The titan was the size of skyscrapers stacked on top of each other. Massive not just in terms of height but in width as well. Its dimensions and proportions could crush literally anything Zeke could think of from his world with minimal effort. Just one of its gigantic hands could easily thrash an entire military facility out of existence.
It had a scintillating gray sun for a head. A black dress covered its feminine frame, and mystical markings sleeved its great arms. Its left hand held an enormous rotting, severed head with long, disheveled black hair — it may have been the face of a healthy, beautiful woman at some point. The jaw of the decaying head hung open, making its graying skin stretch irritably.
Its colossal wings extended and widened behind it, still in the process of completing its growth. The set of black and white colored feathers overlapping each other darkened as they descended the wings—they were a spectacle, light at the top that culminated in a jet black.
Zeke gaped up at the winged giant. Then Ugo said exactly what he was thinking. “Is that Naomi?”
“I think so,” Zeke said with regret. “Catielleneth, to be exact.”
“Did you just end the world?”
“Hey, you gave me the green light. You’re just as to blame.”
Ugo shrugged. “Welp, after God recreates the world, I wonder how they’ll depict us in the new Bible.”
As Catielleneth raised its free hand, Zeke’s life flashed before his eyes, reevaluating the decisions he made not too long ago.
The hand plowed downwards in their direction and made a mighty pound. The earth quaked intensely.
Zeke and Ugo, paralyzed in place, stood between two giant fingers, just long stretches of skin. They looked over where the lava wall was, and all they saw was an enormous hand flesh covering it.
Ugo squatted, pointed at where Irin was squashed, and laughed hysterically, being awfully petty about it.
A loud rumbling arose. The fingers curled up and retracted. The fist closed, and fiery sparks were spitting out of it. Irin was putting in one hell of a fight.
But there was no point. It was already over.
Catielleneth lifted her hand and released.
Zeke squinted at a shining red dot flung from Catielleneth’s hand and high into the beautiful sky that became a blend of gray and red.
Catielleneth pulled out an immense flaming sword from the mouth of the severed head, like some sort of disturbing magic trick. The flames circling the blade were bright and gray, like the sun radiating over her neck.
The dot descended. Catielleneth pulled her sword back and swung it upwards at the dot. It was complete overkill. The godly attack left a burning slash mark in the sky, acting like a black hole. Chaos took over as the fissure in the sky intensified, almost as if the fabric of the universe was being torn apart. The crack caused the air itself to rumble and blew strong winds in every direction. Singed trees were uprooted from the ground and went whirling into the air. The apocalyptic scenario magnified every second that passed. Transforming the land into Paradise Lost. The tear in the sky quivered.
The fissure closed abruptly, and the sky returned to normal. Catielleneth caught on fire and then extinguished out of existence.
Peaceful silence returned.
Red ashes rained down on the melted and burned vegetation surrounding the exhausted brothers, and their Healer’s Garbs dematerialized. They shared a look and nodded to their victory.
----------------------------------------
Zeke and Ugo found AJ and Naomi in the other ruined clearing. AJ sat on her knees with Naomi resting in her arms.
“I’m glad she didn’t accidentally step on you,” Ugo said.
AJ glanced down at a slumbering Naomi. “Where did that come from?”
Ugo pointed at Zeke. “Our head doctor came up with the idea.”
Zeke raised the Communicator Lobe in his hand. “With Violet’s help, I used humanity’s greatest superpower: spreading the word. Many species across the Realms now know about Naomi’s identity.” He stored the Communicator Lobe back into his pocket.
“And it looks like they’ve been saying her name out loud nonstop.” Ugo glanced at Naomi. “That was crazy. She became huge. I think I may have discovered a new fetish.”
“Dude.”
“Sorry.”
“What’s a fetish?” a drained Naomi asked, looking up with tired eyes.
Ugo raised his hand. “Well—”
“She doesn’t need to know!” AJ interrupted.
Naomi let out slow, steady breaths. “Was I… helpful?” she said sleepily.
Zeke gave her a look. “I already told you, you don’t need to worry about that…” He shook his head and sank down to his haunches. “But yeah, you were very helpful.”
“That makes me happy,” Naomi said and smiled wide. “Now, let’s get to a door.” She sat up.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Naomi, don’t strain yourself,” AJ said, waving her hands.
“Just let me do this one last thing,” Naomi requested confidently. She grew out her wings with zero effort. The white, gray, and black feathers mesmerized the trio immediately. “Everybody grab onto me.”
They were running out of time, and they had to show some respect for Naomi’s efforts. Zeke took the lead and wrapped his arms around Naomi’s arm. “Okay,” he said.
AJ stood up and grabbed a hand. Ugo stared at Naomi. All her appendages were taken.
“Grab a leg,” Naomi suggested with a smile.
“You better not think of anything kinky,” AJ said.
“How would that even be possible?” Ugo asked. “It’s just a leg!” He kneeled and grabbed onto her ankle with both hands. He gazed lecherously at Naomi’s leg and made a dorky giggle.
AJ kicked him in the face. Ugo’s head was knocked back and then dropped back into place. He started groaning.
“Everybody ready?” Naomi asked.
“Yes!” Zeke and AJ shouted.
