Fourth Arc: True Legendary Spirit
-Spiritas Realm, Unknown Territory-
Flames erupted and roars shook the devastated cave. The Crimson king was sent flying through the air as a gigantic paw struck at his chest, shattering his armor and caving in his chest. He grit his teeth even as he was sent flying away. His eyes opened wide, stretching to the limit as his eyes flashed with rage, his gaze shooting forward like a sword as it struck his attacker.
A tail that seemed like a sky scraper suddenly swung down, causing the air around to vibrate, making it feel like the very heavens were going to collapse.
Achilles suddenly appeared in the path of the tail, his spear thrusting up towards the heavens as it rose to meet the tail. The collision of the two forces shook space and the cave began to shake like it was about to collapse any moment now.
"NOW!" He roared
"Heed my call, Spirit of Phlegethon! Heal those who sin by my side! And destroy the saints!"
Asclepius clasped his hands together, both his palms bursting as his blood mixed. Flames roared, then erupted from within his body, as the Blood of Phlegethon awoke, roaring at the heavens as it raged, spreading out of Asclepius's body like a flood. In an instant, it swallowed both Achilles as well as the Crimson king. Their expressions tensed up, then eased as their wounds began to heal. Then the flood of flames turned into a writhing serpent as it darted towards the gigantic reptile they were up against.
It had no feet and crawls like a snake but is still very fast and has a paralyzing stare that can freeze opponents out of sheer terror. Its eyes were wide and lamp like yellow, and its entire body was covered with durable scales that could withstand even the blows of Achille's spear. Th length of its body was over two hundred meter's long, and in the vast cavern, it dwarfed the rest of them.
Flames were flowing out of its nostrils along with venom dripping out of the side of its mouth, hissing and steaming every time it hit the ground, causing the hard rocks to corrode and dissolve into goo.
"The Lydian Drakon! You unsealed the monster?"
Achille's eyes were wide and bloodshot as he watched the Flame serpent created by the flames of Phlegethon being destroyed by the gigantic Drakon, then he turned his gaze towards Luke.
Luke grinned cruelly and gave them a mocking bow." Let's see how long you people can last against a monster like that!"
Achille's smirked and suddenly he spun, the spear in his hand flying out as it flew towards the drakon's eye.
"ROAR!"
A sudden roar rang out and Achilles' stumbled, missing his aim as Luke appeared behind him, kicking him flying. "Tut Tut Achilles. We can't have you trying to hurt my poor little Drakon now can we." He raised his sword, pointing it towards Achille's. "Let me be your opponent if you're so eager for a fight!"
Achille's got to his feet and barked out a short laugh, as he pulled his helmet off, freeing his dark black hair and revealing his sparkling green eyes. The killing intent from him erupted like a raging storm. "JUNIOR! DO YOU DARE!?" He bellowed, the earth under his feet cracking with his words. The might of the Styx Soul erupted, surging towards the heavens as a poisonous aura engulfed all.
Achille's began walking towards Luke, each step causing his aura to rise.
Luke sneered. "Do you think you're the only one with the power of Erebus? Awaken, Torture, Acheron!"
The Hell Forged Body roared and its power was unleashed like a storm, sweeping through the cave, sending Delphi and Asclepius skidding. Even the Crimson King was sent staggering backwards, both arms raised as he tried to resist the power of the Hell Forged body.
But Achilles walked through the surge, ignoring it like a breeze. He raised his hand and his spear flew back into his grasp. Then he leapt up into the air, spear piercing down towards Luke. Luke ducked, dodging his blow, then darting forward.
Achilles spear struck the ground, causing it to shatter and explode upwards, unbalancing Luke.
Achilles twisted in mid-air, and Luke spun under him, both of them striking at the same time!
Achilles spear had a longer reach, so it won out, reaching Luke faster, forcing him to dodge again as his attack missed Achilles.
Achilles landed in a crouch, then leapt forward again, spear thrusting straight for Luke's chest.
However, at that moment, a cold smirk crossed Luke's lips. "Fool…"
Achille's eyes shrank, then he was sent flying backwards as green flames erupted from Luke's body, rising to the heavens above like an awakened devil god.
The aura caused all the four warriors to lock onto him with wide eyes, filled with horror and shock. "T-this! Impossible! "Achilles croaked out, a look of disbelief in his eyes.
