Phase IV
Chapter 29: Lostlight!
Author: Anju
Co-author: Erena
Illustrator: Tsubasa, Honoka Kousaka
Next Morning - Tree of Death
Chris, Death, and Alito met up with the Crowfather near the Tree of Death.
"Not so fast, you three." the Crowfather shook his head.
"So you will be following us, right?" Chris asked.
"Yes. I will remain here - at the tree - should you have need of me on your quest." the Crowfather nodded as Death's pet crow flew into the portal on the right.
"Haha...And Dust has a beak for more than corpses, Horseman. Follow him, and you will reach the Key." Crowfather chuckled.
"Follow Dust, find the Key? Can't be that easy, Crowfather." Death doubted.
"You may be right, Death. The future is a secret even I cannot keep." the Crowfather nodded.
"The greatest risk is to do nothing, though. Let's go!" Chris simpered in confidence.
Death gave a small grunt. "You certainly have looked up lately."
"It's thanks to Crowfather - he's really wise for his age." Chris smiled.
Before they leave for whatever the Tree would take them, the Dead Lords and Draven arrived to send their farewells.
"We will probably meet again, somehow?" Draven chuckled.
"Probably. Who knows what might await us." Alito simpered.
The four Dead Lords approached Death, Chris, and Alito and presented to them three arcane-filled orbs.
"Take these as thanks for the help so far. They will prove helpful throughout the journey." Phariseer explained.
"Where are they from?" Chris wondered.
"We found out that the Dead King is able to grant people their hidden potentials by giving them these orbs filled with arcane magic. They will dig deep into your souls and unlock your powers, making your abilities stronger. You will certainly need it, wherever the Tree may take you." the Adjudicator replied.
"Well, we certainly need all the powers we can get." Death nodded.
Chris and Alito nodded softly as they simpered, giving thanks to the Dead Lords by giving them communicators and item transporters.
"Consider this our way of diplomacy, Dead Lords. Take care of the Dead Kingdom; the Balance needs this realm's stability for survival." Chris simpered.
"You have our words." the Four Dead Lords bowed.
After a brief surge of pain coursing through their bodies, Chris, Alito, and Death managed to get back on their feet without fainting, the orb's aura still cooling down after improving their abilities.
"Right...my Project Tundra and Alito's Project Ventus are still adapting to the arcane magic imbued upon us. It should be able to operate soon..." Chris dusted off her sleeves.
"Good luck, Chris, Alito, and Death. Many a journey awaits!" Draven shot out.
The trio nodded as they waved goodbye to the sending off party.
After Chris, Alito, and Death reached the other side of the portal, their eyes widened at the scene presented to them.
There were several spires full of grandeur and towers that stretch to the skies, as the clouds were not ordinary clouds. Instead, they are cloudy white, shielding most bright light from reaching to the towers. The city was still white, but mostly a darker shade of white.
The Crowfather came out of the portal and approached them.
"I don't recognize this place. Where have you taken us?" Death asked.
"This place is called Lostlight. It is an outpost, far beyond the gates of Heaven. And it is here that the angels have hidden the Key to the Well of Souls." the Crowfather explained.
"Why here? Why not the White City?" Death wondered.
"There are some amongst the Angels who would use the Key for their own purpose, so it was hidden here to safeguard it from their schemes. Or so they hoped." the Crowfather replied.
"Speaking about the Key...you said that the Well has power over all life?" Death wondered.
"It does...though I suspect there is more to your question. Go on rider - ask it." the Crowfather encouraged.
"The Four never knew of the Well - why was it kept from us?" Death asked.
"For fear of what you may have done with that knowledge. The Nephilims could not be allowed to ravage Creation any longer. They needed to stay dead." the Crowfather frowned.
"The Well can bring them back, yes?" Death asked.
"And so we get to the root of it, yes, the Well is the font of all life, angel, demon, mankind...even Nephilims. But from their blades they wrought chaos - and from that was born Corruption. You were right to destroy them." the Crowfather replied.
