God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Chapter 669: Lost from the Divine (2).

"Let me tell you a story..."

A world situated right on the edge of a binary star system. This world was huge, and because of the radiance of its stars, the light was more than enough to borth and sustain life.

Several beings crawled on world a thousand times larger than Urbus.

Some were more titanic that the creatures of the depths, and others were small filthy gnomes that dug through the earth and excavated it for its precious metals.

A world with huge seas, and mountains with peaks that scraped the skies...

This world was called Nova Cental...

And it was special for a few reasons.

Because of its location, its resources, and the incredible density and purity of the mana in its atmosphere, for about a few thousand years, this world has come to be what is known as a Central World.

Central Worlds are planets that serve as links between different parts of the void.

Most of the universe, particularly the physical realm, was uninhabitable, mostly due to the devastating series of wars that had happened between the Celestial and Devil races.

As such, the endless, all consuming black was mostly empty. Of course, there was life, but compared to the vastness of all of existence, it could be considered a drop in an ocean.

Most Celestials who hold control of domains in the physical realm serve to expand their territories and use their powers to terra-form planets that may or may not possess life into hubs for their further growth and development of their power in the mortal realm.

To do this, establishment of trade and transportation routes come into place.

This, the existence of Central Worlds came to be.

Nova Central, in particular, is the prime world of the Celestial, Gungnir, God of Oaths.

Because of his position as a mostly neutral Celestial, Nova Central became a hub for many beings looking to move from one corner of the vast universe to another.

Walking into a shop with a sign that read, "Tavern of Promise", Azazel took a look around.

The capital city of Nova Central was called Tavalon, and it housed several spatial gates created by the mages of Gungnir. Thus, the City was always booming with traffic.

However, there were only a few people withim this tavern's premises.

As a city of magic and innovation, mana was the roots of its civilization. The runes were its foundations.

And with it, various forms of magic technology were the gears that ran the City.

At the bar was a strange looking humanoid golem. Although it was faceless, it had four appendages that allowed it to work with maximum efficiency.

Plopping down into a stool at the bar, the Demon of Sorcery threw down a mana core. A rather hefty sum...

The golem didn't even turn its faceless head his way. Instead, one of its arms snatched the mana core off the stone surface and it disappeared from sight.

Azazel spoke, not a hint of his usual smile on his face,

"Tell your boss I've come to pay him a visit."

The golem didn't say anything. Mostly because it couldn't speak as it had no speech organs. However, Azazel was sure his message had gotten across because just a second later, the golem took a step back from the bar, turned around and walked away.

Its many hands darted through the air rapidly as it carved a series of runes into reality itself. Then, its body shimmered away.

With a sigh, Azazel picked up the drink the golem had left in front of him before disappearing and took a sip.

When it came to intoxication, there was not much in the universe that could make a being such as him to feel anything. However, the owner of this bar only sourced the highest quality stuff.

He let out a sigh, "Good stuff."

He heard a chuckle come from the side,

"Indeed it is. Only the finest stuff made from Voidworm Berries. Cost me a lot to get them transported all the way over here from Castile's territory."

Azazel didn't have to turn to know who it was.

He frowned then put the drink down.

Glancing to the side, a man with golden hair and stark green eyes with a full beard filled his vision.

His eyes and posture told of the immense wisdom of his years, but there was a certain mischievous air around him.

Azazel's lips curled up into a bitter smile,

"Looks like you haven't croaked yet, Gungnir."

The man laughed, "We Celestials are elusive of death, after all. It will take more than the passage of time to do me in."

Gungnir, the supreme governor of Tavalon and the whole of Nova Central, as well as the head of the Pantheon of Oaths...

...was also the humble proprietor of this tavern.

However, most people who came to visit this world wouldn't know that.

Only a select few were aware. One of them, including Azazel.

But a former member of Ashur's camp being acquainted with a Celestial wasn't a very common sight to behold.

Azazel was silent for some time before speaking,

"Have you heard the news?"

Gungnir tapped the cool stone table and spoke with a smile,

"The rumors about the old dragon breaking out of his cage? Yeah. They aren't rumors."

Azazel let his head fall. The coolth radiating from the stone surface did little to rid him of the blistering ache in his head.

Gungnir gave him a glance,

"Shouldn't you be excited? If the old dragon has gotten out, it means there are more people in your side, no?"

Azazel shook his head, his face rather ugly,

"What do you think is the most valuable thing to us right now?"

Gungnir was silent for a moment before answering,

"Peace?"

Azazel nodded, "As expected of you. That big head of yours definitely isn't for show."

He then turned to the God of Oaths, his eyes burdened and his expression dark,

"Skyrim is a being of chaos. Whatever illusions of peace and quite we have managed to hold up will be vaporized. I just know it! I can feel it in my bones. And unfortunately, we aren't ready. Not yet, at least..."

