Obviously scared from what just happened, you look at Tom cautiously as he holds The Holy Omniverse Transcript outwards for you to take it. As you stare at him, you feel an unexplainable sense of familiarity about him. You notice that he has kind eyes and there's no vibe of malice or deceit as you look at him. Before you take the book from him, you ask him a question.
" Why'd you steal it in the first place? "
Tom replies in a patient and understanding tone.
" Look around at what happened. I fear that something far worse could've unfolded if I hadn't. I stole the book to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. If not me, then it would've been that monster you just saw kill Aatu. "
You take the book and feel the immense power from the book wash over you again just like the first time you held it. It feels good to have it again. You look up at Tom and ask him another question.
" About that monster... What was it? How did it kill Aatu so easily? "
Tom stands up and holds his hand out to help you up as he replies.
" I'll explain once we have time for a longer discussion. First, Izael and Nahzgor need to go back to their respective realms and take the necessary precautions to stay safe. "
You grab Tom's hand and he helps you up, then you both walk back to where Izael is. You can see Nahzgor is free from his bindings and is laying beside his brother on the ground as they both look up into the sky together and talk. As you're walking, you can't help but look around for Aatu's body but you can't find it anywhere. It's as if Aatu's body has vanished completely.
Once you reach the Gods, Tom looks down at them and speaks to them in a serious tone.
" The God of Balance in this universe is dead. "
As Tom says this, you notice Nahzgor shift his glance over at Tom with a defensive look. Tom continues to talk to them.
" 6 Gods still remain alive. Now that Aatu isn't here to keep the balance, you all might see this as an opportunity to tighten your grasp and influence on this universe. But let me be clear... "
You look at Tom and see that he has a deathly serious look on his face as he continues to speak.
" Under these circumstances, doing so could very well lead to your end. You saw what that monster did to Aatu. When he lost his life, The Holy Omniverse Transcript reacted drastically to it. If I didn't have the book in my possession when I arrived here, I'm afraid that all 3 of you would've potentially suffered the same fate. "
Izael then responds to Tom in an emotional tone.
" Thank you, mortal. I will not forget what you've done here on this night. "
Nahzgor sits up and chimes in as well.
" For thousands of years, I've dreamed of defeating Aatu and taking my place as this universe's most powerful God... but never once have I ever wished death upon him. Regardless of what we've both gone through in the past, he was still my brother and I loved him. I desire to rule over this universe as the greatest God, but what I want even more... is to kill the thing that took my brother from me. "
Tom then gets down on one knee and puts his hand on Nahzgor's shoulder as he speaks to him.
" Then go back to your realm and abstain from taking a physical form until such an opportunity arises, Nahzgor. I plan on saving your universe, but I cannot do so if you and your siblings end up like Aatu. "
Izael speaks up and interjects into the conversation.
" Aatu was smarter than to die willingly and without a fight like he did. You all don't know Aatu like I knew him. My brother was a brilliant God and he always had a plan for every circumstance. Whatever plan he had for the oncoming cataclysm, he must've known that it was necessary for him to die at the hands of that monstrosity. "
Everyone turns their gaze to Izael as he continues to speak. While you listen to him, you can tell by the tone of his voice how much he really admired Aatu's intelligence.
" He knew that I'd be willing to die trying to save him. He knew that the entity had a grasp on Nahzgor. He knew what the entity was, and in knowing so, he knew that the entity wasn't the Black Trap who stole the book. The meeting here was also actually Aatu's idea, not mine. It seems to me like he set up the fight between myself and Nahzgor knowing that I would lose in order to incapacitate me and create the perfect environment to lure the entity into revealing itself. I'm sure that he also knew that if a God in this universe had died, our father's book would be affected and the Black Trap that wielded said book would come to investigate. After we witnessed the book being stolen in Sovarohm he must've also came to the conclusion that if the Black Trap had ill intentions in using our father's book, then they would've already done so. Everything that just transpired must've been according to my brother's plan to reveal the undeniable truth of our situation and return our father's book to the mortal that it belongs to. His sacrifice was to align his younger siblings in order to fight the oncoming catastrophe that's approaching. If he had gone about it any other way, then I'm sure that our siblings would have doubted the direness of our situation and worked against one another. He couldn't take the gamble of allowing our own conflicting judgements and opinions to impede our ability to save this universe. "
You take a moment to think about it and you realize that it all makes sense. Even back when Aatu gave you the ring that he made, he spoke as if he already knew that his end was coming.
