Chapter 22: The Butterfly and the Holder of Flames.
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"It's dark... yet so warm..."
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"Wait... why am I here?"
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"I can't... remember anything."
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From the slumbering dark void, light shines before her eyes. A woman with a beautiful flow of green hair woke up from her bed with a yawn and groggily scanned her surroundings and finds herself in her bedroom. Yet her senses felt a familiar tinge of sensation. She didn't know what it was... and it was strange as if she had been in a bad dream. She looks back, then forth. The priestess tilts her head sideways from her sleeping mood and her hands pat both of her cheeks while snapping back to reality.
"How long have I been asleep?" The priestess yawned while stretching her arms until she felt a slight pain in her head. "Ugh! Goodness... my head hurts... it felt like I've been working tirelessly."
The priestess gets up from her bed and went to the nearest closet. She opened up and smiled to see her pure white priestess garment inside. It was fresh and clean. The orphans did a good job of doing the laundry which made her so proud to think the children were slowly becoming older and more responsible for themselves. She changed her sleepwear to a priestess garment and shortly after the priestess changed her clothes; she heard a knock on the door and spun around. It opens up and a small girl with brown hair, tied in twin tails, came through the entrance of her room and looks up at the Priestess with a smile.
"Ah! Big sis! You're awake!" The little girl jumped with joy. "Everyone has eaten their breakfast and we're worried that you didn't wake up earlier and getting hungry!"
"Oh, dear... it's already late?" The priestess said in surprise before smiling at the little girl while exiting her room. "I'd better go into the kitchen. Thank you, Emiyu."
"There's still some food left!" Emiyu calls out loud. "Don't worry Sasha, they're still warm!"
...
An hour had passed since her late breakfast. Sasha is doing her usual working routine of taking care of the orphans; praying, eating, teaching, and doing some enjoyable activities they're usually doing in the orphanage playground. Lisia and Emiyu were currently playing tag along with other kids while Sasha sat on her wooden chair, reading a book. That's not until she heard someone appears from behind and saw a man with red hair who wore in his armour, bearing the insignia on his chest to represent the faith of the Chief God.
She smiled at the young man. This person she knew was like a brother-type to her and grew up with each other since they were children after her mother picked him up from the streets of the slums.
"Hey, Sasha!" Elt greeted with a smile with a wave of his hand. "It's been a while."
"Ah, Elt." Sasha then dismissed her book while standing up and turn her gaze to Elt. "How was your duty?"
"Well... kinda boring nowadays." Elt groaned while looking down in dissatisfaction. "There is no news of monster activities going on in the frontiers."
"I-... I see. That's strange. The monsters aren't active lately." Sasha said until she felt a strange sensation stirred within her head as if something went aloof. One unusual thing came into her mind and spoke out loud. "It's probably the Silver-Blue Knight fighting them to keep us safe."
"... The Silver-Blue Knight?" Elt then raised his eyebrow in question. "Who's that guy?"
'... Huh? Why did I say that?' Sasha then stood silent for a moment while turning her glance around in confusion. 'From where did I hear that name?'
"Sasha? Are you alright?" Elt stood dumbfounded to see his big sister turning her face left and right as if something caught her suspicion while looking around if there was someone. But there was none except the children. Then he snaps his fingers in front of her face. "Hey! Wake up!"
The priestess jolts up in surprise and then turns back to Elt. The man in question then expressed his face of worry.
"You're acting strange," He said while comforting Sasha with a rub on her shoulder. "I've seen that you're working tirelessly almost every day. I think you need to take a rest."
"O-Oh? Is that so?" Sasha then flustered with an embarrassed look. "I... I think you're right. Ash might get worried when I keep up like this!"
"... Who's Ash?" Elt was then puzzled while cocking his head, dumbfounded. "You've met a new friend?"
Sasha slowly widened her eyes in disbelief. From where did she know his name? Wait, "his"? The name indicates that it presumably belonged to a man. But that's not the point; her head felt a slight pain and tensed as she looked up to the children before turning her glance at Elt which he expressed more worrisome for her wellbeing.
"Sasha! Are you okay?!"
"I-I'm not feeling well, Elt." Sasha groaned while massaging her temples. She turned on her heels and headed straight inside the orphanage. "I-... I need to drink some water...!"
"Huh?... A-... Alright, then I'll look out for the children." Elt said while turning his attention to see the two girls, Lisia and Emiyu, waving at him. "Oh hey! Having fun, you two?"
...
"Wh-What is happening to me...!?" Sasha walked through the hallways while panting in a panic until she reached her bedroom and closed the door shut. "From where... did I know that name...?"
"Looks liketh, I've hath awakened thy lost memories." The Warrior Nun widened her eyes in shock to hear a garbled voice coming out from nowhere. She raised her hand to summon her staff, but to her dismay, her weapon didn't appear and the voice continued to tell its words. "Be not afraid, Sasha Fullmoon. I've cometh with nay harm."
"Wh-Who are you!?" Sasha steeled her eyes while looking around. "Show yourself!"
"Right hither."
Sasha stopped and then slowly turned around. She reeled back and gawked in disbelief to see what was in front of her stood a live bonfire in the middle of her room. She can feel its radiant warmth emanating from the flames. But the strangest thing of all is that the flame itself didn't burn the wooden floors and spoke to her in a strange accent and words. Sasha felt as if she was hallucinating and tilted her head off before looking up to it once again. And the flames still stood there.
"What on earth...?" The Maiden of Lescatie uttered. "Who are you?... Are you an... Elemental?"
"Hahaha! Nay, far from it. The people of mine own fusty realm referred to me known as "The Flames". A God... sort of." The Flame Entity introduced itself as it spoke in a thousand voices before changing its tone. Making it a clear male voice that spoke up. "Listen very well, Daughter of the Chief God's Light. I came hither to awaken thee from thoust slumber. Thine memories and thine past hast locked, hence by the manifestation of thy desires."
"Wait... what!?" Sasha expressed her shock of a sudden. "You're telling me that this... is a dream?"
"Yes, indeed. An illusion whither thoust catch but a wink in a world. A world madeth by thy desire whither thou liveth' in a peaceful life." The Flames replied. "Ash Cyrus, mine own current Holder, is on his way to saveth thee from this slumbering prison."
"Th-This can't be! But all of this felt so real!" Sasha blurted out agitatedly in question while stepping back in doubt. "How is this an illusion and who is Ash Cyrus and how did I know his name!?"
"...Observe."
The Flames then suddenly grew and incinerates the surrounding room alight. Sasha shielded herself from the blast until the consuming flames spread all across the room until stone walls dissolved into flaming embers, along with the furniture, windows, and the door as well. The Priestess slowly lowered her arms and opened her eyes and gawked in shock as she finds herself in a middle of a dark void. Then Sasha felt some strange sensations that crept around her, which made her uncomfortable. Then she looks down and saw her body is in its corporeal state, like a spirit with an aura of blue, glistened with radiance.
"Wh-What's all of this?!"
"Thou art in the middle of thine spiritual core." The Flames answered until it summoned a shard full of memories that appeared to be floating in mid-air. She observed the fragment, and some memories flashed in her head. Sasha didn't seem to recognise them at all. "Take heed and look up to thine memory fragment and thoust tryeth to remember it."
Sasha stepped forth to the fragment of light, curious as it sounds. The Warrior Nun felt a connection to it and raised her finger, then carefully touched the fragment piece until her eyes dilate while hearing several voices rang within her head and they all sounded strikingly familiar.
"But Ms Fullmoon, look!" Sasha saw herself looking down on Ralph, a boy who's making a pleading look while pointing his finger upwards towards the Knight. "It's the Silver-Blue Knight that everyone is talking about!"
Sasha turns around to see herself in her memory, who looks up at the Silver-Blue Knight while letting out a small gasp in disbelief. The memory of herself hushed the two boys back in the orphanage before turning her glance towards the armoured warrior. Is this the mysterious Silver-Blue Knight she kept mentioning about without knowing?
"S-Sorry about that... umm, Mister..?"
"...Ash." The knight responded with a muffled voice behind his helmet. "...Ash Cyrus."
"GAH!" Sasha suddenly gasped out for air. Several pieces of her missing memories went into her mind like a rush. She had seen her and the knight escaping the nation of Lescatie, meeting Siegward and Co, then her adventures of delving into the Dungeons and befriending Sif, the Greatwolf of Lordran. "Hah!... Hah!... Ash Cyrus... By the Chief God... Ash! Oh no, this is horrible!"
