Chapter 17
Mavet stood up, looking disgusted. "How dare you, pathetic creature, to approach me with your filthy hands, you revolting—"
"Disgusting human, blah, blah, blah. The more you talk, the faster you die," Nemisis interrupted, rushing at him.
He landed a barrage of punches on Mavet, who, in a fury, unleashed black spirit energy that sent Nemisis flying.
"YOU DARE!" Mavet shouted, summoning a scythe with a handle made of a long bone, topped with a demon skull connecting the blade to the handle.
He charged at Nemisis, and their weapons collided, sparks flying.
Meanwhile, Lilith watched the two dragons attacking the barrier.
One was a fire dragon, the other a lightning dragon, she thought. The fire burned hotter than the surface of our sun, and she released enough energy to counter it; she needs to release ten times more.
She turned to the lightning dragon, realizing it emitted Zeus-level lightning, but with extra effort from the boy, he could match it. Everyone in this 'Celestial Phantoms,' except the master, was already comparable to a renowned deity—close to a Higher One—and the title 'Celestial Phantoms' was insignificant compared to them.
The master's grandfather truly was remarkable.
"Indeed, I am," a voice replied. Lilith flinched as everyone suddenly froze. It was as though time itself had stopped... because it had.
"Don't turn," the voice warned. "You are a formidable Archdemon, but your thoughts are easy for me to read. There is no need for greetings—I need a favor."
"A favor?" she asked. "What can I offer to a Xerise like you?"
"Oh, flattery won't get you far," Kuto teased. "I want you to train Clara and Tezuka when I'm gone."
"When you are gone?" Her eyes darted around. "But-"
"Don't worry; I'll let them know," he assured her.
Lilith's eyes met Nemesis and Mavet as Nemesis wandered around Tony, confused and scratching his head.
"Isn't it fascinating?" Kuto remarked. "I only authorized movement to you, yet he moves without my permission."
"Indeed," Lilith agreed.
"He moves among us like a child pretending not to threaten our doom," Kuto said.
"So you know his true identity?" Lilith asked.
"Of course. He's what another universe calls the 'source' of the Xercise family," Kuto sighed. "And I will soon return to him."
"Maybe we could-"
"No," Kuto cut in, "it's rude to disturb someone's sleep. Let it be as it wishes—in the end, all of this is meaningless to it."
Lilith paused before asking, "Why shouldn't I look at you now? Your eyes are open. I always dreamed of seeing them as a child after reading about you."
"How can you gaze upon something even time hasn't glanced at before?" Lilith's eyes widened.
"Wait—what? How?"
Just then, Nemesis looked at Lilith. He saw her lips move. Behind her stood Kuto, but before Nemisis could speak, time resumed. Mavet's punch slammed into his chest, sending him crashing into a rock. He stood up, looking toward Lilith, noticing that Kuto was no longer there.
''Don't take your eyes off me,'' Mavet shouted as he swung his scythe.
Nemisis's sword blocked his attack. Mavet retreated and struck again, but each strike was effortlessly blocked by the sword. The seal on Nemisis's neck glowed as he stood still, his hands trembling. ''What are you doing, kid?'' a familiar voice echoed in his mind. ''Do it. Transform now. Your body can't withstand the energy you are producing.''
''I can't... Not because I don't want to. I just can't... It's like it never happened.''
The voice remained silent. 'Switch.''
Suddenly, the surroundings went dark, revealing only Mavet. An eerie silence followed. Meanwhile, Clara and Tezuka had finished slaying the dragons, and the allies had defeated the enemy army. They all stared at a huge, mysterious dark orb.
On the hill, Aria looked at Knight. ''Care to explain?'' she asked.
Silence.
''I see, not even you understand what's going on,'' she said with a smile.
The ground suddenly began to shake, and faint sparks of light appeared near the dark orb.
Then—
void energy shot into the sky, turning the sky grey. Lilith created a barrier to protect everyone, but it was shattered by the force, sending everyone flying. The hill collapsed; Knight quickly helped everyone to safety. As the smoke cleared, the area where the orb had been was gone.
Mavet hovered over a gigantic crater leading to the planet's core, his body trembling. Before him stood Nemisis, dark spirit energy swirling around him, his hair and eyes as black as the void. Nemisis moved slowly toward Mavet. Before Mavet could utter a word, Nemisis was beside him.
''You are the one this world calls death, aren't you?'' Nemisis asked in a possessed voice. ''Tell me, how do you feel? Your immortality... does it flicker before you?''
A grim smile crossed Nemisis's face. ''Now, for the moment of truth.''
Nemisis blinked—nothing spectacular happened. Then Mavet gradually bled from all over, his flesh peeling away, chunks of meat falling into the hole below.
Nemisis watched in disgust. ''Pathetic... You couldn't even be a proper host—Hades and Yanluo are better.''
Sighs
''Over to you, kid.''
The sky brightened again, and the planet slowly healed from the damage. The dark spirit energy vanished, and Mavet's hair and eyes returned to normal.
Knight sighed, ''You really overdid it this time, Sanity.''
He transformed into a ray of light and entered Nemisis's chest. Lilith ran toward him with wide-open arms and embraced him from behind.
''See, master, I made sure everyone is okay.''
Nemisis let out a slow breath before smiling and patting her head. ''You did well,'' he said.
One of the allies asked, ''Who is that?''
''Our teammate,'' Tezuka answered, waving at Nemisis. ''Where is Aenzil?''
"Over here," she walked towards them, accompanied by Aria and the guards. "And is her Majesty." She smacked Tezuka's head with her fan.
"Oh, Princess Aenzil," a voice called out. A girl about Aenzil's age stepped forward from the ally group.
Her orange hair rested gently on her shoulders, and she smiled as her brown eyes sparkled.
"Princess Merula, what a pleasant surprise." Aenzil smiled.
"Indeed, I came to speak with you, but I was told you were out on an errand." She looked over at Nemisis. "I left the message with the old one... be careful now and thank you all for your help."
She whistled, and a giant snake appeared, "C'mon, everyone, we need to be on our way, I don't wish to keep my father waiting."
She jumped onto the snake's head, her allies mounted their horses, and they moved on. Aenzil stared at Nemisis, who was having a conversation with Lilith.
Deep in the forest, two figures approached a rock where Xdio sat.
"We're back, big sis," one said as she shed her cloak—Louisa, the soul goddess.
"He's improved since we last saw him," the other remarked as her shadow cloak disappeared.
"Ugh... why couldn't I come? I'm bored," Xdio grumbled.
"Remember what you did at the tournament?" Kali asked.
Louisa inquired, "What did she do, big sister Kali?"
Kali crossed her arms. "She went crazy."
"Hey, don't phrase it like that," Xdio pouted. "I'm your big sister, show some respect."
"Whatever, we'd better get going. Louisa..."
"Right."
A swarm of souls encircled them; a flash of green light, and suddenly they were gone from that spot.
[ In the dark void exists a being.
But don't be fooled-
For this being is the void itself...
and beyond even that.
The darkness is merely its presence.
Then-
a bloody red eye opened.
1/9 eyes are opened ]