"Ooh. Right in the kisser." Jonah commented at Joshua blasting Soggorin away with the Demon's Bane.
"Well... Let's see how fucked up the world is." Kael said. They watched as their surroundings unveiled the barren land. The trees were dead, the soil was too damaged for anything to grow. The sun was black. Which was clearly and utterly disturbing and unnatural.
"Can't grow anything with all this mess." Jonah said, kneeling to touch the soil. Where it had an ash like texture and even scratching it to see a skeletal like frame.
"How much death did this world see to cause this?" Luca asked.
"If demons win, this happens. If angels win, they turn humans to robots who cannot sin. Either way, it's why Lucius gave us the right to deal with it. I did tell the Supreme Gods to decide carefully their Avatar equivalents." Kael answered, his voice was sorrowful. Kael could do the same amount of damage, but when he leaves. The world will be able to flourish once more, as nature will always finds its way to heal itself when humans have not tampered wiht it.
The world changed slowly, where the sun's darkness was swept away by the radiant golden light. Kael, Luca and Jonah felt the sunlight and the felt how nice it was.
"Good old sun." Jonah said as Kael continued smoking his cigar, while Luca shouldered his Dane Axe. Kael was looking at his deck of cards, looking for the ones that were blank. Taking out a sharpie, writing it as the four seasons. He has to pass it to Joshua because he is the one who can govern the four elements. This will also let Joshua restore other worlds with his power, part and parcel of being Etana's Chosen.
"You've cleared the Spire. Good work, but there's a bit more that needs to be done." Kael said to Joshua. Passing the blank cards and the writing changed to suit it. Though Joshua was visibly confused at what was going on.Joshua took a deep breath as the cards were imbued with the summer, spring, winter and autumn. The powers were there but it was faint, Joshua was far too weak on that. Though Kael could see that Luca had more to it.
"Yo!" Jonah shouted. Seeing the Avatar of Summer, Ciara and Trickster walk on over to them and Jonah walked on over to Joshua.
"Lord of Thorns. It is your duty to govern the seasons when this starts. This place is beautiful but many things have changed. We are the Avatar of Seasons and we grant you our blessing as well."The Four Avatar of Seasons chorused as they took the cards from Joshua.
They crushed the four cards in unison, where the trees, flowers bloomed all around. Beasts appeared once more, roaming the area. Dragons, wyverns, serpents, snakes, vipers... Divine Fenrirs, Cursed Fenrirs, many creatures began to make this place their home. Where Joshua turned to see it was in a state of permanent to the four elements.
Winter was south, autumn was north, spring was in the east and summer was to the west.
"We've restored this world back to its truest form. Now, it will be up to you. This place will be a reasearch spire. Many of the creatures in this place are docile, but be aware that if humans do try to bother them too much. They will react negatively." The Avatars of the Four Seasons chorused to Joshua.
"Research Spires are meant to be peaceful but just remember. If humans try to poach any of these animals. Do not expect them to be friendly. However, to you. The creatures that live here will be peaceful. If you ever truly have days when you are in a bad position and need a break. This place will always be open to you, Lord of Thorns." The Avatars chorused to Joshua. The reason for that, was because the four Avatars can see the damage that Joshua had to his heart. This was for Joshua, the only thing they could do to the one who holds the power of the Four Seasons.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Joshua watched Demon's Bane break into pieces by his hands.
Is it okay if you give Nameless to the Lord of Thorns? He's going to need it.
-Etana-
"Sure, clearly this blade doesn't like me too much but it might like him more. You don't have to ask Etana. You're not in my debt. I don't mind nurturing him but I don't teach kindly." Kael said as he threw Nameless to Joshua.
"What's this?" Joshua looked at it, a black blade.
"It's a sword that has a connection to the Four Seasons. Nurture it well." Kael said as he snapped his fingers to open a portal and the other members of Joshua's group fell down unconscious.
"Their memories have been replaced with a bit of detail. They didn't face a creature named Soggorin. It was just a simple spire extermination. So don't overthink it. By the way, you should check on that Gate of the Shame. It'll be something for you to go and learn." Kael said as they left. They were all brought back to the entrance.
Kael looked at the others.
"Unhinged. Mentally broken. Might be even worse than we were when we first started but he's alone. He doesn't have anyone by his side." Trickster said.
"He's not alone. There's always a dozen or a small pair of them." Kael said to the others who were visibly shaken.
"His weapons came from his family and he's alone. 50 thousand lives... Luca... This must be tough for you." Ciara spoke to see Luca who shook his head and put his dane axe.
"There was a lot of things gone wrong and he's gone through what I went through but mine was a war. His? Was poor and sheer horrid luck but... Though Joshua may seem lost but he's not completely weak. He's strong but he's lost his own heart. He's lost his way but... Kael. Doesn't he remind yourself of you?" Kael just let out a nervous chuckle.
"Ah... So that's why you were willing to train him. Even giving away Nameless. Kael.. Are you going to make him another you?" Trickster asked with concern.
"No. I want him to not be like me, but to do that. He has to be strong like me. Not just his blade. Even his heart and mind must be willing. Ice Reaper gave him access to my lives. So he can have a mock battle, but there will come a time when they will call me." Kael said to them.
"I've killed more people than all the other Avatars combined. The ones that handle death and souls. They don't have what we have and Windgates... It seems Windgates dealt with someone else." Kael said where the others looked at him with concern.
"They're training the equivalent of Death in Joshua's world. I need to prepare the kid. It might take sometime, but until he's ready. Joshua will need to be strong enough to protect the world. He may have lost everything but he won't let anyone else go through it. That is his resolve and I will respect that." Kael said, to the others. They realized how much of a big deal that was. It wasn't simply because Kael was going to train Joshua, it was more that Kael wanted to ensure Joshua is the protector of Etana's World so if anyone decides to mess around with it. Be it anyone stronger than the Avatars, Joshua would be able to fight.
"If our world has been breached, it's no different than this earth. Only thing is, our earth can't fight through many of those things. They can fight, they can level up and gain experience from it. They can fight but we all know that other sinister bastards won't stop. They tried with ours and now the mana injection is happening. We need to prepare them. Not just Adept but everyone else. This whole thing sounds like idiots trying to start a war." Kael clenched his fists as he let his anger loose, the entire area felt it as the creatures ran away from Kael.
"Kael." Kael calmed down when Luca called him.
"We need to figure this out. Let's go back." Kael nodded.