Chapter 193 — Persephone
The silence Lilith left behind followed Xcution back to the palace.
Nobody mentioned it.
That made it worse.
Crowley walked ahead of everyone, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.
Brook watched him.
Normally, Crowley would have said something by now.
A joke.
An insult.
Something unnecessary.
But he remained quiet.
Sera eventually spoke.
"So, are we going to talk about what happened?"
Crowley kept walking.
"No."
Sera stared at the back of his head.
"That wasn't a question."
"It sounded like one."
Henry glanced at Brook.
Brook shrugged.
Crowley was acting strange.
That alone was enough to make him uncomfortable.
They entered the palace.
Hutena was sitting near one of the windows.
Her eyes were closed.
Brook immediately stopped.
Sera noticed.
"What?"
Brook looked at Hutena.
"She wasn't like that when we left."
Crowley finally looked up.
Hutena suddenly inhaled.
Her eyes opened.
Brook's fourth mark burned.
He grabbed his arm.
Sera immediately turned toward him.
"Brook?"
Hutena looked directly at him.
Then whispered:
"Flowers."
Henry frowned.
"What?"
Hutena stood.
Her expression was disturbed.
"Flowers everywhere."
Brook's arm continued burning.
Crowley stepped closer.
"What did you see?"
Hutena slowly turned toward the window.
"A woman."
The room became quiet.
Sera's expression changed.
"Who?"
Hutena swallowed.
"I don't know."
Then—
the palace shook.
Everyone froze.
A loud impact came from outside.
The windows trembled.
Another impact followed.
Then—
screaming.
Crowley was the first to move.
"Finally."
Sera looked at him.
"You're happy about this?"
"No."
Crowley opened the door.
"But I'd rather fight something than sit around waiting for a prophecy."
Brook followed him.
Henry and Charon immediately followed behind.
Sera remained beside Hutena.
"Stay here."
Hutena looked at her.
"She's coming."
Sera stopped.
"What?"
Hutena looked toward the door.
"The woman."
Another explosion shook Asteria.
Sera's expression hardened.
"Stay here."
Then she ran.
The streets of Asteria were already in chaos.
Guards were fighting.
People were running.
Buildings had been damaged.
Brook immediately saw the creatures.
Abominations.
Dozens.
No—
hundreds.
But something was wrong.
Brook had fought Abominations before.
They attacked instinctively.
Hungry.
Wild.
Violent.
These were different.
They moved together.
One group attacked the guards.
Another climbed the walls.
Several waited behind them.
Watching.
Brook's expression hardened.
"They're controlled."
Crowley looked toward the creatures.
"You're sure?"
Brook watched them.
One stopped.
Every Abomination stopped.
Then—
they all turned toward the same direction.
Brook drew his weapon.
"Yeah."
The first creature charged.
Brook moved.
His weapon cut through its neck.
The Abomination collapsed.
Another came immediately.
Brook twisted.
His elbow struck its face.
Bone shattered.
He grabbed it by the throat and threw it into another creature.
Crowley walked forward.
Hellfire appeared around his hand.
The Abominations surrounding him screamed.
Crowley raised his hand.
The flames moved.
They didn't spread randomly.
They hunted.
Three creatures were consumed.
Another jumped toward him.
Crowley allowed it.
The creature's claws entered his chest.
Henry shouted.
"Crowley!"
Crowley looked down.
The Abomination smiled.
Then—
Crowley grabbed its head.
"Bad choice."
Hellfire exploded.
The creature disappeared.
Crowley's wound closed immediately.
The flesh repaired itself.
The blood vanished.
Henry stared.
"Still creepy."
Crowley smiled.
"Thank you."
Sera raised her hand.
"Stop."
Three Abominations froze.
The creatures struggled.
Her Word magic held them.
Then Sera clenched her fist.
The ground rose beneath them.
The creatures were thrown backward.
Brook looked at her.
"You've gotten better."
Sera didn't look away from the battlefield.
"I've been practicing."
Brook smiled.
"Good."
Henry looked toward them.
"Now isn't really the time—"
An Abomination crashed into him.
Henry flew backward.
Charon immediately moved.
The ectoplasm expanded.
A massive arm formed from Henry's shoulder.
It caught the creature.
Henry stopped inches from the ground.
Charon slammed the Abomination into the street.
Once.
Twice.
Then released it.
Henry stared.
"Thanks."
Charon formed a face.
"Together."
Henry smiled.
"Together."
Then—
everything stopped.
Brook felt it first.
The Abominations.
Every single one.
