Chapter Text
....Almost....
....I can feel it....
..... The great power ....
..... Father help us ....
...... OLD ENEMY !!!! ....
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Hollow watched his beloved brother who was standing showing his back. He looked magnificent in prince's clothes and his royal bearing, but something about him was not right. His posture made him look somewhat grim, as if something tormented him in his mind. Then Hollow began to hear a murmur coming from him.
"It hurts... It hurts... It hurts... It hurts a lot..."
"Big?"
"It hurts.... My head hurts.... Her voice hurts.... Make her stop." He lowered his head and trembled slightly.
"What's wrong with you, Big?"
"That voice... That voice I endured so many years has returned... And it hurts... I don't want to hurt you, Hollow... I'm sorry... The pain is too much."
At that moment Big gave a heartbreaking scream, trying to release all the pain he felt. Desperately he tore off the silver shoulder pads and began to tear his silk robe into rags. Then he turned around and took out his nail. He watched Hollow with a very improper murderous expression of the usually sweet and kind Big, who made the knight shudder. The guy in front looked more like a wild beast with murderous cravings than like his beloved brother.
Big immediately launched into attack with all his power, displaying his ability with the nail, showing a refined and precise style, the one that was traditionally taught to royal knights, designed to be elegant and lethal. This contrasted greatly with the techniques learned by Hollow, which came from a different school, born from the wildest lands in the world, created to ensure survival. They were rougher maneuvers, but just as effective as the style of the royal house.
Hollow was amazed to see Big move, he was beautiful, there was no other way to describe it. His way of wielding the nail, his speed, his elegance, was something he could never imitate, he liked it as much as watching Grimm or Verm dance, but unfortunately he couldn't keep watching him, he had to take care of surviving.
By far, Big was the fastest enemy he had ever faced, blocking his attacks or simply dodging them was an odyssey. Hollow constantly made use of the monarch's wings to avoid him, he was practically carrying out an air combat, since all the attacks he managed to do were made from above. However little by little he became accustomed to that overwhelming power and managed to adapt to his speed. Then when he finally thought he had reached his rhythm and was about to strike a devastating blow to his brother, a small silver flash shone in front of his eyes and it exploded sending him flying.
Hollow stood up in pain trying to focus his eyes, this magical attack had hurt a lot. As soon as his sight cleared, he noticed another silver flash and ran. That was a wise decision, again an explosion preceded that brightness, but it was not the only one. The vessel was forced to keep moving to avoid being caught by any of the many explosions that seemed to follow him. This technique was very familiar to him. Were that the magical powers of the Pale King? What was next now? Flying daggers?
And indeed, Big began to shed a series of pale and bright daggers that stretched in all directions like a fan, leaving behind a faint glow. Like his fighting movements, the magic of the pale prince was just as quick, Hollow could not stop for a moment and his brother showed no signs of fatigue, it was like a machine of destruction even more deadly than his own father, not just because he did have resistance, but because he fought better. This caused Hollow to question whether the Pale King was weaker than Big or if he had restrained himself in fighting him.
The second option was likely, since Big had learned everything he knew from his father and had not had a chance to learn new things, so it was not possible for him to use techniques that the old worm had not taught him.
Now other than the flying daggers and the constant explosions, every once in a while Hollow was forced to take quite strange positions to dodge the sharp blades that emerged from the floor and the ceiling, more than one wounded him and ended with an unpleasant cut on the side . But that was not the worst, Big also had the ability to create a kind of magic web through which he circulated more white daggers.
But since his brother struggled with magic, he would also resort to the same thing. Although Big had unlimited soul supplies, Hollow could replenish his reserves by hitting him. If his spells well dosed he could manage to win.
Hollow ran across the battlefield dodging silver explosions, moving further and further away from his opponent. Big decided to take advantage of the distance to throw a shower of daggers, but Hollow in turn invoked a soul shot while dodging the glowing shells. He had already gotten used to that kind of thing after his battles against Hornet. Big stumbled for a moment upon receiving the attack, but soon recovered, then he saw that Hollow was almost on top of him ready to hit him. When did he become so fast? He immediately invoked a magical network through which he circulated the silver daggers.
The way Hollow dodged the little daggers left Big astonished, his brother jumped, spun, crouched down in such grace that it looked like he was dancing. The pale prince did not know, but those movements were not original of his brother, he had forcibly learned them from that artist bat with whom he lived so long.
