Post by Vapovile on Jun 15, 2021 5:25:53 GMT
“Hellooooooo?? Iris?” Elyssa called out as she walked around her boss’s lab. Elyssa was one of the few people who had access to this area, since she was leader of her own squad within the R&D division. She held two small blood-red tusks in her right hand, swirling with a strange black substance that made it look like a curved lava lamp. “Come on, I have to turn this thing in before I go home today!” She called out. Elyssa stopped when she noticed a certain door in her lab was ajar.
Elyssa knew of this room. It was forbidden to go in for everyone but Iris herself. She had made that extremely clear to everyone, even the people who didn’t have access to this lab. Elyssa stood staring at it for several seconds. “On one hand...Iris is one scary girl...on the other...adventure…” Elyssa tapped her chin thoughtfully. With a grin, Elyssa stepped forward. “Just a peek wouldn’t hurt. Maybe she’s inside!”
Opening the heavy metal door with all her strength, Elyssa stood in shock at the sight.
The room was almost like a warehouse, with several shelves housing boxes ranging from cardboard to metal. Along the middle of the room sat seemingly hundreds of pedestals of different colored orbs, each the size of a fishbowl. Elyssa whistled and strolled down the aisle between the pedestals.
She noticed each had a small plaque on the bottom. A name up top, a date...and one adjective. Heroic. Founder. Sadist. Empress. Walking for several seconds, Elyssa finally stumbled upon the one pedestal that sat in the middle of the aisle, not grouped into two like the others. The adventurer stopped and examined the pedestal.
“Amata. 1489 - 1567 BCE...Sin”
Elyssa stared at the black orb, checking all around it for details but finding none. She placed her hand on her hip and began to think of what these all could be. But her thoughts were soon overwhelmed when the black orb pulsed a dark energy, washing over Elyssa and sending her into a void of darkness.
---
“Work harder, Amata! We must spread the word of Namru to the masses! They must be led to salvation!” A tall man in long white robes called out to the small girl below. The man was tall, with tanned skin and a short black beard that accented his face. He was holding a book in his right hand, neatly bound to the spine.
The girl he was talking to was far younger, looking around 11 years old. She also had tanned skin, but her long black hair was long and matted, tied behind her head with a piece of twine. The girl hauled a heavy brown bag on her back, sweat pouring down her face as the desert sun beat down upon her.
Unlike the man’s pure white robes, Amata wore a ragged brown tunic that was frayed along the edges. Only a thin pair of sandals protected her feet from the blistering Babylonian sand below.
“Master Telal..can we...please...break…” Amata pleaded, before tripping over a rock and falling face-first into the sand. Telal gave a grunt and stopped his advance, but offered no help as she slowly picked her weakened body up.
“No! You are my property, and you will do as I say! Every minute you spend dawdling is another soul being sent to the underworld!” He proclaimed. Amata’s face welled with tears...but a tug on the chain around her neck stopped a full cry from coming out. The child took the bag once more and the two marched on to the new town.
The duo walked into Isin and immediately set out on their missionary work, going from house to house and preaching to the residents inside about the word of Namru. The charismatic Telal won over several people to his religion, having just expanded to this new town. When nightfall came, the two were invited to stay at a local merchant’s home...but Amata was forced to stay in the stable with the camels.
Her head crashed against the straw bedding, body utterly wiped with exhaustion. The cold ground finally allowed her to reflect...was this mission worth the effort? Did Namru the benevolent god exist, and was he really opposed by the merciless evil god Surim? A frown descended down Amata’s face as she relived a memory.
She was only 8 years old at the time, living with her father in a small agricultural city. Her mother died during childbirth, but her father’s farm produced enough that they could live relatively comfortably. But one day...a band of raiders descended upon the town and murdered anyone who put up a fight. Amata watched helplessly as her own father’s neck was slashed by a man wielding a bronze dagger.
Amata’s sorrow would only grow when she was captured by the raiders and placed into slavery. Telal was the first and only one to put a bid on her, most others wishing to save their money for the adults. Since then, she’d been working as Telal’s slave; making meals, manual labor, and most importantly; organizing Telal’s church.
Telal claimed to be a prophet of Namru, a god that had only revealed his existence to himself and wanted to spread his salvation far and wide. The church itself was relatively small, but it had enough seats for a sizable attendance. In the back sat the church library, filled with books that Telal had purchased from merchants...many pedaling stolen goods sold to them by the raiders.
Amata always hoped to be assigned to the library on any given day, as then she could spend minutes on end with her head engrossed in the different texts available. The stone tiles provided plenty of sound to warn if Telal was coming, allowing Amata to quickly get back to working. Telal had permitted her to read one book; Namru’s holy scripture.
Amata had memorized the text in under 4 months. Her mind was ravenous for knowledge, wanting to read anything she came across. But Telal forbade her from reading anything outside of the holy book, administering swift punishment if she were ever caught. So she adapted. Set up shelves along the windows to create a blind spot. Learned which boards creaked and where. Memorized Telal’s daily routine and planned her reading accordingly.
The holy scripture was standard affair, detailing Namru valiantly defeating the evil Surim on the bank of a river, using a bolt of lightning he caught out of the sky on that rainy night. Namru then ascended into godhood, while Surim controlled the endless void where the unbelievers were sent to wander the darkness forever. The thing that interested Amata the most was the theme of assistance these gods had with humanity.
“For Namru is a benevolent god, he shares a portion of his power equally among all his subjects. However, he and Surim must never interfere with humanity. Any contact with a mortal will bring out the end of the age of gods. For that reason, Namru provides a gentle hand to guide his followers, but will not interfere.” Amata read for the 12th time.
---
“I guess that explains why he won’t help me…” Amata sobbed, looking at the camels beside her. “So what’s even the point...I am a follower, am I not? So why am I oppressed by another follower…” She ruminated on this hypocrisy. Was she meant to be a slave just because she was part of another tribe than those raiders? Her swollen scorched feet and badly sunburnt body from the journey served as a painful reminder of her place in the world.
“Maybe Namru isn’t benevolent after all…” She softly said, as if someone might hear. Suddenly, a dark shadow crept out of her own, two glowing red eyes opening out of the top. Amata shrieked and backed up against the wall.
“Well well well...I feel sorrow coming from one of Namru’s followers. How are you, slave girl?” A deep baritone voice came from the shadow. Amata suppressed her urge to cry out...her master would probably punish her for waking him. She stared at the figure and fidgeted nervously.
“Um...I’m ok...kinda tired…” Amata timidly responded. The shadow was impossible to pry her eyes off of. She wanted to know every detail about who this was. A soft laughter echoed through the room.
“Judging by your sunburnt body and bleeding feet...I would say you’re not ok at all. Isn’t it strange how Namru is said to be so good, but allows his followers to torture a poor, innocent child like this in pursuit of spreading his name? Almost seems narcissistic.” The shadow then grew a wide smile, showing off a pair of shining white teeth.
