The aftermath of the Celestial Wanderer's cataclysmic descent marked the ruination of Shantara, a once-vibrant city now reduced to mere remnants of its former glory. The peaks that had gracefully encircled the lake lay shattered, and the city resounded with the chaotic roars echoing from the celestial clash. Even from the distant Zenithria, the ground trembled under the resounding boom, a testament to the colossal clash that had transpired.
As the Celestial Wanderer descended upon the goddess, his presence emitted the primordial chaos that had once swept the lands of this upper realm amongst the stars. Memories of the old world, where he had united realms under his banner, fueled his rage as he witnessed the now-ruined city of Shantara, a consequence of a fearful and incompetent goddess. His fury sparked a boiling energy around him, ripping apart space and time as he hastened towards the goddess's domain.
In the glowing wake of his celestial presence, it was as if the light of dawn had arrived in the midst of the glowing night. A burning sun crashed into the middle of the lake, its impact causing a shockwave so powerful that the very air became swords. These ethereal blades sliced through the once-tall peaks that made the lake resemble a fortress, reducing them to nothingness. The entire array of 36 peaks was flattened, and the roar of chaos reverberated across the world, reaching even the next city, Zenithria. The once-elegant flow of the lake evaporated completely as if a burning meteor had slammed into the world, decimating all that was once there.
After landing with a force that reshaped the very fabric of Nuranthia, the Wanderer rose amidst the aftermath. His energy, now a tempest of raw power, enveloped his form, causing the gravity of Nuranthia to warp and the laws of the heavens to bend. In his presence, anything near was crushed, disappearing under the altered laws of the world.
In the wake of the celestial chaos that crashed into Mei Yuelan's domain, the lesser goddess was shocked to her core, memories of the one who had once slaughtered the heavens flooding back. She remembered the being who had forcibly changed the laws of the higher realms, closing Nuranthia's gate to the stars, and weakening the gods and the realm itself. It was akin to severing one's immortality. As fear for her life began to settle, the Wanderer, with the speed of light, turned his gaze toward Mei Yuelan.
Before she could comprehend the situation fully, the Wanderer vanished, causing winds to pierce into the fabric of space. In an instant, he reappeared before the goddess, his hand reaching out in a claw motion, reminiscent of a dragon slamming her face into the ground. Mei, bewildered, found herself lifted by the Wanderer. As her eyes locked with the man who had once stood at the pinnacle of existence, she realized that the wanderer had returned after vanishing for 3000 years.
Before she could react, the Wanderer threw Mei into the air, Realizing that the Wanderer had returned, she desperately tried opening a gate to warn the gods' palace that the one who had caused it all had returned, knowing she was but an ant in comparison to the entity that shook the Ethereal Plane. Only to appear instantly before her, elbowing her into the island in the middle of the lake. Mei cried out in pain as the Wanderer descended, grabbing her collar and delivering punches as if she were nothing more than a bug. With each strike, the skies rumbled, the sea cried, and cyclones began to form around the once-impenetrable lake.
The loyal subjects of the goddess, the serpents, and beasts of the lake, cowered in fear. They knew that intervening would mean their instant obliteration. Mei Yuelan, facing impending death, thought about her karma. She had manipulated mortals and suppressed them in fear of the lost secrets of the battle of the gods. She had been unkind, intervening only when it suited her, hoping to become a true god.
As the Wanderer continued his onslaught, Mei's body and soul began to break. She contemplated her actions, acknowledging the consequences of her choices. Before she could plead for mercy for her subjects as she thought of them as her children, the Wanderer consumed by rage raised his arm. He couldn't accept that someone from the gods' realm could still commit such atrocities. Gathering energy, he formed a powerful force and declared the word, "Unacceptable." His merciless punch caused a sonic boom and a blinding flash that covered the entire state.
When the onslaught ended, not even Mei Yuelan's soul remained. The evidence of the battle was clear—a colossal crater from the 36 tall peaks to the middle of the island. It showcased a level of power unseen since the war between mortals and gods. However, as the Wanderer got up, a hidden array cracked beneath the lake. Chains became visible, attached to an enormous serpent locked away from the world. The Wanderer, recognizing the serpent as one of his companions from the old war, opened his eyes in realization.
Chapter 4: Chains of the Past - Epilogue
The aftermath of the celestial clash left Nuranthia forever scarred, a canvas of destruction painted across the once-serene city of Shantara. As rumors of the celestial disturbance spread like wildfire, the inhabitants of this realm were left to grapple with the revelation that a terrifying existence, thought to be mere legend, had returned to sow chaos once more.
News of the battle echoed through the lands, reaching far beyond the shores of the obliterated lake. Shantara, once suppressed under the rule of the lesser goddess Mei Yuelan, now found itself liberated from the chains of divine oppression. Some saw it as an act of divine interference, a higher power correcting the balance. Others hailed it as the manifestation of karma, a testament to the belief that evil never lingers unchallenged.
The tales of the Celestial Wanderer, once a distant memory, now resurfaced with renewed vigor. The suppressed city, once loved by the enigmatic being, was now free from the constraints of a goddess's whims. Whispers in the streets spoke of the Wanderer's return, a force to be both feared and revered.
As the news spread, connecting the dots from the crimson ascension to the recent celestial clash, uncertainty lingered in the minds of those who sought answers. Was it truly the hand of the Celestial Wanderer that struck down Mei Yuelan, or did another force, obscured in the chaos, play a role in this divine drama?
Those who had awaited the return of the Wanderer found a spark of hope reigniting within them, but it was accompanied by a whisper of doubt. The "ones" who had kept a vigil, lying awake for the inevitable return, felt a shiver in the fabric of destiny. The celestial being, once at the pinnacle of existence, had emerged from the shadows, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of Nuranthia, and yet, the question of who truly held the strings of fate remained unanswered.
The world, shaken to its core once again, stood at the crossroads of fate. The Celestial Wanderer, a harbinger of chaos, had returned, and the ripples of his presence would continue to reverberate through the realms, leaving both awe and trepidation in his wake.
