The shattered heavens of Valeora, beneath the shadows of the Black Sun
Zeus and Hades continued their struggle to break the Spiral Curse of Anake.
Their decision to attack Joanna was now limited; their movements slowed, and their voices became distorted echoes of time's relentless march.
But Poseidon stood firm.
His eyes, the color of the ocean, remained unwavering.
"You have crippled our choices," his voice resounded like waves crashing against the cliffs.
"But I... I do not possess will alone.
I am the voice of the ocean.
And the sea never bows to fate."
"If my will is constrained...
let the beings born before the laws of time itself be my answer."
Poseidon struck the ground with his trident, Thalassarchon.
The ruins of Valeora crumbled, and from the depths of a world unknown to modern humans, an ancient echo replied.
"Thalassarchon Edict: Summon of the Abyssal Court!"
(Thalassarchon Decree: Calling of the Abyssal Assembly)
Black water emerged from the fissures in the earth.
This was no ordinary water.
It was the Ancient Memory Liquid — Essence of Pelaga, the essence of the primordial ocean that remembers all the lost ages.
From that whirlpool, the creatures rose.
As dark clouds gathered overhead, enveloping the sky and casting a dim light over the tension-filled atmosphere, each vibration from the black water triggered shockwaves that resonated with the beats of Poseidon's heart. Amid this horrifying cacophony, he felt an unsettling synchronization with the spirit of the newly emerging creature.
It was Kraken Ultima (Aegiroth the Boundless Maw) that rose to the surface with arrogance. Its body towered majestically, resembling thousands of floating islands in the darkness, its tentacles stretching and undulating, creating waves that rolled with the power of an illusion of destruction. Every glowing ancient glyph on its body hinted at the dark tales of lost time, ready to be rewritten upon the pages of history.
Suddenly, the tentacles spread wide, like whispers of impending disaster. As they touched the wind, they unleashed a deafening explosion of energy, shattering the silence of the tense battle. The tension escalated as this primordial creature began to move, challenging the void's order to alter the fate woven with a single thread.
Kraken Ultima (Aegiroth the Boundless Maw)
With a body like an island, adorned with tentacles radiating ancient glyphs.
Capable of wrapping reality and defying the laws of gravity.
Once put to sleep by Poseidon himself to maintain the balance of the world.
Leviathan Aeon (Thal'zherith, Spiral of the Deep)
A sea serpent as long as mountains, its coils resembling the endless currents of the ocean. Each movement shakes the sea, creating whirlpools on the surface, conjuring waves that crash, as if the ocean itself is trying to escape its will. Victims trapped in the storm it creates struggle against it, powerless like dry leaves in the autumn wind.
Its scales shimmered dark blue with primordial glyphs that could not be deciphered, even by Stones or Arkanum. Each glint created an illusion, captivating yet simultaneously terrifying, heightening the tension in the atmosphere. The reaction of the attackers witnessing it was as if they were looking upon a forgotten deity, transforming their confidence into paralyzing anxiety. In an instant, they understood that this was more than just a fight; it was a battle between the living and that which could not die.
By mastering the currents of time beneath the ocean, it countered various attacks launched by other creatures, as if every movement had been meticulously calculated. As its opponents attempted to strike with lethal blows, it responded with an unbroken calm, as if time had halted just for it. The presence of Leviathan Aeon made the enemies feel ensnared in a void, trapped within the reality it created.
Its shape resembled that of a giant stingray with wings spanning the width of the land. Each time it glided, a dark shadow enveloped everything around it. In the minds of the warriors, whispers spread doubt, as if Bathym'Kael cursed their courage. The soft yet penetrating voice awakened an unbearable fear, shattering their desire to fight.
They fought not only against a creature but also against their own thoughts and emotions, making every attack feel like a desperate struggle against a predestined timeline.
Once a respected member of Poseidon's guard during the Titanomachy, Bathym'Kael is now the arbiter of fate. An internal battle rages within him, caught between the haunting memories of the past and the inescapable reality of the present. As the creatures engage in this primal struggle, each assault resurrects forgotten memories and rekindles myths long lost, etching history into the very waves of time.
