Chapter 86: Crossroads

A terrifying blast of energies shook the sky, and a powerful shockwave spread out from the source of that incredible boom. The sweeping force was so extreme, that within a mile radius the gray rain clouds that Everrain had summoned were cleared out.

Those closest to it, which were Everrain’s fleet of flying ships, were shaken and pushed back a good distance because of the immense force. It was akin to the titanic ships facing a colossal wave on the ocean, that almost threatened to overturn and sink them. Luckily, the Rain Priests were able to stabilize the ships from actually turning over.

Those at the ground faced a less powerful wave of energy, albeit most of them were still thrown around like flying ragdolls when they faced its might. A few of the powerful ones though, were able to maintain their dignity this time.

All had felt the influx of that blast, and all had seen where it had come from.

They felt the gathering of an immense amount of energies, and some of the knowledgeable ones were able to conclude that Lloyd was going through the ultima.

Gayle and the crystal daughter’s eyes in particular, were able to vaguely see as rivers of energy akin to galactic starlight came down from the heavens above, and connected towards the sword and the swordsman’s body. All that was left was to use that strike, and intertwine his own essence into the mysterious rivers that led to nowhere.

As great figures broke into the threshold of becoming a higher existence, the sources they felt closest to, and connected with, would come down upon them from up above. It was the same as the heavens recognizing when their children grasped at the hems of their cloth.

The sources seemed to be…intelligent, and were able to recognize when an entity’s energy was alike to theirs.

In an effort to connect to the sources, the sources too acknowledged when an entity was vibrating at the same frequency, or energy signature. And they would send down something akin to their cosmic touch.

The sources were intelligent, but it was unlike human intelligence that had the essence of individuality. They…were different in that sense, in a way that was hard to describe.

An interesting phenomena about them, was that when they sent down their rivers of energy for empowerment and connection, the cosmic streams would always come down from above the individual. There was never an instance of them manifesting below someone or at the same level, and if a person tried to rise above the rivers of energy it would simply rise with them. No matter how far they traveled upwards they would never get to see the origin of those cosmic rivers.

Some theorized the rivers came from the very stars, but the most interesting theory came from the Seekers of the Temple of Silence. They described that there was a heavenly waterfall that was at the northern limit of the expanding universe, and the cosmic rivers would ignore both space and time to reach their children who were like babies grasping towards the light.

Of course, there was no one to prove any of those conjectures. It was then, a rule, maybe even an ever present law of the universe, that the sources would always come from above, and why they did so, where they originated from, or what other rules they operated by, were a mystery.

Yet there was one certainty in all the mystery that surrounded them.

That was, that the energies they sent down were earth shatteringly powerful.

If one was advancing beyond the limiter, they would usually do so away from any form of civilization, particularly in a barren field without life, or an empty sky miles above the ground. Definitely not so close to one’s allies, for the energies were akin to a natural disaster and they did not discriminate between ally or foe.

If Lloyd proceeded with his strike, the sky and the earth would face not just a wave of energy, but an entire tsunami of it. He would not have just killed his opponent, but he was very likely to have killed all of his allies and a majority of the spectators below.

Yet as everyone watched the energies reach the climax, seconds before the strike descended his mysterious opponent who held immense physical strength leaped over from the drifting clouds.

The shield of clouds was dissipating and both the swordsman and his opponent were on remnant clouds that were drifting away from each other.

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In that instance, the red haired figure bounded the distance of over a hundred meters that strived to separate him and the swordsman, and sundered his sword with his own strike that wished to paint the world.

Mid-air over the clouds and the earth, his totally gray body turned a shade darker, while his right arm turned into what looked like black gleaming metal with a sheen of red. Unlike Lloyd’s strike that had a wide area of destruction, his was deceptively simple and concentrated.

BOOM!

The energies forcibly dispersed, the sword shattered into a thousand pieces leaving only the broken remnants of a dagger from the once lengthy sword, and Zan's right arm suffered an incredible force that left it incapacitated. It was left dangling without strength or energy, and it was broken and shattered in many places.

To be fair, anyone else who tried the same would have exploded into bits, and it was only because of the durability of his eldritch flesh that his arm did not suffer the same.

In the skies, Lloyd held an expression of absolute disbelief. There was a black, gleaming metal fist that was mere inches away from his face, and if it had connected it would have burst his head like a watermelon meeting an anvil.

