Zeroth gasped at the ferocity of Pyronox's attack as the creature clashed with Kael's short sword. As arcs of lightning flashed from Kael's blade, Zeroth began to allow his god power to flow, remembering all the training with Mira, and began to grow into his large fiery form.
Releasing a low sigh that sent a light puff of smoke, Zeroth looked down at Kael fending off Pyronox, and shouted, "Kael! Back off. He's my problem."
Zeroth watched as Kael leaped backward and landed near Delores, sheathing his short sword. With a guttural roar, Pyronox began to bolt toward Zeroth, also seeming to get larger and flare brighter with elemental power. Readying himself, Zeroth turned the flat of his battle axe toward Pyronox and as he reached to disembowel the dwarf with his sharpened claw-like hand, Zeroth stepped into him at the last second, slamming the flat of his battle axe into Pyronox's face, sending him stumbling back.
"Is that it? A speed blitz? I thought this would be a challenge." Zeroth taunted as Pyronox regained his footing.
"Father did not mention this much stolen power..." Pyronox muttered in a low growl.
Turning toward Delores, Zeroth shouted, "Hey, tiny lich! What's the point of this test? You all keep saying stolen power?" Zeroth frowned as Delores said nothing, instead she winked at him.
Rolling his eyes, Zeroth turned back to Pyronox, who was seething at Zeroth for swatting him away so easily.
"Alright, I'll ask you. What do you mean by stolen power? I mean, yeah I did take it, but I had to. The living world was going to end up being Vulcanix's playground and he wanted to use me as his vessel." Zeroth explained, trying to end this battle without slaughter.
Pyronox scoffed. "You stole a god's power and cast him aside as if he were worth nothing. Father did not deserve to be weakened as he had and you shall pay." As Pyronox finished he cupped both of his hands together and began amassing a growing orb of fiery magic, muttering to himself as he did so. Zeroth took a step back, a little unnerved by the power on display.
"Hey now, don't be rash!" Zeroth shouted as he pulled his axe up defensively. Kael, who'd been watching on the sidelines near Delores, reached for his sword only to be frozen in place by Delores.
"Now, now. We must not interfere with family drama, viking. Sit still and enjoy." Delores stated all too calmly.
Zeroth tensed, readying himself for Pyronox's attack. The orb of fiery magic in Pyronox's hands grew larger and more unstable, pulsating with raw, destructive energy. Zeroth could feel the heat emanating from it, scorching even the air between them. With a ferocious yell, Pyronox hurled the fiery orb towards Zeroth, who braced himself. As the orb approached, Zeroth sidestepped with a swift, practiced move, letting the orb pass harmlessly by and explode against the marble wall of the temple, leaving a scorched mark. Utilizing his newfound speed and agility granted by his transformation, Zeroth closed the distance between them in a heartbeat. Before Pyronox could recover from his surprise, Zeroth was behind him, his large, fiery arms wrapping around the younger creation in a firm, unyielding grip. "Listen to me, Pyronox!" Zeroth shouted into his ear, his voice resonating with the power of a god. "I didn't ask for this power, but I had to take it. Your father, Vulcanix, was using me to regain his strength, to escape his confinement and wreak havoc. I had to stop him, for the good of all."
Pyronox struggled against Zeroth's hold, his fiery body crackling with raw energy. However, as Zeroth's words sank in, his resistance began to wane. Zeroth took the opportunity to push further, channeling a portion of his godly power to forge a mental connection, sharing his memories and emotions—every moment of struggle against Vulcanix, the fear of losing his essence, and the eventual confrontation with Aeonis. Pyronox's eyes widened as the torrent of memories and feelings flooded through him. He saw his father's manipulations, the threats against Zeroth's friends and the world they inhabited, and the desperate measures Zeroth had taken to prevent a catastrophe. The fiery energy around Pyronox began to subside, and his body relaxed slightly within Zeroth's grasp. Zeroth loosened his grip as he felt Pyronox calm down.
