Ah, sweet freedom.
Now G'raha tasted the difference. When he broke his shackles the last few times, he knew that whatever he tried to pull off, no matter how persistent his resistance, he would not be free for longer than a few moments. Now, it was radically different. The Exarch tried to retain his nobility, but after everything he went through during his capture…He wanted to enjoy the moment while it lasted.
Shortly after Elidibus left the core and Emet was once again consumed by his endless musings, the whispers of Mitron echoed in G'raha's head like a song of darkness paving the way for him. And then, the shackles were weakened.
The few seconds after Hades noticed his escape and before reaching the core, G'raha felt an intense adrenaline rush. If he makes as much as one misstep, new chains will bind him, and he will lose freedom once again. It would be much more hurtful this time, knowing G'raha had a real chance. But fortune was on the Exarch's side. When his hand touched the core, the Exarch felt a surge of sheer might, easily rivaling his resolve before fighting Emet in Amaurot.
Of course, the ascian would try to stop him, but a wave of light pushed him aside. It transformed G'raha, infusing him with light's power. It was a transformation similar to those he witnessed in others, the light changing your body and soul…It was scarcely different from that of a sin-eater, at the very least, physically. But something helped G'raha retain his consciousness in the face of this metamorphosis. Was it due to how different this one was from other sin-eaters or G'raha's protective aura from Crystal Tower? He didn't know, but it hardly mattered at all.
He emerged as a different creature. G'raha resembled the Prime they fought before. His body became larger and was colored in pure white, with signature wings of the beast arising behind his back and a spear in his hand. Only G'raha's face remained recognizable, and his mind and sanity with it. Emet was quick to rise; the ascian looked at G'raha with some surprise but was quickly replaced with smug confidence.
"Now, now…Someone has to call to higher powers to break free? Somehow I am barely surprised." - Hades said with some exhaustion in his voice.
"I thought it was time for me to do some exercise. Being tied up for days does not have the best effect." - G'raha responded, preparing his spear. For the first time since he saw his friends perish, there was a smile. He had the power, and he would not waste it.
"Shall I be thanking Mitron for this farce?" - Hades shouted as he looked around. "So you have more control than I presumed and still chose to indulge him? A new low for sure." - He grinned maliciously.
"He is right here…Strike him down! What are you waiting for?" - Mitron's echoes rang in G'raha's head. His first instinct was to parry and talk, but he soon realized that this was pointless. Emet-Selch stood before him, seemingly open. G'raha thought back to the fateful day, how Hades showed no remorse, how he held G'raha imprisoned ever since. With all the power flowing in G'raha's veins, there was little desire to hold back.
"Shall you make a move? Or was this all just for posturing and brave words?" - Hades continued, taunting G'raha to attack.
"Very well, I see you're very eager for it!" - G'raha exclaimed and charged at Hades.
The Exarch attacked the ascian with a direct spell of light, but the ascian knew it was coming. Emet quickly teleported behind him and unleashed several dark arrows right upon G'raha's light-infused skin. The Exarch promptly turned around and blocked the last few with a light shield.
"Almost impressive, but not quite." - Hades stated. "At least that beast had patience…."
"I'm afraid my patience was exhausted by waiting in your shackles!"
"Oh, poor you…." - G'raha heard another Mitron's whisper in his head, to which he pain no attention.
Hades continued his onslaught by summoning an array of dark bolts from above. They were reminiscent of small blades and rained down on G'raha with immense speed. Each hit would leave a mark of darkness upon him, forcing G'raha to resist the temporary pain. Despite this, he continued to walk and soon reached Emet-Selch. Another light spell was unleashed, hitting the ascian and forcing him to teleport further away. He did not seem too hurt by it, but G'raha noticed some caution in his gaze.
"A strong resilience to spells, you almost make me want to return to old ways." - Hades shook his head. "Come to think of it, perhaps I shouldn't hold off." - He materialized a claymore in his hands, ready to attack G'raha.
"Ah, yes, I should've remembered…" - G'raha would not be so quick to dismiss a sword this time. After all, a precise strike was that which killed the old Prime.
