For more than a thousand years he had slept beneath the earth, wounded and dreaming–remembering the last moments of their great citadel before it fell. He awoke from his hibernation in darkness…confused, lost, and alone. The last of his kind, the last of his kin, while everyone else had returned to the Origin. That was the first time the eidolon felt grief and loneliness. And now, something from the great endless abyss was threatening to tear this world asunder. This precious, fragile world which he and Colias had come and made into a home for their people. Aidoneus could have used this opportunity to leave this world behind and return to Void, but he chose to stay for a little longer. Until Parnassia's fate was made clear in his mind, he would remain. 

As he approached the place he could feel the Void calling. The closer he came the more the weight of this world's shackles upon his body began to unravel. Instead of walking, he began to levitate. Instead of struggling against the earth's pull he was able to move freely. His form began to gradually distort and change until he crossed the boundary. And once he was through, it collapsed entirely. Like the release of a held breath, the eidolon was liberated from his corporeal 'body' as spirit came from flesh. The color of skin fell away as he was ethereal, semi-translucent while appearing like cosmic fog. From his head to his feet he was a starry, iridescent blue and his eyes were bright cyan spots of light. Facial features vanished save for those two and his ichor flowed unimpeded by any external force. But this was no heartfelt returning; he was here to lend his aid to those born of Revaliir, the rightful inheritors of that world. Revaliir had been kind to him and his ilk despite being outsiders and it was time he had returned their hospitality. 

Calling forth Astra in his right hand, the eidolon king hurled the magical weapon with ease at the incoming tide of eldritch creatures, cutting a clear break in their ranks. The ethereal spear returned its wielder in a flash and he sent another group flying, cosmic energy tearing through them. He was here to prove that not all Void-born were abominations in mind, and unlike those tied to the World Tree he would only grow stronger the further he went in. 

Attie had joined the front lines to help with the battle. She was determined to keep the rest of the world and her friends safe. Akira, the sweet friend who had been so nice to her when she was just starting out in the world on her own. Her guild, a group who didn't know her very well but still took her in. Those were just a few of all the friends that she had met during her travels. She would not allow them to be harmed, that was something she was determined about. The warriors around her were frightened but courageous. They knew what hung in the balance in this battle. Attie could feel everyone's hearts beating as one as they charged to face their enemies. These monsters were standing in the way of everybody's hopes and dreams. She would bring them down. 

Holding up her hands towards the monsters, she gave a quick warning to the soldiers around her to move away. A bright flame erupted from her hands as flames began swirling around her. A Chomper with fierce teeth began to charge towards her. Attie sent a massive blast of flames at the Chomper, burning the monster to a crisp. The fire struck the next monster behind the Chomper and she began to burn a path through the monsters. Suddenly, she stepped back a bit and looked to the army of Eldritch abominations. 

"EXPLOSION!!" Attie shouted at the top of her lungs. 

She held out her hands towards the monsters. Suddenly a giant burst of light appeared as flames erupted and exploded. The monsters were sent flying and some were obliterated into pieces. Bits of the monster's flesh flew through the air as Attie continued her rampage of flames and chaos. She would not stop until her mission was complete. Until as many of these monsters were taken out! But she felt that her mana was lower after that massive explosion, so she quickly duck behind a rock to take out a potion from her bag. The liquid inside the bottle was bright blue and had a little bit of a glow. She quickly chugged the potion down then stood up to rejoin the battle. Flames flickered around her body as she went out to burn more of the monsters. 

"I'm all fired up now!" She yelled.

Lured by the sound of battle, swarms of stalkers began to converge on the vanguard. While Aidoneus had no reason to fear them due to his intangible state, he knew that this was just the beginning. And it wasn't only towards the stalkers–but the other corrupted beings that would join in their wake. Small, insidious, yet deadly were the infecters. They were far worse than any of their kin by far, simply because they were the sole known means of creating other monstrous void-twisted. Fear struck a chord within him as he realized the soldiers were at risk of being forcibly pulled into the World Eater's ranks. "Fall back! Infesters and stalkers are swarming! Avoid being bitten at all costs!" The eidolon telepathically projected into the minds of those closest to him, unaware a familiar face was one of them. Summoning two feline spirits, he ordered them to target the infesters without mercy, their spectral forms avoiding the attention of stalkers with ease. Even if it cost him much of his power, he cast yet another summons to stall the flow of the horde as much as he could.

Eldritch tendrils with the same cosmic sheen as he emerged from the ground, sweeping the area with magic and raw force. A large portion of his ichor was spent, and Aidoneus' form lost some of its starry countenance as great power was used. Desperately he looked at the others hoping they would take heed of his warning and willed himself to regenerate. Even a single eidolon was not enough to stem the tide of countless abominations. It was now that he understood why beings would call for the aid of higher beings, holding hopes that someone–anyone would be able to save them. If only Colias were here, if only the other eidolons had survived… But it was too late for regrets, they had already returned to the Origin. "PROTECT YOURSELVES!" He reached out telepathically again, watching as stalkers rushed past him.

Attie was busy tossing health potions to as many people as she could when the new Eldritch beasts began to join the battle. There were Stalkers, Poltergeists, and many other monsters joining the battle. Seeing this, she realized that they had to evacuate as fast as possible. She snatched all the mana potions from her bag and chugged them down. A surge of magic coursed through her as she felt the powerful need to free her magical abilities. Running to the other soldiers that were closest to her, she put up her hands and cast a spell of archprotection. Bursts of light blasted out from her palms and created a strong protection sphere around fifteen soldiers and herself. The Eldritch beasts slammed themselves up against the forcefields, trying to break through to the tasty soldiers. 

