THE LAST CHAPTER

BORN OF THE SHADOWS, BOUND BY FATE

"IT'S NOT AS simple as you think it is. From what I recall, the exam at the portals where you meet Erebus wasn't a pleasant encounter, did it?" Xandria asked, and she appeared to be gathering herself as she walked with Giovanni. Managing the power that had been concealed from her for a long time isn't that simple. But since she's ultimately in charge of fate, she must have faith in her.

"Kung gano'n lang din naman edi ako na ang magpapalabas sa lungga niya!" sigaw ni Giovanni as she walks more forcefully than before, saying, "These gods are either self-centered or just people who will stop at nothing to get what they desire, huh?"

Agad niyang pinulot ang bato then she turns the rock over at saka niya isa-isa binato 'yung cosmos na nakikita niya ngayon. The heavens were a variety of hues, whirling softly, and containing the golden sparkles of enchantment. There were threads in every cloud that moved slowly with it.

Nagpapadyak si Giovanni at nagsisigaw na lang siya ro'n, "Hoy Erebus! Duwag ka na ba? Magpakita ka!"

"Hoy! Gaga ka ba? Kung makasigaw ka naman. Teh, si Erebus pa rin ang pinagaganyan mo! Gusto mo hatakin ka ro'n sa underworld!?" sigaw ni Xandria at 'di siya makapaniwala sa mga pinapakita ni Giovanni ngayon.

The sky is like an endless painting. As the night moved across the skies, the light extended toward the heavens. Something seemed to breathe with the hymns of beats that slowly moved through the space, as though the universe were alive and radiated between the stars. Like unstoppable waves, the clouds appeared to be so heavy and to be flowing and moving on their own. As if a comet were to crash against the very edge of this world's splendor.

Sigurado akong nandito lang si Erebus na nagbabantay sa kanila. It was also unlikely that she would get a response from Chaos if she were able to get to where he was.

So now she must let it out? Now she's going crazy! Giovanni's hands went up into the air. There's nothing like the way the astral swirls around her. Her hand makes deliberate movements as though she anticipates something. Her hands moved as though she were going to command the stars and skies, and they simply moved in accordance with her commands, and her eyes shone brightly.

With the aid of the cosmos, she heard the ground began to quake and saw water swirling around her at a high speed. The violet energy transformed into gentle bubbling water as she moved her hands. As a result, she employs bigger waves and controls them better. She may use more intricate water-based assaults, such bigger waves, water streams, or watery structures.

And with a sly smirk, she said, "Erebus, come out or I'll break your universe, and you won't like it!"

"What were you saying just now?" The ground became even more unstable as Erebus reverberated across the underworld.

"What would you do if I told you that I wanted to shatter the cosmos itself?"

Being aware that she had the audacity to barge in at nandito na siya sa laban na 'to, Erebus was aware of this girl's potential for fierceness. 'Di siya 'yung tipo na sasabihin ang mga plano niya kahit na kanino however, he had already mentally estimated those things. His sharp gaze followed her as she calculated each step.

"What prompted you to call me here? You had better have strong reasons for this little child since you woke up my restful slumber," Erebus said, with a spooky laugh that seemed to be devouring him. "Go ahead, try me."

"I expressed what I desired."

Giovanni inhaled deeply, and she became aware of how much pressure she was currently under. His presence indicates the level of risk she's capable of consuming at this point.

"And you believe I'll overlook that?" Erebus resonated in the darkness that it was nearly hard to capture him.

'Alam ko namang hindi. I won't be expecting any decent replies from you because you're the one who threatened me once, after all.' Giovanni crossed her arms and felt as though she was wasting her time. 'Di siya pwedeng mag-aksaya ng panahon dito! She must cut through the cosmos in order to stop whatever is happening in this realm.

"There's no doubt that you won't let me. Pero kahit ano'ng mangyari, 'di ako pwedeng sumuko! I can't let fate stop me from doing all of this!"

Kung gusto ni Erebus na patayin siya, matagal na sana niyang ginawa 'yon. She is, after all, the target of the underworld. Kaya ang 'di maintindihan ni Giovanni ay kung bakit siya pinalibutan ng dilim at bakit? Sinusubukan ba talaga siya ni Erebus?

