Will of chaos

Pov Samara:

I was floating without interfering in the fighting. Everyone was fighting: Lolth against one of the Templars of Hatred using two swords, Sarazar fighting the other using a large sword and shield, Urd fighting the Shadow of Rancor.

Meanwhile, the Avatar of Hatred was fighting the Lady of Hatred, who was still half-awakened.

I could see the fury burning in the Avatar of Hatred as he tore Orion’s body in half and finally realized my master wasn’t there.

The others were all prepared to hold him back as long as possible. The Master’s Familiars are brave for daring to face a being far stronger than themselves.

It wouldn’t be long before Hatred incarnated into his Avatar; there was no point in holding back with my master taking the lead.

“Why did you come looking for me?” (me)

“I need your help!” (Davoth)

“…” (me)

I look at Davoth. He’s panicked, his gaze frantic, as if he can’t believe what’s happening. This surprises me. I’ve already guessed part of his identity, and if I’m on the right track to finding out about him, his state is enough to make even me afraid of anything that might make him like this.

“How did you find me?” (me)

“I just came to the one place my senses couldn’t perceive.” (Davoth)

As he speaks, I sense two very significant changes on the battlefield that make us both look up.

One of the changes is the appearance of shadowy hands within the miasma. For some reason, this sends a shiver of fear down my spine, something I never expected to experience again. Suddenly, I begin to understand why Davoth fled earlier. He knows what that thing is.

The second important thing that happened was the change in the Avatar of Hatred’s presence, as well as his appearance when Hatred incarnated into his body.

“What can I do?” (Me)

“I need you to summon something.” (Davoth)

“I don’t think anything I can summon would be useful in what’s to come.” (Me)

“I need you to summon Niryna here.” (Davoth)

“Are you crazy!?” (Me)

“Don’t pretend you can’t. We both know you could summon her whenever you want using your Infernal power.” (Davoth)

I don’t like it that so much is known about my powers. He’s not far from the truth, and that worries me. Mystery is a big part of survival. Even though I’m tied to Master Zenos, I still like to keep my abilities hidden from everyone other than my master.

“I can invite her to be summoned; I can’t force her to come here.” (me)

“That will be enough. She must know what’s going on here, and judging by her behavior, she must be furious.” (Davoth)

“You’re not talking about the young lady, Niryna… are you?” (me)

“No… I’m talking about the one you’re logged in to.” (Davoth)

At Davoth’s words, I look at what was hanging around the Avatar of Hatred’s waist: the Infernal Grimoire of the Source.

I’ve never seen such an Artifact, but I’ve still studied it and know the description of its appearance, which coincides with that book. This, coupled with the identity of the one holding it, as well as seeing the Ritual the master directed, all of this narrows that book down to the identity of one of Hell’s Taboo Artifacts.

“Are you sure she’ll respond? I’ll be vulnerable when I summon her, and if I’m denied, I’ll suffer a setback to my technique.” (me)

“I remember Niryna didn’t seem pleased with Callidora and might refuse to cooperate.” (me)

“If Callidora wants her to come, then there’s little chance they’ll deny Callidora’s Will.” (Davoth)

“You, more than anyone, should understand this fact.” (Davoth)

As we spoke, the Avatar of Hatred’s body changed. His body grew taller, slimmer, more curvaceous, his eyes grew larger in his face, his wings changed to a more ethereal appearance, his hair grew longer, becoming like a cascade of black ink, swaying behind him.

When an Entity incarnates into its Avatar, it doesn’t need to change the body it will descend into, yet many Entities, who see their Avatars merely as tools, mold their bodies the moment they control them to meet their aesthetic standards, something completely unnecessary.

“Do you want Niryna to take care of that thing in the miasma?” (I)

“She wouldn’t be able to, too weak.” (Davoth)

“But Callidora could still seal her in her Hell, and that’s where Niryna could help.” (Davoth)

Now I begin to understand why he ran without wasting a second. He already knew I was following him, he knew my ability to summon Infernal beings, and he had no hope that anyone here could do this within the miasma.