“I may have a concussion,” Ugo said.
Naomi’s wings extended to either side, and she ascended slowly. “Hold on.” She zoomed into the sky.
“Naomi, wait!” Zeke shouted over the winds. “My bag! It’s at the lake!”
Naomi banked down toward the lake. She straightened right before they hit the water, and they soared forward. The medical bag came into view. Zeke released a hand and grabbed it out of the water as they whizzed past it.
“Got it!” Zeke confirmed.
Zeke glanced at the meaty door before Naomi ascended once again.
They winged through the white clouds at high speeds. The nerdy trio’s legs flopped wildly in the wind. The impossibly tall cathedral appeared in the distance and gradually grew as they neared it.
They crashed through a window and flew through the spotless, artistic hallway. With Naomi’s superb navigation, she slalomed through incoming columns skillfully. A door appeared at the end of the hall. Naomi descended, and they landed safely before it.
Unlike the others, Zeke let go of Naomi and didn’t take a moment to adjust. He dropped to one knee and put down his dripping-wet bag. He opened it and caught a whiff of wet pages rising from the inside before taking out a marker and twisting off the cap.
“Isn’t that thing wet?” Ugo asked.
Zeke got up and walked up to the door. “It’s waterproof, man.” He drew the symbol quickly. “I’m ready for anything.”
“Ahh, the surprising benefits of anxiety,” Ugo said.
Zeke opened the door, and the waiting room was on the other side.
He returned to the bag, dropped the marker in, and picked up his Grandmother’s gift to him. Naomi’s wings folded and shrunk, and they all stepped through the door and darted toward the doorless arch.
In the hospital, they dashed through the corridor and stopped before a door. Zeke opened it, and they walked in.
Eldora was there, standing. Most of her body was encased in marble stone. It was all the way up to her neck, which kept her head straight up. Her stone wings spread to the side. They approached her.
“Estoy aqui,” Zeke said heartfully, struggling to keep his eyes on her.
Naomi bent over and plucked a black feather from the top of her wing. She handed it over to Zeke.
He held it up and examined it. “How’re we going to administer this thing?”
“We need to liquefy it,” AJ said. “A bacterial solution that can break down the proteins in the feathers into edible amino acids. At least when it comes to chicken feathers...”
“Is that voice in your head telling you anything useful?” Ugo asked Zeke.
Zeke shook his head and bared his teeth. “Screw this.” He pulled out the Communicator Lobe from his pocket. He raised it to his lips. “Violet.”
Violet’s breath emitted in his head.
“What do you want, Rulitos?”
“I need to learn a way to liquefy a demon feather and administer it to my mom.”
“Rulitos, I already told you that—”
“Listen, Violet!” Zeke interrupted harshly. The others pulled back. “You’re going to help me with this, okay?” He commanded. “We figured out a cure. We just need to administer it. I’ve had enough of your bullshit. If you value whatever the hell kind of relationship we have, then you’ll do what I say. Let me repeat myself: I need a way to liquefy a demon feather. I know, you know. Whatever it is. Tell me, Violet. Now.”
A moment of silence followed. Zeke wasn’t patient enough to let it linger for long.
“Violet!” he called.
“I don’t know,” she said.
“Violet, I don’t have time for this—!”
“But Gill must know a way,” Violet added. “He’s also a part of the Tainted Generation. I’ll go to him and get what you need. Sit tight.”
The transmission ended.
Zeke looked back at the others. He held their puzzled looks.
----------------------------------------
Violet arrived in the waiting room about fifteen minutes later. She was wearing her Healer’s Garb over her regular outfit. A flask filled with pitch-black liquid in her hand.
The Infirmary team was present. Zeke walked up to Violet and held out his hand. She placed the flask into it.
“Gill said to leave the feather to dissolve in the solution for five minutes.” Violet produced a black, old-fashioned syringe. “Then you can use this to administer the solution anywhere on her body.”
“Even her face?”
“Yes. All the Euphorouses should die after an hour.” She handed him the syringe and pulled a vial from her jeans pocket. Thick white liquid jiggled inside. “Then, have her drink this to regulate her soul’s purity. I made this solution myself.”
Ugo approached them and took the vial. “I’ll take that.”
“Violet, if you’re tricking us...” Zeke started.
“Don’t push it, Rulitos,” Violet said, fluttering her eyelashes at him. “You’re not in the position to threaten me like that yet. You're just going to have to trust me.”
As much as he hated it, he knew she spoke the truth, and worse of all, he knew it wouldn't take much to get him to trust her fully.
Violet gave each of them a look with sinister purple eyes and then let out an annoyed sigh. “Gill wants to meet you,” she said and growled. “Now that every member of the Tainted Generation has been revealed. He is organizing a reunion for us.” She pulled the hood over her head. “Expect an invitation in the future.”
Violet turned back to the door.
“Violet,” Zeke called.
She halted and turned her head back to him.
“Vee…” Zeke reiterated. He put on a stern look. “I just want to make one thing clear. I am going to stop you.”
Violet stared back with a stolid expression momentarily and then exited the hospital silently.
Zeke turned back to Naomi and AJ, waiting by the doorway. “Let’s start the procedure,” he said.