Ascension of the Nephilim

The Trench of Antipathy was one of the most dangerous parts of the Planesworld.

Noted Dark Dependent scholars, historians, and folk-keepers talk about how this was one of the deepest parts of the Planesworld. It was said that it had a powerful gravity force. The dark energy water was so potent it would 'choke' people and make them unable to breathe. Even creatures that don't breathe in oxygen would sense a strange choking feeling as it triggered the death energy that stopped life. Even those of the Grendelor race would fear moving down the dark trench.

Martha, Puff, and Lea had arrived and were swimming over the sea. The attendants opposed exploring the region since even Crowns could die. But Lea refused to listen.

The group swamped deep towards where the darkness was. Soon, the attendants of Lea and Aron could no longer take the darkness. Aron had shown great resilience despite not being a Dark Dependent. He used a power of the Light Grown known as [Storing] to allow him to hold his breath for days and even weeks. But in this situation, the light energy in his was being eaten away. He had no choice but to hide inside Puff.

As for Lea's attendants, the darkness was too strong for them that it was choking them up.

Martha, Lea, and Puff were the ones who could swim into the dark sea until they approached the dark trench.

A massive trench was found at the bottom of the sea. It was even larger than the entire underwater city. And even with the eyes that could pierce through the darkness, a strange power covered them and prohibited the three from seeing through it.

It was as if a strange black goo was covering the outer layer of the crack. But upon closer inspection, it was just darkness and had no liquid form.

"Dark water... I can breathe underwater and use Skotosynthesis through my vampiric powers. But I sense that Dark Maddening would happen. And the darkness would clog my body and prevent me from breathing even through Dark Dependent means..." Martha frowned. She was a Cardinal thanks to the many offerings of Nightwing. But even then, she knew moving down would be insane.

"The darkness is interesting. But this abyss is something I've trained in. So it seems you were right. People claim this is a naturally formed land in the Planesworld. But I sense two curses!"

"Two? There are two powers?"

"The first is a curse of dark waters. It's an imprisoning curse. Whatever's down there has been cursed, and the abyss binds it. The other curse... is Oblivion!"

"The god that causes us to forget! Of course! That's why the legends cannot even name the paramour of the Fallen!"

"Yes. She's only referred to as a succubus. But can succubus steal a Fallen? This power is sealing every memory of her. Mechiel told me when she received the power of the Charmed Fallen. She felt her rage. Kyros guessed that since the Fallen desired beauty, she was deceived by End and promised to be the only beautiful woman. But it brought about a conflict. For if End were to happen, then nothing memorable must remain. And so, Oblivion was kept hidden. And when they had full use of her, she would be cast out and sealed to be forgotten."

"So this means... that the Charmed Fallen is our ally?"

"No. An enemy. But also the enemy of our enemy. If even Mechiel is starting to act all weird despite her past with Kyros, then we can only imagine what it will mean for us. There is also... the Blood Calamity inside of her. Who knows? These two may someday separate. But in any case, we still have our goal. We need the Charmed Fallen if we want to fight Nightwing. Besides, Nightwing feels like a dangerous being. My main issue is that he isn't Kyros, but he is. A being that harnesses the soul of a Fallen will house many powers. He has already eaten a son of Mammon. Do you know what that would do to a Fallen?"

"...Right. Maybe this is why Kyros opted to have the darkness appear. He separated his soul so that it would be this incarnation that will take all the darkness."

"That's probably it. In any case, let's get ready to dive down." Lea spoke as she raised her hand.

The power of dark water gathered around her and created a ball of darkness that covered the three.

Slowly, they began their descent.

"They say a Crown could not survive this place. Let's see if it applies to me!" Lea shouted as she swam down with great speed.

The moment they entered the darkness covering the top of the trench, a powerful gravitational force suddenly sucked the group.

Lea sensed the power and frowned as strange darkness attacked her.

Though her shield had not cracked or weakened, a strange mental detachment made her feel lost. Thoughts and consciousness began to drift away.

The abyss began to gather, and her mind felt like collapsing.

"Lea! Focus!"

Lea jolted awake as she felt two hands hold onto her.

"You... can resist this darkness?!" Lea was amazed.

"This is the darkness of Lord Kyriachos. I was in his realm for millennia."

