Skyburst: Bennu Bird - Bright Fire
Hades extended his hand, channeling divine power into Huihuo. The young warrior was filled with excitement, kneeling and bowing repeatedly. "Thank you, Lord Hades! Thank you, Lord Hades!"
Huihuo valued family above all else, willing to do anything to resurrect his younger brother, who had passed away.
From Huihuo's body, a delicate soul resembling a woman slowly floated upward, feeling the immense power radiating from Hades.
"Master Hades," the soul spoke softly, "can I choose not to be resurrected? I wish to be a part of my brother, to be with him forever. I don't want to burden him any longer."
A bittersweet smile graced Hades's lips. He understood the depth of their bond. "If that is your wish, you may remain as a part of your brother, always by his side."
Huihuo was momentarily taken aback, disbelief washing over him. He knew Hades would not deceive him, yet the weight of this gift was staggering.
Hades continued, "Your brother desires to be with you, not to return in flesh."
"What?" Huihuo gasped, tears spilling from his eyes. "Why? Why don't you want to be resurrected? Why only wish to stay with me?"
"Brother..." the voice of his younger sibling echoed in his mind. Huihuo closed his eyes, immersing himself in the familiar sound, recalling their shared moments.
The three gods observed the poignant scene, time stretching into an eternal moment. For the gods, time was inconsequential.
After what felt like an eternity, Huihuo opened his eyes, suddenly aware of the gravity of his situation. He bowed deeply again. "Thank you, Lord Hades! I will accept any punishment!"
In response, Hades summoned a beam of pure golden flames that enveloped Huihuo, merging with the soul of his younger brother. This fusion birthed a magnificent fire spirit, a perfect blend of their essences.
"Brother!" The fire spirit materialized, now an ethereal being of flame, no longer defined by gender. He perched on Huihuo's shoulder, radiating joy.
"Huihuo!" he cried, tears of happiness streaming down his face. Both brothers knelt in gratitude. "Thank you, Lord Hades!"
"Um." Hades nodded. "You are bound for three thousand years, during which you will remain in the Underworld."
"Yes!" they responded in unison.
As the gates of the Underworld opened, Huihuo and his brother were transported back, while Hades reflected on the tears of familial love he had gained. Such emotions were rare among the gods, yet they brought immense power.
Hypnos remarked, "Master Hades, as you said, humanity is truly remarkable. As the protagonists of this world, they can evoke powerful emotions."
Indeed! The essence of human connection allowed Huihuo's brother to endure and transform into a fire spirit, merging divine flames with his unwavering will.
This transformation was not trivial; the fire spirit was a unique creation, capable of housing various divine and underworld flames. As time passed, the fire spirit would strengthen alongside Huihuo, serving as a powerful artifact tied to him. Their souls intertwined meant that as long as Huihuo lived, his brother's spirit could also thrive.
However, Hades was most interested in the fire spirit itself, created from the rare combination of purity and darkness within Huihuo's brother. This unique essence could integrate any divine power, making the fire spirit an invaluable asset.
Rather than cultivating flames directly, Hades saw greater potential in nurturing this fire spirit. By infusing it with primal flames, it could evolve into a being capable of commanding all forms of fire, including those that could challenge even the gods.
"Let's proceed," Hades finally commanded.
"Yes!" the twin gods affirmed, following as Hades led them deeper into the Sun Star. The radiant fire and the fire spirit were unexpected gains, but their true objective lay ahead: confronting Hyperion, the strongest of the Titan gods.