As the wind howled and the darkened sky hinted at an impending storm, Michael and Gaya stood alongside Nithroel on the edge of the mountain where their paths had first crossed. The empress of Awor gazed into the distance, her eyes seemingly carrying the weight of ancient knowledge.
In the pregnant silence, it was Michael who finally broke the stillness, his voice laced with curiosity and a touch of apprehension. "Who are you really? And who was that attacker?"
Nithroel turned her gaze towards Michael, her expression calm yet tinged with a profound understanding of the gravity of their situation. "That was Rudra, the God of War," she replied, the mere mention of his name coinciding with a distant rumble of thunder that echoed through the ominous sky.
Gaya's astonishment was evident as she grappled with the realization that they had been targeted by a deity, and one associated with war no less. However, both she and Michael sensed that Rudra's intentions went beyond mere destruction and that he had manipulated Michael as a pawn in his game, forcing him to take the lives of ithe three seal bearers, including the butler of the Winston family.
With a hint of uncertainty, Michael posed a question that had lingered in his mind ever since their first encounter. "Are you also a god?" His eyes held a flicker of recognition, sensing an inherent power within Nithroel that surpassed that of ordinary mortals. Although her aura bore similarities to the possessed Orc's energy, it seemed to radiate with a slightly lesser intensity.
The atmosphere around them crackled with anticipation as they awaited Nithroel's response, seeking clarity amidst the chaotic events that had unfolded.
"I was once a god, indeed. But now, I am but a fallen deity," Nithroel's voice carried a hint of melancholy that mirrored the sadness reflected in her eyes.
Gaya, her frustration palpable, interjected with a grumble, "Why the hell did that bastard ruin our wedding? When did we piss off the God of War?" Meanwhile, Nithroel sighed, her gaze still fixed upon the distant horizon.
"He did not attack you directly. He used your husband as a means to break the seals," Nithroel clarified. As a goddess, she possessed knowledge beyond mortal comprehension. She understood that if Rudra truly intended to kill Ghost, he could have done so. While killing a god's vessel would only result in their soul seeking a new host, there was no denying that Rudra's purpose was not to end Michael's mortal existence. Perhaps his intentions shifted upon encountering Nithroel, but it was evident that his aim had been to manipulate Michael into eliminating the seal bearers.
"The seals?" Michael's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Yes. In your previous life, you constructed an intricate array that acted as a barrier between the mortal realm and the realm of gods, preventing mortals from entering the divine domain and vice versa," Nithroel began to unravel the complexities of the situation. "Unbeknownst to you, these seals were embedded within individuals who were not even born during your previous self's time. Only you possess the power to break these seals by slaying the designated seal bearers. Each time a seal bearer dies, the barrier between our realms weakens. Once all the seals are broken, the gods will regain the ability to traverse freely between the mortal realm and the divine realm, as they did in the past."
However, Nithroel herself remained unaware of the variations within the seals, specifically those designed by the Previous Dark Lord and Elidyr in their respective timelines. This explained how Diana, in Michael's timeline, managed to break one of the seals when she killed the seal bearer, Bai Ning.
As Michael processed the weight of Nithroel's words, she continued to unravel the perilous web that entangled them all.
"The Pantheon has initiated their movements against Dagon, and now you find yourself caught in the crossfire of their war," Nithroel stated, her voice laced with concern. "What you encountered was merely a sliver of Rudra's grace, a mere one percent of his full power. Consider, then, the unimaginable might wielded by an entire pantheon of gods and the vengeful God who desire to see you crumble."
Michael and Gaya were left stunned, the mention of a vengeful god sending shivers down their spines. Unable to contain his curiosity, Michael posed the question that gnawed at him.
"Who is this vengeful god?" he inquired, his voice betraying a mix of apprehension and intrigue.
"Andohr, the God of Time and Space," Nithroel replied, her gaze piercing their souls. "My memories of him remain fragmented, but one thing remains certain: you cannot remain in this realm for much longer. The other fallen gods will soon regain their graces and seek you out. You are not yet prepared to face the wrath of the gods, and even I cannot aid you should more deities descend upon this realm."
An array of questions swirled in Michael's mind, yet one in particular burned with intensity.
"Why are you helping me?" Michael questioned, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
Nithroel's eyes softened, her gaze holding a flicker of determination.
"I cherish ruling the mortal realm, Ghost," she confessed. "But the Pantheon seeks to transform mortals into their slaves. Once they arrive in this realm, each god will demand unwavering devotion and worship from mortals. Those who dare defy them will be made examples of, and gradually, this realm will devolve into a vast slave market, devoid of free will and consumed by blind loyalty. The only thing that preventing this grim fate is the barrier between the two realms."
As Nithroel's words resonated within him, Michael recalled a haunting dream he once had, a glimpse of a world devoid of free will, where people existed as mere puppets. He couldn't help but wonder if that nightmarish vision was a consequence of the Pantheon's rule over the mortal realm.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login