Hex slowly paced forward on his horse, taking in his surroundings, and glancing at each of the motionless bodies lying around. The atmosphere remained black and white, an effect the self-proclaimed god of all the realms brings with his presence. He finally stopped and remained in that position until his servant caught up to him.
"Fine work you've done here, Han Sinus," Hex said, his voice dark and heavy.
He rode his horse over Syrie and Arya's body and stopped in front of Danila who was entirely shaken and frozen. The dark mage reached for his sword and pulled it out before slowly using it to raise her head. He stared at her, looking into her eyes for a moment then dropped his hand to his side before moving his horse to Blutox who was still gripping his shoulder in pain. He then slipped his sword back into its scabbard and turned to the pale-skinned man.
"Where is the one whom I came here for?" He questioned. "I have no interest in these insects."
Sinus swiftly went down to his knee. "I apologize, but the one you seek isn't here," he said. "I opened the gates for you because I thought their energies would compensate, especially after my last mistake, forgive me for my incompetence."
"HEX!!" A voice called out from behind.
Hex and his servant turned to see a bloodied tanned-skinned man with two equal-sized horns peeking out his cheeks. He had a swirl of green energy emanating around him and his fist burned with the same energy, Uobleza
"Let me take care of…" Hex raised his hand, stopping the Telekinesis act user before he could finish his words. He started towards the Energy Act user, moving majestically on his horse.
"All my life," Uobleza started. "All my life… I have been kept on the sidelines. I've always been made to stay and watch as all those around me fight in the front. I watched as you slayed my entire homeland but let me be."
He continued. "Always a backup character that gets tossed aside when the real show begins, unimportant— well not anymore." Uobleza launched himself forward with a clenched fist, his energy rising even beyond himself and turning the space around him green with his energy, but the moment he got close enough, a long spike popped out of the ground and pierced through Uobleza's chest, leaving him hanging lifeless in mid-air.
"What idiot," Hex muttered before turning to leave but stopped again as he felt a familiar energy arriving at the scene. The self-proclaimed god of the realms turned his horse again to see the bald-haired man, Monk Zumma taking in the scene with shock and horror lingering on his face.
"Zumma," Hex muttered.
"Merle," the Monk called out. "Why won't you come to your senses, Merle," Zumma said while slowly walking towards Hex.
"I am no longer Merle, My name is Hex, ruler of the realms, god of above and beyond."
The monk clenched his fist as he looked through the small opening in Hex's helmet trying to catch a look at his eye.
"This is not who you are, Merle… what happened to the little boy I took in, the one who told me all about his dreams and destiny?"
"I didn't choose this path, destiny chose it for me, and I will see it to the end."
Hex turned his horse and started away. "Bring me the one whom I seek," he said before a portal appeared in front of him and he walked through it, disappearing from the scene."
The undead servant of Hex stabbed his staff into the ground as he turned to look at the old Monk.
"You should be glad you met with Hex without losing your life." With that, he disappeared into the ground.
.
.
.
Komnene the witch remained in the same position she was in before the General of Hex threw the energy-sapping lily flower. Her face turned stern as she looked around her burning hut before resting her eyes on the Elementalist who slowly stepped backwards, completely unaffected by the flower.
"How are you immune to the flower?" He questioned while moving the cloth he had used to cover his nose a little upper to avoid inhaling the smoke.
Komnene outstretched her hand and mumbled some words. The flames around compressed back and stopped in front of her outstretched hand before blasting the Hex's general out through the wall. She followed him out still chanting her words, causing Magnus to rise to midair on her command. She waved her second hand making a cage appear around him before throwing him into the mouth of a frog nearby then making the frog vanish into thin air.
She sighed and wiped some dust off her clothes.
"I'm getting sloppy— couldn't put much energy into that, he's gonna escape." She shrugged then returned to her mansion where she found Eryth awake and coughing nonstop.
"You're awake." She picked up an empty vile from her infinite storage in space and willed the smoke from the burning flower around to enter into the vile before returning it to her storage.
"What happened here? Where's everyone?" Eryth questioned after he stopped coughing.
