Her eyes, the swirling voids, seemed to deepen as she spoke, the weight of millennia reflected in their endless darkness.
The sorrow in her voice was palpable, resonating through the vast emptiness around them. "[Every moment of their existence, they have battled against this insidious force that I was powerless to counteract while I lay dormant. My own children, struggling and suffering because of my wound, inflicted by that vile weapon of the Abyss.
My power, my essence, has been tainted, and my consciousness locked and froze by myself to fight the pain while I relied on my body’s natural recovery abilities, though… not like that did much it would seem. I could do nothing but watch in fragmented dreams as the corruption spread, helpless to aid them in their plight while I slept.]"
She sighed, her expression softening. The shift in her demeanor was subtle, but her eyes reflected a gentle glow of gratitude. "[But your efforts, Lassim, have been instrumental in cleansing the main remnants of the corruption. The mana you’ve absorbed is indeed potent because it is in fact my divine essence, purified back to its’ near peak through your actions. You’ve done more than you realize.]"
Lassim nodded slowly. "[So, the Abyss... it’s the source of the corruption we’ve been fighting? And the shard... it’s a part of that weapon?]" he asked, his voice tinged with awe and comprehension.
Khaalseru nodded, her expression grave. "[Precisely. The Abyss in its very nature is corrosive and domineering, seeking to consume all. The will that fuels its corruption is insidious. It is the domain of gluttony itself; forever hungry. It’s why the demons in its endless legion frequently cannibalize each other, even in the heat of battle, to restore their abyssal energy storage.
Again, I thank you for your and my children’s help to reach this point where my consciousness has returned. I’m still weak, but I believe we can rid my inner heart world of its influence, finally remove this wound and free my children without worries as I return back to my peak strength. I can then protect them once again.]"
Her voice echoed through the void, carrying the weight of her millennia-long struggle.
Khaalseru’s gaze turned inward for a moment, as if she was reflecting on the countless centuries of battle and pain. "[For countless eons, the Abyss has sought to expand its reach, to consume all realms in its darkness. The weapon that struck me was not just to wound, but to corrupt and consume from within, to turn my own divine essence against me.]" She paused, her swirling eyes narrowing.
"[Yet, through your actions, you have managed to cleanse a significant portion of that corruption. The divine essence that you purified has strengthened me, allowed me to regain some semblance of control.]"
Her voice softened, a rare note of vulnerability creeping in. "[I may be a god but I owe you a debt. But we’re not there yet, as together, we can still rid my inner heart world of this taint.]
She paused for a moment, the void of her swirling eyes stopping for a brief moment before adding, "[Though, that old coot certainly violated my body to an extent by sending you inside here. I’ll certainly need to give my junior a lesson about messing with a woman’s body, HMPH!]" She gave an angry huff that echoed into the void.
The sheer power of her anger caused the fabric of space to violently shake for a moment across the heavens. It caused no damage except to make a certain, electrically charged, individual inside of a golden and ornate palace in this universe feel a sudden bout of dizziness.
The gods in their divine realms felt the ripple of her wrath, a reminder of her immense power and the consequences of her awakening.
As the echoes of her anger faded, Khaalseru’s expression softened again. "[But for now, we focus on the task at hand. Together, we will end this corruption, and my children will finally move forward as a race among Nexaria’s lands.]" Her gaze, filled with a mixture of sadness, determination, and gratitude, met Lassim’s.
~~~~
This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
Within the grandeur of their Heavenly Palace where the throne of the gods were enshrined, Famthar, the elder god of Lightning, shared a quiet moment with his wife, Ava, the goddess of water.
His hand held his forehead for a brief moment before turning to his armrest.
Gazing into the void where a monumental event that would shape the future was unfolding, Famthar murmured, "[Well, at least she’s awake now. That child sure did figure it out quickly. Much quicker than anticipated.]"
Ava nodded, her touch gentle on his shoulder, "[We chose well in picking Lassim as our champion. His resilience and purity of heart to help others have surpassed even our expectations.]"
Together, they watched, their divine senses attuned to the drama playing out in the depths of the void.
~~~~
Back in the expanse of a particular God’s domain of the void, Khaalseru, with her swirling eyes, turned to Lassim, laying out the plan with a commanding yet collaborative tone. "[Now boy, we shall begin like this. You shall send that special bit of lightning mana you have to initiate our assault on the weapon shard.