Big began to alter, the pain of his mind and the voice that shouted drove him crazy, he made swords from the ceiling and the ground but none of these reached the little warrior, he was completely focused on the battle, nothing could distract him. Now Hollow was a concentration master, if he was able to remain calm during his fight against Tamy, he could do it now. He had his goals clear, he knew what he had to do and he was aware that nothing bad would happen to Big, in that dream reality no one could die, only that thought allowed him to harden his heart and beat his relative so cruelly.
Everything learned during his long journey came to light at that moment, every fight fought began to make sense, the lived experiences that sharpened his body now seemed justified, every wound and suffering endured finally paid off.
Hollow jumped and made a Cyclone Slash that Big repelled with an explosion, both were injured by this action, but Hollow was the first to stand up and charge again against his brother. Big without losing a second threw his sting against the child with murderous intentions, but Hollow struck back with a soul shot, the prince backed away somewhat stunned by the magic discharge and then was overwhelmed by a rain of fast cuts. Several of these attacks wounded his shell, but a few others he were able to repel. However, the damages received and exhaustion were taking him to his limit, although this was not noticeable.
Hollow's fighting spirit was on. Unknowingly he had been attuned to his fullest, his body echoed to the rejoicing of the acolyte who watched everything with a radiant smile hidden behind his mask. The combat was reaching its climax, both warriors raised their nails, both weapons fell heavily on the other causing a loud rumble that echoed on the walls of that golden pantheon.
And then everything turned black for Hollow.
...............
His whole body burned, his head ached and he was only able to perceive shadows, however little by little his mind cleared until he could see the being in front of him. He soon recognized him, he was Big... Although he looked something different, he had basically shrunk, now he looked the same as when he was the child who left the abyss.
But he was not the only one who had reduced his size, Hollow noticed that he himself also looked smaller, as if none of the mask changes of the last year had occurred. Then he noticed that they were not alone, around them there were a multitude of bugs, they were his siblings, who also looked smaller, at least some of them, only those who had decided to venture out of the abyss and eat food from outside had grown , the rest remained stuck in a youth stage.
But now all the growth was canceled, they were all little children, gathered in that dark unknown hole.
"Where we are?" Hollow dared to ask.
"It's a dream in a dream," Big replied. "A small break in the reality created by the power of our united siblings who have come to save us".
"They reached this place without the Dream Nail?"
"They reached it but they can't break through, the golden entity and the radiant being don't allow it".
"Are we trapped?"
"No... Just open the door to this world. You can't win this battle, you can't beat a god, but you can ask another for help. Open the door, Hollow. You are the one who is in harmony with the power, only you can do it"
Suddenly a horrific scream was heard in the place and the earth shook uncontrollably, while a strange golden glow rose from the sky.
"It's her... The acolyte invoked her" said Big sadly. "The acolyte brought her back and began to torment me"
Then another frightening shout cut the air, but it seemed to come from the depths of the earth, causing the environment to darken a little. While this scream was as terrible as the first, instead of causing uneasiness, it made Hollow feel calmer.
"Is he?" He said almost relieved.
"Is he..."
............
Suddenly Hollow woke up scared, observed his body and discovered that he had returned to his normal size, that eased him a little. Partly having grown up helped him to become stronger, although he was very clear that size was not everything. He stood up and looked around, then frowned, he knew that place, he knew it very well. It was a piece of that pale and bright land that floated in the middle of the air, surrounded by an orange sky, warm and beautiful, stained every so often with fluffy clouds. Objectively it was a pretty place, but it made Hollow shiver.
"Finally!" The acolyte suddenly said from her throne that rose to the heavens. "She has returned! The greatest deity of all! The God Master! Everything resonates! At last our pain is over, our mind is replete with the power of the goddess. Oh beloved! Stay by our side, we give you our mind, our whole being"
And at that moment she appeared, the goddess of gods, the gigantic glowing moth known as The Radiance.
She emerged from the depths, waving her wings proudly until she positioned herself high like a queen. Hollow looked at her with that mixture of feelings that this creature had always caused him. On the one hand he hated her for the horrible things she had done, especially for Myla's death, but on the other hand, that adorable layer of fluffy hair she had, made him want to hug her. He sighed with regret, that battle would be complicated.
The Radiance looked at the knight with contempt, the creature looked taller than the first time she saw him, while his strength seemed to have increased. But despite that, she didn't see him capable of defeating her, he could never. The late Pale King could not with her, this bug that was less than him, he was less likely to achieve something. The last time he could finish her just because he had the help of the other shadows, but now he was alone, she would crush him.
It had to be said that neither The Radiance, nor the God Seeker had noticed the energy pulsing nearby, they did not know how close the shadows were.
