The Guardian God of Main World.
Torrent stood silently, clad in pristine armor that exuded a sense of calm over the present demigods. Shade stood in awe, witnessing the God for the first time and realizing this was one of the final two Gods he had not yet encountered. After a few moments, Torrent slowly turned his attention to the demigods.
"Rise, demigods," Torrent said, his voice soft and calming.
Shade glanced around in confusion at Torrent's words, only to realize that he was already on his knees. The presence of the God had brought him and the other demigods to their knees without their conscious realization. Obeying the God's command, Shade and the others swiftly rose to their feet.
With the absence of Klaus' blinding light, the scene became clearer. The sunlight revealed that it was nearing evening, though Shade was uncertain if this was due to Klaus' attack. Regardless, the current status was undeniable.
Shade walked back to Link and Trent, regrouping with the other demigods before they gradually approached Torrent. X seemed to be absent, leading Shade to assume that he had departed to continue his task of protecting more people.
"Are you all okay?" Torrent asked as the demigods neared him.
Nodding their heads, the demigods confirmed that they were unharmed. Shade found it strange that Torrent had just now shown up, but instead of jumping to conclusions, he decided to understand the God's reasons first.
"Father?" Trent whispered in shock.
This was also the first time Trent himself had seen his own father. The three demigods arrived in front of Torrent, who kept his focus on them.
"Apologies for my belated arrival," Torrent began. "But you can understand I have been busy with the world."
The demigods remained silent as Torrent continued to explain.
"My duty has been to constantly slay the remaining monsters around the world," he said.
Shade was completely surprised, but Torrent's words made sense upon reflection. Quinn had told him that New York was the most concentrated location of monsters. He realized this was because Torrent had been protecting the rest of the world.
Torrent, sensing their questions, continued to elaborate.
"When I discovered your presence in Main World, I had to leave the city's protection to your hands and focus on the rest of the world," Torrent explained. "This is because the monsters continue to spawn after being defeated, and it is my duty to dispose of them constantly, like a farmer tending to weeds."
Shade and the other demigods were stunned by Torrent's words. They had no idea that the monsters continued to spawn after being defeated, but now they understood why the God had been absent during their struggles in New York.
Concerned for their well-being, Torrent decided to briefly change the topic. "Regardless of all this, how are you all holding up?" he asked. "I understand your frustrations, given the magnitude of the problem."
"We're managing," Shade replied on behalf of the group. "It's a tough task, but we're handling it."
"I have confidence that you will find a way," Torrent continued.
Torrent's words suggested that he had no immediate plans to help them prevent the ongoing crisis, which confused Shade. He understood Torrent's duties, but it was hard to see why the God had decided not to address the immediate threat. Anticipating this confusion, Torrent elaborated further on his role.
"As the Guardian of Main World, it is my duty to protect this realm and its people," Torrent began. "However, I cannot interact with mortals or artifacts not associated with this world, and therefore, I cannot prosecute the demon girl for her actions. That is not my duty."
His words were clear to the demigods. "Despite this," he continued, "I am confident you demigods will prevail."
Torrent's reassurances were strong as he readjusted his gaze towards them, continuing to describe his perception of the situation.
"You have all voluntarily defended the city with your lives, each playing your own part. Right now, the son of Blur is tirelessly protecting and rescuing humans across the state, taking them to safety and effectively eliminating the monsters. You should all be proud of your work for humanity. You have all earned my respect."
Hearing these words from Torrent brought smiles to the demigods' faces. It gave them a moment to step back and recognize their efforts in protecting the innocent. Despite the expectations of their role, they continued to do their best by choice and nothing else.
As the seconds of satisfaction passed, Torrent explained that he was preparing to return to his duties, indicating that he needed to continue protecting the rest of the world. Yet, it seemed there was more to his presence.
"There is, however, another reason for my presence," Torrent suddenly stated, grabbing the demigods' attention further. "In addition to saving you all and the city from destruction, my presence is also necessary to replenish my true power to effectively rid the monsters across the globe."
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The demigods were filled with shock and confusion. Torrent's words were puzzling, leaving them unsure of their meaning. Suddenly, the God turned his attention solely to Trent, moving closer to his son.
"How have you been, Trent?" Torrent asked, his expression as calm as ever. "How has the mortal world been treating you?"
Trent felt a surreal sense of disbelief upon hearing his father's words. "It has been good, father," he replied, though confusion still clouded his expression.
Torrent's face softened with a tinge of sadness, understanding the struggles and situations his son had faced. "I never intended for things to turn out this way," Torrent began. "But I am glad you found great friends and a satisfactory life."
All the demigods were utterly perplexed. Shade tried to piece together Torrent's words, but they were too vague to form a complete picture. He remained curious about what Torrent was attempting to convey.
"But..." Torrent continued, his expression turning resolute, "it seems it is time to return."
As Torrent concluded his words, he placed his right palm on Trent's left shoulder. Trent looked at his father with a mixture of fear and awe, but soon found a strange sense of peace. Closing his eyes, Trent's body began to liquefy right before everyone's eyes.
Shade watched in shock as Trent's entire body morphed into a small whirlpool of water, rotating around Torrent's right hand. Link and Shade stood in silent confusion, but as the watery storm subsided, the truth became clear.