“Saaaay...why don’t I help you out? I can give you the power to escape slavery and live your life free as the birds in the sky.” The shadow offered. Amata sat up straight and crawled forward wide-eyed.
“You c-can?! But...master is a prophet...he wields the power of Namru. I’ve seen him perform miracles myself…” Amata said defeatedly. She recalled master Telal standing in front of a town square, mending a person’s leg with healing white light coming from his hands, forming a cloud of rain that saved the town’s crop, or unleashing a holy beam of light that incapacitated an entire group of raiders.
The shadow smiled once more. “But what if I told you Namru only provides a small fraction of his power to followers? But I...I can provide you so much more. Power to rival gods themselves.” The tone seemed almost serpentine, holding on the s’s. Amata’s eyes widened. “Wait...could you be…”
“Lord Surim, ruler of the abyss and all evil. Banished to a life of misery just because I wanted godhood too, but lost a battle. I think you can relate to such a tale.” He said. Amata stared at the shadow for several seconds. She was talking to...a god.
“Erm w-well...I would like to be free...what would you like me to do…?” Amata asked nervously. The shadow grew to encompass the entire stable wall, his toothy mouth now large enough to eat Amata.
“As you might guess, I hate Namru with every part of my eternal being. While I sit here in squalor, he only gains power with each new follower. So I got to thinking…” The shadow’s teeth grew pointy like a canine’s. “What if he didn’t have any followers? Gods like us can’t come to Earth without a conduit, like a prophet. So if there were no more followers...he becomes but a passive observer in the universe. A thought that has no head. And then...poof. Consciousness floats away like the twilight.” The figure explained.
Amata was stunned. Her mouth was dry, only able to speak once more after taking a deep breath. “S-so you want me to k-kill his followers?! Even master?!” She asked with shock. Surim looked down at her and nodded. “You’re a smart child! Here’s the thing...I am a lower tier god than Namru. I can influence the human world more freely than he can. If you become my prophet...I will lend you part of my power to wipe the world of his wretched followers. They ruined your life, why shouldn’t you return the favor?” He asked the child.
This reasoning resonated with Amata. But to massacre anyone who’s brought Namru into their hearts...that was unthinkable. “I-I can’t...I’m sorry.” Amata said, defeated. Surim let out a sigh. “I guess you don’t have the heart. But if you ever need me...just speak my name.” Flashing his red eyes one last time, the shadow disappeared.
---
“Hiiiii, Amata!” A sweet voice came from the market stall. Amata ran up to the bread stall and smiled widely. “Hi Opis!” Amata cheerfully said. Opis was the one friend Amata had made while living in this town, most other people would dismiss her at the sight of her collar. “One loaf, please!” She declared, putting the coins down on the counter. Opis smiled and handed one over from the shelf behind her.
“Hey, how is it going with those chores?” Opis asked in code, whispering slightly. Amata grinned. “I read all about crocodiles yesterday! They’re super long, and have a mouth thiiiiiis long!” Amata stretched out her arms in front of her mouth and repeatedly open and closed them to mimic a crocodile bite. Opis let out a gasp of surprise.
“A beast like that exists?! Wow, you’re so smart! How about you tell me all about them in a few hours?” Opis winked at the child. The two had a daily ritual; Telal would order Amata to go buy the day’s bread and other supplies, and she would tell Opis about the subjects she learned about the previous day of reading in the library. She was a kind woman...but had unfortunately lost her attempt at a child during their birth due to complications. It was almost as if Opis treated Amata like the child she never had. The two had to talk in code, for it was strictly forbidden to assist a slave with education against their master’s wishes. Amaya could just share the details of her adventures discovering facts about the world, or fantasy lands that were written down for her to explore...and not face any punishment.
Telal had tried on numerous occasions to make Opis convert, but she followed a different religion that centered more upon ideas of reincarnation, instead of an afterlife. This drew the ire of the prophet, but would bitterly agree to honor her choice.
---
Both Amata and Telal stirred from their slumber by shouts coming from outside. “WITCH!” A male voice cried. The duo sprung from their slumber and into the town square to find a crowd had formed in a semicircle around the eastern road, a man clutching the left side of his face. “She’s a witch!” A female voice cried.
“What’s all this about a witch?!” Telal’s voice boomed, parting the crowd like a sea and staring at the scene before them. The man clutching his face was a famous merchant in town, selling all kinds of pottery and fine items brought from other cities. The left side of his face was burned, small parts of his flesh singed from fire. “Prophet!” He cried. “That woman tried to rob me! But when I wouldn’t give her any of my wares for free, she chased me down the alleyway and threw a fireball right at my face! Been rolling down here ever since!” He screamed.
Amata stood in horror at the one he was pointing at...Opis. She had a similarly petrified look on her face. “That’s not true! I was just walking down the street, and this man runs up behind me, turns back, and brought a match to his face! He probably...put something flammable for it to burn!” Opis tried to explain. Prophet Telal glanced around the area.
“Did anyone see what happened?!” His voice boomed. The entire crowd murmured to each other, with a few mentioning ‘witch’ again. The merchant stood against a wooden crate for support. For the briefest moment...Amata could see him flash a smile at Opis. The baker’s eyebrows narrowed into a frown.
“Wait a minute, I know you! You were at my stall today! Tried to invite me to your bed tonight, but I declined! So you called me garbage and slapped me!” Opis declared, the crowd murmuring once more. The merchant cried out again.
“Oh the scandal! First you assault me for my wares, then accuse me of infidelity? That’s a serious accusation!” He shot back.
The crowd began to murmur with each other. They already distrusted Opis for her strange outsider religion, and now she could use magic?
“Witch trial!” A woman shouted. Several joined in unison, but Amaya stepped forward.
“W-wait! Nobody saw what happened, right?! And even if she could use magic, so can you!” Amata pointed to her master. The crowd let out a collective gasp as he glared down at her.
“My holy power comes from lord Namru himself! He provides it to me so I may convince the common person of his godhood, and kindness! Witches gain power from sinister sources. Evil spirits, creatures of the night, or even the unholy Surim himself!” The name made the crowd gasp in horror. “Do NOT equate our two abilities, Amaya! Now MOVE!”
With a thunderous slap, the prophet sent Amata flying into a nearby stone wall headfirst. Her body felt heavy...vision fading in and out. But she could still make out the scene before her, along with some words.
“..b.rn!” “O..sider!” “Wi..h!”
It was at this point Amata fell unconscious. When she came to...she witnessed a horrid sight. Opis was strapped to a post by her hands and feet, the crowd continuing to chant. Amata scrambled to her feet and raced toward the scene. Prophet Telal stood next to a man carrying a lit torch.
“I think this trial has proven with no doubt remaining that Opis is indeed, a witch!” He declared aloud. “There is no substance by which that man could have placed upon his face that would disappear so completely once burned! But Namru is a generous god...will you renounce your blasphemous faith and accept the hand of salvation before you?” He asked, looking directly at the baker.