"... Did thou receive thine memories?"
"Y-Yes... I remember it now. The temptations of the Fallen God have turned me into... something worse!" Upon speaking those words, Sasha felt her legs were shaken until she slumped to the floor, sobbing in despair. "I-... I can't believe it... wh-what am I going to do!? If... if he founds out that I turned into a monster..."
"Calm down, Daughter of Light. Dost not fret to bethink about worrying thoughts."
"Calm down!? How am I supposed to calm down!?" Sasha cried out loud in desperation. "I need to get out... is... is there a way!?"
The Bonfire stood idle until it manifests a vision. Sasha heard clanking footsteps of metal and steel dangling like it was dragged up by a staircase. She turns around and saw Ash from the vision. Sasha was shocked and saddened at seeing him exhausted as if he went through multiple battles without rest before he pulls up a Radiant Lifegem and restored his body's condition and fatigue to her relief. Then he looks up and his face morphed into surprise when he saw her behind the vision.
Sasha felt as if she was being seen until he spoke up. "... Sasha?"
'Wait... he can see me!?' Her face then expressed in surprise. 'If he can hear me out from here-'
"Oh dear, 't seemeth like the foreign energy is preventing thine call."
"Ash... Please, hurry! You must-!"
Suddenly, the demonic energy manifested into a violent whirlwind like a serpent and smashed the vision into thousands of shards. Sasha stood in horror as the serpent-like being turned its attention to the priestess and dive in to consume her and bring her human consciousness back to the dream. The Warrior Nun shields herself from hostile manifestation until the Flames created a barrier and dissolved the giant serpent into millions of fragmented embers upon collision. The Demonic Energy soon recognised the omnipotent energy that radiates from the Flame and left the Maiden in peace.
"That was a close one." The Flame said. "We art not welcomed hither despite we art inside of thine live vessel."
"This mana... it feels so familiar... Yet different." Sasha said while reaching her hand through, touching the purple-hue mist made of pure energy until her eyes dilated in disbelief. "Wait... this is...!"
"Yes, 't is forsooth thine energy." The Flame interrupts with an answer. "Unfortunately, it is turning against thee after thine transformation as a monster... trying to imprison the lasteth remaining consciousness of thine humanity... which is thy self."
"It was trying to imprison me...? I thought turning into monsters will lose my consciousness... but... this is worse than I thought."
"Always had been... for centuries." The Flames responded. "It was in order to ensure humanity remains within the monsters to prove the Demon Lord as a righteous individual to create a peaceful world... only what I see were prisoners locked in their desired dreams."
"Th-hen the Demon Lord... wasn't a good person after all!"
"Delusional is the right word. She claimed herself to know everything about humans... she believes humanity is its true nature lies within their positive traits... For a being who received powers akin to a god... wasn't aware how wrong she gets." The Flames answered. "Since her ascension on the throne.. she has killed no one from the past millennia... but her actions took countless lives.. stripping humans off from their true form while she knew little about the world."
"Oh... I never knew about that! It also makes me wonder as if you knew her!"
"My eyes are everywhere, young maiden."
"Then... um, Mr Flame?" Sasha then questioned. "Why would the Fallen God send the Dark Priests to abduct to me...? Why me? She says my desires have called out for her, but I wished nothing!"
"It is true, thou didn't wish for such desire because thou restrained from it." The Flame explained it to her. "That is not until her words tempted thy inner desires and a new soul has awakened; separating itself from thine original soul. As a result, a degenerate manifestation of thine wilt has taken over thine vessel by force and pleasure. Then locked thee away whilst thine human self remains in a dream."
Sasha stood silent for a moment after hearing his explanation. But her question remains unanswered. "But why does Fallen God want me?"
"'Tis so-called, "God" is naught more but a stubborn being. She hast chosen 'thee as her favourite candidate for her lowly and forsaken Faith." The Flame answered with an unamused tone. "I hast given forth a vision to her beloved friend, the ruler of the underworld, as a warning. But it remains ignored. These 'gods' 'art trying to alter their own fate in 'hir favour. But alas. Thither is naught they couldst dost to save themselves."
"Hold on a second, you're telling me a prophecy is that the Fallen God is about to die?" Sasha stuttered in disbelief. "Th-That's not possible... They're divine beings and you're saying that Ash is going up against her?!"
"...The Deities of this world art not immortals, Daughter of Light. They art beings with great powers." The Flames answered with a tone of a giant, which caught her off guard. "But they art not Eternal. They extend their lifespan by consuming Amrita to remain in power."
"But how is Ash going to fight, umm... a deity?" Sasha then stated in worry. "We mortals couldn't stand to their power..."
"Do not fret, the Knight thoust hold dear is a Warrior with unimaginable power and will," The Flame replied before Sasha fell silent upon hearing that. The entity then chuckled. "Trust me, I've observed his feats that art supposed to be... impossible."
The Flame then used its powers once more and a new vision manifested. Sasha observed the vision and the situation going on. The priestess saw her monsterized counterpart summon her magic vines, which caught him off guard. The Dark Priest then lauded her words towards him, telling him to surrender. The priestess remained silent in disbelief while seeing her depraved counterpart who act obsessively to the knight until she felt heat coming from her side. She turned around to see the Flames made a fiery radiance and then turn her attention again to the vision, seeing Ash freeing himself from his captivity. Which made the Dark Priest reel back in surprise.
"Sasha, talk to him. Quick!" The Flames said it out loud. "He must defeat the manifestation of thine desires and he should make his way into Pandemonium to defeat the Fallen God. Thou'll meet him thither!"
The Priestess stood perplexed for a moment before she speaks out for him through the Vision.
"Ash, help me! Please!" Sasha cried out loud, "Free me from my prison!"
The two stood for a moment in silence until the Dark Priest looked around in bewilderment after hearing her voice. But Ash stood completely still before he spoke out in reply.
"Sasha, can you hear me?"
'Thank the Chief God, he can hear me!' Sasha gasped in joy. 'I need to tell him what he must do!'
"Yes, a warm Flame has allowed me to speak for you, so hear me out before it dies out." She replied in return. "Defeat my dark spirit, the manifestation of my desires that has taken control over my vessel and make your way to Pandemonium... from there, I will wait for you."
Once she finishes, a cloud of demonic energy crawled through and devoured the vision, covering it to prevent her to witness the outside world. Sasha stepped back to avoid getting caught by the malevolent fog until the Flames protected her using a barrier, turning the hostile clouds of demonic energy into burning ashes. Then the ground rumbled as if an earthquake had occurred throughout the entire void.
"Your counterpart is fighting thy beloved knight, and thy counterpart is puzzled by his words. She couldn't accept the world of reality." The Flame stated until Sasha's corporal body glows in a sudden. "Oh, that's faster than I expected."
"Wh-What's happening to me!?" Sasha cried out hysterically as if she was floating away. "Why do I feel so... relieved?"
"It looks like thou art free from this prison, but...!?" Suddenly, the Flames noticed a gigantic hand coming out from the darkness and snatched the Priestess away. "So she dares to interfere with her own fate... The Greed of this God knows nay bounds, so thine reckless desire grants thee a horrible death!"
"No!" Sasha tries to pry herself from the hands of the Fallen God and cried out. "H-Help me!"
"Brace yourself!"
The Flames then emit light that covered the entire void. Sasha shields herself from the blinding light before her vision went dark. After a few moments of silence, her view stirred from the darkness until she caught sight of a Silver-Blue Knight lying unconsciously. She was relieved to see him again and wanted to help him out, but the strangest thing of all is that her body felt weird, and seeing how large Ash became has the same height of a giant. Sasha then looked down at her new appearance.
"Eh?... E-E-EEEHHHH!?"
Never in her life that she would have the experience of becoming anything other than an ordinary human, a butterfly.
"What is this!?" Her mind desperately yelled out loud. "I'm-... I'm a Butterfly!?"
"... Ugh..." Sasha then heard a groan before she turns around. She saw the Knight sit up and observed his surrounding, the butterfly then realised how he was perplexed behind his helmet as she was. "What... is this place...?"
"Ash! Over here!" Sasha cried out. But to her realisation, she couldn't talk. "Wait... He can't hear me?"
"Unfortunately, that is all that I couldst dost. Thy corporeal vessel is imprisoned by the goddess, but I saved thy consciousness." She heard a familiar voice in her mind. "Thou must guide him to the Temple of the Fallen God."
"Wait... so this is your plan?"