Erebus gave her a sly laugh and said, "You're afraid," as the darkness grew worse and Giovanni clutched her sword. "Don't worry, even if I may not agree with you, I don't intend to keep a young lady like you in the dark. I was told so by Chaos. Her directives are final."

"So, what are you saying?"

"I'll still assist you even if I disagree with this. Do you want to know what the secrets of fate are?" This girl had amused him enough that he would comply with her demands if she so desired. "What Lady Xandria said to you is true, but let me show you more deeply what lies between the cosmos."

In a place unlike any other, Erebus' shadows enveloped her and Xandria. The Cosmos. It was also seen as a personification and once used to be in control, however, after a deal gone wrong, the cosmos was trapped in the bounds of one ruler and only one could rule it.

"Was this the Cosmos?"Giovanni asked.

"Indeed. Follow me now." The shadows simply moved, and Giovanni followed it by walking behind them.

Giovanni's journey through space revealed all of the lab's equipment that was spreading throughout. Some of the gold dust of magic started to break and fracture as it saw the thunder crashing through the cosmos. "What's taking place here? The Olympus is exactly the same. Is something going on here, Erebus?"

Erebus started to speak while his shadows moved silently, "It's the core, it's beginning to crack because those scientists continues to experiment!"

Kailangan niya ng mga sagot. Gaano karaming beses na hinaras ng kanyang ama ang mga Greek Gods at iba pang mga dieties ng realm 'to? 'Di maganda ang takbo nito. Baliw ba talaga ang lalaking 'yon?

'Di' ba niya alam na 'to ang magpapatindi sa war? Hindi ba siya tumigil sa pag-eksperimento? Napailing na lang si Giovanni, 'di maintindihan ang kanyang natutuklasan sa nangyayari sa cosmos.

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

THE GODS' AND deities' realm was meant to be revered, but ever since these scientists attempted to learn more about the realm they had never seen before, it has become a major problem. She was surprised to find that the temple's stones were severely fractured.

You can observe what's happening everywhere in Cosmos, including the underworld, the seas, and the skies.

"Let me ask you a question." Lumapit si Giovanni at huminga ng malalim. Alam niyang ang tatay niya talaga ang may pakana. Kaya nang malaman niya ang buong katotohanan, she might as well ask all the questions now, isn't she?

"What precisely did my father do? Why was I cursed at that time, and why did the gods become enraged?" Ang dami niyang katanungan na tanging magagawa na lang niya ay umiling nang bahagya.

She might have had to live with that her entire life.

"You tell me. You're the Cursed Swan, the Silent Reckoning that they are referring to, right?" Erebus' shadows began to emerge, revealing himself wearing a hood with no face beneath it, and he groaned, "The cosmos truly can't keep up with my disguise."

Napakurap na lang si Giovanni sa mga bagay na kanyang nakita. Ang kanyang kasalukuyang hitsura ay 'di naiiba sa mga challengers! Bukod pa rito, siya'y may katiyakan sa kanyang nakikita! It seems as though the emptiness is keeping the challengers alive because they are all the same and wear hoods without faces. She suddenly became curious about something else.

"You don't claim to be the one who came up with the challengers, do you?" Tanong na lang ni Giovanni at napakurap siya.

Iba ito sa inaasahan ni Erebus. He hasn't done any calculations on it. He maintains his composure and demonstrates that he hasn't made any needless motions. Ang alam niya lang ay kailangan niyang kamuhian ang babaeng nasa harap niya ngayon and if it weren't for his shape 'di sana magkakaroon ng kahit ano'ng curiosity si Giovanni.

According to his appearance, Erebus is surrounded by the universe, and he is carrying two blades and a black cowl. Para malaman niya ang tungkol sa bagay na 'yon, ibang klase ang babaeng 'to. "Do you have any other questions?"

Giovanni blinked at him, causing Erebus to watch her for a moment. "You're quite an interesting kid, I see," he said.

"So, have you ever pondered that the scientist's authority comes from the might of the deities who deserved it?Before he made such a mess, the Gods trusted him, Erebus said, looking down at the crystal ball. Furthermore, are you aware of which gods he truly enraged?"

