Warning:
I must warn you. English is not my native language, so from time to time you will find some peculiar (as in outrageous) uses of the English language. Please, be tolerant and let me now to fix them. Then, try to enjoy the Story.
The order of the Knights Mortal
By Javier Delgado R.
Fan fiction, inspired by "Oh My Goddess" by Kosuke Fujishima.
Chapter XV
Conflict in Hell
The stifling atmosphere was full of poisonous gases. Dark clouds partially hide a reddish sun. The heat was unbearable; the floor was cover by lava recently solidified. In some places, semi-liquid and incandescent material could be seen. A scorching wind blew causing violent eddies, yet they were not enough to clear the field of view. Suddenly it started raining, but it was not water, but tiny spheres of melted black glass. Mortals called them tears of Peele. This was a hellish place and there could be no life.
Suddenly a bright beam of light grow amid the clouds, it came from a crack in the fabric of space. The emanating energy cleared the clouds for a few seconds while the dimensional portal took shape. From inside, several figures appeared in combat uniform. They were Valkyries led by Lind. At the sight of this hell, they could not avoid a surprise exclamation. Lind was the first to speak.
- Are these the proper coordinates? This cannot be earth, it´s like our training headquarters.
- There is no possibility of error - Said one of them, she had a display floating in front of her and was checking the information, then slowly realizing the implications exclaimed - There is only one explanation, there was a huge combat here.
Lind rose in the air and tried to see at the distance but the cloud blocked their efforts, then gave an order
- Disperse and look for survivors. You two. Try to define the area of damage, we must contain and isolate the area, will be very difficult to hide this from mortal. We cannot allow further damage.
Another of the Valkyries, a young recruit named Chrono, exclaimed in a voice broken by the emotion:
- Looks like we are late, the destruction is total. There seems to be no survivors.
Lind looked at her with a gleam of anger in her eyes
- Do not waste time. Look for signs of life, fast!
The squad split, one of them cried in the distance:
- There is too much free magical energy in the environment; we cannot discern the signs of life.-
Another one, which had risen to assess the damage, descended to report.
- This area is contained by a magical shield. It is very powerful and complex. I do not think the damage has spread far.
Lind felt a temporary relief, at least the damage was contained and commented
- It must be the work of Belldandy, few gods would be able to something like that. We must find her!.
Another cry was heard:
- I detect something in this direction, but it´s very weak. I cannot tell what it is, but seems is dying, the energy is weak and intermittent - Lind flew in that direction and gave a sharp order.
- All of you form a shield in that area to isolate it from the environment. Extract the excess of heat to human levels. Othala, you are the healer. Do what is necessary.
The Valkyries had surrounded an area and formed a protective shield to isolate if from the heat. Then joined their magic to protect the area, and to be able to cool the interior.
Even the seasoned warrior could not avoid a cry of horror when they finally distinguished the bodies. The overall shape of the body was barely recognizable; the skin looked like charred parchment, and from its many cracks came a strange light that seemed alive. Then Ghadril her second in command reported:
- Two unidentified bodies extremely damaged, the regenerating code that gives shape to their body is overloaded. The container field is broken, their vital energy slowly leaks. Their heart seems still intact, but it cannot regenerate the external shape so it´s internal energy soon will dissipate, and its essence will dissolve. If we act soon, maybe we could curb the loss. I´ll do my best to seal the loss.
Lind felt her heart shrank. They could be Belldandy and Urd. They appeared to be adult bodies, perhaps they could save them, but no mortal body could exist under such conditions. The mortal to who had sworn eternal friendship, Keiichi, simply should have been vaporized in this inferno. The bodies were unrecognizable. The energy required to damage a god to such state was unimaginable. It was difficult to understand how they had managed to be alive.
Lind closed her fists in anger. Those guilty of this act should be punished and this time she would not wait to receive orders... She had requested permission come so earth as soon as she detected the conflict, but it had taken too much time and this had been the result. For the first time in her life, Lind felt anger against the organization she had sworn to protect.
Then, her thoughts were interrupted by a surprised cry from Othala.
