Still radiating residual god-energy from tapping Earth's ancient primacy codes, Kyla stood upon the ravaged lunar surface gazing silently toward the planet's anguished horizon. The recent battery by Lord Argentine left both landscapes and souls scorched in need of prolonged healing.
For now the Grim Tyrant limped back through closing cosmic fissures toward his empire's far deleterious arms – yet Kyla knew with forebodingArgentine's departure only represented an ominous respite. Earth barely endured assault from but a fraction of his vast colosseum horror forces. Next time, the Despoiler would commit nothing less than total extermanatus capacity toward mankind's fertile Cradle.
Zylos approached respectfully from behind where Kyla broodingly monitored debris fields still settling in low orbit from their recent near apocalyptic war. He could sense Earth's champion already surveying how much deeper they must now plunge toward unexplored power thresholds if hopes persisted to fortify Earth's vulnerability by the time Argentine's vengeance surfaced again upon this plane.
Yet even after tapping Earth's own inner metaphysical cascade codes, her stellar twin Zylos doubted either of them could expand enough to endure direct blows by Argentine's god-Forbidden weaponry more than fleetingly. Unless... the Gate of the Planetarium arena games approached indeed, offering victorious contenders chances at bonding with Paramortal Paragons across storied antiquity. Such Patrons may consent to pledges of protective partnership IF convinced Earth's need proved sufficient to stir their jaded interests.
Zylos committed then and there to stand at Earthen brother Kyla's side when gauntlets were finally cast upon the legendary coliseum sands those coming days. Either both emerged forever elevated enough to shield this adopted sphere from all who would see her break – or at bare minimum these friends vowed to rage defiant and bold unto the very last against unrelenting oblivion's coldest pall.
Chapter 18
Eldritch tentacles tightened across Zylos' throat, toxins searing through his corded muscles as the lashing cephalopod latched fiercely amidst the carnage of Nabiru's own planetary arena games. His vision swam as he strained to concentrate what little magic remained in his veins toward self-deliverance...when abruptly the shrieking behemoth went rigid and exploded upward off of him.
Kyla phased into visibility having teleported directly into their monstrous attacker's midst, intangibly ghosting to wormhole force straight through its alien organs before re-materializing fist first out the creature's back. Such ferocity from anyone risking the voracious gate trials indicated growing ruthlessness confirming Zylos' own dark suspicions...
This tournament cycle had attracted an unusually volatile cast of Eliminators, sadistic warriors bent on actively sabotaging any lesser contenders from advancing near coveted patron bonding rites. Rumors whispered extending back along epochs that the new sudden attrition stemmed from recent failed siege incursions by unknown aggressors against isolated worlds dwelling under Eldsthrym dynasty protection subspace folds. Greatly incensed at experiencing unexpected battle trauma, the Elder Titan class lords whose sidelining allowed infiltration of their obscure dependant starholds were now aggressively fortifying those system outposts through harsher means.
All the more essential then that Zylos accompany storied brother Kyla on his own venture to attract one such patron whose mightiness exceeded beyond long-lost Aeon levels. None save a patron of that scale possessed the raw toolkit necessary building macro shielding sufficient to met any potential siege technology reappearing. So while Nabiru's noble heart broke witnessing once proud allies cut down by Eliminator jackals to prevent reaching that errant level playing field, Zylos knew their own possible sacrifices still paled next to a vulnerable Earth's impending stark survival needs...
Now stranded on low power within this DeathZone arena, himself and Kyla must rally every last combat resource toward escaping these gauntlet pits against ever increasing assassinator difficulty. Beyond awaited least a chance of bonding rescue...failing here however spelled only distant hope's termination.
Kyla's spirit sank realizing the severity of their arena entrapment. Manifesting planet class might required arduous spiritual training - now these death pits sought to condition contenders by depleting all protections straight down to bedrock soul-stuff. Raw, exposed, with nowhere left to hide...such primal nudity forced rapid evolution through trauma.
Those strong enough to cage their terror as killers closed around them might unlock gateways stabilizing higher cosmic cognition wavelengths. Empowerment blossomed not through achieving victory, but by embracing helplessness amidst defeat's very jaws.
Kyla could sense Zylos' own quiet revelation as well...that only by throwing themselves upon Eliminator mercy without resistance did their core beings stand chance at awakening further. This cursed briar patch was designed specifically to break aspirants through prolonged horror - never allowing the mercy of death until contenders either transcended fears binding them below ascended class strata...or shuddered evermore in glassy thousand-yard stares, psychic minds too cracked by eons of inflicted anguish to reincarnate back up the planes again.
Corpses and spirit-lost littered this death pit like potter's shards discarded from an insane master's throwing wheel. The few who kept wilful shape under torment's lashings must navigate survival constants quickly reduced down near zero. friend and new purging death equally.
A black halo of hovering attack drones now circled the weakened heroes chambered at this arena's deepest furnace level. Crackling force pikes jolted Kyla and Zylos both to their knees as Eliminator gladiators marched upon them, parceling out only cruelty toward this grit lesson in embracing powerlessness. But Earth's emissary managed to clench his ally's hand in solidarity while oily ritual blades raised high to deal torment...and new courage flickered realizing that sometimes, only when losing all strength and standing alone does someone instead gain everything.
Zylos arched his back severely against electro-Grav restraint manacles. Through blistered eyelids he watched Kyla's bruised body spasm limply two feet away, similarly secured by an opposing prison pedestal so that their stretched limbs nearly touched. Smoldering neural whips littered the floor between them – discarded instruments no longer useful breaking what little will remained. They had held on admirably under weeks of relentless agony in this LightForsaken cesspool, yet Zylos feared Kyla's astonishing wells of resilience neared dangerous depletion. Prayer spells went unheeded by absent gods while Eliminators only increased voltage, determined to shatter both into oblivion.
Rapid footsteps echoed from the arched doorway as three Eliminators entered, parting to reveal a towering figure draped in ethereal azure robes seemingly cut from the fabric of endless skies. Zylos' radiation frazzled senses struggled processing the unexpected arrival. Could this be...? Eyes widening, he perceived intricate Mithril scrollwork adorning the newcomer's ornate armor which seemed familiar somehow, resonating with planetary scale runes of Earthshaping.
Mustering what strength he had left, Zylos lifted his trembling face toward the imposing warden and managed to rattle out a single desperate whisper...
"Sky...Lord...?"
A helmed nod was followed by a mighty upheld hand. Fingers wove intricate gestures in graceful arcs as the chamber's very light twisted itself into binding sigils – instantly freezing the approaching Eliminators mid-stride! With another cutting motion the torturers shot backward, impacting the far wall with bone pulping finality to slide motionless to the floor.
The towering legend approached where cruel gravity beams suspended Zylos and Kyla inertly. Slabs extended from the overlord's forearms brimming with hallowed fire...blazing hotter and closer until both prisoners threw back their heads, howling in sensory overload through scorched raw nerve channels. Their shackles exploded seconds later as currents simply could flow no further, molten steel globs pattering at their feet.
They nearly collapsed without the crackling pillars still somehow holding their shredded bodies semi-upright. But almost tenderly the robed titan moved near to brace them firmly by each shoulder until their hazy gazes met level with his own. Sanctuary poured from that voice then – deep yet gentle in its overwhelming thunder.
"You have endured enough, brave ones...come away now. My Wings shall shield you."