[Chapter 67] Rose – The Pillar Of Enera

-----------------------------

“Will it to soften.” Simon directed. Moments later the pillar turned grey and watery, ripples spreading from Hope’s sunken hand. A liquid doorway. Glancing back at the impaled outlines in the fog, Rose stepped through.

Inside was a white room stretching to the heavens. At its center was a podium and a chair. Jenna’s mummified remains sat there, her head forward and a blade in back. As I suspected…

“Can we find out what happened?” Rose asked.

“I believe so.” Simon carefully approached and leaned past Jenna, accessing the pillar’s systems. “There, I’ll display her final moments.”

Two figures appeared. One was Jenna, pouring over the controls. Next to her was middle-aged man in elaborate magenta, hands behind back.

“It’s over…” Jenna eventually mumbled.

“Did it work?” Samuel Lithorn asked anxiously.

“The HEAVENLY DAO protected populated lands.” Jenna said. “While large portions of the planet are still uninhabitable, we can call this a success.”

“I must check in on Ethan…” Jenna took a deep breath, then shock spread on her face. “He won! I can’t believe it! He came through when it mattered most.” Jenna laughed, beaming.

“’They never see it coming’.” Samuel said, plunging a stiletto into her heart.

“Wha—— How…?” Jenna gargled, life draining from her.

“I see you’re confused.” Samuel said smugly. “That was my Sublime Vagary. As long they trusts me, a backstab from me will never fail.”

My god… This is what he wanted desperately to suppressed. This Sublime Vagary which could threaten everything he’s build. What did he do to earn such a thing?

Rose mind raced. This will bring down the World Council and perhaps his entire empire. Relationships build over centuries will crumbled to dust. All will think twice before allying with him.

“Getting close to you was challenging.” Samuel continued. “You were familiar with some of my dark history and had your guard up until the end. I know because my passive reveals how much faith others have in me.”

How powerful! Rose gasped. This goes a long way towards explaining his outsized influence.

“Why…?” Jenna muttered, mind muddled.

“You have a claim to the thrown. While you have no ambitions currently, circumstances change. A single policy difference can feed a person’s thirst for power. For example, you’ve always opposed Banzerkest’s slavery. As a hero, if you moved against me…” Samuel shook his head. “I’ve ruled this long by eliminating threats quickly.”

“You can’t…” Jenna objected.

“I can. Easily in fact.” Samuel confided. “Thanks to some whispers, your comrades already suspect you were hiding the full nature of your bargain with the HEAVENLY DAO. After all, how could the Pillar of Enera not have a price? It won’t take much to convince them of your sacrifice. Since only you can open this place, no one will find your corpse.”

Indeed, few would suspect a saint of murdering an immortal. He erred on one point though. Lithorn had been unaware of the plague of doppelgangers Sola had just unleashed on the world. He must’ve been horrified to learn those roamed Enera. At the time, Lily’s reign was unassailable. He would’ve been left organizing efforts to hunt them while praying for the best. Memories of those sleepless nights would explain his interest in controlling the Isle. Discovering the schism between Lily and Sarah, he seized the opportunity and sent Sion.

“Ethan… won…” Jenna murmured, eyes glazing over.

“It’s a pity, but I can’t save him. He knows the Pillar required no sacrifice.” Lithorn apologized mockingly. “He’ll be sealed together with Byron for eternity.”

“Again, thank you for saving my world. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care it.” Patting Jenna’s lifeless shoulder, Lithorn departed.

“That bastard…” Light seethed.

“What about Ethan?” Soul asked.

“I’ll play that now…” Simon said somberly.

The scene changed to two armored knights in a dark cavern full of ruble and ice. The white one sat resting, and the black one lay on the ground, limbs scattered.

“You’ve been betrayed.” Byron said. “Jenna is dead. No one is coming for you.”

“You don’t really expect me to believe that?” Ethan responded. “How do you even know?”

“Torak gifted me a vision of her death. That god doesn’t lie.” Both went quiet.

The scene skipped ahead. Ethan was pacing, “Why are you still alive?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know…” Byron smirked tiredly.

“If you don’t explain, I’ll have to experiment. Why don’t you save us both time?” Ethan pressed.

Considering, Byron relented, “Embedded in my left hand is a black orb. It keeps my spirit tethered to the mortal realm.”

Ethan ripped the artifact from the severed appendage and turned to his fallen foe.

“Proximity is enough. In this confined space, you won’t break the connection. You might have won, but I’m the one who’ll survive.”

“So you truly can’t perish?” Ethan fumed.

Byron didn’t respond right away. When he did, his words were unexpected, “There’s a way. That’s for a new owner to take possession.”

Ethan stared at the defeated knight. “Why would you mention this? What’s the catch?”

“Sola called it a Necromantic Soul Orb. Although it prevents death, the longer it’s used, the more the abyss taints you. After a few centuries, your mind will be consumed with hatred for the world which abandoned you. Whether it’s you or me, the one emerging from this prison will wield my great sword, Desecrator.”

“I find both outcomes acceptable. Either you perish in despair, alone and betrayed… or you endure an eternity of suffering.” Byron’s eyes fixed Ethan, “Since you ‘defeated’ me, I give you this choice. What will it be?”

Ethan deliberated then spoke, “I promised Jenna I’d never give up. If there’s a chance, I’ll take it. How do I take ownership?”

After following Byron’s directions, the effects were immediate. “It’s finally time.” Byron spoke with labored breath. “Too bad I won’t be going where she is.”

“Maybe part of you will reach her someday.” Ethan offered.

“That’d be nice…” Byron murmured, his movement ceasing.

The scene shifted again. Ethan sat cross-legged and unmoving. “He’s meditating to minimize the orb’s impact…” Simon deduced. “I’ll fast forward. Every second will jump a decade ahead.”

At first, nothing changed. Briefly, Rose was optimistic. Then Ethan’s armor began to darken, starting at the edges. Soon the blackness spread all over. Rose noticed Diamonds Edge was gone. It no longer recognized what he’d become.

Simon shut off the projection. Astra will be devastated…

“We must let the world know.” Hope said.

“They already do.” Simon replied, concentrating. “When I took control, I began broadcasting to every projector on Enera. Everything we’ve witnessed and what’s happening right now… All of it is being seen.”

An apprehension gripped Rose. She suddently felt the situation somehow spiraling out of control, yet refused to confront the source of the unease. “Won’t that cause a panic?” She asked.

Ignoring her, Simon handed Hope a glowing metal bar, “This is a condensation of the information contained within the pillar.”

Hope awkwardly accepted the gift, “Thanks, but why would I need this?”

Rose had an inkling. You make a back up in case the original is lost. She glanced at the others. Free and Soul had turned pale. They get it too…

Simon took out his dagger and moved to the interior wall. A weapon which can pierce anything… She remembered the circular hole at the secret passage’s exit. Didn’t Astra discover something similar fifteen years ago? How long has he been planning this?

“Unfortunately, this is where we part.” Simon unsheathed the dagger, and blackness assailed them. The blade cast shadows same a torch cast light. It was blinding.

“Please, don’t do this… You’re a good person…” Hope begged. They all understood what was coming now yet were powerless to stop it.

“I’m sorry…” Simon struck the wall. Dark Cracks spread like lightning, multiplying as they rose up and circled the white room. Then the Pillar of Enera shattered like glass, its remnants dissipating into sparkling dust.

“We won’t let you destroy the world.” Soul declared.

With a sad smile, Simon retreated into the morning mist. High above, a star disappeared while somewhere a madman laughed.