The fallen Valeora Sky has transformed into a landscape of shattered time.
Above them, the Black Sun spins slowly, marking the Era of Fracture.
Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades stood in a circle of devastation.
Hovering above them was Joanna.
Her eyes shone with a blue-golden light, a symbol of Vitae Aristeia glowing like a crown, illuminating the bewildered expressions of the three gods. Among them, Zeus's expression reflected confusion and uncertainty, while Poseidon stared intently, as if poised to conjure the coming storm. Hades, with a sly smile, sensed a startling new power before them.
"You have come to judge.
But you do not understand.
I do not inherit the will of Chronos.
"Joanna's voice thundered, resonating in the emptiness, striking the heart of each god and igniting a wave of tension. Each word burst forth like lightning, tearing through the calm and amplifying the charged atmosphere, generating a mental wave that challenged the boundaries of the gods' powers and thrust them into an unending mental struggle that felt as ancient as the cosmos itself.
"Today, I am not just fighting to defend myself.
"I am fighting to break the chains you guard." His expression revealed an unexpected determination, as if something stirred within his soul, inviting respect even among the rulers. As he uttered these words, the light from his symbol peaked dramatically, signaling a power never seen before. The energy swirled around him, forming a radiant aura, evoking a powerful emotional impact in the upcoming battle, as if preparing to challenge the very fabric of fate.
Zeus:
"You have shattered the laws of time that even the Titans dare not disturb."
Thunderous sounds echoed as Zeus spoke those words, his energy radiating in waves that shook the ground beneath him, like the voice of nature responding to the challenge. The eyes of the god of thunder burned with a fierce fusion of fury and respect for the power he faced, as if he instinctively comprehended the magnitude of the threat looming before him.
Poseidon:
"Your wave is not just a change.
You bear a will that can drown existence."
With a tone full of grandeur, Poseidon recognized that this battle was not merely about water and land but about sovereignty and the very essence of existence. He felt the current of energy flowing within him, ready to summon the oceans to combat an unprecedented threat, awakening all living beings to the latent power hidden within the depths of the seas.
Hades:
"You have created a chasm between life and death.
Even I cannot call back the souls extinguished by your Black Sun."
Darkness enveloped Hades as he spoke those words, his voice a whisper from the depths of the underworld. With each phrase, the weight of curses and despair intensified the oppressive atmosphere around them, reminding them of the dire consequences of their own actions and the burdens of their divine legacy.
"This is not a power that humanity should possess."
The resonance of those words echoed ominously between them, as if the world around them momentarily paused to absorb the profound meaning of the statement. In the silence, they all understood that the line between human power and divine authority was increasingly blurring, challenging the very foundations of their existence.
Joanna raised her hand, a crackling blue light flickering.
"Not a power I chose.
But a burden the world forces me to bear."
The room was filled with a terrifying aura as the blue light illuminated her face, revealing a determination that transcended fear, radiating strength and defiance. It was as if the very sky responded to her energy, dark clouds gathering ominously as if preparing for a monumental storm that would shake the world.
Joanna spun her hand.
Glyph Primordial materialized.
Older than Chronos.
Older than the gods.
The glyph vibrated with primordial energy, evoking a sense of awe, as if connecting their world with a power older and more profound than anything that had existed throughout the ages. In the presence of the glyph, the wind whispered with the force of long-forgotten rulers, confirming her role as an invincible figure destined to challenge the gods in this fateful battle.
Anake.
The will of fate binding Titans, gods, and humans. A booming voice filled the room, as if the world was reminding them of the power dormant within the glyph. The gods felt an unseen pressure, like a dark shadow casting a pall over their souls.
"I have uncovered what you have hidden beneath the Temple of Mount.
The secret of Anake.
The curse of choices that cannot be avoided."
"I will wield that curse not to bind myself.
But to bind you!"
Anake's Curse Spiral: Determinant Collapse! The incantation echoed within the vast emptiness, steeping the arena in an air of dread as its significance weighed heavily upon them.
(Anake's Curse Spiral: The Inevitable Collapse of Determinants)
The glyph circle expanded, creating a web of time that enveloped the entire arena, like an invisible spider's web. The unseen silk web assaulted their senses, constraining the freedom of every movement. The spirits of the gods, usually unshakeable, began to tremble in uncertainty, like waves relentlessly crashing against rocky shores.
The three gods suddenly felt their wills start to be restricted.
Their choices to attack, defend, or even speak...
were increasingly frozen.
Zeus: "I am the will of lightning that does not bow, a force forged in the heart of storms."
"I am the will of lightning that does not bow."
"Astrapheon Rebirth: Infinity Surge!"