"I will not interfere unless when they try to spin the fates... the Gods of this realm have broken their rules for interfering with the humans and monsters by granting them their blessings according to their desires without the fear of consequences." Then a trail of embers appears and glittered across the dark void; leading to a likely path for an exit. "As I guide thee... thous shall lead him. He can't see my works."
The Butterfly then understood and flies in front of the Knight and flew her way into the fog. But to her surprise, she saw Ash standing there in perplexity for a moment until he speaks up.
"So... should I be following you?"
"Of course. I forgot I couldn't speak!" Sasha rolled her eyes before flapping her wings, flying up and down.
"I take that as a yes."
Ash then stepped forward and followed her through the foggy void. Minutes passed and Sasha saw a faint light in the midst of the darkness and a portal opened up. Sasha couldn't believe that she was witnessing a Spirit Tunnel, and this was her first time seeing it for real since that type of magic was relatively advanced for human casters. But it is often common to the Spell-casting Monsters of the Demon Realm as well.
Sasha mustered up her courage and entered the portal first before Ash soon followed through the entrance until it closed behind his back. Then she heard voices spiralling through the magic tunnel. There are voices of distant moaning and orgasm. Sasha blushed furiously red in embarrassment once she gets to see spirits copulating themselves in this afterlife. But this isn't about what the afterlife she envisioned back in her time preaching with the Order and she's a woman of dignity for Chief God's sake!
"W-WAAAHH! Is this really the afterlife!?" Sasha cried out loud while trying to avert her eyes."This is not what I envisioned!"
"Nay, this isn't the actual afterlife. It is an illusion made by the Goddess of life and death. She only made a paradise for spirits of both good and evil to feel welcome and experience more pleasures of their desires," The Flames replied within her mind. "Every man and woman with all their works of life... Messiah, Saviours, Murderers and Psychopaths... they died with regrets or without... still, they were never judged and their guilt remains in this so-called "afterlife"... Also, Thy ancestors and parents were a part of this as well."
"H-Huh!?" Sasha felt her core shaken. "So you're telling me that... whenever I die..."
"Hahaha! Be not afraid, that won't happen to thee in the future. It will someday change, and the spirits of thine family will soon be freed from this eternal illusion." The Flame said with small laughter. "The real afterlife is but a gateway to the next life filleth' with new challenges, and not a single native spirit hath ever gone thither. Only the spirits of the Lord Soul who art born and died on this very world have passed those doors."
"Spirits of the Lord Soul?" Sasha then felt her eyebrow raised in question. "What is a... Lord Soul?"
"Ah, unfortunately, that is mostly confidential. But I'll share with you some of my knowledge... someday" The Flame replied and then described some interesting "information". "Those who are born with such a soul are favoured by their own fate."
"Wait, you mean they're Heroes?" Sasha guessed curiously.
"Well... sort of." Little did Sasha know, the Flame speaks half of the truth.
Sasha then looks up at Ash and she turned her attention to where he was staring at is an opening at the end of the tunnel. Sasha flew up and landed on his right shoulder until the Knight marched out from the exit and felt his boots touch the dusty ground. Afterwards, Sasha was awed at what she was seeing: some floating islands above the deep purple-hue clouds that covered the entire skies.
"Pan-de-monium." The Butterfly turns around and saw Ash reading a stone sign out loud while raising his eyebrow. "Pandemonium."
Once she heard that word could only mean one thing; she and Ash have entered the realm of the Fallen God. Thus, in her worry, Ash might get overwhelmed by the Dark Valkyries at once when he, as a mortal human being, would ever set foot on their realm. This can only mean one thing is that the security will come for the intruders. After a while going through the depraved realm, Sasha couldn't help but try to look away from every couple they come across and they were copulating on every corner. There are even children as young as ten years or younger who even had sex with adults without shame.
"I can't stand this! This... is this what they wanted!?"
Sasha felt sick and dizzy while observing them. She couldn't fathom even think to imagine a scenario where the depravity of the Fallen God would send her new adherent such as herself to taint the orphans who could turn themselves into monsters. Such a path that her monsterized self would willingly spread the Faith of the Fallen even beyond at any cost. But if she were normal, her dignity as a human won't allow that.
"I can't believe it... is this really the paradise which my desires craved for?!"
"Indeed." The flames responded, pitying her.
After an hour has passed; Ash moved his way to the Fallen City of Pandemonium, much to her surprise that he wasn't detected by the Valkyries flying overhead. Once they reached the walls, she saw him pulling out a wooden staff from his small box and casting an invisibility spell upon himself while putting a ring to cover up the sounds of his footsteps.
"By the Chief God, he has some useful spells and items," Sasha said in awe while following Ash, who simply walked through the gates without being detected. Then she felt herself pouting in envy. "I'm so jealous! I wished I could learn such spells to make fun of him..."
Another couple of hours have passed, and the two made their way into the Temple of the Fallen God after breaching the security perimeters while guiding him through the complexed labyrinth inside the tunnels until to the point where he killed a couple of Dark Valkyries who are guarding the throne hall. Once he stepped into the throne hall of the Fallen God, Sasha noticed two of the Deity's beloved adherents were hiding behind the marble pillars; a Dark Angel and a Valkyrie, yet none of them moved, and both shivered in fear while observing Ash for a while until the entire world froze and the void took over the halls as if they were entering a different reality until a massive voluptuous shadow emerged from the darkness.
"That's her, the Fallen God." The flame within her mind spoke.
Sasha could only squeal in fright to witness a massive humanoid figure of the Fallen God herself. The deity then spoke her lascivious words in her attempts to tempt the Astoran, but the Deity reeled back in disbelief to see a human denying her offers until Ash draw a Lightning Spear.
"No, Ash! You can't hurt a God-"
But realising that her voice can't be heard, it was too late. Ash hurled a lightning spear and struck the Fallen God against her right shoulder. Then, to her shock, the Depraving Goddess reared back in pain and can see the damage that was inflicted on her dark skin. An ugly hole was torn apart by his lightning and trails of black blood oozed out from her wound.
"Th-This can't be!" The Fallen God shrieked out loud after her barrier was shattered by the second throw of his lightning spear. "How is it possible!? Your magic... it possesses the powers to harm me!?"
"These powers don't belong to me," Ash spoke with an indifferent tone. "Beings who utilised the Power of Lords made them, to destroy the everlasting creatures... and Gods like you."
Upon hearing his words, Sasha felt speechless in disbelief. "Huh?... Powers which can hurt Gods!?"
"Wh-What..." The Fallen God uttered before she saw small glitters of embers and ashes billowed underneath his feet once he stepped forth. "J-Just... what are you!"
"... I am a Knight who you just messed with... and all I want is to return Sasha to who she was." The Fallen Deity then faltered back as fear swept over her core before Ash swung his Claymore, pointing up to the Goddess in defiance. "It doesn't matter to me whether you are a man or a god who wanted me to be shackled under your chains... and you can't stop me from doing it."
From that moment, Sasha then realised that her Knight, who took up the vow which she held dear, is challenging the Goddess of Depravity.
...
"Powers... to slay Gods?... Pah!" The Fallen God openly mocked in spite. "This is a joke! There is no way such powers will overcome me!"
The Fallen God raised her hand and used her ability to freeze time and the very air that surrounds her has frozen. But to her disbelief, she saw the knight still moved on his own.
"Impossible. No mortal should move when I freeze time!" The Fallen God said out loudly until Ash drew another Lightning Arrow and struck to the right side of her chest, yet her luck took action and the spear missed her core. But it sends another painful blast as the giant deity knelt down and groaned in pain. "GAH!... Hah!... Damn you!"
The deity saw the Astoran Knight drawing his claymore and raised his shield as she rushed into battle. Then the Fallen God shot her insight into his very core. Ash felt some entity enter deep within his body and the Fallen God smirked in victory in her search for his weakness to be exploited. Unfortunately, once her "eyes" entered the core of his soul, she found no signs of his spirit or anything to manipulate his mind until she saw multiple hands sprouted out from the darkness, reaching out for her, and grabbed her eye until blood covered her vision.
To the horror of the Fallen God, she shrieked in pain while holding her left eye as she faltered back in perpetual fear. "Wh-What are you!? Your soul isn't even human!"
