" The Towering Worlds : Hell's Chalice. ™"
A Story written By @mohhdude.
(Be warned, there will be references from other series in this book!!)
Alternative Names -
"TTW : HC.™"
"Protocol — Hell's Chalice. ™"
"End of Earth, Beginning of Hell. ™"
Chapter II:
"WRATH IS THE ONLY OPTION."
Act II:
SASAKI AND ALEKS.
"Turning justice into vengeance and leaving destruction in its wake."
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"A world where wrath is the only option above all, embrace it. We follow your path in return for your service to Lord Goetia. Break free from the chains of those who have forsaken you."
The ground shakes, spikes surround the circle. A horn of which belonged to the Ring of Wrath sat right in the center as a catalyst to summon them, the incarnation of wrath and Goetia's fifth servant.
The circle glowed red, lighting the whole room. Embers appear all around the room, a hand arises from the center. Grabbing the horn within the center of the circle. A man covered in scars from head to toe and with a horn coming out his neck, crawled his way out of the center.
Árgos,Beelzebub, Asmodeus and Betrüg watched as the man crawled out of the center, the man stood up, as the hole of the circle closed with embers igniting the room, the man stretched a little, his sharp tail moving slightly.
With a slight grunt, he yawns. He looked around the room, his vision slightly blurry. He looked at Asmodeus… He rubbed his eyes and squinted at him. It wasn't Asmodeus, but his vessel. With Asmodeus present.
He looked over at Beelzebub and Betrüg, veins popping out of his neck and forehead. "Ah, how nice. I end up with you three animals instead of Rygielski or Ahriman." His eye twitched, Asmodeus leaped onto his back.
"Soffi!! Welcome back!" Asmodeus shouted in excitement, Sof'cas trying to shake Asmodeus off. "GET OFF OF ME, ASMO!" Asmodeus giggled playfully as Sof'cas kept trying to shake him off.
Sof'cas getting a grip of Asmodeus' shirt, throwing him to the wall. Asmodeus still had a smile on his face as he was flung to the wall. Betrüg walked over to Sof'cas, patting his back.
"Glad to have you back, Sof'cas.", Beelzebub agreed with him. Asmodeus snuck up and still latched onto Sof'cas. Sof'cas slaps his hand away in irritation. "I'm not glad. I could've at least seen Rygielski or Ahriman instead of you three dimwits." Árgos cleared his throat, trying to get attention centered on him.
"Lord Sof'cas, I'd like to ask you to join us, the Paradox." Sof'cas turned to Árgos with a glare, approaching the masked Árgos. Towering over him, his shadow over Árgos's. "And who are you supposed to be, silverface?"
Sof'cas snickered, looking at Árgos' mask with narrowed eyes, Sof'cas flicked the mask, a metal clang heard from it, Árgos didn't blink once from the flick. Sof'cas turned his head to the other three, "He looks like one of those fancy theatre masks! Hah!"
Árgos cleared his throat, "Lord Sof'cas, I apologize for my insolence. My name is Árgos. I am the one responsible to carry out the will of Goetia." Sof'cas turned his head back to Árgos, too close for comfort. Árgos remained with a blank expression.
"Why don'tcha shut it, half-pint. Lord Goetia wouldn't entrust his goals to some silverfaced jackass." Sof'cas poked at his chest, veins were popping out from his neck and head. Clearly irritated by Árgos. Sof'cas turned from Árgos. "Give me a good reason why I needa join a fake like you."
Árgos yet again, remained with a blank expression. He sighed, looking at Sof'cas, his eyes glowing a crimson violet. Sof'cas's movement stopped suddenly. "Whuh-" His fingers moved slightly. Árgos took his mask off with a narrowed glance.
"It seems to me that you do not understand, I carry the will of Goetia. For I am one of the four vessels that hold his parts." What was underneath the mask was something worse than boiling within the stomach of the third layer of the Inferno. Árgos puts the mask back on, his white hood remains on his head.
"I am willing to make you join us. Look at your colleagues, they are with me." Sof'cas turns his eyes to the bunch, Asmodeus nodded his head. Sof'cas sighed, "Fine. I'll join your lil group." Sof'cas answered, as he was then able to move, Árgos' eyes stopped glowing.
