“Kai, are you a god now?” Viridya asked gently as she walked up and hugged him.
“I don’t know what you would call this, to be honest. I don’t think that I am as strong as Lady Mortia and the other Primordials just yet. I would need some time to adjust to this new state. As I see it, I only need time now. Time for my power to grow,” Kai spoke, still confused himself.
“But look at you! You are back in your divine form!” He smiled as he spun her around, her verdant dress flowing around her as she laughed.
“Whatever you did, you crazy boy, remade us alongside you. We are no longer divine beings, but not spirits either. We don’t have sparks or inner realms, yet our powers within our elements have grown to levels beyond even our wildest dreams,” Kun spoke up, his enormous coiling form shimmering with earthen mana.
“Lady Mortia, would you have any idea what happened to them?” Kai asked.
“Haha, silly child. You are the God of Souls; you should know better than I. But from what I can conclude, they are all at the Primordial Spirit level, though they have regained reforged bodies and lost the weakness of having a core. As long as there is mana, they can recover and fight. You make this old one quite jealous,” Mortia smiled.
“Scry, how are you? Are you back to your old self?” Kai asked worriedly.
“I am good, Kai. Better than ever. I finally have a target. That damn snake, my second-in-command, the Cobra Sert. She betrayed me in the final battle and escaped to the Enemy’s side. I remember it all, Kai. But don’t worry, my mind and soul are stronger than ever thanks to your crazy tricks. There is no longer an old or new Scry, just the same old Scry that you know and love.” He winked.
“Hah! Love is a strong word, you fleabag!” Umbra chuckled.
“I am stronger now, you birdbrain. Just test me!” Scry shouted.
“Stronger for now. I will catch up soon. I can smell it!” Umbra growled.
“Again with you and smelling shit...” Scry giggled, easing Kai’s heart.
“Silver, Gaeruda. You two changed as well. How are you?” Kai asked.
“Tired, and being back in this form brings some bad memories. But I am well.” Silver nodded and asked, “My home is gone?” He tried to scan Kai for his old tattoo.
“Haha, it’s gone. But I can make something better for you.” Kai smiled and focused inwardly.
He appeared floating above his solar system, where the Thunder Tree had spread even farther beyond it.
He poured life mana into one of its branches, making it split into a fresh new limb, to which he linked a small sun created with his other hand before pouring Space Laws into it.
The sun shimmered and merged into the branch, which sprouted a burning flower from which a crimson portal emerged.
Kai engraved the connection into Silver and returned.
“You can use this. It contains the pure Laws of Fire and the thunder from the tree. It should feel like home.” Kai smiled.
Silver closed his eyes, focused on the new home, and smiled. “Smells like you, Master. I quite like it.” He nodded and disappeared in a flash of thunderfire.
“Excuse him; he likes to be alone,” Kai chuckled and turned toward Gaeruda. “How are you, old man?”
“Hah, old man, he says. I learned that you are much older than me.” Gaeruda smiled, wiping away tears.
“Glad to have you back. And thank you for another undeserved power boost.” Gaeruda bowed.
“Cut it out.” Kai frowned. “We went through this already!”
“Right, Viridya?”Kai smiled as she still clung to him, fearful of losing him again.
Then he noticed him, a god as pale as the moon, armor as bright as moonlight.
“Is that Seleneth?!” he gasped.
Viridya finally came to herself and nodded. “Brother, come. I have someone to introduce.” She smiled.
Seleneth walked over, emotionless.
“So, you are the brat who stole my sister away,” he said.
“Brother! Stop with the nonsense. He brought me back to life. He carried my legacy. He carried your legacy as well!” she shouted.
“Mine?” He frowned.
Kai sighed and created an image of the Dawnbreaker walking through a battlefield. Alone and unstoppable.
“This is my mentor, Vaelthar Dawnbreaker, the Extinguisher of Suns. From his remains, I learned about the war on the moon, the three sacred Thalunid abilities, and through him I formed a connection with Viridya.” Kai spoke solemnly.
“So, I would say that you have been a great influence on my path, Lord Seleneth.” His mana displayed the scenes he had witnessed on that fateful day.
Seleneth observed Vaelthar and collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his pale moonlit face.
“I see. You share destiny with me, and I had no idea. I had no idea that the last warrior of my legacy walked through Sacra carrying such a burden while I hid here and rested for thousands of years. I do not deserve such words; I only deserve contempt!” He cried and muttered.
Orcus rushed over and grabbed him, pulling him to his feet. “Gather yourself, Seleneth!” he whispered.
“Lord Seleneth, what of the Thalunids? I promised Master Vaelthar that I would find whoever remains and bring them to safety,” Kai said.
Hearing this, Seleneth froze.
A heavy moment later, after a long exhale, he spoke. “Not many remained, but those who did... Luminarius took them to his realm. He said that anyone who worships light, of any kind, must follow him and nobody else. If any are still alive, they are within his realm, the Realm of Luminae.”
Seleneth spoke, his heart heavy.
“I see. It would seem that we really need to bring him down before the final battle with the Enemy. Right, Sol, you beautiful bastard?” Kai winked at Sol, who observed him from afar, his spear orbiting around him.
“That’s right, Master! Soon, this grudge from a lifetime ago will finally be resolved,” Solivus spoke coldly.
“If you are going to war with Luminarius, then I am going as well!” Seleneth spoke up.
