Eternal Saṃsāra: The Wanderer of Worlds

[216] No, Quetzalcoatl?!

Chapter 216: No, Quetzalcoatl?!

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Quetzalcoatl soared through the sky, her wings shimmering with an aura of divine power. In her hybrid form, her eyes were locked onto Malakar, the Clown of Chaotic Catastrophe, whose maniacal laughter echoed across the battlefield. She laughed with him, her divine visage opposing his grotesque clown attire that fluttered in the wind as he floated mid-air, surrounded by a flurry of maddened illusionary clowns.

"Come on, lizard! Show me what you've got!" Malakar taunted, his voice dripping with malevolence. He twirled a dagger between his fingers, the blade glinting menacingly, while his other hand threw marbles at her.

Marbles grew in size, growing into mountains, and Quetzalcoatl’s club shattered them into a million pieces. Her eyes narrowed. "You asked for it." With a powerful beat of her wings, she charged at him, her spiked club crackling with green lightning. 

She swung the club with all her might, aiming for Malakar's head. The sky thundered, lending her more lightning to wield around her club.

Malakar's body twisted unnaturally as he dodged the attack, his waist bending backward, his laughter growing even louder. "Too slow!" he cackled, conjuring a massive balloon from thin air. With a snap of his fingers, the balloon too expanded to the size of a mountain, barreling toward Quetzalcoatl.

Quetzalcoatl dodged the balloon with a swift maneuver, her wings slicing through the air. She wasn’t dumb to blow the balloon up, who knew what kind of gas that’d release? She countered with a barrage of lightning bolts, tapping into her Weather Divinity, each one aimed precisely at Malakar. The clown's laughter was briefly drowned out by the thunderous roar of her attacks.

"Not bad, lizard bitch," Malakar sneered, deflecting the lightning bolts with a flick of his wrist. He conjured more clowns, each made of energy and one armed with deadly weapons, and sent them charging at Quetzalcoatl. "Let's see how you handle this!"

Quetzalcoatl's eyes gleamed with power as she swung her club in a wide, out-reaching arc, smashing through the clowns with ease. “Kah! Is that all you've got? I thought we’d play for longer~ but at this rate, I might just end you," Quetzalcoatl in her childish, green-haired self looked at the enemy with defiance.

Malakar's grin widened. "Oh, we're just getting started!" He raised his hands, and the clouds around them began to multiply, warp, and twist. The soft clouds turned into a chaotic labyrinth, filled with traps and hazards. 

Quetzalcoatl navigated the labyrinth with skill, her wings carrying her above the dangers. She unleashed a flood of fiery breath, incinerating the clowns that tried to attack her and clearing a path to Malakar. As she closed in on him, their eyes locked in a deadly stare.

Just as she was about to strike, Malakar's form began to grow, his body expanding until he towered over her. "How about now, lizard?" he roared, his voice booming like thunder. "Can you handle me now?"

Quetzalcoatl didn't falter, letting out a hearty laugh. She charged at him again, her club aimed at his head. "Bring it on!"

Their clash shook the battlefield, the impact of their blows creating shockwaves that rippled through the air. Quetzalcoatl fought with all her might, but Malakar's chaotic powers made him a formidable opponent. He twisted reality around them, turning the very air into a weapon, blades of sharpness that hurt just by moving.

The [Chaos Icon] over his head lent him crimson energy of destructive properties. Despite her strength, Quetzalcoatl began to feel the strain of the battle. Malakar's relentless assault pushed her to her limits, and she realized that she might not be able to win on her own. 

After all, Goddess Galaxara compared the Clown God to be stronger than Durga and Vishnu. If she hadn’t tapped into this green-haired Kukulan alter ego, she would have had an even harder time. Solar energy clashed with chaotic energy, and she realized that she could at least hold on her own.

That was when the dark sky grew brighter, a blinding white light emanating from another part of the sky. It was as if five mini suns exploded in the air. The air crackled with raw power, the very fabric of spacetime rippling under the force of five powerful techniques. Turning to the side, both she and Malakar saw white blades, sharp as celestial spears, erupting from Aqua’s sword, cutting through the air with a deafening roar. 

