Zemyna stopped her charge when she got a good look at the creature that was emerging from the newly unsealed cave. Everything about it was warped. She couldn't even tell what kind of creature it used to be. It had an unnatural amount of limbs and eyes. All of its eyes glowed red with malice. Its movements were all over the place; constantly twisting and changing direction. But once the corrupted creature laid eyes on Zemyna, it slammed all of its limbs on the ground and let out a soul-shaking roar.
"Aaaaarrrgghhhk!!!!!!!"
The cry sent chills through Zemyna and seemingly everything else around it. The grass and plant life around the creature began to wither and die in its presence. It was corrupting the very energy, air, and land around it; even in this sacred place! Now Zemyna was beginning to realize how difficult her first trial is. Yet she had no desire to retreat. In the creature's cry, she could hear more than anger, there was also a hint of sadness, as if deep down, the creature was asking to be made whole again.
Zemyna summoned her sword and her shield. These were her soul weapons. They were as much a part of her as her limbs. She stored them in her spirit body until she needed them. Before now, they had never been used for true combat. But that was about to change. She strengthened the aura of divine energy around her armor and weapons to keep them from being corrupted by the creature and prepared to charge.
The creature noticed this aggressive change in Zemyna and responded in kind. It began to ooze even more darkness.
Tssss....tssss....tsss... the corrupted darkness coming from the creature was so concentrated, that it took liquid form and dripped on to the ground around it, scorching the terrain.
With a loud battle cry of her own, Zemyna charged at the creature and began to exchange blows with it. The creature matched her speed easily and deflected all of her blows. Little by little, the battle was exhausting the layer of protection Zemyna cast on herself and her weapons. As her first test raged on, she couldn't help but wonder how Elijah was faring...
Elijah found himself in a tunnel of complete darkness. Gilgamesh told him to move forward no matter what, but this darkness made it impossible for him to maintain any sense of direction. All he could do was try to keep his feet moving. Then he began to hear voices that sounded like his own at first, but then began to change into that of sinister serpents.
"What are you doing here, mortal?"
"What could you possibly hope to achieve?"
"Ohhhh you're here for love? Is that it?"
"Hahahahahaha are mortals even capable of love?"
"You're kind is just a mistake that the Creator has forgotten to do away with!"
"Give up this foolishness."
"How could a goddess love you?"
"You're nothing compared to her."
"You're lifespan is nothing but a blink to her."
"She'll never love you. You're just a pet to her at best."
The voices viciously attacked Elijah's mind and heart. He couldn't bare to hear these words. His own insecurities were beginning to surface.
"It really doesn't make sense for Zemyna to love me. I am nothing like her. She is worlds apart from me." His legs became weak and his chest became heavy as doubt clouded his mind and he began to choke on the lies.
"Yessssss....that's it. Realizzzzeeee the truth."
"Sssssink into despair."
"Giiivvvvve uuuuup."
"You don't have to sssssuffer like thissss..."
"Sssssay the word. And it will alllllll ennnnd."
Elijah stopped moving and sank to his knees.
"What have I gotten myself into? I'm not worthy of her. I should have known I couldn't do this when I looked upon Gilgamesh. I'm no god. I'm just a man."
At the same time, Zemyna's trial was not going well either. Her layer of protection was completely gone and she had been stained by the corruption of the creature. It had taken root in her and was spreading all over. She could feel her essence draining. It was like a human's immune system failing to fight off an infection. She felt weaker by the second. She dropped to hands and knees. The creature lunged at her to take advantage of her vulnerable state. But right before it could deal the finishing blow...
Time stopped.
Zemyna and Elijah both experienced the same vision. It was the vision that first brought them together. When their eyes first met, their consciousness was immediately transported to the future. Elijah had his arms wrapped around Zemyna as she sang to the little newborn goddess in her arms. They were in a true paradise of their own making and all of Creation felt at peace.
And immediately, a fire lit in them both.
In Zemyna, the fire burned away all the corruption, restored her sword and shield, and became a powerful barrier around her. With a loud cry, she blocked the creature's would-be final blow with her shield before jumping up into the air.
Suddenly a pair of white and peach colored wings emerged from her back, and she flew down towards the creature at tremendous speed.
"Haaaaahhh!!!!!" She drove her blade into the creature and began channeling a massive amount of energy into it through the wound.
"Thy will...be done!" At those words, the wild and corrupted energy within the creature began to settle and purify.
The darkness that was emanating from the creature ceased, the foul liquid that was dripping from it stopped, and cracks began to appear all around it until finally the darkness exploded off it. And now, Zemyna could see what it truly was. A celestial, winged horse. It's coat was dark blue, its eyes were like stars, and it's wings were the purest white.
The horse neighed and rejoiced at being purified and free.
Zemyna pet the celestial creature and said, "Welcome back."
The creature bowed to her and flew away. Rejoicing all the way into the distance.
"I've always loved those creatures. Thank you for purifying her and not destroying her. I used to ride her kind as a young goddess."
Zemyna turned to see Sophia approaching her. She could feel so much divine love and power coming from her that even now, it was almost overwhelming. And she knew she still had a long journey ahead of her.
Meanwhile, Elijah was still in darkness, but not for much longer. The flame that was lit within his heart after seeing the vision of his future with Zemyna again, burned away all of his insecurities, his doubts, and strengthened his resolve.
"I am the way, the truth, and the light."
As soon as he said this, light emanated from his being and filled the tunnel. He could see the end and walked toward it. The voices had been banished and he realized they were just pieces of himself that he needed to confront. He could also feel that his connection to Zemyna was stronger somehow. He hadn't been able to feel her since he entered Gilgamesh's chambers, but now he could. This put a warm smile on his face.
As he exited the tunnel, he stepped in to a forest with trees that looked to be as high as the sky. Then he felt a presence approach him.
"I don't get many visitors. So you're the next would-be god, huh? Congratulations on making it through the first trial."
Elijah did not speak as he saw the figure approaching him. He couldn't. His presence was even stronger than that of Gilgamesh!
"I can see you still need time to adjust." The mysterious figure said as he closed the distance between him and Elijah.
When he got right in front of Elijah, he extend his hand and placed it on his forehead.
"Rest now, son."
And just like that, Elijah fell into a deep sleep.