" The Towering Worlds : Hell's Chalice. ™"
A Story written By @mohhdude.
(Be warned, there will be references from other series in this book!!)
Alternative Names -
"TTW : HC.™"
"Protocol — Hell's Chalice. ™"
"End of Earth, Beginning of Hell. ™"
Chapter VII:
"Your Delusions."
Act II:
Sasaki and Aleksandr.
"The concept of 'perfection' cannot exist without the concept of 'flaws'."
— The Humming Bird.
.
.
.
The general sat on a tree stump, his eyes looking at the fire as cinders traveled the breeze of the cold, dead night. The moonlight of Redlocnse was all that could soothe him and the campfire in front of him gave him warmth.
Contemplating the existence of 'Aria', Nexrael looks at his palms, flashing blood red in his eyes, the fire of belief started to smother under the crushing weight of hopelessness.
…
[ 357 A.D: Sword and Spear. ]
[ 357 years after the creation of the Dungeon Tower. ]
'Nexrael' looked into the crackling fire from afar as humans, brutaci, royans and elves danced together, drinking ale, eating meals after an expedition in the Dungeon Tower of Hell and clearing ten floors, and successfully making it out alive.
It brings him a sense of dread that something terrible will happen in that moment of joy.
With a glance to the right, he saw an elven man walk up to him with two cups of ale in his hands. "Heya, whatcha thinkin' there? You seem pretty busy, lost in thought while everyone is having fun."
"...Nothing.. I just have this bad feeling that something bad will happen in the future." 'Nexrael' replied, the elven man simply guffawed at his face as he kept the two cups down on the table where the two are now sitting.
"Well, I can definitely say that you bring the spirit down in the dumps! How about a drink first? The name's Elei, short for my surname Eleison. But my full name is really Nikolas Eleision." held his cup up to the saddened looking man waiting for him to raise his cup.
'Nexrael' chuckled, a faint smile on his face, he raised his cup up too. "An elf from Kanonas? I thought they mostly came from the forests of Igni… My name is Xan. Short for my first name, Xanxus. My full name is Xanxus Rho Atlas."
"Great! I have a feeling we'll be the best of friends, Xan!" Elei exclaimed, Xan and his cup collided, the ale inside moved like the waves of a serene, graceful ocean. "Likewise, Elei."
Both down their drinks, as the moonlight's gentle gaze illuminated the skies of the dark night, and the celebratory cheers of the men that have fought hard for their respective country.
[ 358 A.D: Bow, Sword, and Spear. ]
35th Floor of the Dungeon Tower. (Gluttony) -
Eleison and Xanxus fought back to back, Eleison held a sword, Xanxus held a spear. Slaying demons in the Dungeon Tower of Hell, the giant leader demon was about to jump them before an archer shot an arrow coated in frost to shoot through the demon's stomach, causing a frostbite effect to take place inside.
Eleison slashed the knees of the demon, sweeping its legs, making it collapse on its back. Xanxus then jumped onto the demon. His spear points to the demon's head before piercing through it, with the Archer on the left side of Xanxus, and the Swordsman on the right.
And so, the 35th floor was cleared.
As the group takes a break, Eleison walks with a girl that has horns that act like scales on her forearms and shoulders, to speak with Xanxus. Xanxus turns his head to Eleison. "Oh, Elei. Who is..?" Eleison had drinks in his hand as the horned girl did too.
Eleison raised his cup in a way of waving at his friend. "Hey, Xan! This is the person that shot the arrow when we were about to get hit by that leader demon, Elena, this is Xanxus."
Elena, the archer, waved at Xanxus with a gentle smile, Xanxus held his hand out for a handshake. Elena enthusiastically shakes his hand. "Hi Xanxus! I'm Elena Lebedev. I'm a Brutaci if you couldn't tell!", Xanxus nods with a slight smile.
"I can tell. Thank you, Miss Lebedev. We wouldn't have been able to get this win without your archery skills." Elena smacks his back slightly, with a bright cheery smile. "Please, call me Lena! I heard you call Eleison 'Elei'! Can I call you Xan?"
"...Sure. A hyper one aren't you? Can I assume you're from Ledyanoy?" Elena nodded her head to Xanxus' question. "Yup! But actually my mother is from Tsukihi ancestry, so I'm part Tsukihi and Ledyan!"
"I see.." Eleison groans as the two keep yappin', he keeps Xanxus's cup on the table. "Enough chatting! Let's cheer for today's milestone, and for Elena's save!"