Lightning erupted in a brilliant flash, attempting to break free from the curse's web of Anake. The flames of truth waged a fierce battle against darkness, creating a light that seemed determined to tear through the very fabric of the sky. Despite its overwhelming power, Zeus felt the insidious chill of uncertainty creeping into every strike, haunting him like a specter.
Poseidon:
"My waves cannot be bound."
"Thalassarchon Requiem: Tide of Boundless Renewal!"
The river of time spun, striving to erase Anake's glyph. Like an ocean facing a storm, Poseidon found his energy ensnared in unseen bonds, turmoil filling his heart. Waves of power flooded the arena, but invisible rocks obstructed his push.
Hades:
Hades: "I traverse the boundary of life and death without fate, wielding the shadows of the departed."
"Necrodominus Transcendence: Spiral of Infinite Passage!"
The spiral of death and rebirth seeks to disrupt Joanna's timeline with a vengeance. Hades senses a powerful wave of emotions battling within him, caught between resurrection and emptiness, as his strength struggles against the unyielding shackles of the curse. Every anguished cry of his soul echoes across dimensions, resisting the path of destiny laid out by Anake.
However... all three of them feel their movements slow.
The curse of Anake begins to take effect:
the more they resist, the more they lose their free will.
Panic envelops them as they realize the relentless grip of the creeping curse, an insidious force undermining their very identity. Each passing second feels like an increasingly heavy burden, underscoring the urgency of their dire situation and how rapidly their choices are fading from existence.
"You three believe that free will is the privilege of gods and heroes."
"But your world kills those who choose love over power."
Joanna's words resonated sharply, cutting through the silence that threatened to engulf their existence. The cold, inescapable truth enveloped the three gods, leaving them stunned in their powerlessness.
"I bring the truth:
If this world does not allow love to be a choice,
then this world does not deserve to choose anymore, without love to define its essence."
Her words became like a mantra, seemingly carving a new conviction in the heart of this battle. Deep within them, fear was palpable, as doubts began to surface regarding the powers they had always possessed.
Joanna's voice echoed like an undeniable echo of time, creating an inevitable resonance. With each inflection, the power in her voice crashed against the walls of reality like waves, shaking the souls of each god and compelling them to listen intently to every word.
They felt themselves being drawn into a whirlpool of words that could not be ignored.
Zeus: his hand gripping Astrapheon began to freeze in golden light.
As the radiance faded, his face contorted in worry, sensing a power that far exceeded his own. He realized that at this moment, he was no longer a ruler, but merely a piece in a much larger game.
Poseidon: his trident started to lose resonance, the waves came to a standstill.
With each beat of his heart, the grandeur of the ocean, which had always been loyal to him, began to vanish. Poseidon felt as if the sea were mocking him, demanding back a power he could no longer control.
Hades: his mist of death hardened into the stone of time.
As if sensing the uncertainty, the fog brought not only death but also memories of loss. Hades realized that every step he took towards darkness now held the weight of everything.
"It can't be..." whispered Zeus, his voice trembling, unraveling the last threads of his confidence.
"Anake binds the primordial will... only Chronos has ever—"
Despair began to seep into Zeus's voice, splitting it between hope and resignation. He gasped, trying to find a glimmer of resurgence amid the shadows of impending defeat.
"Chronos became his slave," Joanna interrupted, her voice firm and resolute.
"I became his master."
Her conviction burned like an unquenchable fire, igniting hope amid the darkness. Each word she spoke was a shadow of a power that began to wane, as the curse continued.
"You forced my brother to choose sacrifice.
I compel you to confront the consequences of your choices."
Joanna's voice stirred the anger that lay hidden in the hearts of the three gods. They were forced to face the repercussions of the power and injustice they had created in this world.
The Black Sun trembled.
A blue-golden light radiated from the circle of Anake's Spiral.
The three gods began to be ensnared.
Their choices faded away.
Joanna's victory appeared inevitable.
The light enveloped them briefly, marking the end of their reign and the dawn of a new era. With heavy hearts, they realized that this battle was not merely about strength, but also about love and sacrifice that ultimately led them into the embrace of fate, irrevocably changing their destinies.
But far within the shattered moments of time, as despair began to envelop them...
a voice began to resonate.
A voice that did not bow to the Continuum.
Neither to Flux.
Not the will of the ancients.
The voice echoed like the tolling of a bell, awakening an unexpected vibration within the souls of the gods, making their blood thrum as if processed in sacred light.
The tension thickened the air, pressing down on them as ancient forces awakened from their slumber, flowing through the arena in an unpredictable current and shaking their very existence, as if all the powers of the universe had united to witness this pivotal moment.
As the clash between old and new powers reached its peak, panic and hope intertwined, creating a palette of emotions that was both terrifying and grand.