Radiance exploded over the land, but it laid an insignificant scale—a Balance. The illusory self-eating Serpent around it faded, and just as it did, the artifact moved. In an instant, reality seem to freeze. Land, Air, Spirit and Astral Worlds, all now sat on the Balance and followed its will, to be equally partitioned into four quadrants.
Within the high tier quadrant, the scaleless Tail Devouring Serpent narrowed "Her" eyes, hissing as "She" observed the light dominating the space. Fate seemed to fracture and reveal more—the light itself was pure energy approaching the speed of Light, having begun to turn into a Storm Hell which sought to destroy and Severe all.
The Incarnation of Light, Thunder God Thor!
In another tributary "She" peered into lay a giant mummy whose bandages were coated with a pitch-black slime, its entire body wrapped within layers upon layers of terrifying black and bright thorn roses, all seeking to restrain everything.
The God of Spiritual Creatures, the Subsidiary God under a dead Deity, Tolzna!
One of the River's tributary suddenly enlarged to reveal intense silver eyes staring directly at "Her". The Tail Devouring Serpent responded with another hiss, "Her" words reverberating through the River of Fate: Curse You God of Luck!
The River hadn't even finished responding to "Her" intentions as it moved, "Her" own mouth coming to bite "Her" tail under the gaze of the trio. The region frozen, then shifted as if trying to return to a previous state "She" set.
Snake of Fate, Reboot!
However, the expected change lasted on for a second as the Quadrant holding them remained firm, like it existed in its own world with its own rules. The Balance established by a Balancer, even through the corresponding artifact wasn't one that could be so easily breached. This was the realisation that crossed through Thor and Tolzna. The former immediately reacted by fully engulfing the entire region with "His" Storm Hell and an Ocean of Lightning, hitting the Mummy which had just entered the Balanced region of the Spirit World.
The God of Spiritual Creature's bandaged face wrapped as "He" shrank. Heavenly Punishment of hammered down through the lightning within the Chaos, bringing "Him" unimaginable pain. Like "His" luck wasn't bad enough, the entire assault was laced with equally powerful purification properties. But through this agony, something bloomed; the area around Tolzna distorted and spread. A wave of Curses, just as boundless without sacrificing in quality, matched Thor's attacks. The more "He" suffered and endured, the more potent "His" curses would be.
At the same time, Spirituality itself felt restrained, even the movement of the Snake and the Elf, the latter having also turned into "His" true form, slowed. "Their" own thoughts were becoming corroded, but somehow "They" never truly fell. Sometimes "They" were tossed right into the boundary between Purifying Storms and Curses, balancing their states. Other times when "Their" very existences were beginning to buckle under the erosion of Evil, a tsunami will push "Them" right into the eye of the Storm. The area bathed in purifying energy freed "Them" from the malevolent influences, all while the damage it caused was mitigated. Most of it was either directed at the boundaries of the Quadrant, or at Tolzna.
Somehow, both existences blessed by Fate, managed to brace through all the chaos without fail.
You really believed I wouldn't look out for your Reset attempt?
The God of Luck sneered in "His" mind, "His" senses never leaving "His" sworn enemy who reciprocated the feeling.
But… This is unexpected. "His" form blurred as "He" entered a Cycle to evade the overlapping destruction brought by the Thunder God.
After causing the unexpected fall of a leader formed from the remnant of the Kingdom of Order and Disorder, "He" obtaining "Its" remains for "Himself". From there, "He" built the foundations for a trap, destined for this key adversary. Fate was fundamentally chaotic, and as one close to its true essence, "He" understood this fact. But even Chaos could be managed, even chaos could enter a balanced state.
I had anticipated the external force "She" would luckily attract would be the Dragons. Who would've thought the Humans also had the Dragon's authority?
The sudden displacement caused by the Envoy of Death, the Goddess of Space, was something "He" had prophesied to occur at the right moment. A displacement that was going to bring all the factions "He" had balanced, right on top of the arranged meeting between the Giants and the Human sects. This was the mission the Queen of Calamity had passed to "Him", from the King.
"His" focus couldn't help but shift to the terrifying thorns enveloping and piercing the rapidly shrinking Mummy, battered by storms. "He" naturally recognised it as a Key Legacy of the fallen Mutant King, and had made arrangements precisely for this. Through his act of Balancing the chaotic field, Tolzna would face the Giant Queen and whoever represented humanity.
But her plans were diverted, like a loophole was unexpectedly found exploited. Unlike the Giant Queen, Tolzna hasn't consumed the Deviant legacy—The Chained Uniqueness. Thus, "He" didn't appear in the highest quadrant.
