Chapter 371 - The Mystery of Marrowy Village [3]

"Our pleasure," a flash of lightning illuminated the darkened waterfall. The Demon who had come with an army used its staff to conjure demi-god level spells. Each hit with the power to destroy a town. As to prevent the area from being a wreck, Staxius took to the back-lines and controlled the mana around the fiend. The limit was carefully instated and manipulated thus lowering the damage. 

Daemonum Gladio with a sword in hand leaped from one river-bank to the other all the while slicing heads. The Demon growled and spouted fire out its muzzle. The stare capable of freezing those unfamiliar with the world of magic. The noncombatants fled into the fishing cabin with a broken window from earlier.

"Hurry it up," said Staxius with both hands stretched forward; a spherical barrier enveloped the combat area.

"Come on," turned Intherna with a disappointed tone, "-let me have some fun," she pouted as fire-pulsed from the forehead down. 

"I'm afraid I'll be the one to kill it," returned Gophy with a discrete show of power. Her strength was well beyond her control, a line she said many months ago. The power of destruction and chaos in hand, a heavy o' burden to bear.

Amidst the darkened night-spy flared a fire-spell shaped like a phoenix, it stretched its wings to then dive straight at the demon. *Crash,* on impact as if arms, the spell wrapped itself around the back. Symbols soon inscribed themselves onto the body – a few seconds later, a never-ending inferno of pink-flames burst. 

*GRRARRR,* a deafened echo from intense pain had the ground shaken. The fiend dropped its staff and summoned forth a gigantic sword, one as tall as houses. The hand-raised c.u.mbersomely for the ever-burning fire slowed movement. Still, despite the trouble, it pressed forth with a rivaling intensity. *ROARR,* pointing the tip of the sword at Staxius, many o' golems materialized from nothingness. Containing the fight grew hard.

'What are they doing,' he thought with gritted teeth, '-guess there's no helping it.' 

*Death Element: Unleash Aura,* a wave of energy crashed against those who fought. The instant feeling of nausea, Intherna cast a gaze of worry, what she saw was death. The golems and even the Demon itself all but stopped. Intherna and Gophy weren't fighting, to them, the beasts were naught but kids. If they were to take it seriously, none could say what would happen. 

The triangle on the right hand glowed, and glowed did it with the veins around expanding. A dark-mist throbbed from out the symbol. The white-crimson hair levitated mildly. 

"Intherna, Gophy," he called uninterested by the Demon who soon took to eating the golem's and gaining power. It managed to break the Phoenix-spell.

"Yes Master?" they returned with respect, "-how may we serve?" a sudden change of attitude.

"How deem thee the fiend?"

"We deem it worthy, master," no smart remarks, nothing, utter silence and order as they spoke in tandem.

"Then," the head lifted with a smile, "-go all out and summon thy godly power, I shall take responsibility and hold thy power!" In normal circ.u.mstances, one would have asked further confirmation, however, the way the words rolled off the tongue, the seriousness was palpable. 

'I haven't used my power for a long time, containing Gophy, Intherna, and the demon should be more than adequate exercise.' Hands pressed together, 

*Deep slumber, deep rest, awaken for the chance at retribution. Gate of which stands before mine way, open for thy master has come: Nevermore – Hell's Gate.* The faint sound of a rusty-gate opening was heard.

*Span across the ages, fear is what held peace, fear is what caused War, fear is the root of evil. I, the harbinger of the ultimate fear, have come to spread and reclaim what is mine of right: Nevermore – Terror Gate.* The barrier holding everything together reinforced each time the power was increased.

*Unbound by the laws of Heaven to Hell; unshackle mine power: Nevermore – Annihilation Gate.* Third level up the limiter, the tremendous influx had him coil from the feedback. Nonetheless, the first boon of divinity, the body of a god, held strong. 

*Gateway to the afterlife, gateway to life, gateway of those who live, open, for I order so: Nevermore – Eleo Gate,* No physical change, the symbols of power on the cheeks were yet to react. 

"Master is serious about us going all out," said Intherna whilst rubbing hands excitedly. 

"The God of Death is readied to show us his power. I do wonder if going all out on that weakling is going to do us justice?" wondered a skeptical mind. 

"You think so?" asked Interna facing the Demon as it devoured all around. 

'The final gate,' he thought and breathed, *Pinnacle of power and strength, the last stage of a men's life, the stage where all is turned to dust and forgotten. Elapsed over the ages, come forth o' power of mine who has remained bound, unleash thee at thine full potential: Nevermore – Death Gate.* The body dropped to reawaken, he died for a mere second, the barrier carved the ground and turn what came in contact to dust. 

*I, Staxius Haggard, call upon thy strength. Stop all who dare oppose mine own will, Death Element: Magical Barrier, Death Reaper Variant, Hell's Gate,* hemisphere to rectangular with pillars of skulls, he evolved the spell. The triangle on the hand soon stretched outwards as claws to climb up the arm, the ancient writings activated, the eyes stood strong with one side white and the other deep-crimson. 

Each passing second and trees would sway. The leaves went back and forth, the weather seemed to change; a low-growl came from up above. Before them stood a massive barrier dowsed in a dense aura of terror.

"Guess it's our turn," smiled Gophy with a twirl, *Unshackle mine strength limiter placed by he who controls my being, I, Gophy, Goddess of Chaos, order thy obedience,* her symbol of power lit vividly on her thigh. Her appearance changed to one of a girl wearing a short black dress, laced leggings, and knee-high boots. Skulls were most prominent, *snap,* part of the demon's right arm exploded. It could but growl defensively, a desperate attempt to conjure more golems. 