Ash didn't reply and continued to step forward as he raised his weapon. The Fallen God grit her teeth and raised her left massive arm to slam him down on the ground. Ash avoided her attack by strafing to the right and rolling backwards to evade her sweep, then rolled again forwards once the Fallen God used her right fist to slam him down. All of her attacks were evaded until Ash countered as he strafed forth to her right fist still on the solid ground and slashed one of her fingers apart with his claymore. The Titanite blade drew the blood of the Goddess which made her shriek out in pain as if some hot knife cuts through the skin.
"DAMNATION! EVEN YOUR WEAPON CAN HURT ME AS WELL!?"
The Fallen God teleported away from the Knight and summoned several portals above the Astoran Knight. Purple beams rained down from above and Ash rolled away, dodging her beams until the Fallen God summoned two gigantic orbs and hurled them towards the mortal warrior. But he dodged right away to avoid her attacks.
"FEAR MY TRUE POWER!"
The Fallen God roared while sending another beam. Unfortunately, the human rolled away before it could even hit them. The Deity knew Humans would tremble in fear as they witnessed the sheer powers of the Gods. Even prideful Heroes of the Order would be beaten down easily to think that they just can protect themselves using the blessings of their Chief God to summon barriers and blessed armour. But this human stands out from the rest and didn't even falter or beg for mercy. He just avoided them while flawlessly rolling around at all costs.
"JUST STAY STILL YOU INSECT!"
"Alright, just don't get cocky." Ash breathed out calmly underneath his helmet while concentrating his next tactic in his thoughts. "So where the hell is your core located...? There!"
Ash raised his talisman and summoned a Great Lightning Spear and hurled it towards the Goddess as she just raised a barrier, yet it tore through and pierced the lower left side of her body. The Fallen God reeled back in pain once more after his spear nearly hit her core.
"GAH! Damnit!... Damnit!" The Fallen God felt her rage grow and drew a large surge of energy billowed underneath her feet like a vortex. "I... HAD... ENOUGH!"
The rage of the Fallen God exploded in a fiery blast of energy, which sends Ash flying backwards and rolling through the ground. The knight quickly got up by his feet and picked up his claymore until he saw the Fallen God send another beam flinging towards him and he rolled away. But Ash was caught by the explosive blasts in a sudden, flinging him through the air again and roughly crashing to the ground once more.
The Knight groggily stood up and then his tongue tastes his own blood trickling down from his nose. 'Damnation, gotta be careful with that... her beams are similar to Midir's, but.. they're bigger.'
Ash then sprints to the Fallen God while raising his shield and he noticed the Deity smiled wickedly, knowing there's another trick on her sleeve. Over a hundred black portals appeared, and gigantic arms sprouted out. The knight rolls away to avoid the first one and strafed through the secondary incoming attacks until one hand appeared from below and caught him. Then he is raised from the ground before facing the Fallen God.
"Hah! Is that all? A pity that you get caught so easily~" The Deity mocked as her hand slowly squeezes the Knight. "Once I'm done with you. I will erase your soul and mend your spirit anew that will benefit the desires of your new Maiden!"
Ash grits his teeth and struggles with his shoulders until he successfully pries off his left arm and then immediately dug his hand on the gigantic index finger of the Fallen God before activating his Pyromancy Flames.
'Sacred Flames!'
The flames suddenly burst out in fury, and the Fallen God winced and screeched in pain before throwing the knight in a far distance. The Deity looked down on her index finger was melted by the chaos flame and then she shot a glare at the mortal who is struggling to get up. Now the goddess of depravity knew that this mortal couldn't be redeemed from his nature, and his existence needs to be eliminated for good. The Fallen Goddess rethink her decision for her new adherent and wanted Sasha's old memories to be eradicated as well and remove her desire of wanting to be together with the Knight. The Fallen God wished that she should've stayed with her beloved man in Lescatie as it originally intended.
"Oh no, this is bad!"
Sasha watched in horror as soon as she saw a massive amount of demonic energy spiralling behind the Fallen God and then send forth towards Ash. The Knight stood weakly before his right knee limped and fell again to the ground once more. His body took a toll after getting thrown by the giant goddess and then looked up to the Butterfly.
"H-Heh... looks like you're getting worried..." He uttered weakly with a smile behind his helmet before letting out a few coughs. "Sorry that I got too careless... Sasha wouldn't be happy if she saw me like this..."
"Ash! Don't say such things!" Sasha begged anxiously with a pained tone. "Please... Don't!"
"This is the end, Mortal!" Ash and Sasha in her butterfly form heard the Goddess speak with malice once she raised her left arm. "You may have been my first adversary to defy me and faced a God without fear. After all, your existence alone surely piqued my ire. Sadly, I shall end you and erase every flesh and bone. Here and now!"
"NO!"
The Fallen God moved her hand down and an enormous wave of mana emerged. Sasha flew in front of Ash and hoped for a miracle to come until her Knight shielded her over with a Crest Shield. The Butterfly look up and watched him brace the inevitable before the enormous mana washed over like a dangerous tidal wave trying to bog him down.
"Sorry, Sasha... I-... I..." Ash then kneeled while still struggling to hold up the shield. "...Couldn't save you..."
"Ash... I..." Sasha uttered before she felt her eyes teared up with a broken heart. "I'm so sorry..."
At that moment, a blast wave went through and the knight got tossed away. Ash struggled to keep up while shielding the butterfly until he braced for another deadly wave of mana that could only mean death until several serpents made of pure energy manifested themselves and tackled him hard to the ground that squeezed the air from his lungs. He breathes heavily for air until closing his eyes and braces for the inevitable death that he is going to face. That is not until the serpents disintegrated by a pair of black vines and he saw a pair of legs step in front of him. The mysterious individual then raised her arms to form a barrier to protect him.
"HAHAHAHAHA~!... Wait... wh-what is the meaning of this!?"
Ash turns his gaze up and widened his eyes in shock to see a familiar person while Sasha Fullmoon, in her butterfly form, couldn't comprehend the situation to see someone was shielding Ash is none other but her counterpart... Dark Priest Sasha.
"S-Sasha...?" Ash couldn't believe the Dark Priest to be here and trying to save him. He tried to get up, but the pain in his chest bogged him down. "H-How..."
"... I won't let you harm Ash!" Dark Priest Sasha growled while gritting her teeth, her anger facing towards the Fallen God.
"W-Wait...! How come is she here!?" Sasha questioned out loud in confusion.
"To think of it... As the Fallen God has slipped your human form away, your monster counterpart remains." The Flames answered. "And she's here protecting him and now... she knows the truth of her existence was a lie."
"Sasha Fullmoon... how dare you interfere!" The Fallen God shrieked out in anger. "You dare protect that monster to destroy our paradise!?"
"... So what?... Am I not a monster as well?" The Dark Priest furrowed her eyebrows in reluctance. "You promised me to grant happiness for everyone... but after seeing what has become of me and the purpose of my new existence... Then is it the right thing to imprison others to achieve a peaceful coexistence!?"
"Listen... Dark Priest Fullmoon. I was merely granting your wish and changed the way how you will-"
"What wish!? You've said that I've changed! But it turns out it wasn't... I... was just somebody else!" Dark priest Sasha shrieked out in anger. "Indeed, my own vessel of flesh has changed... but my soul wasn't... The moment you have taken her away. I realise I was just a nobody who was born out of her desires to steal the happiness and love of someone else!"
The Fallen God then felt the tension pressed against her. "... Then what are you going to do...?"
"... I will help Ash to end your reign." The Dark Priest declared with steel within as her eyes broke into tears. "I am doing this... for him... and the sake of all souls that you have imprisoned!"
"You insolent little cur!" The Goddess clenched her fists. "Then you shall perish from existence as well!"
The Fallen God raised her hand and summoned hundreds of black tentacles. The Dark Priest then clasped her hands together and dark vines sprouted out, deflecting the divinity's sudden assault and then charging in. The Goddess summoned several portals and shot out medium-sized beams and Dark Priest Sasha dodged out of the way while casting her magic and hurled out a fiery ball of energy.
The giant goddess deflected the orb away and brought down a massive pillar of darkness. Once it collided into the solid ground, the Dark Priest shielded herself until a massive blast wave sends her flying. Soon, the Fallen God brought up her tentacles and one of them grabbed her ankles.
Then within an instant, the Dark Priest was trashed into the ground and receiving heavy blows by the assaulting tentacles. The human consciousness of Sasha gasped in horror at seeing her monster counterpart losing a battle against the Fallen God while Ash was struggling to get on his feet and tried to reach for her.
"S-Sasha!" Ash limped his way until he saw the tentacles throw her away like a ragdoll and roughly lands near his feet. "D-damnit!"
