Divine Dark Light [The Erethis Saga: Book 1]

Chapter 1: The Forbidden Path

Erabu stood in bewilderment as Nídŭr showed him a vast number of dark weapons displayed all along the walls. Then Erabu turned his attention to his master as he stood next to one of the many sword displays... "Master, what is all of this?" Nídŭr stood silent as he faintly smirked and getsured for his friend to walk forward and take a look at a large map that lay upon a nearby table. "This is the path to our future, Erabu... With enough allies, we can free this world from my brothers and their corruption." Nídŭr said as he used his power to reveal an image of the Tree of Immortality... "You intend to make allies of those whom you despise?" Asked Erabu as he looked on in confusion. "No, but I intend to change them... To make them just like me. Demons forged from a human soul, corrupted by the Tree and its power... My brothers have foretold that we are to visit the mortal realm soon. What better way than to cause humanity's downfall by showing my brothers what their precious children are and always will be: Corrupted!" Nídŭr laughed as he spoke of his plan and came up with a spell to send his army to another realm that had built specifically for them and protected by a magical barrier to keep the domain hidden from all but his own eyes... "But how do you intend to lure the mortals to the tree? Do you wish to corrupt them all??" Erabu stared at the map while the demon soldiers walked through the portal into their new realm. "No, I need only to lure one in order to spread my influence to the rest... Soon, the time will come when they will have to pick a side. To stand by me or burn alongside my brothers... From what I've been told by some of the servants, the Mortals have now been split into many different types of famial bloodlines and houses, but the one house and bloodline that I've chosen is the Sakusei bloodline. They are well respected as the House of Akimova/Strength... So who better to pick than them!" Erabu could sense that Nídŭr was far too invested in his plans as his eyes continually flashed red while he pinpointed down the Sakusei house's location on the map. "Nídŭr, you know that I have never had any reason to question your ideals, right?" Erabu muttered softly. "Yes, but why does this matter concern you?" "It's just that after unveiling all of this to me, I can't help but have one question constantly resonate in my head." Nídŭr ceased his laughter as he looked over to Erabu. "Oh? Is that so??" Erabu sighed as he nodded in response... "Nídŭr, can you answer me this question honestly?" "Of course, my friend." The room grew still and cold as Erabu clenched his fists tight and stared at his friend. "Why... Why do you hate the mortals? Why do you now seek to destroy what both you and your brothers created?? I thought you, above all others, believed that all life was far too sacred to destroy." Nídŭr froze as he said this... But no matter how hard he tried to deny these claims, deep down, he knew that Erabu... Was right. "Very well, I'll tell you... For Millennia, The Invork have strived to balance to the realms but there was one of the brothers who had hs doubts even as he and all his brethren had committed their lives to protect all of creation and yet, even after the birth of Mankind, he couldn't help but to envy their beauty, their wisdom, and the fact that both him and his brothers were to bow to them made his Envy turn into Hatred. For such divine beings to willingly kneel before these mere mortals!? NO! He would never allow himself to bow to those born lesser than him no matter what his brothers said to him, and that is the reason for my actions, Erabu... I. Will. Never. Bow!" Erabu froze in fear as he watched Nídŭr's expression quickly grow darker as the entire weapons chamber shook violently. "M-master, what the!?" Erabu shouted as he struggled to maintain his foothold and balance on the ground... "Hahahaha, for me, a divine ruler, to condone the cursed fact that I am expected to just kneel down before these insects!?! NO! I will never let anyone tell me that I am to bow down to a mortal and worship them as if they were divine! Now, do you finally understand my reasons, Erabu!? NOW YOU KNOW THAT'S WHY THEY MUST BE DESTROYED!!!" Soon a demonic essence began to seep out of Nídŭr's body as he shouted aloud and his eyes gleamed bright red and black while his demon form had begun to quickly manifest, allowing his divine power to grow stronger and far more deadly. "M-master, you must calm yourself before your brothers find out about this... R-remember that if we were to be discovered now, then you'll lose everything!! EVERYTHING!" "L-lose Everything!?!" Nídŭr shouted as his body shifted from his natural for to a far more corrupted one, which was a mixed body attuned to his real body and false one. His hair flowing high while its once black locks shift into a deep blood red, his eyes continually flowing in a mix of red, black, and yellow, his wings now covered in black flames, his teeth now in the shape of demon and vampire fangs, and his hands now demonic with claws sharp enough to slice through flesh and bone... This was the true power of Ăkųŕi Nídŭr, the Eye of Eternal Darkness. 