PART TWO:
Age of Gods
Though the ground glistened like rain had fallen, the liquid that shone wasn't clear, but red. The suffering souls of children screamed in pain, clutching their grievous wounds as orbs of fire rained from the sky into the never ending battle. The sun beat down on them furiously as the heat wave continued, unaffected at such chaos. The people of Spira screamed until they could no more, until they rested into nothingness. The source of their chaos hovered proudly in the skies as he watched his fellow gods send terror onto the ground below.
Zemir flew over the capital city of Bal'Thor, watching as Yava, the goddess of the sun, conjured up an intense heat that ignited Florydia, the goddess of beauty, on fire. The flames grew too unstable for Florydia to contain and she sent them flying in every direction, burning the citizens below.
Anuik, god of fire and destruction, attempted to overthrow Keowa, the god of fertility, by erupting all the volcanoes on Spira but in turn burned Keowa to ashes. Zemir smiled to himself at the sight, knowing it was one less god to overthrow.
His plan for dominating all the gods was in full effect as he watched the battle ensue. Once Zemir had poisoned the High Gods, word soon spread that the position for the new High God was up for the taking and soon every immortal being fought for their rightful spot.
With one breath of black fire, Zemir torched the citizens of Bal'Thor. A smile crept upon his face as he watched the people below burn. He flew down and landed next to a dying young boy whose hand reached out for a savior. Zemir flicked his powerful tail and ended the child's life.
"Does no one dare oppose me?" challenged Zemir.
"I shall," came a voice.
"Rarity?" Zemir laughed. "Of all the gods, you are the last one I'd expect to see fighting. Tell me this, Lady Rarity, do you wish to rule, such as I, or is it too unharmonious for you to bear?"
"I've no interest in fighting, Lord Zemir… You know that as well as I," Rarity said meekly. She fidgeted with the fabric of her dress. "But… I cannot let you continue disrupting the balance of harmony. It will… it will only end in vain."
"Ha! You wish to converse me to death? Is that so? I'm afraid I've no interest in such matters. My wife is with child, you see. I must think of my child's future and I do not want him to be born in the blasted underworld."
"F-forgive me, my Lord," Rarity stammered. "I do what I must… to keep the harmony of this planet in balance."
With a few choice words of magic, Rarity unleashed a spell that trapped Zemir's legs in place.
"What trickery is this?" yelled Zemir.
He struggled with all his might to budge from his spot but he remained fixed.
"I beg of you to tell me, my Lord. How… What did you do to the High Gods?"
Zemir was not going to let the puny goddess of harmony stop him on his quest. How dare she attempt to stop him on this glorious day, where all would suffer under his hands. How dare she believe she could come close to his power and wonder. Yet for all his struggling, he could not move. But her magic could be broken and he knew what he had to do.
His upper lip curling, and muscles twitching, Zemir bellowed out the sound of thunder, raising his fists to the air. Rarity cowered to the ground, her hands covering her ears.
Out of desperation, Zemir took hold of his legs, and with all his strength, ripped them from his body. At last, he was free. Rarity was already on the defense, muttering another spell while Zemir's legs were mending themselves.
The dark god charged at Rarity with top speed, impaling her with his horns. She clutched onto them with bloodied hands and attempted to pull herself free. Zemir shook his head free of Rarity and she fell motionless on the ground.
"I will send a pestilence and plague upon the gods and mortals," Zemir proclaimed loudly to The Heavens. "I will send the thunder from the sky and the fire raining down upon the land below, with hail of burning ice on every field, village, and continent. May it be known I will reign terror such as the world has never seen.
Never mind how high the cost may grow. This will still be so. I will never let the High Gods rise from their slumber and in turn, I shall gain power and become the new High God of Spira. All those who would oppose me will suffer my wrath."
Zemir's steady heart suddenly beat louder and a writhing pain was felt in his chest. He clutched his breast and gasped for air. His vision blurred. Soon, he fell to the ground, wondering what had happened.
When he awoke, he found himself chained in a dark and unknown location. His eyes darted around the room for a clue as to his whereabouts.
A being clothed in armor of pure light energy came into view.
"Zemir, this madness has to end," the being said. "Poisoning the High Gods and trying to take their place as your own? You dare commit such an act when it was they who made all of creation? They who had created you!"
"Come forth and face me, Nah'Zhul, you coward!" said Zemir.
Nah'Zhul placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. "With you away from the heat of battle, the other gods will surely cease this war. We are sworn to protect the mortals but our fighting has only caused them suffering."
"What do I care if a few mortals die in the process of victory. I want a world where I can do as I please and not abide by the rules of Shinoda. He has gone astray in his ways. The mortals I will rule over will be worthy of my praise. I do not care for the weak, Lord Nah'Zhul. I've only place for the strong in my world."
"Is that why you've lead all the gods on this rampage with you?" Nah'Zhul questioned. He sighed. "Then you are a fool. There will be nothing for you to rule if you continue down this path."
A deep cackle emerged from Zemir's throat. "Don't you see? I've already won."
"You are bound in shackles, your legs torn from your body. I see not how—"
Nah'Zhul's hands rushed to his throat as he gasped for air. "I— ah… gack—"
From Nah'Zhul's mouth came a wisp of wind. He choked as the air escaped his lungs. When there was no more air left to take, Nah'Zhul fell to the ground, lifeless.
"My love," Zemir said as he watched his wife finished her work.
Picking up Nah'Zhul's sword, she swung at Zemir's chains and released him from his prison.
"Go my love. The battle is almost over. With so few deities remaining, you may now have the power to become the new High God of Spira."
She was right. He could feel the power of the fallen gods flow through his veins. For it was once written that if a god should die, their power would be divided among the remaining deities. It was the one good rule Shinoda had written.