“You heard the voice! Run!” She shouted to the soldiers as she began to run. 

With every second, she could feel her strength and mana draining. There were so many people to protect and so little time for them to escape. But she also noticed that they were running faster than many of the beasts, thanks in part to some of the other mages who were keeping them busy. Suddenly, she saw one of her protection spheres around a soldier crack against the force of an exploding a Plaguer. Attie forced more magic through her hands as the sphere repaired itself. They were so close to getting far enough from the monsters. Only a few more feet before they would be far enough for her to drop the spell. The light from her hands was as bright as the sun and she could smell the scent of her own flesh burning. The magic was too strong and was burning her. Yet her determination was stronger as she kept the spell strong. Tears dripped from her eyes and she bit her tongue to keep herself from screaming in pain. They were so close to being far enough! 

After more running, they were far enough for Attie to drop the spell. Her hands were red and terribly burnt. Her strength seemed to leave her as she could barely run anymore. There was only a tiny bit of mana in her body left. The swarm of monsters were fast approaching and she realized that she couldn’t run fast enough. There was only one option left. She used the rest of her mana for one more small spell. Her body morphed into a small blue jay and she soared into the sky, desperate to escape the battlefield. It was far easier to fly than to run, especially since she wasn’t on the ground where all the beasts were. Attie kept flying higher. Everything in her mind screamed for her to get as much distance as possible. That was all that mattered! 

But magic doesn’t last forever. When she was extremely high in the air, her form of a bird vanished and she turned back into her human form. All the strength and mana had been used up. She had none left in her body. Attie could feel herself falling through the air. Tears dripped from her eyes as she realized that this was it. At least the impact onto the ground would be the thing that killed her instead one of the Eldritch Beasts. She kept her eyes up at the sky as she kept falling. 

“Sorry mom.” She whispered, “I really thought I’d last longer than this.”

There were too many of them, and he was too drained to move. He still had enough to where he wouldn't be forced into slumber, but it pained him to see others struggle. Then he saw–in the midst of a mass retreat a single individual was falling from above. Stalkers were below and many others who weren't blind would be waiting once they landed on the ground. Mustering what energy he had, Aidoneus reached out yet again. This time, it wasn't for a summon. "Hati…Sköll…come." Two lupine forms dashed through the swarms, violet fur glistening like the cosmos. At their father's behest they raced to where the falling girl was, and leaped on top of the void-twisted to gain greater altitude. The next thing Attie felt was a furry hide breaking her descent, and the echoing howls of the other wolf luring the blind stalkers away. The pair soon reunited and were carrying her to safety, throwing wistful glances back at the eidolon now returning to the fight. Though they still had the minds of beasts, the wolves held a genuine affection for the one who transformed them. Launching Astra into the core of another spectral being, Aidoneus did all that he could to buy the soldiers a successful escape. Soon even he would have to retreat, as the Void he called home was being overrun. He would stand his ground until he could do so no longer. 


A small still voice whispered within Aidoneus' mind, one he held dear to his heart. It was the voice of Colias, his younger brother. "…But how?" Something was stirring within the ichor that flowed through him, a warmth that began to spread throughout his entire form. If he had been in a form of flesh, tears would have been rolling down his face. This aura, he knew it–it was none other than that of the late King of the Solar Court. Although his body was gone, Colias' ichor was now part of his. That faint bond was still there, as fragile as it was. The eidolon's ethereal entity began to glow with an ever-increasing radiance. 'You are the King of the Solar and Lunar Courts now; and unto you I grant my luminance.'

In a dazzling burst, the entire area was showered in celestial light! Stalkers, Chompers, poltergeists, and more recoiled back in horrendous screeching as the power repelled them. Those too weak to withstand its glory fled or were evaporated by the sacred radiance, rays of holy energy searing into their flesh. The precious ichor Colias had given him intermingled with his own, amplifying its intensity. His strength returned, and he pressed forward to widen the gap between both sides. This light would not last forever, but more would be able to live to fight another day.

Suddenly, she had stopped falling. Attie couldn't move, as her body was still weak from that massive use of energy. But she could feel the soft fur underneath her and was racked with confusion. This wasn't the ground nor did it feel like any of the grimy monsters. In her peripheral vision she could see the cosmos violet fur and she began to realize that she was saved. The tears from her eyes stopped as she realized that the beautiful beast was taking her to safety. She had no idea why they were there or how they came to be, all she knew was that she wasn't dead. 

"Thanks. Thank you so much." Attie said to the lupine form. 

A bright light, a light almost as bright as the sun glowed from the distance. Attie managed to push herself to a sitting position as she balanced on the back of the lupine firm. She saw the bright light that was killing the enemies. The radiance was magnificent and she couldn't look at it directly but was still amazed by it. The power was repelling the monsters away and she realized that whatever it was, it was on their side. As Attie was being carried to safety, she looked towards the light and decided to give it a vote of her confidence, even though she didn't realize who it was. 

"You go light!" She shouted towards it, "I believe in you! You are awesome! You can do it!"

This was her way of letting the light being know that they appreciated its help, even if she couldn't quite see who or what it was.