"It's sad that everyone left me again," Orion said, his voice laced with a mix of sorrow and resignation. "I mean, I slept so much, I can't really blame them," he added, a hint of self-awareness in his tone.
'I need to find them,' Orion thought to himself, determination etched on his face. Suddenly, a plan formed in his mind - to travel fast to his destination. He stepped outside the wooden cottage, the warm sunlight a stark contrast to the gloom that had settled within him.
Orion grasped an arrow that glowed with a golden hue, positioning himself upwards. With a swift motion, he shot the arrow into the sky, thinking that it would land far away yet next to his destination. The arrow vanished into the horizon, and instantly, Orion felt himself being transported to a new location.
He landed softly on the forest floor, surrounded by towering trees that stretched towards the sky like giant sentinels. As he walked through the forest, he noticed four people standing in front of him, their eyes fixed intently on him. Orion's instincts kicked in, and he asked, "Who are you? Are you Ryuta's friends?"
The four individuals exchanged glances, their faces twisted in anger. Orion sensed the hostility emanating from them and realized that they might not be friendly. "So, you're the ones who are angry at Ryuta," Orion said, his voice calm. "Maybe you're a bad person who doesn't deserve to live at all."
The group's leader, Aegir, the Water Abyssal, looked down on Orion with disdain. "You clearly have no idea what you're saying, mortal," he said with a sneer. "Ryuta defeated Infernos, the ruler of the Abyssal Lords. You will face the consequences for his actions."
Without warning, the four Abyssal Lords charged at Orion, their powers unleashed in a frenzy of attacks. Orion released a wave of golden arrows, hitting Gairos' rock-hard body with precision. Zenile, the Wind Abyssal, summoned a tornado that threatened to sweep Orion off his feet.
Orion swiftly shot another golden arrow into the sky, teleporting himself to safety. However, Voltaris, the Lightning Abyssal, was too quick, and a bolt of lightning struck Orion's previous location. Aegir followed up with a massive tsunami, the two attacks converging on the spot where Orion had stood moments before.
Orion dodged the attacks with agility, his eyes locked on the Abyssal Lords. He summoned a wave of golden arrows imbued with stuck magic, momentarily immobilizing the four lords. Seizing the opportunity, Orion turned to flee, his feet pounding the forest floor as he ran for his life.
As he sprinted through the forest, he suddenly bumped into Pesanteur, a figure with gravity magic at his disposal. His eyes sparkled with sarcasm and cunning, and Orion sensed that he was not someone to be underestimated.
"Well, well, well," Pesanteur said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Looks like you're in quite a hurry, Orion. What's the rush?"
Orion's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. Was Pesanteur friend or foe? He would have to tread carefully to find out.
When Orion collided with Pesanteur, the latter's demeanor briefly shifted to one of seriousness before a mischievous smile appeared. "Well, Orion, looks like you're in quite a situation," Pesanteur remarked, his tone laced with irony. "It seems the Abyssal Lords aren't your biggest fans. How about I lend you a hand?"
With a swift twist of his wrist, Pesanteur altered the gravity surrounding them, enabling a quick escape from the chasing Abyssal Lords. Orion's eyes widened in astonishment as they glided through the forest effortlessly, eventually reaching an enormous door adorned with white paint and a golden trim. The door exuded an air of intimidation, but Pesanteur's casual gesture toward it suggested a confident ease.
"After you," Pesanteur said, his smile never faltering.
As they approached the gray bridge leading to the entrance, a wave of relief swept over Orion. However, just before he could move forward, Pesanteur's hand shot up in a swift motion, and Orion sensed an invisible pressure tightening around his throat. It dawned on him that it was gravity magic as he fought to catch his breath.
"Why?!" Orion choked out, his eyes wide with shock and anger.
Pesanteur's smile broadened, a spark of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Orion, you really need to be more cautious about trusting people," he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "They can have ulterior motives. Unfortunately, you fit right into the 'untrustworthy' group."
Orion's face turned red as he tried to pry Pesanteur's magic off him, but the latter's grip was relentless. "You...you were helping me," Orion gasped, his voice barely audible.
Pesanteur laughed softly, the tone dark and ominous. "Oh, that? Merely a clever trick to draw you in. You should understand that I have my own agenda, and you're simply a piece in my strategy. Now, let's find out how you handle...whatever awaits beyond that door."
