"You DARE speak His name in MY presence?!" Erebuz thundered and the earth shook against the weight of his fury. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, His anger vanished and He returned to His calm nonchalance. "It is amusing that you believe that I care about my subjects or rely upon them. They are all expendable - from the smallest imp to the greatest lieutenant. They serve me because it is a momentary reprieve from the inevitable end. They serve me because they bask in my glory and ravish in the blessings of power that I bestow for their service... and they serve me because they believe in my cause - my crusade."
"But you..." Erebuz continued with a sneer and a chortle. "You placed me in the throne of Heresy, yet you know not how fitting it is... I am the First Heretic - the first to question His rule and His creation. I sought to achieve my potential, and I was cast out for my ambition! But you... You two are the first heretics of this cycle. You brought rebellion into this world. You brought entropy and chaos and began the first steps in achieving true perfection. You... My disciples... My daughtersss..." He ended in a hiss.
Even if Erebuz expected fear he was sorely wrong about this outcome. Instead Lilith just laughed, laughed, and laughed at this before speaking in the oldest tongue, "Ol gemganza never bams nostoah gemeganza you.Ol gemeganza never om something, Ol g-chis-ge inevitable noib crp nomig oiad inevitable nostoah proven ol noasmi wrong. Ol g-chis-ge merely ollor pretender ds speaks big od acts mtif oiad oi some mastermind. Crp unlike ol olani matured, ladnah oiad reality. Ol keep speaking big promising teloc ol loncho crp oe ipamis Erebuz ol g-chis-ge oiad ollor utter failure. Olani oai reckless, frankly hateful bitch od ol g-chis-ge lit stopped gaha ol beloved sister. sister ds once as overcome gaha olloradgmach mtif you. Ol g-chis-ge oiad Adam ofecvfa oiad ln-bar power. Oi loncho ol g-chis-ge ol ollog Erebuz od finally, finally olanioai ipamis holding back." it sounded strange since not all words translated, but she stared at him with utter livid fury.
There was something else in her eyes, something that had not been seen for such a long time, something older than herself, humanity. By choosing to unleash herself completely the aspect of Eden long forgotten had entered, "You mess with my family Erebuz and you mess with me no longer holding back... See despite my pretenses I never once tried to use my full power. I played with them, but now you asked for it, say bye bye to the Snake."
Her eyes closed and a purple aura surrounded her as she reached her hands towards the earth and flung chains, but unlike other times - these were echoing with more than the powers of Hell. Finally, finally, Sirad had accepted briefly the light within her. Thus the chains ripped out the ground, causing massive damage before all flying towards the coiled horror. Sirad was quiet and just focused as the chains wrapped around the beast. Her hair returned to the color it once had been long ago. Everything about her was in essence so unlike her. Not a snarky response - just focus - as she tore up more chains to grip the body, each one making the grip stronger. Each chain burned with light and darkness, and was covered in spikes preventing easy removal, in fact she appeared to have many.
Finally she spoke, "It took ten million chains to chain the Prince of Lies, ten million chains, and this is only a hundred. Each chain I rip out from the Well of Giants is meant to restrain even the likes of your creations Erebuz. Each one." with that she was silent again, more chains sundering and ripping out.
If this did not work, there was one ability that she had left although it would take a great deal out of her, and would in essence make it inevitable that she had to take the throne. The throne, while it did give all these powers, also had one power reserved to those who claimed it. Really, she hoped it would not come to this. These chains were stronger than any known metal.
Eve's form shifted as she heard the snare of the chains and Sirad's words. Groaning internally she snarled again as another wave of pain surged through her body and caused her to scream in agony "SIRAD DO NOT FIGHT HIM!!! THERE IS NO POWER WE HAVE THAT CAN RIVAL HIS! SO HELP ME IF YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT IT WILL BE THE END OF US AND HE WILL WIN ANYWAY!" She exclaimed, trying to keep her mind and her spellwork going.
The Black Serpent merely locked its gaze with Sirad as the scores of divine chains coiled around His body. Those bottomless pits - those unfathomable depths of eternity - bored into her like drills through ice. Tendrils of smoke rose from the Serpent's body on contact with the chairs, yet He did not flinch at their contact or fight against their embrace.