The Outer God, Umbrithar’s forms exploded into a million pieces, each fragment caught in the storm of Aqua’s swordsmanship. The shards of his existence were cut so thin, so finely, that they dissolved into the air, vanishing like dust in the wind.

A short silence filled the battlefield, and Aqua slowly turned to look at Malakar. “Haah,” both she and the Clown saw Aqua stare at them before he rushed toward them, his sword gleaming with power. 

Solace washed over Quetzalcoatl. "Aqua~ join me!" she called out, giggling like a child, her eyes drunk.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck! Fucking hell Umbrithar, how can you lose to a brat?!” Malakar scowled, noticing Aqua's approach, and clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Oh no, you are not coming here!" he growled. 

Naturally, he didn’t want an interruption when he was already having trouble against Quetzalcoatl. Clasping his hands together, a surge of red energy erupted out of him and enveloped both him and Quetzalcoatl. A massive red cocoon formed around them, cutting them off from the outside world. A domain expanded with the two of them in it, a whole dimensional unfolded before their eyes.

Malakar vanished, and Quetzalcoatl found herself inside a luxurious marble hallway in the blink of an eye. Ancient paintings littered the walls, while chandeliers lit overhead, and the room led towards large wooden doors.

“Huh,” after a brief moment of surprise, she looked around but found no other route out of this. “Two doors, huh,” she grinned. “Looks like he has a lot of other games to play with.”

Walking to a door, she pushed it open. 

A million clowns greeted her with daggers in their hands.

…..

Aqua skidded to a halt outside the cocoon, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. “Tsk,” he reached out, but the cocoon's energy repelled him. "Quetzalcoatl!" he shouted, frustration and anger mingling in his voice. She probably couldn’t hear him. 

Why were these bastards so slippery?

"Damn it," Aqua muttered, clicking his tongue in frustration. He turned his gaze to the Enchantress of Shadows, Ryxara, who was battling his wives a moment later. His eyes narrowed with a conclusion; even if he tried to break the cocoon, it might not be quick enough, that Dark Goddess might harm his girls if he didn’t give her attention. So the priority right now should be her. "Fine. I'll deal with you first."

With that, he launched himself toward Ryxara, ready to fuck her up and hopefully be quick enough to aid Quetzalcoatl.

****

The other battlefield was a chaotic mess of shadows and light, the clash of holy divine and demonic divine powers creating a maelstrom of energy. 

Aqua’s old wives, Elara, Sieran, and Seraphina, fought valiantly against Ryxara, the Enchantress of Shadows. Their movements were fluid, and rather than fighting like three people, they fought like a single individual. They’d fought together for so long that it was second nature to have each other’s back and know what would be the next move of their ally. Thanks to how they coordinated seamlessly, their strikes and spells complemented each other.

Mem-Cho, Shoko, and Yuzuru supported from the rear, their own powers adding to the onslaught. Though honestly, the latter two didn’t partake much in the help, they were busy saving themselves. Ryxara was a formidable opponent, moreover because her Avatar was alive and with her, unlike those other Gods. 

Her laughter rang through the battlefield, a chilling sound that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it. “You little bitches, try to do better!” Ryxara taunted, her voice dripping with mockery. Her power had already harmed Yuzuru, who lay on the ground, bleeding from multiple wounds inflicted by the swarm of insects.

The swarm was an endless sea of worms, bugs, flies, and other grotesque creatures that attacked everyone relentlessly, like the deity body of a Bug Goddess, was what served as Ryxara's avatar. Rather than a single person, like the other Gods, she used these insects instead.

Shoko, as an 8th circle mage, was busy supporting her fallen sister, keeping a protective barrier around Yuzuru to fend off the relentless assault. She was also the one focusing on the Avatar, allowing the others to focus on the main Goddess. The barrier shimmered with magical energy, keeping Yuzuru and Shoko protected, but it was clear that maintaining it was taking a toll on her.

Mem-Cho, the other 8th circle mage of the party, was ahead, providing crucial support to Aqua’s wives. Her spells were precise, each spell carefully aimed to slow down Ryxara’s attacks just a bit so that her allies could counterattack. 