Yet Lloyd's focus was not on that fist, nor was it on his own life. For behind Zan's fist of death, was an orb of light that had left the yellow tassel of his sword, and floated upwards into the endless mighty sky above.

The shocked swordsman tried to focus his blurry eyes to look at that scene, and found that there were two more orbs accompanying that speck of radiance, which left him further confused and mystified.

He had seen a glimpse of Zan’s reality. He knew of the two figures that burned in that flaming house. Now, there were three orbs of light, and one of them obviously had just departed from the tassel on his sword. It was easy to make assumptions on what, or who those orbs were, yet that just left him further stunned.

Although his precious sword had shattered right in front of him, all his attention was focused on the space above the clouds where those motes of light were gradually rising until he could no longer see them. At that very moment, Lloyd wanted nothing more than his vision to clear so that he could have seen it all much better.

What he didn’t know however, was that his blurry vision was a result of his close brush with death, and that was the only reason he could see the orbs of light.

A red glow briefly entered his vision, and Lloyd turned his focus to his opponent. Although his face was still blurry, the direction of his gaze was at the same place that he had been looking at. Where those three specks of radiance had gradually faded from view.

Through the young man’s stoic expression it was impossible to see the numerous emotions that swam deeper inside, but his eyes betrayed a hint of bittersweet reminiscence, and the immense corresponding resolve to move forward from it.

In the next moment, the mysterious figure turned his focus towards himself, and that red light finally exhausted itself on the swordsman’s face.

“Hey.”

“Wha– What?” The swordsman stammered.

“I won.”

“O- Oh.”

“Yes…I guess you did…”

“Why did you not take my life? It is as your right, from being victor of the royal duel.”

“Hehe.”

“Who's gonna command my ships then?” The young man said with a beaming smile.

“...Ah, I see.”

‘Everyone’ll be easier to command this way.’

Zan had “experience” with taking over rival groups.

“Good.”

“You’re my subordinate now, got it?”

For a moment the swordsman did not answer. He was looking down towards the ground, still dreaming of what had happened before his reality was shattered.

“Forward…” He muttered.

“What? Forward?”

The young red haired man took a moment to ponder on what his new subordinate had just said. Then, the bright light of epiphany entered his mind.

“Haha! Well I’m glad you’re so excited.”

Zan walked over to the swordsman to pat him on the shoulder. It was great that the swordsman was such a good sport about becoming his subordinate. Normally he had to physically assault them a few more times so they would know their place.

Yet in the midst of his jolly stride, he tripped on his own two feet, and his hands fell towards the cloud surface.

Normally such a thing was impossible for the red haired youth. He knew more than anyone how skillful he was. Even if it was just walking, his every move aligned with the path that was most efficient and least wasteful. And now, he had actually tripped on his own two feet.

The red glow of his eye had disappeared also, despite him not consciously choosing to deactivate it, and now he knew why. His vision was blurry, and the young man struggled to get up from his hands and knees.

Energy. For the first time since the boy had been using his eldritch body, he had almost none left.

Zan had forgotten how hard his body worked to heal itself from Lloyd’s numerous attacks, which to his own fault, most of them could have been dodged if he was not so prideful. All throughout the battle the young man not only neglected his body, but put it in harm’s way to show his superiority.

A rumbling hunger shook his existence, and fangs began to grow from his teeth. His will was still strong enough to keep the eldritch eyes and mouths from appearing on his skin, but he struggled to maintain his consciousness. He was doing everything to keep himself from falling to his body’s instincts, but a piercing pain was felt in his mind, and a dull pain was felt in his soul.

Lloyd saw the person who had won over him fall to the ground.

Instead of taking advantage of this moment, the kind swordsman instead went to check on Zan’s well being. Yet…as he took a step forward he also collapsed to the ground. His body was exhausted, and the veins to which his blood and energy traveled were all but strained and haggard.

As the two groveled on the ground, to their surprise an orange and red light shot over them, and lit the sky up with its colors.

The red light was unlike Lloyd’s destructive aurora lights, nor was it like Zan’s light of personality and beingness. It was unlike the sun’s shine or the moon’s glow, instead it was a dull and lifeless command for all to witness.

Zan did not know what it was, but Lloyd certainly did, and a feeling of dread overwhelmed his body. That same light had appeared in the past for him, and it appeared hours before his lover’s death.

It was one of many, of the Empire of Agni’s wartime flares and signals. This particular one, meant one thing. Attack.