Xanxus nodded in agreement. "Hear hear. Elena?" Elena nodded, raising her cup up. "To everyone's hard work! We'll all reach the top and beyond!!", she exclaimed, the rest of the group exclaimed too. Xanxus had a visible smile crack up on his face, Eleison was smiling silly as they all raised their cups into the air.
And they all yelled: "Glory to the mother, Aria!!!".
[ 364 A.D: Blood on Snow. ]
73rd Floor of the Dungeon Tower of Hell (Violence). -
The floor was a blizzard, reminiscent of that of the snowfields of Ledyanoy. No monsters were roaming around, but only one. A large humanoid monster with the horns of a deer, standing on its hind feet, blitzed through the fields just to target Eleison.
Xanxus quickly got in front of him and got out his spear to block the hit, sent to the wall. "Xan! Elei!" Elena shouted, turning her head to look at the two flung to a wall, Eleison was fine, Xanxus took a hard hit to his stomach with his spear broken.
Xanxus was in Eleison's arms. "Xanxus!" The deer-like creature towered over the group at a frightening height. The group dispersed and spread out to avoid the giant creature and attack from afar, some trying to land a hit on it.
Those who approached it were met with a cruel demise, shredding through the defenses and reaching the offense at a fast rate. Mana radiating from its fists, Elena shot a large mana arrow at its back, the creature caught it and grabbed Elena by the face, stabbing her in the stomach and pinning her to a tree with said arrow as it faded.
"Kh.. ACK– " Elena coughed up blood, she grits her teeth as she tries her hardest to stop the bleeding as the blood she hacked up splatters on the snow. Eleison widened his eyes, setting Xanxus down on a folded cloak Eleison was wearing.
The creature turned to Eleison as he quickly sliced the creature's calves, causing it to kneel. Though it regenerated; it resulted in Eleison hacking away at it at a wild speed before it caught up to his speed.
Xanxus was partially awake, his vision was blurry, Elena was attempting to heal herself as the blood stopped leaking, managing to close her wound as she sighed a breath of pure relief.
An hour or two had gone by, as Xanxus quickly got up, rushing to Elena. "ELENA!! Are you okay?! What happened?!" Elena leaned her back against a tree, as she pointed to Eleison exhausting himself at a fast pace just to match the monster's pace.
Xanxus got up, "I'll take it from here, just sit tight, Lena." Xanxus removed his cloak and kept it on Elena. Elena closed her eyes, shaking, as she fell asleep. Xanxus summoned his golden spear, as he grabbed Eleison by the back of his shirt, pulling him back.
"I got it from here, Elei.", Eleison was panting, just several minutes was enough to deplete his stamina. Xanxus looked at him. "Don't worry." Eleison nodded, being kept down by Xanxus next to Elena. The monster quickly blitzed to Eleison, before Xanxus spun his spear and attempted to pierce through the beast.
Xanxus circled around the beast, and so did the beast, as it circled around Xanxus. Before Xanxus leapt up into the air, throwing the spear down. Xanxus landed onto the snow on his feet next to the spear as the monster dodged it.
"What to call you… A frozen stag? How about stag?" Xanxus said in a taunting manner, as he blitzed forwards, the spear thrusted forwards as the beast dodged to the right. Xanxus tilts his spear to the right as the beast gets scarred.
Xanxus pulls the spear up, piercing the beast's chest. Eleison throws his sword at the beast, stabbing its shoulder as Xanxus quickly pierces through its heart while yelling. The beast roared into the sky, its body exploded with ice shards as a last ditch effort before it faded into blue mana dust.
Xanxus covered his face, Eleison quickly casted a shield spell around himself and Elena, but one got into the shield. Xanxus stabbed his spear into the ground, getting hit in the shoulder. He knelt as he pants.
Xanxus got up, looking at Eleison, the shield spell fades at an alarming rate. Eleison holds his bleeding, pierced side. Xanxus quickly got up and dropped the spear, running to Eleison as he ripped his cloth and covered the wound.
"Elei… How'd you…" Xanxus said with worry in his eyes, he quickly applied pressure as Eleison groaned whilst gritting his teeth. "Just hold on, we'll get the healers on you qui-.." He turned back, the rest of the group were either injured or dead. The healers were already occupied.
Xanxus's eyes widened, then softened as he bit his lip tightly. Eleison kept his hand on Xanxus's cheek, his wound bleeding profusely ignoring the pressure Xanxus is applying. "Listen, it's been a good run for me, Xan."
"No no no no, I can't… I won't let you die, Elei…", Xanxus said with desperation. Elena was awake, looking at Eleison with shocked eyes, she quickly moved to him. "ELEI!" Elena had the same look of desperation as Xanxus, tears welled up in her eyes. "We were supposed to reach the top of the tower together… You agreed and even…"
Elena quickly kept her hands on the wound to try and heal it like she did with herself before, struck with the limits of her mana, her shoulder experiencing a searing pain. She kept trying regardless, but it was too late.
