Chapter 367: The Power of Wind
Aria was surprised when she saw just how stern her Goddess Ariel was after she found that the latter had taken her back to the sanctuary.
The Goddess of Avians had her arms crossed and a foot tapped impatiently against the ground.
"I did not expect that you of all people would have bound yourself to a Singularity of all things!" She said with exasperation in her voice.
Merely associating herself with one had massive implications yet Ariel noticed the threads of power that connected her chosen to Leo.
If she could, she would have separated Aria from him but she knew that it would be a potentially dangerous endeavor.
That Singularity was in an incredibly unstable state. It was only because of his bonds that he had made that he had not destroyed himself yet.
His power was akin to juggling invisible swords coated in a lethal poison. One slip up could cause instant death. The power that Leo was currently releasing wasn’t even a tenth of a percent of the power that was locked inside of him.
Aria stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never seen the Goddess like this before. The few times she had seen her, she had been a pillar of grace and calm. Ariel’s fierce gaze was a sharp contrast to the usual warmth she emanated, and it unsettled her more than she would have liked to admit.
"I didn’t choose this," Aria said, her voice small but firm. She stepped forward, meeting the Goddess’s eyes, her posture tense.
"I had no idea that Leo was a Singularity. Before today, I didn’t even know he was one!"
Ariel’s eyes flickered with something Aria hadn’t expected to see. The sternness, the impatience, the unyielding pressure—those Aria had understood. But this was different. It was something vulnerable.
Ariel wasn’t just frustrated with her. She was scared.
"Aria," Ariel began, her voice quieter now, though the gravity in her words had only deepened. "I need you to understand something very clearly." The Goddess took a step closer, her gaze piercing as if searching for any sign of doubt in Aria’s eyes. "Leo’s Singularity isn’t like any force you’ve faced before. It’s not just some mortal power or something you can suppress with willpower alone."
Aria opened her mouth to respond, but Ariel’s sharp look silenced her.
"He is a ticking time bomb, Aria," Ariel said, each word heavy with the weight of unspoken truths. "And if that bomb goes off, it won’t just be your world that crumbles. It won’t even be all worlds. Leo, with the full extent of his power, could erase everything. He could slaughter the gods themselves."
The words hit Aria like a physical blow. Her breath caught in her throat. "What are you saying?" she whispered.
Ariel’s eyes darkened, her expression full of sorrow and fear. "I’m saying that if Leo loses control, if he falls completely into his Singularity, there will be nothing left. No world, no life, no existence as you know it. Nothing. Not even I could stand against him. He would have the power to rewrite everything, to undo creation itself."
Aria felt the ground beneath her feet shift, a cold dread creeping up her spine. She knew Leo had the potential to be dangerous, but this was something else entirely. She believed in him, trusted that they could find a way to manage, to keep his power in check. But what if... what if they couldn’t?
"I... I don’t know what to do," Aria murmured, the weight of Ariel’s words sinking deeper with each passing second.
"You must find a way to stabilize him," Ariel said, her voice soft but urgent now. "You cannot allow his power to grow unchecked. If it does, it will be too late. You won’t just lose him, Aria. You’ll lose everything. The very fabric of reality will unravel, and I fear there will be no stopping it once that happens."
Aria’s chest tightened as the full scope of the situation came into sharp focus. She had been so focused on Leo, on saving him, that she hadn’t realized how close they were to the edge of total annihilation. She had no choice but to keep going, but now, the stakes felt infinitely higher.
However, seeing Aria’s concern for her friend, Ariel could only sigh in exasperation and defeat.
"I know, pulling you away from him will only cause unnecessary pain and heartbreak for all. So rather than separate you, I will teach you how to protect yourself..."
Aria frowned in confusion. She tilted her head slightly, not comprehending what the Goddess was talking about. She had ways to defend herself and her voice could be used to buff and debuff enemies. What else could she do right now.
Seeing her confusion, Ariel smiled as 3 sets of snow white wings unfurled from behind her back.
"I shall show you how to truly use your wings and harness the offensive power of the wind. If you must stay by the Singularity’s side, you must be capable of holding your own, no matter the circumstances."
Aria’s eyes widened. "My wings?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She had always been connected to the wind in a way, but this? She didn’t understand.
Ariel nodded, her wings folding slightly as she took a step closer. "Yes, your wings. Not the ones you’ve grown to rely on for flight and defense. The true potential of the wind is far more than what you’ve known. You have only just begun to tap into it."
Aria took a tentative step back, her thoughts swirling. She had never truly considered her wings as a weapon, and even less as something that could be harnessed for such power. The idea of using the wind as a force for offense rather than just flight was almost foreign to her. But now, facing the reality of what Leo was becoming, the urgency in Ariel’s words hit home.
"If you are to stay with him, you must become more than just a protector, Aria," Ariel continued, her tone softening as she met Aria’s gaze. "You must be able to fight—not just for yourself, but for everything."
Aria swallowed, nodding slowly. She could feel the weight of the choice in her chest. If she was to stay by Leo’s side, she could not afford to be helpless. Not when so much was at stake.