"The Big Three." Giovanni answered.

When Giovanni recalled her interaction with the three, she became nervous. It's not actually that pleasant, you see.

Hades, whom she constantly confronts in the corridor and would frequently give her the cold shoulder most of the time, and Zeus, who especially despises her presence due to her actual nature as the fourth destiny goddess. And because she is the primary cause of the battle, Poseidon typically shuns and despises her.

Additionally, he won't be kind to someone like her. You see, it's a fierce confrontation.

Shadows of Erebus approached and fled all over her, saying, "And what may possibly happen if the humans have messed up with this realm, hmm?"

She had to take the necessary steps to correct things before everything blew up. Iyon ang iniisip niya ngayon. Sa likod ng kanyang pananatili sa laboratory, may kakaibang lihim na nanggagaling dito and something that she didn't expected.

Understanding that wits, 'di niya kailanman hinayaang malaman ang hiwaga na natuklasan niya mula sa cosmos because he desired to be in charge alone.

Since the scientist was in charge of the realm, he must have entered into a contract with them, right? O baka may iba pang dahilan tungkol do'n, ha?

Hinawakan na lang ni Giovanni ang bibig niya at tinitigan na lang 'to ng seryoso, "Otherwise, he would have needed to use all of his supernatural abilities at that moment. How twisted up is that?" Giovanni looked at him aggressively, as if she were prepared to fight. She seemed powerful enough to handle everything by herself.

Kung bakit 'to sinasabi ni Erebus lahat sa kanya remained a mystery? Did Chaos actually frighten him? She stared at him, avoiding the thought that would restrain her. Wasn't he willing to cooperate now?

Kaya wala siyang ibang mapagkakatiwalaan sa puntong 'to kundi siya. And since she had already reached this stage, she ought to seize the opportunity now that Erebus is prepared to work with her in the cosmos. That's the only way to solve this issue.

She clutched her head while Giovanni inhaled deeply and said, "I just remembered something." The recollection was still vague, but it had to do with the brothers."

"Do you remember something? Erebus admonished her, "That better be a good one, little missy," and waited silently for the answers to come to light. He must exercise patience through it all.

"On the day Henry nearly put me to death during the final fate, my father did something that would have infuriated the brothers. Maybe I'm being sacrificed here because he wanted to take their realm." Giovanni, feeling extremely anxious, closed her eyes and clutched her blade, realizing how completely unreal this situation was.

"It's possible for you to do something. So missy, let's put an end to this. All of the causes of the war can only be stopped by you. It's not like you have to follow all the time. You're the one who can carry out that command."Erebus shifted his hands, and to Giovanni's surprise, he saw Henry clutching Nadalinde's neck and aiming his knife at her.

"H'wag!" Sigaw ni Giovanni.

Alam niya ang possibilidad na mangyari pagtapos nito. She didn't want that to happen because he was turning into their worst enemy. If she needed to delve into the destiny, gagawin niya 'yon. Dahil hawak niya ang lahat ng kapalaran sa kanyang mga kamay at dapat gawin niya ang lahat, gaano man kadelikado ang sitwasyon. Kahit na nangangahulugan 'to ng pagkawala ng kanyang buhay.

"You're implying that I can do something to prevent the fates, correct?" Tanong na lang ni Giovanni at hinarap niya 'to. She has previously experienced death, therefore she had no choice except to sacrifice herself during this ordeal.

If this is the only way to stop it, she will do whatever it takes.

"Then, the only thing I can do here is to sacrifice myself." Giovanni stated, "I started the curse, so I have to do this to save everyone else."

Nanlaki na lang ang mata ni Xandria sa nalaman niya. Nagbibiro lang naman siya sa mga sinabi niya 'di' ba? Oo, lahat naman sila they're under pressure right now that they never even anticipated.

Pero may iba pang paraan do'n 'di 'ba?

Indeed, she may have discovered her true abilities, and since she's ultimately responsible for everything, pero hindi 'to pwede. Ang bagay na 'yon ay 'di sinabi ni Xandria upang magdesisyon siya ng ganito!