Chris and Alito simpered. Death looked at the crystals embedded upon his chest.
"Maybe...just maybe...The Nephilims may die by my hands. But they will eventually corrupt everything, and I certainly dread to think what will happen to Creation if this happened."
As Death, Chris, and Alito began to enter the entrance to Lostlight...
"Why are you simpering when the Crowfather said that I was right to destroy them?" Death wondered.
"It's not your fault, Death. It's their pride...Pride gives way to hatred, and hatred, when given live, forms Corruption." Chris simpered.
"But I killed Absalom." Death answered.
"No, you did not kill Absalom. He merely lives on as Corruption. He thinks that it's a way to make you regret your past actions by infecting the Balance, but in truth it's just his blinded pride given to life. This time, though...we will help you save your brother, and kill the Corruption!" Alito nodded.
Death saw Chris and Alito's determined faces and found himself chuckling.
"I'm not going to lose to you when it comes to killing them!" the Pale Rider snickered.
"Bring. It. On!" Chris nodded, just as several golden white knight armor angels with golden highlights and golden helmets flew over them and landed on the other side.
They had white and golden greaves and gauntlets, two white-energy wings operating on a mechanical flap. They held a spear that has a cannon-like hole at the spear's tip.
"Hellguards?" Death frowned.
"Who's Hellguards?" Alito wondered.
"Warrior servants that served the angels in the White City...They appeared to be Corrupted." Death frowned.
Chris and Alito managed to scan the Hellguards and detected Corruption manifesting in them, just as one of the Hellguards raised up his cannon.
"You will serve us!" the Hellguard screeched and he unleashed a concentrated light bullet out.
Death, Chris, and Alito dodged the attack and frowned.
Just as the team got ready to battle, an uncorrupted muscular Hellguard flew over. He has brown skin, white eyebrows, two large white wings, and a spiral rune upon his bald forehead.
"By Abbadon's eyes, it is you...and two other followers."
The uncorrupted Hellguard quickly swooped down and struck the Corrupted Hellguards.
"No time to explain. To me, quickly." the uncorrupted Hellguard nodded.
The Trio nodded as they summoned their arcane troops to help them lure the Corrupted Hellguards.
The Corrupted Hellguards fell for the lure magic conjured by Death's ghouls.
Chris could feel her processes for Project Tundra to be quicker and more responsive than before as datas, attack tactics, weaknesses and tactical options began streaming in a more organized manner within seconds. She cracked her knuckles and smirked.
The Icy Maiden quickly teleported towards the back of several Corrupted Hellguards distracted by Death's Ghouls, plunged her Lifebane into each Corrupted Hellguard's wings, and quickly tore through their wings one by one with her Project Tundra's quicker processing unit powering her biological augmentations. Blood soon spewed out through the Corrupted Hellguards back as they keeled in extreme pain.
Chris quickly impaled each Hellguards through their abdomen, ripping their bodies apart with extreme ferocity combined with grace.
"My reflexes...they are growing quicker and stronger than before...That must be the effects of the Orb that the Dead Lord imbued upon me!"
Death quickly sprinted over to his share, dodged the corrupted energy shots with relative ease, joined his possessed scythes together by its hilt, and threw it as a Harvestor Revenge towards the Corrupted Hellguards and froze them.
The Pale Rider then flipped back to get enough range and unleashed a big and powerful shockwave. The powerful ghouls' explosion coincided with the big shockwave and killed the Corrupted Angels.
Death frowned as he saw a shadow looming under him, quickly joining his possessed scythe as a long spear, impaled the Hellguard's belly, and tore off the Corrupted's spine.
Soon enough, dead bodies of the Corrupted Hellguards scattered across the floor, dissolving to the air.
"Wow...even the White City is Corrupted too." Chris frowned.
"With Corruption spreading even to the Tree of Life and the Makers Realm, I wouldn't be surprised." Death frowned.
Minutes later...
"Welcome to Lostlight, rider - from one warrior to another. I assume you two must be followers of Death?" the uncorrupted Hellguard bowed.