Elara’s spear cut through the darkness as she performed her ultimate techniques, and when the Goddess tried to disrupt the technique, Memmy fired a time-slowing spell in the air around the goddess.

Elara, the one leading the charge, was impressed by that girl’s skills. Who is she? Elara wondered, her spear slicing through a wave of insects and darkness. She fought with the precision and strength of a seasoned warrior.

“9th Circle Spell: Moonlight’s Brilliant Blades!” Sieran murmured an incantation, her voice resonating with power.

The sky above brightened, the darkness peeling away as if chased by the light of a thousand moons. It was still daytime, yet moonlight coalesced into sharp, radiant blades, each one gleaming with an otherworldly brilliance. They hovered in the air for a brief moment, illuminating the battlefield with their soft, silvery glow.

Then, with a sweeping motion of her staff, Sieran sent the blades hurtling toward Ryxara. Thousands of slashes of moonlight descended upon the Goddess of Shadows, each blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. The moonlight cut through Ryxara's illusions and the swarm of insects, dispersing a portion of them with ease.

Ryxara hissed, her form flickering as she struggled to maintain her composure under the relentless assault. She waved a hand to bring a wall of darkness to block them, but her other directions remained undefended. The moonlight blades tore through her defenses, leaving trails of shimmering light in their wake.

"Divine Power: Shining Grace!" Seraphina joined in, her voice thundering.

A radiant aura surrounded Seraphina, her divine power shining like a beacon in the darkness. She channeled her energy into a series of attacks, each one glowing with holy light. Pure plasma energy tore at Ryxara, and Seraphina blitzed behind her at the speed of light. Her daggers became extensions of her divine will, cutting through the defensive shadows with ease, and then gushing blood from her ribs. 

She quickly returned to her earlier position when the Goddess swiped her arm. She smirked at the Goddess, watching the woman growl. Seraphina’s presence added to the illumination, her light interweaving with Sieran’s moonlight blades. The darkness from Ryxara found a matching opponent. Together, the two women created a breathtaking display of light and power. The battlefield was bathed in their combined radiance, the oppressive darkness pushed back by their efforts.

Ryxara found herself a bit overwhelmed, her powers struggling to keep up with the onslaught. The Shadow Icon helped her defend against the rest of the Moonlight attacks, but that wasn’t the end of it.

Elara took advantage of the momentary distraction, her spear thrusting forward with vigor. "We’ve got her on the ropes! Keep pushing!" she urged, her voice filled with determination.

Mem-Cho continued to support from the rear, her spells providing crucial cover for her allies. Some spells helped speed up an ally, while some helped slow down attacks from the enemy. Shoko’s protective barriers held firm, shielding Yuzuru as she slowly recovered from her injuries, her mouth blabbering commands.

“The ground will clap the insects like mosquitoes,” she commanded, and two hands made of earth crept out, slapping the insects and painting the area with blood.

For a moment, the girls seemed to be having an upper hand. Despite Ryxara’s formidable power and the aid of her insect Avatar, the six girls were holding their ground. They fought with grit and skill, each one contributing to the battle in their own way.

Then, Ryxara tapped into a grotesque, bug-hybrid form. As suited to a demonic and dark Goddess, she screeched like a beast of apocalypse as wings grew out of her back, and she transformed into double her size. Her body changed, a bee’s stinger erupted from her behind, and she cackled at the incoming girls. “Die, die, die-!”

With a wave of her fists, an endless mountain of bugs rose, shaped like a hand, and rushed toward the incoming enemy. With another wave of her hand, the insects took the shape of a blade, cutting at Shoko’s shield. 

Elara, Sieran, and Seraphina continued their assault on Ryxara, their combined attacks leaving traces of divine energy. Elara's spear danced through the air, each thrust and sweep sending shockwaves of power toward the Enchantress. 

Sieran’s magic crackled and sparked, golden lightning bolts striking down from the heavens to smite their foe. A light of something seemed to shine above her head, but not quite there to take a physical form. Seraphina’s daggers glowed with divine light, each strike cutting through the shadows and finding their mark on Ryxara’s form.

Ryxara, for all her power, was finding it difficult to overwhelm them. Her illusions twisted and turned, trying to disorient and confuse, but the girls were relentless. They pressed their advantage, their coordinated attacks keeping Ryxara on the defensive. At this rate, they could probably win as time would pass.

