//[MYRIAD: The Covenant :-: Outer Sector: Outskirts of Corzox]//
The Present... [Linear Timeline];
"But there is an issue.", Akelus continued, with a frustrated tone. "For some reason I am fighting Hermes."
Hearing that, Dongfang Kongbu started pacing across the room frantically. His face riddled with extreme anxiety and concern, sweating profusely.
"YOU ARE FIGHTING [HERMES]!?!", Adrian exclaimed in fright and shock as he jolted from his chair, the runes inside the room shuddered.
Adrian clutched his chest as his heart heaved heavily, his legs grew weak as the colors drained from his face. His hands were trembling and his palms sweaty. His quivering arms tightly clasped the armrest as he slumped back on the chair.
"The situation is under control.", Akelus assured Adrian, as he observed the battle between Varcielle and [Hermes], while simultaneously controlling the Slab formation keeping the two entities contained within the inner lattice. "But, I am running out of time Adrian. Invaders gathered at the border of [Corzox] are bound to get restless, especially after they realize what I have done. Our window is short."
Adrian shook his head and took a deep breath. As he balled his quivering palm into a fist, he spoke:
"You said you had a way in. What do you plan to do?"
"I plan to use [The Purge] to breach into the [Ancestral Plane].", Akelus replied, as he launching an offensive against [Hermes] using the inner lattice of the slab formation.
Dragon King Varicielle kept multiplying in numbers, swarming [Hermes]. While, Akelus backed Varcielle by pummeling [Hermes] with a relentless flurry of Stone Slabs from the inner lattice that moved in a peculiar revolutionary manner, while hovering around the lattice at immense speeds.
"Haa... That's your plan?", Adrian spoke with a hint of disapproval and apprehension. "This is madness! [The Purge] is a bloody calamity, it's extremely volatile and vicious. It will be a liability, And you plan to use tha-"
"Yes, unless you have a better idea.", Akelus cut right back, as he continued disrupting [Hermes'] offense, flow and speed, while simultaneously amplifying Varcielle's swarm tactics using the slab formation. "Listen, you have to trust me on this. [The Purge] is our best shot here. We already knew that it had some connection to this place. And, from what have managed to gather, I have reason to believe that it also has the means to bypass the [Ancestral Plane]."
"I... do have a plan to breach the [Ancestral Planes] but, I believe it would be better if we exchange notes later.", Adrian instructed Akelus. "Get moving, ditch [Hermes] before he loses his patience."
"You don't have to tell me twice.", Akelus responded. He then transmitted a message to Dragon King Varcielle:
"Divide [Hermes'] attention, target the other incarnation as well. Pin him down on my signal." he instructed Varcielle. "I will make some openings within the slab formation, Your clones can exit from these openings and pressure [Phobos]."
"..., Alright", Varcielle complied.
"Now quick, do it before other factions realize what just transpired.", Akelus prompted, as he began re-arranging the inner lattice of the slab formation making it more hollow and permeable.
Varcielle sent some of his clones out from these pathways in the Inner lattice, who continued multiplying endlessly. These clones then filled the space between the inner lattice and the outer perimeter of the Slab formation, waiting for Akelus' signal.
"🎶HmmmMmmm🎶", Akelus hummed, his eyes shining bright gold. He gently raised his fist in a resolute manner, as a gesture for the clones to halt.
[Pathfinder]
A sigil appeared in front of Akelus, glowing red and constantly flickering.
"What happened?", [Phobos] telepathically inquired [Hermes]. He was fighting the Sentinels at a distance from the Slab formation. "Seems like the Dragon King managed to pin you-"
"Don't!.. This is nothing but a minor hindrance.", [Hermes] fumed. "Have you located the [Source] yet? The sooner we unravel it, the better for us."
"I am coordinating with Thanatos. This will take some time, especially since we don't want to aggravate [The Purge] ." [Phobos] replied. "Whatever machinations that [Pariah] left behind when he created this realm can only stall for time? Eventually we will breakthrough and pin-point the [Source]."
"Well... We can not stay here any longer.", [Hermes] sighed. "Be ready, Once I break out of this formation, we are making a mad run for the [Source]. We cannot lose our advantage to others that have gathered at the border."
"Understood.", responded [Phobos], as he continued engaging the 6 Sentinels in combat. Beneath him, [The Mist] of fear and illusions he had cast started churning and spiraling. Varcielle was remotely controlling his clones that were trapped within [Phobos'] mist, making them fly in circles. Biding for time, waiting for Akelus' signal.
Beyond the gray arena, within the dim and bleak space of the [Outer-Sector] several gleaming eyes were glaring at the situation. Their gaze doused in anticipation and ecstasy, their silhouettes hovering near the Gray Arena. These were the succulent [Demon of Pestilence] [Aerico] in all his rotund glory, and the hollow [Demon of Famine] [Gaki], a demon with many bodies and eternally famished.