But despite the perilous situation...she remained calm. “No, because even if you allow that man to murder me for rejecting his lecherous advances...this isn’t the end of me. I will be born anew, and the cycle will continue on.” She said defiantly.
The crowd shouted once more, furious at her blasphemy. Amata tried to push her way through the crowd, but a powerful force compelled her to freeze...Telal staring directly at her with glowing white eyes. They soon faded back to normal, but Amata couldn’t move an inch from her position, nor even say a word.
“Then there is no purpose for this delay! I hereby deliver salvation to your wicked soul, and may Namru have mercy upon you!!” Tossing the torch at the post, the brush at the base caught fire and soon the entire area was up in flames. Amata could only watch on in horror as the one person who brought her happiness was engulfed in flame.
---
Amata stared with empty eyes at the stable she was chained up to outside of Telal’s house. He promised to provide punishment tomorrow, but that no longer scared Amata. He had left for the next town to deliver Opis’s body to a grave. Looking out at the open doorway, the church seemed to stare back at her mockingly.
“...this is all your fault…” Amata murmured. “This is salvation?! That was cold-blooded murder!” She no longer cared who heard her. Standing back up, Amata brushed the matted hair out of her eyes and stared at Telal’s church with a menacing glare.
“...Surim.”
On cue, a familiar shadowy figure appeared along the stable wall, its toothy grin now more pronounced. “Good morning, slave girl. Have you finally made the correct choice?” It asked with interest. Amata nodded her head.
“If this is the work of a kind god, then let me be the unholy prophet to bring this entire system down. Those weren’t people back there...they were demons. Demons must be purged, right?” Amata seethed. The shadow cackled.
“Wonderful! You will become my unholy prophet, Amata. You will have power beyond your wildest dreams. How about we show them a proper crusade?” The evil god said, Amata only nodding.
The stable erupted into a swirl of purple and black lights, twisting like a tornado. The town was soon roused once more, approaching the stable in fear. Soon the magic subsided...and Amata walked outside with a dark expression on her face.
“Slave girl! What is the meaning of this?!” A man wielding a shovel demanded. He watched as Amata reached the end of her chain and stopped when it tugged on her collar.
She stared at him for several seconds. “...you shouted ‘kill her’ 5 times.” She said flatly. He opened his mouth to reply, but a dark spike formed in Amata’s hand and was sent flying into the man’s throat, killing him instantly.
The town looked on in awe and fear. “SHE’S A WITCH TOO!” A woman screamed. But Amata was done pleading. She took a step forward and flared a menacing purple aura that vaporized the chain and the collar around her neck.
“...I am more than a witch...I am retribution itself.” She said flatly, sending a bolt of black electricity out that chained along the townsfolk and made them all drop, their bodies now charred.
Turning her attention to the church now, Amata floated forward and walked straight through the stone walls and into the library. The dark prophet glanced around at all the literature she never got to read.
Waving her hands dismissively, the books were all levitated into the air and disappeared into another dimension, ready to be reclaimed later. She then exited the library and found herself in Telal’s church. The bronze statue of Namru resting on the altar was quickly melted by a beam of fire, which caught the walls on fire and began to burn.
“...now…”
Floating through the church walls and into the air, Amata watched as the icon of Telal’s faith went up in smoke. Amata herself felt nothing at the sight of this, feelings had been ripped from her hours ago. She held her hand up and began forming an orb of darkness that crackled with purple electricity.
“...if a society is rotten to the core...perhaps something good can be built out of its ashes. Goodbye.”
The orb of darkness then grew to the size of half the town and was thrown down, crashing against the sand and erupting in an explosion that vaporized the entire town below. Most didn’t even rise from their slumber before being obliterated.
---
Amata repeated this with the other town that Telal had converted, reducing their settlement to nothingness. Now only one remained. The one Telal was probably guarding. Surim’s shadow appeared alongside Amata and cackled with glee.
“You’re doing it! You have far more magic ability than I was ever anticipating! How does it feel, being the angel of vengeance?” He asked. Amata didn’t even look him in the eyes.
“I feel nothing, Surim. No matter the religion...I will not be saved. But I can still remove rotten flesh from this world…” Amata seethed. The shadow nodded his head.
“Well you have one more to go. Are you prepared?” He asked. Amata nodded back confidently.
---
Appearing out of a shroud of darkness, Amata stepped into the final settlement. The townspeople all gathered around the town square, hiding behind whatever cover they could find. Directly opposite Amata was the man who brought her so much suffering...Prophet Telal. He held a long iron sword in his right hand, pointing it directly at Amata.
“HALT, DEMON! I heard about what you’ve done...you’re the walking apocalypse itself. My own slave...betraying the Lord. Do you not realize the magnitude of your actions?!” His voice boomed across the square. Amata looked at him with utter indifference.
“Kinda.” She answered flippantly. “Do you realize you murdered an innocent lady tonight?” She asked back, cocking her head. Telal stepped forward, his body glowing a brilliant golden glow. “DO NOT CONFUSE SALVATION WITH MURDER, WENCH!” He roared, sending a shockwave across the square that carried away dirt.
But Amata stood unmoved. “Are you done? Seriously, are you done being so self centered?!” She grew a dark purple aura to match his. “You talk all the time about kindness, salvation, kinship...but you condemn anyone who doesn’t follow your precious Lord to their death?! No, I am DONE being your slave and watching this hypocrisy!” Amata screamed, tears welling up in her eyes as the child floated into the air. Telal mirrored this move.
“I DO NOT honor the words of demons! I will show you the same kindness as your precious Opis...and you may join her with Surim!”
Telal blasted forward toward Amata, grabbing her throat with a glowing gauntlet covering his hand and throwing her into the ground, forming a crater. He followed up by holding his hands toward the dust and firing a beam of holy magic directly into it, sending shockwaves across the land that toppled a house.
“YOU CAN NOT HOPE TO MATCH THE LORD’S STRENGTH!” Telal’s voice boomed. But when he stopped and waited for the dust to clear...Amata stood in the crater unharmed. His eyes widened in surprise.
“So you have more of the unholy lord’s power than I thought. NO MATTER!”
Telal was about to launch another beam of light, but Amata teleported directly in front of him and grabbed his mouth with her palm.
“...you yell too much.”
Darkness blasted out of Amata’s hand, engulfing Telal’s entire upper body and sending him crashing into the ground. The townspeople looked on in shock at their prophet struggling to get up. Amata landed back on the ground and glanced around.
“...your lord splits his power equally among his followers, right? But you’re a prophet...you get more because you’re special.” Amata spat these words. “So logically if you were the only one…” “CEASE NOW!”
Before Telal could do anything, Amata held out both her hands and unleashed a storm of chain lightning that ripped through the entire town. Within seconds, the smell of burnt flesh was the only thing in the air as every citizen fell over onto the ground. Telal sat with his head down...Amata now able to see tears on his face. The entire atmosphere changed when he looked up and exploded with a holy aura.
