Sky beneath the shadows of the Black Sun
Fifty years since the rise of Black Sun Requiem
Above the ruins of a world frozen by Joanna's will, new cracks have appeared in the fading sky. Three circles of light shimmer behind the haze of destruction, crafting an image that evokes both hope and despair. The wind whispers softly, like an unseen voice reminding all present that as this battle reaches its peak, the world will be torn apart once more. Dust and fragments of the sky seem to depict profound despair, enveloping nature in a shroud of pure, dusty power.
Zeus.
Poseidon.
Hades.
Three pillars of the highest rulers from the primordial era.
Once toppled the first Chronos.
Now rising to confront the Last Chronos.
Zeus descends with lightning that shatters the dark clouds. His voice echoes like thunder, breaking the remaining silence. His robe, gleaming white and gold, drapes over him, and in his hand is Astrapheon — the eternal spear of lightning. As lightning strikes, bright light paints the silhouettes of withered trees, briefly darkening the earth before it returns to darkness. The ground trembles, as if in sympathy with the fury of the sky.
Poseidon emerged from the swirling waters that ravaged the ruins of the city. Towering waves surged violently, erasing traces of history and hope in an instant. His trident, Thalassarchon, radiated with the power to swallow continents. The water, capable of drowning everything, became infused with a gaping, pressing aura of rage, a reminder to humanity of forces far greater than themselves.
Hades rose from the shadows, his body enveloped in a dark, bluish mist. The sounds of longing and vengeance intertwined in his movements, creating the impression that the realm of the living and the realm of spirits were intricately bound. In his hand, the staff Necrodominus served as the gatekeeper between life and death. As he advanced, the ground split apart as if recalling all the souls he had once summoned, vibrating with the profound hopes and anxieties of the earth.
"Joanna Vitae Aristeia," Zeus's voice thundered, "you have crossed boundaries that even Chronos dared not tread.
To awaken the Black Sun a second time is a challenge to the cosmic balance."
"We come not as executioners...
but as judges."
Joanna stood atop the ruins of the Veyric throne.
Her eyes shone with blue and gold hues.
On her chest, the symbol of Chronos had transformed into a personal glyph representing her identity: Vitae Aristeia, a testament to her rebirth and newfound purpose.
"I do not fear judgment.
For I do not choose destruction.
I choose punishment for a world that kills love."
Around her, the ruins trembled, as if sensing the vibrations of clashing energy. The wind howled sharply, carrying dust and stone fragments that danced in the air, creating a tense and foreboding atmosphere. The sky shook, seemingly anticipating the magnitude of the battle between god and mortal, heightening the intensity of this moment that would determine the fate of the world.
"If you have come to force me to submit...
you will receive my answer.
In the language of power."
Zeus stepped forward, each movement sparking energy that bubbled in the ground. Waves of bright light radiated from his body, making Joanna's shadow appear small and fragile. The crackle of lightning surrounded him, creating an extraordinarily thrilling atmosphere. The breath of the universe seemed to hold, waiting for a response from the unflinching figure.
"Astrapheon's Edict: Verdict of the Thundering Realm!"
(Astrapheon's Edict: Verdict of the Thunder Realm)
The lightning struck from the sky, splitting the world apart and creating pillars of light that froze time itself. The dark blue sky seemed to rip open, revealing a terrifying glimpse of the sun. A torrent of energy surged, destroying everything in its path, while the deafening roar stirred fear in the hearts of those who witnessed it. The surrounding trees trembled, leaves shattered before the lightning's strike, and the ground shook violently, signaling the magnitude of the attack.
Joanna responded:
"Flux Spiral: Fractured Resilience!"
(Flux Spiral: Fractured Resilience)
The fractured threads of time formed a spiral shield, absorbing Zeus's lightning and reflecting it back into the sky with remarkable force. In an instant, the shield shimmered with reflected light, creating a stunning visual effect that seemed to separate two realms: one governed by divine laws and the other by the indomitable will of a warrior. The rumbling echoed the determination of a superhero unwilling to yield, and around her, the howling winds enhanced the heroic aura against the insurmountable challenges ahead.
Poseidon swung Thalassarch.
Joanna responded:
"Flux Spiral: Fractured Resilience!"
(Flux Spiral: Fractured Resilience)
As tension permeated the atmosphere, the fractured threads of time formed a shimmering spiral shield, absorbing Zeus's lightning and reflecting it back into the skies. The shield reverberated with a sound reminiscent of thunderous roars, creating a resonance that rippled across the land, triggering vibrations within the earth.
The force of the attack made the grass around sway as if conjured by an unseen wind, while birds in the sky flew in panic, sensing the tension between the two powerful gods. The ground began to crack, releasing steam from the depths as if warning of the presence of ancient powers engaged in battle—forces that had altered the course of history centuries ago.
Poseidon swung Thalassarchon.
"Tidal Dominion: Abyssal Sovereignty!"
(Dominasi Pasang: Kedaulatan Abisal)
As massive waves surged, they swallowed the remaining structures, creating a thunderous cacophony as if the ocean itself was responding to the challenge. The water flowed with an unpredictable ferocity, carrying remnants of life submerged in memory, transforming the once-peaceful landscape into an arena of annihilation.