Lumapit si Xandria at hinawakan ang balikat niya saka niya 'tong yinugyog, "What are you thinking? Do you believe that this will bring us all joy? To give you up?"

Bagama't 'di niya 'to masyadong kilala, may nagsabi sa kanya na siya ang magsisimula ng lahat nang katapusan And to genuinely believe that she will use the astral to disappear—for good? What on earth is she thinking? Will that even deter her from preventing her brother from committing murder?

"Now, is there no other option? Giovanni replied, "I was cursed, so this is the only thing I could do as the holder of fates. All the Greek Gods hated my existence because of that." She bit her lip, turned her head away, and sobbed. There is nothing more for her to do.

Yes, this also hurts her. She's crying uncontrollably, and she is afraid of having to leave and give up everything. She had to leave him in order to prevent fate from succeeding, as well as her companions. Since her adoption was the primary cause of this, she had no other option but to do this. There's nothing she could have done in the past.

Erebus's statements have sufficiently clarified her job and what it is. Sa sandaling ilagay ni Giovanni ang espada niya, may kakaibang kapangyarihan na nakapaloob dito.

As she held onto her sword, the sky gradually grew darker and appeared to be conversing with the universe. She will transcend the universe to prevent Henry and Nadalinde from fighting.

"Wait, Giovanni!"

"I have to do this, you know!" She yelled. "Don't stop me, then! Xandria, let me handle this!"

Her eyes shone with intensity as she thrust her sword forward, at which point a clock materialized and began to tick. An hourglass emerged, and the dust appeared to disperse. With a swift motion of her sword, the radiant waterfalls surged directly into the cosmos. Xandria pursued immediately as the cosmos fractured, calling out in urgency.

"Henry!" Xandria's grip on the universe nearly caused her to slip. "You must stop Giovanni!" she said.

"Because she intends to give herself up for our futures, she intends to disappear!"

Nadalinde's grin widened as she laughed at her and cast her characteristically malevolent gaze on Giovanni. "Hindi ka naman pala bobo! Why don't I kill you because that's what you want?"

There was complete chaos. Because of her sacrifice, Giovanni's friends are currently pursuing her, and the realms are entirely collapsing. No! They will not tolerate her doing this. Everyone called Giovanni as she finally broke through the universe, and she couldn't stand to hear it at all. As though the events were inevitable, she allowed the sword to enter.

"That's not what you'll do!" Before Nadalinde realized it, Ephron, Frayden, Alvis, Conleth, and Courtney had trapped her and restrained her.

Looking down, she could feel the thunder and waves rushing down, the black energies targeted directly at her, and her foot was stoned and motionless.
"You won't be leaving!"

Henry took his knife and walked toward Nadalinde. Frayden turned to face him and met his eyes, saying, "We'll do everything in our power to keep her safe, but you must now go to Giovanni and ensure her survival. Leave!"

Nag-aalangan man si Henry, pero agad naman siyang tumakbo ng mabilis. As he continues to sprint and move on his side in search of her, his huffs are growing harder. He noticed the blade shining with energy and began to shatter.

Walang makapagsabi kung ano'ng dapat niyang maramdaman ngayon But he doesn't want this. Yes, he did wish to change the fates, but this isn't what he was taught in this academy as part of his military training!

Fuck!

Henry's shoulder felt much heavier, and he had a lot of fear in his eyes. He was panting heavily and clutching his knees as his tears fell. "This wasn't intended to be told by the Book of Fates, right? Let me know that this is wrong!"

After stepping on something, Giovanni sensed that the underground crack was speaking to her.

She did whatever she did in order to save everyone. She has absolutely no regrets about her choices. She felt as though a river had swept over her before anyone could even get to her. There are numerous red roses surrounding her as she lies on the boat.

As she passes the dead trees, the air grows more hazy and eerily atmospheric. She is wearing a white Victorian lace top and a pattern skirt. Already, Charon was escorting her to the House of Hades. 

However, it seemed as though she was dreaming. This is where it all started. And maybe the fight hasn't even started yet.

Chained with Hades
a novel written by
M I S S  N E R D Y G I R L 2 0

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