Chapter 220 - Curse of Morgatha ( Part 1 )

Darkness enveloped them.

Absolute void devoured anything that came within its reach – pressing against their skin, making them shiver with fear.

Jennie felt herself falling.

Wind rushed over her face and fragments of stone, marble, and illusion flew all around. The debris spun in the air like deadly stars, their fragments reflecting light of the Divine Swords that were flying all around her.

Roxy screamed. The sound was sharp and filled with pure horror.

Rudy laughed. Exhilarated, happy sound of the girl who could laugh even after seeing abyss and not being afraid of it anymore.

Snow barked frantically and his aura burst into white flashes of divine power.

Jennie simply opened her eyes.

Below. There. Golden light.

"Lilia!"

Jennie quickly turned her body. Her silver-white hair was spinning in the air like banner of moonlight. Her golden eyes sparkled with determination.

Five Divine Swords responded immediately.

Excalibur flashed with golden light.

Leviathan roared with blue magic.

Tempest crackled with electricity.

Eclipse absorbed the darkness, creating black hole around them.

Gram burst into crimson flames.

Jennie stretched her hand. Her voice sounded calm and commanding.

"Stop."

All swords halted and their power exploded in a circular shockwave.

BOOOOOOM!

The shockwave passed through the underground chamber, clearing the darkness away and lighting up the ancient chamber. Jennie landed on her feet. She hit the ancient ground hard and bent her legs to absorb the blow.

Roxy landed next to her, rolling on the floor with a grunt.

"Ow..."

Rudy landed perfectly on her feet. The cloak fell on her shoulders and settled like folded wings.

Snow landed on Rudy's head.

"Get off me!"

Snow barked.

Jennie didn't pay any attention to them. She looked straight ahead.

The underground chamber was enormous.

Ancient pillars, carved with symbols older than human civilizations, rose from the darkness. Black chains were hanging from the walls, covered with magical symbols and hooks made during forging of the abyss. Violet runes were carved in the floor of the chamber, glowing with eerie violet light.

It smelled like old magic and even older curses.

And in the middle of the chamber...

Lilia stood there.

Her golden was surrounding her like halo of moonlight. Her crown had a crack on it – a fissure on the symbol of her authority. Blood was running down her forehead, drawing crimson line on her cheek.

Aurelia was flying besides her, shining with desperate light of golden blade.

But Lilia was surrounded by the black chains that were wrapping around her, holding her arms, legs, and neck. The chains were pulsing with dark magic, tightening their hold.

And before her stood the woman.

Long violet-black hair, cascading like waterfall of shadows. Her pale skin was shining with unnatural light. Golden eyes, filled with centuries of knowledge and malice. Crimson magical symbols were drawn on her black dress and moving like living creatures.

She was completely still. Perfectly calm and elegant. Almost beautiful.

But the darkness that surrounded her was alive. Pulsed and reached toward Lilia as hungry hands.

Morgatha, Fourth Demon General. The Witch of Eternal Curses.

Her eyes slowly turned toward Jennie and a small smile appeared on her lips. A terrible smile.

"So."

Her voice resonated through the chamber. Soft and full of millennia.

"The Markless One has arrived."

Jennie squeezed Excalibur harder. Her voice sounded like cold ice.

"Morgatha."

Morgatha smiled. Her eyes looked at the lines of Jennie's face, looking for something.

"Leonis."

Jennie's eyes became cold. Colder than void, colder than death.

"Don't call me that."

Morgatha tilted her head and interest appeared in her golden eyes.

"Interesting."

She looked at the five Divine Swords floating around Jennie. From blade to blade, analyzing the power of each of them.

"Five Divine Swords."

She glanced at Eclipse. Then Gram. Then Leviathan.

"More than the reports suggested."

Roxy stepped forward. Her staff was raised high and she was angry.

"Release Lilia."

Morgatha didn't even look at her.

"I wasn't speaking to you."

Roxy's ears flattened and her face reddened in anger.

"Rude."

Rudy drew her daggers. They were shining in the violet light.

"She is demon general. I don't think she cares about manners."

Morgatha finally looked at Rudy and her expression changed. Slightly.

"Lisa."

Rudy froze.

Chamber became silent. Even runes on the floor stopped pulsing.