Channel your energy towards it, and I will then infuse it with my will, enhancing its power and directing it precisely towards the runes that are currently ripping my wound open, over and over, preventing it from healing. We will also target the runes causing it to stay latched on to my divine body.
This combination should be what we need to destabilize the shard and allow me to remove it by force later.]"
Lassim nodded, his determination solidifying at the deity’s words.
He focused deeply, summoning his potent lightning mana, feeling it surge through him in a cycle from his heart world, through his elemental companions, and then into his halberd as the focus; enveloping it in a vibrant crackle.
As he released the energy in a [Thrust], it streaked towards Khaalseru, who caught it with a wave of her hand, the lightning twirling around her fingers as her markings glowed intensely.
She molded the lightning with her divine will, turning it into a spear of pure energy before she aimed it at the heart of the shard.
"[Now!]" Khaalseru commanded, her voice echoing across the void.
With her direction, the spear of lightning, now a blend of Lassim’s strength and Khaalseru’s omnipotent will, hurtled towards the shard.
The impact was monumental, lighting up the void with a brilliant explosion of light that resonated like a cosmic bell.
As the echoes of their combined strike faded, Lassim, Mari, and Zaphy watched anxiously for the outcome.
Khaalseru’s gaze was intense, she winced slightly as she scanned the shard for any sign of weakness.
After a moment, a slow smile spread across her face. "[It’s working. The runes can be destabilized with this method. They’re weakening. We’ll continue this assault until the runes shatter and the shard’s hold on my flesh is fully broken. I hope you’re a generator boy, we’ve got a lot more work to do.
Start sending more my way. Let me know when you need a break.]"
Motivated by the success of their initial efforts, Lassim prepared for the next phase of their plan.
With each cycle of attack, they adjusted and refined their approach, slowly chipping away at the runes on the surface of the shard that had plagued Khaalseru for ages.
The process was exhausting for Lassim, requiring every ounce of his concentration to keep producing the lightning energy as the process extended into hour after hour.
Lassim’s hands began to tremble slightly from the exertion as hours turned into days. He cycled the lightning mana through his heart world, drawing upon every ounce of his strength and focus to keep the flow steady.
Each bolt sent towards Khaalseru was caught and transformed into a precision instrument of divine will, striking at the runes that anchored the shard.
Khaalseru, ever watchful and guiding, infused each bolt with her immense power, ensuring that the strikes hit their mark with unerring accuracy. Her eyes remained fixed on the shard, a mix of fury and determination etched into her ancient, giant features.
Mari and Zaphy offered their support, amplifying Lassim’s efforts with their own elemental energies. Mari’s water mana provided a cooling effect, soothing Lassim’s strained muscles and calming his mind, while Zaphy’s lightning added an extra charge to each bolt, making their combined attack even more potent.
"[Keep it up, boy,]" Khaalseru encouraged, her voice resonating through the void. "[We’re making progress. The runes’ bonds are weakening. I can see it!]"
Lassim gritted his teeth, his resolve unwavering. He could feel the weight of the divine mana coursing through him, a powerful and intoxicating force that pushed him to his limits. Yet, he knew they were close—so close to finally breaking the shard’s hold.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Khaalseru’s eyes widened with satisfaction. "[There! That one’s about to shatter! Give it everything you’ve got, boy!]"
Summoning the last reserves of his strength, Lassim channeled a massive bolt of lightning, the energy crackling and surging through his halberd as he released another [Thrust].
With a fierce cry, he released it towards Khaalseru, who caught it and amplified it with her will, directing the final, decisive strike at the shard.
The impact was cataclysmic. The void lit up with a blinding flash, and a deafening roar echoed through the infinite expanse. The runes that caused it to latch onto her divine flesh were unable to withstand the combined assault as they shattered into fragments of light, dissolving across the shard’s surface into the ether.
Khaalseru let out a triumphant laugh, her eyes gleaming with victory. "[We did it! Those pesky runes are broken! I can feel the shard’s grip on me releasing.]"
Lassim collapsed to his knees, exhausted but exhilarated. Mari and Zaphy hovered close to him, their expressions filled with relief and exhaustion.
"[Well done, child]" Khaalseru said, her voice softer now, filled with a rare tenderness. "[You’ve done more than I could have ever asked. Rest now, and regain your strength. The final step will require all of our combined efforts even more.]"
As Lassim closed his eyes, his body trembling with exhaustion, he quickly fell asleep in his floating position in the void.