Before Hades could do anything, the Exarch created two explosive spheres to his sides. Simultaneously they raged and annihilated. Emet had to put up his protective aura to avoid their destructive effect. He remained intact and still standing tall.
"How ironic, I was almost about to ask you for your answer before you escaped…It seems that you're not ready yet." - He was preparing for another strike. G'raha was preparing a defense.
"Make him unleash most of his darkness. That shall weaken his power." - Mitron carried on whispering; G'raha was fed up with him. He had to focus on the present. In defeating Hades, he might finally bring the first its salvation.
"No matter where this timeline shall lead, no matter what your plans are…I won't stand aside and watch you destroy these people's lives, annihilate their hopes, and bring endless suffering! How is that for an answer?" - He said with pride and took on a battle stance.
"How shallow and predictable…" - Emet grabbed his sword and charged toward G'raha. He jumped, ready to wound the Exarch with his blade, but G'raha was able to block his hit with a spear. He could clearly feel that Hades held back. He still wanted to keep G'raha alive for future developments, which gave him an advantage.
"Since when has Mitron…No matter, you'll fall all the same!" - Emet pressed on, but after an explosive wave was pushed back and forced to retreat. G'raha was gaining momentum; he was about to press on only to be met with Emet's power of pure darkness.
"Very well…If that doesn't discourage you, I shall use a tad more radical technique." - He was clouded in darkness seconds after, only to begin his transformation, the same one G'raha seen in Amaurot. His "full strength," as Emet himself called it. G'raha was preparing to face him. There was no fear in his heart.
"Yes, the darkness…" - The whisper rang. "Such fulfillment and I yearn for more!" - This was G'raha's only worry.
For in cooperating, he knowingly gave power to another monster.
…
Ryne tricked herself into believing in her success for a split moment and played right into Elidibus's hands. As the girl plunged her daggers into the ascian's robes, the thoughts that the coming light would slightly weaken him. This was a futile hope. The Emissary seemed to shake only for a moment; Ryne could hear his grunt and a momentary shake before he regained his balance. Before Ryne could strike again, the ascian grabbed her hand.
"Your resistance is pointless and only serves to inconvenience both you and us." - Elidibus said. Ryne resisted, but his strength was overbearing.
"You want to bring back your world and want us to abandon ours? How arrogant do you even have to be?!" - Ryne tried to hit him with another dagger but met no success. Other adventurers attempted to save her. Cerigg launched his arrow unto Elidibus, only for it to be repelled by his magical aura.
"I imagine my comrade would be interested to see you personally, as am I." - Elidibus would not let Ryne go no matter how much the girl resisted him. The ascian opened a dark portal, and before adventurers could do anything, he teleported to Eden's core with Ryne.
The girl found herself amidst the platform surrounded by celestial images in the next instant. The chilly wind of the empty was all but gone, replaced with the grandiose heart. She tried to resist as Elidibus's grip strengthened, but there was something else…Something even the ascian was perplexed by.
A sphere of light formed near them, immediately following it with an explosion. Both Ryne and Elidibus were hit and pushed in opposite directions. The oracle found herself close to the edge of this platform, her skin was burning, but at least she was free from his grasp. She could feel an abundance of light and darkness inside this place, clashing with each other.
As she stood up and looked ahead, Ryne noticed a powerful dark blast flying towards her, but it was repelled by a wall of light in front of her. A creature resembling a smaller version of Eden stood in front of her with a light barrier, blocking any dark magic that would appear. Ryne could barely see anything on the other side of this barrier, only a tall figure. The creature turned towards her, and at this moment, Ryne caught a glimpse of his face. It was enough for her to realize, although not without questions.
"E…Exarch?" - She said, still combating her disbelief. However, it was soon mitigated by sheer relief, realizing that the man standing in front of her was indeed her protector. "Thank the tower you're alive!"
"Ryne?" - G'raha asked with similar shock. His voice has been somewhat distorted in this form, but the wonder and spark of hope within it immediately distinguished him. "What are you doing here?" - He said while continuing to uphold the barrier as determined as possible.
