BOOK 2/68 - Eye of The Sol

Ring - 1st
Realm - SOL

A pair of golden sandals stepped out of a thick grey fog and crunched on fiery earth and stones below. Black feet with cracks that leaked red and golden energy. Another pair joined the first on its right, then another on its left. A third followed to the right and a fourth to the left. A final pair of golden Sandals stopped as well while a pair of feet made of coarse stone followed.

“We have arrived". Thorin, Titan of Strength and Giants mumbled. His red flaming hair flowing and waving in the hot winds as he stared up the massive Spire.

“The Eye of Sol". Hellion, Titan of Light and Stars muttered, taking another step forward. His eyes peeled the walls ahead and his domain told him the truth he could see and hear.

“Is that its name?". Stryder, Titaness of Life and Nature asked, her eyes didn't stray from the Monolith that stood before them. “Fitting".

“Beautiful!". Was Blaze, Titan of Earth and Fire’s only words.

“This…”. A gravelly sound, like rocks on rocks echoed and all the Titans turned to the Golem to their side. "... is as far as I go”.

Five sets of eyes narrowed. “Why?”. Thorin queried, stepping closer.

Horkirk stared at them for a second, raised his left hand up, cocking it backwards and swung forward with full might. His fist stopped half punch forming a ripple of light from where he hit.

“That..this..".

“A barrier. If the fog fails". Hellion sighed. The Golem nodded. “Good luck".

"You're leaving? “. Stryder's expression turned solemn.

“No. I am here. I shall wait".

“Then let's get this over with". Mera yelled her body igniting in solar energy.

“What are those?". Blaze spoke up. Everyone turned and saw the Titan staring straight forward.

Mera frowned then slowly turned to the Pantheon. “When did we last see those fairies?".

Silence hit the group.

Hellion's mind spun as his domain tried to find the answer. “I…I don't know”.

Everyone gave him shocked looks. "How?" . Thorin shook his head. “Let's just go, they're right there. Let's ask them?".

The Titans hurried forward, Stryder waving at Horkirk who nodded back. As the Titans hurried faster Horkirk turned his head and stared into the Fog. With a rough sigh and grin expression he turned around and walked off to the side.

Stryder and Mera were the first to reach the Fairies. Their eyes glaring at the tiny winged creatures hovering within their line of sight.

“And where exactly have you five been?". The Titaness queried with eyes of steel. The fairies buzzing above all came to a halt. Their facial expressions told the Titans that the five were just seemingly realizing themselves.

“Speak up". Mera frowned.

“Weren't you five supposed to guide us through the realm?". Thorin asked as he arrived. “Why'd you leave and why don't we remember or know when you left?".

"I told you all this was a bad idea”. Tirsti whispered.

"Yeah, like you weren't the one to suggest it”. Ziei deadpanned before glaring at Antmo who frowned.

“Why me?".

“Just do it!". Jimin urged pushing the fairy down.

Antmo floated forward with a sigh and focused on the Pantheon. “After the initial explanation you wouldn't need us so we got bored and left".

The group collectively frowned and Antmo flew backwards hurriedly. Ziei sighed. “Due to how things were before, there was no way for The Pantheon to get anything that we would need to explain". She waved towards the fig where Horkirk was as evidence. So we just came here to wait for you”.

"It's not like we were useful in combat”. Jimin groaned.

“Still won't be. At Least till they ascend". Tirsti pointed out.

"That's why we're here". Thorin just shook.his head with a sigh.

“YES!". Four of them collectively yelled while Ziei buzzed forward.

“But first". She pointed behind them. “There's a situation".

The five turned. Thorin blinking, Hellion sighing and Stryder frowning. The fog was rolling through the land and closer to them at a moderate pace. But it was one that would get to them within minutes.

“Didn't we kill that Wyrm thing?". Stryder queried.

“We did".Was Thorin's short reply.

“Why is the fog acting up then?".

"It's not acting up. It's getting drawn in”. Hellion looked down. “Into the ground. Whatever is drawing it in…”. He turned and looked behind, his eyes stopping at a good mile of space between the Monument and the last spot he could see. "...it's way back there”.