They became completely still.
Crowley looked around.
"That isn't good."
Brook turned.
The creatures moved away.
Not retreating.
Making a path.
The guards of Asteria stopped fighting.
The street became silent.
Footsteps came from the distance.
Slow.
Calm.
A woman appeared.
Brook immediately understood Hutena's dream.
Flowers.
She was surrounded by them.
Small flowers grew wherever her feet touched the ground.
Purple.
White.
Black.
They appeared between the cracks in the stone.
Then died.
Then appeared again.
The woman continued walking.
Brook watched her carefully.
She was beautiful.
Too calm.
Her expression almost peaceful.
But every Abomination around her waited for her command.
She stopped.
And smiled.
"Brook."
Brook's hand tightened around his weapon.
"You know me."
The woman tilted her head.
"Of course."
Crowley stepped beside him.
"And you are?"
She looked at Crowley.
Her smile disappeared for a moment.
"Interesting."
Crowley frowned.
"Not an answer."
The woman looked toward Brook again.
"You have many things inside you."
Brook's expression hardened.
"Who are you?"
She looked down.
Flowers grew around her feet.
Then she raised her eyes.
"Persephone."
Sera arrived beside Brook.
She stared at the woman.
Henry whispered:
"Like the goddess?"
Persephone smiled.
"Like the goddess."
Brook stared.
The name didn't make him relax.
It made him more cautious.
Crowley looked at the Abominations.
"You control these?"
Persephone looked around.
"They listen."
Brook stepped forward.
"Why?"
Persephone's eyes moved toward him.
"Because someone asked me to."
Brook immediately understood.
"Silvet."
Persephone smiled.
"Very good."
Crowley's expression darkened.
"He sent you."
"He told me Asteria had become interesting."
Persephone looked directly at Brook.
"He was correct."
Brook's fourth mark burned.
Persephone noticed.
Her smile widened.
"Very interesting."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"What does he want?"
Persephone shrugged.
"He didn't tell me."
Crowley laughed.
"You came here with an army and don't know why?"
Persephone looked toward him.
"I know my purpose."
"Then explain it."
She looked at Brook.
"To fight."
The Abominations moved.
Brook immediately raised his weapon.
Persephone lifted one hand.
Every creature stopped again.
She looked directly at Brook.
"I was told not to kill you."
Brook's expression changed.
Crowley stepped closer.
"And the rest of us?"
Persephone smiled.
"Silvet didn't mention you."
Crowley stared.
"That bastard."
Persephone lowered her hand.
The Abominations charged.
Brook moved first.
He disappeared.
Then appeared directly in front of the approaching creatures.
His weapon cut through one.
Then another.
He moved through them.
Fast.
His Sources pushing his body beyond normal limits.
An Abomination attacked from behind.
Brook turned.
His hand caught its face.
He slammed it into the ground.
The impact cracked the street.
Another creature came toward him.
Brook disappeared.
Reappeared behind it.
One strike.
Dead.
The others surrounded him.
Brook smiled.
"Come on."
Crowley walked into the center of another group.
Hellfire surrounded him.
The creatures attacked together.
Crowley was consumed beneath them.
Henry watched.
Then—
a column of fire exploded upward.
The Abominations were thrown in every direction.
Crowley stood.
His clothes burned.
His body was covered in wounds.
Then—
the wounds disappeared.
The Lazarus Pit.
Infinite healing.
Crowley smiled.
"That's better."
Persephone watched him.
"You're difficult to kill."
Crowley looked toward her.
"I've heard."
Sera spoke.
"Break."
The ground split.
Abominations fell into the opening.
Sera raised both hands.
"Close."
The ground sealed.
Henry stared.
"Okay."
Sera looked toward him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Henry smiled.
"That was cool."
Sera looked away.
But smiled slightly.
Then another group charged.
Henry stepped forward.
"Charon."
The ectoplasm formed above him.
A massive blade emerged from his arm.
Charon spoke.
"Together."
Henry smiled.
"Together."
They charged.
Henry cut through the first creature.
Charon stretched behind him.
A second arm grabbed another Abomination.
Then a third.
Henry spun.
The ectoplasm changed shape.
A shield.
A blade.
A hammer.
Henry didn't control every movement.
Charon didn't either.
But they were learning.
Together.
Brook reached Persephone.
The Abominations behind him were dead.
Others were still fighting Xcution.
Persephone watched him approach.
"Fast."
Brook raised his weapon.
"You wanted a fight."
She smiled.
"Yes."
The flowers around her feet began growing.