"I'm happy that you comply, Lord Sof'cas. The Sin of Greed is already out there, I ask one of you to get her, if possible." Árgos looked at the four, Árgos sighed. "Well, I'll either get Charles or Kaori to go get her."
A footstep from the dark approached, "I'll do it." Árgos turned his head to the figure approaching them. "Oh my, it seems it's finally your time to acquire a task. Don't let all of that training go to waste over the last four years…" The figure stepped into the light.
"Gudo Nomasaki."
…
[ LEDYANOY, SNOWY OUTSKIRTS ]
A shed in the distance, smoke from the fireplace left through the chimney. The bed within the shed was occupied, a man with blue long hair spread out and a man with blonde hair. Both were peacefully sleeping.
The blonde haired man quickly woke up from his slumber by a slight burn on his hand, he sat up from the bed as he looked at his hand. A red mark throbbing… His eyes widened, he quickly got out of bed. "Victor..? What happened?" The man with blue hair groaned, sleepy. But awoke from the rustling.
"The mark, Aurum… I got Solomon's mark back…!" Aurum quickly got out of bed, feeling a bit sore and with messy hair. He peeked over Victor's shoulder. "Woah…Wait… that means…", Victor and Aurum quickly come to the conclusion of this conundrum, both looking at each other.
"Leif is still alive!", Both exclaimed at the same time, "Get dressed, we're going to Kanónas!" Victor quickly got up, wearing his shirt and pants, then keeping a coat over himself. Aurum combs his hair, tying it into a bun. Some strands leaning over his face.
Aurum wore his shirt and pants, Aurum wore his shoes as he waited outside. Victor ran outside too, Aurum locked the door of the shed, Victor got out a map. He kept walking along the path they were supposed to go.
…
[ KANÓNAS, SHERIEL'S HOUSE. ]
Evening, Sheri was reading a book after her day at the blacksmith. She flipped through the pages after two minutes of reading… Though, someone creeped up behind her…! Sheri quickly grabbed the person's chin, squishing their face.
"You shouldn't underestimate your big sis, Kalon." Sheri quickly let go of the boy. Kalon is now around 17 years old, how they grow up so fast… Kalon sighed. "Sorry…" Sheri went back to reading her book. Sheri, at this time, is 22 years old.
"How was your little training session? Had fun?", Sheri asks, still flipping through the pages slowly. Kalon nods his head with enthusiasm, making a bright, yet somewhat goofy smile. "Mhm! I tried to use a cloak technique so nobody could detect me, but it kinda failed and resulted in some drawbacks…"
Kalon's leg was sore, Sheri sighed. "You gotta be more careful, take the cramp as a lesson.", Sheri had a small light green aura around her arm, holding it up towards Kalon. The cramp only soothes. "Sorry.. I'll be more careful next time.", Kalon mumbled. "You better." Sheri answered.
Sheri got up and kept the book aside on the table, ruffling Kalon's hair. Glancing at the horn on his head, the horn was around 5 inches long. "You haven't cut the horn in a bit. You want me to?" Sheri got out a small knife.
"Oh— Yeah sure!" Kalon sat down, Sheri walked behind Kalon. "First, let's tie your hair…", Sheri tied Kalon's long hair into a ponytail so she wouldn't cut it. Kalon remained still and Sheri carefully removed the horn, slicing it from the stem. Back into a small stump it went.
Kalon's horn grows only once a month, if forcefully removed, it could cause some serious damage to his body. If removed gently, it could bring a slight sting on the forehead. It's like clipping nails, in a sense.
Sheri leaned against the wall, she glanced at a small picture of her, Leif, Gudo, Victor, Aurum and Kalon all together. She took the picture and smiled slightly at it. Kalon looked at the picture, "...Mr. Leif… Mr. Gudo…", his eyes narrowing a bit at the picture, it was clear that those seven months were unforgettable.