The large council hall was full; it had been at least one million Earth years the last time it happened. The sumptuous room was fully illuminated and the light stood out it´s opulence. There was no doubt that this place was the seat of power of this multiverse. However, the chaos in the hall did not speak about power; currently no one occupied their assigned places. The formed into small groups, constantly moving in order to exchange information as everyone tried to understand what was happening.
The ornaments wore by demons, indicated that most of them were of very high ranks. In addition there were others who were not members of the council, they were low-ranking demons and were grouped suspiciously around Anang-Reng allies.
A low murmur like a nest full of angry insects was heard. Of all these demons, regardless of age and ranks, were arguing but few knew exactly what had happened, the rumors were too many, but it was suspected that the outcome of this meeting could be war.
That time seems to pass without any incidents, only increased the general irritation. Hild had not issue any announcement, and the Shaikh Anang-Reng, who had requested the meeting failed to appear.
However, the murmur of angry voices could not pass the doors of the hall where Hild was in her throne. Many holographic screens floated around her, some showed the turmoil in the hall, but she paid them little attention. Her attention was focused on the displays of information reporting activity in the world of mortals. However, the display she was interested only showed interference. This time her face was altered. Despite trying to appear unmoved, there was concern on her face.
If the rumors were true, Anang-Reng had broken the truce and attacked the Norns. However, she could not confirm it. She felt her heart shrink. Urd, what would have happened to her? She had sent her to Heaven to protect her life and still she was her only heir, even if he had chosen to become a goddess. However, she could not get any information. There was powerful magic blocking the view of the temple and Nidhogg had reported huge amounts of energy released in the mortal world. Only a large-scale attack could release such levels of energy Hild could not help thinking that the warnings of the son of his enemy had been met.
What would happen now? The truce had been broken. To avoid war would mean she would have to swallow her pride before the gods and that could meant to lose her place and the return to war could mean the end of their world. Something that nobody else seemed to understand. Soon Anang-Reng would ask for a trial of power to challenge her authority and this time, there was no way to refuse. She could not pass this action without punishment, but due to his high rank, he could request a challenge instead.
However, there was no way she could stand the challenge. The reality is that she was weak, had managed to hide for years. To avoid challenges she had instigate fear to her person and so far had been successful. Nobody had dared to challenge her.
Now everything was different. She was sure Anang-Reng was more powerful than she was. Not even Marler knew she had tweaked all her energy readings using her high-level access to Nidhogg.
A feeling slowly began to invade Hild. It was a feeling she had known only was, on her first and so far her only defeat, it was fear. She took some time to realize what that feeling was and when she did it only increased her anger and frustration. She could not afford to have such feeling. Instead, anger and hatred were more useful. She uttered a cry of outrage that echoed through the room, the she felt relieved and began to calm down.
The she felt a presence behind her, did not need to turn to see who it was.
- Marler!, you have finally arrived. Are you also going to leave me? - She actually felt relieved by her presence, but millennial of trying to be self-sufficient prevented her from admitting it. Marler shuddered at hearing her accusation.
- Hild-Sama, I will never forsake you and that is why I have dared to disobey your orders.
Hild's eyes burned with rage, and slowly turned around to face Marler. She was surprised at what she saw. There was fire in Marler´s eyes; it would take courage to admit that she had disobeyed direct orders from the great Daimakaichō.
Hild-Sama. I was sure something like this could happen, so I have been in touch with Anang-Reh´s people. Now I have asked them to come.
Marler closed her eyes, waiting to feel the wrath of Hild, but strangely never came. She opened his eyes slowly, Hild´s anger had been replaced by a strange expression she had never seen. She seemed sad and tired. Hild spoke slowly in a voice that could not decipher:
- Marler! How dare you? Do you want to see surrounded by enemies? I am sure Anang-Reng would challenge my, and from this trial would depend on the survival of our world.
Marler came and knelt before her mistress, her gaze fixed on the floor, but this time there was no trace of fear in her voice.
- I also can worry about our world. That is why I called them. I know the secret of Hild-Sama and I know that there is no other option. They will arrive soon.