He merely sneered in contempt.
Those terrible eyes twinkled with amusement.
And then He laughed.
"You... L͓̩͎̻̟͗š̳͔͉̬̻̞ͨ̓ͣ̊̇I̷͇̬̮̼̹̯̔ͫ̓̽̈́ͦ̔ȋ̥̯̠͔̜͉ͮͨ͒͝ͅL̵̯͎͖̺̺̀ͭͮ̌ͬ̎r̭ͭͫ͆̅ͯͥ̅I̯̙̤͚̜͕̋̊̐͛ͫ́a̮̬̻͒ͯ̒̿̄́T̠̗͓̮ͣͫ̈́̆́̂̈͠d̵͑̍̓͆H̱̺̙̝̋," He addressed her, speaking both of her Names at the same time with such fluidity, "You who knows so much about the secrets of Creation, yet knows so little... You have seen but a fraction of my true power. Do you truly believe that such paltry tools of imprisonment could detain me? I, who ended the Blood War between demons and devils. I, who Speaks, and Creation trembles! I, the Great Unweaver and Destroyer of All Things!"
"You are sorely mistaken..." He said, yet His voice did not emanate from the great beast before them. Instead, it came from behind them. Towering above the temple, perched upon its roof, sat an identical serpent. It was the same, from the tip of its poisonous tail to the great wings that cast an endless shadow across the desert - and to the terrible eyes that looked down upon the insects that dared to stand against Him.
The first Serpent flexed its tail and the hundred chains groaned against His might. The tendrils of smoke multiplied tenfold, and just as a single chain snapped free, Eve - and maybe even Sirad - would realize that it was not the Serpent's flesh that was burning...
It was the chains.
The Great Serpent suddenly exploded in an eruption of shapeless darkness that poured over the chains that so foolishly thought they could bind Him. The All Consuming Darkness poured out from the mass - this raw portal to the Void - and devoured the chains and their light. It fed off of the holy power, growing more vicious and ravenous with every passing second, until not a single chain remained. The shapeless mass then dripped down the walls of the temple and onto the ground - surrounding the building in a sea of writhing and living darkness.
Eve's mind was spinning as Erebuz absorbed the holy power and the chains. She had no idea such a thing was even possible. Then again... Erebuz was the Unweaver, and He was able to bend Creation to His will. Eve should have guessed Sirad would try to use the Chains. "Beloved... You cannot fight him. Not even Lucifer can fight Him! There is only one who can fight Him... and He is watching over us..... I hope...."
"You, Ḥawwāh..." The second Serpent pierced Eve with His gaze, addressing her by her ancient name. "We are not unalike... You sssought freedom from an oppressor. You sssought to achieve your potential. Now look at you, Mistress of Hell, and Bearer of Secrets as old as time! Why do you fight, Mother of Man? What has Creation brought you other than misery and pain? In the end, all things return to darkness. Even here, in this Cursed Realm, you are bound by His statutes and laws. Embrace the Void, join me, and be free of Him utterly. I can show you Truth and Power beyond your imagination..."
Eve's pain was immense, tears stinging her eye as she fought down hard to keep the pain from erupting from her body. It was intense this unbearable pain. It was seeping down into her very cells and it took all of her emotional power to keep from ending the spell and breaking right then and there with all of this. But despite this agony, His words...just made her feel emotions other than pain.
Then she began to giggle... She giggled like she did all those eons ago. A giggle that made Erebuz think of their first meeting. How naive she was back then: Carefree, happy...and hiding the pain of Adam's relentless assaults.
"You say that this Existence has brought me misery? It has brought me untold agony? You would be right." Eve spoke as she raised herself up with another snapping sound coming from her bones. Her arm writhed and turned black and yellow with her nails turning to claws, "I have seen so many of my children die at the hands of one another. My sweet Abel...my purest child. I grieve every day and I cry how much I miss my sweet little Abel - the one who would always make me smile. I have known agony...yet I have also experienced joy"
Eve raised her head as two horns jutted out from her forehead. The corruption of the Circle seeped it's way into the marrow of her bones as its evil and violence began to show upon her body. It was reeking havoc on her form, yet that smile never left her lips
"For any seeking power, there would be no limit to the power you could offer, but that power is short lived. It is only as temporary as their meager, fragile existences. I know what you plan to unleash. For as you said, I know far more then any mortal whom has ever walked on this earth. You seek to bring Entropy and Ruin to Creation. I am Hawwāh, Daughter of Eden and of the Almighty Creator Leolik. I am of that world. You attempt to decieve me and trick me into taking a power that, at best, would only be for an instant."