“VERY WELL, FALLEN HUMAN! IF YOU WISH TO SEE THE MIGHT OF THE LORD’S FULL STRENGTH, I WILL SHOW YOU!” The voice blasted apart 4 nearby houses from the pressure wave. Amata couldn’t help but crack a smile.
“...so everyone you’ve cared about is now dead. How’s it feel? I felt the same thing tonight, ya know?” Amata taunted.
Telal roared and blasted forward with speeds that broke the sound barrier, his holy iron sword meeting Amata’s sinister black blade made from pure magic. Their clashes were far faster than the eye could see, but the destruction in their wake was unmistakable. The two prophets rocketed across the desert, fighting for over an hour in a fight that tore apart the desert below. The two soon stood in the middle of a ravine, both looking drained of magic.
“...you...wench...and even after I showed you kindness by buying you from those slavers! Sheltered you! Gave you purpose!” Telal shouted. Amata glared back at him.
“But did you ever see me as a person?! Did you care about my health at all?! No, you wanted a piece of proerty to do the tasks you deemed beneath a big important person like yourself!” Amata yelled back, her emotional shell now cracking.
“I showed you kindness, and that’s all that matters! You betrayed your town, you betrayed Lord Namru, and you betrayed me!” He yelled out. But Amata only grinned back. “Putting yourself higher than the lord? Interesting.”
This set off rage within Telal, who ripped through the air to slash at Amata with his sword...but was only met with Amata’s hand catching it. He looked on in horror. “How...are you…”
Wordlessly, Amata raised her right hand. “You said it yourself...I’m the apocalypse. Repent.” The mage let loose a brilliant display of black and purple magic and engulfed both Telal and the cliffside above, being sent far into the sky to worlds unknown. Telal’s body was now blackened, sent several meters away and unmoving. Amata floated forward to check his heart.
“...dead.” Was all she could say. Her shadow stretched out and began to stand up, wobbling as a figure began to take shape. A humanoid body began to form, but things began to change when a ring of snakes formed from his hips, and a long curved scorpion tail emerged from his back. On his head formed a large wasp-like head with deep purple eyes. The mere presence of this being seemed to make the earth shrink back in fear.
“Well done, well done, well done.” The god said, clapping his hands. “Now Namru will fade into nothing, and you can be free. I hope you liked my power, girl.” He looked back, his insectoid mouth clearly giving a grin. But when he turned back...Amata was gone. “Where d-”
It was at that moment that he felt a pressure in his right hand. He slowly turned to find Amata gently clasping it in her worn, sunburnt hands. His eyes flared.
“...For Namru is a benevolent god, he shares a portion of his power equally among all his subjects. However, he and Surim must never interfere with humanity. Any contact with a mortal will bring out the end of the age of gods. For that reason, Namru provides a gentle hand to guide his followers, but will not interfere.” Amata quoted from Namru’s scripture. She then held up his hand.
The sky exploded into a violent storm, sending lightning crackling across the sky and tornadoes ripping across the landscape. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!” Surim screamed. A purple energy was quickly flowing out of himself...and into Amata. She looked back up at him with a blank face.
“I know your intentions. I may be free of Telal, but you expect me to be your slave too when you make the world kneel?” Amata asked. The evil god stared in shock and tried to rip his hand away, but a supernatural force was keeping him still.
“HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL YOU BETRAY TODAY?! Well if I’m going...you’re coming with me!” The god’s eyes flashed purple as he reached forward with his other hand, driving it into Amata’s chest and grasping her soul. Amata screamed in pain.
“Hahahaha! How’s this for tragic, huh?! I will make you my slave for eterni-” Surim wasn’t able to finish his sentence when he noticed his body begin to turn to dust. He quickly attempted to remove Amata’s soul, but his arm was then grasped by Amata’s other hand. “I won’t...let you!” She screamed in pain.
Seeing that his abdomen was now gone, Surim let out a grunt and stared into Amata’s eyes. “Fine. I’ll just make your life a living hell.” He then squeezed Amata’s soul tightly, pressing the two halves until they began to split down the middle. He continued to cackle as his entire being finally disappeared, Amata’s soul only held together by a tiny sliver near the bottom, but corruption swirled through like a virus. She dropped down to the ground, choking.
It took over 10 minutes before Amata could stop convulsing from the pain. The sky was still violently tearing the land apart, now unleashing a torrent of rain onto the desert below. Amata slowly stood back up.
Despite the searing pain she felt in her chest, Amata felt like a different well had opened up inside of herself. An infinite well of magic. Sweeping her hand to the side, a gale of wind tore through the rock wall and sent the pieces into the stratosphere. She felt next to no mana depletion.
“So this...is the power of a god…?” Amata asked, looking up at the torrential downpour. Nothing seemed above her now. She had just...defeated two gods.
Suddenly, a warm ray of light engulfed Amata from the right side. She looked over to see Telal’s body had somehow returned to life, laying prone with one arm raised toward her.
“How are you…” Amata asked with shock.
“The Lord gave me one last task...to give you the ultimate punishment.” He spat blood from his mouth, then continued.
“You rejected his teachings...and the word of the evil god...so he decided to grant you the power to remain here forever. Eternity.” He explained. “You may wander the land, acting as a god...but you are not. You are a human. So when you find yourself upon death’s door...you’ll only be sent back, born anew like your precious Opis. Farewell...sinner.” And with those parting words, Telal’s body faded into dust.
---
Suddenly, Elyssa felt herself falling into a dark void, resisting the urge to scream long enough to be jolted awake. She found herself sitting on the floor, Iris floating in the air above her.
“BWAH!” The adventurer jumped back. Iris put her hand up to her face and let out a few giggles. She wore her signature oversized white lab coat over a black sweater and plaid skirt, a pink bow hanging around her neck. Her long white hair was tied in her signature two side tails that went down to her ankles.
“My my, how did you find your way in here? I could have sworn I forbade everyone from coming in here…” She mused. Elyssa scrambled to her feet.
“Er, I was looking for you to hand these things over, and thought you’d be inside! And I saw, uh…” Elyssa didn’t know how much she should disclose. Iris cocked her head and took the two tusks, examining them.
“Oooo, pretty. Looks like two trapped symbiotes...I’ll study them and get back to you, m’kay?” She gave a friendly smile. But after a few seconds when Elyssa was feeling calmer, she gave a small frown.
“Such a strange story, isn’t it? They say that girl still walks the Earth to this day, trying to find interest in anything after being alive for 3,500 years…” Iris then turned to Elyssa and gave a smile.
“But who knows? By the way, if you ever come in here again, I won’t be so nice again~” She said cheerfully. Elyssa got the message and gave a thumbs up, scrambling out of the room. Iris gave a few more giggles and turned to stare at the black orb containing Amata’s memories.
“Hehe...that was fun. I’m glad I left that door open a little.” She squinted at the orb.