'Damn it, I need to find a way to calm him down! Wait, calm down... Of course, the shallow waters spell, its blissful melody should work.' Erabu thought as he quickly used his power to summon his Spiritual blue fanged Shamisen and began to play... The music rang throughout the room and soon reached the ears of Nídŭr's Brothers in their palaces who sensed a great amount of demonic energy in the air and sought their own magical music instruments and began to play along as a flash of white light shone upon Nídŭr who slowly reverted back to his normal form and fell unconscious in the Hall of Purity where he was found by Xosyn who called for the others to come at once. Mere moments later, everyone had arrived, and Nídŭr awoke to see himself standing before Tibetan and the other Gods... 'What's going on? Why are they all here??' Nídŭr thought to himself as he looked around the room to see everyone's attention turned to him and the black markings on his neck. "Nídŭr, can you explain to us why you have defiled yourself." Tibetan asked as he looked down from atop his throne... "Brother, I'm afraid that I don't know as to what you're talking about." Nídŭr replied. "You were teleported here because of the Shallow waters spell... That spell is only used when there are signs of a beings Purity falling into Darkness." Xoysn chimed as he looked at his brother. 'The shallow waters spell... It seems like Erabu had to resort to its usage due to me losing control. The markings of my demonic energy are barely visible to see thanks to my attire execpt for the ones upon my neck... Damn, if they find out about my plan to bring about the Mortals downfall, then my dreams of utopia are destroyed!' Nídŭr slowly clenched his fists tight as he cleared his throat and began to speak... "My brothers, I do not believe that my being's purity has fallen into Darkness... Perhaps the spell was used by mistake." Nídŭr muttered as he slowly pulled up his neck piece in an attempt to hide the markings. "If that is true, then I suppose it shouldn't be a problem if you were to place your right hand through the ring of Heavenly fire." Spoke Leverett, the God of the Hunt, a rather cold and desolate character, always up to cause tension between those who he envys the most... "Always one to let loose your arrows upon the first chance of fleeing game, Leverett? I see no need to place my hand through the ring if I haven't committed a great Sin." Nídŭr remarked as he glanced over at the mighty God. "Leverett does make a strong point, Nídŭr... We can't let a matter like this fall silent easily. Place your hand through the ring... If the color doesn't change, then that is the end of this meeting, but know that if the ring changes, then you will be forced to wear a Divine Shackle on your wrists as a warning." Tibetan announced as the hall went silent while the ring was summoned before Nídŭr. "Very well." Erabu stood anxiously as he watched Nídŭr place his hands through the flaming ring and watched as the color shifted from White to Red... The Gods muttered in shock at this, and Nídŭr clenched his mouth shut as the ring summoned a Divine Shackle onto his wrists before disappearing. "Well, now the matter is settled?" Asked Nídŭr as he lowered his arms and stood tall... "Yes, the matter is settled, but should something like this happen again, there will be dire consequences." Tibetan said as he and his brethren stood up from their thrones. "However, this shackle doesn't exclude you from joining us on our journey into the Mortal Realm." Said Yidon as he looked down at Nídŭr before leaving the hall along with the other Gods... "I see... When do we depart?" "We leave at first light tomorrow." Tibetan spoke as he watched the others walk away. Nídŭr slowly bowed his head down in acknowledgment before leaving the hall with Erabu... Once far away from the Hall, Nídŭr couldn't help but pray that no one could notice that a smile faintly crept across his face.

"Now my path to Ascension can now begin~"

The End