❆ ❆ ❆ Chapter Thirty One ❆ ❆ ❆

Goddess Regalia

The chamber was littered with armor pieces. One would believe this was a simple mess, not the result of a carnivorous battle. The husks of armor shook subsequent to the ongoing earthquake. The rumbling of earth increased in intensity.

“Our greatest weapon was actually Regalia’s greatest weapon, just great. We are so astronomically screwed!” Aela was on the verge of freaking out.

Aela’s declaration of doom was left without response. Snow only stared at the empty space in front of her, nodding her head in understanding. Aela saw the motion.

“Um hello? Snow! Wait a sec, are you talking to Laura?!” Aela stormed up to Snow and grabbed her arm. The angelic gold lines flashed on Snow’s arm granting Aela vision of her beloved partner.

“Laura, don't you have an afterlife or something to go to?!” Aela questioned.

Laura sighed, “Well, I was explaining to Snow my hypothesis on the black knight conundrum, until I was so rudely interrupted, thank you!”

“Well, next time share, you idiot!” Aela snapped.

“Apologies. But yes, it seems the black knights are- how to put it- an amalgamation of sorts. My guess is that they were human souls, forced to bond together, or eat each other, to stay alive in wherever Regalia is keeping them.”

“I thought the deal was that Regalia only held angelic souls.”

“Seems Regalia knows no bounds. Based on Snow’s descriptions, Regalia is certainly bound to the regulator and she definitely intends on using the key as a replacement powersource for it. Also, I looked outside. Not good.”

“What did you see?” Aela asked.

“Most of your tornados are disabled. The worst part of my theory is that The orb is not sufficient enough to maintain the regulator. If she breaks free, she is practically damning both of our worlds.”

“So, you’re saying we’re just screwed?!”

“No. I have a plan. But, it will require both of you to perform extremely precise and colossally difficult tasks. I will not lie to you, there is an extraordinarily high chance that one or both of you will die.”

Aela and Snow looked at each other.

“We ‘try and die’, or ‘wait and die’. What say you, Aela?” Snow asked.

Aela took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

“Nobody is dying. We are going to beat this insufferable goddess. Just tell us what to do Laura, we’ll get it done.”

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[Snow]

The white blanket coating the land had been replaced with drought-stricken soil. The trees were encroached by unnatural ice, seeping up from the deadened ground. Snow was sprinting through the spider forest. The most unsettling thing was the noise, or the lack of. The earth was coated in crackling abyss. Icebreaker coated her, but even that was painful.

Icebreaker cracked as she ran, constantly regenerating, and constantly complaining.

“I know it hurts icebreaker, but you have to bear with it for Laura’s plan.”

Snow braked to a halt before leaping to the side. Something nearly pounced at her from above. The thing was…

“Aliria?!” Snow said in shock.

The spider queen gave her a gentle smile.

“You are going to deal with that tyrannical angel right? Allow me to give you a ride.”

Snow was riding on top of Aliria, skittering quickly through the deadened lands.

“Aliria, You were dead, how?”

“Never seen a spider shed?” Alira questioned her presumption.

“You should have told me your sister was a twin!”

“Hehe, sorry. She's technically not, but you know. Spiders do look the same to humans.”

A short pause followed before Snow broke the news to Aliria.

“Well, Sorry to say, but I had to…”

“Kill her? I care not. We must pick our battles and she simply chose incorrectly. Besides, I never liked her.”

They reached the end of the spider forest and Snow saw they were being trailed by a miniature spider army.

“Your kind isn't affected by the land?” Snow pointed out her obvious question.

“My ancestors were casted out from the castle beyond the spider forest. We had protested the alliance with those winged snakes. We warned them, but none listened. Only when their precious alliance turned into a gruesome subjugation did the fools realize we were right, but it was too late. We made a deal with devils to survive. They called us witches, but look who is dead, and who is not.”

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They eventually got to the interweaving rivers. The rivers were dried up and all the area around them had collapsed into bottomless ravines. Their only path available was in the river bed, where a miniature horde of dark and twisted creatures stood. The creatures had distorted bodies, stretched faces, and beaming red eyes. All of these wicked minions were standing in defense of the angelic town.

You must go out, in the dead of night, straight to the place where Regalia is bounded. Then, Once inside, reclaim the orb.

“I dont have Fatebreaker.” Snow told Aliria.

