FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

FINAL TRIAL
(1 of Hekatombaion)


[When the time comes, Charon arrives on a boat, hrrhrrhrring a little tune as he rows. No need to worry about space, even with all of the shades coming with. Fluffles, unsurprisingly, doesn't go; he does see everyone off, at least, before he falls asleep.

With a final hnnnngrrrgh, they're off. Charon is the master of the Styx, in his own way, deftly avoiding roots and branches from the Qliphoth as he guides his charges up through the layers of the underworld. From the dark and gloomy green of Tartarus, to the lava-flooded Asphodel and it's giant many-headed bone snake, sadly snarled in demonic roots (without thinking, Zack waves to it), on through the lazy rivers of Elysium, and lastly through the pitch stink of the corridors of a temple separating the underworld from the living world.

Throughout, there is eerie quiet. No shades appear to watch their procession-indeed the few wisps around seem to be fleeing, hiding. No rats try to bite Zack's face off. Aside from Lernie, there's truly nothing but tree, tree, and more tree.

Finally, though, the surface air hits, and it is...not cold, but not warm, either. Though, as everyone disembarks, that's probably not what catches everyone's attention. No-it is the barren fields of ancient Greece, just outside the entrance to the underworld-and there is only one thing alive in the area.

It is late afternoon, and the silhouette of the new moon is the only thing that emits real light now in the grey. Indeed, if there is a sun, it is blocked out by the massive, massive roots in the sky, swirling into the stratosphere. The roots in the underworld were in fact more akin to greedy branches; the roots in the sky of the world of life, however, are far more massive, and it's clear the tree is fully grown. And-if the dead grass and trees and barren lands around the Temple of Styx are any indication-it isn't simply feeding on human blood-it's affecting the life of the earth itself, greedily lapping up what it can as it further embeds itself, further spreads, further grows. Further destroys.

It won't stop. There is obsession and power, and Delta is right-it will never stop unless someone intervenes.

Wordlessly Delta points to a Spire of blood in front of them. Yup-they need to enter it to get to where they need to go. Lovely.]

Through here is the core of the tree where the fruit of the Qliphoth is being cultivated. Come.

[Well, no turning back. With luck, the Catillac has some extra towels.



So, immediately after squishing into the...blood elevator?...everyone is schllllorped on a ride akin to w water slide, going up and down, left and right, up, up, up, then down, down, down....down.......


d


o


w


n



into the depths.

And when they emerge...]





[Bright flowers grow on the vines. There is distant birdsong, and the sun shines among fat, lazy clouds. But you can see the shine of glass in the corner of your eye; the air is too perfect to breath, too cold to touch. You don't feel the grass or dirt underfoot that you can clearly see The smell of blood is everywhere.

An illusion? A dream? A delusion? Something else? Who knows. There is a patio table laid out with tea, and four seats. It's almost as if the owner simply got up and left for a moment. It's all strange, all...wrong.

Still. You're finally here. You're in the core. You freed a possible god from the grip of forced ignorance. And you have-you hope-everything you need to end this. But there is still one question:



Who is the true Mastermind, and what is their goal in doing all of this?



It is time, Strangers. By the seas, the heavens and the earth, by blood and darkness, it's up to you.




Good luck.]

Comments

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Honestly? Having said all that he did...and seeing what this woman has done, most likely having her emotions amplified by the tree?

He can't help but think of things said in this trial. Of what's been said and told here. Of all of this family drama...and their own connection.

A sword that separated the Human and Demon worlds.

Even as he moves to use the portal...he can't help but send a thought to that Devil Arm who's power he can use.

'Eva is suffering, locked between those two worlds that should have never met. Though you are not Sparda, you are from him, no matter how distant it may be. If it is at all possible...no matter the cost to myself, if she can be severed from that tree, then let it be so.'

He doesn't expect an answer - in fact, he's assuming all he will be able to do is create a portal to let her get some distance from the tree.

But, hell. He's seen impossible things happen with his own eyes before, all because someone merely asked first.]

[daxzum]

[Its true. Stranger things have happened. Zack is a god, after all.

But-it is funny how things work, sometimes. Moriarty can never hope to sever the link between the human and demon worlds. He certainly can't cut the tree down with a single swipe. He simply doesn't have the blood to do it.

But he's separated good from evil before, in his own way. And a simple portal job to sever Eva's soul from the Qiphoth?

Moriarty might glow, just a little, and Eva, for her part, lets out a shuddering gasp, then a moan, as she jerks her hands down her face-before the demonic brambles suddenly flinch, richochet away with a sickening, bloody snap.

The tree-the very ground they stand on-shudders.]

Sparda?...what have you done to me...

[superstylishsquid]

[Alastor is bleeding from the falling shards, faintly violet-red blood soaking his clothes and falling behind him in crystals as he runs toward Eva. Wings of metal still adorn his back, ready to slash at any encroaching vines of the Qliphoth, but for now? For now his focus is on the woman whose soul has just been cut free of the vile plant.]

