Side Chapter - 106 - Hell and Paradise path.

There was one thing anybody who wanted to cross the borders of The Desolation must know. Its History. Only a few knew the events of the location or why it was even called the Desolation in the first place.

There were many tales, old and new, lies and truth, fabricated or facts. Yet there was only one tale that Old Man Kingo gave. Long before the start of the First shattering when all races lived in Harmony or at least what harmony there would be then, existed two gods.

High gods they were. One as gentle as the early morning autumn breeze and the other as wild and chaotic as the raging seashores. Yet both were siblings and lived in harmony. So harmonious and good was their bond that it was said the gentle autumn could calm the raging seas when it need be.

The ever-gentle, ever-loving Autumn (A/N: Yes I'm calling him autumn now. Deal with it) was enamored by the mortals. So much so that he loved to mingle with them and grant them favors. The chaotic rager was always seen following behind ever protective of the other one.

Yet all good tales always come to an end. Evil they say lurks like the night always awaiting the day's retreat. Eager to pounce on the unsuspecting sky and fill it with despair.

A god was slain, how, no one knew. All that history remembered was the after. The cataclysm that came from the rage of well the Rager. Fitting wasn't it? A god who couldn't be tamed going insane in grief when the one who could calm him lays dead.

"They called it, the cataclysm I mean, Tuonsra, It ravaged the lands in the immediate vicinity. Turning it into a wasteland of nothing but death and strife. Slowly the lands recovered but never to the same extent. Yet also the Rager remained. His original tantrum having called on authorities he dared not defy made him relent. But still, in his righteous anger, he formed the Hell and Paradise field. A death zone or more like trap zone".Old man Kindo halted his tale here coughing a bit before sipping on some water offered.

"While this completely strange story does shed a bit of light, it doesn't help out decision one bit. " Humda the voice of reason pointed out. Every head nodded strangely enough even Moira's.

" Well. The fact is this. Demigods don't dare go in because they can't enter it. In fact, no race can enter the Hell and Paradise field except we humans."Old man Kindo announced shocking them.

A glint flashed through Humda" s eye at this statement but no words left him. Carla simply sighed still not sure how this helped.

"Hell and Paradise Field. A place just as beautiful as it is dangerous. You want us to go through it, don't you? That's why you're telling us in the first place" Humda stated his arms folded over his chest as he cast a glance at Old man Kindo.

Old man Kindo for his part barely hesitated as he nodded.

"This old man is weak and barely useful. So only my words hold value now. Heed then younglings. Like Moira already tested, strong swords are born from the heat of flames. Yet their true strength is tested in combat not against the flames that Forged it but against its counterpart. Steel." To say everyone was lost at the old man's words would be an understatement.

" You believe that while we may succeed in getting past the lesser giants it would be a waste. Since there are no benefits to it." Humda stated his eyes still locked on the Old man. The man was quick to nod his head.

Of course, how was he to know that priests and priestesses of Erizos could absorb the soul essence of life around them? Killing those lesser giants while not as easy as it would sound would still have a lot more effects on them than anything else they had previously killed. After all the five were yet to know but would soon find out that every one of the Lesser giants was equal to late-stage Evolvers according to their systems.

"But within the Hell and Paradise field, there are far more treasures, artifacts, and resources than anything.m you could ever know. Enough infact to raise everyone around you to a solid fighting force. " Old man Kindo made an elaborate spread of his arm.

Each of the five looked to the other. Carla and Moira at each other, Sanda to Kendor, and Kendor to Humda. Finally, all heaved a sigh, well except for Moira who just shrugged with a badly hidden smile.

"Hopefully we can gain enough soul essence through this to push you lot into the Evolver life grade and also enough for me to get into the midstage properly.

"So. Do we like vote for which direction to head to? " Kendor asked confused.

" I say we go for it. Both opportunities present death and only one presents rewards for circumventing the death. Can be a good motivation to come out on top for the people too. " Humda analyzed.