Ash knelt down while the real Sasha landed on his left shoulder. The Dark Priest was bruised and damaged in a bloody way as she can hardly breathe. Seeing her in such a worse state would mean that her death is around the corner.
"Ash... I'm so sorry..." The Dark Priest apologised in tears. Trying her best to stay alive as Ash held her up in his arms. "I wished... I could've known better..."
Ash was silent while deep within his eyes, his anger only rose that he couldn't forgive the Goddess who manipulated her to follow such a lie, like Gwyn who set up the curse to deceive millions of his own kin to their own demise. Even gaining the greater good for world peace, no matter which ideal will be... it will cost a heavy price for it.
The Gods of this realm who follow the Demon Lord were no better but to accomplish a greater goal without facing the consequences.
"I love you, Ash... but... I know how much you loved her more than me... I can see it deep within your heart." Dark Priest Sasha said in a weakened tone as she cupped his right cheek. Her heartbeat then slowed down until it nearly reaches the deadline. Then she smiled for one last time. "I don't feel any regrets... you have a future for her and I'm so glad... that I did... the right... thing..."
Once her heart stopped beating, her eyes became pale and her hand slid down. Signifying her death. The knight remained emotionless and gently closed her eyes. Sasha felt the sadness that had struck deep within her heart that her mamono counterpart wanted to reach out her affection for Ash and Sasha admitted the words of the Dark Priest stays true... her human heart truly has feelings for her knight as well.
"A nuisance... your days are over, Silver-Blue Knight!" The Fallen God's voice boomed across the void and controlled her mana, swirling around the knight like a vortex. "Now perish from existence... for eternity!"
Ash couldn't move, his vision blurred and his ears had gone deaf as the vortex of mana is slowly crushing him apart. As if the glimmer of hope wasn't anywhere to be seen, he closed his eyes to brace the inevitable death... that is not until the embers float within the darkness.
...
...
"So you're going to give up?"
Ash opened his eyes wide open and finds himself floating on the empty void. He spun around to the left and then to the right to see if someone was out there, but he found none.
"Is that how the new Dark Lord himself will act?" He heard thousands of voices speak out of a sudden. "You should be better than that."
Then, out of the darkness. A humongous figure bursts out with allowing embers and Ash could've sworn that he knew that armour. That demented charred steel and his cindered glimmer.
"You're... the Soul of Cinder," Ash spoke up in surprise. "But... how?"
"I am within your Soul, and neither the same Hollow you knew, Ash Cyrus." The Soul of Cinder replied while tilting his head aside. "I've seen your struggle and yet you disappoint me. You... couldn't protect the person you loved."
"I see..." Ash then went silent for a moment as he looked down with his face darkened in defeat. "So this must be the end... huh."
"... So you remain silent?" The Soul of Cinder felt his eyebrow raised in question until he turned his back to the Ashen One. "Hmph, you may have slain Warriors, Heroes, Kings, Dragons, and Gods... I expected much from you to arise."
...
"I want to ask of you, and will you promise me one thing?" Ash then heard a familiar voice and turned around, seeing Sasha face to face. It was a familiar scene where he took a vow for her oath. "As your acquaintance ... will you swear my oath to fight and protect me by my side?"
"Then... why?"
"It's because you said that you're afraid of losing me," Sasha responds in a melancholic tone while her grip tightens. "You... don't want to experience that loss again, wouldn't you?"
Is it true that he's afraid of losing her and will he let her remain as a monster? Does his last desire want him to let it go and remain for an eternal slumber?... No, he has one purpose and he won't let that happen. He promised her... a promise that he will protect Sasha and the children, whatever the cost it takes. Even if it took his own life. He musn't...
"Ash!" The Knight widened his eyes. He heard her voice from a distance. "Please... don't die!"
... Don't die?... Under this hopeless situation?
"Please... don't leave us!..." Ash then gazed his eyes around and saw where she wept. "You promised me... that you shouldn't leave me alone... will you?"
At that moment, Ash felt his soul growls like a beast with invigorated power until he clenched his fists.
"... No... I've sworn myself as thy sword... that... that..." As his words uttered, his soul then ignites as flames within him slowly grew and Ash saw his memories flashed in his mind to see Sasha, the children, Siegward and the others who looked up to him. Then he saw their struggles in their adventures from where he had been through.
And then seeing the maiden herself, smiling at him while in the midst of the beautiful countryside of Gerth as the orphans played around the fields.
"I promised Sasha to protect her... and I don't want to die here... not for something worthless... such as losing myself!"
...
"Holder of the Flames, thine soul art awakened!"
...
Once the voice of the Flame brought forth a fragment of its power, the knight slowly burned. Embers glow through his armour and Ash felt some power had risen from his very own. A fragment of the Dark is burning passionately, which responded accordingly to his Will.
The Soul of Cinder felt a familiar sensation akin to his own. Radiance of power emitted behind him and then turning back to witness the Knight, who he was once been an Undead and a former enemy, had burst into flames. Then sees his eyes glow red under the shadows of his face. The Soul of Cinder stood appalled to witness the flaming Lord Soul Fragment of Darkness has awakened by his unfathomable resolve and emotions, then it soon came into realisation that such power was awakened, only by his desire to free his Maiden from the clutches of the Fallen God.
"So thou art chosen by the Flames... for a desire to save a life." The Hollow chuckled, amusing himself before raising his hand. "Very well. It seems I've underestimated thee, and now I have seen why the Flames have chosen you as its new Holder. Now go forth and show the Gods of this world... what the Power of the Lords can do."
...
The Fallen God saw the Mortal Knight lie unconscious on the ground and laughed wickedly that her victory has been achieved. Sasha, whilst in her butterfly form, hid under his arms to protect herself from the ravaging mana and desperately cried him out.
"Ash... please... wake up!" Sasha raised her voice as she sobbed in vain. "Don't give up! Please, I don't want to lose you!"
As if she prayed for a miracle... her wish was granted. Sasha mourned quietly before she felt a warm radiance emitting from the knight until his body was suddenly engulfed in flames. Sasha reeled back in terror until she looks up to see Ash slowly rose from the ground and more flames erupted in his surroundings. When the body of the Dark Priest slowly disintegrates into dusty particles, the consciousness of the Warrior Nun couldn't fathom what she was witnessing; Ash's entire body glowed like embers until she saw his eyes flashed blood red... like a hollow. The Fallen God stopped her celebration once she felt a foreboding aura of heat.
"A-Ash...?" Sasha uttered in fear before flying away from the Silver-Blue Knight. "Wh-What just happened to him?"
"I have awakened his soul and lends out a fragment of my power." The Flames responded. "Since he is mine current Holder, his genuine powers are going to be... unleashed."
The Fallen God gazed down and widened her eyes in horror to witness a Knight, engulfed in embers, walking through her deadly storm of mana. The Demonic Energy around him tried to push him down and overcome the Cindered Knight with the sensations of pleasures and comfort. But it soon burned within his body, making it as fuel for his power, and it grew even more dangerous. The monster mana then manifests itself into physical corporeal forms of clones, which depict several types of mamonos to combat the foreign threat; ranging from succubuses to dragon and started tackling the Knight in its desperation.
But the Flames swirled into a massive vortex, catching the clones by their flaming tendrils and burning them within, and dissolving the corporeal clones into ashes until nothing was left. The Dark Lord, cindered by the Flames, felt more energy coming in as the monster mana tried to suppress it, but to no avail. The storm of the Fallen God dispersed in a sudden and the knight marched towards the goddess.
"This is impossible!" The Fallen God said out loud as she stepped back in disbelief. "No mortal can could possess such power!"
The Deity then desperately created several beams in her attempts to disintegrate him, but unfortunately, glitters of light appeared in front of him and deflected the beams in several opposite directions in much to her dismay. The Fallen God then raised her left arm and created a massive orb of pure energy, which grew twice the size of a six-story building and hurled towards the Cindered Knight.
Ash saw the giant ball of energy coming straight to him and raised his hand to stop the colossal orb in contact. The Fallen God staggered back as she witnessed her attack have stopped by simply raising his hand to block it. Ash sends a pulse into the orb before the massive ball of energy cracked of a sudden and it broke into millions of pieces as it disintegrated into embers The Deity gawked in disbelief, her energy orb that could've brought down a hundred heroes by simply flinging at it. But this anomaly simply paves his way through it like it was nothing.
The Fallen God grit her teeth in frustration and her ranged attacks could do nothing to stop him as he gets close and teleports away from him in a distance.