Jennie looked at Rudy. Her heart started beating faster.

Morgatha smiled widely.

"So the rumors were true."

Rudy narrowed her golden eyes. Her grip on the daggers became even stronger until her knuckles became white.

"Don't call me that too."

Morgatha's smile widened.

"Interesting."

But her attention went back to Lilia. The Queen struggled in chains, her eyes burning with defiance.

"And yet..."

She raised her hand and magical chains got tighter.

Lilia gasped. Her body was arching, and pain crossed her face.

Jennie's expression changed instantly. She spoke sharply.

"Release her."

Morgatha ignored her.

Black symbol appeared under Lilia's feet. Enormous, like a circle of darkness devouring the light around it. Ancient runes were covering the symbol, pulsing with sickly violet light.

The symbol appeared and whole chamber started shaking. Dust was falling from the ceiling and the pillars were groaning.

Aurelia flashed. GOLD!

Golden wave of light exploded from Lilia and her chains shattered.

BOOM!

Lilia lifted her head. Her was glowing. Her voice was straining and defiant.

"I won't..."

She panted.

"...so you can control me."

Her eyes narrowed. Her face was changing. Not because of anger, but because of some other emotion. Probably – interest.

"Of course."

She raised her hand.

"...and that's why I've got something special for you."

Black energy was spreading from her fingers. It wasn't a simple darkness. It was thousands of thin threads. Each thread had its own symbol, its own curse.

For pain. For weakness. For silence. For suppression. For fear. For obedience.

All of them were combining together into a terrible unity.

Morgatha said quietly, but in the tone of ancient power.

"Ancient Curse."

Whole cave started shaking.

"Thronebreaker."

Curses erupted.

BOOOOOOM!

Black chains of magic were surrounding Lilia. Not real chains, but curse magic, designed to break will of the kings, the sovereignty of the rulers, the sovereignty of the queen.

Aurelia screamed. Golden Divine Sword flew towards the curse. The light was blazing.

CLANG!

Light collided with black magic. Whole cave was shaking from the impact.

Lilia clenched her teeth. She was trembling.

"Aurelia!"

Blade of Light released huge blast of energy. The chamber was flooding with golden light, repelling darkness.

The curse cracked. For a second, it seemed like Lilia was able to break free.

Morgatha opened her eyes widely.

"So Aurelia still protects you."

Lilia raised her hand. The Divine Mark was visible.

The mark of the Sovereign of Dominion. Crown-shaped symbol of golden light was appearing on her skin. Something changed. Something became too heavy.

Rudy was staring. Her voice was just a whisper.

"She's activating her Sovereign."

Lilia slowly rose up. Chains were broken.

One. Two. Three. And dozens of them.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Darkness was retreating. Lilia's voice was resonating in the chamber.

"I am Lilia KingHeart."

The aura of golden light was expanding. It was flooding the chamber.

"Queen of Seraiya."

Ground under her feet was cracking.

"Sovereign of Dominion."

And behind her was rising Aurelia with the golden blade like second sun.

"And you..."

Lilia pointed her sword at Morgatha.

"...won't take my people."

Morgatha smiled. This smile was incredibly beautiful and absolutely terrifying.

"Beautiful."

She raised both hands.

"Show me how long your sovereignty will last."

The curse was erupting again.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Black and golden collided. Whole underground palace was shaking. Above them, royal palace was shaking. Below it, two ancient powers were colliding.

Dominion Aura of Lilia was expanding. Each magical creature in the chamber was forced to kneel. Roxy stumbled, her staff almost fell out of her hands. Rudy was holding daggers in the floor to stay stable. Nine tails of Snow were waving behind him and her Divine Aura was glowing. Even Jennie was feeling the pressure. It was pressing down on her like mountain, forcing her to bow.

But Morgatha was standing.

Her curse magic was wrapping around Lilia's Sovereign Aura like poisonous vines around the tree. Each time when Lilia destroyed one curse, another three were appearing.

Morgatha was speaking quietly.

"Your power controls."

New curse appeared.

"My power corrupts."

Another.

"Your authority commands."

Another.

"My curse ignores authority."

Another.

Lilia was narrowing her eyes. Her voice was filled with defiance.

"Then I'll destroy it."

Dominion Aura of Lilia was exploding.