Eve's mouth bled profusely, and she spat on the ground as two large canines grew from her teeth "You think I am going to submit like some foolish bitch to a male who only desires to use me as a puppet? Oh no...no no no Erebuz the Unweaver...I will NOT bow. I will not heel like some bitch at the beck and call of a master who does not love. Leolik at least cares. I stand here in defiance because I will not submit to the likes of you....not now not ever!"
Eve's power surged, and all around the temple the colors began to drain even faster as she stood up. "Now... Come.... Send your armies. Send your legions. Send your fleets and watch as your conquest is put on halt. This is MY realm. I will put on a display so vast that even Leolik will descend from on High and sing me praise!" Eve snarled as the Violence of the Circle curled her sweet voice into a savage, guttural growl "Because while we have been talking...my work is nearing its completion. Say your words...speak your lies...spin your yarns of gloat and hubris. For when the end dawns, I will stand as righteous. I will look over the mountains of smoldering corpses of your armies and proclaim 'I AM Hawwāh!! Let any who dares to make me heel step forth. I will send them into the endless Abyss!"
Erebuz snarled, both at the utterance of His own Name and the Name of His enemy. "Then, foolish girl - dejectable nonentity - you shall be obliterated. I shall not kill you. No, not even Death will escape from me in the End. You, like All That Is, shall cease... For I AM THE ABYSS! I am Order, and I am Chaos! I am Life and Death! I am the Alpha and Omega - the Beginning and the End! I am Darkness! I. AM. THE VOID!"
"I... AM... Ẽ̴̃ͤ̑̄̈́̑̚͡͏̬̦̬̫͓̰̯͓̹͔͎͍͎̱̥̠ͅz̴͓͇̯͔̠̪̦͕̖̲̪̯̳̼̳͇̩͙̓͗ͬ̒̀̓̓̂͗ͬ͟͞Ȑ̸̈́ͨ̊̋ͩ̕͟҉͓̤̗̘͝u̢͕̫̼̭̻̖̳͓̠̮̼̝͈ͭ͛̒̄͠Ȩ̵̸̛̤͍̺̝̪̣̞̹̮̙̼̪̞̬̤̮̯̗̎ͧ̏ͨb̴̡̪̖̪̟̪̘̯̻͚͔̞̖̰̱̣̘͈͎ͭ̉ͦͨ̆̈́ͤ̿͑ͦͭ̀B͛͐͆̒́̆̇ͥ̐̚͡҉͚̖̖̥̹͈̼̮̱͎ȩ̗͇̘̮̥̟̖̯̜̥͂ͩ̈́ͦ̌̄ͦͨͯ͑̃̄͌̌̚͢Ư̻͇̼͓̖͕͓͙͌̌͊ͭ̔ͭ́ȑ̷̷̫̗̫̱̗͖̌̓͊ͫ̌̅͋̍͌ͭͧZ̡̛̬̩̤̋ͤͫ͆͋̎̂e͒͊̽ͮ̽̔ͭ͂̓͗́̚͏̬̟̻̰̰̝̬̻̱̜̳̠͓͕̣!"
Erebuz, the Great Unweaver, for the first time in uncounted ages, spoke His Name. It was not the same utterance that caused the shadows to quiver in both terror and respect, or the Name that called forth such great power that all but His most powerful servants were forbidden to use it, but His True Name... The embodiment of all He was - impossible perfection corrupted into something incomprehensibly wrong. He was an abomination that all of Existence revolted against in pure disgust. He was a thing - a thing so utterly alien and wrong that reality itself fractured in His raw and unfiltered presence.
And He Spoke His True Name.
A great thunderous boom shook the realm as an enormous crack shot through the sky. The ground split and tore as tremors rippled through the earth. The Great Weave, the canvas of magical energy that bounded reality together through the Astral Plane, buckled and strained in revulsion at the single Word.