Sheri rubbed Kalon's hair with a gentle smile, "Leif's in a better place, Kalon." Kalon nodded his head, remembering the time where Leif, Sheri, Victor and Gudo saved him. Even giving him a journey he wouldn't forget, Kalon smiled at the picture. Sheri pulled the boy closer, hugging him with one arm. "Let's eat dinner. Anything you'd like?" Sheri asked, letting go of Kalon. She got up from her spot, rolling her sleeves.
"Maybe some chicken skewers?" Sheri nodded her head at Kalon's answer. Kalon kept the picture on the shelf. Sheri walked up to the stove as the two started cooking…
The scent of the chicken skewers went out of the window, with an attractive scent. Both had a nice dinner, Kalon went to sleep early, due to exhaustion from the early training session. Snoring softly whilst laying down on his bed, Sheri puts on the candle.
Sheri walked back to the picture, looking at Gudo. She bit her lip slightly, she didn't know if it was out of anger. Or out of sorrow?
One thing was certain, she yearned for the presence of her friends again. Sheriel kept the picture back on the wall. Sighing, walking to her room and putting the light out. Falling asleep on her left side, covering herself up with a blanket. Tomorrow was more work, Sidrug had many clients waiting for their weapons.
…
[ AL'ADQAS, PEVUBRI PALACE ]
It was the crack of dawn as Taiyō Pevubri waits outside of the castle for Rien and Azaad. Azaad already was dressed and changed into a formal uniform, Rien, on the other hand… Had some… troubles with wearing the uniform.
Rien managed to wear the uniform after struggling, Taiyō looked at Rien. Taiyō then glanced at Azaad, "Be careful managing the palace, Azaad. You're the only person I can trust for this task. I'll be back in three days."
Azaad bowed slightly, "Yes, your highness.", Replying in a formal, polite manner to his superior. Taiyō looked at Rien once again, "You wish to go to Kanónas, yes Rien?"
Rien nodded his head, "I wish to accompany you to your meeting with Lord Adonis, your majesty." Rien had a confident look within his eyes, but Taiyō could tell that it wasn't the only thing that he wished for.
"Any other purpose, Rien?" Taiyō asked with a skeptical tone in his voice. Rien cleared his throat, "W-well.. I just wanted to try and find out more about… this Knight of Caelum thingy." Rien answered, he didn't know that Taiyō would figure him out this easily.
Taiyō chuckled slightly at Rien. "Very well, I shall explain it to you when we meet with Adonis. I'm sure he would explain who they are as well. It's The Roundtable of Caelum, by the way. Let us proceed."
Taiyō got out a stone tablet, summoning a golden portal. Both individuals walk in as Azaad waves them goodbye with a gentle smile on his face, Azaad holding a book holding all of their tasks and duties to uphold today.
…
[ KANÓNAS, MICAH'S CATHEDRAL ]
A refraction of light beamed through the colorful stained glass of the cathedral, lighting the darkness within it. The Cathedral held Mammon, the Ring of Greed and Scion, the Vessel of Greed. The one who approached the two of them was Gudo Nomasaki.
Gudo Nomasaki, without question, held out two revolvers and shot mana bullets at a fast pace. "I suppose formalities don't work on you Paradox workers." Scion said with a slight hiss in his voice, a soft smile on his face did not match the darkened, empty eyes he held.
Gudo's face contorts slightly in disgust, "Disgusting. Stop smiling, you creep." Gudo shot the demon of greed, the Demon simply absorbed the mana bullet. "We, the Paradox, carry the will of Goetia. We already have The Rings of Lust, Gluttony, Wrath, and Fraud on our side."
"You should join your friends, Mammon.", Scion disengaged from Gudo's words, thinking about the decision. "Dear, maybe we should comply.", Mammon sighed, lying back on the bench. Pouting a little. "But that's so boring, what do we get out of it?!"
"You'll get money.", Gudo said with a blank tone. "DEAL!" Mammon instantly sprung up, and she quickly approached Gudo. "We'll join you!" Scion nodded, knowing Mammon's greed for money and mana. Gudo glanced at Scion. Clearly, the one with the most mana was him.
The trio went back to the Paradox base with Gudo as the guide, it was a rough journey for the two of them, considering how Mammon has the eye of a crow the moment she spots something shiny…
They reached the base.
— Chapter II, Fin.