Chris and Alito introduced themselves and told Nathaniel of their purpose in here.
"Yes we are. Thanks for helping us." Chris and Alito bowed back.
"Gratitude is unnecessary." the Hellguard replied.
"Do I know you?" Death wondered.
"I am Nathaniel. I fought beside you, rider, at the gates of Eden. Would have died, were it not for your blades. But I'm not troubled that you don't recall me. Your thoughts that day were on killing Nephilims." Nathaniel replied.
"You're of the Hellguard." Death replied.
"I was." Nathaniel replied. "But I guard the light now. And the Archon. You'll find both in the Crystal Spire. But something tells me you, along with the two followers, are not here to glory in master's radiance."
"What gave that away?" Death wondered.
"The Four Horsemen side with neither Heaven nor Hell."
"Fair enough. But we're looking for a key." Death nodded.
"I would guess that what you seek is no simple key. For that, you should consult the Archon. He sees much, from the peak of his spire." Nathaniel replied.
"You said 'I was' regarding your status as a Hellguard. Why did you leave the Hellguard? Is it because of Corruption?" Chris wondered.
"Yes. And partly because of Abaddon. He sent me here, to watch over the Crystal Spire - and the Archon. There is much at stake should the Spire fall." Nathaniel spoke calmly.
"This place is called Lostlight...but why?" Alito wondered.
"It is an outpost, for what we left in the White City. Here, we are closer to darkness." Nathaniel said.
"You keep saying about the Archon. I know that they are commanding angels of some sort. But who is this 'Archon' you're talking about?" Death asked.
"Lucien is the Head of the Scriptorium - those angels who record all that he sees, when he peers into the shadow. The Ivory Citadel holds their records, an archive vast beyond thinking." Nathaniel replied.
"Citadel?" Chris wondered.
"Lost beyond the mists. Pray your business never sends you there." the Hellguard hoped.
"Well...we might as well seek the key then." Chris replied.
Death and Alito nodded.
Peak of the Crystal Spire
After Death, Chris, and Alito slayed many Corrupted Hellguards in their path to the Crystal Spire's peak handily, the trio reached their destination.
The trio shielded the glaring light with their hands as they approached an angelic figure with the same armor as Nathaniel and big wings with gold highlights, except that spiral engravings tattooed upon the golden highlights covered upon his armor, shoulder pads, and gauntlets. He had four big wings.
He wore a robe with golden highlight on his head and had a face covered completely in yellow light; the features of his face could barely be seen. He was peering towards a portal.
"Out of the shadow...and into the light. I see you, Horseman...the things you have done, the lives you have ended. I know why you are here. Besides, ain't the two women followers from the other dimension, following you to rid the Well of Corruption too?" the Archon crossed his arms.
"So you are the Archon." Chris eyes widened slightly, but managed to keep her cool.
"Yes, it is I, Archon Lucien - The Protector of the Crystal Spire, and Guardian of Lostlight." he replied.
"Since you know why we are here," Death frowned, "you will give me the key."
Lucien frowned in return.
"I have guarded the Key for centuries," said the Archon as he stood up, "and it is mine. I will not part with it lightly."
The Archon teleported towards the edge of the Spire, overlooking the horizon, partly covered in darkness.
"Not now." he continued. "Corruption spreads. In our city. In our hearts. Only I remain pure, a beacon against the darkness. I was helpless in pushing it back, and the Citadel became corrupted." the Archon sighed.
"You mean the Key is in the Citadel?" Alito wondered.
"Yes." the Archon nodded.
Death calmly replied, sighed a little, and replied, "We're not all helpless, Archon."
"Yeah, there must be a way out of this mess, and we are going to find whatever it takes to destroy that icky mess." Chris nodded.
The Archon turned to face them. "Hmph. Perhaps not. After the seals were broken, and Hell's legions loosed upon the shattered Earth, many divine relics were lost. One, the Rod of Arafel, could help reverse what has happened here."