The more "He" thought about it, the more frustrated "He" became. Humanity had somehow risen overnight with an insanely resourceful backer. Said backer seemed to posses the authorities of the Tyrant, Dragon, the Sun, Degeneration, and even the Loophole authority of the Giants. Worse still, the God of Luck had committed an unforgivable blunder the first time precisely due to "His" at what the humans were capable of, only to fall for it a second time because "He" failed to realise they also possessed the Imagination, and All-knowing Authorities of the Dragons.
The scaleless dragon could barely restrain "His" rage as "His" cycle was destroyed by the combined and contradictory battles between curses and destruction, only form "Him" to survive through both.
It doesn't matter. "He" stared straight at the Tail-Devouring Serpent who had likewise lucked out. Suddenly, a strong sense of foreboding overtook "Her" as "She" stared directly at the River of Fate to obtain a precise revelation. What "She" caused "Her" divine blood to run cold.
You finally realized it? You faithless usurper! A cruel smile overtook the God of Luck as "He" rebooted the damage "He" incurred. The Incarnation of Light has already been cursed due to "His" natural foolishness! The more "He" remains exposed, the more time for God to cast "His" gaze here!
At that point it didn't matter if the Deities backing humanity also appeared. The ensuing chaos was one "He" shall navigate through and witness its outcome.
...
Unlike the three other quadrant, the highest tier was peaceful punctuated by a Beautiful Giant flanked by an ancient and actively growing forest, and a man with twelve dark wings, the shadows underneath "Him" hiding all manners of possibilities.
Omebella's gaze lingered on the boundaries forming the quadrant, and then sensed beyond it – as the Mothers of the Giants, nothing could truly stop "Her" from sensing "Her" children.
Hmm… "She" returned "Her" attention to Sasrir who casually approached "Her". She did as well.
Creating Balance in everything, but this Balance ultimately has a source. So long as you can exploit this connection, you can bypass its restrictions to an extent. This brought back memories, one's "She" wasn't especially fond of.
On the other side, the illusory brass eyes, cold and logical, couldn't glean much from the observation.
Gleaming straight into the Mother of All, partially representing Nature… Indeed, a child isn't allowed to spy on "His" mother—I can only wait for "Her" maddened state like The Fool suggested. A polite smile formed on the Deputy of Heaven's handsome face as both in the tier of King of Angels stood a few steps from each other. The image of a peaceful giant, and that of a plump, voluptuous and beautiful brunette overlapped in Sasrir's eyes.
Omebella was the first to talk. "It seems you've made quite the arrangement."
Sasrir didn't stand on ceremony, talking casually as "He" brought fitting seats from "His" imagination. "A Lead-in is necessary for the main event, don't you think?"
The Queen of Harvest agreed as "She" settled on "Her" colossal seat, more words reaching "Her" ears. "I believe full transparency should exist between humans and giants."
The Profanity of Language? "She" acutely sensed the shift, paired with "Her" own understanding. Thus, "She" said nothing, did nothing. But even those could yield various results.
Sigh… Father, how much have your arrangements deviated?
…
An uncountable amount of doors shaped themselves, only to be destroyed by a raging flaming tornado. More blurs followed, each shaped the into the same figure of a bird, all forming their individual attacks. Some opening more doors, others simply looking and causing everything on their path to wither, a few moving their wings, seeking to steal crucial abilities and actions. However, most their marks, were bulldozed through by a blood red aura, or simply evaporated by a powerful light resembling a blazing sun. The Blinks shifted but were followed, hacked down by flames, lightning, wind, tsunamis.
The battered Envoy of Death, the Goddess of Space, was immediate put on the back foot within the middle Quadrant. The combined assault of three angels—Leodero, Aucuses, and Medici—all working in perfect coordination rendered resistance futile. But she persisted anyways – the damage was something those under Death were extremely resistant to. But even Death had to bow to the Sun.
As "She" teleported away and doges using a blink version, the region shifted, the Sun illuminating everything.
"God Says it is Ineffective," uttered the White Angel carrying a cross, "His" figure representing the Sun's rays. In an instant, the rate of blinks faltered by a wide margin before it stopped fully. The very existence of an Envoy of Death ran contrary to Aucuses' belief. Thus, the purifying rays ramped up in strength while the enemy was now fully exposed. Right then, from all directions, even within the Balanced Spirit and Astral Worlds, a terrifying fusion of calamity carrying a slight air of Destruction rushed right in. No room to escape, possessing no weak points, and aiming for full lethality.
