Nyx and Erebus exchanged a glance, neither daring to speak. Whoever this stranger was, she hadn’t come to help. That much was clear.

The woman’s smile widened, and with deliberate steps, she moved closer, her presence unsettling the very air around them. Her movements were graceful, almost hypnotic, like a predator toying with its prey. Pale skin stretched over a slender frame, and her long, disheveled hair cascaded down her back like a dark waterfall. Her eyes, though, were the most unnerving—a molten amber that seemed to flicker with flames of Chaos, revealing something far more dangerous than her frail appearance suggested.

She stopped just short of Nyx and Erebus, her gaze flicking between them as if weighing their worth. She excuded an aura of nervous exictement, like a dog waiting for a ball to be thrown. With a sly smirk, she spoke again, her voice carrying a strange, intoxicating rhythm that seemed to pull at their very thoughts.

“Ah, I see you’re curious,” she purred, almost mockingly. “I don’t blame you. It’s not every day you come face-to-face with me.”

She let the words linger in the air, savoring the confusion she had sparked in them. With a theatrical bow, she continued, her tone dripping with amusement. “Allow me to introduce myself—I am Eris, goddess of strife, discord, and all the lovely Chaos that keeps this world interesting.”

Her name hung in the air like a curse. The goddess of discord, born from the primordial darkness, was one of the Daughters of Nyx, although it didn't seem as though she was on their side. It made Erebus think back on what Hecate had said before they left. Eris might be one of the gods that followed her own way, or even worse, that of someone opposing them.

Eris’s laughter rang out, sharp and unsettling, as she gestured toward the misty expanse of the Asphodel Meadows. “I heard whispers of unrest in this dreary little corner of the Underworld, and I simply couldn’t resist the temptation to see it for myself. Such a dull place, really, but even here, Chaos finds a way, doesn’t it?”

Her eyes flicked between Nyx and Erebus, her expression one of predatory curiosity. She seemed to delight in their discomfort, as though their very presence was a source of amusement to her. “And now you’re here, poking around, trying to clean up the mess. How very noble of you. But tell me… do you really think you can restore order to a place that’s already slipping into the abyss?”

She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a whisper, though her words cut like a blade. “Or are you just pretending you’re any different from the Chaos you’re trying to fight?”

Erebus bristled at her words, his form solidifying as the shadows around him thickened. “We are not pretending to be anything,” he snapped back, his voice low and dangerous.

Eris’s smile only widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Keep telling yourself that, sweetie. Once I obtain the Reaping Rune, all of you will have to watch for the oncoming Chaos.”

Nyx’s eyes narrowed at Eris’s words, her gaze hardening into cold steel. The name of the Reaping Rune sent a jolt of fear through her, though she couldn’t quite remember what it was. The memory seemed to be repressed, buried deep within her mind, but she could feel its importance, like a distant echo of something long forgotten. Whatever the Rune was, it wasn’t meant for Eris.

Erebus clenched his fists, his form solidifying in the darkness around them, shadows swirling at his feet like a gathering storm. “The Rune isn’t for you to wield, Eris,” Nyx said, her voice low and dangerous. “We won’t allow you to bring your Chaos to the land of the dead.”

Eris’s smile only grew wider, her eyes dancing with amusement as if she were watching a particularly entertaining game. “Oh, you poor, naive fools,” she cooed, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “You still think you can keep everything neatly in its place, don’t you? The Rune is a key, and I intend to turn it. Order, control, balance—these things are illusions, fragile things waiting to be shattered.”

Her movements became a blur, flickering like a shadow as she closed the distance between them in an instant. Nyx and Erebus tensed, their senses sharpening as the air around them grew thick with anticipation. The ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble, the pale asphodel flowers wilting under the oppressive weight of Eris’s presence.

Erebus’s eyes darkened, the shadows around him deepening as he prepared himself for the inevitable conflict. He could feel the stir of forgotten memories, ancient instincts buried deep within him, urging him to strike first, to protect the balance of the Underworld at all costs. But Eris’s power was palpable, a chaotic force that threatened to unravel everything they held dear.

Nyx’s fingers twitched, ready to call upon the primordial night that had birthed her, but she remained still, her eyes locked on Eris’s every move. She knew that one wrong step could set off a chain reaction of destruction—a confrontation with Eris would not be a simple battle, but a clash of ancient forces that could reshape the very nature of the Underworld itself.

“Enough games, Eris,” Nyx said, her voice like a distant thunderstorm, calm but charged with power. “Leave now, or face the consequences.”

Eris tilted her head, her smile never faltering. “Consequences?” she echoed, her tone mocking. “You really think you can stop me? Chaos is inevitable, my dear Nyx. Even you cannot hold back the tide forever.”

With that, the air between them exploded with tension. The shadows around Erebus thickened, swirling around his form as he stepped forward, ready to face whatever Eris might unleash. Nyx’s power surged within her, the darkness of the void itself gathering in her palms, ready to strike.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Eris’s laughter rang out one last time, a wild, unhinged sound that echoed across the desolate landscape. “Let’s see just how much order you can maintain, shall we?” she hissed, her voice rising in excitement as the energy between them crackled with the promise of battle.

And then, with a flick of her wrist, Chaos erupted.

Erebus tightened his grip on his spear, the familiar weight of it grounding him as he prepared to face Eris. Shadows coiled around his form like living armor, responding to his will, but he knew this battle wouldn’t be easy. Eris stood across from him, her molten amber eyes glinting with malevolent glee. She exuded an aura of Chaos, an overwhelming presence that distorted the very air around them.