As if they were waiting for her call, several lights began to appear and inside them, various demons began to materialize, they were of all sexes and ages, but most were young. As they arrived, they took a place in front of Hild and put a knee to the floor to express respect, but only a few showed fear on their eyes. They looked at her directly. Soon there were fifty of them.
Hild was struck by their number, were all this demons really willing to help her? Still she was sure their presence was useless and with barely contained fury, she said: - Even if were many times more, you cannot help. I will have to fight my next battle alone; you will not be useful to me.
One of them spoke. He spoke proudly; still his marks showed he was not even a tribune.
Hild-Sama. We are here to help you. We ask you to let us be your allies.
Hild could not help laughing at this insolence. None of you had the power of a tribune and I am sure you will not offer your help without a price.
- And what is the price you would ask for your help?
- Compared to what we offer the price that seems small and insignificant. We ask you to listen, to hear our opinion. We want the same thing as you, we do not want war, but we do not agree with your methods.
Hild answered with an ironic tone that was even more terrible than her anger.
- And how do you plan to help? You cannot go with me to the council hall. It would be interpreted as declaration of war to the council. Even more, the trial will be a duel between two. Only two. Even if I were to accept his terms, your offer is useless
The young demon stood silently, pondering her words. They had arrived as soon as Marler has called them, and they had no adequate answer to her question. Suddenly from the shadows at one side of the chamber, a voice was heard, timid and fearful.
- Hild-Sama. There is a way.
The impact of those timid words cut all to a complete silence. All tried to see the owner of that words.
Sitting in the darkness there was a low-ranking demon. Hild extended her hand and without saying a word, drew the demon with a violence that would have killed a mortal.
The terrified demon fell at her feet, and then made no attempt to move, to avoid increasing the fury of Daimakaichō.
Who are you?
- I am Walharen, third class demon and deputy administrator at Nidhogg. I asked an audience with Hild-Sama, but I was ordered to wait here.
- Hild squinted to see in more detail that low demon. She smiled when she perceived his fear. This was someone who would not dare to lie.
- How long have you been watching?
The demon was shocked by the accusation. After all he had seen enter Hild to the hall, but after witnessing her mood, he had not dared to call attention to his presence. Now he was trapped.
- Mi ... Mil, milady. I have been here 6 cycles waiting for your attention, my supervisor sent me, but I figured you did not want to be bothered by my report.
- Report? Ah, yes, I remember. Your supervisor said you had the strange belief that Nidhogg is under attack. I have never heard anything more ridiculous.
Walharen swallowed; apparently, his superior had submitted a negative report about his suspicions.
- Milady, it does not matter now. I think there is way to solve your problem.
Hild, asked angrily.
- My problem! How much have you heard?
Walharen trembled, but now he knew he had a chance to get away if he could make good use of his knowledge. He dared to lift his face and saw the curious look of half a hundred demons, most of them of higher status than him. He struggled to control his fear and kept talking.
- As deputy administrator at Nidhogg, I have access to information that does not have anyone else in this world. - He hesitated, not sure if everyone here should listen to what he was about to say. - A long time ago, I realized someone had accessed the system to alter the mechanisms monitoring the energy use Hild-sama. It was a very high-level access, only one person can get access to this level. That person should have been better using a lower level account and some subterfuge to avoid leaving a trail ...- He heard a murmur of surprise, he had dared to criticize Hild in public, and he was earning the wrath of Hild. Driven by his enthusiasm, he had dared to criticize Hild ...- I though... I thought it was a matter of high level secre... security, so I deleted the logs and all traces of the disturbance-
Hild squinted, this demon knew too much, approached him and forced him to look at her and whispered inaudibly to the other demons:
-Did you saw the real energy values?
Walharen trembled, but he knew that lying would be suicidal, just issued an almost inaudible.
- Yes milady - then spoke a bit louder - Soon after, some council members requested that information. They were surprised by the reported values. They ordered me to forget everything, but I could not do it. I know they want to return to the days of war. Since then I start to run some simulations for possible solutions.
