POWER: A Tale of Greatness

CHAPTER 45

"The plan has worked, my lord."

Snarling echoes from the bright, spacious cylindrical room, walls are golden and embedded with long claw marks and wide dents. In the distant center, a blazing gleam pulsates outward, dancing like a heartbeat, making the living tree that it resides in thrive and glow with the same burning, life-giving warmth. Before it, a man kneels, head facing the floor at the edge of a wooden platform that extends from the entrance, closer to the flames. Sweat streaks his face, and his hands rest on his forehead, drenched.

"The blood of the remaining deities, I must acquire it by the evening and finally regain what I once lost." The snarling creature roars before he fills the place with his ear-deafening cackles. Every laugh will pound your chest with its bone-piercing vibrations. "Or I might as well devour every bit of you and leave no life in this place you once call paradise."

"O - Orochi-sama, we will bring them... the Beasts of the Breeze, the last remaining once and a - at last you will reach your most glorious form and never be hidden in this place again."

"I never hide, mouse!" The monster's growl makes the whole tree shake. "This furnace is where I chose to reside after you humans showed cowardice and called help from the... Æsirs." The Serpent Dragon began to stand from below, its claws from its feet crushing the edge of the platform, and in fear, the man crawls his way. Tried to run but a long tail blocks his way, piercing the wall. He looks up and sees a silhouette of an abomination with eight serpentine heads growling at him, the flames burn around its chest as if pulling it back. "Once I have possession of those Deities, I will be able to free myself from this prison, and my power shall break out and bring the blessings that you deserve, my dear followers."

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Name: Yamata no Orochi
Sixth Sense: Hydra

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"Shindou, your son... he is facing him. The one who brought me down and forced my heads to retreat at once."

"Wh - what do you mean, Orochi-sama?"

"I can see through his eyes that I have nothing to fear for his hammer is gone!" The monster laughs—mischievous and slow. Its eyes on one of its heads gleamed red. "Take him as well, Ryu."

Swinging his sword his eyes turned red, Ryu heard the voice of his master from the distant land where he came from, commanding him with full authority, "Consider it done, Orochi-sama."

Thor dodged as he kept a close distance, "That voice, I heard that before." His fists cracked with electric power. "Had this place formed real clouds, I might have no trouble conjuring my lightning."

"What's the matter? Your punches are turning dull, consider surrendering, we shall make it quick... your death in the hands of Orochi-sama!"

While the two face head-on, Damon struggles to fight with the other Samurai. Blood painted his once white fur, but the sight of his partner being dragged by the enemies pushed him to conjure his restrained strength.

"Graaahhhhhhhh!"

ZAP! TSSNNGGG!!

"Tough hide," Ryu whips the blood from his blade, his movements have slowed down but never been sharper. Noticing that the power to paralyze his foe from the serpent dragon is not working against his foreign opponent. "You must have been fighting your whole life to be able to live long after my attacks. Impressive." He sheathed his sword and began circling his foe.

Thor remains firmly clenching his fist, on the verge of exhaustion, "What do you want from these creatures?" He straightens his posture, imitating his foe's pace. "Is this what this land's people do for a living? Slaughter? Oppress those who are incapable?"