Krox Rises by Chris Fox

Author:Chris Fox [Fox, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781791600983
Publisher: Chris Fox Writes LLC
Published: 2018-12-11T07:00:00+00:00

26

A New Body

Nebiat’s consciousness slowly returned to focus. Krox had explained what torpor was, but she hadn’t really understood it until now. The languid period wasn’t quite sleep, but they lacked any other basis of comparison. It was more like non-awareness of the possibilities streaming out in all directions. A period of relative blindness, during which Nebiat had explored Krox’s memories.

In particular she’d sought battles against other gods. She wanted to understand how such battles were to be conducted, to give her some idea of how to formulate a plan to destroy Shaya. Krox had participated in hundreds of such battles, each separated by centuries, or even millennia. In most he’d grown stronger, though he’d also lost a significant number.

Every battle he’d lost had a commonality.

Yes, Krox agreed. Hubris. In every case I assumed my victory was assured, and placed myself in a vulnerable position. I took risks, and my enemies exploited them. I am curious to see if you repeat my mistakes, or allow prudence to govern your actions.

She realized something terrifying in that moment. Krox didn’t fear any potential fate. He didn’t fear being killed, because a god couldn’t really be killed. He could be dominated. He could even be absorbed. But such an act would only change him, and she knew from his memories that immense boredom was a constant problem. Any change was good.

We have finished absorbing the Heart. What will you do now?

Nebiat didn’t answer. Instead, she concentrated on her physical form, on the roiling magical energy that comprised her body. That was part of the problem. It was so alien, and if she was a god, why did she need to be confined by such things?

She visualized a new form, one that would be uniquely her. At first, she considered making that form a Wyrm to honor her past. “No, no, that’s far too predictable.” If she’d still possessed a mouth she would have smiled.

So far as her enemies knew, Nebiat was dead or in hiding, and Krox was their true enemy. They knew nothing about her survival, and thus Voria wouldn’t know to expect her. She needed to preserve that situation, and that meant creating a form that was different from anything she’d used in the past.

She thought back to one of the gods she’d seen in Krox’s memory, the great Shivan. Shivan appeared as a towering human comprised entirely of stars and nebulae. Such a god would terrify mortals, far more than an amorphous blob of magic ever could.

More and more I value your addition to my mind, Krox rumbled. You understand mortals, and how they perceive their universe. It is unclear to me why the form you are crafting will inspire more fear. Their end comes regardless of our physical form, and all know this—why should this form terrify them more than a star?

Nebiat avoided addressing Krox directly as much as possible, but in this case enjoyed the answer. “You’re right. You don’t understand mortals. You just finished explaining to me that the basis of our power comes from worship.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.