The Titan took off in a race, his feet stomping on the earth and digging in before propelling forward at sharp speed. The Titans followed and the Fairies buzzed along from above.

Hellion stopped, not seeing the pull here. “The fog shouldn't roll up here". He informed the others.

“What now?". Mera tightened and released her fingers.

Thorin had been looking over the Monument they stood beneath. It was tall and large. The tallness was the kind that vanished into the rust red clouds about.

The Eye of Sol itself had a large and long stairway running along its side connecting to what looked like a balcony.

“We go in". He spoke and pointed, showing the others the stairs and the opening in the long Tower.

“We might want to hurry". Stryder’s voice alerted them. The fog vanishing into the ground in front of them formed humanoid looking creatures as well as monstrosity similar to what they fought in the Cross.

“Go!. Head for the stairs, now". Thorin took off in a run for the stairs and the others followed even the frowning Mera.

“We're still far!". Hellion noted the space between them and the Monument was still large. It wasn't enough to keep them away for long but it was enough time to have those creatures catch up if they were just as fast.

The Pantheon raced for the Monument pumping their feet.

“Stryder, get us there!". Hellion yelled. The Titaness gave him a glance before nodding. Turning I to a blue of gold she vanished into the distance with Thorin. Mera, already burning with Solar energy, grabbed Blaze and leaped into the sky flying forward.

Hellion dashed forward using his Light Step continuously.

Stryder blurred up the Stairs and dropped Thorin at the edge before halting. Both looked below to see Mera streaking like a comet towards them and a burst of white blur following below at sharp intervals.

The chattering and muttering of the tiny voices above their heads was ignored as fast as it drew their attention. A deep roar echoing from far into the distance.

“What was that?".

“I don't know".

Thorin scanned the area. The Monument sat at the center of a large expanse of land. The edges just past the Wyrm's Cross were darkened while past where Hellion had stopped was filled with numerous flowers of various colors that threw off the realms normal theme of red and gold and burning.

“Thorin, those creatures”. Stryder warned. His eyes moved to them and narrowed. The spawning entities were forming ranks, gathering at the very edge they had stopped at.

The fog streaming out of the Cross funneled into the ground and formed more wide this humanoids and creatures.

Mera landed next to them, her energy dying out and Blaze stepping away. “What's happening?".

“Trouble". Stryder sighed.

*Should we be here watching?”. Blaze asked with a blank gaze. Thorin frowned and then shook.his head.

"No, we shouldn't”. Turning he looked to Hellion just as he blurred in with a final use of Light Step, halting next to them. “We should head in quickly and see…”.

Another roar, louder, deeper and filled with wrath echoed. The ground shook and the Titans watched the air boil. The spawns below roared and snarled out.

The sound of beating wings came next. Thumps and thuds following closely behind it.

“Here it comes”. Tirsti muttered, clear enough for them to hear. The Titans didn't get to ask what she meant or what was coming. The path they'd come out of exploded with a rain of stone, dust and debris. The fog billowed forward like a Tsunami
rushing across the land.

"It's hiding in the fog”. Hellion bellowed, drawing his blade with a sharp screech of metal against scabbard.

The spawns below roared and screeched one more and like a Tide surged forward.

Thorin's hammer appeared in his palm and Blaze’s chains dropped with rattles and a clang of steel against stone.

Mera floated up in her fiery glory and Stryder unsheathed her blades.

“Get ready". Thorin urged.

"More orbs for us”. Mera grinned.

The spawns raced across the land. Then the fog burst open and the Titans stared in shock.

"That's…". Stryder stuttered.

“Change of plans. Stryder, you should head inside and scour the Monument. Fairies guide her”. Hellion commanded.

" But…".

“No buts. Tell.her Thorin. I have a bad feeling that it could kill us. We can't finish this fight if we're going to die".

Thorin frowned then turned to Hellion. " You're right. Stryder, take Hellion with you while going in. Complete the ascension and if you can return to us. If you can't we'll hopefully know. Now go!”.

"If we can get killed by those things then we need to stay…”.

"Go Stryder. Take him". She frowned at his words

“Stryder, we're here. Unless you're slow, we'll still be here when you both get back". Mera chuckled.