"Valkyries to me!"
In an instant, thousands of Dark Valkyries appeared out of nowhere and surrounds the Fallen God to protect her. But they faltered in horror once they saw the flaming Knight marched in their direction and many began hesitating to take action against an unknown enemy.
"Y-Your Unholiness, wh-what is that thing!?"
"It's an abomination, and I need you to eliminate him at once!" The Fallen God ordered as she points out. "Don't let this man destroy our Paradise!"
"A-At your command!" The Valkyrie Commander saluted while raising her weapon. Then she barked out orders to her sisters-in-arms. "Eliminate him!"
The Dark Valkyries pulled down their visors and flew towards the Cindered Knight with their weapons raised. Ash raised his Astoran Straight Sword, poured the energy of the Lords into his weapon until the blades twisted and charred into a new form of weapon, a Firelink Greatsword. Just before the Valkyries would reach him, Ash plunged his sword into the ground and sends out a powerful blast like a massive explosion, sending a tidal wave of heat that disintegrates the Valkyries in his surroundings into dust and no bones remain. The blast also reached the Fallen God and charred her body alive until she screamed in agony. She tried to use her magic to remove the flames, yet it helped a little as if the flames remain unaffected by her power. Then it endlessly spread out and consumed her whole.
'I must get out of this shell!'
The Fallen God manifests her spiritual body to human size until she escaped her gigantic shell of her own through the nape. She had created that shell and perfected it over centuries, ever since she became a God of Depravity to display her pride. But now, it was consumed by the ravaging flames until it fell apart into dust. The Fallen God glared angrily at the Cindered Knight and summoned her twin-blades.
A single kick of her feet sends her flying at the Knight in high speed while drawing her swords to cleave him apart in a flurry of swings. But Ash deflected every strike with inhuman reflexes before he strafed back to avoid her blow and reached out his hand. He cast the Profaned Flames within an instant and blew her away after the fiery blast.
With the Goddess injured, she leapt back to gain her distance away and raised her arms to call forth her power to summon a rain of beams made of pure demonic mana in its lethal form. But Ash waved his Firelink Greatsword and summoned a large Magic Barrier and Twisted Light just before the beams would hit their marks. Then the beams were absorbed and reflected in to further annoy the Fallen God. Then Ash transformed his Greatsword into a pair of Scimitars by splitting it apart and sprinting forth to the Deity at neck-breaking speed. The Fallen God caught the first strike and deflected it, but the second blade swooped up from below and slightly cut her cheek.
The Fallen God saw her own black blood has drawn into the air.
"Gods bleed, no matter what." The Fallen God heard his deep, impersonal voice behind his helmet. "Do you think you will stay eternal without consequences? Perhaps not."
She tried to strafe back to avoid his sudden flurry of strikes and thrusts, but the Silver-Blue Knight caught up to her and the Fallen God desperately tries to cast another one of her powers and called out another hail of her magic. Sword made of pure energy bursts out from the skies before the two opponents break off and Ash rolled to the right and strafed to the left to avoid the incoming swords before he deflected several incoming projectiles. Then he sprints relentlessly towards the Fallen God while under bombardment. The Fallen God merged her two swords into a halberd and swung horizontally, but Ash slid forwards to duck under her deadly swing and staggered the Fallen God with a successful parry with an uppercut and sweep his weapons down, slicing off her right leg.
The Goddess felt a sharp pain and then teleported to somewhere else at a much further distance.
"Damnit to Hel! Heal dammit!"
The Fallen God cried out in vain while trying to regenerate her missing leg, yet to her horror, her powers are regenerating slowly while half of her powers were consumed by the burns which were biting through her wounds. She didn't expect to feel such agonizing pain in her first time since she became a god. Then she looks up at the Silver-Blue Knight and saw him coming closer. She raised her hand to freeze time, but it did not do any effect to stop him and casts a transparent barrier in a desperate attempt.
"D-Don't come any closer!"
Ash stopped his tracks, and he gently placed his hand on the barrier. His hand sends a vibrating pulse that rocked through the barrier and glowed red-orange, then cracks suddenly formed until he pushed his hand through. The barrier is shattered in an instant, turning it into millions of glass shards. The Fallen God crawled back while looking up to the Knight in terror once she sees his red glowing eyes looking deep into her soul as if he were a dangerous predator.
Ash waved his right hand, and a glow of distorted light appeared above her. The Fallen God then felt something on her hands and saw both of them glowed. She didn't know what it was, but she needs to get out as possible by using teleportation. Once she waved her hand to summon her spell... it did nothing. She widened her eyes in shock at the moment, realising her powers didn't come into effect to send her somewhere safe.
"Wh-What did you just do to me!?" The Fallen God cried out in horror. "Did you just... Did you just remove my powers!?"
Ash didn't reply and grabbed her by the neck with his left arm, then raised her up to the air. The Fallen God choked and gagged for air as his grip tightened. She felt her powers and strength slowly leave her core and the Goddess couldn't understand what was happening. The energy she had was immeasurable and unmatched for any mortals for centuries. But this was something else, as it was being drained by an individual. Her eyes glanced down and saw her powers were drawn to his core. Burned as fuel to further increase his power while she is getting weaker within seconds.
"N-No! Please spare me! I am a God! I will grant whatever you want!" The Fallen God desperately stuttered out while trying to pry his hands off but to no avail. "I will grant you money, power even! Just please, I-I will give your beloved maiden back according to your terms!"
Ash then stood silently and stared at her while the Fallen God sheds out a tear as she struggled. Unfortunately, his grip hardened even further.
"You think I would grant thee mercy?" He spoke coldly, while Sasha witnessed the entire scenario before she felt an icy chill through her spine. "After you lure countless souls into your so-called "Paradise"?... I don't think so."
The Fallen God grit her teeth and clenched his wrist, begging him to let go. Ash then closed his eyes and saw a vision through the connection of her demonic energy. From there, he saw memories. Memories to see countless young girls and women were transformed into monsters before assaulting men and young boys in their wake. Thus, they were immediately raped and brainwashed by their dark, charming magic while many fell to the irresistible beauty of monsters. The Fallen God and her adherents watched the scenario as if their depraving acts entertained them. He even saw several human kingdoms fall under the Lilims while the adherents of the Fallen God were also present in their conquest, and several regions with stubborn human resistance were transported into the Fallen Realm of Pandemonium by the efforts of the Witches of the Sabbath, most notably the Shirokuto Sabbath.
Such visions coming from their past made his heart grow in rage.
"I-I promise I won't interfere with your-"
"SILENCE!... I have seen enough of your actions." Ash then shot her a dark glare as he raised his Firelink Greatsword. "None of it was justified... You created more crimes to sway the minds of men into your favour for such a stupid idea... a so-called "Paradise" that has nothing to do to fix the world, nor would it achieve coexistence! Therefore... Fate has judged thee into the Abyss."
"No... No! NOOO!"
The cries of the Fallen God proved fruitless until he drew the coiled sword and jabbed it through her body and pierced through the back of her spine. Then he raised his sword with the impaled goddess to the air and the flames blazed through the coils with the intolerable heat as hot as the sun itself that burned the Goddess alive. The Deity screamed in unbearable pain and terror as she tries to escape from the coils. But it was futile and cried, asking for forgiveness.
"I'm sorry... f-forgive me..."
At that moment, the body of the deity turned black as charcoal and still burning. Ash saw the face of the Fallen Goddess express her pain and agony as he realises she deserved to die in despair. The stubborn God believed that her reign of depraving terror and her support from Hel can turn the entire world into a Demon Realm as the Demon Lord wishes for it which their desires can last forever. This "Paradise" she envisioned can be never interfered with by anyone. But little did she know that one day, the world wouldn't be in their favour.
"I'm fain 'tis over." The Flame in her mind said with satisfaction. "Now the Fallen Realm shall nay longeth mingle with the fates within the mortal realms. "
Sasha felt a wave of relief washed over her... It is over.
She looks up at the burning body of the Fallen God and sees the horror-stricken expression on the Deity's face. She knew no Hero alone would face the gods for centuries and knew there will be terrible consequences if one dares to face them until he, the travelling knight, arrived. The Knight who took a vow to uphold her oath is anything but an ordinary human. Upon witnessing how he is capable of taking down a god, which is deemed impossible by everyone, could only mean one thing; this knight was no hero, but a dedicated God Slayer. Someone who made his own destiny and not by fate alone.