"See? I wasn't trying to destroy him permanently. I was trying to save everyone else, including me. I know he’s your father, but his plans... they weren’t right," Zeroth explained, his voice softening.
Pyronox turned to face Zeroth, confusion and conflict evident in his eyes. "Father said he was wronged, that he was the victim. You've shown me different... hard to see who to trust."
Zeroth nodded, understanding the turmoil within Pyronox. "Trust your judgment, not just your lineage. You’re not bound to follow his path. You can make your own choices, Pyronox. Help us fix this, not for me, not for the gods, but for the sake of all who live under the shadow of The Fracture." Delores, observing from a distance, smiled thinly, intrigued by the turn of events.
She clapped her hands lightly, the sound echoing strangely in the vast space. "Well done, Zeroth. It seems you've gained an ally rather than an enemy today. Let’s see how this plays out, shall we?" As Delores finished speaking, the air in the temple shifted, becoming charged with a palpable tension. Suddenly, a portal burst into existence with a brilliant flare of light, its edges shimmering with the same leafy vine patterns that marked Delores's earlier magics. Suddenly, Zeroth's companions, led by Ardric and Varic, burst through the portal in full battle readiness. Ardric's shield was up, and Varic's hands crackled with eldritch energy, both prepared for a confrontation. Behind them, Tingle, Sylvana, and the rest of their alliance followed, their expressions tense, their bodies poised for combat.
However, as they took in the scene—Zeroth standing peacefully beside Pyronox, and Delores watching with an amused smirk—they lowered their weapons, their confusion evident. "What's going on here, Zeroth? We thought you were in trouble," Ardric asked, his voice filled with concern and lingering adrenaline.
Zeroth chuckled lightly, his tension easing. "It's alright, everyone. It seems we had a bit of a misunderstanding, but things are under control now." He glanced at Pyronox, who was still processing the flood of memories and revelations.
"We got here as fast as we could. Tingle said something about a power surge and Aeonis getting involved." Varic stated as he sheathed his ykwla.
At that moment, Tingle stepped forward, his expression serious yet excited. "Yes! When I noticed you and Kael vanished, I contacted Thalamar, who then alerted Aeonis. He was concerned enough to expedite our arrival. And look!" Tingle gestured towards a group of mages standing near the portal, all of whom bore the insignia of the Mage Guild. "Thalamar managed to convince Aeonis to bring over other mages to support our efforts. They've all granted me a large portion of their power. We're all in this together now." The group's tension dissipated as they processed the information, and Zeroth introduced Pyronox, explaining the quick resolution and the new alliance that was forming.
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Delores, still floating slightly off the ground, clapped her hands again, this time in delight. "Oh, what a splendid outcome! Not only do you avoid a needless battle, but you gain new allies. Well done, everyone!" She then turned her gaze towards the mages. "And you, brave mages, ready to lend your power to such a noble cause—how very commendable. Now that everything is finished, I believe you lot have a Godswar to prepare for." Delores finished by gesturing everyone back towards the portal. "This time there won't be any detours. Good luck."
With a nod, Zeroth led Kael and his group through the portal and emerged into a new cobblestone temple. As Zeroth looked around he noticed an emblem on the far wall that matched the emblem on the hilt of Kael's blade. "This must Thorund's temple," Zeroth muttered.
After everyone made it through the portal and it closed, Zeroth turned to Kael with a brow raised. "Well, this is your god's temple. How does it feel?"
Before Kael could answer Tingle spoke up, "This is where we were supposed to arrive. All the other gods on our side are with Thorund in his main hall with Thalamar discussing what may happen." "Alright, lead the way then Tingle," Zeroth responded giving Kael a quick shrug. Before they began to move, Zeroth felt a strange presence hovering behind him. As he turned he jumped slightly when he noticed Pyronox right behind him.
"Uhhh... Y-you came, awesome!" Zeroth stammered, slightly shocked at Pyronox's presence and the lost look in his infernal eyes.
"Sorry, I don't think Father would allow me to return defeated," Pyronox muttered as he looked down, avoiding Zeroths gaze.
"Father?" Ardric interjected cautiously.