Brook stopped.
The flowers spread across the street.
Vines followed.
Brook jumped backward.
The vines exploded upward.
He barely avoided them.
Persephone moved.
Her hand touched the ground.
Roots burst through the stone.
Brook disappeared.
Reappeared behind her.
His weapon moved.
Persephone turned.
A flower appeared between them.
Brook's weapon struck it.
The flower exploded.
Brook was thrown backward.
He landed hard.
Persephone looked at him.
"Again."
Brook stood.
His body was already moving.
The Earth beneath his feet reacted.
Brook didn't notice at first.
Stone rose slightly beneath him.
His jump became stronger.
He crossed the distance.
Persephone's eyes widened.
Brook's fist struck her.
She flew backward.
Flowers exploded across the street.
Brook landed.
His fourth mark appeared.
Faint.
Then disappeared.
Persephone stood.
Blood ran from her mouth.
She touched it.
And smiled.
"You have it."
Brook's expression hardened.
"What?"
"The Earth."
Brook froze.
Persephone smiled wider.
"So Silvet was right to be interested."
Brook attacked.
Their fight shook the streets of Asteria.
Brook moved faster.
Persephone's flowers became weapons.
Vines chased him.
Roots tore through buildings.
Brook destroyed them.
But more appeared.
He disappeared.
Reappeared.
Struck.
Persephone was thrown through a wall.
Brook followed.
She touched the ground.
The entire building began growing flowers.
Brook stopped.
The flowers surrounded him.
Then—
they closed.
Brook disappeared.
Reappeared above her.
Persephone raised her hand.
A massive vine struck him.
Brook crashed through the roof.
He fell.
Then disappeared before reaching the ground.
He appeared behind her.
His weapon touched her throat.
Persephone stopped.
Brook breathed heavily.
"Call them off."
She looked at him.
"And if I don't?"
Brook pushed the blade closer.
Persephone smiled.
"You're not going to kill me."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"Try me."
Persephone's smile faded slightly.
Then—
she raised her hand.
Every Abomination stopped.
Brook looked toward the streets.
Crowley stood among burning bodies.
Sera was breathing heavily.
Henry leaned against a wall.
Charon hung from his shoulder.
Everyone watched Persephone.
She smiled.
"That's enough."
Brook kept his weapon against her throat.
"What?"
"I came to see you."
Brook didn't move.
"You attacked an entire city."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Persephone looked at him.
"Because Silvet wanted to know how strong you were."
Crowley's expression darkened.
Brook stared.
Persephone continued.
"He didn't tell me to win."
Brook frowned.
"What?"
"He told me to survive."
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
Brook slowly lowered his weapon.
Persephone stepped away.
The Abominations began retreating.
Brook watched her.
"You're leaving?"
"For now."
Crowley stepped forward.
"You expect us to just let you go?"
Persephone looked at him.
"You can try to stop me."
Crowley smiled.
"That sounded like a challenge."
Persephone smiled back.
"It was."
Brook raised his hand.
Crowley looked toward him.
Brook shook his head.
"Not now."
Crowley looked annoyed.
But stepped back.
Persephone turned.
Flowers began growing behind her.
Brook called out:
"Why are you helping Silvet?"
She stopped.
She didn't turn around.
Her voice became quieter.
"Because the future is changing."
Brook's expression hardened.
Persephone continued.
"And Silvet is one of the few people who understands what that means."
Then she looked over her shoulder.
"But not all of us agree on what should happen when it changes."
Brook stared.
Persephone smiled.
Then—
the flowers swallowed her.
When they disappeared—
so did she.
The remaining Abominations collapsed.
Not dead.
Sleeping.
The streets of Asteria became silent.
Brook looked toward where Persephone had stood.
Sera walked beside him.
"That wasn't a normal attack."
Brook nodded.
"No."
Crowley approached.
"She was testing us."
Henry looked toward the unconscious Abominations.
"For Silvet."
Brook stared at his arm.
The fourth mark had appeared during the fight.
And Persephone had recognized it.
The Earth.
Brook slowly clenched his fist.
"Then he got his answer."
But deep down—
Brook wasn't sure that was true.
Because Silvet had left Asteria.
Gone to the Maker.
And now—
Persephone had been sent after them.
Brook looked toward the sky.
"Whatever he learned…"
Crowley's expression darkened.
"It wasn't enough for him to leave us alone."
Far away—
a single flower grew from the dirt.
And beneath it—
something moved.
Something old.
Something hungry.
Something waiting.
End of Chapter 193