Sol's Shine and the Kingdom of Metal

Chapter 14 Sinnel's Victims

 Ratatoskr knocked Nico out cold. The small rodent knocked him out cold and all Nico could do was sleep. It should be one of the most embarrassing things that has ever happened to him. But what else could he do but slumber? No. He was starting to dream now. But how could he call what he was feeling a dream when everything around him felt so surreal? Nico Gideon took a look at his surroundings. He could see himself just fine despite being in an empty dark void. One look at his hands made that pretty apparent. But the second thing he noticed was the countless of thousands of white, glowing, and sparkling orbs that seemed to stretch on for miles and miles.

But a voice called out to him from within the darkness. "Nico." This sent a chill down his spine, not because there was a voice, but because the voice sounded familiar. He looked at one of the white orbs where the voice came from. "Nico, this is more than just a dream. You sleeping within the tree's magical canopy is allowing our souls to reach out to you." When Nico blinked, every white orb was instantly replaced with a person in a white robe, including his late uncle Ivan, the one currently speaking to him. "What is this? I don't understand. Am I dead?" Nico asked his uncle.

The only thing Ivan did was sigh. "No, you're not dead. Not yet anyway." With one more look around, Nico could see thousands of more people wearing the same attire. Most of these people Nico had never met before. Among them stood Marvin, Krissy's crew, William, Cinder, Willard, Ipos, Bileth, Zepar, Marigold, and many many more. Essentially everyone that has ever lived and died within Magnora was standing on the same plane of existence as Nico was right now. "How is this possible? I don't get it." Nico told him.

"You should know the reason why we were able to reach out to you is because of the tree you sleep on. Over the years, the lion that resides within has been taking our souls and getting stronger. As more people die, the more impossible it will seem to stop Mithra." Ivan told him. Nico was trying to find the right words. "I don't understand. The tree was supposed to stop Sinnel and the other demons." Nico was cut off by Ipos, Sol's first adopted father. "You believe that? That's what history says but is history always accurate? The first time we fought the other kingdoms, it was close, sure. But it's precisely because of that, that we retreated. Do you honestly believe that anyone back then would have enough magic to create a tree of this size? Clearly, only the elves were capable of such a feat." Ipos told him.

"Not to mention, it's clear with Sinnel's cult spread all over the world, each kingdom has had its fair share of traitors." Zepar said to Nico. "Mithra did say it would help us after all." Bileth mentioned. "You guys keep mentioning Mithra as if Ra and Amaterasu don't matter. What gives?" Nico told them. "They don't." Ivan was blunt. "At least not to Sinnel. Turns out when a star demon dies-" Ivan was instantly cut off by Bileth. "LALALALA! Nico can't hear you!" She did her best to make sure Nico couldn't hear his uncle. "You would still defend Sinnel after you're already dead?!" William was baffled by Bileth's actions in which she responded by sticking her tongue out at him. Ivan had no choice but to sigh again. "You'll figure it out, I suppose. There's a more important issue I must address to you while you're here." Ivan stepped closer to his nephew.

"You must act quickly. I fear the only one capable of stopping Mithra at the moment is you." Ivan spoke to him as he put his hands on his shoulders. "She's coming closer as I speak and while you sleep. When she arrives, she'll attempt to awaken the lion from within a bit earlier than what she was hoping for. But if Mithra succeeds, everyone will perish and the sun will extinguish." There was a sense of urgency in his words. "How close is she to the tree?" Nico asked him. "Close enough to the point when you wake up, she'll likely be at the base." Ivan warned him. "Then I have to go now. I can't let her-" "You can't force yourself awake. Your body will wake on its own. For now you're stuck here. There's some folks here that also want to ask you a favor." Ivan said to him. "Seriously?! Now?!" Nico questioned him.