"Why didn't you take it then?" Alito wondered.
"I would, if I could. But the gates to the White City are closed to any angel who visits Earth. You three, however, are no angels." the Archon simpered.
Chris, Death, and Alito nodded.
"Not as if we have a choice." Death agreed.
"Acquire the Rod, and I will clear a path into my Citadel. There, you will find the Key to the Well of Souls. As for what you will find on Earth..." said the Archon as he reached walked towards the Portal. "As for what you will find on Earth...After you all face it, even you may curse the name of War."
The Archon, Death, Chris, and Alito took a peak into the Portal as it revealed a smouldered, shattered Earth.
Clouds were dark and gloomy, filled with hate and fear. Rain poured heavily upon the dark and dank streets. Destroyed buildings and roads were overrun by demons. Scattered throughout the cities were destroyed vehicles - buses, cars, motorcycles, Limousines, and even taxis. Earthquake cracks spread across the roads.
"This pool will bring you to Earth. Do not tarry here." the Archon warned.
"We do not know about the Rod's exact location. So you'll tell me, and them, where to find it." Death frowned as Chris and Alito nodded along.
"I have seen much, while staring into the deep, but that I cannot tell you. The Kingdom of Man was swallowed in darkness when the armies of Hell invaded. I have seen only glimpses of the Earth since then, but enough to know that the Rod of Arafel is safe. And our only hope of redemption." the Archon replied.
"The Well can tell everything, including the past of this dimension, right?" Alito wondered.
"Yes." Lucien replied.
"Then who created the Corruption? Who's the one responsible for imbuing his or her dark magic into the Nephilims when they died and reanimate their hatred as Corruption?" Chris asked.
"Then again, I do not know. It was shrouded back in darkness too. But I can tell you that it is a feminine figure, with bat-like wings. She has a sinister gesture, if that's what you want to know." the Archon replied.
"How does this City of Light fall into Corruption besides from the Tree of Life?" Death wondered as he peered into the Ivory Citadel, which was afar and shrouded with darkness.
"It wasn't the City that fell, but those within. It began with just one angel. Weak of will, given to doubts. When the darkness called...he welcomed it in. From him the Corruption spread. It seemed only I could sense it, gathering above our heads." Lucien replied. "Though I warned my brothers of the storm that was to come, they did not listen. Only when the cloud burst, did the City of Light fall. And other realms have fallen since."
"Like a Hikkimori..." Chris sighed.
"A Hikki, what?" Death and the Archon wondered.
"Hikkimori...A degradation term for people or non-adventurers who treat a niche like a drug so much to a point where they stayed at home and do fuck all. Their confidence will be at an all time low. Afraid by people's opinion, they always get controlled by doubts and paranoia...Darkness takes over them...and shit happens." Chris shrugged.
"You seem to understand your world." Lucien praised.
Chris shrugged and sighed. "Just like how your pool can see through all, my abilities allowed Alito and I to travel far and wide. Though my world back is at peace, social problems still occur from time to time. Well, at least no war about politics ain't brewing anymore. But still..."
"You speak of this realm as if it were your own." Death crossed his arms.
"You have the guards, calling this place Lostlight, but it is here that the light is to be found. And I am its source." Lucien replied.
"There's nothing else you can tell us?" Death frowned.
"Not until you find the Rod, Horsemen. Then all will be revealed." Lucien replied.
"Is you pool really the only way to get there?" Alito wondered.
"Yes. You can thank the Horseman's masters for that. To preserve the Balance until the End War, the Charred Council forbade all travel to the Third Kingdom...and destroyed those means that already existed. Even the Tree of Life was burnt, like so much kindling." the Archon replied.
"Yet you have the means to travel to Earth." Death replied.
"Not everyone obeys the Council, Death. That is why they have their Horsemen."
"I guess we have all the info that we need...It's time to head to Earth." Chris called Death just as they stood over the Portal to Earth.
"Right...let's go!" Death nodded.
"Good luck...there is much at stake, should the Spire fall." the Archon frowned.