PHASE 58 - SWORD OF THE COSMIC GODS

According to the Lovecraftian Mythology, Cthulhu and Hastur are half-brothers, but they consider each other as arch-nemesis. They are so like Rikkun and Diadem. They are brothers-in-law (After Rikkun and I get married... I’m so excited!) and consider each other as arch-nemesis. Diadem is responsible for killing three of Rikkun’s friends so Rikkun has a valid reason.

I don’t know about Diadem’s side though.

Rikkun is able to control his powers as Cthulhu without his heart being cursed. That’s generally a good thing, but the other threat remains. Diadem is going all out, and he’s determined to kill my lover.

“I have chopped your head for about a million timelines. It would be satisfying if I can do it again, Alaric Eisenhower!” Diadem/Hastur proudly said as he jumped forward.

“You have to correct yourself! You have killed me in my weakest normal human self. Everything is different now that I’m a deity like you!” Rikkun/Cthulhu charged towards the ramming enemy!

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Their tentacles whipped on each other. Every time their whips made a strong impact, a wind shockwave emerges. One tentacle falls off every time they exchange blows! They didn’t care that much because those extra limbs would regenerate in mere seconds anyway.

Hastur jumped back and prepared a spell using his braided tendrils! “!!!” Flame tornado drill rushed to his opponent!

“!!!” Gigantic hexagon disk made of ice was created by Cthulhu, and instead of throwing it, he used it as a shield against the enemy tornado! The ice shuriken shattered like glass!

Hastur materialized a flame sword from his right and made a stabbing strike to the air, pointing to Cthulhu! “!!!”

Cthulhu twirled his tentacle on his right dragon claw and copied the spell his arch-nemesis cast! “!!!”

Their crimson wind drills clashed to each other, and the result is a typhoon on the highest category. The chaotic clashes of wind destroyed the peaceful flowers in the vicinity.

The attacks didn’t end. Hastur’s red eyes glowed and blasted crimson lasers directed to his enemy!

“!!!”

In response, Cthulhu charged prana on the gigantic eye on his chest and it launched a miniature dark sun!

“!!!”

There was another set of the explosion, this time from the exploding miniature star. The laser from Hastur’s eyes lost its energy and faded as soon as the gigantic orb was nullified.

“What’s wrong, Alaric Eisenhower?” Hastur mocked. “You’re reserving prana on your attacks. Now you hit like a wet noodle. Are you worried that you might get cursed by using The Outsider’s powers again!?”

“Tsk!” Rikkun clicked his tongue in disappointment. “If only I’m using the God Core of Freyr, this wouldn’t be a hard fight.”

That might be true. For now, Rikkun should hold back. Prolonged release of a tremendous amount of prana while using his Fake God Core might trigger his inner evil thought. It’s just a matter of time before his eyes convert into crimson red, just like Diadem.

“If you’re not going to use ... Then I’ll force you to.” Hastur said as he charged once again. “!!!

Twelve flames emerged and molded itself into a perfect copy of Hastur. The clones ran around, surrounded the hesitant Fake God! Now Rikkun is disoriented!

“!!!” Thirteen Hasturs used a flame tornado drill spell at the very same time! Now Cthulhu has nowhere to evade!

There’s no time to waste! There is only one thing he can do to evade this attack!

“!!!” Cthulhu swapped positions with one of the Hasturs! And he appeared to have picked the real one!

A deafening explosion echoed once again. A flame pillar formed due to thirteen being cast in a single point of destination. It took a while to clear the flames and smoke in the air.

All the twelve clones disappeared when the original Hastur was melted by his own attack.

Rikkun is now heavily breathing. The Fake God Core is straining every inch of his body, and if this goes on, he’ll become a Cursed Guardian. He must finish this battle in less than five minutes.

Suddenly, there was a loud echoing deep voice.

“Looks like you’re at your limit. Let me help you unleash the inner hatred from your heart once again.”

The ground below Rikkun’s feet cracked. Little tendrils crawled out, and then the soil blasted, revealing the menacing dark face of the crowned yellow king. Rikkun was caught by surprise. If only he knew that he will spawn from underground, he should have predicted his future movements using his .

“!!!”

Hastur’s ultimate spell, the is the most powerful brainwashing assault in existence. Looking at the golden mark on Hastur’s forehead will certainly induce someone to insanity. It can even affect Gate Guardians with divinity. Last time Rikkun was caught by that attack, he lost control and created a Level 4 Eidolon.

“Gah!” Rikkun cried in pain as the glowing mark invades his brain. His transformation as the deep sea monster god has been neutralized.

The moment the is cast, it was all over.

That’s what Hastur thought.

“I… will never… let anything...corrupt my heart...ever again!” Rikkun roared as his right hand sunk to his chest. “Rrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!”

Rikkun shouted as he pulled the corrupted Fake God Core from his heart! And then, with his left hand-

“!!!” Rikkun made a left hook to Hastur’s chest, which destroyed some of his ribs. Hastur was blown a few meters away, but he remained standing. Black blood started to ooze from his chest.

“Kah… Kahahahaha…. Kahahahahahaha!!!” Hastur laughed as his wounds started to heal. “Now you’ve abandoned your Fake God Core, Alaric Eisenhower. I’m a Fake God, and you’re just a weaponless Gate Guardian. You’re almost out of juice.”

Hastur is not lying. Rikkun’s breathing is now heavier than ever, and his body felt like spikes. He’s suffering from the excruciating pain of his chest due to him forcefully ejecting the Fake God Core from his heart.

“This will be your end, Alaric Eisenhower!” Hastur’s eyes glowed as he charged forward.

There’s a great distance between them, but Hastur is fast. Rikkun only has three seconds to act.

For those next moments, time slowed to our perspective.

Rikkun can see Hastur’s movements due to his , but he has no way to evade it. Hastur’s reflexes are superb, and any attempt of running away will be dealt with by his terrifying tentacles.

Rikkun can’t use his Fake God Core. He has no Weapon Gem. He’s too far away from me to draw the ultimate sword, the . There’s no way of counterattacking. He’s slowly losing his heart.

I hold my aching chest.

“Rikkuuuuun!!!”

I shouted with all my might.

He glanced at me, and the golden cross glow on his emerald eyes came back.

One second.

He raised his right hand. Channeling all the prana he had left, Rikkun’s arm glowed. He finally remembered the purpose of the platinum ring I gave to him. He swiped his ringed finger to open a small Gate.

Suddenly, a small Gate opened on my chest. The platinum ring I have given to him is not just a memento of our love. It’s a powerful connection between us that is the gateway to each of our hearts.

With that connection and gateway, Rikkun reached out his hand to the portal. The silver wind started to swirl from my chest, and it was absorbed by the tiny Gate in front of my heart.

Then, the manifested on Rikkun’s hand.

Two seconds.

Rikkun materialized the Fake God Core again, but now it’s on his left hand. He raised the gray orb and surprisingly, the absorbed it like a magnet.

“Fake God Core Installed!!!” Rikkun shouted. The moment he said those words, the glowing platinum sword reformed and remolded itself into a large buster blade that has a saw-like edge.

The sword itself became something that looked like a rusty metal with dried barnacles. There are even tentacles spawning from its hilt. The sword is now bigger than Rikkun’s body, but it seems that he can lift it with ease.

“DIEEEEE, ALARIC EISENHOWER!!!” Hastur made a warcry.

Three seconds.

Rikkun’s green eyes glowed as he finishes the battle with one final attack using the sword of the cosmic god.

“!!!”