However, that would take time. And it might take one or two casualties from their side. They could win, but there was no need to waste lives.

A sudden surge of energy drew everyone’s attention. Aqua burst into the scene with a burst of lightning, his sword shining with a blinding light. "I'll end this fast," he declared, his voice cutting through the chaos.

“Thank the Goddess,” Seraphina muttered, her grip on her dagger loosening, as she grabbed her two sisters and backed off.

They joined Mem-Cho, Shoko, and Yuzuru, deciding to take on the Avatar, while Aqua faced the Goddess. They looked at him with hope, their spirits lifted by his presence.

“You…” the Goddess started.

“Less talking,” Aqua raised his shimmering sword.

"You...!" Ryxara's voice trembled with a mixture of anger and fear as she glared at Aqua. I need to be careful, he defeated Umbrithar. While Umbrithar wasn’t as strong as her, he was more capable. If he died, she knew she could most likely die as well. 

Her form flickered, the grotesque bug-hybrid appearance still menacing despite the damage she had taken. Aqua's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, radiating power and authority. "Struggle till the very end," he said, his voice calm and steady. 

As she rushed at him, claws extended, long shadowy claws trying to sever him into pieces, he blocked those attacks effortlessly, his sword movements precise and deadly. Ryxara's illusions and shadowy tendrils were deflected with ease, and her insect minions were cut down with a vibration of his sword.

After exchanging a few more blows, Aqua chose to end this. She was strong, but not enough to clash with him equally. He switched the Time Icon with the Sword Icon, and the very air seemed to grow sharp. The energy around him shifted dramatically, the ground beneath him seemed to hum in response, and he synthesized Crown Icon to complement the Sword Icon, his aura becoming even more overwhelming.

"Vagabond Style, Second Form," Aqua intoned, his voice resonating with authority. The energy around his sword intensified, the blade glowing with an ethereal light. He prepared to strike, his eyes locked onto Ryxara.

Sensing the imminent danger, Ryxara's eyes widened in fear. She abruptly fell to her knees in the air, her form shifting back to her human appearance. Her purple hair cascaded around her, and her amethyst eyes shimmered with tears. Unlike an ugly half-bird, her human form was pleasing to look at, and in fact, she looked more beautiful than before, her appearance designed to evoke sympathy and desire.

"Handsome, why must we fight?" she pleaded, her voice soft and melodic. "I'll be your woman, so let's stop this. I'll give you all the information about the Gods of Atlanton you want, then I'll support you in taking them down if that's what you want. I- I didn't harm your world, by the way, I only came here a day ago, I was ashamed seeing your people so hurt, so broken. I am not like those two bastards."

Aqua's expression remained unreadable as he listened to her.

"Why not just forgive me and make me yours? I am powerful and can also give you information… along with other stuff,” she added, reaching out a finger to tug at the fabrics of her clothes, showing her cleavage. “I'll be helpful. Just let me live, I-"

"Vagabond Style, Second Form, Sword that Behades the Sun," Aqua interrupted, his voice cold and resolute. He added another technique to ensure her end. "Grand Chariot: 7th Star, Dubhe."

With two sword techniques combined, Aqua unleashed his attack. The energy around him surged, his sword gleaming with an intensity that seemed to pierce through reality itself. He moved with blinding speed, his blade cutting through the air with unparalleled precision.

The light of the Sword Icon complemented the Grand Chariot, and the destructive power of the Vagabond Style merged into a single, devastating strike. The energy erupted from his blade, a radiant arc that exploded like a million flaps of butterfly wings, fourteen thousand slashes that went through Ryxara and all her insect minions. The sheer force of the attack tore through the battlefield, erasing everything in its path.

Ryxara's eyes widened in shock and terror as the attack reached her. There was no time to react, no time to escape. The blinding light consumed her, and her form disintegrated into nothingness. The insect swarm was obliterated, their remains scattered like dust in the wind.

As the light faded, Aqua stood amidst the devastation, his sword still glowing faintly. The battlefield was silent, the oppressive presence of Ryxara gone, the dark veil in the sky vanishing to reveal the gentle sun. He took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to his wives, who looked at him with awe.