"I was also brought there. My shared power with Puff allows me to resist it. Besides, I am a descendant of Kyriachos through my blessings."

"...So I can't do this alone. I can create this field that protects us, but my mind cannot remain intact in such maddening darkness."

"We all need each other. Isn't that what Kyros thought you? And it's not just the Olethros and the Protos Endoxus. As those who are called to arise with the Nephilim, we will have to brave the powers of gods and fallens together!"

With the power of the three working together, the group was able to navigate down the dark pits.

Lea could feel that the abyss was creating vortex and bubble rings. The power and concentration of these rings had unbelievable force.

"We have to evade these bubble rings!" Lea ordered.

Martha and Puff continued to harness their power to keep Lea's consciousness and concentration unaffected as they dove deeper into the sea.

The death energy increased as they sensed many souls who perished from attempting a journey down this trench.

"We're getting closer! I am sensing a strange gathering of energy down there! It's like an elemental core!" Lea spoke.

"...Not an Elemental Core. I can feel it. The separated darkness is causing the power of Kyriachos to tremble! It's a dimensional gate! It's a doorway to a Separated Realm!"

"Master. That's also incorrect. I know what that is. A Dragon Seal! Could it be...? Lord Tiamat?!"

"It's not Tiamat. Its darkness is different. But I see it now! It turns out that we were all correct. It is an Elemental Core, a doorway to another realm, and a dragon seal. That's what this thing is! It used a Dragon Seal to seal a great Core that has the time/space power to send one into another realm! This is what it takes to seal the... Wait... What was sealed here?! What were we after?!" Lea cursed.

Martha, Puff, and Lea all stood there with great confusion. They were unsure of what and why they were there!

"What were we after?" Martha asked Puff.

"...? I don't know. We were looking for... something?"

Inside Puff, the attendants and Aron watched from the vision of Puff and were confused.

"What are they doing? Why are they talking about forgetting?"

"Madam Lea! You are here to free the... Why can't I say it?" The attendant was amazed.

The others also tried and realized that while they knew they were after the Charmed Fallen, they forgot how to say it."

"I see. The power outside is more potent. Since Puff is a magic dragon with great resistance, the effect of Oblivion is weaker here. This could be troublesome..." Aron frowned.

Lea and the three were looking at each other.

"Let's just try to break it." Lea decided. The two nodded, and they all began to focus their power.

But as they raised their hands, they could didn't know where they would attack as they forgot where the seal was!

"...What the fragment?!" Lea cursed out angrily.

"It's Oblivion! It's affecting our thinking!" Martha cried out.

"What do we do?! If we harbor thoughts of attacking it, we forget!"

"The power of this Elemental Core is not space or darkness! It's Oblivion! It's an oblivion core crafted from the heart of a dragon and sealed whatever is inside that thing in an oblivion realm!" Lea deduced.

"How can we break this thing?" Puff asked.

"Martha. I can see it, and I remember what you are looking for. And I can attack it. Puff is causing the spell to weaken the effects of Oblivion. "

"...Master Aron. Please don't gut me from the inside." Puff pleaded.

"And no offense, but while your True Cut is formidable, an attack at your current level against this thing is useless. This thing is quite sturdy! It would take our combined attack to weaken it." Lea rejected.

"No. I don't need to attack it through conventional means. I remember what's in there, and I think I can weaken the seal." Aron smiled.

"How?"

"Puff. Open your mouth when I start shouting. I will harness my power!"

"What power?"

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me... That's a lie. We all know this. That's what I intend to use! Words that cut and enrage the heart!"

"Words? You plan to shout at it?!" Lea was amazed.

"My words cannot wound Puff. But with True Cut, it can reach the thing sealed inside. Get ready. We cannot attack it from the outside, but if the thing inside fights and weakens it, we might have a chance."

Aron took a deep breath.

"WAKE UP, YOU FAT PIG! OBLIVION MADE US FORGET YOU AND TOLD US THAT THE CHARMED FALLEN IS MAMMON'S TWIN SISTER!" Aron shouted.

...

Nothing happened.

"...What was that?"

"Huh... It didn't work." Aron was amazed.

"I was sure that True Cut was..."

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

The seal began to tremble.

"The Charmed Fallen!" Martha, Puff, and Lea exclaimed as they remembered.