Backed into a corner

The armies trying to block Endora’s troops from reaching the capital of Life were now gone, either massacred by the successive attacks of Pearl and Elise or having retreated to the capital.

The grand wall surrounding the capital was filled to the brim with ascended, all looking up and towards the east, awaiting their enemy’s arrival.

High King Soren was at the lead of the defender army, sitting high above one of the towers on the east, his body slowly moving between existence and non-existence, trying to adapt to his newfound power.

In contrast, Thanatos was waiting safely on the palace’s balcony, taking pleasure in the fear and nervousness of the people outside and waiting for the war to begin.

The armies of Endora arrived.

The ascended, which trebled in fear and uneasiness not even a month ago, now looked like wild beasts eager for war. Seth’s two successive attacks had raised the morale and confidence of everyone present there.

The flying platform stopped about a mile away from the capital’s walls, hovering in mid-air as Seth watched the enemy with a deep look.

“We’re awaiting your orders, Your Majesty.” Said the air ascended responsible for delivering Seth’s words to the others.

“Hm.” Seth released a sound of acknowledgment before turning towards Elise: “What do you think?”

“Weak. There are less than 10 000 ascended waiting on the wall. We have three times their numbers, and a wall is worthless to protect against ascended.” Replied Elise, using the Blood Sun to feel the life inside the city.

“Indeed, but since they didn’t run for their lives, things must not be as easy as they appear to be. Can you pick anything up with your air energy?”

“No. My energy can’t extend inside the city.”

Seth expected nothing less, having already anticipated Soren to guard against something so simple.

“Why don’t we use the same attack tactic? W-we can use one more bomb to take care of whatever they had hidden.”

Seth listened to Pearl’s words but shook his head, looking straight towards the highest tower. “We could, but they probably already expect something like that. That’s the thing about that attack; it won’t work many times against the same foe. We’re doing it the normal way.”

“Relay my words to the back.”

“Third and fourth shell ascended. Listen up.”

“Space ascended, teleport the fourth shell darkness ascended in the back of the capital, a safe distance away where the enemy won’t be able to stop the portals.”

Darkness ascended; await Elise’s instructions and infiltrate the capital using your abilities. Your mission is to gather as much information as possible. Only attack a target if you are 100 percent sure you can do it quickly and without getting noticed. Your primary mission is to find out Thanatos’s location and report it back. The moment you do, retreat out of the capital."

“Air ascended. You must deliver instructions to other ascended and keep an ear out for any darkness ascended reports. You must also carefully listen for any signs of injured ascended on our side.”

“Earth ascended. You will be responsible for destroying the integrity of the city wall. There are earth ascended in Life’s armies, but they should be powerless against you.”

“Space ascended. You will remain with the life ascended in the back, teleporting your fellow ascended to get healed before returning them to the main battlefield. The air ascended will inform you of the location of the injured. You are also responsible for supplying everyone with energy vials.”

“Time ascended. You are the to slow down any attack that might reach out troops, ensuring we won’t get overwhelmed.”

“Fire and destruction ascended. You’ll be the main artillery. Aim your strongest attacks at the largest groups of enemies. Communicate and ask for energy vials if your energy begins to run out.”

“Light and water ascended. You will be in charge of defending everyone. Use water energy to stop the attacks and light energy to confuse the enemy troops with illusions. Make sure there are as few casualties as possible in our ranks.”

“Creation ascended. You’ll be on standby, awaiting further commands.”

“First and second ascended, you’ll be the front line in the war. When the wall surrounding the city falls, you’ll be marching in there, fighting against the enemy ascended up close.”

“It is a dangerous position, and some of you might die, but remember what we are fighting for. We are fighting for the survival of the entire world. If we fail here, we will have no place to run to when the destruction of the entire world comes looking for us.”

“The attack will begin at night so that our darkness ascended can infiltrate the city easier.”

“Remember. Defeat is not an option.”

With Seth’s orders in place, the air platform was lowered back to the ground, and everyone started getting ready for the attack.

————

On the other side, high on the walls of the Life capital, Soren observed the armies of Endora land and turned towards a knight on his side.

“Since they didn’t choose to use that strange attack again, we can assume there’s some limitation, but we must also not lower our guard.”

“They will attack at night. Be careful of enemy infiltration and increase the guards on the city’s western side.”

