Chapter 479 The First Empyrean IV (1/2)
CHAPTER 479
THE FIRST EMPYREAN (IV)
Qi raged like a storm, pulled in the rapid and wide swirls, forming concentric spirals that rose up and down conically, creating an hourglass-like shape. Colors beyond description danced, blasted off the edges in a smoky manner. The surging winds were both blazing and frigid, rapid and slow, as they traveled for miles onward, consuming the hard rock in their wake.
Lino had no clue as to how Ashtar was controlling the storm. How can a single man command a world-ending amount of energy? Certainly, if let loose, this hourglass-like culmination would be more than enough to swallow both the heavens and the earth. Yet, Lino never once thought the energy was slipping; it was well within his control.
The bright eyes, almost pure white in hue, stared concentrated at the swirl bound with his two hands. The skin on his palms was repeatedly ripped off, healing right after, courtesy of being an Empyrean. Time and again the blood flew outward like rain, binding into the energy as Ashtar made his own. How to usurp the natural energy of the world? Hold it, Ashtar said, and make it your own. Isn't it already his own, though? Lino pondered but to no avail.
Ashtar cried out all of a sudden, ripping his arms apart as the hourglass-like shape condensed into a spherical shape temporarily. He channeled Qi to flow through every inch of his body, binding the sphere and condensing it further. In Lino's eyes, he was creating a singularity -- something he himself was keen on trying. Warp immense amount of Qi within one's hands and push it further and further down until it collapses unto itself.
The Devil weaved his hands over and under the sphere, like a side-street witch reading future from a crystal ball, though his reasons were hardly theatrical; he weaved Qi with each movement, knitting it in a way, around the sphere, binding it.
”BREAK!!” Ashtar cried out madly as something, deep within his soul, broke. His eyes dulled, the luster vanishing, as wings blew out of his back and circled around him. Smoke trailed from the corners of his lips before his entire body grew encased with it.
Right then, the shadows broke off, forming a mirror image of himself on the other end of the sphere. Ashtar looked up, alarmed, his eyes full of uncertainty.
”--I've left a trail of myself in you, Child,” Ataxia's voice bellowed lowly from within the shadowed figure. ”You shall always be an Empyrean, but I cannot devote myself to you no longer. Now, you are bigger than an Archangel, greater than an Empyrean -- you are your own kin, a Devil.”
”--F-father...” Ashtar mumbled lowly, uncertain. Was this the right thing to do? Become someone else entirely?
”Hush,” Ataxia said. ”Brave it. Form an army for me, Child. No, you are a child no more. It is high-time I gave you a name.”
”... a name?”
”Ashtar,” Ataxia said. ”Henceforth, you shall be known as Ashtar, the Origin Father of Devilkin. Will you serve me proper, Ashtar?”
”... I will, Father.” Ashtar's expression grew resolute as he knelt all of a sudden, storm of Qi still raging around them, though now lacking the previous color and luster. Gray and black mostly mingled, a few traces of crimson finding their way in there. ”Until the day Death takes me.”
”Very well,” Ataxia said as the shadowed figure slowly began vanishing. ”Wait patiently until life sprouts, then endow them with your Seed. Give them Power and Strength beyond their understanding. Make me an Army, Ashtar -- one I can proudly display to the world.”
”I will, Father! Good luck!”
**
It must have been days since then, Lino noted as the scene flashed once more. Ashtar stood on the same spot as before, the Qi Storm having disappearing long ago. However, the scars it left were still clearly visible and would be so for a long, long time. Chasms ran one over another, craters spun about, spiderweb-like cracks running across free valleys and hill-rises.
The world was still quite dark, but less so than before. At the very least, it was possible to distinguish faint edges of pillar-like spires digging their way out of the earth.
”... and thus, I as you know me was born, Lyonel,” Ashtar said. ”In your heart, you think a fool was born, no?”
”--I do.” Lino's voice suddenly bellowed out as he found himself shellshocked, sitting opposite of Ashtar. He was there, yet not; transparent from head to toe, yet himself, not stuck inside the Devil's head. Ashtar smiled at him faintly, causing Lino to grin back. ”Don't fret; it is rather impressive you stayed a fool for such a long time.”
”... perhaps,” Ashtar nodded. ”What does it feel like?”