A droplet fell onto the snow, it was from Xanxus, tears streamed down his face. Eleison pulled Elena and Xanxus together, embracing the two one last time. "When you reach the top, have a feast in my name. You two were all I could ask for.. You best live on."
Eleison kept his hands on their heads as he had them in his arms, Xanxus gripped his shirt as Elena bawled her eyes out, his grip loosened.
His hand falls onto the ground, lifeless. And with his lips curled up, Xanxus stood up, gripping his fist tightly as he took Eleison's sword from him. Tears streamed like the rivers of the floor.
"Lena… Let's go…", Elena ignored him, still bawling. Xanxus grabbed the back of her shirt as he kept walking with her dragged on the snow. "ELEI! ELEISON!!" She shouts out constantly, still sobbing.
Xanxus bit his lip to the point of bleeding, he stopped crying. The healers and the healed ones were waiting for them to go to the respite floor.
They proceed, Eleison's body was left in the snow against a tree. Eleison loved trees, and Xanxus knew that's where he'd love to die.
[ 490 A.D: NEXRAEL. ]
99th Floor of the Dungeon Tower. (Treachery) -
… 'Xanxus' wandered aimlessly, blood stained and exhausted. A bleeding Elena besides on his back, he kept going. He had just cleared the 99th Floor.
It's been 133 years. 'Xanxus' had grown somewhat older, having a stubble and looking rough. He had an injured foot, yet still carried Elena no matter what, she had a gash on her back which was tightly wrapped with bandages.
Elena weakly whispered… "Xan… Please… Go to the top… I can't go on.." He ignored it, he kept walking up the flights of stairs with Elena on his back. "Don't say that, Lena… We're almost at the top. 133 years of nothing but pain and suffering all coming to a close…"
He smiled slightly, "Like Elei wanted… We'll eat in his name at the top." Elena chuckled, having a faint smile. "I never knew you would go that far…" She yawned, hallucinating a small bed that was 'Xanxus'.
'Xanxus' scaled the flights of stairs, his foot slipping sometimes. "Lena, I'll never let go of you, okay?" Elena nodded, "Just… gonna sleep for a bit…" 'Xanxus' stopped, "Elena, please… hang on, I'll fix it all."
"I'm really sleepy, Xan… Just keep holdin' me for a while longer…", He had reached the top, he limped with Elena on her back, gently placing her down. "Lena…" He held her hand, Elena held his hand too. "You just hafta get me outta bed, huh…?"
'Xanxus' gripped her hand, tears welling up. "I wonder… Would it all be different if we ever met outside of the tower…?" Elena chuckled. She backed herself against a wall with the help of Xanxus.
"Elei would've opened up a flowershop, I would've stayed with my mom.. What about you?" 'Xanxus' smiled gently. "I would've met with you two every morning when I get up."
Elena leaned into 'Xanxus's' arms, he repositioned himself a little for her. "I gotta sleep, man… I'll wake up strong and healed, Brutaci people heal at a fast rate, remember…?", 'Xanxus' nodded with a gentle smile, tears welling up as he wiped it, making sure it didn't disturb her. "Yeah… I know…"
"Please, Elena… You promised we'd have a feast in Eleison's name…" Elena nodded. "You will… I'll just take a quick nap, okay…?"
"…Okay… Goodnight, Elena…" Elena closed her eyes gently, before she did, she said: "Goodnight, Xan... Goodnight, Elei..." 'Xanxus' folded cloth, keeping it on the floor as he laid his cloak on the floor and kept her down on the floor. The folded cloth served as a pillow, and the cloak as comfort.
'Xanxus' kept Elena's cloak on her, keeping her hands together. Elena's corpse was peaceful looking, just like Eleison. It wasn't a boss on the 100th floor, but a crimson chalice floating down.
An angel with dark flowing hair appeared in a white blinding light beside the cup. "Xanxus Rho Atlas, you have liberated the tower. Will you choose to join us in Caelum or use the Infernus Chalice?"
'Xanxus' looked at the angel with awe. "…I… I'd like to join Caelum to see my friends." The angel shakes her head left and right. "Those who perish within the dungeon tower do not go to either Caelum or Infernus."
'Xanxus' widened his eyes, "What… Do you mean…?! They all died honorable and peaceful deaths, why..?! How?!" The angel raised her hand, hinting at 'Xanxus' to stop speaking.
