Xell sat across from Tetsuno in the upper tower of Fort Arashi. The fort itself had four upper towers, three of which being for war plans, counseling and research. The other was Akuro's private quarters. Then layer below the upper towers was the private quarters, where the Archdemons and Deities rooms were. Meanwhile the second floor was the main floor, the quarters for the other demons and soldiers, as well as the armory. The first floor was just the main hall, made of stone and many corridors that led to the secondary armory. Then there was the underground floor, which was used as a seven refuge. It was meant for if they came under a surprise attack. It was also where they kept the enchanted weapons of Xinoll as well as the prison area.
Xell and Tetsuno sat in the third high tower, the counsel room. It was just a simplistic, large room with a singular large table and four windows on all sides. Below the windows the wall jutted out to form seats. Against one wall by the door was a shelf full of cups, goblets and alcoholic beverages.
Xell swirled a glass of whine about in his hand as he leaned against the window. He sat upon the stone seat beside a window while Tetsuno sat in one of the lavish chairs about the table.
"We lost both our king and our leader." Xell said. "Man, we just can't catch a break, eh?" He tipped back the glass, the wine flowing down his throat, then slammed the glass back down, shaking his head and messing up his hair. "I feel like I could sleep for a whole year."
Tetsuno hissed softly, shifting in his seat. A moment later the door clicked open and Kessana walked into the room. Tetsuno didn't turn to face her, but Xell made eye contact. He decided against saying anything, seeing as she was more likely hurting to a much greater extent that he or Tetsuno were. She loved Zealous, and now he was dead. Another Archdemon gone.
Kessana sat against a window across the room from Xell, behind Tetsuno. For a long moment they were all quiet, but then she spoke, her voice meek and soft. "How is Gozzu doing?"
"The gremlin is healed. He up and disappeared like he always does. So I imagine he's fine." Xell answered. "How are the others?"
"They are very gloomy.. to say the least." Kessana said.
"Not surprising. And what about you? Are you..?" Xell didn't want to finish the sentence, realizing how dumb it was to ask.
"I.. am fine." Kessana spoke, smiling weakly.
Xell turned his eyes to the window, peering out over the expansive desert, an ocean of sand that stretched on forever and ever. He wondered if, in the end, would the deserts become the sea, or would the sea dry up to nothing?
•
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•
"So, how do I get a hold on this new power?" Akuro asked, "how do I use it to destroy realities?"
Kasziel smiled at Akuro. "So you agree to follow me then?"
"I thought that was obvious."
"Yes, I guess it was. Well, you will train with me. We will spend quite a lot of time together just training, I will teach you how to use your powers. When I'm through with you, all you'll have to do to end an entire reality is snap your fingers." Kasziel spoke.
"I really have that much power?" Akuro asked doubtfully.
"Yes, you do. No one can stand in your way, Akuro, though, I must warn you, there are versions of you in other realities, some of them being just as powerful, though, they chose the wrong path."
"Other versions of myself?" Akuro asked.
"Yes. Some fucked up, some being prissy bitches who think they are heroes."
"They are as strong as me?"
"As of right now, a few of them are stronger. And you will have to fight them at some point. I am quite excited to see how you will handle them." Kasziel grinned.
Akuro glanced over at Void. "They won't make it far. I will win in the end."
"And that," Kasziel spoke, "is why I chose you!"
"Shall we get to his training then?" Azazel asked.
"Yes, yes, of course." Kasziel stood, then waved for Azazel to do something. A moment later the Demon God waved his hand and another vortex formed in the air. Akuro went through first, and what he saw in the other side was a vast expanse of.. nothing. It was all empty, as though they were adrift in the deepest depths of the universe. It reminded him of drifting in the afterlife, before he met Raijin. Before this all started, though, little did he know, he was planned to be a key part in all of this long before he was even born.
Kasziel then came through the vortex as well, the swirling portal of shadow disappearing as he did. It seemed it would only be Kasziel and him.
"Now then." Kasziel spoke. "This is your sand box. For now, I want to teach you the basics, you know, the easy stuff." Kasziel snapped his finger and a ways off a massive planet at least twice the size of earth appeared, just popping into existence. "Creating a planet is easy compared to making a whole reality. Now then, what is even easier is destroying it. It is easier to destroy than it is to create."
The planet was painted with greens, blues and luminescent purples. The surface was colored with a shifting green as though the planet's skies were the aurora borealis. It was a beautiful, stunning sight to behold. Akuro had never before seen another planet this close, he'd never even been in space, so the sight of such an alien thing was absolutely captivating.