"ROYAL COMMAND!"

BOOOOOOM!

Each curse in the chamber was stopping for one moment...

Everything was quiet...

And then the curses started cracking. Morgatha's smile disappeared.

Lilia stepped forward. Her voice was calm.

"You said that your curse ignores authority."

She raised Aurelia. Golden blade was shining brighter than ever.

"Then maybe you should learn..."

Golden blade descended.

"...what true authority is."

The blade descended.

SHIIIIING!

Wave of golden light was cutting the chamber. Hundreds of curses shattered. Morgatha was raising her hand.

Black barrier appeared.

BOOM!

Golden attack crashed into it. The barrier cracked. Morgatha was sliding back. Her heels were scratching the stone.

She was looking at Lilia. For the first time, there was some real interest in her eyes.

"The Queen has teeth."

Jennie's eyes were fixated on Morgatha.

But then she noticed one thing.

Breathing of Lilia. Too fast. She was trembling. Drops of blood were falling from her fingers.

The curse wasn't destroyed. It was just resisted.

Jennie understood.

"Morgatha."

Demon general was looking at her.

Jennie's five Divine Swords were floating around her.

"Move away from her."

Morgatha smiled. "No."

Jennie made one step forward. The chamber was shaking.

Morgatha's eyes were moving to the five blades.

"I don't want you."

Jennie stopped. Her voice was cold.

"What?"

Morgatha smiled.

"You aren't my target."

She was pointing her finger on Lilia.

"She is."

Jennie's eyes were becoming cold.

"Lilia?"

"The Sovereign of Dominion."

Morgatha's voice was almost clinical.

"One of two remaining Legendary Divine Marks."

Jennie understood. The ritual.

Morgatha nodded.

"The Demon Council needs seven."

She was looking at Lilia.

"Five are already in our possession."

Then she smiled.

"And you are one of two remaining."

Lilia clenched her sword tighter.

"You won't have me."

Morgatha smiled.

"I don't need to kill you."

She raised her finger.

"Your Divine Mark is what matters."

Black symbol was appearing in the air.

"If your body survives, excellent."

Another symbol.

"If your mind survives, even better."

Her golden eyes became cold.

"But your mark..."

The curse under Lilia suddenly pulsed.

"...will belong to the Demon Emperor."

Jennie froze.

It seemed like the temperature in the chamber dropped. Something primal appeared in the air.

Roxy looked at her. Her voice was tentative.

"Jennie..."

Gram trembled. Low metallic sound echoed in the chamber.

Grrrrrrrrrrr...

Jennie slowly grabbed the sword. Her knuckles turned white.

Morgatha looked at her.

"Don't misunderstand."

She pointed at the five Divine Swords.

"I have no intentions to fight you."

Her smile almost turned amused.

"Not yet."

Jennie's golden eyes became darker. She took another step forward. Her voice was soft, but it was full of certainty.

"You came here."

Step.

"You attacked Lilia."

Step.

"You cursed her."

Gram glowed crimson.

"And now you're telling me..."

Auras around Jennie started vibrating.

"...that you don't want to fight me?"

Morgatha smiled. "Exactly."

Jennie stopped. Her aura erupted.

BOOOOOOM!

Crimson energy burst out of Gram. Floor under Jennie broke, and air itself was burning.

Roxy immediately stepped backward. Her face turned pale.

"Uh-oh."

Rudy's face became serious. Her golden eyes narrowed.

"That's bad."

Snow's ears lowered. His nine tails folded.

Gram trembled violently. Sword wasn't reacting to the power of Jennie's aura.

It reacted to her anger.

Morgatha watched the spectacle with amazement. Her eyes were calculating all the power of the crimson energy.

"So that's the Blade of Wrath."

Jennie's eyes weren't calm anymore. They were burning.

"Take."

One word. Five Divine Swords rose.

"Your."

Whole chamber trembled.

"Hands."

Jennie's aura erupted.

"Off."

Crimson flames wrapped Gram.

"Her."

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Massive amount of the crimson energy was emitted by Gram. It flooded the whole chamber, destroying everything on its way.

Morgatha's curses immediately rushed forward. Thousands of black symbols filled the chamber, all of them were different curses, which were supposed to kill their target.

Gram tore them down.