Gungnir hummed softly, turning around and leaning his back against the edge of the table.

There was silence between them for a moment before he finally spoke,

"So what do you want from me? If this is your plan to pull me to your side, let me warn you now that it isn't working."

His smile slowly faded, "We have been friends for a long time, Azazel. But that friendship only holds up as long as our illusion of peace does. If it comes down to it, I would rather not clash spears and swords with Tian. You should know this."

Azazel picked up his drink and took another sip.

The feeling of the cool liquid turning hit in his belly made him speak again,

"I'm not here to convince you."

He turned his gaze to the laid-back Celestial,

"Gungnir... You and your Pantheon are currently one of the strongest in all the Heavenly and Mortal planes. That means you also have a lot of resources at your disposal. I plan on making use of some of them."

Gungnir raised a brow,

"Resources, you say... I'm afraid that would.be difficult as well."

Azazel shrugged, "I am a demon. When I strike a deal, I don't come empty handed. I am sure you have your own ambitions, Gungnir. Let's not pretend here..."

Gungnir narrowed his eyes but remained silent.

The two of them sat there in silence for some time until Gungnir finally spoke,

"The story of creation is said to have many interpretations. Some say it was the Nomad that brought all of reality into creation, others say the Nomad was merely a symbol of a force beyond all of existence, while others say all of reality was birthed from primordial chaos."

Gungnir chuckled, his green eyes glinting,

"Of course, we both know how the story goes. The Nomad created the Devils, but the darkness they created disgusted him. So he created the Celestials..."

He paused for a moment,

"But their light was no less unappealing than the darkness of the Devils."

Azazel cut in,

"And so, unable to stomach the weight of his failures, the Nomad disappeared."

Gungnir nodded,

"Yes, that is how the story goes. The Nomad did indeed create the Devils and the Celestials, and much of what we call this reality. However, he didn't create all of it."

Azazel turned to him, a strange look in his eyes,

"What are you getting at, Gungnir?"

Gungnir continued, ignoring Azazel's question,

"Some time in the distant past, I have forgotten when... I remember a story of a race of beings seeking out knowledge they should never had sought after. Of course, this knowledge led to their destruction. But it also led to one of the strangest discoveries ever made since the Tower."

Gungnir snapped his fingers, and both he and Azazel disappeared from the tavern. However, the creatures within didn't notice their abrupt exit. In fact, they didn't even know those two beings had ever been in the tavern to begin with.

The moment after the snap, Azazel found himself in a space cut off from the rest of existence.

'This guy...'

When it came to might, Gungnir was probably second only to Tian, a few other Celestials, and some monsters hidden in the void. Besides that, he was quite the powerful Celestial, and one of the reasons why he himself had been able to evade Tian's eye all this time.

"Now we can talk properly..." Gungnir said.

His sterling green eyes pierced through the demon's soul,

"Azazel. Let me ask you one thing. Answer me truthfully..."

Azazel frowned, "Go on."

Gungnir inhaled sharply,

"He has come back, hasn't he..."

Azazel's face paled. A torrent of power burst out of his body, threatening to tear down the hidden space.

Gungnir raised his hands,

"Calm down, would you?!"

The torrent subsided a moment later. However, Azazel's eyes were still filled with ferocious darkness.

Gungnir sighed, "Relax. Your secret hasn't gotten out, although I believe it is only a matter of time."

Azazel sighed, then gave Gungnir a sharp look,

"Then how did you know?"

Gungnir chuckled,

"I made a guess. Besides, you don't seem like yourself, which isn't normal at all."

Azazel took a step forward,

"Time. Time is all that I ask for."

Gungnir nodded, "And you have my word. I'll give it to you. We have a common enemy after all."

Azazel nodded, his expression easing up a little.

He didn't trust Gungnir in the slightest. Not a single bit.

However, it there was one thing he was sure of, it was that the Celestial hated Tian with all that he was.

That was the basis of their partnership. The eventually demise of Tian; their end goal. Nothing else...

As the god of Oaths, Gungnir wasn't one to break his promises as well, so Azazel was relieved of worry in that regard. Still, he knew that Gungnir was not selfless. He was rather selfish.

But that selfishness was what had kept him alive and thriving for a long time. Azazel had no doubts he was being used as well.

However, the profit lay on the side on who was getting more out of the deal.

Azazel stared calmly into the green eyes that looked more like emerald lakes,

"With all that said, what the hell are you after?"

Gungnir chuckled, "That story I told you... The race of beings. I want what the found."

Azazel was silent for a moment. His thoughts spun rapidly in his head before coming to a stop,

"Consider it done."