Age of Gods and Beasts

Chapter 26: The Sin of Lust

After everyone woke up, they got to the debate hall to discuss plans. Mirage would travel with Mega, Atlas, Jackson, Lupa, and since she was feeling better, Radium insisted that she come along. Mega was a little happy about this, but it quickly diminished when he saw her glaring daggers at him. They left the castle and went to the warp pad. Mirage input the coordinates to the last known area of the soldiers, and they teleported there. It was in the middle of a forest clearing, the trees towering overhead. The Great Forest. A large ecosystem supporting millions of species. It was easy to get lost in the forest, but it couldn't cut off communication. "Their last known location was to the west. Let's go." Mirage led the others into the sea of trees. Sunlight barely penetrated the canopy, spotting the forest floor with dots of light. A bird chirped, a brook babbled, and a small animal scurried through the underbrush. The wind sang through the leaves. It's as if the forest was alive and breathing. Then the silence was permeated by Mirgae yelping as she stepped on something sharp. She looked down and saw a thorny vine, with a red rose at the end. "We're close. I can tell." They followed the vine into a cave. It was dark and dank, and there were more rose vines. Then something cold slithered over Mirage's foot. A snake. The cave was full of them, slithering in between the vines. "Just watch where you step. There are snakes in here." "Snakes?!", Radium screamed. "Oh hell no!" She jumped on Mega, not knowing it was him. "Whoever this is, please hold me!" Mega carried her in his arms. Mirage rolled her eyes and scoffed. The continued along on the dark passage, trying to avoid the cold blooded reptiles. Then they saw light at the end. They ran toward it and entered into a gorgeous rose garden. Red roses bloomed along the moss covered walls, and their sickly sweet scent filled the air. Radium soon realized who was holding her and quickly untangled herself from Mega's grip. Lupa went to examine one of the roses, but it suddenly sprayed a pinkish colored powder. Lupa coughed as she inhaled it, then she fell on the ground, her face turning red. As Mirage went to lift her, when she gripped her arm, Lupa released a needy groan, and she started breathing heavily. "An aphrodisiac. And a powerful one. Even just one touch could drive her mad with pleasure. Lift her but gently." Jackson came forward and threw Lupa over his shoulder. They avoided the roses from then on. After a few minutes of wandering the garden, something big slithered in front of them, though it took no notice. It's scales were a deep red, with magenta fur going down its back. It's eyes were a deep pink and red horns adorned its head. The underbelly was magenta as well and its tail had a scorpion like stinger. And when it opened its mouth, giant fangs and razor sharp teeth were revealed. It slithered along, not paying anyone any attention. Mirage deemed it was safe to move forward and they pressed on. They soon came to a dead end, with vines covering an entrance. Radium tried to hack at the vines using an army knife, but the moment she swiped at them, a vine whipped around her ankle and tripped her. Suddenly, the thorny vines trapped everyone and pulled them against the walls. The thorns bit into Mirage's arms, making them bleed slightly. The serpents from the caves slithered about them. And the large serpentine creature slithered toward them, hissing. It came close to Radium and opened its mouth, venom dripping from its fangs. But suddenly, a very sultry and feminine voice came from behind the vine wall. "Zalika. Enough." The monster stopped immediately. The vines moved aside to reveal a woman walking toward the group. She was tall, and very curvy. Dressed in a magenta colored exotic dancing outfit, her hair and skin was dark grey and her hair put up into a high ponytail. Her deep pink eyes held dangerous secrets behind them. No doubt about it, this was Asphodel, the Sin of Lust. The snakes slithered around her and the monster called Zalika bowed its head before her. She slowly walked to Mirage, swaying her hips sensually. Her voice dripped with honey and venom. "Well well well, what do we have here? Six weary lost travelers? Hmm, I don't think so. It's been a long time, Mirage." Radium struggled against the vines, cutting herself in the process. "Let us go you slut!" Asphodel turned toward her. "My, the mouth on this one." She walked toward her and locked her fingers around Radium's throat, squeezing hard. Radium could barely breathe, black dots spotting her vision. Mega roared in anger and broke out of the vines, but before he could get to her, Zalika slithered and coiled tightly around Mega, immobilizing him completely. Then it spoke with a rough and feminine voice. "Don't interfere with the mistress." Asphodel kept her fingers locked on Radium's throat, before letting go, Radium taking in a huge breath. "What an interesting history. And I'm afraid to tell you, but you'll never escape his abuse. Here, on Earth, or even in the afterlife. And no matter how much you try to hide it, you can't conceal your feelings forever." Atlas turned to Mirage, whispering. "What did she do?" "She can read memories and feelings by touching a person. And use it against that person." Asphodel chuckled and looked around at everyone. "Well that's six snacks for Zalika. You can start with the Guardian." Zalika opened her mouth and moved to swallow Mega whole, but he managed to get his fist free and ripped Zalika's tongue from her mouth, causing