Chapter 24: Look, They're Afraid (Please Keep Reading)
"You have violated the will of the Supreme Spirit. You should not have bestowed a trident infused with the power of great law and order, O mighty Lord Shiva."
The instant Brahman (Fan En) and the Great Kind Tree King, Manlina, departed from Jiluośa,a voice laced with reproach rang out. It belonged to none other than Vishnu, the God of Preservation.
Only Vishnu could speak so directly to the great God of Destruction (of dance and creation), Shiva.
"No. The beautiful Mistress Ximi was not desecrating the Creator God Brahma," Shiva replied gently."She was protecting herself. She has committed no fault and deserves no punishment.
Moreover, His Highness, the God of Consciousness, bears upon his body the mark of the Supreme Flame Lingam. This is the guidance of the Supreme Spirit itself. From this, it is clear I did not defy its will, but rather obeyed it."
The Earth Goddess Ximi was one of the Primordial Elemental Main Gods. Even if one of the Trimurti wanted to act against her—even indirectly—they required a just cause.
The Creator God Brahma once lent the Sky God Dyaus the Life Vessel precisely because, at her birth, the Earth Goddess Ximi had spoken words of blasphemy against him.
"Very well, your reasoning convinces me, great Shiva,"Vishnu's voice faded into the distance.
Shiva smiled faintly."The Supreme Flame Lingam will bless you as well, O great Preserver Vishnu."
Once Vishnu was dismissed, Shiva turned his gaze toward Brahman (Fan En), flying toward Sudarsana City, and muttered softly:"Why do I feel such inexplicable closeness toward the God of Consciousness?"
"Enough now, no more mischief. The time has come. I shall let you descend."
Sensing the violent tremor of the Life Vessel before him, Shiva patted it gently and spoke in a warm tone.
At the peak of Mount Sumeru, in Heaven, in Sudarsana City—
Black floodwaters gushed forth from the Life Vessel, surging toward the Earth Goddess Ximi. Passing through the Lingam-shaped Mandala Mountain, they circled back into the Vessel.
The cycle repeated endlessly, yet six petals of the protective lotus surrounding Ximi were corroded away.
The flood, infused with the corrosive law, gnawed at her black hammer and golden axe.The black naga hanging from her ear-lobe trembled violently, its body half-corroded.
Even her serpent's body was scarred, a great portion of its scales eaten away.
"She still doesn't retreat?""If this continues, her body will suffer irreparable harm."
"The Life Vessel is the innate divine weapon of the great Creator God Brahma. It contains supreme laws, a power none can withstand—not even a Primordial Elemental Main God."
"Brahma's gift of the Life Vessel to the Sky God Dyaus shows his recognition. Once Mistress Ximi is defeated, His Majesty the Sky God will truly ascend to the throne of King of the Gods."
"Look—another lotus petal has corroded. What is she still clinging to? Does she truly not fear damage to her own flesh?"
The gods of Sudarsana watched as the battle of Earth versus Sky unfolded. With Brahma's support behind him, the Sky God Dyaus clearly held the upper hand.
"Withdraw—you have already proven your strength, beautiful Mistress Ximi."
Sarasvati, the goddess of eloquence and knowledge, called out lightly.But anyone could hear the sharp irony in her words.
Strong?Beautiful?Mistress?
Should she not be addressed as the mighty Ximi, the Earth Sovereign?
Yet perhaps it was no surprise: Brahma himself supported Dyaus. As both his daughter and his wife, how could she possibly go against her exalted husband's will?
"Ximi! As long as you acknowledge me as King of the Gods, and accept me as your husband, I can forgive your sins today!"
The Sky God Dyaus spoke arrogantly—apparently forgetting the pain of having one of his eyes struck blind.
"Hmph!"
The Earth Goddess Ximi snorted coldly.She withdrew her lotus, preserving the root of her artifact before it was destroyed completely.
At the same time, she stopped resisting with her hammer and axe. Instead, she surged forward, her serpent body swimming through the black waters, shedding scales layer after layer.
Her divine whip, brimming with terrifying might, lashed straight at the Sky God Dyaus.The black hammer and golden axe followed, smashing down fiercely upon him.
"You madwoman!"
Dyaus cried out in shock, hastily summoning his Sky-Supporting Spear and King's Scepter to block the onslaught.
Not only he—but all the gods watching were stunned.
Ximi was swimming directly through the corrosive black waters—destroying her own serpent body!
And worse, her attacks could not even truly harm Dyaus.
With her flesh bound and corroded by the flood, Ximi could not even wield half her true strength.
"She… she wants to sacrifice herself! To force Dyaus into receiving punishment from Vishnu, the Preserver!"
Sarasvati gasped in disbelief.
The Primordial Elemental Main Gods formed the foundation of the Three Realms. Before the Primordial Catastrophehad passed—before the realms fully stabilized—they could not be allowed to fall.
Even the Trimurti dared not strike them down, or Vishnu himself would act to preserve them.And if Vishnu failed, the punishment of the Supreme Spirit would descend.
But none of the onlookers could see into Ximi's heart.
She was the holy and noble Earth Sovereign.And she was also a wife. Though not yet married, she already belonged to the exalted Lord Brahman (Fan En).
Her sanctity, her honor, could not be defiled.For any stain upon her was a stain upon her Lord—tarnishing the sacred brilliance of Brahman himself.
Boom!
Dyaus, caught off-guard, had his King's Scepter knocked flying.Though his spear blocked the hammer and axe, he staggered back, fear in his eyes.
For even if Ximi's wounded body could not defeat him—he feared what desperate, self-destructive act this madwoman might still unleash.
"Withdraw the Life Vessel at once, else you will incur Vishnu's punishment, mighty Dyaus!"
Sarasvati cried out in alarm. She had realized Ximi's true intent, and dared not let her fall back into Brahman's embrace.
If punishment fell only upon Dyaus, so be it—but the Life Vessel belonged to her great husband, Brahma the Creator!
Swoosh—
In that instant, a streak of black light pierced through time and space, shattering order itself, appearing over Sudarsana.
It instantly pierced the chest of the Sky God Dyaus,nailing him to the Heavenly Gate of the city.
The Life Vessel slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the radiant floor.
The black flood, unrestrained, surged down Mount Sumeru—pouring toward the mortal world below