"I've come to take control of E…This creature so Emet-Selch wouldn't use it!" - Ryne thought for a moment, trying to think quickly on her next step. The time to question G'raha about his misfortunes would come, but it was not now. "I have friends down there; they've come with me. Can you open a portal?" - She asked with hope. G'raha seemed puzzled and slightly distant as if he was listening for someone else…But eventually, he raised his spear, and four light portals opened their way.
However, it would take some energy from him, weakening the barrier. The platform was obvious to Ryne again.
"How do you know you can take control?" - G'raha wondered, watching for his adversary.
"Hydaelyn visited me in my dreams, said it's about my light's power…." - Ryne responded, praying for the goddess to be right this one time. She saw that G'raha was full of doubt.
"This being is not safe; there is a darkness that rests inside, it's…" - G'raha was interrupted by another arrow of shadow.
"It's the only way! We can't muse on it now!" - After these words, G'raha realized that this was not the time to argue. The Exarch sighed. Even the changed voice couldn't hide his worry.
"I'll protect you, then. Just, please…Be careful." - He pleaded.
"I know, I…" - She was interrupted by Elidibus's voice.
"What a mess have you made while I left for a moment…I expected more."- The white-robed ascian stood up and gazed at his colleague.
"Leave your criticisms to yourself, will you? I see you have brought some unwelcome guests!" - A familiar demonic voice rang out, spreading like wildfire through the woods. Ryne knew who this was.
The girl looked at the being who stood to the other side of the platform, facing G'raha. An abomination clad in ebon robes, its face stripped of any characteristics of a living being. One of his hands had claws sharper than Vauthry's wings, while another held a crystal staff pulsating with darkness. This was the one G'raha fought so valiantly, the one that tarnished the health of Ryne's mind forever.
"Whoah, where in the hell are we?!" - Giott exclaimed as she emerged from the portal and witnessed the core.
"Didn't expect the insides of sin-eaters to look like this…" - Reeq said as he still tried to process what was in front of him.
"Holy…" - Cerigg's shocked voice was the last one Ryne heard before the drums in her ears began their hellish work.
Ryne wanted to run towards the core, it was in her sight a few moments ago, but now it began to fade away. Her entire view was clouded, and Ryne could not even walk. In a moment, she could feel her legs breaking away from her mind's control; they shook and could cause her to fall at any time.
"Too many guests, I would say. Deal with them while I pacify this exarch!" - Another shout from Hades pierced Ryne's ears like an arrow of darkness. With each word he said, Ryne felt another strike at her heart, another sharp claw plunging into her defenseless neck. It burned, all burned.
"Deal with them while I pacify this exarch!" - The last phrase repeated time after time, akin to a horrific loop. It became less and less recognizable with each time, less like speech and more like a growl, a scream of pure hatred. Ryne felt such disgust that she would not even look up. We're she to look, the girl would meet his gaze on her. The predatory and maniacal gaze.
"Ryne, let's go! We need to get you to the core!" - Granson shouted as he stood before her. He barely understood the chaos that was going on; all Granson knew was that they had a mission to fulfill, and they could not abandon it in the face of any odds. His voice did not sound natural. However, it had a lower pitch and reminded me of a cryptic machine…Still, Ryne knew it to be him. He looked at her with fear swiftly turned into empathy. Perhaps he understood.
Granson rushed towards Ryne and held her hand, helping the oracle walk.
"Hold him back!" - He commanded others, likely referring to Elidibus as the white-robed ascian restored his strength. Cerigg and Reeq unleashed all of their remaining arrows, while Giott never even planned to stop while her hammer was intact.
Ryne followed Granson instinctively, without having any sense of what was going on. She did not look back, but her image was still in front of him. An amalgamation of both man and beast on darkened wings, similar to the one Ryne saw in her memories. It sauntered, peering into Ryne's soul, reading her like an open book; there were no secrets to hide, not even the slightest possibility.