"The Styx Soul?!" Asclepius roared with disbelief. "But how?"
Luke laughed, the powers of Acheron and Styx mixing together. The two rivers of Acheron and Styx were originally one river that split into two. So, as they mixed in the same body, they fused together, bringing out a powerful aura beyond anything the rest of them could even imagine possible. This was… the aura of a Divine Spirit!
Luke dropped his head back and laughed out arrogantly. "Just how did you think I managed to subdue the Lydian Drakon and make it obey me? It was with my strength! With my overpowering strength, I forced the Drakon into obeying me! And this is why none of you will be able to defeat me either!" the Backbiter he held in his hand started to glow with his unique fused power's, one end glowing with the power of the Styx, the other with the Power of the Acheron.
Luke twirled the blade in his hands, then swung as he started the massacre.
-Half an hour later-
Percy stepped into the devastated cavern, his eyes narrowing as he took in the carnage and destruction that had been wrought across the cavern.
The crimson King, Stella's Uncle was smashed into the side of the entrance, his eyes wide and glassy. His body was tattered, his limbs ripped off.
In the distance, Delphi knelt in the middle cavern, arms crossed over her face, cowering before nothing. But Percy could easily make out that she had already died. She had been frozen into her death position.
And near the exit, two more corpses lay. One was Asclepius, his face etched in a bitter smile, his body burnt into a charred husk.
The other was Achilles, still holding onto his spear with one hand. Both his legs were mangled, and a streak of blood was dragged behind him. It looked like he had been dragging himself towards the exit even while he was on the verge of death.
Percy slowly surveyed the scene before him, his eyes grim. He lightly bowed towards the crimson king, then started walking towards Asclepius.
Crack…crackle…
His footsteps stopped a few feet away from Asclepius and sudden cracking sounds were heard. And then, before Percy's eyes, Achilles slowly raised his head and opened his eyes.
Percy shivered as he met Achilles gaze. His eyes seemed like a deep pool of still water, containing truths and secrets about life. "Perseus… Jackson… so you have finally arrived." He croaked.
Percy cautiously moved closer. "Senior… what happened here?"
Achilles gave a self-deprecating laugh and shook his head. "A massacre. The four greatest warriors of the land were all destroyed… in the face of a true Legendary Spirit, we were helpless."
Percy was shocked. "Legendary spirit? One appeared here?"
Achilles nodded his head, groaning as flames appeared over his body. The flames swept over him like flowing water, healing all his wounds in an instant. "The flames of Phlegethon." He told Percy, catching his astonished look. "Asclepius, used the last shreds of his power to grant me one drop of blood so I could heal myself and escape if needed."
Percy's eyes turned gloomy at the sight of Asclepius's corpse. "What happened here? Even if it was a legendary spirit, it shouldn't have been impossible for you to escape."
Achilles nodded as he slowly sat up. "Indeed, we could have tried to escape. But We are duty bound to protect the door of death here. We could not abandon the doors and flee. And more importantly… I now feel that even if we had tried to flee, we might not have made it."
Percy shivered. "The Legendary spirit was so powerful? But then... why would it want to find the door of Death?"
Achilles chuckled. "The legendary Spirit does not want the doors. Its master does. He is, the Prince of Mist!"
Percy's mind spun as he tried to make sense of the information being handed out to him.
"I originally thought you would be dead as well, since you were an owner of the Styx Soul. How on earth did you survive the extraction?" Achilles looked at Percy curiously.
"the extraction? What is that?" Percy asked with confusion.
"The removal of your power's of erebus. How are you alive after the Prince of Mist robbed your Styx Soul?"
"He robbed my Styx soul? No, I still have my Styx soul! How on earth would he be able to rob my Styx soul?" Percy was thoroughly confused.
Achilles fell into a deep contemplation. Then he looked at Percy. "Percy. Originally, I was the only owner of the Styx soul. That was because, anyone who Tried to face the power of the power of the Styx would be devoured by her hatred, unable to ever rise again. However, you managed to develop the Styx soul as well. And now… The Prince of Mist… he…"
"He also has the Styx Soul, right?" Percy finished. His eyes were calm, but deep within a fury raged.
Achilles was surprised but nodded. "Indeed. But how did you know that?" he asked.