One. Ten. One hundred.

The crimson sword was the storm. It moved quicker than thought, quicker than light, quicker than anything Morgatha had seen.

Jennie disappeared.

She appeared right in front of Morgatha.

SHING!

Morgatha just lifted her hand. Black barrier appeared.

CLANG!

Jennie's sword hit it. Barrier broke.

Morgatha's eyes widened. Jennie struck again.

CLANG!

Again.

CLANG!

Again.

CLANG!

Morgatha retreated. Jennie didn't stop. Every blow became faster. Stronger. More angry.

Floor broke under their blows. Walls cracked. Ceiling rained dust.

Roxy shouted. "Jennie!"

There was no answer.

Rudy's eyes became wide. "She's losing herself."

Jennie's aura kept growing. Gram screamed. Not with pain – with rage.

Crimson energy around Jennie became darker. Her golden eyes started blinking.

For a second there was another soul in her.

Leonis. The Sword King. The warrior, who fought for a thousand years. The man, who was standing in front of armies with no fear.

The man, who had lost everything.

Gram whispered through the resonance.

Destroy.

Jennie's grip was tightening.

Morgatha smiled. "Yes."

Black curse appeared.

"Let the anger consume you."

Jennie's sword rose. Power of Gram gathered around the blade.

Next blow could demolish the whole chamber.

Roxy froze. "Jennie..."

Rudy's expression became hard. "She's going too far."

Morgatha lifted her hand. Black curse magic started gathering.

Jennie lifted Gram. Next second their powers would collide.

But then—

"Jennie."

Everything stopped.

Voice was gentle. Soft. Known.

Jennie's eyes opened wide. "Lilia?"

Lilia stood right behind her. She was wounded. She had problems with breathing. Her clothes were torn. Aurelia was floating around her.

But she had freed herself from the rest of the curse.

She started moving toward Jennie. Step. Another step.

Morgatha didn't move.

Jennie looked at Lilia. Her voice was straining.

"Stay back."

Lilia didn't listen. She continued moving.

"Jennie. Are you going to leave me again? "

Her voice was quiet. Calm. The voice of the person, who had faced the darkness and had been not afraid of it.

Crimson energy around Gram started trembling.

Lilia reached Jennie. And then she gently put her hand on her. Lilia's memories were back.

The moment their hands met... silence.

Anger disappeared. Crimson flames stopped. Glow of Gram became weaker.

Jennie's breathing became unstable. Her golden eyes became normal.

Lilia looked at her. "Come back."

Jennie's lips started trembling. "Lilia..."

"I'm here."

Jennie's fingers tightened around Lilia's hand.

"I almost..."

"I know."

"You could've been hurt."

"I know."

"I was angry."

"I know."

Lilia gave her a faint smile. It was a beautiful smile – warm, gentle and full of understanding.

"That's why I came to you."

Jennie looked at her. Five Divine Swords slowly lowered. Gram made one last pulse and became silent.

Morgatha observed the scene. Her face was unreadable.

But then... she smiled.

"Fascinating."

Jennie looked at her. This time her eyes were calm. But calmness was different. It wasn't a sign of weakness.

It was a sign of control.

Morgatha realized it. Anger didn't disappear. Jennie had mastered it.

Morgatha slowly stepped back into the shadow.

"I've learned enough."

Jennie lifted Excalibur. "You aren't leaving."

Morgatha smiled. "Not today."

Black curses surrounded her.

"But don't worry, little Queen."

Her eyes moved toward Lilia.

"The next time I come..."

Chamber turned dark.

"...I won't come for her sword."

Her eyes looked at the glowing Divine Mark of Lilia.

"I'll come for her soul."

Darkness devoured her.

Jennie immediately rushed forward. "Lilia!"

Lilia caught her hand again. Jennie stopped.

Two of them stood in the broken chamber. Around them five Divine Swords were hovering. Aurelia was hovering beside Lilia. Gram was crimson.

Roxy and Rudy were watching in silence. Snow was growling into the darkness where Morgatha disappeared.

Lilia looked at Jennie. Jennie looked at the darkness.

For the first time that evening... she wasn't scared.

She simply tightened her grip on Lilia's hand.

Her five swords started glowing.

Then Lilia whispered.

" Jennie."