“...eternity...even after the universe is no more...I will persist.” Iris said in an uncharacteristically melancholy tone, turning back to the door and floating outside, giving one final glance at a glass case that houses several ancient books, neatly stacked along their spines. A book with a drawing of a crocodile on the front lay in the center, staring up at the ceiling.
Elyssa knew of this room. It was forbidden to go in for everyone but Iris herself. She had made that extremely clear to everyone, even the people who didn’t have access to this lab. Elyssa stood staring at it for several seconds. “On one hand...Iris is one scary girl...on the other...adventure…” Elyssa tapped her chin thoughtfully. With a grin, Elyssa stepped forward. “Just a peek wouldn’t hurt. Maybe she’s inside!”
Opening the heavy metal door with all her strength, Elyssa stood in shock at the sight.
The room was almost like a warehouse, with several shelves housing boxes ranging from cardboard to metal. Along the middle of the room sat seemingly hundreds of pedestals of different colored orbs, each the size of a fishbowl. Elyssa whistled and strolled down the aisle between the pedestals.
She noticed each had a small plaque on the bottom. A name up top, a date...and one adjective. Heroic. Founder. Sadist. Empress. Walking for several seconds, Elyssa finally stumbled upon the one pedestal that sat in the middle of the aisle, not grouped into two like the others. The adventurer stopped and examined the pedestal.
“Amata. 1489 - 1567 BCE...Sin”
Elyssa stared at the black orb, checking all around it for details but finding none. She placed her hand on her hip and began to think of what these all could be. But her thoughts were soon overwhelmed when the black orb pulsed a dark energy, washing over Elyssa and sending her into a void of darkness.
---
“Work harder, Amata! We must spread the word of Namru to the masses! They must be led to salvation!” A tall man in long white robes called out to the small girl below. The man was tall, with tanned skin and a short black beard that accented his face. He was holding a book in his right hand, neatly bound to the spine.
The girl he was talking to was far younger, looking around 11 years old. She also had tanned skin, but her long black hair was long and matted, tied behind her head with a piece of twine. The girl hauled a heavy brown bag on her back, sweat pouring down her face as the desert sun beat down upon her.
Unlike the man’s pure white robes, Amata wore a ragged brown tunic that was frayed along the edges. Only a thin pair of sandals protected her feet from the blistering Babylonian sand below.
“Master Telal..can we...please...break…” Amata pleaded, before tripping over a rock and falling face-first into the sand. Telal gave a grunt and stopped his advance, but offered no help as she slowly picked her weakened body up.
“No! You are my property, and you will do as I say! Every minute you spend dawdling is another soul being sent to the underworld!” He proclaimed. Amata’s face welled with tears...but a tug on the chain around her neck stopped a full cry from coming out. The child took the bag once more and the two marched on to the new town.
The duo walked into Isin and immediately set out on their missionary work, going from house to house and preaching to the residents inside about the word of Namru. The charismatic Telal won over several people to his religion, having just expanded to this new town. When nightfall came, the two were invited to stay at a local merchant’s home...but Amata was forced to stay in the stable with the camels.
Her head crashed against the straw bedding, body utterly wiped with exhaustion. The cold ground finally allowed her to reflect...was this mission worth the effort? Did Namru the benevolent god exist, and was he really opposed by the merciless evil god Surim? A frown descended down Amata’s face as she relived a memory.
She was only 8 years old at the time, living with her father in a small agricultural city. Her mother died during childbirth, but her father’s farm produced enough that they could live relatively comfortably. But one day...a band of raiders descended upon the town and murdered anyone who put up a fight. Amata watched helplessly as her own father’s neck was slashed by a man wielding a bronze dagger.
Amata’s sorrow would only grow when she was captured by the raiders and placed into slavery. Telal was the first and only one to put a bid on her, most others wishing to save their money for the adults. Since then, she’d been working as Telal’s slave; making meals, manual labor, and most importantly; organizing Telal’s church.
Telal claimed to be a prophet of Namru, a god that had only revealed his existence to himself and wanted to spread his salvation far and wide. The church itself was relatively small, but it had enough seats for a sizable attendance. In the back sat the church library, filled with books that Telal had purchased from merchants...many pedaling stolen goods sold to them by the raiders.
Amata always hoped to be assigned to the library on any given day, as then she could spend minutes on end with her head engrossed in the different texts available. The stone tiles provided plenty of sound to warn if Telal was coming, allowing Amata to quickly get back to working. Telal had permitted her to read one book; Namru’s holy scripture.
Amata had memorized the text in under 4 months. Her mind was ravenous for knowledge, wanting to read anything she came across. But Telal forbade her from reading anything outside of the holy book, administering swift punishment if she were ever caught. So she adapted. Set up shelves along the windows to create a blind spot. Learned which boards creaked and where. Memorized Telal’s daily routine and planned her reading accordingly.
The holy scripture was standard affair, detailing Namru valiantly defeating the evil Surim on the bank of a river, using a bolt of lightning he caught out of the sky on that rainy night. Namru then ascended into godhood, while Surim controlled the endless void where the unbelievers were sent to wander the darkness forever. The thing that interested Amata the most was the theme of assistance these gods had with humanity.
“For Namru is a benevolent god, he shares a portion of his power equally among all his subjects. However, he and Surim must never interfere with humanity. Any contact with a mortal will bring out the end of the age of gods. For that reason, Namru provides a gentle hand to guide his followers, but will not interfere.” Amata read for the 12th time.
---
“I guess that explains why he won’t help me…” Amata sobbed, looking at the camels beside her. “So what’s even the point...I am a follower, am I not? So why am I oppressed by another follower…” She ruminated on this hypocrisy. Was she meant to be a slave just because she was part of another tribe than those raiders? Her swollen scorched feet and badly sunburnt body from the journey served as a painful reminder of her place in the world.
“Maybe Namru isn’t benevolent after all…” She softly said, as if someone might hear. Suddenly, a dark shadow crept out of her own, two glowing red eyes opening out of the top. Amata shrieked and backed up against the wall.
“Well well well...I feel sorrow coming from one of Namru’s followers. How are you, slave girl?” A deep baritone voice came from the shadow. Amata suppressed her urge to cry out...her master would probably punish her for waking him. She stared at the figure and fidgeted nervously.
“Um...I’m ok...kinda tired…” Amata timidly responded. The shadow was impossible to pry her eyes off of. She wanted to know every detail about who this was. A soft laughter echoed through the room.
“Judging by your sunburnt body and bleeding feet...I would say you’re not ok at all. Isn’t it strange how Namru is said to be so good, but allows his followers to torture a poor, innocent child like this in pursuit of spreading his name? Almost seems narcissistic.” The shadow then grew a wide smile, showing off a pair of shining white teeth.
“Saaaay...why don’t I help you out? I can give you the power to escape slavery and live your life free as the birds in the sky.” The shadow offered. Amata sat up straight and crawled forward wide-eyed.