Joanna stands, her hair flowing, her eyes shining.
Behind her, Black Sun continues to spin, unwavering. The deep rumble splits the night's silence, as if nature itself holds its breath in anticipation of the epic confrontation. Every second feels tense, as though the heart of the world beats louder.
"You call upon them, Poseidon.
Creatures born before the laws of time.
But I have defied the laws older than they." In her voice, there is a certainty that radiates courage. Around her, the air trembles, hinting at the great consequences of her words.
I fear no ancient power.
I have lost what is irreplaceable.
What else could intimidate me?" With each word, Joanna's spirit grows stronger, igniting the dormant fire of struggle within her soul. Her bravery flows like an uncontainable torrent, challenging the darkness lurking behind every shadow.
Kraken Ultima:
"I know neither king nor god.
I only know who must be swallowed." Its voice thundered, echoing through the dark waters that surrounded them, a sound that seemed to erase all doubt and replace it with inescapable fear. Its tentacles thrashed, casting ominous shadows on the horizon, poised to crush anyone daring enough to stand against it.
The tentacles created a colossal whirlpool that split earth and sky, each movement generating ripples that spread like towering waves, obliterating everything in their path. Glyph Gravitas Breaker emerged with each strike, signaling a primordial power awakened from darkness. A flood of energy pushed everything in its vicinity like a rapidly moving storm, shaking the souls of those who dared to confront it.
Joanna:
"Flux Spiral — Rejection of the Devouring Maw!" Her cry resonated with the crackle of awakening, as she channeled all her energy to confront the ancient threat. It was as if a light ignited within her heart, embodying an extraordinary determination as she plunged into battle, facing a creature larger than anything ever imagined.
Time twisted around the gravity of the Kraken, forcing its tentacles to crash against the barren ground. The air vibrated around the battlefield, as if each passing minute was ensnared in a dramatic moment. In the distance, the heavy thud of the tentacles shattered the silence, signaling the resurgence of elemental power ready to obliterate everything in its path.
Leviathan Aeon surged at speeds surpassing light. In an instant, the colossal being radiated a deceptive aura of tranquility, as if the entire ocean had frozen in awe. The waves it generated sparkled in a pale light, creating an invisible rainbow amidst the flowing magical currents.
"I am the underwater current unbound by your Spiral." The voice of Leviathan whispered like the waves sweeping the shore, each word carried by the wind with unwavering authority. "I cannot be bound by your Spiral." As Joanna's assault surged forth, an unsettling silence was shattered by the clash of metal.
"Temporal Severance: Spiral Deflection!" Joanna broke the tidal wave of time that Leviathan conjured. Her body felt as though it was caught between two worlds; one where she fought, and another, where hope seemed dim. She trembled as she sensed the impact of the attack, light and darkness combining in a struggle to determine her fate.
But the power emanating from the primordial being was not entirely subject to Joanna's laws. The wave of energy that surged from Bathym'Kael relaxed her muscles, filling her with a disheartening sense of helplessness. Like an unavoidable tidal flow, each passing second felt heavier, forcing her to confront the bitter reality that even courage has its limits.
The current began to cut through her defenses. It was as if the world had slipped free from the bonds of time, the ripples flowing into Joanna's reality with such force that her heart raced irregularly. With every passing moment, her defenses trembled, like a net woven from hope starting to unravel. A burning hope within her struggled to avoid sinking into the suffocating darkness.
Bathym'Kael spread his wings. As if symbolizing a power rivaling the sun, his majestic wings expanded wide, casting a great shadow over the battlefield. "Hear my whisper, Heir of Chronos.
Release your will.
Rest in the void." His voice resonated, sketching a path to nirvana where time flowed more gently, and this battle was merely a fantasy.