Once the scorching body of the god is petrified. Ash impaled his sword into the ground, breaking the charred body into millions of broken fragments until an orb popped out and grew to its original gigantic size.
Ash stepped towards the large orb and gently placed his right hand on the shell and Sasha's butterfly form flew over while Ash raised his eyebrow in confusion to see a butterfly was about to land on the orb's surface.
"Now wend Sasha, but there is one thing yond I hast to bid thee this." The Flames then explained. "Once thee re-emerged with thy original vessel. Thy memory shall best disappeareth and thou shalt not knoweth the events yond hadst did occur recently. "
"Huh!? You mean I won't remember anything once I get back to normal?"
"Unfortunately, yes. You are a part of her soul. A consciousness of her humanity and only you remember this... not her," The Flame replied while letting out a sad sigh. "Once you wake up... I can only see you'll guess him who saved you."
"... I see... Then this must be a goodbye," Sasha said while looking down in profound sadness while her lips formed a warm smile. "But... I won't forget this event... his valour he fought for me... and you, who wakes me up from that illusion. I thank you all for saving me... and I will thank the Dark Priest as well... her sacrifice for us shall never be forgotten."
"Now liveth for thine future."
Once the Flames said its last words to her, Sasha's butterfly form quietly lands on the orb before dissolving into dust, and the Knight stepped back in bewilderment that the Orb glowed for a while before the shell breaks, falling itself apart in millions of tiny fragments. Ash saw her floating down and caught Sasha's corporeal body in his arms in a bridal-style carry. He breathes out in relief and felt the energy that empowered him slowly got out from his entire body, turning him back to his normal state.
"It's over." He whispered while looking down at the sleeping Warrior Nun. Then he turned his gaze around the dark void for an exit. "So... how do I get out of this place?"
As if his wishes were heeded, he heard the sounds of crackling flames coming from behind and curiously turns his gaze around. Thus his eyes went wide in disbelief to see that thing again since he left his previous world... a bonfire with a familiar coiled sword that stood near him.
"A bonfire... how did it get here?" Ash wondered himself in concern until he takes some cautious steps towards the flames. "Unless... the Flames is in this world as well?... Hmm, now this gives me more questions than answers, but yet... who knows?"
Thus, he raised his left hand above the coiled sword before the knight dissolved into dust. Once he disappeared from Pandemonium, the Flames unleashed its power of disparity into the debauched realm. The time now flows straight and thus awakens something worse. Misshapen beings arose from the black void of the Outer Ridges. It awoke thousands of shadowy humanoids that stood at various heights and sizes until they marched to the lands of Pandemonium.
The beings emitted cries, roars, and horrifying screams with emotions that swirled in the air. Filled with rage, jealousy, hatred, and revenge. The Dark Valkyries who were guarding the cliffs and facing the Outer Ridge, watched in terror once they saw a sight of shadows coming towards the cliffs like a massive tidal wave.
"Wh-What in the name of Unholiness is that!?" A Dark Angel cried out in fear while pointing up. "We have to call the Goddess for help!"
But it was too late. The shadowy humanoids reached the edges of their realm and scale the cliffs. Several Valkyries flew down and tried to fend them off until one of them was caught by shadowy tentacles before she was torn apart. The Valkyries were mortified to see their first casualty was consumed by the dark beings before they flew back up.
"We must regroup!" A Dark Valkyrie in their lead ordered before they reached the top. "We need to warn the-!?"
But once they looked up, they saw the skies forming cracks as if they were shattered like mirrors and some floating islands of the Pandemonium slowly fell and crashed into the lands as it quaked the entire realm while they can hear people screaming out of fear and terror. Then black ooze descended from the dark heavens and touched their holy grounds. From there, several shadows emerged from the black substance and consumed any unfortunate denizens that dare to come near. Amid the chaos, the monster citizens cried out for help while being entangled by shadowy humanoids.
"NO! Leave me alone!"
"I know you... You took my life away!"
"Kenny! NO!"
"You shall feel our suffering!"
"Leah, we have to get out of here!"
"You cannot escape!"
Alina and Daria went out to see the commotion going outside the Temple of the Deity and their eyes dilate when they witness that the entire land is falling apart as if it were an apocalypse occurring in their own paradise. Daria felt her knees tremble as a wave of pain and terror washed over her senses before her knees hit the ground.
"Wh-where's the Fallen God...?" Daria uttered while looking up to Alina. "Where is she?... Sh-She should be here at any moment when this kind of trouble ensues..."
Alina stood in silence and clenched her fists. Then she declared that no divine adherent of the Goddess would ever dare say. "... She's... dead."
"Wh-What...?" Daria's eyes grew blank. "But that's... that's..."
"Our Goddess should've been here when this happens, but she didn't come to fix this problem," Alina said stoically and then placed her hand at Daria's left shoulder. "We must leave this realm immediately, and there is nothing for us to repel them."
"But that's impossible..." Daria uttered in disbelief as she stared down. Then tears start to break down. "Th-there's no way that he... he... defeated her!"
...
Demon Realm of Lescatie. Former Orphanage.
Inside the chapel of a once former orphanage, the Dark Priests and their husbands prayed to the altar of the Fallen God while one Arch Dark Priest is actively doing a sex ritual with her incubus partner in front of the masses while screaming for the deity to hear their prayers.
"Oh~ Fallen God, give us, ah~! An eternal grace for us and our husbands~!" The Arch Priest moaned while humping on top of her husband. "We, your faithful adherents, Mmmh~! Required your guidance~"
"We required your guidance." The masses followed her words.
Shortly after the prayer, she waited to hear for the Fallen God's answers... only what she received for a while was silence until the candles blew out and the entire chapel went dark. The entire mass grew in confusion once they felt a sensation of dread and coldness which emits throughout the church halls until the Altar of the Fallen God suddenly collapses and broke into several pieces. Then the glass windows broke and blood oozed out from the statues of Dark Angels and Dark Valkyries.
Everyone screamed out in horror amidst the hysteria and quickly left the chapel while the Arch Priest still sat on top of her husband as she stared out in dismay to witness the chaos that ensues during the mass.
"What is going on...?"
...
In the world of Divine Pantheons, a dreadful wave of aura filled with horrifying screams echoed through the lands of the gods. Bastet, the Goddess of the Cat Kingdom felt her fur freeze with a chilling sensation and Poseidon, the Goddess of the Oceans, saw a malevolent aura had washed over her seas and her adherents saw the intimidating grey clouds loomed from the horizon with a terrifying storm.
Neutral Gods such as Eros and Ares have also noticed the malevolent phenomenon through the air while Bacchus, who is enjoying her good time to taste some fine wine, felt a disturbance that came from the horizon. In Zipangu, several mamonos who held the powers akin to the deities sensed an aura of death had washed ashore while the Heavenly Gods within the Mist Continent felt something went awfully wrong as if the world obscures its fate from their eyes.
In the heavens, the wounded Chief God slowly opened her eyes and her head slowly stirred up from her slumber while carefully tending her wounds. Then she turn her gaze up and looked through the windows of her heavenly infirmary room until she sensed an ominous power has risen from the mortal realms.
"What... was that?"
...
Fallen Tower, Temple of Depravity.
Once the time flows once more in the mortal realms, Janeline, Amana, and Janice noticed the bright light went dim and lowered their arms to see the results. Thus their eyes widened in surprise to see the Dark Priest that was once there, turned into something that they didn't expect. They saw Sasha was wearing a white gown, but that's not all. Her horns, her wings, and her chained tail were gone. Once they smelled her scent, they lurched back in dismay upon their realisation that the monsterized priestess has reverted to her human form.
"Th-That can't be!" Janeline uttered while shaking in incredulity. "Th-There's no way that he's able to turn her back!"
"What are we going to do!?" Janice cried out loud in fear once she sees the Silver-Blue Knight was freed from the entanglement of the disintegrating black vines. "EEEEK! We have to get out of here!"
"Yeah, better to be safe than struck by his sword," Amana then started to run away without looking back. "I'm leaving!"
"O-Oi! Wait for us!" Janeline and Janice cried out at once before following her through a secret passageway.
Once the three ran away, Ivy then felt a chill going down her spine and peeked down to see the Silver-Blue Knight, where he gave her an icy stare. Ivy then ran for the nearest exit to escape after his malevolent aura filled with killing intent, washed over her senses.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
Ash stared at the balcony where the four Dark Priests had been for a moment. Then he looks down at Sasha, who is still unconscious. He then carried her out of the Temple in a bridal style. Once he went out, he saw Arcturus and Sif reach the last area of the final floor before they were reunited with the rest of the companions.