Sparda...isn't here. But I'm not sure there's time to figure out the details of what just happened, something's happening with the tree.

[Whether it's about to collapse or go all in on trying to kill them...he doesn't know. Either way, they don't want to stay here.]

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes summons a fireball and begins charging it up as quickly as possible, but doesn't release it yet.]

Is it time, Alastor...?

[godspiousjasper]

[ Sure he's got a couple cuts here and there but he's quick to approach shortly after Alastor, giving a glance to their surroundings and then over to Hermes. ]

We need to get her away and make sure she's safe. I get the feeling the tree may start to lash out at us soon.

[ Given it seems like her soul was separated from the tree so they probably could kill it now but that seemed like a plan they had to figure out and quick with what was going on. ]

[daxzum]

I feel...cold.

[The tree starts to change. The blood stops seeping. The branches begin to stiffen. The brambles that had surrounded Eva start to whither.]

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes looks at the brambles withering. He looks at Eva, who says she's cold. He looks at the fireball in his own hand.]

[...]

[Yeah, Hermes is now rushing over to give off some warmth.]

[daxzum]

....so hot...the fires....the fire! Where are they...Dante....Vergil, you need to run...you...you need to...to make a new life.....they're...they're after me...not you...

[She sounds small. Afraid. The flame reflects in her eyes.]

[somuchshipping]

Eva? Eva! Look at me! No one's after you anymore!

[daxzum]

...Hermes......I can't feel it. I can't feel the blood...the life...I...I...

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[...Well, he was going to let everyone handle this, but...]

...Because you are free from the tree, Eva.

[She at least deserves an explanation in her state, as he floats a bit closer in his elegant robe as a shadow.]

And life is...no longer something you have, anymore.

[daxzum]

..............oh.

[She lets her hands drop. They look...cracked. Cracked, pale, whitening.

The tree, too, begins to whiten. Crackle. Calcify.]

I just...wanted to be with my sons again...to tell them...it's all right, don't be scared, the world is...

[The photo Akane showed her starts to change, meanwhile. Instead of decaying, however, it smooths out. The blood wicks off. The colors return.


Time reverses.]

Can I still do it? I..I can't save them, can I...?

[yesorwoof]

Blood's not flowing into your heart anymore, is it?

Your heart has been broken.

[daxzum]

Yes.......

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes turns to Zagreus.]

Zack, ca- I mean, Zagreus, can you help...!?

[godofblood]

...

I can try.

[He can't really see the strings of the Fates. But he knows, deep down. Eva died a long time ago. Then again...

But...Nyx isn't here. There's not much to bargain with. Orpheus's sweet song isn't playing. Sisyphus can't pull his tricks. And the Styx will not yield any further to bring strength to anyone's grief and rage. Not this time.

He walks forward and kneels down to her.]

Lady Eva...I don't think I can change your fate. But. You can help change your sons' fate. I'm sure of it.

You can bring them back.

[superstylishsquid]

You...no, don't tell me you still need the tree to...

[No no nonono, Dante already lost her once and it set him on a bloody path of revenge. How would he cope with losing her a second time?

And Alastor himself...was powerless to stop any of Mundus' crimes before. This is a chance to maybe help fix one of them, right? Let it be a chance to help fix at least some of the damage the usurper has done.]

There has to be something we can do, some way we can help!

[daxzum]

Alastor...it's been so long, my sons...

[She still weeps. Blood, yes, but she weeps.]

Where have they gone? I just want to hug them. I just want to tell them they'll be ok.

[superstylishsquid]

They're here, but...they're not solid.

[He kneels down to reach for her, offering a hand to hold onto. Maybe it's just comfort, but...but it's better than doing nothing.]

Do you remember anything since Mundus' attack?

[daxzum]

....everything. I.


I just want my children back. Why can't I...what have I done?

[superstylishsquid]

Nothing...nothing we can't reverse, okay? Their bodies are back on the ship. If you unravel the wards on them, I'm sure we can put their souls back where they belong. Just...

[Just don't die again.]

Just hold on.

[autonomousthought]

[Ritsu is huddled, using the large shield as support. But she is paying close attention.]

If she...if she needs a body, then....something put me in this one. Maybe we can use that.

[autonomousthought]

[Ritsu falls to her knees, using the shield as a support. It protected her from most of the shards, but not all, and with the state she was already in...she doesnt know if she'll be moving again.]

There has to be...a core or heart or...something we can target...

[godspiousjasper]

Ritsu... I can carry you if you don't think you can move.

[ Of course he is VERY much worried about his zombie daughter. He's also proven he can carry Akane with one arm so tiny Ritsu wouldn't weigh anything. ]

If we go for any core or heart, things are bound to get chaotic.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[...Wait, it worked?

He almost stumble-floats a little when he shines for just that faint moment, a deep exhale coming from him as the weight of what just happened settles on him.]

It...it's done. She's free from the tree.

[There's a faint wonder to his voice, as he shakes his head to will the feeling away, trusting the others to help in this situation.]