With each thunderous crash of water, shadows of lost islands flicker momentarily on the surface—images of a civilization betrayed and unforgettable, trapped within the waves that embrace both past and future. The water is not mere liquid; it is a fluid memory of times gone by, capable of erasing the recollections of those touched by it, creating a bitter pain in the hearts of the silent witnesses to this struggle.
Joanna raised her hand:
"Temporal Severance: Memory Lock!"
(Pemutusan Temporal: Kunci Ingatan)
With her hand lifted like an unyielding commander, Joanna summoned a higher magical force. The aura around her vibrated, creating a dazzling brilliance that burned the eyes, as Glyph Chronos glowed with an intensity never before seen. In that moment, time seemed to freeze, and the world around her was ensnared in a haunting silence.
The power she unleashed not only restricted the memories of Poseidon's victims but sought to weave an invisible web connecting all beings—from majestic legendary creatures soaring high to transient souls ensnared in between. The winds calmed, and all involved felt the weight of that judgment, as if the universe anxiously awaited the outcome of this eternal battle.
The Glyph of Chronos glowed, locking the memories of all Poseidon's victims to prevent them from being erased. The light radiating from the Glyph resembled starlight piercing through the darkness of night, creating a beautiful illusion amidst the chaos. Around them, the wind whispered, as if reminding the survivors of the history that was in danger of being lost. The waters parted, and Joanna stood amidst the whirlpool that failed to erase her history.
"I have lived too long with loss.
I will not lose again."
Hades appeared silently. As his figure emerged from the shadows, the very air seemed to freeze, making it feel as though the entire world held its breath, awaiting the decree of this notoriously cruel god of the dead.
"Necrodominus: Grave Spiral of Inevitable Silence!"
(Spiral of the Grave, Inevitably Silent)
As the spiral moved, the faint screams of trapped souls echoed, creating a haunting emotional pressure in the air that reminded them of their eternal struggle for relief from suffering.
Joanna closed her eyes.
"I died the moment my Sister was consumed by the Eternal Flame."
"You cannot kill someone who has willingly embraced death."
He opened his eyes:
"Chrono Spiral Ultima: Fracture of the Undying Will!"
(Spiral Chrono Ultima: Fracture of the Eternal Will)
The explosion of temporal power shattered Hades' spiral, forcing the god of death to take a few steps back. The vibrations from the clash caused the ground to tremble, rocks to plummet, and the dark sky seemed to crack open, revealing a kaleidoscope of dust and light as the universe listened, suspended in anticipation.
Zeus:
"Astrapheon Ultima: Judgment Beyond Continuity!"
(Judgment Beyond Continuity: A decree that not only pertains to the present but shapes the future of the cosmos.)
Poseidon:
"Thalassarchon Ultima: Tide of Eternal Collapse!"
(Tide of Eternal Collapse)
Hades:
"Necrodominus Ultima: Eclipse of Final Repose!"
(Eclipse of Final Rest)
Three cosmic attacks were unleashed simultaneously.
The sky shattered.
The earth crumbled.
The Black Sun began to vibrate with power it could not even control.
All around her, the wind whipped wildly, carrying shards of dust and remnants from a shattered world. The ground shook, as if sensing the suffering of the battle unfolding, its rumble following the rhythm of unimaginable power. An air of uncertainty enveloped the atmosphere, as magical fields coiled and created flashes of light that illuminated the night sky.
Joanna raised both her hands to the heavens.
"If you come as the will of the ancient gods,
I respond as the will of a human who has lost love and refuses to submit."
Genesis Umbra Solis: Black Sun Resonance — Requiem Ascendant!
(Resonance of the Black Sun: Requiem Rising)
The Black Sun shone brightly.
Three divine attacks collided with Joanna's will.
Suddenly, from the point of impact, a wave of energy burst forth, obliterating everything in its vicinity. Massive stones were lifted and tossed, creating thunder that echoed throughout the land. Natural structures cracked open, and towering trees wilted as if drained by the anxiety provoked by the clashing forces.
The explosion exceeded sound.
Light and darkness filled the entire horizon.
Waves of magic shattered mountains in the distance.
From the thunderous ruins, the screams and roars from the depths of the earth filled the air, a sound that seemed to tell a tale of fear about destruction and longing for the past. Above, the sky began to metamorphose into a sea of enticing and striking colors, bearing silent witness to the cosmic powers being contended, creating a dramatic and mesmerizing sight.
The ruins of the world are swept away by the storm of will.
As the magic fog settles,
three gods stood scattered, their garments and bodies marred—
something that hasn't happened since the Titanomachy thousands of years ago.
As the dust gradually settles, the shadows of the three gods appear to fade, reflecting an unparalleled pain and despair. With each passing second, the atmosphere becomes increasingly heavy with an aura, as if ancient beings trapped within the swirling sky awaited the outcome of this battle.
Joanna floated in the air, gathering an inner strength and courage to face whatever lay ahead, a beacon of resilience amidst chaos.
Her hair flowed like a crown of night.
Behind her, the Black Sun spun slowly.
"I do not yield.
I do not seek forgiveness.
I choose to be my own judge."
The battle is not over.
But the world has changed.
The Last Chronos, a formidable force beyond reckoning, has finally surpassed the old Chronos, transforming the very fabric of reality.
With a palpable tension hanging in the air, Joanna felt every pulse of time and will moving around her. She understood that her decision would shape not only her own fate but that of the entire realm. Voices echoed from every direction, as if urging her to step forward, ready to confront whatever lay ahead.