“You c-can?! But...master is a prophet...he wields the power of Namru. I’ve seen him perform miracles myself…” Amata said defeatedly. She recalled master Telal standing in front of a town square, mending a person’s leg with healing white light coming from his hands, forming a cloud of rain that saved the town’s crop, or unleashing a holy beam of light that incapacitated an entire group of raiders.
The shadow smiled once more. “But what if I told you Namru only provides a small fraction of his power to followers? But I...I can provide you so much more. Power to rival gods themselves.” The tone seemed almost serpentine, holding on the s’s. Amata’s eyes widened. “Wait...could you be…”
“Lord Surim, ruler of the abyss and all evil. Banished to a life of misery just because I wanted godhood too, but lost a battle. I think you can relate to such a tale.” He said. Amata stared at the shadow for several seconds. She was talking to...a god.
“Erm w-well...I would like to be free...what would you like me to do…?” Amata asked nervously. The shadow grew to encompass the entire stable wall, his toothy mouth now large enough to eat Amata.
“As you might guess, I hate Namru with every part of my eternal being. While I sit here in squalor, he only gains power with each new follower. So I got to thinking…” The shadow’s teeth grew pointy like a canine’s. “What if he didn’t have any followers? Gods like us can’t come to Earth without a conduit, like a prophet. So if there were no more followers...he becomes but a passive observer in the universe. A thought that has no head. And then...poof. Consciousness floats away like the twilight.” The figure explained.
Amata was stunned. Her mouth was dry, only able to speak once more after taking a deep breath. “S-so you want me to k-kill his followers?! Even master?!” She asked with shock. Surim looked down at her and nodded. “You’re a smart child! Here’s the thing...I am a lower tier god than Namru. I can influence the human world more freely than he can. If you become my prophet...I will lend you part of my power to wipe the world of his wretched followers. They ruined your life, why shouldn’t you return the favor?” He asked the child.
This reasoning resonated with Amata. But to massacre anyone who’s brought Namru into their hearts...that was unthinkable. “I-I can’t...I’m sorry.” Amata said, defeated. Surim let out a sigh. “I guess you don’t have the heart. But if you ever need me...just speak my name.” Flashing his red eyes one last time, the shadow disappeared.
---
“Hiiiii, Amata!” A sweet voice came from the market stall. Amata ran up to the bread stall and smiled widely. “Hi Opis!” Amata cheerfully said. Opis was the one friend Amata had made while living in this town, most other people would dismiss her at the sight of her collar. “One loaf, please!” She declared, putting the coins down on the counter. Opis smiled and handed one over from the shelf behind her.
“Hey, how is it going with those chores?” Opis asked in code, whispering slightly. Amata grinned. “I read all about crocodiles yesterday! They’re super long, and have a mouth thiiiiiis long!” Amata stretched out her arms in front of her mouth and repeatedly open and closed them to mimic a crocodile bite. Opis let out a gasp of surprise.
“A beast like that exists?! Wow, you’re so smart! How about you tell me all about them in a few hours?” Opis winked at the child. The two had a daily ritual; Telal would order Amata to go buy the day’s bread and other supplies, and she would tell Opis about the subjects she learned about the previous day of reading in the library. She was a kind woman...but had unfortunately lost her attempt at a child during their birth due to complications. It was almost as if Opis treated Amata like the child she never had. The two had to talk in code, for it was strictly forbidden to assist a slave with education against their master’s wishes. Amaya could just share the details of her adventures discovering facts about the world, or fantasy lands that were written down for her to explore...and not face any punishment.
Telal had tried on numerous occasions to make Opis convert, but she followed a different religion that centered more upon ideas of reincarnation, instead of an afterlife. This drew the ire of the prophet, but would bitterly agree to honor her choice.
---
Both Amata and Telal stirred from their slumber by shouts coming from outside. “WITCH!” A male voice cried. The duo sprung from their slumber and into the town square to find a crowd had formed in a semicircle around the eastern road, a man clutching the left side of his face. “She’s a witch!” A female voice cried.
“What’s all this about a witch?!” Telal’s voice boomed, parting the crowd like a sea and staring at the scene before them. The man clutching his face was a famous merchant in town, selling all kinds of pottery and fine items brought from other cities. The left side of his face was burned, small parts of his flesh singed from fire. “Prophet!” He cried. “That woman tried to rob me! But when I wouldn’t give her any of my wares for free, she chased me down the alleyway and threw a fireball right at my face! Been rolling down here ever since!” He screamed.
Amata stood in horror at the one he was pointing at...Opis. She had a similarly petrified look on her face. “That’s not true! I was just walking down the street, and this man runs up behind me, turns back, and brought a match to his face! He probably...put something flammable for it to burn!” Opis tried to explain. Prophet Telal glanced around the area.
“Did anyone see what happened?!” His voice boomed. The entire crowd murmured to each other, with a few mentioning ‘witch’ again. The merchant stood against a wooden crate for support. For the briefest moment...Amata could see him flash a smile at Opis. The baker’s eyebrows narrowed into a frown.
“Wait a minute, I know you! You were at my stall today! Tried to invite me to your bed tonight, but I declined! So you called me garbage and slapped me!” Opis declared, the crowd murmuring once more. The merchant cried out again.
“Oh the scandal! First you assault me for my wares, then accuse me of infidelity? That’s a serious accusation!” He shot back.
The crowd began to murmur with each other. They already distrusted Opis for her strange outsider religion, and now she could use magic?
“Witch trial!” A woman shouted. Several joined in unison, but Amaya stepped forward.
“W-wait! Nobody saw what happened, right?! And even if she could use magic, so can you!” Amata pointed to her master. The crowd let out a collective gasp as he glared down at her.
“My holy power comes from lord Namru himself! He provides it to me so I may convince the common person of his godhood, and kindness! Witches gain power from sinister sources. Evil spirits, creatures of the night, or even the unholy Surim himself!” The name made the crowd gasp in horror. “Do NOT equate our two abilities, Amaya! Now MOVE!”
With a thunderous slap, the prophet sent Amata flying into a nearby stone wall headfirst. Her body felt heavy...vision fading in and out. But she could still make out the scene before her, along with some words.
“..b.rn!” “O..sider!” “Wi..h!”
It was at this point Amata fell unconscious. When she came to...she witnessed a horrid sight. Opis was strapped to a post by her hands and feet, the crowd continuing to chant. Amata scrambled to her feet and raced toward the scene. Prophet Telal stood next to a man carrying a lit torch.
“I think this trial has proven with no doubt remaining that Opis is indeed, a witch!” He declared aloud. “There is no substance by which that man could have placed upon his face that would disappear so completely once burned! But Namru is a generous god...will you renounce your blasphemous faith and accept the hand of salvation before you?” He asked, looking directly at the baker.
But despite the perilous situation...she remained calm. “No, because even if you allow that man to murder me for rejecting his lecherous advances...this isn’t the end of me. I will be born anew, and the cycle will continue on.” She said defiantly.