“Well, shit. If he is going, then I am going as well...” Orcus yawned.
“Why is that?” Viridya asked, confused.
“Well, I cannot leave my husband to go to war alone, now can I?” Orcus winked, making Viridya and Seleneth blush.
“Oh, I see... Haha. Well, I am happy for you two.” She smiled gently.
Some progressive gods they are. Kai smiled.
“Congratulations. But be warned, it won’t be easy. He controls all the Gods of Light, after all. Crazy bastard!” Kai warned.
“So what? Look at our side!” Solivus spread his hands, pointing at all the crazy beings around them.
“That’s right! And you have a new Dragon God on your side as well.” Arthraxius roared.
“Oh, you did it?!” Scry gasped.
“Indeed, thanks to this brat. I finally understood my place within the fire,” Arthraxius spoke proudly.
“I am the immortal flame, the fire that burns in those who never give up. I am the very spark of rebellion in oppressed hearts, and I am the pride that burns in those who stand tall. I am God Arthraxius, the First of the Fire Dragon Gods and the father of Kai the World Serpent!”
Arthraxius spoke proudly, and as he did, his spark fully formed and flames ignited around his humanoid body, burning unquenchably.
Umbra observed the process closely, for she would need to do the same to ascend.
“Congratulations, Arthraxius, but how did you know?” Kai asked.
“I gave you a place within this world, Kai. It was my blood that evolved your spiteful serpent. It was due to my blood that you became the Harbinger. How could I not know? Though it is a bit disappointing that your perfect form lacks any obvious signs of the draconic.”
Arthraxius sighed in disappointment. “I am not a dragon, though I do carry your blessing within me. Father.”
Kai smiled as behind him appeared a draconic serpent similar to Kun, yet different, more serpent than dragon.
Yet its scales, its tail, and even its eyes carried the might of dragons of old.
The serpent paused its rotation and locked eyes with Arthraxius.
It hissed, a low, bellowing sound that made the whole First Hell shake, before returning to its rotation and disappearing into Kai’s body.
Arthraxius froze for a moment and then nodded. “It is so. Thank you for not discarding my gift.” He bowed.
“Why are you bowing, you old lizard?!” Kai shouted.
“I am simply grateful. Due to everything. I have no offspring. Having you carry my lineage is more than enough. Thank you. I am proud of you, Kai.” Arthraxius smiled.
Kai’s eyes grew teary as he approached Arthraxius and wrapped him in an awkward hug.
“He is my son as well!” Viridya shouted and lunged forward, hugging them both.
“Aren’t you all weird?” Mortia chuckled and then turned toward Umbra. “Umbra! You seem to have almost caught up to my own children. Master is proud of you!” She smiled.
“Thank you, Teacher! I still have a long way to go before I surpass you!” Umbra grinned.
“Haha. Crazy beast!” Mortia laughed loudly.
“Milis, summon everyone! We are hosting a banquet. Call my brother as well!” Mortia ordered with a smile.
“Enjoy this sight. She rarely smiles,” Orcus muttered.
Just then, a beam of darkness slammed into his back, sending him flying through the door.
“Ah, that felt good!” Mortia laughed even louder, making Milis join in while Seleneth rushed over to check on Orcus.
***
Back in the Realm of Remains, in a realm of flying fantastical cities where inhabitants used large magicraft ships to travel from city to city, Nerva, clad in living armor, had just pierced a large metallic sentinel through the head.
“Stop your advances, you crazy mage! We are only exploring this realm!” Nerva shouted.
A large, fat, round being, looking almost like a slug, floated within a translucent orb while controlling a dozen crimson sentinels, living weapons of destruction.
“I don’t care what you want. I just want to take your cores, the more the better! Oh, the weapons I can build from those. Especially yours!” He laughed loudly.
“Fine, so be it!” Nerva roared, his body growing larger while liquid mercury morphed behind his back into two large metallic wings, each feather a sharpened blade.
His hands morphed into lances, and his legs grew studded shields over his shins.
“Living Metal: Living Armor!”
He took to the skies toward the slug as two sentinels immediately flew after him.
Meanwhile, on the streets of an empty floating city, Lucius clenched his mace and shield as he raised layered defenses around the magi and Cecily.
“Magi, prepare fire spells and aim for the elbows, neck, and knees. The goal is to topple them!” Lucius ordered, a hint of a future commander shining through his words.
The magi nodded, all pale from fear, and started chanting.
Meanwhile, Cecily grasped her rapier. “Schwartz, let’s go. Spiritual Armament: Schwartz Panzer!”
Cecily commanded, and Schwartz melted into liquid shadow, though not before complaining, and merged into her body.
A dark, slick armor rippled around Cecily, followed by a long whip-like tail and a closed helmet shaped like a cat’s head, with two cat ears protruding toward the sky.
Just as the magi unleashed their flaming spells, Cecily phased through Lucius’ barrier and released a flurry of stabs into a nearby sentinel.
For some reason, the construct turned black, each stab darkening its color further until it was abyssal black.
Then, with the creak of metal grinding against metal, black spikes erupted through the sentinel’s body, shattering it into pieces.
“Holy hell! You are stronger than I thought!” Lucius gasped and lunged forward, his mace shining like a small sun just as one of the sentinels froze, its limbs beginning to melt.
Above them, Xarion flew through the skies, spitting white soul-melting flames and roaring like an elder dragon.