Elidibus was not in range. It would seem like hardened adventurers managed to hold him back, at least for a moment. Every second, Ryne expected the ground to fall beneath her, for the monster to cast an annihilation spell and end it all. Why were they even still alive? Was it because of G'raha's resilience or perhaps the aura of light that weakened the schemers? Maybe she was dead already, seeing one last twisted image before her pathetic demise.
Nevertheless, the nightmare continued. Ryne was in front of the core with Granson guarding her; she placed her hand on its beacon…Only to have the voices in her head become louder and quicker. These demons tearing her mind apart became unbearable, causing the girl to shake and see the monstrous Hades before her again. It was a creature akin to those she fought in Amaurot, but something was different…Its eyes were human but filled with blood and tears. And instead of the masks of the fallen ascians, there were…
When will this ever end?
Ryne tried to establish a connection, but her state of mind was nowhere near ready. A red arcane sphere appeared in front of her. In its reflection, Ryne caught a glimpse of Emet-Selch fighting G'raha shortly before the globe exploded. Both the oracle and her guardian were thrown a few meters away, closer to the side where Elidibus battled other adventurers. As Ryne tried to stand up, she felt immediate pain and burning on her skin, but this time it was not solely from her mind.
Elidibus forced Ryne to the ground with his own dark shackles with a sheer will of his mind. They needed her alive for later, and now she will be forced to watch them all burn shortly before her…Perhaps she could break free from this with her light, but with all the terror her mind failed to process, it grew faint.
Ryne witnessed as her newfound friends surrounded Elidibus, yet he did not appear to be entrapped even for a moment. Each attack, be it with the sword, hammer or arrows, met powerful resistance from the Emissary. Arrows have been obliterated on the spot. Cerigg and Reeq would attempt to strike from different angles while Granson and Giott distract them, but even when arrows reached Elidibus, they did little harm to the man. He was not a body but a powerful spirit that inhabited one. The melee fighters would always go for the head, hoping that at least that would hurt him, but most of the time, this pursuit was just as fruitless.
They shouted, gave each other commands, and tried to adapt to this situation; Ryne could barely comprehend their words due to echoing in her ears. Were they genuinely surviving for so long facing an enemy far surpassing their strength, or were they amongst fleeting seconds that felt like an eternity in Ryne's mind? Elidibus would summon arrows and spells, calling the power of lightning and fire to his side, and her friends would continue to evade and fight back. Such resolve, such inspiration…
And to the other side, G'raha was battling the predator. He was the one keeping the monster on the other side of this platform, using all power of light available to him to hold him down. They both were masters in their arts. G'raha had Eden on his side for reasons Ryne could not yet fathom. He was able to receive some of its power yet not gain control…
Hades would summon aethereal spheres and mirrors, blasting with arcane power and leaving the Exarch no room for survival. Every time the protector of light would strike, Emet-Selch would reveal another trick up his sleeve. As the ascian unleashed the power of his staff on this floor, the pure darkness would spread into G'raha's defense, weakening him even more. He would keep on defending himself and providing a magical aura for adventurers around them.
With every word he uttered, with every dark spell Hades imposed, Ryne would tremble. He would transform even further in her own mind, pushing this entire place into darkness. His thousand eyes shall peer upon her as the last beacon of light needing to be extinguished. No prayer, no invocation, no plea would save her soul from an eternity of pain, an eternity of having to look upon the distorted and burned faces of her friends.
As she continued to shiver, Ryne saw Hades preparing a major onslaught. Dozens of dark crystal arrows emerged at his command, all to be launched at G'raha and those he protected. The Prime would quickly raise an even more substantial barrier, pushing himself to his limits. They would fly one after the other as he would try to salvage what little hope they had left.
Tears, agony, and screams…All of this reared the girl's soul apart. She hated every moment of it, but she could not exert any control.
She saw someone approach, looking at her with an expression full of compassion and hope with underlying dread. It was Cerigg who wasted most of his arrows and had to keep his distance from Elidibus. It was clear from his gaze that the man wanted to help. Ryne didn't want to fail him; she breathed quickly and irregularly as her anxiety increased. If only she could be stronger if only she could be…
"Hey…" - He said quietly, cautiously approaching Ryne. Cerigg did not seem to be surprised due to her current condition. He was even willing to risk precious time to take it slow. Elidibus must have been on their tail, fighting others, but they wouldn't hold forever. "Try to breathe slowly…It helps." - He added. Was her distorted breathing pattern so obvious?