- So, it was you who deleted the logs access. I should have guessed it. I check later and found not traces of it. Only someone with deep knowledge of Nidhogg could have done it. I also assume those simulations were not authorized.
- No, milady. My superior would have not approved them.
Hild could hardly repress an exclamation of surprise. A third class demon had become an unexpected ally.
- Well done and you will be rewarded. - Walharen breathed again, yet still he needed to put forward his plan.
- Milady Hild, there is something else- then he whispered- I know your real power level and I know you cannot defeat Anang-Reng. However, there is a solution. It is extremely dangerous- He pointed to the demons who were trying to follow their exchange - They can help you, but you must trust each other, because all of you will be in danger, but I think it is the only way.
There was a murmur around them. The demons rose slowly and began to surround Walharen, they seem eager to hear his solution. The words of the young demon have made an impact on Hild. Now she felt a new and overwhelming feeling, but this time it was something completely alien to her. Did not even know its name, after eons of cool plans, ruthless actions and subterfuge, ´she had forgotten that feeling called "hope". Then she realize how strange was all this. She was surrounded by demons who had no fear of her, and for some strange reason, were on her side. At any other time this lack of fear and such insolent curiosity would have been punished, but now, Hild-Sama had more important priorities, like survival. She rose again to her throne, and then told the young man with such a sweet voice that sent a chill unto him:
- Let´s hear your plan.
The demon began to explain his idea. It was simple but technically complex. Yes, this young demon was brilliant. Strange that it was only a lowly third-class demon.
Hild contemplate his trembling from and began to laugh. It seemed so ridiculous that the fate of the universe could rely on a small third-class demon. Then turned around, she had forgotten the other demons. They looked at her expectantly. All of them were already in the secret; they knew that she needed them.
She saw that her sudden laughter had caused fear on several of them. That made her laughs with more intensity. She found comforting her laughter could still instill fear. Not everything was lost.
Lind reacted to the cry of the healer, and quickly flew to her side. She was observing the bodies with surprise.
- Is there a problem?
- These are not gods but demons. High-level demons, but cannot identify them. What kind of power could cause this damage? This is not the work of a first level goddess.
- Can they be saved? Remember the doublet system. The life of two gods is at stake.
The healer looked around and remarked- It must have been a magnificent battle. - Ominously, she smiled, thinking that those bodies were of their hated enemies and not of goddesses. - In ancient times, you would have requested to give them a merciful death. Lind, I think you have gone soft. However, I have the consolation that trying to save their lives will bring them much suffering. That comforts me. Especially if they have done harm to the Norns.
- Save them! - curtly ordered Lind- that is an order. - The she thought about it- Would not it be easier to seal them and send them to heaven?
- Impossible, they are too weak; they would not survive the travel through the portal. I will fulfill your order, neither I want to be responsible for the deaths of some of us, but I think those were simpler times.
Lind watched, as the healer was concentrated in the bodies. Despite her harsh words, she was obviously doing her best, but her words still rang. Yes, maybe she was softening. However, he had seen too many battles and their consequences. Having a dying friend on her arms was not an experience she wanted to relive. Then she thought about the goddesses. If these were the attackers. Where were the Norns? Could Keiichi have survived? There must be something else she could do. She saw a young Valkyrie, previously she had worked at Yggdrasil, and maybe she could use that.
- Chrono. You know the working of Yggdrasil. This place is full of magic without control; we cannot distinguish the tracks energy of the Norn. Can we do something?
Valkyrie thought for a moment, while she stared at the desolation around them, she had also met the people who lived there and felt the pain. Suddenly her face brightened.
- I think we can do it, they have long been living on earth and so far, they must have absorbed energy from here. We can try to locate it, is very weak, but its spectrum is very different from our magic, I think I can distinguish between the two of them.
- Proceed!
The Valkyrie extended her hands in the air, concentrated, and generated a series of information screens in the air. She still had her access to the great supercomputer system. Then began to create a sub-program to filter noise signals and detect only local sources. He had long attended Peorth and Urd so she had learned some very unorthodox techniques. Gradually the in one of the displays, the noise began to disappear and some signals began to stand out. She signaled to Lind, there was something in the display.