“Very well, I’ll cooperate…” (me)

As we spoke, the miasma was changing, the hand shadows becoming more numerous and easier to identify.

“We don’t have time, do it now!” (Davoth)

“< Infernal Eclipse Summon: Gate of the Infernal Path >” (me)

Cough Cough

I began coughing up blood and corrupted life energy. The Infernal Path had been sealed by the master, and even though it had been released, it still wasn’t integrated into the master’s Star Path in the same way it had been in the past.

“< Open >” (me)

“< Niryna >” (me)

Cough Cough Cough Cough

My whole body trembles, my energy spiraling out of control as my concealment from this area breaks.

I can see the outlines of a path made of bones, flesh, and blood forming behind me, while a gate that seemed to have been sewn with the skin of thousands of living beings appeared. It was slowly opening as I coughed up blood, growing weaker.

I called out to Niryna and felt her just on the other side of the portal. I sensed her hesitant desire to cross. I also felt Callidora beside her on her shoulders, urging her to continue, which she did, crossing the gate, which closed immediately afterward. Even the truck that had appeared below my feet disappeared.

“You knew this would happen!” (Davoth)

“No, but when I sensed the Infernal Grimoire of the Source and remembered what I had once given Cortana, I saw the possibility of this scenario.” (Callidora)

“Then seal that thing before it awakens!” (Davoth)

“We still have a chance to face the fully awakened Lady of Hatred, but it’s not a matter of power when dealing with that Insanity within the miasma!” (Davoth)

“No, not yet… Cortana has her own arrangements, and I will not intervene this time.” (Callidora)

With that, she disappeared without a trace, and Davoth’s face turned red as his eyes filled with rage, but I couldn’t care less about all that now that I was too weak to help in this battle.

The Incarnations of Hatred that were around are already surrounding us now that my concealment has disappeared, but I will let Davoth deal with them.

————————–

Pov Sarazar:

The one in front of me wasn’t that powerful, but the concept around him was a problem; it was like trying to reach a thin tree branch only to discover there was an indestructible, transparent wall between us.

I’d already exchanged thousands of blows with him in just a few minutes. Now, with Hatred embodied in his Avatar and those shadow hands within the miasma, I can’t drag this fight out any longer.

“Cortana, give me strength!” (me)

“< Origin Seal: Tomb of Heaven and Earth Origin >” (me)

“(If I can’t break through your defenses, then I’ll seal you first and use your power to nourish something until nothing remains of you.)” (me)

My power surges as dozens of illusory petrified trees appear around us. Space shatters around us as hundreds of roots spring up simultaneously, enveloping the area around the enemy, giving them no time to move. Runes appear on the bark of the trees before coalescing above, forming a glowing text, compressing everything that’s in the attack until only a crystal tombstone remains in my hand.

“(This drained me 70%…)” (me)

“(Leave the rest in my hands, Sarazar.)” (Cortana)

“I am yours to command, my lady…” (me)

Soon I feel my lady’s power surging within me as her overwhelming Will fills me completely. I don’t try to resist, simply surrendering control of everything I am to her, tearing away her presence.

———————–

Pov Lolth:

I was holding the woman’s neck in my hands. I could feel her entire life in just a second, I could feel all the hatred as it was in the deepest part of her being, a desire so tiny it would be imperceptible even to other Avatars, but to me it was as great as an eternal fortress.

“You have the will to live…” (me)

I knew she was controlled, controlled by the hatred not only of herself, but also of billions of others that had been injected into her until she became what she was now, an amalgam of Hate.

I struggled hard to break through her sharp presence, my body marked by many cuts as I formed the ritual with my own blood to bind her like this.

But now I no longer feel the desire to kill her; what I feel is not something that should be directed at an enemy, yet I cannot help myself after feeling this desire to live so pure.

“Lena, I have no power to free you from Hate…” (me)

“(Then receive my embrace and let me act for you…)” (Lena)

“(What is to come will be too much for you…)” (Lena)

I felt her warmth surge like a sweet embrace and I couldn’t resist. What I am belongs to her, and her Will is my choice.