Torrent now held a deep blue trident, about eight feet tall, adorned with intricate designs. Shade was speechless, struggling to comprehend the full reality of the situation. Trent had not been human all along; he was an artifact given sentience by Torrent.
Thinking back, everything started to make sense to Shade. Trent's lack of a past was because he never had one. Shade wondered how long Trent had existed in his human form; since the calling to Higher World, or perhaps even longer.
"He truly is a person of no ID," Link whispered, grabbing Shade's attention.
Shade's eyes widened as he understood Link's words, recognizing why Trent always said that, despite not knowing his true nature. Torrent held the trident firmly as he addressed the demigods.
"I understand your confusion," Torrent began, "but unfortunately, explaining everything now would take too much time, and humans are still in peril."
Torrent's massive wings unfurled from his back, a bright halo appearing behind him as he prepared to depart. "You both should prioritize closing the gate of Hell," Torrent said. "That way, the monsters will stop spawning on Earth."
Shade, unsure of how to accomplish such a task, was about to inquire further, but Torrent continued. "If you are unsure of your ability to fulfill this task," Torrent said, "then you should hold on and stall for a few moments."
Shade tried to grasp the God's meaning, but he realized he had to place his faith in Torrent's words for now. With his wings spread wide and the trident in hand, Torrent bade his farewell and flew out of sight in the blink of an eye.
Shade exchanged a significant look with Link, the weight of Trent's true identity hanging heavily between them. It was a lot to process, and an unease settled between them. Before they could voice their thoughts, Link noticed something that redirected their attention.
Link pointed towards Xhin, who was now awake and seated on the ground beside Klaus. She had Klaus' head resting on her lap, gently caressing his hair as she gazed down at him with an intense expression.
"Don't worry, my love," Xhin said softly, her eyes sharp and determined. "I will finish here quickly so that we can finally rest together."
As her words hung in the air, Xhin raised her right hand in a familiar gesture, mirroring what she had attempted during Klaus' assault. An eerie note resonated through the area, like a chord struck on a lute. Immediately, the massive crimson gate behind her began to glow ominously.
Shade and Link watched in horror as cries and roars echoed around them. The gate of Hell responded to Xhin's actions, and soon, the monsters they had previously slain began to rise, their wounds mending before their eyes. Their undead appearance confirmed Torrent's warnings.
Shade was stunned by the entire sequence, despite being somewhat prepared for it. The cries of the damned were alarming, but his primary concern was his brother's well-being. He tried to approach Klaus to rescue him from Xhin, but the horde of monsters blocked his path.
The monsters surged toward the demigods, directed by Xhin. Shade felt a surge of anger and frustration, but remembering Torrent's words, he forced himself to remain calm and focused. They needed to stall for whatever plan Torrent had in mind.
Shade and Link fought the monsters with fierce determination. They recognized the difficulty of their task, knowing it would be nearly impossible to slay hundreds of monsters in one go. But yielding was not an option. As they continued to fight, more monsters emerged from the gates, intensifying their struggle.
Shade's frustration and anger grew, but he channeled it into his attacks, using his darkness to its optimal capabilities. The Abyssal Pit worked beyond expectations as well, protecting its creator perfectly and swiftly. Link effectively utilized his NPCs for both offense and defense, fighting alongside Shade with relentless energy.
The demigods knew they had no room for failure. For Shade, the stakes were even higher. He couldn't consider the idea of failing. Not when his brother had already lost everything.
As the seconds of battle dragged on, Shade contemplated using his Abyssal Heralds. Despite weeks of intense training, he had not yet mastered the ability, but he felt desperate. The current pace of their fight was ineffective, and he needed an upper hand, even if it would cost him a lot.
"If Klaus pushed himself that much," Shade muttered to himself, "then losing myself to the abyss is a small sacrifice for humanity."
Before Shade could create the space needed to prepare the Abyssal Pit, something peculiar occurred. The monsters froze in place. Shade was bewildered, unsure if this was Xhin's doing. But as a moment passed, every single monster in sight and beyond suddenly fell to their knees.
An eerie silence enveloped the entire area, not even a grunt escaping the monsters. Xhin glanced around in confusion, Klaus' unconscious head still on her lap, while Link and Shade shared her bewilderment. Suddenly, the demigods' attention was drawn to a strange crack in reality that began to grow.
Shade's eyes were fixed on the anomaly as it expanded, revealing a portal within. Armored demons wielding swords and spears marched out in uniform precision. Moments later, two figures followed, their presence causing the entire area to tremble.
Shade's eyes widened as he took in the two newcomers—one towering and the other of normal size. Though Shade couldn't feel the force enveloping the area, the reaction of the monsters made it even more terrifying.
"Lord Nekro," Xhin gasped, recognizing the towering figure.
"And..." Link began, his mask displaying his shock at the situation, "Drake?"
Shade and Link watched in stunned silence as the God of Under World and his son stood before them. The sight of multiple war-ready demons bowing their heads upon the God and demigod's arrival felt ethereal and surreal, almost like a scene from fiction.
The two demigods had not anticipated the presence of another God in Main World, especially after Quinn's disclosure. Yet, witnessing this was not the most shocking part. Shade and Link stared in complete fright as they saw Drake standing beside his father in an unfamiliar manner.
"He's..." Shade began, his eyes wide with disbelief, "calm."