“Do you really think that little stick is going to save you, Erebus?” Eris taunted, her voice dripping with amusement. She twirled a lock of her dark hair around her finger, feigning boredom. “I expected more from the god of darkness.”

Erebus’s response was swift and silent. With a burst of speed, he lunged at her, his spear a blur as it cut through the air, aimed directly at her heart. But Eris moved like water, slipping effortlessly out of the way with a graceful twist of her body. His strike met only empty air, and she laughed—a wild, unhinged sound that echoed through the desolate landscape.

“Too slow!” she mocked, her voice a sharp whip of sound.

Before Erebus could recover, Eris was on him. She moved with an inhuman speed, her hands crackling with chaotic energy as she lashed out. Erebus barely managed to block the first strike with the shaft of his spear, but the force of the blow sent him staggering backward. She didn’t relent. Her next attack came faster, a blur of movement as she struck him across the chest with a surge of chaotic power.

Erebus grunted in pain as the impact shattered the shadows that surrounded him, leaving his defenses in tatters. He swung his spear again, aiming for her midsection, but Eris dodged with ease, her body flickering like a shadow. She retaliated with a vicious kick to his ribs, breaking them and sending him sprawling to the ground.

“You’re making this too easy,” Eris purred, her voice laced with mockery. She stood over him, her amber eyes blazing with triumph. “Where’s that legendary power of yours, Erebus? All I see is a broken god clinging to his little spear.”

Erebus pushed himself to his feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His spear felt heavier in his hands now, as if the very shadows that once empowered him were slipping through his grasp. He lunged at her again, summoning what remained of his strength, but Eris effortlessly sidestepped his attack. She grabbed the spear mid-thrust, twisting it out of his hands with a cruel smirk.

“Oops,” she said with false innocence, holding his weapon with ease. “Did you drop this?”

Before Erebus could react, Eris drove the butt of the spear into his stomach with brutal force, knocking the wind out of him. He collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath as pain radiated through his body. Eris tossed the spear aside carelessly, as if it were nothing more than a toy.

She crouched down in front of him, her face inches from his. “You should have known better than to challenge Chaos,” she whispered, her voice soft but deadly. “There’s no order here, no control. Only me.”

With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a wave of chaotic energy that slammed into Erebus, sending him crashing into the ground. His form flickered, shadows unraveling as his strength failed him. He tried to rise, but Eris was already there, pinning him down with a single, effortless touch.

The force of Eris’s attack was overwhelming, a chaotic blast of energy that tore through the very fabric of the Underworld. Nyx and Erebus were thrown back, their forms flickering as they struggled to hold themselves together against the onslaught.

Nyx’s eyes widened in horror as she watched Erebus struggle to maintain his form. His body flickered like a dying flame, the shadows around him swirling in a frantic dance as the chaotic energy continued to tear at his essence. She moved toward him, her hands outstretched to shield him with her power, but Eris was faster.

In an instant, Eris appeared before Nyx, her hand crackling with chaotic energy as she struck the goddess of night with a powerful blow. Nyx staggered back, her vision blurring as she fought to stay on her feet. The darkness around her flickered, her connection to the primordial night wavering as Eris’s chaos threatened to overwhelm her.

Erebus, still reeling from the blast, struggled to rise. His form flickered, the shadows around him unstable as he fought to hold himself together. He looked up at Nyx, his gaze filled with determination even as his strength waned. “Nyx... go,” he rasped, his voice strained. “You have to stop her. I love you, remember that.”

Eris’s laughter rang out, sharp and mocking. “Blech, fucking gross,” she sneered, preparing for another strike.

Nyx’s heart clenched, but she knew Erebus was right. Eris was too powerful, and the Reaping Rune couldn’t fall into her hands. She had to retreat, had to regroup—no matter how much it pained her to leave Erebus behind.

“Forgive me,” she whispered, her voice filled with sorrow as she summoned the last of her strength. With a single motion, she enveloped herself in a cloak of shadows, the darkness swallowing her whole as she vanished from the battlefield.

Eris’s laughter echoed through the empty expanse as she watched Nyx disappear into the void. “Run, little goddess!” she called after her, her voice dripping with glee. “But you can’t escape Chaos forever!”

Erebus, barely able to hold his form together, watched as Eris turned her gaze back to him. Her smile was cruel, victorious, as if she had already claimed her prize. He knew his time was running out, but he would fight until the very end. Even if it cost him everything.

“You... won’t win,” Erebus growled, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. The shadows around him coiled tighter, a last-ditch effort to protect what little remained of his essence.

Eris tilted her head, her expression one of mock pity. “Oh, sweet Erebus,” she cooed, her voice soft and mocking. “I’ve already won.”

With a final surge of chaotic energy, she struck. The shadows around Erebus shattered as the blow pierced his chest, and his form dissolved into the darkness, leaving nothing but an empty void where he once stood.

The Asphodel Meadows were silent once more, the air heavy with the weight of Eris’s victory. She stood alone in the desolate landscape, her smile fading into a look of cold satisfaction. The Reaping Rune was hers, and with it, she would unleash a wave of chaos that would reshape the very fabric of the Underworld.

As she turned to leave, the pale flowers of the Meadows seemed to wilt in her wake, a silent testament to the destruction she had wrought. But Eris didn’t care. Chaos was her domain, and order was nothing more than a fragile illusion waiting to be shattered. She cackled, knowing the Rune was now within her reach.