Whisper of Null Will swept over Joanna, enveloping her in a wave of sound that dissected her mental and spiritual defenses. The remaining survivors, teetering on the brink of destruction, immediately fell unconscious; their wills erased by Bathym'Kael's voice, as if they had been woven into something far greater—sacrifice after sacrifice for grandeur.
Joanna knelt.
Her head bowed.
The roar of Bathym swept through her mind. Each sound reverberated deeply within her empathy, erasing traces of the bravery that lingered. Joanna's body felt as if it were sinking into formless darkness, absorbing everything she controlled, until she became a mere shadow of herself.
"Stop fighting.
She struggled to hold back tears that eroded her faded hope, yet Jeanne's voice echoed in her mind like a ray of light piercing through the darkness.
In her thoughts, Jeanne's voice resonated:
"I choose to love you, Jo.
Those words burned into her heart, creating a stark contrast amidst the chaos, reminding Joanna of the true essence of love even in the presence of these horrific beings.
"If the world wants to extinguish your choices, then choose to live." These words penetrated her soul, igniting a spirit of courage that persisted within her, blazing like an unstoppable current. As Joanna opened her eyes, light suddenly returned to the once bleak world.
These words blossomed within her soul, reigniting the flicker of courage that endured amid the most vibrant trees of hope. As Joanna opened her eyes, it felt like light was instantly restored to the previously desolate world.
I have lost everything.
I will not lose my will!" Her voice pierced the sky, awakening the swirling winds and crashing waves, giving birth to eruptions that cleaved through the sea. Strength was no longer merely physical but a reflection of a soul that would never extinguish.
Flux Spiral: Rebirth of the Defiant Will!
(Spiral Flux: The Rebirth of the Defiant Will)
The wave of magic exploded, shattering the whispers of Bathym'Kael.
The wings of the leviathan were torn apart by a blue-golden light.
"I will not kneel.
I will not rest.
I will CHOOSE."
Joanna raised her hands, her fingers emanating a brilliant light like a newly born star. Her heartbeat pulsed in harmony with the powerful vibrations of energy flowing around her, igniting a spirit that thrilled her entire being. In an instant, the atmosphere fell silent, as if everything around them awaited the next reaction, a call to a higher destiny.
Genesis Umbra Solis: Black Sun's Retaliation Pulse!
(Pulse of the Black Sun's Retaliation)
The Black Sun pulsed.
The wave of energy exploded.
The Kraken was hurled, the Leviathan Aeon swept away, Bathym'Kael collapsed into the sea of time.
Poseidon stood, his eyes widening as he gazed at the trembling sky, dark with a tempestuous aura. Each droplet of water flung by the force of the attack danced like shards of light, creating a cacophony that resembled the screams of ancient victims. This was not just a battle; it was a symphony of destruction and rebirth, where every primordial creature felt the cracking of bones and the splitting of the universe around them.
"They are beings who have never known defeat, even in the era of Titanomachy..."
"But now...
even their will cannot stem the hatred and love entwined within a single human soul."
Joanna floated in the air, her body aglow.
Glyph Anake and Spiral Flux intertwined around her.
"I do not wish to be Chronos.
I do not wish to be a God.
I only want the world to stop killing love.
Within her, an arrhythmic heartbeat echoed across the cosmos, signaling an inner turmoil against primordial forces. Each breath she took became a prayer whispered in the gentle murmur of the wind aimed at soothing the rage, even in the heart of deadly combat.
In the distance, flashes of light pierced the sky, reflecting Poseidon's anger as he commanded the waters to rise, forming colossal waves poised to strike. The sound crackled like an earthquake, followed by the impending crash of waves against the ancient creatures, forcing them to retreat in astonishment and fear, as if the world trapped within was being reborn.
Poseidon prepared for the final stage of the battle, his muscles taut with tension. The clenched line of his jaw revealed an insatiable ambition, while Zeus gripped his lightning bolt, a blinding light radiating from his hand that served as a reminder of the impending storm. Hades, despite the weight of his wounds, struggled not just for survival but to summon a semblance of peace from the depths of darkness.
The battle was far from over.
This was just the beginning of the war between the old will and the new.