"Once a being here dies in the Dungeon Tower, they don't arrive at Caelum nor Infernus. But a place known as 'Mundus Inter'. A spiritual limbo, the world of between, if you will."
"But not similar to that of Infernus's Limbo. Only solitude and peace. If you bring them back using a wish via the Chalice of Infernus, it will only turn their body and spirit, mangled and unrecognizable. And will attack you no matter what, if done so, they will be executed and sent to Infernus accordingly."
"…I see…" He nods, he holds his hand out to the Angel. "Please, take me to Caelum… I'd not want to disturb the rest of my friends." The angel nodded. "Very well, doing this will cause the tower to completely start over everything, and discard the bodies here. Is that what you want?"
A moment of hesitation, he nodded. The angel takes his hand. "Choose a name for yourself, warrior." 'Xanxus' was told. "...Nexrael. I'd like to be named Nexrael."
[ 555 A.D: Contemplation. ]
The high council stood with the valkyries before Archangel Nexrael, his eyes gazing up at them as they sat high. Nexrael's unwavering loyalty to them was never faltered in any way, slightly shaken by The Guardian of Humanity; Micah.
The council sent Nexrael to burn a village down for sinning against 'Aria'. Even burning and scorching the women, and the children. His eyes looked down at the child protecting his younger sibling, Nexrael saw the stained glass shine with the rising sunlight, it was a stained glass art of 'Aria'. Oh, and how beautiful it was.
…Nonetheless, after completing his mission, Nexrael thought to himself: "...Innocent men women and children had perished and burned… And it was because of me. Is this really what 'Aria' had intended? For people to face death when they have sinned without her judgement?"
[ 934 A.D: Doubt of Doubts. ]
…He kept shaking his head, trying and discarding those constant thoughts like trash. What mattered was his loyalty to the council and to the will of the Mother. Micah looked at Nexrael with a horrified face, then quickly looked away.
Though having blood stained his hands, Nexrael felt no guilt. No remorse. Just second thoughts, if the Council follows the guilt of 'Aria' or just drunk on power to control all under them. Who knows? Next time, Nexrael could be sent on a genocide for a peasant stealing a loaf of bread from a bakery.
[ 1148 A.D: ]
Days have gone by, days and days and days… Until all of a sudden, Nexrael saw the edge of the highest peak in Redlocnse, the sight was something he had never seen as a mortal. He wondered: "... 'Aria' created living beings to see spectacles like this… Why is it that they die before they do…?"
Nexrael sat down on the ground, the captivating sight of the distant, lush grasslands going as far as the eye can see. Nexrael's eyes softened, as though the burden of killing was off his shoulders.
His eyes closed, nothing but a soft breeze hummed, next thing he knew, Micah descended behind him, taking in the sights. Micah smiled. "It's beautiful, isn't it? You can have the feeling you could live a life full of peace and harmony on this very top."
Nexrael nodded, "...I agree… Micah, have you ever once reached a mountaintop in your life?", Nexrael asked, his gaze fixated on the grassfields moving from the wind. Micah shaked his head. "I never got to. I ascended to the rank of Guardian Angel the day I passed, that time I was surrounded by family and friends."
"I see… 'Aria' created us to reach the top to see such spectacles, right?" Micah chuckled, noting Nexrael's sudden melancholic-ish behavior with a hint of mischief. "You seem to be down in the dumps, something happened? Did Sister Brunhilde scold you?"
Nexrael shakes his head in response to Micah's teasing. "No… It's just that… Nevermind. We have to go back." Micah nodded. "Yeah, I figured. I like our talks, let's talk here when we have the time, yeah?"
"...Sure…", Nexrael agreed. Both flew beyond the clouds and into Caelum.
[ 1639 A.D: Benͣeͬvͥoͣlent Mother. ]
Sent from Caelum to exterminate a 'threat', Nexrael disappeared into the light and appeared into the Dungeon Tower. Sparking something within him, he chose to ignore.
Nexrael stormed into the Dungeon Tower of Hell, destroying the giant mechanical beast the group were straddling onto. One was burnt to near death, he descended onto the fields. Stopped by Micah, Nexrael attempts to execute Leif Sagamore.
"Stop it, Nexrael. You've done enough." Micah said, grabbing his shoulder. Nexrael grits his teeth, pushing Micah away. "Whatever you say, Guardian Angel."
In Caelum, in his quarters, Nexrael looked into the mirror, his helmet off as his face was scarred and still rough from when he had departed from the Dungeon Tower.
"...Don't forget who you are, Nexrael. An archangel who is to be a role model to all those below him. No feelings for those who've sinned." He murmured to himself, Micah was still around, he poked his shoulder.