"Sir Cyrus! I'm glad you're safe!" Sif spoke up in relief once he sees the green-haired woman in his arms. "Looks like you saved her just in time."
"Yeah, after going on our tour to see dead bodies," Reginald spoke up nonchalantly while pointing his thumb backwards.
"Haaah!... Haaaaah!... YOU!" Ash then heard Elaine's yell and saw her heavy breathing. The Orc looked up at him and ranted. "Next time, don't leave us behind! This isn't a race!... Oh wait, is that Sasha?"
"Yeah, I'm glad she wasn't harmed!" Elen then ran up to the couple and placed her fingers on Sasha's neck, checking her condition. "What happened to her?"
"We'll talk about it later," Ash replied until the floor rocked of a sudden. "What the-!? An earthquake?"
...
Way down to the entrance of the tower, Siegward felt the earth shake tremendously and saw the entire structure slowly collapses until he witnessed the stone bridges were torn apart by the quakes.
"Oh dear... this isn't good," Siegward spoke up in worry as he looks up. "How on earth will they get down from there...?
"It looks like this entire place is falling apart!" Junayd then slung his Carthus Greatsword behind his back. "We have to get out of here, quick!"
"But how!? We're on top of the tower!" Elaine screamed out in pure fear. "Oh Lords! I'm afraid to die!"
Then Ash stepped in and pulls out his Talisman. "Everyone, gather around with me! I have an idea."
At that moment, everybody stares at him in disbelief before Elen spoke up. "An idea?... An idea!? Don't try to pull off my leg here! We're about to die!"
"I know, but I'm sure this will work," Ash replied in a calm manner. "Just trust me, I have a teleportation spell with me."
The rest of the gang glanced at each other in hesitation. They knew there was no choice. Arcturus and Junayd slowly agreed while Elen massaged her temples and Reginald slapped his own face until he gave out a deep sigh.
"If this fails... I swear I'm going to kick your ass in the afterlife!" Elaine growled as she shot Ash an angry glare. Well, she's not wrong unless the Undead curse would be involved and revive at some bonfire. "Just make it sure... to send us somewhere safe."
"Don't worry, that won't happen." Ash then smiled in relief behind his helmet. "Alright, just stick with me."
The group gathered around the Silver-Blue Knight until Ash kneeled down and chanted a prayer, thinking of a place where they can land. Then his only thoughts were Siegward and his carriage where they were still waiting for them.
'Homeward!'
Upon casting the miracle, a glowing pentagon appeared right below their feet and vanished from thin air within mere seconds. Meanwhile, Luciana and Vermut came out from their hiding places while staring at the same spot where the Silver-Blue Knight and his companions left off with transportation magic. Vermut then crossed her arms and sighed deeply in defeat.
"I can't believe the Silver-Blue Knight did it to change her back to human," Vermut said while biting bitterly on her own lips. "An adversary such as him will give us more troubles for the Fourth Borne than the threats of the Order."
"Indeed... Wilmarina will be in tears once she hears about this... that Knight had dwindled the numbers of our warriors of the Dark Ice Flower," Luciana said admittingly while expressing grief and sadness which ached her heart. "Mira... her husband Marco, and the others... are all dead."
"... We should leave... " Vermut said before her wings spread out and took off into the air. "It's about to collapse."
Luciana then looks back and cracks appeared across the entire construct. The floor crumbled down and Luciana hastily spread her wings and flies up, then followed Vermut into the clouds.
Once the Tower collapses, the two knights of the Dark Ice Flower noticed there was another winged figure flying out from the collapsing tower and saw Eva carrying a heavily wounded Kirsche. Luciana smiled in relief to see they were still alive as well before heading their way back to Lescatie. From the other side of the wide moat that surrounds the tower, Siegward witnessed the colossal building silently collapse before an extremely loud bang ensues and enormous clouds of dust particles lifted up high into the skies until he noticed a glowing hue appeared beside him. Thus, to his surprise, he saw Ash, Sasha, Sif, and the others as well appeared out of thin air.
"Well... thank goodness it worked." Ash sighed in relief.
"Oh, dear heavens! You came out just in time!" Siegwards praised with his arms raised high before turning his gaze to Ash. "And Sasha is safe and sound! Praise the Lords in thy favour! You are truly a knight for her in need!"
Ash couldn't help but feel embarrassed, yet he appreciates the gratitude of his words. Then he turned his gaze around and looked up. He saw the remaining debris of the Tower fall from the high heavens and saw the same Temple of Depravity crashing into the massive heaps of rubble until nothing is left. The altar of the Fallen God within the temple had fallen from grace, and its decapitated head made of marble lay among the ruins of their holy sight.
...
The sun set itself from the skies while Siegwards whipped a leash on the horses. The crew inside the wagon rests until Elen heard Sasha groans from her sleep and yawned while stretching her arms, then sitting up.
"Hmm~?... What the-?... Everyone!?" Sasha shrieked out loud in surprise, while everyone inside the covered wagon jolts up in surprise and were wide awake. Then Siegward turns his head around. "Wh-What's going on over here and... wait, why am I wearing a gown?"
"Sasha! You're awake!" Elaine suddenly hugged the Priestess in joy, much to the priestess's surprise. "I can't believe we just travelled our asses for a couple of days to save you!"
"... What?" Sasha raised her eyebrow in confusion towards the Orc. "I-... uh... can anyone explain to me?"
"We saved you from the Tower of the Fallen Order." The Warrior Nun then turns over to Reginald, expressing his smirk. "You were abducted from a couple of nights ago."
"Huh?... Wait... Oh!" The Priestess then jolts in realisation. "That's right! But how did you guys find me?"
"Ash tracked down your abductors using a Guidance Spell," Arcturus replied with a smile. "So we fought our way through the Tower until your Knight just caved all his way through and found you on the last floor."
Sasha noticed someone behind her and turns around to see the Silver-Blue Knight, sleeping beside her. "But... how did he save me?"
"What do you mean?" Elen raised her eyebrow. "He just found you inside a temple."
"No, I mean not that... I remember that I got monsterized..." Once Sasha spoke those words, the crew then expressed their surprise and disbelief. "Then... could it be that Ash might have used a Purging Stone?"
"... Or something else that could save you if the first plan failed." Sasha then turned to Siegward with a concern. The onion knight then giggled in a joyful manner. "He always has a backup plan in a case, since you two are awfully close to each other."
Sasha stared at him with a dumbfounded look for a moment until she felt a strange sensation on her lips. Sasha gently touched it with her index finger until her eyes grew in realisation, as it felt that she was kissed by someone. She remembered the time when his wife, Jennifer, talks about the "Kiss" that had turned the innkeeper back to human.
'Could it be...' Sasha then slowly turned her gaze to Ash while a pair of red shades appeared on her cheeks. "Wh-Who... s-saved me?"
"Well, you can guess who," Junayd stated with a grin while crossing his arms. "A knight in his silver-blue armour."
For a few moments of silence, the crew grew eerie silent while sharing their looks of confusion. Sasha never said another word before she sits beside Ash and held him tight with his left arm while having a flustered expression. She does a slight pout on her cheeks and the red shades on her face grew even brighter.
"Ash... once we get home... y-you'd better take responsibility!" She blurted out.
At that moment, Junayd and Siegward laughed with a sense of humour, while the rest grew even more confused except for her.
"Well then, after all of this is settled," Siegward then spoke up. "Let's make our way home and celebrate!"
Once the Onion Knight made his declaration, he and Junayd raised their fists up high into the air with their victorious cheers as the Wagon quietly made its way to Gerth. But in the midst of their celebration, Sasha then smiled as she hugged his arm while closing her eyes.
"Thank you... for saving me..."
...
Chapter 22: Ends.
Achievement Unlocked; The God Slayer.
Author's note; Whew... guys, I felt like I've finished the first volume of this story. But wait, there is more to come! So btw, what kind of anime opening music would you choose for this entire volume? While I was writing the last part of this chapter, I was listening to MHA Ost's to keep it motivated. But some parts of this chapter are kinda written like a Shonen but blended together with Seinen.
However, I have to check up on errors and misspellings, but I'll just update it to make it more refined. However, about the Flames is just the Flames itself, but reborn without the Undead Curse. Thus I've let it speak with the old 16th Century Shakespearean language.
So then, Volume 1; Ends.