"Gaki!!! Gaki!!! Something happened!!!", Aerico screeched with excitement, in his extremely succulent yet bloated tone. All his mouths that were riddled across his swollen body chattering in ecstasy. "Something happened to the Olympian, Gaki!!! Let's capitalize on it, Gaki!!!"
Aerico was barely able to contain his delight. As his bulbous and mouthed body jumped up and down with glee.
"||Wait, let's not haste.||", Gaki's whispers echoed with caution, as his hollow and malnourished demonic bodies surrounded Aerico. "||We have to ensure that [Hermes] has really been incapacitated.||"
"You sickly bastard!", Aerico spat. "This is an opportunity bestowed by the Devil himself, and here you are, still hesitating. Shaking like a pissant.", he huffed in frustration.
"||Shut up... Shut up, SHUT UP!!!||", Gaki hollered as his hollow whispers grew louder, his hollow bodies rattling and viciously spiraling around Aerico. "||Just shut your gluttonous, frothy mouth and WAIT!.. We shall strike soon.||"
Meanwhile, Akelus was still waiting patiently within the Slab formation, his eyes gleaming bright gold. Varcielle's clones around hovering patiently, biding for time.
[Pathfinder]
While, on the far side of the Gray Arena were the last of the [Jotnar], (Xyrak: For those unfamiliar 'Frost Giants'.). These Giants had donned their menacing armor, carrying their blades, axes and hammers, humming, chanting and clanging. As, they prepped their ships, hoisted their banners and waiting for their imminent charge towards the [Source].
Their Leader [Lothaar], observed his vast fleet from above, on his humble ship [Skjolio]. His crew was abuzz, scampering across the deck of the ship, preparing and loading ammunitions, managing fuel and mending their armor and bolstering their weapons. The bards were strumming and singing in the background, keeping the morale high and enthusiastic.
Standing near the bow of his ship, [Lothaar] eyed another ship at the center of the fleet. More precisely, [Lothaar] was glaring at the Captain of that ship. The ship was [Naglafar] and his (Xyrak: As in Naglafar's) Captain Mubong sensing [Lothaar's] glare, turned his head and smiled, waving his hand at [Lothaar].
"Can he really be trusted, Halibaard?", [Lothaar] murmured, still glaring at the waving Mubong.
"My Lord, whether he can be trusted or not is irrelevant.", [Halibaard] spoke, as he emerged from the deck behind [Lothaar]. "He commandeers [Naglafar], without him we lack the means to arrive inside the [Ancestral Planes]."
"Nerjil's misgivings about Mubong weren't misplaced, Halibaard.", [Lothaar] said, while pondering. "Mubong doesn't share our ambitions, he doesn't value the [Jotnar] like we do. He doesn't care if our race continues or wanes. He is a pirate, he has traded his comradery for bounty a long time ago."
"I shall say it again, my Lord. Mubong's ambitions, wishes, or motives are irrelevant.", [Halibaard] sneered, raising his arms in a mysterious manner. "Whatever Fate intends shall pass, and she is on our side."
"Fate is a fickle mistress, Halibaard. We [The Jotun's] should know that better than anyone.", replied [Lothaar]. "She left us in shambles, our race is almost extinct."
"Hahaha... Surely you jest, my Lord.", [Halibaard] mused. "I agree that times have been tough on us after the fall of [Typheous The Appalling], but Fate has offered us a new path. A path to our revival. We shall not squander this opportunity, my Lord."
"Hmmm... Yes you are right, Halibaard.", replied [Lothaar]. "Mubong's ambitions are irrelevant. Whatever he intends to do with the [Ancestral Planes] shall not matter, and doesn't concern us. We shall go according to 'our' plan."
"Yes, My Lord.", nodded [Halibaard], as he discreetly held out a pulsing white heart, oozing with cool white vapours. The heart was rather large, fairly larger than the palm of a giant like Halibaard.
While [Halibaard] balanced the Heart on his hands, [Lothaar] let out a hearty sigh-
"The heart of our patriarch, the First Jotun to ever live, Ymir.", he continued, as he intently gazed at the soft pulsing heart. "We shall enter the [Ancestral Planes] with Mubong's help. And then, unleash the [Heart of Ymir] within, incapacitating the realm. Mubong can play with what's left of the [Ancestral Planes], while we grab the [Source]. So... is everything ready, Halibaard?"
"Yes, my lord. My oracles are in place." said Halibaard with a smile, slipping the heart back inside his robes. "We are ready to begin, the charge."
[Lothaar] grabbed his warhorn and blew it. And, [Halibaard] submerged into the deck.
BWNROON!!!