Percy smiled sardonically. "I know him well. We both possessed the Power of the Styx and have even battled each other before. How could I not know of him… Luke Castellan!"
Achilles frowned." He not only possesses the Styx Soul; he also possessed the Hell Forged Body of Acheron. Combining their powers… he is simply beyond our capacity to defeat. You must retreat with me. The only reason I'm still alive is because he didn't have to extract my Styx Soul from me. He already had a Styx Soul. However, he extracted the Orb of Life, the Eyes of Gloom and the Blood of Flames from the other three guardians… now using their combined powers, he aims to open the doors of death and use them to revive the Titan Lord… Kronos!"
Percy slowly shook his head and rose to his feet. "Then... how do you expect me to sit back and watch him succeed? If the Titan Lord returns, not only Erebus, but even the rest of the realms will be plunged into misery and chaos! We must stop him"
Achilles also stood and shook his head. "This is beyond our capabilities. So, we've left it to the true guardians of the Doors of death."
Percy frowned. "The true guardians? Who is that?"
Achilles smiled. "They are our patrons… the Five Sisters of the Underworld! Lethe, Cocytus, Phlegethon, Acheron and Styx! The Five Minor Goddesses of the Eternal sins of the Underworld!"
Percy narrowed his eyes. "The five Minor Goddesses? They are protecting the doors of death? Then why would you five be needed as well?"
Achilles laughed. "Its to stop all the weaklings from pestering the goddesses."
Percy slowly shook his head, then knelt beside Asclepius, gently covering his corpse with a shroud. "Even if the Five sisters are going to stop him, I must still go. Because… this is an enmity that I can never resolve before watch him die!"
Achilles watched Percy, then sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Alright. I can't talk you out of whatever you have decided, so it's obviously futile for me to even try. "he reached out and lifted Asclepius, moving him to the corer of the Cavern where the Statue of Phlegethon was.
Then he started arranging the rest of the corpses I their resting places as Percy rushed further into the cave. Then he slowly turned and glanced at the direction Percy had gone. There was something that he hadn't told Percy, and even now, his heart squirmed with fear and anxiety. However, he finally sighed and glanced at the statue of Styx, then bowed to it. "I have done as you wished me to, Madame Styx. I gave him the choice to retreat with me, or to continue onwards. He has decided to continue onwards to avenge his hatred. I just hope… you can protect him."
Of course, only he knew why he spoke such words.
-Doors of Death-
Luke stood before the doors of death. Of course, he wasn't alone. He was surrounded by five graceful figures, each an ethereal immortal, one of the Nymphs of the Five Rivers of Erebus!
"what…. A… foolish….. mortal….." Lethe sighed; her voice soft as her form shimmered." Must we… really… do… this…?" she stood before Luke, her form shimmering and flickering like a faint light, always on the verge of disappearing.
"A MORTAL WITH THE IDEAS OF FREEING THE TITAN LORD? NEVER! HE MUST BE PUNISHED FOR HIS ARROGANCE AND GREED!" Phlegethon roared and her entire body roared with waves of flames. Her eyes were filled orbs of fire, her hair was tresses of pure heat, and even her clothes were carved out of the tongues of flames!
"Its hopeless! His eyes are clouded with the lies of the Titan lord! It's hopeless! He is lost! Its hopeless!" on the other side, Cocytus wailed like an endless threnody, her voice somehow softer that Lethe's whispering and more piercing than the screams of Phlegethon, causing everyone who heard her voice want to flee. Of course, her sisters were used to her voice after the millennia together. But to Luke, it made him want to cover his ears. Of course, he ignored the discomfort it caused.
"Hehehe... what do you say Styx… should I punish this foolish child for his evil plans? Give him an eternity of torture until his very soul collapses and turns into nothingness, devouring itself out of sheer frustration?" Acheron's voice was soft and silky, smooth as velvet. It was seductive, dripping with a honeyed coquettishness that could make a man's knees go weak. Buried within were promises of pleasure and forbidden tales that no man could resist without experiencing. But to Luke, who could bear even Cocytus's destructive voice, Acheron's voice was sheer torture. He trembled before managing to force himself to stay still.
"Acheron!" he growled, his eyes burning with rage." Don't forget what our deal was!"
