My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 276: Holy War 14

"So they all died, huh?" Eris, the primordial goddess of light, commented with a tone devoid of emotion, her gaze fixed upon the horrifying scenes unfolding before her. She felt a twinge of annoyance that not even a single one of her angels could inflict damage upon the monstrous anomaly that had decimated their ranks. Despite her best efforts, they had been nothing more than fodder to the creature, consumed like snacks in its insatiable hunger.

Calisia, Eris's sister and fellow goddess, observed the scene with growing concern etched upon her features. Ever since Eris had committed herself to this war, she had undergone a profound transformation. No longer the wise and benevolent ruler they had once revered, she had become consumed by a vengeful obsession, driven by a desire to exact retribution upon beings far beyond her current capabilities.

"Is this truly what you wish for, sister?" Calisia's voice was soft, filled with genuine concern. She had watched as Eris descended further into darkness, her once radiant spirit overshadowed by a thirst for vengeance that seemed to consume her very essence.

Eris turned to her sister, her expression a mask of indifference as she regarded her with a slightly raised brow. Despite everything they had endured, Calisia still clung to her innocence, unable to comprehend the depths of Eris's despair.

"Are you doubting my actions, Calisia?" Eris's voice held a hint of irritation as she spoke, her frustration evident in her tone.

"No... I'm not, and there's no way I could. You are the creator of our entire pantheon, sis. I know just how powerful and benevolent you are, so I know you're doing all of this for the pantheon but—"

"But what?"

"Can't we stop now, sister? Before it's too late. I think we should really stop. You know for a fact, sis, the pantheon is dying. Our forces are diminishing, and the laws of causality are in their favor now. The other primordials as well are growing tired of this war and wish to surrender... And even our so-called allies are only doing this for their benefit. You know that, sister, so why... why are you selling yourself like this? There's still time, so maybe we can make things right if we talked to that kid... We have his girl, so negotiation should be possible, right?"

Calisia's voice trembled with a mix of urgency and desperation as she pleaded with her sister. She had seen the toll that the war had taken on Eris, the toll it had taken on their pantheon, and she could no longer stand idly by and watch as everything they had worked for crumbled to dust.

Eris remained silent for a moment, her gaze distant as she considered her sister's words. She knew that Calisia spoke the truth, that their pantheon was on the brink of collapse and that the consequences of their actions would be dire. But a part of her, a stubborn and prideful part, refused to admit defeat.

Thinking Eris's silence was permission to continue speaking her thoughts, Calissia pressed on with what she had been wanting to say all this time.

"And besides, even if we do get defeated by them, you know what they're like based on the gods and pantheons who experienced their presence before, right? They have quite the docile and uncaring personality. So if we just set things straight and accept whatever punishment they've had installed, maybe saving the pantheon now would be possible. We have no other option, sister. You know that if we don't do this, it won't be long before one day it will be that kid who will sit on yo—"

Before Calissia could finish her statement, she was suddenly choked by an intense divine hand of light, cutting off her words and leaving her gasping for breath.

"Sister...?" Calissia managed to choke out, her voice strained as she struggled to break free from Eris's hold. Panic gripped her heart as she realized the gravity of the situation. Something had changed within Eris, something dark and unfathomable, and she feared what it meant for their future.

"Calissia... even after all this time, you're still so naive. I thought that whimsy and idiotic mindset of yours would change after you experienced war, but even still, you are much too innocent. Didn't we have this same exact conversation before this war started?" Eris's voice dripped with disdain as she regarded her sister. It was one thing to question her decisions for the entire war, but to question her chances of success? And even suggesting submission to a mere mortal? That was something she couldn't simply ignore.

"Tell me, Calissia... Do you want to die that badly? Was I being too lenient with you all this time? Time and time again, I've always been quite easy on you, but I guess that needs to change now."