"One of the General of Hex came here looking for the Tome of Discordia, and your friends went back to the village because another of Hex's General attacked."
Eryth stood up and wiped the dust off his body. "So? Did I do it? Am I worthy of taking the Book?" He queried.
The witch raised her brows. "Well I'm not sure if you did it, or if the Energy Sapping flower broke the spell, but that doesn't matter anyway," she revealed. "From what I saw, the realms only comes to an end if Hex takes the book, and even if you somehow happen to align yourself with Hex, or become like him, nothing like that should happen— the test was simply to confirm which will happen."
"Become like Hex?"
"Dark and labelled a Chaos being but don't bother about that," she waved it off before Eryth could ask any other questions. "Why aren't you worried about the village or your friends?"
Eryth scoffed before picking up his sword and slipping it into his belt. "Do you know what I saw in that test of yours?" He probed.
The witch dug her hand into her hair. "I don't know… some fantasy about wealth and power?"
"You're half correct, but right after that, just before I woke, I met with Cronometra."
Komnene raised her brows and took a step forward. "Cro— Cronometra? As in…"
"Yup," Eryth nodded. "The goddess of Time and Space."
"And she didn't kill you?"
Eryth shook his head no. "She told me a way I could get to live as long as you."
"She did?"
Eryth laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Honestly, I didn't really get much of her words as I was lost in her really— really big heart. But I got something about finding and breaking an hourglass with my name on it in the Hlret Desert," he revealed.
"What does she want in return?"
"I become her servant and protect Time and Space forever."
Komnene folded her arms. "And you said no, right?"
"Are you kidding? With breasts like hers, I'd do whatever it is she wants as long as I get to see them, plus who knows, maybe I'd do a good job and she'll let me, you know."
The witch's face remained stern, forcing Eryth to wipe the smile from his face and put up a straight face. "Anyway, she said I'd have to forget about the village for the time and get the hourglass before the watch she gave you years ago does a full circle."
Komnene smiled as he recalled the moment the goddess handed her the watch, informing her to keep it safe for it will have a purpose in the future.
"You are aware that being a 'servant of a god' means leaving whatever it is you are doing to answer to their call, that is why some even vacate this life completely, much like Odora, the Eye of the Realm, one of the very few beings to be blessed by all the gods and goddess, including and especially Cronometra."
"If it is the price I have to pay to be able to beat this madman who claims to be the one true god, then why not."
The orange-haired witch nodded. "Very well then." She waved her hand in a half-circle motion and the Tome of Discordia appeared in it. "I'll leave the energy that I put around it, break it and use the book whenever you are ready."
Eryth collected the book and exhaled deeply upon holding it in his hand. The witch then extended her hand to pass him the watch. Eryth takes the watch in his hand. "How long is it going to take?"
"The first day she gave it to me, the watch had about a billion years in it," she revealed. "If I'm correct, it should still have about a week in it, so."
He slipped it into his pocket and raised his head to look at the Witch.
"You've certainly gained the attention of the gods and much a favour, you will make a great servant of the realms."
"What about you?" He asked. "I'm sure I picked your interest as well, and you've certainly had fun with me around."
The witch raised her brows. "You've been unconscious for most of the time, so I don't think 'with me around' is the right phrase, but yeah, a lot happened because of you," she stated. "You're the first person in eons to oppose me, and because of you I got to use my abilities which I've kept away for many years."
Eryth nodded. "So do I get any favour from you?"
She remained quiet for a moment as if pondering the question before stepping forward. She extended her hand and beckoned at the Dark Mage. He also stepped forward and placed his hand on hers. It only took a few seconds before a pool of Black Energy flowed from her hand to Eryth's, engulfing him in said energy.
"What was that?" He probed.
"I gave you an infinite storage room. Use it to keep your stuff, like the book so you won't have to hold it in your hand and tell the world you've got it."
Eryth smiled. "Well I was expecting something else, but thanks." He started for the door but stopped upon reaching it.
"You know you aren't as bad as they say you are…" he let his words trailed off as he turned back to see both the witch and the hut were no more. He turned back to the door but it was also gone, leaving him in the forest of the living.
"Thank you."
….
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