"Aiyah! This little one was simply joking with you. Don't be so angry young master Luke." Acheron covered her mouth, chuckling softly. She was a figure, completely shrouded in a black mist that was impossible to see through.
"Shut Up!" Luke roared as he struck out at her. However, she didn't bother dodging or moving.
As the black mist blew away, an alluringly beautiful face that seemed to hold all of the bewitching seductiveness in the world appeared before him.
Just based on the exquisiteness of her physical features, she would already be considered a peerless beauty in the Earth Realm. Her beauty was just a step lower than Aphrodite's beauty.
However, her crescent brows and phoenix eyes effortlessly released a boundless bewitching allure that threatened to yank a person's soul out of their body. Her exquisite lips were pink and dewy. A single small glance from her would penetrate a man's soul and topple his will, causing his body to burn up with boundless desire.
As his eyes swept downward, he saw that she was wearing an unadorned black robe which wrapped around her, showing off her ample chest and every bewitching curve of her body. She quietly stood there, her breasts gently rising and falling from simply breathing, creating a sight that was so seductive and mesmerizing that Luke's veins almost popped open.
It was also in that moment that Luke blurrily realized what the words "devilish figure" truly meant for the first time in his life.
Luke had seen many seductive and alluring women and he was familiar with more than a few arts of seduction. But he had never known that a woman could actually be this alluring and mesmerizing.
Every inch of her body… even her snowy skin, even the jade neck that he was gripping with his hand, seemed to glow with a fantastically mesmerizing light.
Luke's entire body was frozen in place as he dumbly stared at her.
The incredibly intense pain, sorrow, and rage that he had clearly felt an instant ago had vanished into thin air. It was as if all of these emotions had been sucked into the boundless abyss of her spellbinding magnetism.
Luke's hand retracted as quick as lightning.
"No, no…" Luke stumbled backwards.
But as he retreated in panic and nearly lost his balance, a calming fragrance gently tickled his nose. His muddled senses barely registered her movement As Acheron raised her hand and a gentle burst of her power stabilized him.
"Hehehe… don't be so tense my young master… like we said, me and my sister Styx will not interfere in your quest today… we are simply here to see who would be worthy of taking control of the Doors of Death."
As she spoke, her eyes drifted towards Styx. Styx smiled indifferently, her body swathed in a cloak, and a hood covering her features, but the glimpse of that smile would be enough to drive ordinary men to madness. "Let me see… exactly who is worthy of becoming my successor today."
A.N.: I feel like I owe you guys an explanation. As you know, this is the Second book of the Dark God Asura Series. When the series first started off, we had two of us doing the book. We co-ordinated ideas and the task of writing with each other, which made writing such a complex story quite easy. And frankly speaking, the speed of writing was also something that the readers who have been by my side from the start should also know about. We had multiple updates in a day, chapters of more than five thousand words being quite regular. When my partner left for college, I took over the story by myself, which is after the break in the first story. I continued to maintain my regular releases and word count, simply out of my excitement for the story.
But I am not an experienced writer. My partner was the original author of many stories here, and his writing skill, I admit is much better than mine. However, the main reason for my lack of updates on the second book, is simply because of the very low support. Originally, The Dark God Asura series had a single book in mind, around Fifty chapters long. I planned the story out, and it currently has two entire books in the works, and the basic idea and plot for book three also in place. However, when comparing Book One and Book Two, the support from the readers was quite low. And I mean, seriously low. Very few readers, very few reviews and very less support. Now, I am very appreciative of the support I do have, which is why I still have continued planning and writing. However, I will admit that I lost interest in doing quick updates after seeing the low support. Especially after seeing the support and attention the previous writers poorly written smut stories continue to get even now.
So that is the sole reason why the Vengeance, story has had so many difficulties. Of course, I've also started college since last year, which is another reason why I have lesser time. So, I am considering either ending the story and perhaps rewriting it. However, that is a very difficult thing, which is why I'm quite hesitant about doing so. Otherwise, I can continue writing on this story, with hopes that the story gets more support. If it does, then I will go back to my Drawing board and also prepare a new idea for another book. With the experience gained from these two books, I feel quite confident about writing a new fanfiction.
Do let me know what you guys think in the reviews. And as always, Ciao, with love from Manhattan!