Transfixed by the exquisite animal no more than two paces from me, my fingers rose, passing through the silky mane of the beast. The mare neighed softly, alertness in its simple eyes. It looked me over and bowed before my palm.
Iluthath had become cold. Four hundred years, yet it felt almost unrecognizable. The skies were a pale blue, yet it felt false. A mere imitation that made my gut churn.
"What type of horses are these?" Seraphina asked, gently resting her palms against the innocent beast.
"There elementals," Kuro responded with clear dryness. "Born of Darkness. These horses are immortal beneath the night but mortal during the day. Shadow Riders, we call them."
"That's an odd name."
"Then name your horse."
"Must you sound like a dick?" Sera said with clear disapproval.
"Yes."
"Enough," I said, cutting in. " Kuro. Adrian will ride with you until he has enough strength to ride alone. Clear?"
"Clear, my Lord." She responded, stopping herself from turning to Adrian, resting near a lone tree covered in a blanket of snow.
Sensing the tension between those two, I didn't say a word to mend such a thing. It will be my entertainment. God knows how long this journey will be.
Who doesn't need drama in their life? Although I think I've got enough.
"Is master not coming?" Kuro finally addressed, stepping to Adrian, to whom she offered a hand without looking.
"Maybe," I replied, unsure of what was going through her head. Lilith really fucked with her.
Pushing such thoughts from my mind, I turned towards the sky, and a frown gripped my lips as I stared at the tumbling snow.
"... Lily, what's that?" I hesitantly asked.
I could sense it. There was something there. Like a sword over my head, I could feel a glimmer of malice within the skies.
'You still have Zariels blessing, don't you? See for yourself." She responded.
It had been a long time since I felt cold, but as I stood before the journey ahead of us, it felt colder than before. No… there was something more. The Qi of Heaven and Earth was even greater than it was before. It was stiflingly strong. Far different than what it originally was.
Applying Zariels blessing to my eyes, I peered into the Weave and stared wide-eyed at the ghostly blaze within the skies. A clear image of a formation reflected through my eyes, pressing on my heart.
"The Array of the Myriad Gods," Lily said. "A rare tool used to raise the value of a realm or world. Right now. Iluthath is fighting to become a Fifth level, Heaven."
"How the hell did we miss this?" I demanded.
"Because no one can feel it, much less see it. You are different than most people. Your comprehension has already passed what most gods can comprehend. You are basically a Fifth Level being dispute being on the fourth. You are a dreadful amalgamation yourself. You don't even understand how different you are."
"Tene ought to have known," I whispered deeply, clenching the mare's reins.
"So would Zariel and many others. But they kept quiet. This is a good thing for you, Arsene. I don't know who started this, but…."
"It was fucking Mephisto." I spat. " Who else has such major plans for Iluthath that they would waste resources on such a realm?"
I need to speak with him. And I've been putting him off since my discussion with the Pale Lord. I know he's watching me. And I know he's waiting.
"Arsene?" Sera called at my outburst.
"Saddle up. We're leaving." I fired off, lifting myself onto the mare that trembled beneath my might. Almost falling to its knees in fright, I masked my aura and soothed the Onix black beast.
I ordered the Shadow Rider forward, watching as waves of shadows trailed behind the beast like the winds through the trees. I pressed ahead.
Through hours of snow piercing my flesh, digging into my bones, an icy burn followed by a numbness smothered my nerves. The cold crept into my body like a thief beneath the cover of night. Silent and deadly, it took root in my body.
"Master…" Adrian called.
"Put on a cloak, boy." I said to him, "That goes for all of you."
"Are we in a trap or something?" Seraphina hastily asked, "It's bloody cold!" She added, rubbing her ribs beneath her snow-white robes.
Ignoring the fresh silver snow burning with each droplet, I held myself back from wearing anything other than my robe. I was sure to adapt. The only question is how long this is going to take.
Avar had given me a few dao cycles to enter the Territory of Genisis. We had time, especially on these Mares. But… this cold.
"It's an attack," I said to Sera. " But it's not directed at us, per se. But billions, if not trillions, are going to die this winter. Gods are going to die."
…
…
…
Moving on for the next couple of years, I coldly observed as the temperature began to drop, passing normal levels. It became so cold I felt my understanding of ice rise as I struggled to adapt.
The mare was fine. They were Elementals. And Darkness could handle any environment. I, however, was in constant torment. The cold burned far more than any fire could.
"How long until we rise to the next level?" I asked Lily.
"A cycle," Lily responded. "You better hurry and adapt. Because this cold… is not the level of the Fith Heaven, it's far higher. This formation is wildly unstable."
"This is insane." Adrian barked from behind, garnering our attention.
Bandaged like a mummy, I saw a lot more energy in his eye as he held onto the mare with little Kuro cupping his back like a child.
"Master." he began. "We need to wait out this winter. None of us will survive. If we press ahead."
"I…"
Stopping as the hairs on the back of my neck rose, I felt my heart tremble as I lifted my head towards the skies.
"No…" Seraphina whispered. "They…no!"
Watching as stars shrieked over the night like falling stars, I stared at the hundreds falling to Iluthath and understood what had happened.
"Fallen," I said, closing my eyes. "The Higher Heavens is cleaning house."
"There banishing my brethren." Sera cried, falling off her horse. She rose from the snow, distraught and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Go. And tell me what you find." I commanded and continued forth.
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