- Madam, I see something strange here. There are three sources of energy, but they are stronger than I expected. I do not recognize their signature of energy, seems to be neither gods nor demons.
Lind approached the display and looked at the strange information. Her heart raced, that energy was familiar but was not sure from where. She searched on her memories, suddenly realized that it was not a memory from her but from one of her angels, and then exclaimed:
- That energy comes from a mortal.
- Impossible! They cannot generate those levels.
-Some humans can. I have been witness. My angel was supported once by the energy from a mortal. I can recognize it. - She called the other Valkyries to see the display and issue her orders. - Quickly find those sources. And...
Chrono interrupted her by pointing to her back.
- Look overt there, among the clouds, there is something, the atmosphere is clearing.
Lind turned and saw a shadow behind the fumes, she could recognize it. It was the temple. The building seemed to be intact, Belldandy's magic inspire more and more respect on her. There still was hope of finding Keiichi alive. She felt moist on her eyes. It definitely she was softening. She turned around to avoid her Valkyries noticed them, but one of them began to call her.
- Look here. There is a barrier, it resembles the physical barrier of a goddess, but it´s energy is different. It´s blocking the entire visible spectrum. Surely, it was modified to block all types of harmful radiation.
- Do not touch that field, I think there is a mortal inside, and it will die if the field collapses in this atmosphere. Try to levitate it and move to the temple, I think the protective field will let us enter the building without any problems.
Lind appeared her battle-ax, and the others followed her example. As gently as possible they directed their energy to the physical barrier, trying not to collapse it, they did not know how stable it might be. The barrier went up and saw it´s semi-spherical shape. Lind could imagine it was a dark cocoon that had a promise of life inside. At first, the field seemed to reject their magic, but then as if it recognize its origin, stopped resisting and let it move.
As Lind predicted, the temple barrier let them in. In the interior of the temple, the field began to dissolve, as if recognizing that there was no threat. Then they saw two intertwined bodies.
- Keiichi! Belldandy! - They seemed wounded and their bodies looked lifeless . Keiichi had blood on the head, Belldandy showed large burns on her body where her divine code seemed trying to escape. Keiichi still held tightly in his hand an object that looked like an amulet. Lind came to touch them; this time could not hide her tears. In the past, she had stoically accepted the death of her fellow combatants, but these two were not warriors. They were people to whom she felt bound by other ties. Gently touched their faces to feel their energy. They were still alive!
- Quick, take them inside, call the healer, she has a new priority.
Other Valkyries were levitating the other cocoons. Lind approached one of them and watched it carefully as it dissolved. She found Urd and an unknown mortal who also held an amulet similar to the one that Keiichi had. Urd also had deep burns, the human did not seem injured but was in a deep coma. His vital energy seemed to run out.
The third cocoon arrived. Inside they found Skuld and a human child. They did not seem badly injured, but were under a deep coma. Their vital energies were also in a very low point.
They were taken inside the temple meanwhile the healer came to report.
- I managed to stabilize the demons. They are not completely out of danger, but will be enough until reinforcements arrive. I decide to call more healers. I am not a specialist in demons.
- You have done well, but I hope you know something about mortal. We have three mortal, only one of them seem to have injuries, yet their vital energy seems on the verge to run out.
It was a starry sky but it seemed surreal. The absence of air prevented the twinkling of the stars, so they seemed strangely still. I was a very dark sky, populated only by a few stars. Most of the suns of this universe had died before they could be stabilized.
Below was what looked like a giant valley, but in this world without no air or rain, erosion was not the cause of this geology. Rivers of petrified rock were witnesses of the energy that had generate this huge scar.
At both ends of the valley appeared two dimensional gates, where two figures emerged. They looked tiny at the scale of this place. However, their power was not. Slowly they floated to the ground.
One of the figures was Hild. Before her rival could react, she lifted her arms and her body became incandescent. A brief, blinding flash came out of her hands to hit Anang-Reng.