With a flick of his wrist, Pesanteur propelled Orion towards the door, the gravity magic still constricting his throat. Orion stumbled forward, his eyes fixed on the door as it creaked open, revealing secrets and dangers beyond.
As they opened the door, they were met with an expansive room, and at the far end of the grand castle sat the Life Deity in a shadowy chair, one hand propped thoughtfully against his face. Next to him stood Fatum, the deity of destiny, and Vespera, the embodiment of fate, both of them motionless. Behind them loomed the Grim Reaper, clutching his scythe, alongside the Soul Reaper, who held a small dagger in his hand.
Feel free to step right in, Orion and Pesanteur," the Life Deity remarked.
"You're always welcome here," the Life Deity added with assurance.
"We can manage without your assistance," Pesanteur declared firmly.
At last, Pesanteur released the gravity magic that had been constricting Orion's neck.
Orion gasped for air, coughing heavily.
"What brings you here?" the Life Deity inquired with curiosity.
Pesanteur replied, "Not really important but I assume that you are that much of a guy who appears nice in the outside bad in the inside. I mean it's pretty common in high life form beings."
"Impressive," chuckled the life deity with a hint of amusement. "You're clever," he added. "Finish him off," the life deity instructed.
The Grim Reaper and the Soul Reaper prepared for action. The Grim Reaper raised his lengthy scythe, poised to strike at Pesanteur, while the Soul Reaper transformed his dagger into a massive sword, both ready to launch an attack.
But Pesanteur swiftly extended his arms to both sides. In an instant, he seized the Grim Reaper and the Soul Reaper, who were both set to deliver their blows.
"You're rather sluggish," Pesanteur remarked. "Is this your team? They're not exactly impressive," he quipped.
Orion, who was kneeling on the floor of the grand castle, still gasping for air, witnessed Pesanteur's remarkable ability to halt both reapers in their tracks.
Suddenly, the deity of life spoke in a flat tone, "Death."
In an instant, death lunged forward with incredible speed. Pesanteur forcefully hurled the grim reaper and the soul reaper away from the castle. Adjusting his hand position to focus on death, Pesanteur attempted to strike with gravity, but death deftly evaded the gravitational pull.
With a swift motion, death summoned his scythe and delivered a sweeping slash to Pesanteur's hands, severing both with a single stroke. Overcome by pain, Pesanteur automatically knelt but did not yield to anguish, muttering, "What an absurd ending."
Moments later, death drove his scythe into Pesanteur's chest, the blade piercing through to emerge from behind.
With a determined look, Pesanteur turned to Orion and commanded, "Run..."
Orion sprinted through the forest, only to suddenly encounter the four Abyssal Lords, fully prepared to unleash their powers against him.
At that moment, the group was startled by the sound of rushing footsteps in the underbrush. Without warning, Death materialized, poised to deliver a fatal blow to Orion. However, Zenile quickly intervened, using his wind abilities to push Death aside.
Seizing the opportunity, Orion dashed away, leaving the four Abyssal Lords in his wake. Aegir, channeling his water abilities, ensnared Death in a water orb, but just like that, Death vanished without a trace. Zenile, Aegir, Gairos, and Voltaris were left in shock and fear before Death reappeared beside Gairos, delivering a devastating strike to his chest.
Gairos asserted defiantly, "It won't work, I will—" but his words were abruptly silenced as his body disintegrated into ashes. Fueled by rage, Zenile summoned a barrage of tornadoes aimed at Death, but Death effortlessly cut through them. In a swift motion, he lunged at Zenile, slicing through his head before turning his attention to Aegir.
Aegir quickly surrounded himself with a barrier of water, but in a surprising twist, skeletal hands emerged from below, pulling him into the depths. Consumed by fury, Voltaris infused his body with lightning, granting him remarkable speed. He unleashed a torrent of lightning strikes toward Death and relentlessly attacked, circling his foe with precision.
In response, Death's scythe morphed into a colossal weapon. With an almost disdainful ease, Death raised a hand and choked Voltaris, who gasped, "This technique belongs to someone else who aided our target—how do you possess it?"
With a casual demeanor, Death replied, "Your abilities are now mine." He then struck Voltaris in the chest, the blow piercing through his body.
And just like that, the Abyssal Lords fell, defeated by a single presence known as Death.