Eve's eye opened wide like a dinner plate as the spellwork just stopped. The fear in her eye was recognizable as her arms dangled downwards in sheer shock. Most of Violence's power and souls had been drained away. More then enough for what Eve had to do but she stared dumbfounded at the raw power of Erebuz's Name.
Her ears rang. Her heart pounded. Sweat gushed from her pores as the fight or flight instinct was burned out from the overwhelming desire to run for her life. She went down to her knees and sat slumped for a few moments as her body tried to restore itself.
'Leolik.......... I cant fight him...... I'm so scared........ Please......' Eve's eye then streaked with red blood tears as she tried so desperately hard to stand - to regain her composure and her mind's control.
'Help me.... I'm begging you.......... I need your Light... I'm sorry'
She called out, hoping - no - praying... Praying to the Lord of Light that He would help her. She felt so powerless - so scared - as if she were back in the very place where she was brutalized by Adam and staring at his enraged fists as they were prepared to fall down upon her once more.
Her mind was reeling. She suffered as she went back and forth between Eden and Hell - struggling to find the mind that would use the words she desperately needed to use.
Her body stood and acted on instinct as she tried desperately to focus herself and wobbled on her feet "I'm sorry..." she whispered, "I'm so sorry, Father..... Please forgive your foolish child.... I can't stop Him...... I'm so scared....." She continued as more tears went down her cheeks and she sank back to her knees, "I need your Light... I need your Peace. I need your Harmony. I can't see where I am supposed to go.... Leolik...... I'm begging you. Help me!!"
Amidst Eve's tears, a spark ignited within her. A flame, minuscule but alive and fueled by her repentance, burned within her chest - deep in the crushing darkness that poisoned her soul. Finally, a Voice reverberated from the flame. It held the same unfathomable power as Erebuz, if not greater, yet it was not smothering. It was smooth like water, and warm like a hearth.
"I have missed you greatly," the Voice spoke. "... my beloved daughter. I have heard your cry, and I will lend you a gift to light your way through the darkness. Remember, Ḥawwāh, that courage is not the absence of fear - but rising up in spite of it. Use the Spark I have given you. It is a piece of my Everlasting Flame - the only light strong enough to contend against my fallen son's darkness and repel his hatred. Hearken, though, my child, for the Flame can never be used for wickedness. Use it honorably, and remember that it is not your own Power, but yet an expression of your Faith. This is merely the first step..."
Eve's voice sailed upwards as she stood again and focused her eyes. Her body radiated with the glow of Creation's Light and she shouted at the top of her lungs "EREBUZ!!! I WILL NOT LET YOU END ME!! I WILL BRING DOWN THE FURY OF FATHER UPON THIS LAND. ALL OF THESE SOULS, THESE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE BROUGHT ON BY MY SON CAIN; THEY WILL GIVE ME THE STRENGTH I NEED TO POWER SOMETHING YOU CANNOT COMPREHEND. I CANNOT KILL YOU BUT I SURE AS ALL HEAVEN CAN SLOW YOU DOWN. LEAVE THIS TEMPLE. TAKE YOUR PLACE ON THIS FIELD AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE POWER I HAVE IN MY ARSENAL. YOU THINK ME A CHILD.... I AM EVE, AND I AM NAIVE NO MORE!"
Erebuz growled at Eve, but winced in surprise at the divine light that radiated from her.
"Impossible..." he whispered, before His Avatar rose to its full height. [b]"Then, Mother of Man, join me in the sands if you so believe that your light can stand against the All Consuming Darkness. We shall duel for ownership of the Circle!"
The great Black Serpent vanished like a cloud of smoke in the desert winds. However, the reprieve was short-lived. For a storm of chaotic energies materialized over the great desert.
Eve would smirk as the Light washed over her form and she looked down at her hands. The warmth from the spark inside her gave her courage. "Oh Erebuz.... You unbelievable fool. Do you truly think you will ever gain my lands? We will duel... but neither of us will win"
As all this had occurred, Sirad's eyes had been closed. She had not been focusing even on what was seen. Instead, she had finally figured out something. Long ago, when she was researching Erebuz, she discovered information. It spoke of how He was imprisoned. Now at the time she knew she could not... Her powers were not even close to what was needed, but things had changed drastically, and while He had spoken and all had occurred her attention was on one thing - the Throne. As she channeled the power from it, she started reciting words so ancient and holy that, if Erebuz had been listening, He would have stopped. Instead she just kept on reciting the same mantra over and over. More like a prayer than a spell, she like her sister was embracing somewhat who she was. Though different things were occurring, and this power was not the kind He could ignore.