However, he reacted immediately. He raised his hand and extended the palm. The flash slammed his hand and energy bounced in all directions. The nearby rock swells with the deflected energy and became incandescent. He was waiting that attack. For millennial, he had studied his opponent and had prepared for this day.
Hild greeted her opponent with a smile of approval. That attack had served against more than half of her rivals. Suddenly, two huge columns of rock grow out of the ground, and collapsed bringing down tons of rock on top of her. However, she was not there. He had observed how Anang-Reng had hidden his other hand to cast this spell.
This time Anang-Reng greet her, after all, this was just a warm up. Soon the real battle would begin.
Soon this world, called Dysnomia, or conflict, began to be filled with fires that had not be seen since its formation. The total absence of sound, due to the absence of air gave an unreal air to battle. The mere light emanating from that conflict would have vaporized a human.
The exchange of energy and powerful magic soon turned a large part of the surface into a sea of lava, gradually the gases from the lava began to form an atmosphere and sound began to exist. A sound that was an echo of tectonic energies that were already shaking the entire planet.
The temple was full of activity. Ghadril had given orders to the squad of Valkyries, who faced and old enemy: death, but this they were not using weapons.
Urd and Belldandy were so weak they were in danger of dissolving and thereby lose forever their code. Some of the Valkyries concentrated their energies to generate a container field. Skuld did not seem in imminent danger, but her condition was delicate. Ghadril was trying to break the coma in which they were mortals were, but she did not know how to restore their vital energy.
Lind looked her squad activity feeling useless. What else could she do? For some reason the healing experts who had been requested were taking too much time to come to earth, and there were no explanations. Something was happening in the high council.
She approached the human children, who seemed to be the one in better shape. He was so young, yet he seemed to have fought. There were lacerations and scrapes on his skin. Lind thought, at least those she could heal. She put her hand on his forehead and then retired in surprise. She had sensed something strange. She put her hand again on him and felt a strange flow. She moved her hand around the child's body and felt a strange sensation. Then called Chrono.
- Chrono, can you apply the analysis software in the room? I sense a strange energy, but cannot not locate its source.
- Yes, madam. Right away. - Chrono activated again the screens, this time she included a routine of augmented reality to extend the information directly into the room.
Now they could see a strange phenomenon. Thin threads of energy seemed to surround the child's body. They were faint, but looking carefully, they could see these threads seem to come from the ground.
- Chrono. What is that energy? Can you determine its origin?
The young Valkyrie began frantically to manipulate the screens and finally exclaimed in amazement.
- It is vital energy from the planet. It is life force emanating from Gaia. I tough it was just a hypothesis mixed with legends. It´s energy supports all life on this planet, but it should not interact with humans in that way. To Gaia, humans are just another form of life and yet it seems she wants to feed them...
- I think these are not ordinary human beings. Watch their auras. They are completely different from any human being I have seen. I tough Keiichi was unique in that sense, but I see here another two similar humans. I do not know what this could mean.
Then they hear the child began to breathe more deeply. His breathing began to accelerate, and his lifeless body began to regain life. His eyelids twitched a little and slowly opened his eyes. For a moment his eyes looked to the ceiling with no expression, then his face twitched and then with a sleepy voice boy said.
- I am hungry! - Then attempted to get up but was very weak, and even seemed he was not completely awaken. Lind rushed to help him up. Still with a dreamy voice, the child reacted to her touch, and said:
- Mom, I had a strange dream, and ..- He turned and saw Lind and stopped at the sight of an unfamiliar face.
Who are you? - He turned around while he became fully awake. Where am I? I remember being with Skuld and then she ... - The children gasped as his memories came - Skuld! Where is she? - He tried to get up but his body did not obey him. Then Lind with a tenderness that surprised her colleagues took the child in her arms and took him where Skuld was still unconscious.
- She is very weak, but she is not in immediate danger. - We are looking after her. Do not try to move you are still very weak; you were on the verge of death. First we need you explain us what has happened here - Lind called the healer.
- Othala, what happens to him, his vital energy seems to be almost restored, but he is still very weak.
