Chapter 25
The sky was blue, the roaring sea along with the cries on the sea gulls filled the air and then-
A portion of the air wrapped inward, and out came the goat driven chariot. Nemisis and Lilith got off, and it rode into the sky disappearing.
Nemisis looked around, "Where are we?"
Lilith expression became serious. She looked around as if expecting something to jump out at any second. They took a step, the ground felt like it had collapsed from their weight.
They found themselves at the deep pitch dark bottom of the sea, Nemisis held his breath, but Lilith gestured him it was unnecessary since they can breath anywhere without a worry.
Just then, a light filled the darkness. It was like the rays of dawn. A thin serpentine iris focused on them, who now looked like tiny twigs before it. The illumination from the eye made it visible for another eye to be seen behind them-a glossy black eye.
The water began to vibrate, as if the two eyes were communicating. An air bubble formed around Lilith and Nemisis.
Nemisis looked at both eyes. "What... how... I'm even out of words."
Lilith studied the eyes carefully. "The Leviathan and Jörmungandr. We are between them."
The water vibrated again, moving the bubble violently between both eyes. This continued for some few more seconds, then it stopped. Lilith nodded whiles Nemisis looked on, lost.
The water rippled violently as if the beasts were laughing, the bubble burst and Lilith and Nemisis moved between both eyes like lifeless ragdolls.
The scene suddenly changed to the sea side, Nemisis fell on his back panting.
"What was all that about?" he asked.
Lilith looked in the sky, "Informing us how to get to 9th Daimon, but it seems our escort has arrived."
"Wait you understood that?" Nemisis stood up. "And what escort..."
He looked at where Lilith was watching, "Oh that escort."
Soaring above them were three women in shiny armor, red, blue and yellow. The red one drew out her sword and pointed at Nemisis
"By order of the New Phoenix Empire, I give you a chance to surrender or you shall be eliminated."
Nemisis rubbed his chin, "Listen here woman... or lady, I don't know. I don't know anything for you to threaten me to the death so would you be kind to elaborate."
The one in blue armor stepped forward. "You don't fool me, he who houses the Alphar. How cruel of you to let such a beast live after all it done."
"Hey, I know the Alphar has done a lot of... how do i even put it? Saying cruel or wicked is sugarcoating it." Nemisis said. "How about this, you help us then after I see how I can help you."
"We've already made our minds the moment we left in search of you," the red one said. "Perish."
Red spirit energy shot out from the tip of her sword towards Nemisis and Lilith. There was a huge explosion, the smoke clears revealing a shallow crater.
Nemisis and Lilith stood, unfazed by the attack. Nemisis gave a single, dry cough into his fist, while Lilith covered her mouth to keep her from laughing, but giggles escaped.
"Oh wow, what do you know?" Nemisis said, hands wide open. "That was... Now please can you lead the way? I can even go on my knees if you want me to."
Lilith frowned.
"Why you..." the red one said.
She dashed towards Nemisis but was blocked by her other two companions.
"You think we will let you get away that easily?" the blue one asked.
"What?..." the red one stared in utter confusion. "What are you talking about? They are behind you."
"Like we will fall for such a trick" the yellow one said.
The other two began to attack the red one. Nemisis looked on blankly then at Lilith.
"What did you do this time?" he asked.
"Oh, just placed them under my hypnosis, " Lilith replied with a smile. "No one makes the master beg."
Nemisis brow furrowed, "Wait you can do that?"
"Yes, I can, but it is a little different from the traditional one you know." Lilith said. "We have three types of attack. The first is the normal attack on all the senses. The second is the attack on the soul, which on some people. And then we have the attack on the source,
Which is dangerous if you are not above the source of your target. In your case, you lack all of them, that's why I couldn't use it om you."
"Interesting." Nemisis stroke an imaginary beard. "And what of them?"
They looked at the three warriors who were now in a heated battle.
"They have the senses of a human, the weakest and easiest ones to manipulate. Come to think of it they are humans. Then they are what they call superhumans or champions."
Lilith smacked a fist into her palm, "I understand it now. The Alphar destroyed the first original Phoenix Empire, so the emeralds might have found it champions, and now they seek revenge as the New Phoenix Empire."
"Well, how does that involve me, and why will the Alphar do that?" Nemisis asked.
"The Alphar is the last race of the second generation of Alphars. They were known to use the cosmos as their sandbox." Lilith sighed. "Although it's sad but people are glad they died out, the Dark Era did change a lot."
"The name alone gives me chills." Nemisis shudders.
"Speaking of names, do you mean to tell me you never head what they said back then at the feast?" Lilith asked.
"Oh, about that," Nemisis said. "I don't know, it's as if the words...no, it like their voices disappear."
Lilith place her hands her her hips, "Ok what of now? You are....."
Her voice faded out, then returned.
"Didn't hear a thing," Nemisis said.
"Hmm, ok how about..." Lilith said as she started to write in the sand.
Every stroke she made disappeared instantly. She tried again but to no avail.
Suddenly, without no warning, a hand passed through Nemisis's chest ripping his heart out.
Lilith stared in horror.
Nemisis looked at his heart.
"Oh wow, what do you know? That's my heart."
He turned his neck to look at the person behind him.
It was a female in green armor. She redrew her hand and crushed the heart. Nemisis fell face first to the ground.
"It's over." Her voice was cold.
The other three stopped fighting each other as Lilith snapped her hand. She stared at the one in green armor, her eyes full of rage.
"How dare you," she roared.
Just then a force pushed the woman in green armor towards Lilith. Once she was close, her breastplate began to peel away, revealing her chest, which also began to peel.
Blood gushed out. The bones of her rib cage cracked and fell out. She screamed in pain as the others tried to help, but they couldn't move. Her heart pounded faster, blood gushed and spilled. Then her heart began to peel, slowly, as if it were meant to increase the pain.
"Hey, Lilith, take it easy," Nemisis said casually. "Have you forgotten I can't be killed? Tis but a scratch."
"But... but you..." she stammered.
"I felt a little dizzy," He said. "It's strange, though. The wound is healed, but there is no heartbeat. It's like there is nothing there."
Nemisis stared at the enemy. "Ever since I heard your voices, you seemed familiar."
Nemisis pointed to the one in red, "Lilith, rip her helmet off."
Lilith hesitated then did as she was told.
"Aha," Nemisis nodded. "It's you, Ivy. That means the rest could be Ella, Stella and Emma."
Ivy eyes widen, "How... how do you know who we are?"
"C'mon, back on earth we use to in the same class, it's me Nemisis."
"Nemisis..." Ivy said, as if she was testing the word for the first time.
"C'mon, don't be like that."
Nemisis took a step then froze. Everyone stared at him. Without warning, there was a huge burst of spirit energy and pressure. Ivy, Stella, Ella, Emma and even Lilith dropped onto the ground.
Emma, the one in the green armor started to heal. Nemisis's scream filled the air. At first, it felt as if the ground was shaken, but then the entire planet was shaking. The sea moved as if it were being stirred by a giant invincible spoon.
The five ladies lay on the ground, unable to move and unharmed. Mountains were reduced to nothing, volcanoes erupted, the sky tore.
[ In the dark void exists a being.
But don't be fooled-
A beast appeared, then slowly approached Nemisis.
For this being is the void itself...
and beyond even that.
The beast opened its mouth, and white flames formed into a ball
The darkness is merely its presence.
The flame headed for Nemisis, causing an explosion that destroyed half of the planet. The sea was no longer there. Nemisis fell face-first blacking out as he heard the voice of Lilith calling out to him.
Then-
a bloody red eye opened.
3/9 eyes are opened ]