Ryne closed her eyes, trying to switch the image in her head to something else with no success. She was among darkness…Like the majestic night's sky, she had the blessing of seeing back in Lakeland. She was alone…In solitude, that would allow her to think for herself, not be forced into walking another path. Hades was getting closer…Like a gracious nightingale drifting in the darkness. She breathed slowly and methodically, trying to come back to her stability. Cerigg would approach and sit down. He was also afraid, constantly looking back at the clash that was occurring.
"Okay, Ryne…please listen. You have to focus…Otherwise, it won't end well for any of us!" - Cerigg tried to push her, which quickly broke her serenity.
The nightingale transformed into a monster who wished only to hunt Ryne down and make her suffer again. The room around her crumbled as she moaned again, wasting what little willpower she had left in dealing with this atrocity. Cerigg quickly realized his mistake; he seemed to imagine what Ryne was going through in her mind.
"No…Let me go!" - The girl shouted agonizingly.
"Whatever you're seeing, it's not real. Your mind is playing tricks; it's not true…You're here, in reality, and that's…."
"I…I…" - Ryne tried to focus on him and forget the visions.
"You're here. You know you're here. Say…What do you see now?" - Cerigg made her focus on her surroundings.
"I see…Stars. The battle, and…" - Ryne breathed slowly once again, beginning to sense her surroundings. This was enough to regain some of her light's power, shattering the shackles behind her back.
Immediately after that, Cerigg grabbed her hand. Ryne flinched due to sudden contact, but she slowly got back to reality. When she stood up, the girl noticed this battle still going. Hades tried to pierce G'raha's barrier while Elidibus continued to fight worn-down adventurers. And then there was the core.
Ryne breathed, clutching Cerigg's hand. Elidibus was still busy with fighting, which meant Ryne might have had some time.
"Is it better?" - Cerigg asked with care.
"Yes, a little…Thank you." - Ryne breathed with relief as the visions became fainter, nothing more than an eerie thought at the back of her mind.
"Taynor had to go through a lot after…Well, doesn't matter. You need to control the core, can you…."
"Yes." - Ryne replied with certainty, looking at the pedestal. "It's now or never."
And this was so indeed.
Ryne and Cerigg rushed towards the core of Eden. Trying to activate it did not prove an easy task for Ryne last time, but she at least could have some control over herself. Behind her, there still was…No, no need to think of that.
Elidibus emerged from the dark portal right by their side as they got closer to the core. He was prepared to launch another spell, and the other three adventurers were too far away to reach him.
"Don't look back!" - Cerigg shouted to Ryne before taking his last arrow and pointing it at Elidibus.
The girl followed his advice; she reached the core and placed her hand upon it. Immediately the oracle felt light surging through her. Unintelligible whispers returned to poison her mind even further, but they were far less influential this time. Eventually, she felt this light connecting with her own, forming an energetic bond…There was indeed something dark within, but Ryne could hardly understand. When this fusion was finally complete, Ryne felt the fulfillment of her own soul, as if Eden became an extension of her own essence. It would obey.
There was only one thought on her mind, the one that merged into energy and spread the will across the withered body of a sin-eater. Ryne heard a scream right behind her back as if someone got their heart pierced by a spear. The girl looked back. She could only see the light barrier with a myriad of cracks on it. G'raha could not hold any longer; in split seconds, it would explode in another massive wave of energy. And much closer to her…A fallen warrior. Cerigg fell to his knees after being hit by the Emissary's powerful spell. His heart and mouth blended, and his eyes turned red…
She did not see more. The explosive wave prevented her from seeing.
But Ryne could feel. Could feel the ground rising beneath her feet, the return of a creature that long laid dormant, the freedom the power of light has opened for it.
Eden has awakened.