The deities were set on a combat against Melantha, princess of the underground kingdom. The powerful woman held a scepter with a dark purple gemstone powering it. She knew what the taint was and how to deal with it, that knowledge held only by deities.
Meanwhile, Haru and Juancho were stranded on the Dry Lands, stuck amid a hot desert. It was too hot for them, using their counterparts took way too much energy from their bodies, so it wasn't an option.
Haru wiped the sweat from his brow, his face etched with determination and worry. He glanced at Juancho, whose normally vibrant demeanor was subdued by the oppressive heat. "Juancho, we can't stay out here much longer. We need to find shelter, or this desert will consume us."
Juancho nodded, his breath heavy and labored. "I-I know, Haru. But where can we find shelter in this barren land?"
Their eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any signs of relief from the scorching heat. In the distance, they spotted the silhouette of a massive rock formation, jutting out of the desert like an oasis in the sea of sand.
"There!" Haru exclaimed, his voice filled with a glimmer of hope. "If we can reach that rock formation, we might find some respite from this heat."
Summoning their remaining strength, Haru and Juancho trudged through the scorching sands, their steps faltering under the weight of exhaustion. The sun bore down on them mercilessly, sapping their energy with each passing moment.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the shade of the rock formation. They collapsed onto the cool surface, relief washing over them as the intense heat diminished.
At Melantha's underground castle, the battle continued. A strike from here, an attack from there, Melantha escaped all the times the deities attacked her, how could she do that?
Hoshi was still being held against his will by vines when suddenly, from a chant he performed in his mind, a divine beam of light hit his back, giving him the strenght needed to break free. His eyes glew brighter than ever with their golden color. Electricity ran through his veins once again.
"Melantha! It's me that you want. Stop fighting my fellow deities." Hoshi had the strenght to scream those words.
Melantha turned her gaze towards Hoshi, a sly grin spreading across her face. The dark energy swirling around her scepter intensified, crackling with malevolence. "Ah, Hoshi, the Forest God. How delightful of you to join the fray. But I'm afraid it's too late for pleas and negotiations."
She raised her scepter, channeling her dark powers through it. The ground trembled as tendrils of taint emerged from the earth, wrapping around the deities, tightening their grip. "You see, Hoshi, I have plans for you. Your body shall serve as a vessel for my ascension to even greater power."
Hoshi's eyes narrowed, his electric aura pulsating with a mix of determination and defiance. "I won't let you use me for your ambitions, Melantha. The deities will stop you, no matter what."
With a surge of divine energy coursing through his veins, Hoshi unleashed a torrent of lightning from his fingertips, striking the surrounding vines with precision. The taint-infused tendrils recoiled, allowing the other deities a momentary respite. He was about to rush in for a direct attack against the princess, but she avoided the punch, hitting Hoshi on his back with a blast of her tainted energy.
Hoshi fell to the ground on all fours. His veins were visible through his skin, they looked purple. His already pale skin got even more pale. His once golden eyes turned purple, red and black. The other deities couldn't believe what they saw. One of the strongest creatures alive in the world was there, sick with the taint, corrupted by Melantha.
As Hoshi lay on the ground, his body corrupted by the taint, the other deities stood frozen in shock and horror. Melantha's laughter echoed through the chamber, filled with triumph and satisfaction.
"Behold the true power of the taint!" She taunted, her voice laced with malicious delight. "No deity is immune to its corrupting influence. Soon, Hoshi will be mine, and with his body as my vessel, I shall ascend to unparalleled heights."
That laughter was stopped by a cloud of fog appearing in that chamber. Hoshi turned into the Ropen. Blood was dripping from its nostrils and beak, its glowing patterns weren't the same anymore, they were purple and red, the deity's eyes were almost as black as its own skin.
The Ropen escaped after knocking all those in the room down to the floor. It flied to the Dry Lands, looking for the Royal Tiger and the Welsh Dragon. Hoshi's brothers in soul.
Upon finding the younger teens, the Ropen descended from the skies, but turning to its human form before hitting the ground.
Haru and Juancho were surprised. "Hoshi! You're okay!" They exclaimed, not noticing how pale Hoshi was and how his eyes and veins were dark.
"H-Haru... Juancho... I don't have much time. Melantha hit me with the taint. If the others don't act quick enough, this can be the last time you see me and hear me talking." Hoshi was weak now, when compared to what he could do before.
"I-I won't be able to control my powers if that is the case. I won't be able to protect you two, I'm sorry."
"Hoshi, what is happening, what does Melantha want with you?" Haru cried.
"She will use me as a vessel... My time is almost over." Hoshi hugged his brothers in soul tight.
"Hoshi, no! You can't leave us! We need you!" Juancho cried desperately.
"I'm sorry for not being a good brother in soul for you... Thank you." Hoshi let a tear fall through his face. He unwillingly turned into the Ropen.
As the Ropen, Hoshi's body trembled with the lingering power of the taint. The corrupted deity gazed at Haru and Juancho with sorrowful eyes, a mixture of sadness and determination shining through. The Ropen took to the skies, disappearing into the distance. Haru and Juancho were left standing in the desolate landscape, their hearts heavy with grief and uncertainty.
The other deities were quick to start chanting in their old language.
As in a translation of what they meant with their words. The harmonies overlapped and created a vocal symphony.
"Something, a jewel" Sang Nessie.
"The heavens and the earth" Sang Kasai.
"A light, this place" Sang Hu.
"Fire and water" Sang Boreas.
"Time, this place" Sang Emela.
That chant was to no use, Hoshi flew right to the underground castle.
"My sweet vessel, you will serve a greater purpose than you ever had done at your forest." Melantha laughed as she looked at Hoshi, then at Rossiya and his revived comrades, Qazaqia and Kartvelia.
YOU ARE READING
The Ropen's Legacy
خيال (فانتازيا)Hoshi, child of the skies and bringer of time, the young guardian of a forest finds himself against a new foe every day. Either because of his magic or because of himself.
