Chapter 84: Black and White Goddess

Snow fell heavily, blanketing the land in silence, save for the crunching of footsteps and the occasional groan of pain. Two figures trudged through the storm, leaving a trail of crimson in their wake.

A human man and a goddess of ice and snow—lovers fleeing from both their tribes for breaking the ancient law that forbade love between gods and humans.

"No," the man panted, clutching his side. "If we keep going like this, they'll catch us."

The goddess, her white robes stained with blood, turned to him, her icy eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry. You broke the rules of your clan for me... I never wanted this to be your burden."

"Don't say that," he replied fiercely, his grip tightening on her hand. "I've made many mistakes in my life, but the only thing I've never regretted is falling in love with you."

A faint smile graced her lips. "Even if I had five more lives, I'd choose you every time."

They collapsed into the snow, exhausted, clinging to each other as the storm raged around them.

"At least we can die together," he murmured.

She placed a trembling hand on her swollen belly. "It's a pity... These two haven't seen the world yet. If we survive, what should we name our children?"

His lips parted to reply, but no sound came out. Her head fell forward onto his shoulder, and her body stilled.

The goddess's immense willpower carried her through the pain of childbirth in her final moments. Two infants, their cries weak but defiant, were born in the snow.

Chaotic footsteps soon approached.

"Elder! We've found them!"

The leader of the pursuing gods stepped forward, his piercing gaze falling on the two lifeless figures.

"They're dead," he said coldly. His eyes shifted to the twin babies, one wailing loudly, the other eerily silent. He frowned. "Take this one." He pointed to the silent infant. "I sense God-Slaying Magic within her."

"God-Slaying Magic? How could that be?" one of his men asked, stunned.

The elder didn't answer. His gaze lingered on the crying baby for a moment before he turned away. "Leave the other one. Let the humans deal with her."

Elsewhere, another group of footsteps disturbed the storm.

"Chief, we've found Bingxue and her husband," a scout reported.

The leader of the human tribe stepped forward and saw the crying infant lying in the snow. He knelt and gently picked her up.

"What about this child?" one of his men asked hesitantly.

"Take her back," the chief said firmly.

"But she's half-god!"

The chief's gaze hardened. "So what? Have we not fought alongside descendants of gods and humans in the past?"

"But..."

"Enough!" the chief barked. "This is my decision!" He looked at the infant in his arms and whispered, "Perhaps this will be our revenge against the gods."

The twins' fates were sealed.

The elder sister, raised among the gods, was revered as the White Goddess for her purity and grace, though she was never truly accepted as one of their own.

The younger sister, taken in by humans, became a powerful wizard. Her mastery of Ice Demon-Slaying Magic earned her the title Black Angel, a name that struck fear into her enemies.

For centuries, gods, humans, and demons clashed across the continent. The gods and humans, despite their differences, formed a fragile alliance to combat the rising threat of the demons.

Together, they created a forbidden magic: Demonic Cannibalism. This dark art allowed demons to devour one another, absorbing their power and vitality. The magic was introduced into the demon race through deception, sowing chaos and civil war among their ranks.

While the plan succeeded in reducing the demon population, it also gave rise to a handful of monstrously powerful demons. These abominations, devoid of reason and consumed by bloodlust, became nearly unstoppable.

To lure the remaining demon kings into the open, the gods and humans orchestrated a false conflict between their factions, culminating in a staged battle in Zonia.

Among the warriors were the Black Angel and the White Goddess, who unknowingly faced each other on the battlefield. Their bond as sisters was rekindled during the fight, and together, they defeated the demon kings.

Though victorious, the sisters paid the ultimate price. They used their remaining strength to seal the final demon king, the Sea Devil, with an early version of Absolute Freeze. Imperfect and hastily cast, the seal was weaker than intended, leaving a terrible legacy for future generations to guard.

The visions faded, and Winter found herself back in the glowing chamber.

"So..." she began, her voice trembling. "What do you want from me?"

"Our time is short," the soft voice said. "You must inherit our power."

Winter's heart raced. "You mean... you want me to receive your souls?"

"Yes," the sharper voice confirmed. "Only with our strength can you defeat the Sea Devil and the demons who threaten this world."

Winter hesitated. "Why me?"

"You carry our blood," the softer voice replied. "And our power is yours by right."

The Black and White Goddesses' voices intertwined, their plea echoing in Winter's mind. "Will you accept this burden?"

Winter clenched her fists, her eyes burning with determination. "I will."

The tavern was in ruins. Shattered furniture and spilled drinks littered the floor, mingling with bloodstains and debris.

Elfman groaned as he pushed himself up from the rubble. Nearby, Cana, Lucy, and Rocky lay battered and bruised.

"This magic..." Cana coughed, her hands trembling. "It's... terrifying."

Ace, now imbued with the power of Snoyi, Ferg, and Klaue, stood in the center of the destruction. His cold smile sent shivers down their spines.

"You're all so fragile," he sneered, his voice echoing with a sinister resonance. "Compared to the wizards I fought earlier, you're nothing."

Cana gritted her teeth. "What... happened to them?"

"Still alive," Ace replied nonchalantly. "For now."

He stepped toward Klaue, who lay bound and whimpering.

"You're a traitor," Ace growled, placing a hand on her head.

Klaue's muffled cries turned to anguished screams as Ace activated Demonic Cannibalism. The process was agonizing, her body dissolving into pure magic that Ace absorbed.

When it was over, only Ace remained, his aura more overwhelming than ever.

Kana, Lucy, and the others stared in horror.

"We're... doomed," Lucy whispered.

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