The crowd shouted once more, furious at her blasphemy. Amata tried to push her way through the crowd, but a powerful force compelled her to freeze...Telal staring directly at her with glowing white eyes. They soon faded back to normal, but Amata couldn’t move an inch from her position, nor even say a word.
“Then there is no purpose for this delay! I hereby deliver salvation to your wicked soul, and may Namru have mercy upon you!!” Tossing the torch at the post, the brush at the base caught fire and soon the entire area was up in flames. Amata could only watch on in horror as the one person who brought her happiness was engulfed in flame.
---
Amata stared with empty eyes at the stable she was chained up to outside of Telal’s house. He promised to provide punishment tomorrow, but that no longer scared Amata. He had left for the next town to deliver Opis’s body to a grave. Looking out at the open doorway, the church seemed to stare back at her mockingly.
“...this is all your fault…” Amata murmured. “This is salvation?! That was cold-blooded murder!” She no longer cared who heard her. Standing back up, Amata brushed the matted hair out of her eyes and stared at Telal’s church with a menacing glare.
“...Surim.”
On cue, a familiar shadowy figure appeared along the stable wall, its toothy grin now more pronounced. “Good morning, slave girl. Have you finally made the correct choice?” It asked with interest. Amata nodded her head.
“If this is the work of a kind god, then let me be the unholy prophet to bring this entire system down. Those weren’t people back there...they were demons. Demons must be purged, right?” Amata seethed. The shadow cackled.
“Wonderful! You will become my unholy prophet, Amata. You will have power beyond your wildest dreams. How about we show them a proper crusade?” The evil god said, Amata only nodding.
The stable erupted into a swirl of purple and black lights, twisting like a tornado. The town was soon roused once more, approaching the stable in fear. Soon the magic subsided...and Amata walked outside with a dark expression on her face.
“Slave girl! What is the meaning of this?!” A man wielding a shovel demanded. He watched as Amata reached the end of her chain and stopped when it tugged on her collar.
She stared at him for several seconds. “...you shouted ‘kill her’ 5 times.” She said flatly. He opened his mouth to reply, but a dark spike formed in Amata’s hand and was sent flying into the man’s throat, killing him instantly.
The town looked on in awe and fear. “SHE’S A WITCH TOO!” A woman screamed. But Amata was done pleading. She took a step forward and flared a menacing purple aura that vaporized the chain and the collar around her neck.
“...I am more than a witch...I am retribution itself.” She said flatly, sending a bolt of black electricity out that chained along the townsfolk and made them all drop, their bodies now charred.
Turning her attention to the church now, Amata floated forward and walked straight through the stone walls and into the library. The dark prophet glanced around at all the literature she never got to read.
Waving her hands dismissively, the books were all levitated into the air and disappeared into another dimension, ready to be reclaimed later. She then exited the library and found herself in Telal’s church. The bronze statue of Namru resting on the altar was quickly melted by a beam of fire, which caught the walls on fire and began to burn.
“...now…”
Floating through the church walls and into the air, Amata watched as the icon of Telal’s faith went up in smoke. Amata herself felt nothing at the sight of this, feelings had been ripped from her hours ago. She held her hand up and began forming an orb of darkness that crackled with purple electricity.
“...if a society is rotten to the core...perhaps something good can be built out of its ashes. Goodbye.”
The orb of darkness then grew to the size of half the town and was thrown down, crashing against the sand and erupting in an explosion that vaporized the entire town below. Most didn’t even rise from their slumber before being obliterated.
---
Amata repeated this with the other town that Telal had converted, reducing their settlement to nothingness. Now only one remained. The one Telal was probably guarding. Surim’s shadow appeared alongside Amata and cackled with glee.
“You’re doing it! You have far more magic ability than I was ever anticipating! How does it feel, being the angel of vengeance?” He asked. Amata didn’t even look him in the eyes.
“I feel nothing, Surim. No matter the religion...I will not be saved. But I can still remove rotten flesh from this world…” Amata seethed. The shadow nodded his head.
“Well you have one more to go. Are you prepared?” He asked. Amata nodded back confidently.
---
Appearing out of a shroud of darkness, Amata stepped into the final settlement. The townspeople all gathered around the town square, hiding behind whatever cover they could find. Directly opposite Amata was the man who brought her so much suffering...Prophet Telal. He held a long iron sword in his right hand, pointing it directly at Amata.
“HALT, DEMON! I heard about what you’ve done...you’re the walking apocalypse itself. My own slave...betraying the Lord. Do you not realize the magnitude of your actions?!” His voice boomed across the square. Amata looked at him with utter indifference.
“Kinda.” She answered flippantly. “Do you realize you murdered an innocent lady tonight?” She asked back, cocking her head. Telal stepped forward, his body glowing a brilliant golden glow. “DO NOT CONFUSE SALVATION WITH MURDER, WENCH!” He roared, sending a shockwave across the square that carried away dirt.
But Amata stood unmoved. “Are you done? Seriously, are you done being so self centered?!” She grew a dark purple aura to match his. “You talk all the time about kindness, salvation, kinship...but you condemn anyone who doesn’t follow your precious Lord to their death?! No, I am DONE being your slave and watching this hypocrisy!” Amata screamed, tears welling up in her eyes as the child floated into the air. Telal mirrored this move.
“I DO NOT honor the words of demons! I will show you the same kindness as your precious Opis...and you may join her with Surim!”
Telal blasted forward toward Amata, grabbing her throat with a glowing gauntlet covering his hand and throwing her into the ground, forming a crater. He followed up by holding his hands toward the dust and firing a beam of holy magic directly into it, sending shockwaves across the land that toppled a house.
“YOU CAN NOT HOPE TO MATCH THE LORD’S STRENGTH!” Telal’s voice boomed. But when he stopped and waited for the dust to clear...Amata stood in the crater unharmed. His eyes widened in surprise.
“So you have more of the unholy lord’s power than I thought. NO MATTER!”
Telal was about to launch another beam of light, but Amata teleported directly in front of him and grabbed his mouth with her palm.
“...you yell too much.”
Darkness blasted out of Amata’s hand, engulfing Telal’s entire upper body and sending him crashing into the ground. The townspeople looked on in shock at their prophet struggling to get up. Amata landed back on the ground and glanced around.
“...your lord splits his power equally among his followers, right? But you’re a prophet...you get more because you’re special.” Amata spat these words. “So logically if you were the only one…” “CEASE NOW!”
Before Telal could do anything, Amata held out both her hands and unleashed a storm of chain lightning that ripped through the entire town. Within seconds, the smell of burnt flesh was the only thing in the air as every citizen fell over onto the ground. Telal sat with his head down...Amata now able to see tears on his face. The entire atmosphere changed when he looked up and exploded with a holy aura.
“VERY WELL, FALLEN HUMAN! IF YOU WISH TO SEE THE MIGHT OF THE LORD’S FULL STRENGTH, I WILL SHOW YOU!” The voice blasted apart 4 nearby houses from the pressure wave. Amata couldn’t help but crack a smile.