With those words, Eris tightened her grip on Calissia's hands, and the chokehold of divinity around Calissia's neck tightened as well. Calissia could only stare at her sister with tears in her eyes as she felt the crushing weight of Eris's power bearing down on her. In that moment, she realized that her sister was no longer the goddess of light she once knew. She was no longer the goddess of creation who reveled in bringing forth life. She had become something entirely different, something dark and twisted, consumed by her thirst for power and vengeance.

As Calissia gazed into her sister's eyes, she knew that she was staring into the face of her greatest fear. The Eris she had known and loved was gone, replaced by a being consumed by darkness. And as Eris's grip tightened even further, Calissia felt her strength waning, her vision blurring as the divine energy suffocated her.

But even in the midst of her despair, Calissia refused to give up hope. She knew that there was still goodness within her sister, buried beneath layers of anger and resentment. And as Eris's hold on her tightened, Calissia summoned every ounce of strength she had left and spoke, her voice barely a whisper amidst the chaos.

"Eris... please... stop this. You're not yourself. You're better than this..."

But her words fell on deaf ears as Eris's expression remained cold and unyielding. With a final, desperate gasp, Calissia felt the darkness closing in around her, consuming her entirely as she slipped into unconsciousness.

As the last remnants of consciousness faded away, Calissia prayed for her sister's redemption, hoping against hope that one day, she would find her way back to the light.

As Calissia's last remaining fragment of soul cycled itself upon the universe, a hole in the stars of their heavenly pantheon began to vanish. Now, the goddess of the elves and moon, Calissia, was no more.Ret

urning back to reality, Eris looked at the scene before her with slight confusion. Just now, she had clearly killed Calissia... but yet she felt no emotion about it. Calissia, her younger sister and the eldest of all the gods before her, the one and only ally and sister she always had within her entire time of existing, was no more. And yet, she felt nothing about it. Sure, she was annoyed. Sure, she was pissed off with her all this time, but this... this was something different. Why did I kill her? But the thought didn't last much as she ignored it and went back to her plans in mind.

Despite the absence of remorse, a nagging sense of unease lingered in the depths of Eris's consciousness. She couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted within her, something that went beyond the mere act of killing her sister. But she pushed those thoughts aside, burying them beneath layers of determination and resolve.

For Eris, there were more pressing matters at hand. The war raged on, and she was determined to emerge victorious, no matter the cost. And as she turned her gaze once more to the battlefield, a cold smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The time for hesitation was over. It was time to unleash the full extent of her power, to crush her enemies beneath her heel and assert her dominance over the heavens once and for all. And as she stepped forward, her eyes blazing with an unholy light, she knew that nothing would stand in her way. Not even the memory of the sister she had lost.

Looking around, Eris was about to rise from her throne when a sudden presence entered her room.

"You…" Still annoyed by the recent events, Eris looked at the woman with disdain.

"Oh, come on now~ is that your way of treating this long-time friend of yours?" The woman's voice was laced with a playful tone, but Eris had little patience for pleasantries at the moment.

"What do you want?" Eris cut straight to the point, her tone curt and businesslike.

"Oh, come on now~ you're really no fun, aren't you, Eris~ but that is what I love about you, Kukuku. By the way, where is Cali?"

"Speak your matters," Eris demanded, her patience wearing thin.

"Tsk… yeah, yeah. I'm just here to inform you that she's making her move now."

"By she, you?"

"Yes, she. Kukuku, even I myself didn't think she would make a move this fast. Truly, the future is unpredictable, isn't it? I'm about to make my move as well, so you better do yours, okay~?" With a smirk, the black-haired woman disappeared, leaving Eris to ponder her next moves.

As the woman's words echoed in her mind, Eris felt a sense of urgency wash over her. Calissia's sudden actions had caught her off guard, and she knew that she could ill afford to delay her own plans any longer.

Rising from her throne, Eris began to formulate a strategy, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew that she had to act swiftly and decisively if she hoped to emerge victorious in the war that raged around her.

Meanwhile the black haired lady smile menacingly as she stared at Eris's expressions in Eris's shadows…