“We have our fangs.” Aliria hissed loudly and they charged into the creatures of darkness.

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[Aela]

Meanwhile, Aela was grinding down a cliff with an icy claw.

“Fuck its cold. Are you still with me?”

Aela had a blue crystal strung around her neck, the crystal lit up as a voice came from it.

“Yes Ael, I'm here.”

“It's so damn dark, how the hell do you expect me to just know where they are!”

“Are you telling me you ran these seals for how long? They better be burned into your damn mind!”

“Yeah yeah, this cold is just distracting. Severely.”

“I'm doing the best I can to heal you. I'm still new to this type of elven magic, even though I'm, you know, dead!”

“Is that why you sucked with the vinesword.”

“Shut it.”

Aela reached the bottom of the cliff and sprinted with inhuman speed, her frostblood active and its only purpose was speed.

“Say, why were you following Snow. I know she's important to this whole operation but, I feel like I was left out to dry, you know?” Aela questioned the crystal.

“You never cease to amaze me with your stupidity, Ael. I was bound to you the whole time. It's just that Snow is the only one I can communicate through. Now silence and make a right.”

“Got it!”

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[Snow]

Snow reached to the top of the inverweaving rivers, Aliria’s brood was warring with the creatures of darkness behind them. Aliria was all cut up, but still standing.

“Aliria, why are you helping me so much?”

“A very long time ago, a woman wandered into my forest with a battalion of white haired warriors. We spoke, and she requested passage for her and her warriors. She had many personal questions to about raising brood. I could smell the scent of a child in her at the time, which was the reason why I stayed my attack. I am really glad I was able to see how it turned out. You are quite beautiful.”

The mountain crevasse was just in front of them, the waterfall illusion was no longer there, instead, it was a golden barrier.

“We are here.” Aliria said.

Snow slid off.

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“I won't lie. I am a little scared.”

“Only when we struggle, we find out who we really are, and that's where the real work begins.” Aliria held out a pincer. “However a little help wouldn’t be frowned upon would it?”

The pincer began to drip a pink substance.

“Where.”

“Your heart.”

“Uhh, Alright?” Icebreaker's shell opened, revealing Snow’s chest. “Is this going to hurt?” She questioned just before Aliria drove her pincer into her chest.

Snow stumbled back gripping her chest. The veins in her neck inflated. Her heart beated faster and faster and her vision became filtered by a light pink colour. The world became much slower but she felt infinitely faster.

“What… Is this?”

“We’ll call it Allira’s adrenaline. Now go, save my home.”

Snow sped into the mountain crevasse, Icebreaker formed in her hand.

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The angelic town was much different, flaming red comets flew through the sky that gave light to the tar coated buildings. Goddess Regalia was still hovering beneath the now flaming orb. One of her wings were completely free, the other was only held by a few stakes. The freed wing was fully black. The sphere key was floating in her hands, glowing with bright golden lines. As the sphere grew brighter, the remaining stakes grew weaker.

“Child, I am glad you made it.” Regalia smirked.

“You can't use these souls as a replacement! I understand your pain, but I can't allow you to be free!” Snow shouted.

“You understand nothing,” Regalia’s smirk grew wider, “When I am free, I will reclaim my kingdom from that fleeting coward Uriel. No longer will my people take refuge in that pathetic world of yours. You will serve as my hand, just as you've done so grandly thus far.”

Regalia swiped her huge wing causing a massive gust of wind to hit Snow. Snow was sent sliding back. The area behind her had become coated in the tar-like substance and it was growing inward from the outskirts of the town. Regalia spoke again.

“You are already caged, we must simply put on the collar. Kneel as your Goddess commands.”

Snow charged forward.

Regalia’s wing swiped again. Snow was sent sliding back once again. This time, she almost touched the ingrowing tar. The tar was alive and it tried to spike towards her. Snow narrowldy avoided it before charging forward again.

“For an all powerful angel, that wind is pretty weak!” Snow stabbed Icebreaker into the ground awaiting the next gust.

“A rough sea will capsize any ship. And my wind will lay claim to yours.”

The ginormous angelic wing began to beat and beat. The never ending gust of wind continued to blast at her as she held on. Just before her grip came loose the wind stopped. One of the runes hovering around the regulator lit up and forcefully pulled Regalia’s wing back to its default position before impaling it with a single golden stake.

Regalia grunted in pain.