"It's over," Aqua said, his voice calm. He looked at the red domain in the distance, "let's move on to the next." That's when something alarming happened.

Cracks spread through the surface of the large, circular cocoon.

Aqua and his wives watched the red cocoon with a mixture of surprise and anxiety. The cocoon's surface began to crack, spiderweb-like fissures spreading across it.

So fast? That wasn't a good sign. Aqua's heart pounded in his chest, fearing the worst. 

"Quetzalcoatl…” he muttered under his breath. He'd be forever guilty if she died here because he bought her here. He should have gone all in and tried to break the cocoon before taking on Ryxara, now he feared the worst.

He blitzed from his spot, bursting toward the domain, his sword ready to strike. The cracks grew wider, the energy within the cocoon pulsating violently. Aqua's mind raced with thoughts of guilt and rage. She was already on a lower pedestal when fighting against the clown outside, naturally in his domain, she'd lose. He should have made a better decision earlier! 

Mem-Cho overlapped multiple speed buffs on her feet. She too sped towards the cocoon from the ground. Her eyes were filled with worry. She and Quetzalcoatl had shared a roof, and their bond had grown strong, she was a good friend. The sight of the cocoon cracking filled her with dread. 

"Please be okay," she whispered, clutching her hands together in a silent prayer.

As Aqua reached the cocoon, it shattered with a deafening explosion. The Chaos Icon in the sky vanished, the red energy dissipating into the air. Aqua's eyes widened in surprise as he saw what emerged from the broken domain.

"Hey, guys~” Quetzalcoatl stood tall, her wings slightly tattered but her thumbs up. In her hand, she held the severed head of Malakar, the Clown of Chaotic Catastrophe. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of triumph and relief and she waved at them, her voice playful and light despite the intense battle she had just endured.

“Oh,” a collective sigh of relief washed over the battlefield. Aqua's heart filled with pride, replacing the fear. He landed beside Quetzalcoatl, his eyes reflecting his admiration. "You did it," he said, his voice soft.

Quetzalcoatl grinned, her green hair fluttering in the wind. "Of course, I did. Did you doubt me?" she teased, holding up Malakar's head as a trophy. She threw it at him, and Aqua decided to deposit it into Void Storage. She threw her arms around his neck. "This clown thought he could trap me in his domain. Guess he was wrong?”

“Guess he really was,” he played along with her playfulness for a bit, putting a hand around her waist, although respectfully.

Indeed. The battle had ended. The South Pole was cleared. Half of the world had been freed from the clutches of the Outer Gods. 

The girls landed beside them. The victory was a huge leap toward reclaiming their world, and they cheered knowing so.

**

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Master4thWall Note: Here with a recommendation 🔥it’s also a shoutout for a close friend. It’s about a man reincarnating inside a fantasy game, with the powers of a murim/cultivation name - the power of Heavenly Demon. 

I helped plan the story in the beginning, and some of the powers are named by me – as you’d notice in the incoming chapters of Eternal Samsara when Aqua uses the powers from his heavenly demon life (9th life). So do give it a try, it’s cool asf!

Check it out right here in Scribblehub, currently uploaded 9 chapters = 40k words!

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Title:

Synopsis:

Iskandaar Romani, the loser son of a Count, lived life with a woman on each arm and booze between his lips. He wanted to rise through the Levels, overcome all walls, and have Queens and Empresses wooing up to him. Sadly, born with a sick and mana-less body, dreams only remained as dreams, and he could only cling to his father's wealth to live in cheap luxury.

Until even that ended, he died, and I got stuck.

A new world with limitless possibilities. A Game System, classes, magic, and monsters. As much as I loved that as a gamer, there was a problem. In this world where everyone worshiped Gods, I have become a Demon. Uh, well, somewhat... A Demonic Cultivator was quite different from those bat-winged demons, I suppose.

The Heavenly Demon of Murim God Cult did not need wings to fly, anyway. Unfortunately, that did not lessen my worries, only increased it.

Starting with, how do you make a Cult and save the world?

[Quest: Make a Cult; Save the World.]

Goddammit.

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