"Yeah, Vulcanix created him so it's technically his father," Zeroth responded with a shrug.
"Oh!" Tingle added, "That means he's sorta your brother! Now you have two!" Shaking his head, Zeroth began walking toward the distant voices echoing in the stone temple.
"I'm guessing we follow the voices," Zeroth stated as everyone began following.
As the group navigated through the expansive corridors of Thorund's temple, the architecture showcased intricate carvings of historical battles and storms, reflecting the deity's dominion over warfare and weather. The air was thick with a palpable tension, not just from the upcoming Godswar, but from the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Pyronox, walking just a step behind Zeroth, kept his gaze fixed on the ground, his expression unreadable. His presence was a silent reminder to Zeroth of Vulcanix's continuous threat. Finally, they reached the main hall, a vast room with ceilings that soared high above and large windows that cast beams of moonlight across the stone floor. Within the hall, the other gods—Luminara, Eldrinacht, Thorund, Elythra, and Valcor—were gathered around a massively long wooden table, deep in discussion. Mira, along with Sylvana and Drex, were already present, positioned near their respective deities. Mira's eyes met Zeroth's as he entered, offering a nod of solidarity that spoke volumes of the gravity of their situation. The air around them crackled with divine energy, each deity radiating their unique aura of power. At the head of the table, Zeroth saw a muscled yet rotund god with a full beard and long messy hair speaking with Thalamar who noticed their arrival and waved the group over.
"As you can see, we're trying to finalize our strategies," Thalamar said, gesturing towards the table. "Thorund has been very gracious in providing his insights on how to counteract some of the deities who might not align with our cause."
Kael stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room, absorbing the presence of the other gods. "It's overwhelming, to be honest," he admitted, turning to Zeroth. "To think that these are the beings that shape our fates, and here we are, planning a war with them."
Zeroth frowned, "So it's just a war? I thought this was going to be a set of challenges."
Thalamar sighed, "It is a war at its heart Zeroth. Clearly, there has been some glamorizing for it but in the end, it's one group of gods versus another."
Zeroth grunted as he stroked his flaming beard in thought, not caring that he was still in his god form. "No wonder alliances were allowed and pushed for. This is gonna be a slaughter." Thorund, imposing and resolute, rose from his stone throne to address the group.
His voice boomed like distant thunder, resonating through the hall. "Welcome, champions. Your presence here signifies more than just a gathering of forces; it embodies our collective commitment to safeguard our realms and the mortal world."
Luminara, radiant and serene, added, "Each of you has been chosen not just for your strength, but for your ability to embody the virtues and powers we hold dear. Together, we must strategize not only how to win the Godswar but how to preserve the integrity of our worlds."
Eldrinacht, his presence an almost humanoid shape of sparkling black mist, spoke next, his voice a whisper that seemed to echo around the room. "The stakes are high, and the enemies we face are cunning. We must be smarter, more coordinated, and ready for any deception."
Elythra, the goddess of nature and growth, and Valcor, the god of order nodded in agreement together. "The law of the cosmos demands balance. We are here to restore that balance and ensure that no single power can overshadow the rest." Valcor concluded.
As discussions resumed, Zeroth felt the weight of his responsibilities settling upon his shoulders. Beside him, Pyronox, still adapting to his new allegiance, looked around, absorbing the significance of the gathering. "You alright there? You can drop your guard here, y'know." Zeroth said giving Pyronox a small bump with his shoulder.
"I've never seen so many... others," Pyronox said as he slowly scanned the room.
"Well, get used to it. I stick with the group and if you're with me, you gotta deal with the group." Zeroth said with a chuckle. Seeing that Kael took a seat next to Thorund at the table, Zeroth sat in a seat next to Thalamar and laughed as Pyronox reluctantly sat nearby and began watching with curiosity. Zeroth, seeing the potential in every face around him, knew this was more than just preparation for war; it was a unification of forces that would define the future of their world. He joined the table, ready to contribute to the discussions and to learn from these powerful beings how best to harness his newfound abilities for the greater good.