Chapter 449: Heaven, Hell, and The Mortal Realm (1/2)
*Yahhh,* a last upward stroke slit the bishop's chin. The shock traveled to the brain and he fell. Staxius stood with injuries, dried blood, sweat, the face half-covered in ashes. The suit was torn beyond recognition – the army that once stood vanished. The symbol of Nike reduced, 'I beg for the apology, my child, tis time for I to rest.' Naught but a dormant symbol. The triangle of the death element burnt vividly.
'What a battle,' coughing deeply, the man laid face up onto the dirtied floor.
”King of Arda,” said Fiene back to conscience, ”-you've bested me,” said he readied to go another round. ”-I'm impressed,” he moved to sit back to back, ”-and also disappointed. If this is the power you hold, then there's no way thee art to win in the coming battle. Those who are coming will not hold anything. My Lord has told me of a coming age of terror. You should flee. Tis the only advice I can give to the victor.”
”Heir to Lucifer, you sure are a peculiar individual.”
”The same can be said of you, I sensed the same amount of power as a high-tier god during that last strike. There's more than meets the eye, yet, the overwhelming weakness that rises is unforgivable.”
”You're strong and put in a position of power, in some way, we're the same.”
”I agree, King of Arda, if not for our differing position – I might have had you as a close rival and friend. Fate is a lady we can't but obey.” The words he spoke were close to identical to what Staxius used to say. There was a definite connection.
Over yonder, a portal emerged with differing figures. The weather changed into one dark-grey and thunderous. The entirety of the area grew morguelike silent.
'There he goes.'
”My lord Lucifer,” bowed the heir atop the hill, ”-you've come,” said he with the utmost respect.
”My child Fiene, you've done well to exhaust the God of Death,” complimented he with a heartwarming soft tone.
”Over there,” pointed Zeus, ”-Qhildir, that's the boy. He's tired from what I see.”
”Master, might I ask where we are?” marched Eira out the doorway.
”Hold a moment!” implored Qhildir, ”-please, hold on a moment,” moved to block sight towards the defeated man, ”-think back to the spell, I need the utmost focus.”
”What's wrong with him?” whispered Lucifer to Zeus.
”The Librarian of Nexsolium and King of Arda are father and daughter. We mustn't allow them to know one another is involved.”
Warning or not, Staxius stood somewhat rested from the battle. The strong figures in front were intimidating. Three gods and a girl who seemed clueless. 'Eira…' he thought slowly and deeply, '-you've gone and became a demi-goddess. I'm proud,' he smiled, '-I guess the lady with 'white hair' was you.' The inside tore into a rampant mess of anxiety and fear. 'My defeat is here…' *Blood-Arts: Crimson Threads,* using the lost blood, a scarlet mask materialized to cover his face. *Slash,* he cut the red color out of his hair. Medium-sized, it tied into a small pony-tail. 'I can't allow her to see me.'
”Qhildir, are thou ready?” asked the Supreme god with a stab-like glare.
”Yes, my lord, the preparations have been made.”
The wind blew, Staxius approached, the mana grew close to exhaustion. Many o' things activated. ”-Éclair, begin protocol Death.”
”Roger,” the robot-like tone seemed to carry woe, a passing moment of crying. Protocol Death activated – a will in simpler words.
'Tharis, Orenmir, this is our last battle.' No words need to be uttered, *Void Aspect: Mana Cancellation Variant,* the pistol charged to fire a massive beam.
”How foolish,” refuted Zeus conjuring a thunderbolt shaped sword, ”-die!” the shot dispelled with lightning relentlessly striking the unknown man. The body fell onto his knees then rose once more.
”Zeus,” voiced Lucifer, ”-if this continues…”
”I know, I know,” he sighed, ”-Librarian, cast the spell Arkeo upon that man there!”
”As you wish, my lord,” her palms held out with confidence. The incantation of which she formulated went unnoticed by even the higher-beings. ”ARKEO.” Tis the only word they heard.
A needle embedded inside his forehead. Electricity generated to force him onto the ground, no amount of gritting could counter the pain. It broke him from the inside out, the spell targeted the brain and heart. Emotions and wit, during the battle, either one was the originator of power for those on the losing end.
'I need to protect the Shadow R-Realm,' he shook in pain. Lucifer jumped into the fray with a sword in hand. Unsheathed, he proceeded to beat the already fallen man. No pity, no emotions, the assault broke arms, legs, ribs, neither of which regenerated. At that moment, the powers of hell, heaven, and the mortal plane allied with one another. Zeus's lightning imprisoned, Lucifer's unsheathed sword paired with the demon magic attacked relentlessly, and lastly, the power of a human turned demi-goddess, had cast a spell to break the Godhood of a deity.
”NOW, DO IT NOW!” screamed Lucifer.
”I have to protect THE SHADOW REALM!” simultaneously, Staxius called forth the remainder of his power. *By my name as the Ruler of Death and Time, HAVE MINE REALM BESTOWED WITH THEIR DOMINION.*
'Listen to all who have been trapped by me,' the voice echoed around the dominion, '-I will be slain in a few seconds. Miira, Intherna, and Gophy, I know not what is to happen to my soul and body, however, make me this promise that thee will set to find me wherever I am. Miira, the Sickle of Kronos is what's holding the Shadow Realm in place. I knew the day would eventually come. Thank you for being with me, I shall take my timely leave.'