The half-dead and half-insane Envoy of Deaths shook. Expanding from it was coldness. Suddenly, all colours drained, all powers weakened. Even the natural laws began to wither and die, a single second felt like a thousand years had elapsed.
Pallor World! An Ability the Goddess of Space had replicated upon stalking at the new Pale Ruler of part of the Underworld, Salinger.
The Unshadowed Domain showed weakness, the Destructive Storm slowed, a stalemate was formed but the balanced was against the Pallor World. After all, a Replicated Authority remained that. In addition…
Praise the Sun!
Aucuses lifted the cross with a shoulder, bathing in the contradiction as the halo behind "His" head shined and dimmed. In "His" worldview, both darkness and light existed. The undead and living, the cold and fiery. Contradictions existed within the domain of the Decadent Sun, and by accepting it, the White Angel could straighten "His" resolve and authority – overwhelming those who opposed "His" Justice.
How can one be so unlucky? Medici appeared at the edges of the contradictory battle, "His" Calamity Giant form augmenting in potency with Aucuses, causing the Destructive Storm to regain its momentum and batter the Pale World.
"His" eyes flickered for a moment, perceiving a light which came into brief existence at another edge, before vanishing. "His" fiery lips curled as "He" clenched "His" fist.
The next instant, the Goddess of Space who had began to calm down through another replicated spell halted. Flames exploded from within, destroying all replicated substitutes and blinking forms as well, all while the Storm broke through the crumbling Kingdom of Death.
This was a delayed attack. One "He" had secretly laid admits "His" enemy's many blinking an dodging attempts.
There are only so many times you can do before your weak defenses get exposed. Though thinking this, "His" brow lifted nonetheless.
At the same time, the God of Dawn, concealed within the light of the Sun also noticed a change. "His" single eye directly saw through the facades, watching through the destroyed Pale World as a small Bird like creature was formed out of nothing and it appeared before the Quadrant's boundary.
So, the Envoys of Deaths all have this strange molting ability now? "He" casually confirmed, "His" hands not occupied by a Dawn Sword, but rather by a translucent scroll filled with shifting in-real scenes of various civilisations. Having long borrowed this key Sacred Artifact 'lumigilo de vero', "He" had secretly influenced the Middle Quadrant's battlefield using it. More specifically, "He" implanted key "Inspirations", to the Goddess of Space's rotted brain. For example:
Use your Teleportation Authority to weaken the Boundary, you stupid Bird!!!
And it had finally paid off, even the Angelic trio slowed "Their" attacks, as if anticipating something.
While "His" mother seemed to trust in the integrity of the suddenly powerful humans, Badheil remained cautious. This was especially so following fiasco in the Kingdom of Order and Disorder.
At once, the quadrant shook. No, all did. The Balance was powerful, but not Almighty. Full of flaws that could be exploited, especially by one possessing the right authorities.
In the lowest quadrant, Kratos blocked the hurricane of lights washing the area by sacrificing a few of his compatriots. He didn't need to look to understand the elves were at a disadvantage against the Giant Army. How could he have thought he and the others were going to suddenly face such opponents, right when they were enjoying their meal!?
By the Storms. Even a war craving elf like him could feel the weakness filling him as he braces to face the Silver Knight and Pallbearer charging him. However, the many battles congesting the quadrant slowed as the realm itself began to crack. The restrictions were being destroyed.
The elves hadn't even began to plan their next move as their shadows deepened in silence. The following instant, all had plunged into its depths, right into the Shadow World.
The God of Luck's eyes widened as the Balance "He" established fell. This didn't escape the Thunder God's notice as "His" influence spread, all while a fist-sized ragged doll, pierced by dangerous thorns appeared before the scale.
All occurred at once, all possibilities "He" saw through the River's tributary. And all outcomes "He" was going to evade. No, that "They" were going to evade.
As the High Quadrant began to show its first features, both existences under the good Graces of Fate reacted. But "Their" shadows did as well, brass eyes staring straight into "Their" essences.
The small bird, the rejuvenated Envoy of Death finally managed to make a bridge through the boundary as "She" jumped – only to appear right within a sea of calamities that completely engulfed "Her" figure. Peering down at it was the Wind Angel, Leodero who huffed.
"Wrath affects all equally."
"He" leaned to the side, as if listening to something, then looked up. All creatures still alive did as a Tyrannical aura, and another containing Twilight descended. Following them was the Sun and a Grey Fog.