Casting a glance over the group she sighed then turned to Hellion. The Titan had his eyes in the distance.

“Thorin. You'll need more than you to bring it down". He spoke before vanishing in a blur of gold as Stryder raced him away.

No one spoke for a good minute. Then Blaze sighed. “What's the plan?".

“Blaze, you get the ground. Mera you got the sky. I'll take that thing".

“That's…white simple". She sighed.

“I'm not Hellion". Thorin tossed and caught his hammer.

“No, you're not. You are Thorin. Now put that hammer to use". She replied.

“Watch my back".

Their eyes returned to the enemy charging them. An enemy that has crossed the edges of the darkened land and pushed through the flowers, trampling them.

The wing beats created shockwaves that buffeted the land.

‘Is this what it's like when Ignis flies through?’. Thorin wasn't sure. His focus remained on the gigantic Wyrm, now with large wings that dragged its large form through the air.

Thorin or the group has not bothered with understanding how it had even survived death. Sighing Thorin rushed forward, straight for the edge of the stairs and jumped off.

His giant domain activated. All of his portfolios applied to himself. His feet hurt the ground faster than it should have. His body expanded and rose tall and large.

“Holy shit".era muttered in awe.

It wasn't just the Tirna growing, his hammer expanded as well. A large gigantic eye stared back at the two from the side. “I have an order". His voice boomed, reverberating through the realm. “I have enjoyed playing this game with you lot. Don't die”.

Turning the Giant rushed forward. His gaze focused on the singular enemy he has grown for. Ignoring the miniscule flyers next to it. How feet shook the ground and his hand holding the hammer rose up ready to descend.

“You heard the big man. No dying". Mera shot into the sky like a comet and straight for the flying horde.

A sigh escaped the Titan of Earth. His arms moving slowly at first then fast. He has no need to go down. “This spot will suffice”.

Twin chains shot upwards in opposite directions then came back with a metallic creak and rattle. To the monsters rushing forward to the monument, it was like a giant chain descended on them, blotting out the sky.

BOOM!

The chain struck with a spark and flash fire raced through the land and monsters with a speed only out paced by Stryder. Half the field vanished and its monsters with it. Then the second chain struck as well and the other half was gone.

Blaze drew back his chains and looked up. It was suddenly too hot. ‘That’s why’.

Up there Mera held a ball of energy so large and hot it was a mini sun. Torrents of wind fed it and made it grow larger while she pumped it with essence as well.

Then she flung it at the flying horde.

It was the first Blaze would ever see a sun thrown at enemies. The detonation was nothing short of nuclear. ‘That’s why we can't descend in our true forms’.

The Wyrm tanked the explosion as the heat and fire spread through the plains. Before it could recover it took a hammer to the head, shocking it.

“That was quick”. Blaze murmured.

Fog spilled from the Wyrm and from the Cross behind it. Filling the land and vanishing even faster than before. It left double the numbers of the previous spawns.

‘Jinxed us, didn't I’. With a sigh he loosed the chains again and looked to the battle between dragon and giant. Well it was a Wyrm but still dragonic, that counted.

Exhaling he dashed forward and leapt off the stairs, chains flying through the air and descending with him. Above a meteor streaked through flying creatures turning them to ash.

The ground shook and shockwaves shook the air and parted the clouds as Dragon and Giant duked it out.

_

Inside the Monument Stryder and Hellion raced up long stairs that took them higher and higher
Following the five fairies chattering amongst themselves.

“How do you think they're holding?". Stryder asked.

“Well enough".

“You know?".

“No, but I can feel it. Mera won't go down without a fight and Blaze is near invincible as long as he stays back. Thorin is the Titan of Strength. If he plays his portfolios well he can come out victorious".

“And If it was us there?".

Hellion paused then shrugged. “You'd end the8bs faster than Mera and Blaze could, not sure how you'd use your Domains but I can see it for the flying mobs. We'd be hard pressed to take out that Wyrm though. You're fast but your damage isn't up to Blaze's or Mera's let alone Thorin's. Your damage should be the weakest but thanks to how fast you hit you're objectively above me in DPS”.