“Laura you were right!” Snow happily declared.

Icebreaker began glowing as Laura’s voice projected from it.

“Snow, Where should we go next?”

“Her right wing is the one that's not fully bound! You just staked the bottom of it!”

“Got it, moving on to the next one. Aela, go to wolf gorge next.”

Regalia’s calm voice grew increasingly more serious.

“A futile effort. All for a minute advancement. I guess I must hurt you now.”

Snow was able to get closer, now that she didn't have to deal with the gust of wind.

The top half of Regalia’s right wing ruffled up and shot a barrage of feathery artillery. The feathers pelted the entire path. Snow focused up and performed an intricate dance. With Aliria’s adrenaline, she could see the strands on each glowing feather. Snow eluded the pelting wings like water flowing around an obstacle. This went on for a few seconds, then almost an entire minute.

The barrage was never ending. Snow’s dance within Regalia’s plumage was very quickly reaching its end. The pink filter on her vision began to fade. Aliria’s adrenaline was wearing off. Snow felt herself slowing. Then she felt the shred of feathers, The feathers began slicing into her. Icebreaker coated her quickly against the damage, however the coating slowed her and the armor was getting torn apart, this torture went on for atleast a minute.

“Kneel and serve your Goddess.” Regalia demanded.

“Any day now Aela!” Snow grunted.

Another rune turned on, pulling the top half of Regalia’s wing and staking it to the giant regulator. The barrage ended as a result.

The goddess’ voice shakily radiated anger and frustration.

“How can a human cover so much distance within a mere minute!” Regalia scorned.

“You obviously don't know Aela. When it comes to the seals…’” Snow smirked.

Regalia screamed in Anger.

“Servants I command you! Protect me against this lesser being. Rise, rise and subdue her!”

A dozen black knights plopped forth from the small orb key. The knights appeared puppefied.

“Icebreaker! Break apart!” Icebreaker formed into several bloody shards. Snow held them like throwing knives and threw them like a fan at all the black knights. The knights that were hit began shaking erratically before turning against themselves, or rather the ones that weren't hit with the shards. The knights that were defying orders were taking the shards and stabbing them into their brethren. The infighting quickly spread Snow’s influence among them until they were all poised against Regalia.

All the shards flew back to Snow and rotated around her hand before forming back into the blade.

“How?! You can not sever my command with petty magicka deconstruction! I am the master! I am Archangel Regalia of the fourth age!” Archangel Regalia roared.

“And we have the same blood. Remember?”

Snow flipped icebreaker in the air, “Icebreaker, let's finish this. Go!” She flung Icebreaker, it slid across the ground and formed into a pathway of ice that curved upward over the fountain leading straight to Regalia. Snow began running up the icy steps.

“Stay back! I will not be here any longer!” Regalia screamed with desperation before her attitude completely flipped, she put on a crazed face, “Actually.. this is perfect, just as planned-yes-I will use you! You will be my replacement. I will stake your bones to the Antikythera myself!”

A golden sword formed in Reglia’s hand, the sword was massive. Regalia swung it forward before multiple streams of black blood shot at it, holding it away. The knights were holding it back.

Snow stepped right up to Angel Regalia.

The sound of another stake was driven into her wing. Regalia revealed all her malevolence under the judgmental gaze Snow gave her.

“Do not look upon me like that you insignificant lesser! You are but slaves to angels, fuel, labor, mindless worshippers, whose only purpose is for servitude! I gave your pathetic people my blood, allowed your pathetic mother to rule your little lands and this, this is how I am repaid?! Why must I pay the price for my greatness! I am the strong! I AM THE ARCHANGEL!”

“You gave my mother a curse, not a gift. You are no god. Just a desperate angel trying to escape a desperate situation. While you may be deserving of this outcome, I promise one day, I will end your suffering too.”

Snow dove into the furnace.

~

Snow, unfortunately for the black knights, there is no helping them. They are human souls that are beyond repair. They can only be destroyed. But, the angel souls are regenerative and alot more powerful. I feel like I have an obligation to tell you even though I don't want to. But, there is a real way to save the others. This is reckless, and will be more painful than anything you have ever experienced. I would know, I died to find out. Here are your options:

You can simply take the orb, and prevent Regalia’s escape that way.

Or..