Tom speaks up and responds to Izael.
" Then Aatu didn't die in vain. His power may be lost, but at least the other 6 Gods could help us save this universe. "
You look down at the ring on your finger and decide that now is the right time to tell them about it.
" Aatu's power isn't lost. "
Izael's eyes light up as he's looking at you while you're talking.
" After we left Sovarohm, Aatu took me to one of his realms and gave me a gift. "
You hold up your hand and show them the ring. As everyone looks at it, the ring begins to glow with power.
" The gift was this ring. It contains 69% of Aatu's power within it and he made it for me so I can learn to use my powers and abilities as a Black Trap without hurting myself. "
" Phenomenal... "
Izael says as he looks at the ring.
" That explains why when I first saw you after Sovarohm, your aura had changed. Your presence felt much like Aatu's, and I had a feeling like it had something to do with the ring that you were spontaneously wearing after speaking with him alone. My brother's brilliance truly knows no bounds. "
You look at Nahzgor and you notice that he's staring intently at the ring. His eyes stained with a look of desire. Nahzgor makes a remark, and you can tell that he's conflicted from the tone of his voice.
" How incredibly generous of him... "
Nahzgor stays as he refuses to break eye contact with the ring. Tom then stands up and you put your hand back down as he speaks.
" That's excellent! We might have a better chance at saving this universe than I initially thought. "
" So what's your plan, mortal? How do you intend on saving our universe? "
Nahzgor asks Tom as he gets up as well and picks up Izael's body in his arms.
" All of the Gods need to stay within the immortal realms that they have the most power over. That beast has been tasked to kill as many Gods as it can before its Master arrives. Do not take a physical form unless it's absolutely necessary. Whether your physical form is dead or alive, a bite from that creature will erase you into nothingness. Do you understand? "
" I do. "
Izael says as a blue portal opens up behind them. Then he asks Tom a question.
" What do you and the other mortal plan on doing in the meantime? "
" We need to go back to Aria because the entity is weaker in mortal realms. While we're there, I can teach him how to use his power. The next time we encounter that monster, I hope he'll be able to help us defeat it for good. "
Tom responds while opening a green portal behind the both of you.
" But first, I believe that the book wielder has some unfinished business in curing a curse. "
You look at Tom surprised and he side-smirks at you as he continues talking with a smile.
" With the book, it should be a piece of cake. I'll show you how once we get to Faerah's realm. "
Nahzgor then interjects in a serious tone.
" You might want to reconsider that. "
" And why is that? "
Tom says suspiciously as he turns back towards Nahzgor.
" Calm yourself, mortal. It isn't what you think. As the God of Enslavement, I can control and feel every being that's afflicted with my curse as if they are a part of me. "
" Go on. "
Tom says as you both listen to what Nahzgor has to say.
" Just now, shortly after the entity left this realm, I lost my connection with the woman that this mortal wishes to save. This can mean one of two things. She's either been cured, or... "
Tom finishes Nahzgor's sentence with a deathly stare.
" Or she's dead. "
Your heart sinks at the thought of the entity going to Havnahm to kill Faerah and Veronica. Faerah couldn't possibly be dead because The Holy Omniverse Transcript would've been affected, but what about Veronica? There's no way she's cured because Nahzgor and the book have been here with you the entire time. If Veronica actually is dead, what if Mimi and Noeh are next? Does Noeh know about what's coming?
You're overwhelmed with the pressure of the situation and Tom notices that you look visibly upset, so he asks for your decision on the matter.
" This complicates things. Veronica might be dead and her daughter could be next. Since this is your own endeavor, I will support you in whatever you decide is the best thing for us to do. What's your call? Do we go to Havnahm to find Veronica or do we go to Athanohm to find Mimi? "