The giant moth said nothing, she did not feel that the garbage she had in front deserved to be spoken, she just thought of crushing that thing and ending the last barrier that prevented her from taking her rightful place as sovereign goddess of those dead and reborn lands.
The goddess flapped her wings and discharged her power against the vessel in the form of a hot golden beam, with the power to pulverize everything in its path. Hollow dodged the laser with great ease. After fighting the overwhelming speed of his brother, the slow attacks of the goddess would be simple, or at least he believed it at first, because what differentiated this creature from his previous opponent, was that she could invoke more than one attack at a time.
After the golden beams followed a shower of swords that appeared out of nowhere flying down the sides ready to throw themselves against his body, this attack was somewhat more challenging, but it was still not something that escaped his control. However, when she deployed both techniques at the same time, the vessel began to be in trouble.
Hollow was running through the stone platform escaping from the beams that was chasing him, only to run into a dozen swords that were heading towards him, he bent down and avoided three of them, he had to throw himself on the floor and roll to avoid being hit by another group, then jumped with the monarch's wings so that the third group did not hit him, but the last of the projectiles hurt him sideways.
"Agg! Damn light daggers!" Hollow said annoyed. "Why does everyone copy the same technique? The old man and Big also used them. Hey furball. Can't you be a little more original?"
"You! How dare you insolent creature! I will show you what is originality!"
The Radiance picked up her wings and then spread them, then in the middle of the air a golden star emerged, bright and beautiful, but very lethal. It went after Hollow, who dodged it, but what seemed an easy maneuver did not It was so much. Soon the star traced a curved trajectory and returned to Hollow by hitting him in the back, then exploding and releasing a cloud of dust in which he was lost.
The moth rejoiced at the success of her offensive and approached wishing to contemplate the inert body of her enemy, but this one out of nowhere rose and deployed all his power hitting her with his nail. It was cut after cut, in an endless offensive where Hollow tried his best to tear apart his opponent, but his power was simply not enough. The Radiance invoked another of her bright beams and burned the small vessel.
However, Hollow did not give up, even reeling and extremely weak, stood up ready to continue. In response the ground at his feet began to shine, he managed to jump just in time to avoid the thorns that came out of the earth, but the moth would not give him a truce, he had to work a miracle to dodge the swords that came through the sides.
"I must admit, that sometimes the original things don't work very well," said the goddess.
Hollow just looked at her in anguish, The Radiance techniques were increasingly complicated and cruel, dodging the bright stars while avoiding lasers was an odyssey, the same as the swords that attacked him on the sides and spines of the floor.
There came a point where his physical resistance began to fail, he had already hit the deity numerous times and she was still attacking as if nothing. It seemed that his titanic efforts to defeat her did not tickle her. He could not escape nor subjugate her. Had he any hope?
"Worship the supreme goddess!" The acolyte screamed out of her mind. "Pray for forgiveness!"
"No! I will not forgive him!" Shouted The Radiance. "I will not be forgotten! But he does!"
"As my beloved goddess wishes," the golden creature cried with joy at being noticed by her beloved new deity.
Meanwhile, Hollow was increasingly desperate, he didn't want to die, because if he died they would destroy his being, there would be nothing left, not even a ghost or a dream of what he once was. However his end seemed inevitable.
In a moment of weakness, one of the flying swords hit him and he lost his balance. He began to rush towards the ground where a layer of thorns was ready to receive him and destroy his soul. Hollow closed his eyes, desperate and in his mind he wished that there was a piece of firm ground to lean on to save him from lethal damage.
And as if by magic, an earth platform appeared in the middle of the air and received him on its surface, where he fell safe and sound without further damage than that of the same fall.
"What? No! How!" Shouted the hysterical seeker. "He shouldn't be able to do that. He is not in control!"
Hollow stood on the platform and looked around somewhat confused. Was the piece of land appearing by his fault? Was it because he wished it? Then everything became clear to him, finally his power had grown so much that he already surpassed that of the God seeker, therefore he could take control of that dream with total freedom.
He smiled more confidently, which caused some concern in the moth. Then she took a more cautious attitude and began to fly higher trying to get away from Hollow. But now that he was in control no matter how much distance she took, he could reach her.
The warrior began to make his way to the skies, imagining the path he should take, before his thoughts, a new platform emerged in front of him and he could jump towards her, getting closer to his elusive target. Perhaps he could have imagined a wider and more direct path, but for that he required more time to concentrate, and unfortunately he did not have that, because The Radiance kept throwing golden beams at him in a futile attempt to stop him. But the determination of the vessel was unbreakable. He would continue until the end, until his body was destroyed and his spirit erased.