You can depower the orb, by jumping into the soul furnace itself and rescuing the angelic souls within. You are half angel and half human. You can allow them to take harborage inside of you. The soul furnace is a place that defies hell itself, both your body and soul will be very much in agony. If you choose this route and fail, we all fail, and you will suffer eternally.

Snow nodded.

“I understand.”

“Um hello? Snow! Wait a sec, are you talking to Laura!?” Aela stormed up to Snow and grabbed her arm.

~

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Hell, the place of eternal suffering, the place of eternal damnation, the destination of the most egregious sinners with no hope of redemption. That was hell. It was also a paradise, compared to this.

Snow waded through the darkness, choking, burning. The physical pain was everything she's felt on this journey, all at once, amplified tenfold. That was just her body. Her mind was another story. Down here in the ‘furnace’ there was a sense of dread beyond human comprehension. Suicide was an unobtainable gift. Snow sloshed through acidic blood where decayed angelic wings floated atop. The smell was so rancid and the dark fog ahead resembled nightmares. There were people wailing in agony at the bottom of this abyss. They all were reaching up towards the heavens in hopeless desperation.

Snow trudged through the blood. She grabbed the arm of one tearfully flailing ghost. The man looked at her with shock.

“Latch onto me!” Snow yelled.

“A savior! Oh my gods, it wasn't hopeless after all! Thank you!” He turned into a gold essence that went inside of her.

After Snow rescued more souls, the furnace began to change. The bloody pit morphed into a metal building. The sounds of grinding torture echoed throught. Snow moved quickly and recovered everyone she saw, then was thrown into a new nightmare, a corpse filled battlefield with hundreds of people impaled into the ground, left to succumb to their eternal injuries. The amount of souls in here were staggering. All she knew was that this ‘furnace’ was the greatest atrocity ever conceivable. Regalia really did deserve to be sealed. Snow cleared the corpse-filled battlefield and got sent into another nightmare, and another, and another.

The never ending nightmares went on and on. There was no end, it was as if people shared them, and were trapped in them. Snow was hungry, starving, in agony, battling hopelessness, depression and above all else, regret. She would try to find the exit, but then hear more souls.

Snow continued onward until she could not anymore.

She stumbled alone, into one final nightmare. In this nightmare, she was alone, unloved, unable to change the world, weak. She kneeled before the lotus throne. Her mother sat on the icy dias, dead. Snow dropped her gaze downward, to her own bloodied hands. Her mother still did not give her an ounce of love all the way up to the end.

This nightmare,

was hers.

She started to forget who she was.

What was she doing here?

Then, a tall man with long black hair and a thick nose stepped in front of her. He wore glistening white armor and a magnificent golden cape. The emblem on his chest was a pair of golden wings.

“You are about to succumb.” The white knight said.

Snow looked up at the tall man, there was something about his hunched posture that was familiar. Then, it came back to her.

“Horus?” Snow questioned.

“This nightmare is surprisingly the one place I'm able to hold this form. You need to leave. I don't know how you managed to collect all the angelic souls. You have an incredible will, and my respect.”

“Come with me!” Snow got up off her knees.

“If I latched onto you, I would corrupt you. Without the angelic souls fueling the nightmares, the furnace should collapse and us knights should be destroyed with it. Finally able to rest in peace.” Horus looked around at the lotus royal chamber, “This place is like a beacon, a very worthy castle.”

Snow heard a disciplined stop behind her.

The rest of the white knights stood in line framing a path to a glowing yellow light where Laura could be seen.

“Aela I found her! You were right, the corrupted souls led to her! Snow come on quick before they corrupt you!”

“Horus...”

“My people were deserving of this, we listened not to the warnings of the witches. Once the angels foresaw doom, they tried to change their fate. Any virtues they paraded were quickly revealed to be an illusion. We were left to suffer as they warred amongst themselves. My people were made pawns, servants, we were betrayed and used as fuel. I still despise both angels and frostblood, although, you escaping means we can too. So, go.”

“Gods dammit Snowflake, move it!” Aela’s voice was heard.

“Thank you, Horus. Rest in peace.” Snow turned and sprinted down the path of knights, they cheered with discipline shouts.

“Snow hurry! Aela’s life force is dwindling!” Laura shouted as the portal started closing.

Snow sprinted as fast as she could, each knight aired their blade as she ran past them. The portal shrank smaller and smaller with each step she took. Just before the portal closed, Snow dove forward, grabbing both Aela and Laura’s hand.