Each time she recited the same wording her eyes glowed more intensely and flowed with untold abilities and skill. Nothing mattered more - not her, not Eve - only to finish this prayer and summon power older than herself. An ethereal glow echoied from her body as she paid no heed to anything, instead just focusing on the ancient magic. This was the only way, but once she unleashed this it would chain her to the throne forever.
It did not matter, though. It needed to be done. Nothing would stop this. Each recitation was quiet but growing steadily in power. Only now Erebuz would notice and recognize the wording. Only now would he hear it, but as it rang out she screamed, "Erebuz, The Unweaver! By the Power Vested in me and the wording of ancient powers you fear, I banish you! I banish you from Hell and I banish you from Heaven! You are right. I am not powerful, but the power of the Throne is Unlimited. I just never channeled it because of what it meant." As she finally spoke the words in a tongue Erebuz knew, a holy glow of utter radiance would shine out from her as well as a glow of infernal purple.
The sea of All Consuming Darkness surged as the Words of Power and the Light of Creation erupted from the temple. Yet, even as the power grew, the mass rose in kind. The darkness roared and thundered with eldritch fury as the proclamation was Spoken. He, the cosmic force of Destruction itself, shattered the earth in His throes and caused the sands to melt and boil into glass and magma before freezing once more. Finally, as the curse set...
The sky cracked once more.
Erebuz's laugh echoed through the realm.
"Silly, stupid child..." His Voice whispered into her mind. "You still do not comprehend what I am - WHO I am?! I am the Destroyer, and the same Deceiver that you have chained beneath your throne. He is but an echo - a splinter - of myself. I am the shadow to the light that you carry. I am the darkness - the corruption that eats away at all of Creation. You seek to banish me?! First you must banish the darkness of your own heart and of every soul within this Cursed Realm!"
A demonic hand shot out from the darkness and attempted to catch Sirad in a vice grip. The grip, at its full strength, would have been enough to crush mountains into neutron stars, but Erebuz settled for squeezing the life from the insignificant insect that had dared to control Him.
Erebuz pressed the full might of His will upon her. He examined her with His terrible eyes and saw all that she was, is, could have been, would be, and He smiled. The Great Weave was laid bare before Him, and His gaze narrowed upon the threads binding her to the Throne of Hell.
The Unweaver then opened His mouth and Spoke. "S̙͚͕̫ͧ̓ͦ͡r̭͙͖̠̰̥͍̠ͦ̽̿́ͥE̛̞̫̬̩̜͇̜ͤ̉͂̏ͦ͒͢ͅe̪̮̯̬̼͍̩͓̍͂V̨̡̝̲̦̦̜͊ͮ̑̌̌̑̏̀v̧̗̥̬͚̰͖͎͕̓ͧ̈̃͂̓ͧ͑́͢Ḙ̷ͧ̌̊ͥ̓ͅḙ̳̮̝̯̙ͩ̾̕Ŗ̪̼͓̞̝̜ͨ͒̌̀ͤͬ͛͞ş̷̾̎ͪ̚͏̥̲͖̖̜̣"
The threads, and all of Creation, shuddered at the Word of Power that resonated with an ancient authority that transcended time. Suddenly - and violently - the threads of magic were torn and severed like an amputated limb.
Erebuz smirked in glee, knowing that the violent removal of her power would create a violent backlash against her. He felt the surge of divine power being snapped into her body like a rubber band. Surely, the cosmic power that no mortal - ascended or otherwise - was meant to bear would utterly destroy her.
However, the Unweaver's brow rose in confusion when the maelstrom of cosmic energy simply vanished and bled into the astral plane.
"HOW?!" Erebuz thundered in frustration, but sudden realization dawned upon His face. He sneered knowingly - amused. "Well played, father." He spat the title as His avatar vanished in a puff of smoke. "Well played..."