The knight went to deliver Soren’s orders as the High King continued watching the enemy camp with a pensive look. Suddenly, a smirk appeared on his lips, and he muttered a quiet: “Why not.” as his source began spinning wildly.

———

Seth and the other fourth shell or higher destruction ascended all suddenly stopped whatever they were doing, turning to look towards the capital of Life.

“Elise, tell everyone to get ready. The enemy is attacking.” Said Seth quickly, beginning to circle his energy. He could feel an increasing amount of destruction energy coming from the capital of Life.

Elise didn’t know what was happening but quickly relayed his words.

An uneasy feeling spread among the camp shortly after as a giant dark red orb of energy appeared above Life’s walls, its size increasing with every passing moment.

“Seventh shell…” muttered Seth, biting his lower lip in frustration.

He had no idea there would be a seventh shell ascended in the enemy ranks, but that was a great deal of trouble, even more so since it was a destruction ascended.

If he still had his divinity, taking care of that attack would have been easy, but now, he was powerless.

‘Simulate that attack.’

<90% of Endora’s armies will be obliterated.>

“Noth…” muttered Seth through his clenched teeth, his eyes filled with nothing but rage. He knew Noth must have allowed Soren to increase his power in preparation for this war.

The fact that he was forced to play along the tune of what he would have considered nothing but ants in his past life frustrated Seth the most.

“Elise, change of plans. Tell everyone to attack immediately. A quick and hard front assault.”

Elise appeared confused and wanted to ask why, but Seth turned his dark red eyes on her, making her heart skip as she quickly relayed the attack orders.

While the ascended were equally confused by what was happening, Seth raised his hand towards the city of Life, the vortex at the center of his source shining brighter and brighter, slowly breaking the shells around it.

‘Restore link to the Tower.’

No notification appeared this time in Seth’s vision, but a feeble voice resounded in his ears.

‘Seth, doing that will…’

‘I know, but there’s no other way. Falling here means the end of everything. I need to use it. I’m sorry, system, but don’t worry; I’m not letting you fall under its control again.’

The system’s voice fell silent following Seth’s words, and a notification appeared in his vision.

<The link to the Tower has been established.>

<Access to the World Records is available.>

Seth’s source kept burning brightly, the last traces of his small piece of divinity extinguished to push his source to the limit.

As a horrible energy started engulfing Seth’s body, the orb of destruction growing above the city exploded, wiping out all the ascended nearby and destroying a quarter of the city’s buildings.

Seth ignored the spectacle caused by his forceful detonation of Soren’s energy, turning to look at the stunned Elise.

“I don’t have much time. Cover us in air energy so others won’t listen.”

Once Elise did as he told her, Seth continued: “Soren is heavily injured and won’t able to fight anymore. The enemy armies are in shambles and won’t put up much resistance.”

“Find Thanatos as quickly as possible. He’s in the palace watching the show. He had already spread ascended ready to detonate along the kingdoms of the Endora Empire, planning to use our empire as prisoners. Ignore his threat and use the Blood Sun to capture him alive. With the strength you have gathered from the last sacrifice, it shouldn’t be that hard.”

“With Thanatos in your hand, quickly leave this place and head south. There will be no Endora to return to anymore. Instead, head for Dream’s place along with Pearl and Lisa. Once there, Dream should be able to control Death’s consciousness inside Thanatos.”

Elisa was doing her best to process Seth’s orders when she noticed his body cracking like a piece of stone, the cracks extending from his heart, covering the rest of his body.

“What about you? What happened?” she asked in a panic.

“I had to do it. I used the small piece of divinity that kept my will tethered to my energy and soul to break into the eighth shell and control Soren’s energy. Now my source and body are slowly crumbling. Take my place so the army won’t lose morale. I’m counting on you, Elise. There’s still a chance for us.”

“What chance? You’re dying. What -“

Elise began to panic, but Seth surprised her by suddenly kissing her lips, making her eyes widen in surprise.

Even with everything they had been together, she was the only woman in which Seth never showed any interest, making her believe he never will, but now, just as he was about to die, he had kissed her.

Seth released her from his kiss, moving his hand through her hair as he said softly.

“Take care of everything. I promise I’ll come back to you alive.”

With Elise starting to cry tears of blood once more, Seth separated from her, took a deep breath, and whispered something Elise didn’t hear under his breath.

“I answer the Tower’s calling and agree to take its trial.”