“...so everyone you’ve cared about is now dead. How’s it feel? I felt the same thing tonight, ya know?” Amata taunted.
Telal roared and blasted forward with speeds that broke the sound barrier, his holy iron sword meeting Amata’s sinister black blade made from pure magic. Their clashes were far faster than the eye could see, but the destruction in their wake was unmistakable. The two prophets rocketed across the desert, fighting for over an hour in a fight that tore apart the desert below. The two soon stood in the middle of a ravine, both looking drained of magic.
“...you...wench...and even after I showed you kindness by buying you from those slavers! Sheltered you! Gave you purpose!” Telal shouted. Amata glared back at him.
“But did you ever see me as a person?! Did you care about my health at all?! No, you wanted a piece of proerty to do the tasks you deemed beneath a big important person like yourself!” Amata yelled back, her emotional shell now cracking.
“I showed you kindness, and that’s all that matters! You betrayed your town, you betrayed Lord Namru, and you betrayed me!” He yelled out. But Amata only grinned back. “Putting yourself higher than the lord? Interesting.”
This set off rage within Telal, who ripped through the air to slash at Amata with his sword...but was only met with Amata’s hand catching it. He looked on in horror. “How...are you…”
Wordlessly, Amata raised her right hand. “You said it yourself...I’m the apocalypse. Repent.” The mage let loose a brilliant display of black and purple magic and engulfed both Telal and the cliffside above, being sent far into the sky to worlds unknown. Telal’s body was now blackened, sent several meters away and unmoving. Amata floated forward to check his heart.
“...dead.” Was all she could say. Her shadow stretched out and began to stand up, wobbling as a figure began to take shape. A humanoid body began to form, but things began to change when a ring of snakes formed from his hips, and a long curved scorpion tail emerged from his back. On his head formed a large wasp-like head with deep purple eyes. The mere presence of this being seemed to make the earth shrink back in fear.
“Well done, well done, well done.” The god said, clapping his hands. “Now Namru will fade into nothing, and you can be free. I hope you liked my power, girl.” He looked back, his insectoid mouth clearly giving a grin. But when he turned back...Amata was gone. “Where d-”
It was at that moment that he felt a pressure in his right hand. He slowly turned to find Amata gently clasping it in her worn, sunburnt hands. His eyes flared.
“...For Namru is a benevolent god, he shares a portion of his power equally among all his subjects. However, he and Surim must never interfere with humanity. Any contact with a mortal will bring out the end of the age of gods. For that reason, Namru provides a gentle hand to guide his followers, but will not interfere.” Amata quoted from Namru’s scripture. She then held up his hand.
The sky exploded into a violent storm, sending lightning crackling across the sky and tornadoes ripping across the landscape. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!” Surim screamed. A purple energy was quickly flowing out of himself...and into Amata. She looked back up at him with a blank face.
“I know your intentions. I may be free of Telal, but you expect me to be your slave too when you make the world kneel?” Amata asked. The evil god stared in shock and tried to rip his hand away, but a supernatural force was keeping him still.
“HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL YOU BETRAY TODAY?! Well if I’m going...you’re coming with me!” The god’s eyes flashed purple as he reached forward with his other hand, driving it into Amata’s chest and grasping her soul. Amata screamed in pain.
“Hahahaha! How’s this for tragic, huh?! I will make you my slave for eterni-” Surim wasn’t able to finish his sentence when he noticed his body begin to turn to dust. He quickly attempted to remove Amata’s soul, but his arm was then grasped by Amata’s other hand. “I won’t...let you!” She screamed in pain.
Seeing that his abdomen was now gone, Surim let out a grunt and stared into Amata’s eyes. “Fine. I’ll just make your life a living hell.” He then squeezed Amata’s soul tightly, pressing the two halves until they began to split down the middle. He continued to cackle as his entire being finally disappeared, Amata’s soul only held together by a tiny sliver near the bottom, but corruption swirled through like a virus. She dropped down to the ground, choking.
It took over 10 minutes before Amata could stop convulsing from the pain. The sky was still violently tearing the land apart, now unleashing a torrent of rain onto the desert below. Amata slowly stood back up.
Despite the searing pain she felt in her chest, Amata felt like a different well had opened up inside of herself. An infinite well of magic. Sweeping her hand to the side, a gale of wind tore through the rock wall and sent the pieces into the stratosphere. She felt next to no mana depletion.
“So this...is the power of a god…?” Amata asked, looking up at the torrential downpour. Nothing seemed above her now. She had just...defeated two gods.
Suddenly, a warm ray of light engulfed Amata from the right side. She looked over to see Telal’s body had somehow returned to life, laying prone with one arm raised toward her.
“How are you…” Amata asked with shock.
“The Lord gave me one last task...to give you the ultimate punishment.” He spat blood from his mouth, then continued.
“You rejected his teachings...and the word of the evil god...so he decided to grant you the power to remain here forever. Eternity.” He explained. “You may wander the land, acting as a god...but you are not. You are a human. So when you find yourself upon death’s door...you’ll only be sent back, born anew like your precious Opis. Farewell...sinner.” And with those parting words, Telal’s body faded into dust.
---
Suddenly, Elyssa felt herself falling into a dark void, resisting the urge to scream long enough to be jolted awake. She found herself sitting on the floor, Iris floating in the air above her.
“BWAH!” The adventurer jumped back. Iris put her hand up to her face and let out a few giggles. She wore her signature oversized white lab coat over a black sweater and plaid skirt, a pink bow hanging around her neck. Her long white hair was tied in her signature two side tails that went down to her ankles.
“My my, how did you find your way in here? I could have sworn I forbade everyone from coming in here…” She mused. Elyssa scrambled to her feet.
“Er, I was looking for you to hand these things over, and thought you’d be inside! And I saw, uh…” Elyssa didn’t know how much she should disclose. Iris cocked her head and took the two tusks, examining them.
“Oooo, pretty. Looks like two trapped symbiotes...I’ll study them and get back to you, m’kay?” She gave a friendly smile. But after a few seconds when Elyssa was feeling calmer, she gave a small frown.
“Such a strange story, isn’t it? They say that girl still walks the Earth to this day, trying to find interest in anything after being alive for 3,500 years…” Iris then turned to Elyssa and gave a smile.
“But who knows? By the way, if you ever come in here again, I won’t be so nice again~” She said cheerfully. Elyssa got the message and gave a thumbs up, scrambling out of the room. Iris gave a few more giggles and turned to stare at the black orb containing Amata’s memories.
“Hehe...that was fun. I’m glad I left that door open a little.” She squinted at the orb.
“...eternity...even after the universe is no more...I will persist.” Iris said in an uncharacteristically melancholy tone, turning back to the door and floating outside, giving one final glance at a glass case that houses several ancient books, neatly stacked along their spines. A book with a drawing of a crocodile on the front lay in the center, staring up at the ceiling.