"...Sorry for stopping you back there… I know you probably are takin' it wrong but…" Micah was cut off by a gate shaking scream by Sister Brunhilde, summoning Nexrael. "…You're in trouble…"
Nexrael quickly flew to Brunhilde's quarters, along with Micah following him. Brunhilde found his behavior to her younger sister: Sheriel, unforgivable.
Micah took his punishment, Nexrael stood outside the door as Micah was branded with the symbol of a Valkyrie to make sure Nexrael will never make this mistake again. Nexrael carried Micah, knelt before Brunhilde, and left.
He kept Micah on his bed, sitting next to him, burying his face into his hands as he closed his eyes… He remembered two people he cannot get the faces right of. Two people that mattered to him. Was it Micah and Brunhilde?
No, it was something else. As though it was calling to him to keep his morality bound… He discarded those thoughts nonetheless, and tended to Micah, cooling his excruciating brand.
A couple of months later, Leif Sagamore was now considered bounty as decided by the Council, the reward was a spot in Caelum endorsed by Nexrael himself. Nexrael was stopped by Micah.
"Nexrael, please–" Micah said, then cut off abruptly by Nexrael, "Those who defend demons will face punishment by the council. You know that, right, Micah?!" Micah was silenced, he nodded.
"Then don't get in my way.", he left. Issuing the warning of Leif Sagamore to everyone in Redlocnse. Everything was in place now.
…
During the four years after the supposed death of Leif Sagamore, Nexrael noticed that Micah had been gone for a while now. His last appearance was after he had announced Leif Sagamore's bounty and reward to the world.
He asked Brunhilde, Hildr, the other valkyries, no answer. He kept searching, until he found Micah's medallion. A golden one that was always attached to his arm. Micah was gone, but not dead.
He wondered to himself… "Was it too much for him..? This responsibility to look over humans with his childhood friends…"
[ PRESENT, 1643 A.D: ]
[ The Day of Slaughter. ]
And to the present, Nexrael stands up before the fire, removing the thoughts of 'Aria' being nonexistent, for how could he have been given life?
Balling his fist in anger. The council was clearly corrupted, and he still harbored hatred for them. They take advantage of the innocent and make sure those who commit the simplest of crimes are tortured.
And the theory that Micah was killed by the council for treason that has been going around, he grits his teeth no such people should be claimed as those who rule over all.
He ascended, his wings flapped at high speeds, his sword was summoned in his hand, appearing in the Auditorium of Caelum. He walked in forwards, marching to the backstage.
Nexrael stood before the Council of Caelum, looking at one of them with his sword drawn. "Ah, Archangel Nexrael. Perfect timi-", just before the council member had finished talking, Nexrael's sword glided through the neck of the council member.
"NEXRAEL! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!", one of the council members shouted. Nexrael shot an arrow at the shouting member, Brunhilde quickly descended. "Nexrael! Get a hold of yourself, what are you doing?!"
"What I have to do." Nexrael replied, blood of the council stained his face and his sword. He throat chops Brunhilde, Brunhilde quickly ducks and palms his jaw.
"You don't understand, Brunhilde! These people are taking advantage of the people in Caelum! They might've taken away Micah, too!" He shouted, Brunhilde calmly replied: "That is no reason to kill the council, Nexrael! It's enough to arrest them for questioning!"
Brunhilde guts Nexrael, he returns a gut punch too. Whilst fighting Brunhilde, he was directly killing Council members in the fight. Dishonorable people who take advantage of kindness, savages, all of them.
Nexrael lands a final hit on Brunhilde, causing her to get sent through a building in Caelum, and through the auditorium. Nexrael begins the slaughter, slicing through, piercing through, and shooting through many council members.
Till naught remained but pools of blood and bodies, he smiled under his helmet as he held up the head of the councillor. "PEOPLE OF CAELUM! I WILL TAKE PLACE AS THE COUNCIL! YOU ARE NO MORE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TYRANTS!" He shouted, the citizens of Caelum looked up with hope, some with fear.
He thought in his head, "Somewhere in Mundus Inter… You're probably watching, aren't you…? Elei.. Lena… I hope you're proud of me."
"A NEW DAWN WILL BE STORED! I WILL BRING TRANQUILITY TO ALL, AND GUIDE CAELUM INTO THE ARMS OF MOTHER ARIA!" The citizens uproared and cheered, chanting the name: "NEXRAEL!" constantly, he looks left and right at the crowd, bearing a wide grin. One thing left: just finding Micah.
——————————————————————————
— CHAPTER VII, FIN.
— NEXT CHAPTER: "The Approach".
——————————————————————————