Suddenly Hollow felt his body begin to vibrate, as if an energy ran through him and crackled inside, crying out. Curiously, it wasn't unpleasant, just a little strange and warm, it was like feeling his siblings in his own being, he could almost even hear their voices.
"Open the door, brother, let us in. Let him in."
Hollow continued jumping, fighting to reach the resplendent being, rising higher and higher, the deranged screams of the God Seeker were already hard to hear.
"We are with you, we are by your side, we will do everything to save the others."
The Radiance had stopped rising and decided to face him with everything she had. Now there was no firm ground to lean on, only the small platforms that Hollow had imagined, the chances of being hit and falling were many, but it didn't matter, he had gone too far to cower, he would fight to the last consequences.
"Father, take us, use us, we are yours, save them, defeat the radiant demon, even if we have to perish, so be it."
Even if we have to perish ...
Yes, his determination was that strong, everyone's determination. Their resignation and surrender was total. In his life Hollow had lived many things and was more than satisfied with it. Perhaps he would never know what it was to be an adult, but in return he had lived many other things. He had fallen in love and lost, had fought and made friends, experienced a normal life, played, went to a party, worked, had something similar to a fatherhood, read great books, had a loving family and above all... He was able to forgive his father.
"Imagine a Hollow door... Let them in." The old monarch's voice echoed in his head.
Hollow wished it and the sky tore at his feet.
A huge opening appeared in the middle of nowhere and from it began to emerge a deep darkness, a huge, vivid and terrible shadow that rose to the sky blackening that reality and consuming it completely. It invaded every corner and swallowed everything in its path, until it reached the top where the goddess and the little knight watched the dark sea reach them. One had a complete expression of horror, while in the other there was only resignation.
Hollow knew what would happen next and accepted it with pleasure, he closed his eyes and let himself be swallowed by the darkness. The shadows covered him erasing every trace of his existence and instead appeared a monstrous creature, a being with numerous horns that seemed to end up blurred in its tips, eight glowing eyes and four clawed arms.
"No! It can not be! The old enemy! You were supposed to be defeated!" The Radiance shut up.
"Defeated but not dead. I have resurfaced with all my power and splendor"
"I'll finish you! I will crush the same as thousands of years ago! I..."
But she could not continue talking because a pair of shadow tentacles arose and caught her, their touch burned like fire and hurt the goddess.
"You no longer have the power, there is no one who venerates you, your people are dead and those of whom you took hold in the past no longer believe in you. Instead, I have 10,528 devotees willing to give their all for me. I told you, devotion is useless if it is not born from the heart. Controlling the minds of the bugs so that they worship you was only going to end in disaster. Now pay the consequences Die!"
The Lord of Shades then extended a pair of claws towards the fluffy goddess and buried them in her body by opening it and exposing her bright heart, then without letting go, with his other two claws he scratched her wildly. He struck again and again breaking her existence, destroying her mind and soul little by little until he reduced her to dust, making sure that she could never return. Finally he gave the final thrust with which the shining star burst into bright sparks, which soon were ate by the shadows.
The whole pantheon collapsed, the shadows dripped from the sky and dyed every corner of the golden construction with black. The light became increasingly scarce and that divine-looking site became a hell.
There in the midst of all that chaos, the God Seeker saw with horror how the wonderful dream she had created was destroyed. She trembled and cried in her place terrified by the incredible power of this unknown god, he was even stronger than her previous masters, the god of thunder and rain.
Suddenly the Lord of Shades rose in front of her and looked at her with his eight eyes analytically.
"Oh, my Lord of Shades" she said in a trembling voice. "We deeply regret never having noticed your presence. How blind we were. Please accept us as your servants, we will be faithful and devote, our whole mind will belong to you"
The ancient god only looked at her silently and inexpressively for several seconds. Uncertainty and fear grew more and more in the acolyte while she waited for God's verdict, until he finally spoke.
"I am not interested in beings that are not able to think for themselves." A pair of tentacles caught the insect. "They are boring!" Two more tentacles clung to her shell. "But it's not your fault, that's how you were conceived, that's why..." The acolyte looked at him expectantly. "I will not destroy you, I will only kill you. Perhaps in your next reincarnation you are more fortunate".
The God Seeker looked at him pleadingly as she felt her body was slowly squeezed and her vision darkened.
Then the most impenetrable blackness was all that remained.
In a hidden corner of the Hallownest dump, a golden corpse was crying black tears.