Rift Duology #2: Rift of Shadow

Chapter 19: Loss

—Jayden's POV—

"Azure.. the God of The Skies and Weather?" Aspen asked.

"Yeah.. on our last visit to the Aero Kingdom, he and a bunch of other people decided to stay, while the Darkmist corrupted the entire realm." I said.
"Cassiopeia took advantage of that.."

Azure tilted his head.
"Cassiopeia.."

"Maybe he hasn't been fully corrupted? He can still be saved!" Owen exclaimed.

Azure simply nodded and created clouds high above us. The clouds quickly became storm clouds, and it started to heavily rain.
Since the bridge was slightly curved downwards, the water would collect and the bridge would collapse if we didn't do anything about it.

"Aspen, think you can get ready to make a seperate ice bridge in case this one collapses?" I asked.

"You got it." Aspen said and her eyes had a dim glow.

"Okay, Owen, you and Aspen focus on getting the Shards. Nyctos, you and I will provide cover." I commanded, and Aspen and Owen quickly ran across the bridge.

"You cannot defeat one of the Etherials." Azure taunted.
"Not with what you have now, anyways.."

"Doesn't matter. Nyctos, fire blast please?" I asked, and Nyctos nodded.
He put his hands out and a huge plume
of red flames shot out, engulfing Azure in the heat.

"Gah! Stupid mortals!" Azure shrieked and the rain turned into sleet and hail.

"Aspen, make the hail and sleet fall of the bridge!" I yelled, and Aspen moved her hands to make an ice shield abovd the bridge.

I moved my hands to make my palms face down, and smoke rose from the bridge and moved from the walls.
I could only summon it with physical things, so it would take a while for it to reach me.
In the meantime, Azure sent a barrage of powerful wind arcs, and kept swinging the bridge around.

"Nyctos, be careful-" I warned. He was getting dangerously close to falling, and we couldn't have that. Not now.

"Almost there!" Aspen yelled, and I made the mistake of looking in their direction.
Azure took the opportunity to blast wind at me, and I flew off the edge.

When I was blasted back, Nyctos jumped to grab me. When he did, he propelled himself with his fire, and we landed safely on the bridge..

..that was now burning. The rain and sleet weren't enough, but now that's a problem.

"Nyctos, put the fire out! It's gonna—"
Before I could finish, the bridge snapped.
Aspen quickly made the bridge, but Nyctos wasn't quick enough..

He fell into the Abyss, and was sent to Aether.

—Xavier's POV—

After my great victory and was crowned the new Oni God, I was showered with ambrosia and godly like things..

Is what I thought would happen.
I was the new Oni God, but I didn't get showered in Ambrosia.
I was sent back to the armory to choose the armor I'd use for the millennia.

I chose a Stygian Iron infused with Torterous Titanium. The Iron would prevent me from turning into a ghost, and the Titanium would dull pain and wounds.
For my weapon, I chose a Sorcerous Sapphire Scythe.
It could hold powerful spells and hold the souls of gods.
Of course, I also got the Fragments.

"So, newly made god, how's it feel? Has the Ichor taken affect yet?" Cassiopeia asked.

"No, not really. I just feel.. more energized? Like a burst of energy that never ends." I explained.
"But other than that, there's nothing."

"Perfect. That's normal during this phase of turning you into a god, so this is a good start." Cassiopeia replied.
"Just, tell me if you feel a burn. That would be concerning."

I nodded and followed him.
He led me to the what-used-to-be the Throne Room, 15 Thrones facing a Central Fire in a square.

"My plan is slowly coming together. The New Etherials, a band of greater gods than Polaris ever was." Cassiopeia explained.
"Me, of course. Then you, the new god of Oni. I do need more gods of course, which is why I gave Keros the idea of Darkmist in the first place."

"What even is the Darkmist?" I asked.

"It's the gaseous form of the Primordial Soup that is Creare.
Along with a bit of mixed in Chaos Magic, flakes that fell off the Cassian Fragments when they shattered, and small amounts of my boiled blood." Cassiopeia answered.
"It's enough pure evil that we suspect it could even corrupt Polaris herself."

"That's.. impressive? So, you're going to corrupt gods and make them work for you?" I asked.

Cassiopeia laughed.
"No, not for the future at least.
I'll make them do all the dirty work now- eradicate demigods and what not.
Afterwards, I'll purify them and make them watch what they've done.
Then, I'll take their power and leave them mortal, and throw them into the Aether Realm."

"I- well, that's some plan, hah.." I awkwardly laughed.

"Truly. But, you should get going now.
The Fragments are down the hall in the left room. They should be inserted in Keros' Staff." Cassiopeia said and I ran to the room.
When I got there, the staff and fragments were gone.
The window was opened, and I saw someone in a black cloak, covering themself.

When I got Cassiopeia, the person was already gone.. I suspected it might've been one of my old friends, but none of them have had the guts to steal the Fragments.
In exchange, Cassiopeia blessed me instead.
I gained eztraordinary Destruction Powers and learned Dark Magic in an instant.

Now, the only thing I needed to do is to find and destroy the fragments.