"Amazing, isnt it? Don't worry. Soon you can create planets much like this, in your own image. Create your own galaxy. That is the whole point of this, to create a perfect reality, to bring about the ending that births the new beginning. With every forest fire comes the brightest spring. From death comes life, the death of one births the lives of many."
Akuro simply stared blankly at the planet before him. He wondered about the life upon that planet, all the unique creatures he had never seen before. He became curious.. but then a cold chill ran through him, shutting off any sense of curiosity or emotion in general.
"This is the simple stuff. I want you.." Kasziel said, "to destroy that planet."
•
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•
Onoma strode through the halls of Fort Arashi. It was almost nightfall now, as he walked about the fort. He was bored and had really nothing better to do. He wanted to go see Inari, but every time he'd knocked upon her door he received no response. He hoped she would be alright.
He stopped beside a door, glancing at the handle. He looked down either direction of the hallway then proceeded to open the door, entering the room and closing the door behind him.
He stood now in the weapon's room. The dim light of sundown shone through the window pain casting a soft orange glow across the rack of blades and spears and shields and many other weapons, which then reflected the light across the walls, giving the room a glow like when you shine a light through a gemstone. It was quite beautiful. Onoma walked over to the rack of weapons and brushed his hand over them.
"Greetings! What brings you here?" Came a voice, causing Onoma to jump, his hand being cut by the edge of one of the many swords. Blood began to leak from the cut.
He turned and saw the sisters, Sallius and Razzaiel, standing behind him. Razzaiel wore a hyper smile, though, it seemed fake, a sadness hidden within her expression. Her sister's face was placid and emotionless.
"I.." Onoma realized he probably seemed suspicious. "I was just wandering about. I am bored and don't know what to do with myself."
"Why not train? Training is always fun." Razzaiel spoke.
"Yeah, you could use the training, you don't even have a solid Aura Cloak yet. What exactly did you do during the fight by the way? Oh wait.. that's right.. nothing.. you were absolutely useless, a bystander." Sallius spoke coldly.
Onoma's expression contorted as he became enraged. "I couldn't do anything! I was pinned down, as were you! Neither of you did much of anything either, did you? I didn't see you do anything!"
"That's the point." Razzaiel spoke with a sad smile. "We are all in the same boat. Weak. Too weak to save the ones we love. Helpless.. worthless..."
Onoma's expression softened, realizing they were feeling the same lonely, dejected feeling he felt now. He felt like he was absolutely invisible to anyone.. he remembered when he was in Akuro's level, how he had honestly thought he could be rivals with Akuro.. and now he felt so stupid for even thinking they were in the same league. He couldn't even grow or make an aura cloak.. he was pathetic.
He continued to put himself down like this, he couldn't stop thinking of how weak, pathetic and worthless he was.
Then Sallius spoke. "You know," she said stepping towards Onoma and putting a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her glorious ice blue eyes. His heart skipped a beat as he looked at her. For a demon, she was beautiful, her smooth skin, the white hair, those crystal blue eyes.
"Your Aura Cloak is connected deeply with your emotions." Sallius said. "If you put yourself down, you will only stay weak. If you strive for power, to be stronger, if you never doubt yourself, you will only become powerful. That is the key to Lord Akuro's power."
"You'd still call him lord?" Onoma asked.
"Yes. He is being controlled by Azazel... or rather I believe he is being controlled by avoid."
"Void?" Onoma asked.
"Yes. Azazel created the demon race with the Titans, and Void was the first demon he ever made, meaning it is one of the first beings to have his aura. Meaning it would have the best chance at controlling Akuro. It just doesn't feel like Azazel is the main one in control here.." Sallius spoke.
"Call it intuition." Razzaiel added. "But that isn't her point. Her point is that you should trust yourself and do all you can to be stronger. Stop putting yourself down, you are only dampening your potential."
Onoma looked down at his hand. The wound on his finger was healed now, but his skin was stained with a thin layer of blood. He knew they were right.. he was being childish. He needed to grow up and realize his own power. He had potential.. he did.
"Also," Sallius spoke, "some beings don't have Aura Cloaks, they are just powerful as they are and use that power. Look at Tetsuno, he doesn't have an Aura Cloak, yet he is possibly the strongest Archdemon."
Onoma grit his teeth. She was right. Just because he was weak now didn't mean he would always be that way. He would be stronger. He would beat Akuro... he'd become the strongest of all.
As he clenched his teeth, a faint crimson glow emitted from his fist, but it was hardly visible.
Sallius grinned slightly at Onoma's look of determination. They were down, but they weren't out.