The horn reverberated across the entire fleet. Signaling everyone personnel and every soldier to begin their charge. Drums started booming, the soldiers marching on the deck and the crew commandeering their ships.
The fleet revved into action, as the ships shifted their direction to a singular point. Steadily increasing their speed as they sped towards [Corzox]. The Oracles were heavily chanting, the soldiers were roaring and screeching.
Lothaar unsheathed his longsword, while wielding his hammer. Clanging them together, He bellowed ,"GLORY TO YMIR!!! CHARGE!!!"
Meanwhile, within the Slab formation was Akelus, smirking. Surrounded by Varcielle's clones, his eyes were gleaming gold.
[Pathfinder]
The flickering sigil in front of him had turned bright gold.
"NOW!!!", Akelus roared, signaling the clones to begin their onslaught. The outer-perimeter of the Slab formation rapidly shifted, turning more hollow and permeable.
A blood red aura shrouded the Dragon King Varcielle as his eyes turned magenta with his dark slit iris turning narrow. His clones within the Slab formation started pouring out in droves speeding towards [Phobos], while simultaneously coordinating the clones that were spiraling inside [The Mist] of fear and illusions abruptly to fly up, past [The Mist] towards [Phobos].
[Phobos] was fending off the Dragon Sentinels when, he momentarily shifted his attention to a mob of clones approaching from the Slab formation, "Huh?.."
"Lord Hermes! Varcielle is targeting me!", [Phobos] was alarmed. He tried to retreat, only to be cornered by the clones flying up from [The Mist] towards him. He was effectively cornered, as the clones completely surrounded him.
"Retreat!", One of the clones commanded the Sentinels. "Leave him to me, regroup and prepare."
The Sentinels promptly complied and quickly retreated into [Corzox].
Amidst the chaos, Akelus exit the slab formation as well, alongside the clones.
"I am going to dismantle the formation soon, pin [Hermes] down for as long as you can.", He instructed Varcielle, as he took in a deep breath. "and,.. Don't hold back."
Akelus sped back towards [Corzox], leaving the Gray Arena behind. He was the first one to leave.
The slab formation slowly began to contract as the Inner Lattice began to crumble, assimilating with the outer perimeter.
[Hermes] was fuming, he had to reach [Phobos] as quickly as possible but was being pinned by Varcielle. Now, looking at the crumbling inner lattice, [Hermes] decided to blitz through the formation. He obliterated every clone on his path, as he made his way towards one of the openings in the hollow outer-perimeter. He sped towards the opening, where-
BAM!!!
He crashed at the boundary of the formation, the constructs of the outer-perimeter dissipating most of the thrust from impact, still remained intact. [Hermes] was raging-
"The slabs were a ruse!, there never was an opening!", [Hermes] heaved in frustration. Dragon King Varcielle's clones quickly grabbed onto [Hermes] momentarily locking him in place.
Meanwhile, outside the formation, the Jotun fleet had arrived sailing above the Grey Arena, making a solid charge towards [Corzox]. They were the second to leave the Gray Arena speeding past every other invader present.
[Phobos] was getting overwhelmed by Varcielle's clones, who kept slashing, hitting and flinging him around. But it was a strange sight, no matter how much the clones thrashed him, [Phobos] never got injured, none of the attacks phased his physique or being.
"HahahaHah!!!", [Phobos] laughed in madness and ecstasy. "Give up Varcielle, you have no means to harm a concept. Your resistance is futile. Comply with us and we shall spare you."
The clones didn't respond, they just grabbed [Phobos] and held him in place. All the clones grinned at each other, and broke into a wild fit of laughter.
"MIJAR AL VALTORUK!!!", bellowed the clones in unision. Their chant reverberating across the entire Arena.
An ominous sigil of a blue eye doused in shadows appeared over the head of each clone including Varcielle himself. This sigil doused them in an ominous and vicious spectral aura.
"This aura!..", [Phobos] & [Hermes] were alarmed. "These creatures can invoke [The Purge]!, They can channel it's power!"
"This is bad...", Phobos became tense. His face anxious and apprehensive, as he saw a clone doused in the ominous spectral aura nimbly approach him, with his fist clenched. [Phobos] tried to escape, to fight back, but the rest of the clones firmly held him in place. "Shit, Shit, Shi-"
BOOM!!!
The approaching clone struck a heavy blow to [Phobos'] face, his face had caved in. Gold ichor was leaking from [Phobos'] eyes, nose and mouth. His mind went blank at the sight of his own ichor.
"I am bleeding...", His eyes staring at Varcielle's clone in shock. "How?.. I am... bleed-"
Varcielle's clone just grinned, doused in the ominous spectral aura, he kept grinning. Clenching his fists again. He sighed in satisfaction, as his smile grew wider in glee. He thought-
"HAH!, This is going to be a hearty bloodbath."
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