming towards Mikey’s direction. It used it’s club and bashed Mikey to the side. Mikey was being hit all the way towards the other side, and the Ogre was still charging after him. Determined to kill him in one go.

’ Argh! You leave him alone!’, Anna then came up, and kicks the mess out of the ogre’s ugly and hideous face. It fell on the ground for a bit. She did rapid kicking from all around, and starts to drop a serious load of kicks around the ogre, that looked very painful. The ogre felt a great deal of pain, as her kicks were strong and able to leave a great deal of damage that’s able to make herself very strong as well against her foes.

‘That’ll teach you to mess with the human...race?’, The monster then got back up, and boy was it mad as hell, as then turned its attention, towards the boxer girl.’ Aaaaa!’, Anna screamed, as Mikey was going to be too late, from saving her. It raised it’s club up and was about to hit Anna in one swing; killing her in one strike. Aaaa!, Anna screamed again.

Suddenly, Ed was in the way and glared the thing down, as he feeling intense emotions again and was about to fire something real fast.

‘ Leave...her...alone...you...freak!’, Some madness then triggered Ed’s beads, as somehow they were connected to his powers, and then shot a huge, neon-colored, spiral-like bream straight at the ogre, as it flew back, by a lot, and then was considered to be some beam, that was stronger than the last one he used without knowing. A huge explosion went down, as the Ogre was completely annihilated from the technique that Ed just activated from out of nowhere. Ed was looking at his hands, as he’s noticed that he fired something from out of nowhere, and he was even more surprised to learn that he’s got the capability to really let it all out and be able to control his own power. ‘{Did-did-I-just-do-that? How-how-did-I-do-that? Was it from my power that I’d used from the journey once again?}’, Ed surprised to learn that he’s summoned the power once again. He turned his attention see that there were a great deal of people who watched Ed summon from out of nowhere, the power of the Phoenix force, and it was something that they have never seen before.

‘I-I-don’t-believe-it...that-sunray did that?’,some of the people were really shock and surprised to see that Ed was able to summon a massively huge technique like that and able to defeat the Ogre in just one go. Thus making them wonder just how much stronger and agile Ed will be if given more time.

‘ Whoa Ed. That was amazing. How did you do that?’, Mikey was pretty surprised by what the young Sun-Ray just did.

‘ Huh? What did I do?’, He didn’t really remember anything at all. Ed was still unclear, on how did he inherit all of these powers, and why. They then turned around to see that there old house, has collapsed, due to the Sun-Ray’s strong and powerful smite of his powers, which he still has no clue, on how he did that.

‘Our home; damn it Ed,’ Mikey was feeling upset that their house was destroyed and they were forced to live out somewhere else since they couldn’t live out in their place anymore since now the Ogre know where their general location is and they can’t stay there for much longer, which means they are at a statement on where they need to go now.

‘Well, it was longing to end this way; it least it ended in a way that it was best for the house,’ Anna accepting the fact that their home is destroyed and they need to move on since they need to do what is needed to be done in order to save all of Empyrean. The thought of losing it was giving her a sense of feeling as she knows that it’s true. Both the siblings look at the destroyed house, and realize, that it was just time, for it to be done, and move on from it as well.

‘I’m terribly sorry for destroying your house. I didn’t mean to do it. I’d just lost a bit of control and then I...’

‘It’s okay; it was bound to tear down eventually...besides, we’ve learned that we can get through things such as that...at least everyone was okay, right?’ Mikey stating the obvious since now they feel like they can go on ahead and move on with their lives in order to fully live it, in the prosperous planet known as Empyrean.

‘Well, I guess seeing that your house is gone, what you guys do now?’, Ed wondered, now that there house is gone.

‘We’ve decided that we're going to travel with you. If that’s okay with you, that is?’ Anna smiled.

‘But, I don’t understand. Why do you want to travel with me? I mean I’d destroyed your house and you don’t have to come with me at all. So why even...’

‘Because Ed...you’re not going to face this alone. We’re all here on this planet to work together and be able to defeat the Great Evil together...we can’t just let you try and take one someone as monstrous as this thing at all. That’s not going to happen.’ Mikey saying to his new friend named Ed about it.

‘But...’

‘You’ve already lost the love of your life; you have to carry on this burden of saving the others, and even have to activate your powers, all-by-yourself. Loneliness has to be