Violet rift tore wide.
Joshua crashed ashen bank.
Soil bit cold, needles through palms, knees.
Mist choked thick. Decay clung sweet, asphodel wilt eternal.
Throat burned raw.
He pushed up. Elbows shook.
"Yumi… safe? Tell me she is!"
Young man landed silent, silver-white hair caught faint twilight glow.
Pale eyes swept horizon sharp.
"Safe in London. Rose sealed the rift, you alone crossed. Mercy… grateful for it."
Guilt stabbed deeper than any blade.
I never wanted this. Never wanted any of this.
Young man strode forward, no glance back.
"Want means nothing here. Underworld this, Hades' realm, Persephone's throne beside. Shades wander endless. Rivers judge every soul. Stay close, Joshua Wise. Living wounds draw hunger swift."
Joshua staggered upright.
Oxfords sank pale ash each step.
Acheron murmured nearby, the river of woe, black waters carrying endless sorrow.
Inky flow reflected bruised sky, stars blinked dying.
Whispers rose from the current, soft, intimate.
Burn everything you love… always you…
He flinched hard.
Those voices… they know me.
"You hear them?" he asked, voice cracking.
Young man nodded once.
"Underworld speaks direct to heart. Listen too long, it devours from within."
Shades drifted in the distance.
Asphodel wanderers, gaunt flickers, hollow eyes, souls neither blessed nor damned.
They rose in a sudden swarm.
Claws reached, moaning, instinct ancient to repel the living.
Joshua tensed, heat stirred hot in his chest.
Not yet. Can't lose control here.
Young man moved like a blur.
Shadow surged, living tide, white eyes flared cold from the dark.
One-shot each.
Tendrils coiled, crushed shades to mist in an instant.
Silent. Effortless.
More poured from the endless meadow.
Young man dismissed wave after wave.
No strain.
He's not even breathing hard. And I'm just… standing here.
Thunder growl split the air.
Ground quaked.
Cerberus erupted from shadows, fifty massive heads snarled in chaotic fury, venom drool dripping.
Serpent tail lashed furious.
Snake mane writhed hissing across countless necks.
Eyes burned guardian fire, fixed on Joshua alone.
"Living flesh," the heads roared in discordant chorus. "Disrupt peace the dead no!"
Beast lunged, jaws aimed soul-deep.
Joshua froze for a heartbeat.
It's coming for me. Only me. All those heads…
Young man stepped between.
Shadow exploded into barrier, dark wall of serpents coiled.
White eyes flared piercing from the void.
Cerberus recoiled with snarls, hesitated before the young man.
Sensed lunar echo, mythic kin.
"Stand down, hound," young man said, voice calm steel. "He under protection my."
Heads snapped furious, but backed.
"Queen know this," one central head growled low amid the chaos. "Persephone judge will."
Beast slunk into mist, gone to raise alert.
Young man breathed even.
"Bypassed, for now. Deeper we go."
Path wound between rivers.
Cocytus wailed on the left, the river of lamentation, cries of the guilty echoing forever.
Lethe whispered on the right, the river of forgetfulness, waters that erase memory and pain.
Phlegethon simmered distant, the river of fire, boiling blood for oath-breakers.
Styx loomed ahead, the river of hate, unbreakable oaths sworn upon its dark flow.
Remnant shades lunged.
Young man one-shot dismissed them, shadow precision untouched.
Joshua's heat simmered low, creature stirred warm inside jacket.
Tiny comfort in this dead world. At least you're still here.
Mist parted sudden.
Pomegranate Grove rose, shadowed sanctuary.
Eternal trees heavy with deep red fruit, the fruits that once bound Persephone to this realm.
Asphodel bloomed cold silver carpet.
Poppies nodded in eternal sleep.
Air grew heavier, judgment gentle but pressing.
Persephone's refuge… her private garden, heart of spring stolen and winter claimed.
They entered, unknowing it was sacred ground.
Visions stirred soft, cruel reflections in the grove.
Yumi safe in London, for now. Flames licked the edge of the vision.
Mum's worry twisted into terror born of rifts he caused.
Leo's laugh mocked cold.
"Hero? Monster you."
Priya's truths, worlds collapsed into voids he opened.
Joshua's knees buckled.
Stop… please…
Young man stood close, shadow rippled protective faint.
"Grove shows truths hidden. Face or break."
The worst vision sharpened.
Yumi burned alive, his fire uncontrolled.
Her eyes accused in silence.
No…
"Won't let that happen," he whispered, voice breaking. "Can't."
Rage snapped free.
"ENOUGH!"
Solar Ember roared awake full.
Uniform shimmered in heat haze.
Sleeves smoldered faint.
Tie lifted on thermal wind.
Hair danced with soft golden flames.
Creature burst from jacket, ember wings unfurled wide for a brief moment.
Chirp fierce, synced perfect with his fury and heartbeat.
Joshua thrust fists forward.
Blazing Strike unleashed raw.
Solar bursts slammed into trees.
Pomegranates swelled, burst blood-red in thunder.
Vines withered in cascade.
Asphodel froze, shattered like glass stars.
Cold essence clashed violent with warmth.
Wintry barren forced into unnatural spring, overpowered, melted into ruin.
Feather-scorch marks bloomed eternal orange across the ground.
Entire grove quaked.
Underworld groaned deep in strain.
Young man surged forward.
Shadow web desperate, caught melting shards.
Absorbed excess tide into darkness.
"Joshua, control take! Unravel balance you will!"
Heat faded slow.
Ruin settled heavy in ash.
Sacred grove lay devastated, Persephone's heart scarred.
I did this. Again.
Young man's eyes lowered quiet.
"Fire yours burns too bright in realm cold this. Her gaze drawn now, inescapable."
Joshua's fists trembled.
Embers lingered faint on knuckles.
Guilt and rage warred inside like storms.
Young man met his gaze direct.
"Choice nears. Bind flame yours to Underworld will, champion become, guardian balance, chained eternal but."
"Or reject. Forge path own. Cost worlds between veils destabilize, everyone loved endanger."
Silence hung thick.
Creature hovered close, golden eyes steady with promise.
Whatever comes… I won't let the fire take them. I won't.
Mist distant shifted.
Silhouette emerged slow.
Tall.
Dark blue hair in sharp spiky pigtails.
Orange scarf trailed, lone defiant streak of flame.
Icy eyes watched unblinking.
Waited.
Choice burned brighter.
Escape none remained.