Yes, the people could fight. They weren't weak villagers or just anyhow strays. Remember that these were the societal dregs, wastrels, and criminals. Of course, there were the innocent people and those who had never fought unless they'd been slaves for more than they could remember of their lifespans. Yet even most of these slaves were usually thrown into battle pits as entertainment.

Long story short only about two percent of their camp dwellers were combatants and half of that percentage were made of very fragile old folks and newborn babies.

The camp had already gotten to over five hundred members. There were at least four hundred strong. As such Moira quickly nodded to Humda.

In the time that had passed the five had already built a sort of camaraderie between themselves. While not as tightly knit as needed it was obvious that their setup was currently working. So Old man Kindo watched as Humda began arranging the folks.

Everyone there already knew the new trio. The Chosen of their god Erlezos as they were referred to, who were here to lead their Phoenix back to their new home. It made things much easier in the passing months and now even better the folks knew to follow his directions without having to get permission from Moira or Carla every second.

Once everything was arranged Moira stood in front of the crowd like a war general clad in her Erlezonite armor her golden hair with more platinum strands flowing like a river to her mid back while golden eyes stared the crowd down. Not intimidatingly, no, more like reassuring, or at least that was what she hoped her gaze portrayed.

"I'm not one for many words." She began her voice spreading to over five hundred people gathered before her. So I'll hit the hammer on the rock. The place chosen for us by our Great one lies beyond those " Her right hand pointed to the border cliffs.

"There lies only two paths to our journey's end. Both are filled with uncertainty and most definitely. Death. " A chill spread within the crowd and a hum of deafening silence assaulted everyone's ears.

"But. It doesn't matter does it. " she looked at everyone in a way that stunned them. A smile lit up her cheeks and light danced in her eyes.

"Death has been constantly toying with us. Playing and making a mockery of human existence. The gods turned against us for reasons unclear to us" A certain brunette-haired boy frowned for just a second.

"Yet we were allowed to seize our fates once more. Behind me lies Death, Opportunity, Passage, and most important rewards. Take it, we didn't earn it but we deserve to earn it. " The crowd grew stirred as murmurs flowed slowly around.

" We're humans they say. The lowliest race. Insects, weak and fodders. Maybe. Just maybe they are right. After all, we are here and not them." Another silence descended.

" But let's not forget one thing they conveniently keep ignoring. We fought the gods and while we may have lost we can say we lived to see the sunrise. Now tell me, which race can boast of this achievement? " Her words caused a jolt in their hearts, especially for the older folk among the crowd who were always feeling guilt for being amongst the earlier generations after the First shattering.

Now though they realized how right Moira was. Mortals could never in any way stand up to the power of the gods. Yet the humans did. While not with a victory it could be said that indeed they lived to see another day. Didn't that make them...wait what did it make?. Heads turned to Moira in confusion and speculation. They understood but couldn't see the endgame. How could the girl not understand the reason for their gaze?

"We could be anything?. Let's not forget after all unlike in the past when we simply survived now we have the Great one's backing . So tell me will you let the opportunity to grow stronger pass you". There was an incomparable silence but Moira didn't flinch or get disheartened. She knew just as they that the reply reverberated through their hearts and minds.

"Would you let the power to avert your loved one's fate slip out your grasp?" she asked one last time before nodding to the crowd. Turning her back to the people and eye focused on the very entrance of the Hell and Paradise field she spoke her words low yet loud enough for all to hear.

"The great one gave us the god cleaver. But he won't be the one cleaving for us. We have to take that step ourselves." With those words, the image in front of them fizzled off. Moira was already gone.

"I'm not one for words she says" Sanda mimicked shaking her head at the ridiculousness.

"It did work though. " Kendor noted nodding to the crowd. " Never seen them so fired up".

" Indeed. She just makes them ecstatic to die. How glamorous" Humda sassed. All three watched as the folks stepped closer to the entrance.

"Well, hopefully, nothing goes wrong". Kendor sighed.