*Heed mine call, o' power kept away from mine reach, I, Intherna, Daughter of Rah, Goddess of Fire, demand so,* her wings grew stronger, the face shifted to have the features of the Phoenix and her human form, '-time to have fun.' An onslaught of devastation had the barrier crack on the first impact. The Demon was more reliant than given credit for, it hid its strength. Opposed to Mid-tier, it was high-tier, the same as a god. The Imperial family was right to fear such a monstrosity. Each spell Gophy conjured, the air became a vacuum. Each strike Intherna made had the river below turn to steam, her heat caused it to boil.

'They're powerful,' gritted Staxius, '-containing the power of two high-tier goddesses and a demon isn't easy,' the fingertips blasted open from their fight.

"Call upon me," flashed a whisper, "-I shall endeavor to help thy, o' my dearest child, call on mine name." 

*O' goddess forgotten by the ages, o' goddess who spread victory and peace over the souls of true warriors. I, humble vessel for thy Symbol, plea to have a sliver of thy strength,* Nike's wings latched on the forehead giving a boost in power, the dark-barrier soon had a golden hue. Yet, with them going all-out, the barrier kept on having cracks. 

"You do realize if this breaks, there's the possibility of the continent going extinct with us," teleported a fatigued Courtney, "-what are you going to do, my other-self. You overestimated Nevermore and underestimated the goddess who is in thy entourage. What will you do now I wonder. Asking them to stop will be an insult," she faced the fight, "-look at them, the Demon is holding its own against the goddesses. I shudder to think what would happen if he isn't killed and the barrier breaks." 

"Can't you be a little more supportive?" 

"You do have strength to be able to make such idle jokes. Come on, brother, if thou art not going to surpass the obstacle than I wish not to think of what will happen next."

"Please," the eyes shut, a moment of complete silence, a droplet of water falling onto a peaceful lake, the ripples turned to waves. 

"What is it you seek?" said a mysterious voice stood before two sets of stairs, "-is it the knowledge or l.u.s.t, what does thee choose?" The final boon of divinity, Mortus deemed he worthy after five long years.

"Actions speak louder than words," the conscience stood before the stairway to the underground. A single step taken had the mind ache viciously. He jumped into the real world with a feeling of drunkenness, the barrier around reinforced to the point of unbreaking. Every fiber of the body screamed – not in a bad way, or rather, it felt addictive. A shackle removed, the power flowing gave ecstasy, the copious amount that had the face relaxed into a genuine smile. 'What pleasure,' he thought not realizing what happened outside. Absolute terror stapled across the faces present. Over yonder using a combination move, the Goddesses killed the high-tiered demon and its lackeys. They landed with wings retracting, "-master!" the sudden sight had them shudder, "-are you ok?" asked Intherna worriedly. 

"I'm fine," he replied with half of the face turned skeleton, the empty eye socket held a vivid white-flame. 

"Don't scare them," elbowed Courtney. 

"Whatever," he sighed not knowing what happened, "-the half-skeletal face regenerated with Mortus returned to where it was. *Shackle mine strength: Nevermore – Full Restraint.*

"How was it?" he asked

"It was fun," laughed Intherna, "-going all-out is another kind of trance." 

"I agree," nodded Gophy returned to normal, "-I'm tired now," she yawned.

"Guess that's true," and back they went from whence they came, his shadow. 

Moonlight settled onto the untouched battlefield. The waterfall flowed, the river danced, the trees swayed, no trace of anything. 

"Mortus, huh," 

"Yes, Mortus, ace up my sleeve. I wanted to use it for so long but was never able too, well, until today that is."

"Are you serious," she facepalmed, "-gambling on whether the Death-element would detect the threat and allow passage – how reckless."

"Let's not think of the what-ifs." The duo walked to the cabin where hid the Emperor and his uncle. 

"Are you ok?" he asked entering with the wooden-floor creaking. 

"GET AWAY," screamed Arle in fear, she had wrapped herself around Solomon. 

"Seriously," he paused to stare Sultria, "-come on," giving a hand, "-stand-up, are we not going to leave early tomorrow?"

"What of the whole assassination attempt," he interjected a good point, "-what's the guarantee that Uncle Solomon isn't going to harm my life." 

"Well," said in a deep voice, "-I doubt him coming after you or anyone related to me. What was shown today was but a trailer – Solomon, consider this mercy as I'm to honor the wishes of the late-emperor. Don't mistake this for weakness for I'll not bat an eye to kill thy heritage." 

"Father-in-law," he called a few meters away.

"What is it?" 

"Who are you exactly?"

"No one particular, just the king of Arda," the walk felt rejuvenating. The heavy burden of not knowing how Sultria III died was lifted. The young Emperor could see the world for what it was. In a moment of peril, an unexpected ally came to rescue, his father-in-law. The prior cold treatment was but a façade as the king cared for what the princess chose. Back to the cottage, the same people, the same feeling, and the same atmosphere. Nothing changed, nothing, none knew what happened or will ever know what happened. The secret of Marrowy, a secret that ended on the defeat of the Demon. A trigger for more to come, mysteries, fights, and conquest. The arrival in Alphia marked a new quest, one that he would soon figure out per rumors and the chatter of the palace.