Concurrently, leaving Zenith Lord Icarus and Lady Arika arrived at the coast of Solaris. Upon arrival, they were immediately greeted by an unpleasant wave of negativity.
" Lord Icarus !! " Lady Arika shrieked, shrugging back in fear. The intensity of the negative energy was not only overwhelmeing but, also dominating. Swaying it's opponents into realm of fears where their worst nightmares come to life.
" What is this?? I don't recall you creating anything nearly close to this. "
It wasn't fear of death or destruction for Lady Arika, it was more of a concern for her ; concern regarding the force that was currently challenging the creation.
" Neither do I, Arika... " Lord Icarus responded in barely audible whisper. The creases of his brows were at their deepest. His sense were at their sharpest, absorbing every little detail thrown his way. A layer of familiarity and fear settled upon his features.
" This is not something I can ever create, it's something far beyond our gravest expectation. "
" Expectations?? " Lord Icarus didn't reply. after ensuring Lady Arika was unharmed he and Lady Arika headed to where the Sacred Texts were stored. His features didn't change even for a split second instead, they grew even worse as the stepped deeper into the realm and for a good reason.
Lord Icarus didn't blame Lady Arika for not understanding immediately, given her potential he believed she would when facing the actual thing however. He was a different story.
Having been created by the Almighty herself, Lord Icarus was familiar with the aura of her energy. Until now, nothing in the zero cosmos was by far close to that.
This energy on the other hand, though had the same aura but, was a complete opposite to that of the Almighty. What worried him was the power and potential of this new force, for it was clear that it wasn't a friend. And for a potential of this level, it might not be within the capabilities of Lord Marvolio to tackle.
The closer they got to the Sacred Text, the stronger the hold of the unknown force seemed. Thus, it didn't take long to connect the dots and their surroundings proved their suspicions.
The vibrant blue ocean where King Sebastian and his merfolks fearlessly guarded the gates of the Infinity Ocean now lay dull and colourless with dead bodies of ocean creatures occasionally floating on the surface of the water. His kingdom Antila, was ruined and left with hardly any survivor.
The ever blue sky where the sun never sets was now covered with thick layers of smoke and ashes. Hidding behind those curtains, the seven suns who were known as the source of light and warmth in the creation, now glared mercilessly at them.
Under the scorching heat, rivers and lakes dried off. The magnificent greenery of the realm had now been replaced with flames and embers. The air was saturated with the nauseating smell of decaying dead bodies and burning smoke. Light was completely wiped out from the realm.
Relying on their senses, then on the burning flames here and there, Lord Icarus and Lady Arika continued forward.
" Hats off to you, Lord Alexuis!!! How did you even manage to figure this all out?? " Lord Icarus exclaimed.
" Let's just be thankful that he did. No wonder he ended up absolutely drained. Compared to the state here, everything we have seen till now is nothing. " Lady Arika added with her nose and mouth covered, trying her best to not throw up.
" Agreed.."
By now they had already travelled quite some distance and judging by the furious flames, the closer they traveled towards the temple ; the more problems they're to face.
" I'll have to create a water bubble or else we won't be able to make it through. " Lord Icarus declared.
" No don't!! Using our powers will alert our opponent. " Lady Arika insisted against his idea. " Hold on, I have an idea. " Saying that she searched through her little bag and revealed something that was close to what we know as yin yang.
" When did you... " Lord Icarus was stuck for words when he saw what she took out from her bag. His eyes almost popped out.
" The magic of Oppositus, from the universe of Kostantinos. I had sent Kira right after we started the emergency meeting too collect all the important magic from across the universes. " Lady Arika said matter-of-factly but, her eyes were glimmering with mischief.
" Exactly what else have you been doing behind my back, Arika?? "
" Why don't you see for yourself?? " Lady Arika said jokingly, pointing towards her bag.
Turned out that Lady Arika had done more then just giving them advice. By taking out the important magic from their respective universes simultaneously with the meeting, Lady Arika had indirectly saved the creation from a total annihilation. The situation at the start of the meeting wasn't as bad as now because of which their unknown opponent didn't manage to set it's claws on them.
" Using the magic of Oppositus will only change the physical form of the magic while retaining it's aura. " Lord Icarus concluded with renewed admiration.
Without further adieu, Lady Arika held out the magic from Oppositus and the blazing flames that surrounded them instantly turned into water and then further into vapours.
It was just as Lady Arika said, without the change of aura nothing was on alert thus, they were quickly able to make it to the gates of the temple of the Sacred Texts.
Standing before the temple gates, it took a good few minutes for both Lord Icarus and Lady Arika to remind themselves that they in Solaris and not hell.
The mighty towers of the temple were reduced to piles of derbis. The broken roof and the fallen pillars looked something like a haunted ruins from a horror movie. From the temple exuded a dark vapour which was the source of the smoke through out the realm.
Lord Icarus, when first set his foot on the of Solaris, he had lost all hopes of saving the Sacred Texts. But they still continued on Lady Arika's request. Now he really wanted to back out....
" My Lord, even if we can't recover the Sacred Text, we'll at least know the cause of all this. Besides, even you have to admit its not a force to underestimated. " She had insisted.
" You still want to go in, Arika?? " He asked looking straight at the structure before him.
" We have made it this far... "
" Hmm.. " He nodded.
And thus, together they stepped inside the tiger's lair.
Inside was even worse than the outside. Upon entering they were immediately greeted with piles of decaying dead bodies of the merfolks laying here and there all across the courtyard.
The sight was exceptionally disgusting even for Lord Icarus. However, it was not disgust that he was bothered him ; it was the pain.
Pain of the creator, who once created them with all his heart and was now helplessly watching them after they departed from his creation.
They say tears explain our deepest emotions but, even they fell short for Lord Icarus.
" Aahhh!!! " Lady Arika suddenly screamed beside him, pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned back to find Lady Arika enwraped in black flames.
" AAHH!! " She screamed again in pain.
" Arika!! " Lord Icarus yelped and instantly attacked the flames. Unfortunately, the moment his spell touched the black flames, massive waves of electric currents appeared out of nowhere and assailed him. He tried to protect himself but, as luck would have it, his powers failed him miserably.
As he was being beaten down by the thunder shocks Lord Icarus's gaze suddenly fell on the Magic of Oppositus.
" Arika!!! " Lord Icarus called out. " Arika listen to me!! You have to let go of the Magic of Oppositus now!!! " He couldn't understand how it was possible so fast but, it was the only explanation he had.
The Magic of Oppositus had turned against her...
Encaged in the black flames, Lady Arika was wagging a war with herself. On one hand, she was hell bent on protecting the Magic of Oppositus from the dark forces. While on the other, she was trying her best to protect herself from the effects of the Oppositus magic.
For her it was an empty abyss of darkness.
When the overpowering forces had cornered her completely, Lord Icarus's voice reached her like a gentle gust of wind for her soul.
She didn't wanted let go because the more power their opponent had the weaker they would become but, at the she had no other option. She knew that Lord Icarus must have a good reason for doing so.
And she was right..
The moment she let go of the Magic of Oppositus, she was immediately free from the magic as well as its effects. And so was Lord Icarus.
Drained and exhausted, they now understood what drove Lord Alexuis to such state.
" Are you okay?? " Lord Icarus asked weakly.
Lady Arika only nodded in reply.
Slowly getting back on their feet, Lord Icarus and Lady Arika entered inside the temple.