"I guess”. She nodded in acceptance and looked at the fairies with a sigh. They'd told them not to use their more useful powers here. Their cackling made Stryder suspect it was a lie but she couldn't prove it. Besides, the number of branching stairs told her to follow the Fairies and not be lost. Besides she didn't know what they had to do to complete their quest. ‘This is so annoying’.

Their run up the stairs soon came to an end though as the Fairies led them past various large rooms and doors and into a large chamber.

The first eye-catching thing in there was the large pond that sat at the center of the room. At the sides of the room we're five thrones made of some unknown material. It was similar to the thrones on the first floor.

“Drink from the water".Tirsti told her.

Hellion glanced at Jimin who nodded to him. Without hesitating the two knelt by the pond and cupped their palms. Drinking the water sent a steaming cold and warmth through them.

The sound of something grinding and rattling echoed within their heads.

Hellion stood shaking his head and eyeing the notifications that echoed through the air. Both for him and for Stryder.


**Throne of SOL - Unclaimed**
**High Queen of SOL - Unclaimed**

**SOL Connection Set**
**Royal Essence Signature Confirmed**
**Eye of the Sol Region Unlocked**
**Eye of the Sol Region Effect claimed**
**Realm wide Sovereignty activated**


**Tears of the Absolute devoured**

**Domains - Light, Stars - Detected**
**Domain - Light Bound to Elder Titan Hellion's Essence**
**Domain - Stars Bound to Elder Titan Hellion's Essence**

**Elder Titan now bound to the Primordial Haero**

**Congratulations Elder Titan Hellion. You are now technically Immortal. So long as your Parent remain in existence you will always exist**

**Ascension complete-Please Hold on**
**Quest - Domain complete**
**Rewards - Please Hold on**

**Throne of SOL - Unclaimed**
**High King of SOL - Unclaimed**

**SOL Connection Set**
**Royal Essence Signature Confirmed**
**Eye of the Sol Region Unlocked**
**Eye of the Sol Region claimed**
**Realm wide Sovereignty activated**


“We did it". Stryder turned to him and he looked at her. “I don't get the ‘Please Hold on’ part but we did it.

"Yes. Now we're technically immortal. Let's go help the others".

Stryder became a blur of gold and vanished with Hellion. Racing down the stairs she briefly pondered if the fairies had indeed lied before shrugging.

In a blur of gold, she and Stryder appeared on the Stairway. Blaze had his back to the and was swinging or reforming the earth while turning anything that came too close to him to ash, erasing them with his chains.

Mera was in the sky squashing the flyers while Thorin.

“Oh my". Stryder blinked. Hellion shook his head.

“Think we could take the Wyrm together?”.

"I believe so”.

With a grin she grabbed his shoulder and blurred off the stairs. Raced through the horde of monsters x both humanoids four legged, eldritch and more. Raced up Thorin's leg and onto the Wyrm while both were still entangled.

“Thorin!. Go!. We got this”. Stryder yelled.

“You're sure?*. With another swing he asked.

"Yes. Now go. Get Mera and take her with you”. Hellion yelled.

Thorin didn't need further assurance. With a grunt he disengaged. The Wyrm roared and followed only for a White whip to tangle its jaws and neck. Hellion jumped, swinging around and unto its back.

“Time to ride a dragon". With a grunt he flooded his limbs with essence and tugged. The Wyrm roared as it was forced to turn away.

“Stryder! Wipe out those airborne mobs and come help me".

Hellion shouted.

“How are you sure I can handle them?". She frowned. The Sword Titan jerked the light construct rope to the right forcibly before giving her a side eye.

“Bloody use your Domains".

Stryder shut her eyes. Hands holding onto a scale of the Wyrm she focused within her. Then she let go and dropped off. Hellion glanced back then tugged again keeping the Wyrm in place. More ropes of light formed binding its jaws shut and legs and using its own body to offset the weight and strength.

Stryder floated midair, the sharp hot winds of Summer keeping her afloat. Her golden eyes flashed an eight green for a second before fading back to gold.

All the flying mobs in the sky paused their mad charge at the Monument with Mera now gone.

All of them turned, eyes a bright green and fixed on her. Slowly she pointed at the Wyrm. "Kill”.