Eternal Winter's Reign - Book 2 - Chapter 66 - Request (Patreon)

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Alexander North

“Forget why for a second, how would that even be possible?” I can’t help but ask, speaking out loud for the first time since this little meeting began.

“Unlike what many assume, the position of god amongst each of the four species is not determined by birth or anything ridiculous like that,” Sol answers while still meeting my eyes. “It is power that determines our status. The most powerful of each of the species by a large margin will be declared the god of that species’ energy by the energy itself.”

That leaves me opening my mouth to say something, only to close it again without a word.

“Cocytus is Winter simply because he is by far the most powerful cold one in existence, and I’m Sun because I’m the most powerful warm one in existence by a large margin,” she continues a second later, after seeing me not say anything. “It’s as simple as that, child.”

So…

“You want me to get stronger than Cocytus and take his throne?” I ask with a frown on my face, not feeling as intimidated by her as I was before. “Why?”

A slightly regretful look emerges in her gaze as she looks down and answers, “Because Cocytus has changed and is no longer in his right mind. He even agrees with that statement, but the remnants of Collapse within him won’t allow him to back down and stop what he’s doing.” She looks up at me again. “And he has grown too powerful for even me to match, leaving you as the only viable option to stop him. Before he turns the entire universe into naught but a frozen wasteland filled with cold ones.”

My eyes widen at that.

“If things don’t change, he will eventually kill me, making my power recede to no longer protect parts of the universe,” she continues while glancing to the side as moving images begin appearing all around us with borders made of flames. Images showing the Eternal Winter covering the entire universe including all of space. Destroying planets, killing stars, freezing astral objects like meteors, and overall just bringing an end to the universe. With nothing remaining alive but the cold ones. “This will be the result if my people and I are killed, and he’s left as the only remaining god.”

I just take in the hellscape shown on the images for several seconds, feeling terrified just by the sight of it. Even if I’d likely be okay living in it simply due to my cold one side.

But what’s the point in living in a hellscape like that? Would it even be considered living?

“How would I ever be able to kill Cocytus?” I ask while turning to Sol once more. “I sensed how much cold energy he was radiating simply from sitting on that throne in my mind alone. It was enough to kill me if I got within a meter of him.”

She looks at the little screens again as they change to show different images of me over the time I’ve been a frost infused. Of my many battles, and of all the creatures I’ve absorbed the energy of during this time.

“For now, yes, you are far too weak,” Sol says without holding back. “You’re weak enough to be killed by my own ambient energy much less Cocytus’s.”

We watch as I absorb more and more energy in each screen, growing stronger and stronger.

Then she turns to look at me and continues, “But you grow. You adapt. And most importantly,” her eyes narrow as she looks me up and down, “you have Cold Immunity.”

Oh. Right. That ability.

“Immunities are the rarest abilities the four species can possess, and you have the exact immunity we need to fight against Winter,” she explains while meeting my eyes again. “Your personal power can be grown. Your energy reserves, physical strength, and assortment of abilities. But what’s most important is your immunity to Winter’s natural control over cold ones.”

I grimace at that last part.

Natural control over cold ones.

Right.

He’s a god.

Of course cold ones would be obedient to him.

Wait…

“Does that mean if Alexia were to meet him…” I mutter, feeling slightly horrified at the line of thought.

Sol nods her head, “Yes, your daughter would immediately fall under his control unless she got the cold immunity ability as well.”

I narrow my eyes at that.

Well, shit.

I don’t have much of a choice in this, do I?

“You have a choice,” Sol says, countering it. “However you may not accept the results of one of the choices.”

Right.

Leave this alone and ignore it, leaving the universe to die and Alexia to possibly end up controlled by Cocytus just from getting near him. Or focus on trying to grow strong enough to kill him.

Not much of a choice there, if I’m being honest.

“A choice is a choice,” she states without showing a hint of shame about it.

I let out a sigh at that before reaching up and running a hand through my hair, feeling more than a little stressed out by this. But eventually I just sigh and glance at the screens again. Watching myself grow stronger.

In all honesty, I wasn’t likely going to just stop growing stronger.

Growing stronger is necessary in the universe now, and it’s necessary to protect my family.

So it’s not like this changes much besides giving me a goal.

The void around us begins to crack, startling me in the process.

“It looks like your evolution is nearing its climax,” Sol states, making me focus on her again. “Please remember what has been said here. You do not need to make your choice right now.”

I frown at the goddess.

“In return for listening, I will grant you two favors,” Sol says, lightening my mood quite a bit. “The first favor is the information that your father will be arriving on Arran soon. And the second is that the cold ones on Arran are searching for the cold immunity ability.”

The first piece of information makes a smile form on my face.

But the second one?

Not sure how I feel about it.

The void continues to fracture before Sol’s form begins to fade.

With her leaving behind a few last words before she goes.

“Please stay alive, young Alexander. For the sake of the universe.”

Then the void collapses entirely and I find myself shooting forwards with a gasp in the real world.