the serpent to release him and wildly thrash in pain. He quickly freed everyone, tearing the vines away. Lupa was fully conscious and brandished her claymore. Atlas summoned his scythe. Jackson brought out a huge war hammer. Mega brandished claws charged with electricity. Radium brought out two guns and kept a grenade on her belt. And Mirage once again created her sword of pure light. But Asphodel was clearly prepared. She made odd plant like monsters grow from the ground, their mouths opening sideways and dripping acidic nectar that made the ground hiss. And she uncoiled a long thorny whip. "You think you stand a chance against me? Entire armies have fallen at my feet." "Maybe they have, but we won't." Zalika, done thrashing in pain, charged forward, and so did Asphodel's army. The group charged forward, yelling their war cries. Radium, Lupa, and Atlas fought against the plant creatures, cutting off limbs and shooting them in their faces, causing acidic blood to fling everywhere. Jackson and Mega fought against Zalika, the serpent's agility making it difficult for them to attack. And Mirage and Asphodel faced off. Asphodel's thorny whip kept lashing out, making it difficult for Mirage to get close. But Mirage let the whip wrap around her arm, the thorns cutting into her skin, and pulled Asphodel close. "I won't kill you, but I'll make you suffer." "I'd like to see you try." Mirage pulled Asphodel to the ground, but earned a swift kick to the face, her jaw exploding with pain. It left her dizzy for a few moments, enough to be yanked by her whip and thrown into the wall. "Do you really think you can defeat me?" Mirage got up from the ground, broken and bleeding. "Maybe not alone. But I could use a little help." Then a very rough voice screamed some pretty foul words. "This is for probing my brain, you bitch!" Radium threw a grenade at Asphodel's feet. "What?!" She barely had time to register before she was thrown skyward by the blast. She landed some feet away, and it took Lupa, Radium, Atlas, and Mirage to properly restrain her. Special power inhibiting shackles were placed around her wrists. Mirage turned and yelled at Jackson "Jackson! We need your help!", Jackson began running to them"At once mistress!", leaving Mega to fight Zalika. Mega stood his ground against Zalika. Mega then says "Im not afraid of you! Do your worst!" "As you wish." the huge snake hissed. She suddenly wrapped her tail against Staromegas leg, throwing him into the air before opening her jaws to the max."SON OF A-", before he could finish his statement, Mega flew into her maw, jaws snapping shut. Within her Mega was is being forced down her gullet to her stomach."Well this is a first." After her meal Zalika turned her attention towards the others."Im coming master!" She began slithering to them until she felt tingling within her. The tingling became more intense and Zalika began hissing and screaming. This continued for a few minutes until Zalika collapsed to the ground dead. Her belly began moving until claws erupted from the skin, Mega clawed himself out saying "Talk about major heartburn." Asphodel fell to the ground, screaming. "My beautiful serpent!" She mourned her loss as if mourning a loved one. "You've killed my serpent, and destroyed my garden. There is nothing worse you can do." "That's where you're wrong. There's someone who needs to have a little...heart-to-heart with you." Mirage grabbed on to Asphodel's shoulder while everyone held on to her as they warped back to the Celestial Domain. They ended up at the cave beneath the arena. Mirage beckoned everyone away. After they all left, she brought Asphodel inside the cave. It was very dark, almost pitch black. "Go inside, they'll be waiting." Asphodel walked inside the cave and once she was inside, large jagged stone pillars blocked the entrance. "W-What is this?! Who's there?!" At her words, a deep throaty growl resonated from behind her. And almost at once, the temperature rose to almost unbearable heat. She turned around and saw the face of Novaspawn, anger pouring off of him in waves. "N-no. It can't be. I sealed you in that mountain! I killed you!" "No. You turned me into this...this beast...and now...you'll get exactly what you deserve..." "No! Please! No!" Jagged stones came out of the ground and pinned her under her shoulders to the wall. He moved closer, the heat coming off him unbearable. Then he slowly let flames flow from his mouth, licking her skin. It was slow and torturous, and extremely painful. The flames left marks on her skin and brought tears to her eyes. But then he made the room hotter and the flames more powerful, up to her knees. "Mercy!" "You never showed me mercy!" The flames became hotter and bigger, licking the bottom of her chin. "I can't take it anymore!" Then he breathed fire onto her, full blast. Her screams echoed off the cave walls and the smell of burnt flesh and hair was filling the air. This went on for a while before a voice rang out. "That's enough!" Nova stopped, revealing Asphodel's burnt body. Her skin was blackened and half of her face was melted off. And some of her bones were revealed. "She is right on the edge of death." Mirage walked forward and stabbed the soul prism into her chest. Asphodel barely registered as her soul was sucked out, turning the prism a deep pink. Then once it was done, Mirage released the golden chains around Nova's limbs. "You're free. But when I need your help, you will lend me your aid." "I understand." Nova lumbered out of the cave and out of sight, into the horizon. Mirage clutched the soul prism. "Only two more to go."