章節 43: Neyaphem Thor Part II
Slowly descending to the ground, the winged figures looked around the area before focusing upon the cave entrance before them. It was dark, unnaturally so, shadows leaving it a void of nothingness.
"Is this wise?" One of the Cheyarafim asked, part of the group that had come here. All turned, staring at the lead figure who pulled ahead of his compatriots. "The Neyaphem are on the verge of defeat. Thanks to the aid of the Eternals and the Sorcerers, we have managed to all but kill them all. Why do we need to negotiate with those that remain alive?"
"Because killing them all is a waste." The lead figure said. "The Neyaphem are but a fraction of their original number. Recovering from this will be impossible. They are defeated, I will not kill a defeated enemy, nor should you."
"Would they offer the same courtesy?"
The war between the Neyaphem and Cheyarafim had waged for many years now. While they were all the same, bearing wings that gifted them the ability of flight. The Neyaphem were different, each possessing their own unique powers. It had led to them setting out to conquer Hyboria, the Cheyarafim sending a delegation to try and convince them to stop. The delegation had failed and war erupted.
However, the multitude of powers that the Neyaphem possessed resulted in the Cheyarafim being on the verge of defeat. Even though they held the advantage in numbers, they couldn't deal with the unique powers that the Neyaphem wielded. It was only with the aid of the Sorcerers of humanity and the eventual arrival of th Eternals that they had been able to turn the tide of the war.
It had not been easy though, the Neyaphem once divided into its individual factions had now united under the rule of Azazel. They fought hard, making sure that every inch they surrendered was paid for in rivers of blood.
But they had managed to push them back, the last vestiges of the Neyaphem gathered in one place, except for a single one.
"We are not the Neyaphem, nor should we act as such." The lead figure replied firmly. "The Neyaphem under Azazel will be banished from Midgard. Cast out into the abyss. It's a death sentence. We, however, shall offer leniency to those that surrender now. Spare some if we can and in the future, they may repay such kindness."
Yet from the darkness of the cave, echoing laughter sounded, all those present turning to look upon its entrance. "You are naive." Out from the shadow, Thor revealed himself. "Your comrades are correct, that a defeated enemy is only truly defeated when they are dead."
"Are you asking me to kill you?" The lead figure retorted, Thor chuckling and shaking his head.
"I quite like living."
"I'm sure you do." The Cheyarafim replied, moving forwards. "Let us talk privately."
Thor smiled. "We have no need to speak privately, I know why you have come here. It has nothing to do with the war, but on our unique bond, am I wrong?" Those words deleted some muttering and confusion from the group of Cheyarafim. However, their leader was unperturbed by this, simply nodding his head in response.
"It is." This confirmation only furthered the confusion of the Cheyarafim, including the Sorcerers that had accompanied them. "The Neyaphem have been defeated, something you recognised the moment the Eternals entered the war."
They were not easy to find, they hidden from the world in their cities. Uncaring of the dealings of men, or so they appeared. In fact, many of them, the young inspired by the tales of the Donar the Champion of the Eternals wished to aid mankind. It was those that had been convinced to take up the cause of the Cheyarafim and battle against the Neyaphem, those they believed to be offshoots of the Deviants.
"I did." Thor agreed. "But I am also the one that made it possible for the Neyaphem to achieve what they had. I slaughtered hundreds of your kind, thousands of Midgardians."
The reminder of his past deeds made the Cheyarafim angry, many making threatening steps towards him, their weapons clutched tightly. "Yet, you never once took command of the Neyaphem, despite being the strongest of your kind. Why is that?"
"Because the Neyaphem were too divided, if I was to try and take control, I would have to fight both you and the individual factions of the Neyaphem. Both an external and internal war. I am powerful, but not that powerful." Thor replied, their conversation the only thing that halted a possible fight. "It was easier for me to build up an image, a reputation. Allow Azazel to take control of another Neyaphem and then remove him from power."
"He holds no remorse!" One Cheyarafim snarled, noticing the smirk upon Thor's face. "He takes pride in everything he did."
"He cannot be reasoned with!" Another concurred.
It had actually been possible at times for the Cheyarafim to win without the aid of Sorcerers of the Eternals. But each and every time they had tried, it had been Thor who thwarted their plans. It was easy for him, just like he taught him, the best way to predict that actions of your enemies are to notice weaknesses in yourself. Enemies will always seek to exploit weaknesses they see and that made them predictable.
It was just difficult for someone to notice a weakness within themself. An internal bias to believe themselves without fault when in positions of power. However, Odin had stripped him of all that pride and dignity within that cave on Asgard. Cruelly beating him down both physically and mentally, robbing him of all sense of pride.
The cave broke Thor Odinson.
But forged him into something powerful and without pride.
Something to this day he strived to gain by surpassing all those that came before him.
Thor just laughed. "I am smart enough to recognise when I'm beaten. Besides, I always knew something was off about you, from the moment we first met." The last part was directed towards the leader of the Cheyarafim. "Once the Eternals joined the war, I knew I no longer had the power to do that and so I left the Neyaphem to their fate. Survival is more important than the pursuit of an impossible goal. If you are offering the chance to surrender, I shall gladly take it. I will even repent if that's what you wish."
His honesty, his complete lack of pride seemed to catch them all off-guard. They expected him to refuse, to fight them to the last breath, unwilling to surrender and accept defeat like the rest of his kind. However, Thor surprised them all, including their leader.
"You will surrender?"
Thor nodded his head easily. "Of course." As if to further prove his point, the shadows of the cave seemed to dissipate. It was still dark, but light shone down through whereas before it was just a wall of darkness.
"And stand trial?"
"If I must." Stepping out from the cave, Thor moved forwards easily, ignoring the shift of the Cheyarafim. Their weapons raised, stances poised and ready to strike him down if need be. "I am defeated, it is only natural for one to surrender when they are defeated. Though I am surprised you only brought your kind and a few Sorcerers. I do not see an Eternal within your midst."
"Who is to say there isn't?" The leader, Thor's counterpart asked.
"Because none of you has that arrogant stance that they hold. Nor that presence of power." Thor answered easily, coming to a stop before the leader of the Cheyarafim. "We truly are different, are we not?" Thor extended both hands out, his counterpart taking the enchanted chains from a nearby Cheyarafim and going to wrap them around Thor's wrist.
Except at that moment, Thor moved.
Spikes of darkness rushed out, piercing through the bodies of those nearby, including his counterpart. One hand grasped out, Thor driving him into the ground by his neck, a shadowed dagger forming in his hand.
"How can you be so naive?" He then drove it up and through his counterpart's chin, killing him instantly.
Even as magic lanced out, the Cheyarafim flapping their wings and rushing towards him, Thor just smiled happily. From the moment he had first encountered the leader of the Cheyarafim. From the moment the Eternals joined the war, he had been waiting for this moment. Thor had always known that just as he wished to meet again, he knew that his counterpart wished the same.
So he had waited, patiently biding his time until he finally came. Deep down he knew, that together, they could become stronger, a whisper in the back of his mind. Even as a magic circle formed underneath him, it glowing brightly with light, Cheyarafim thrusting their blades down at him, Thor didn't care.
He could feel the power rushing through him.
His journey within this world may not have begun the way he wanted it to. But that did not matter to him, he would always achieve what he wanted. He would escape Odin's shadow and cast him into his. Only then, could he regain the pride that had been stripped from him within that cave.
As Thor smiled brightly, feeling something bursting from his back, he was engulfed in light.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票