The healer touched the forehead of the boy, who looked in amazement at all these strange women, in his eyes on could see a thousand questions, but he could barely speak. Othala withdrew her hand, and was relieved.
- Yes, his vital energy seems to have returned, but his body still needs chemical energy to function. Unlike us, he needs to eat, at least he need carbohydrates immediately.
- Food? Yes, I know here is a place for storage and processing. I will take him to eat. - Lind looked at the child's face who tried to protest and for a moment had the luxury of a smile. - Come on my little warrior. You must regain your strength so that you can help us. - And took him to the kitchen.
The other Valkyries looked stunned as their commander was away. That was Lind? the most dreaded and legendary of the Valkyries whose name make shook the hearts of demons!. A few a moments ago, they had seen tears in her eyes and now the way she treated that child. Then they froze when an authoritative voice filled the room.
- Keep working!
Yes, that was better, immediately they returned to their patients.
Walharen and Marler walked along the room while they check the bodies lying on the floor. There were was almost 50 bodies, they seemed like dead, yet they had weak signs of breathing.
Marler asked:
- How long can they survive?
- We transfer all their energy and magic to Hild. Unfortunately, we cannot to a partial transfer since what I did was to transfer their identity to Hild, and the system believes Hild is all of them. The only energy they have is metabolic like humans, but in human terms, they are weaker than a newborn. In addition, they cannot take energy of the system since they have lost their identity as demons. Look how they do not even have marks. If their energy is not back in a few days, they will begin to die, but I hope this will not take more than a few hours.
Marler looked at the bodies and then to Walharen
- They volunteered and risked their lives because they have hopes of changing our world, but why did you help us?
- For the same reason they did it. I fear Hild, but I have seen records of the wars. I have performed simulations with alternative scenarios. In the end, we had no way to win, nor the gods. The victory of either side would have caused the destruction of the multiverse. We cannot exist apart. If only we...
Marler interrupted.
- Look at the screen, what is happening there.
The screen was filled with the image of Dysnomia, the desert world where the trial was conducted. What once was a dark world, now was intensely bright and what once was cold stone, now was a sea of lava. The entire planet seemed on the verge of collapse. At the place where the battle occurred, something that looked as a glowing wall began to spread across the surface turning the planet in an incandescent sphere. Then the sphere began to increase its size as the dead planet went from being lava into gas and then into plasma. The sphere began to grow faster and the growth became an explosion. Before they realized what happened, where a planet has existed, there was now empty space.
Marler screamed in horror at the destruction. Who could have survived that? He ran to the council room where confusion reigned. No one knew what had happened. The planet had been reinforced to use it in energy trials. The battle had reached unimaginable levels.
Then there was silence as a portal began to open in the center of the room. Fear reigned in the hall. There were magic protections to prevent that. Only someone with great power could do it.
Then there from all the demons came out a cry.
- Hild!.. Hail Hild, our sovereign, the great Daimakaichō.
Hild descended to the ground. Her face was impassive, as her eyes slowly swept the room, and allowed a wry smile that brought terror to all. Her face radiated a lot of energy from the battle that made her terribly beautiful.
Hild started walking slowly toward the antechamber, while all bowed along her path. Absolute silence reigned in the room and no one dared to move. They had witnessed her power.
Hild went through the door, followed by Marler. No sooner had the door closed, Hild looked at Marler with supplicate on her eyes and pain on her voice said:
- Look for Urd. I need her!
Then she collapsed to the floor.
End of Chapter XV
Notes:
I thank to Ralph Vaughan Williams, Kenji Kawai and Yoko Kano, for their music that helped me write this.
Dysnomia: is the name of the natural satellite of planet Eris. Eris would have been the 10th planet of the solar system, and the discovered originally has suggested the name "Xena"... After the name was rejected, he chose to call its satellite: Dysnomia, which means "conflict" or "without law" in honor of actress Lucy Lawless.
Tears of Peele: they are drops of molten glass, found around some volcanoes. The names come from the Hawaiian goddess of the volcanoes.