“…fair enough” King Tiger said.
“Well thanks for the lesson Kiara. I’m glad I don’t have to kill myself anymore.” King Tiger said, standing up. His regeneration finally restoring movement to his limbs.
“and hey…if your right about your feelings about Rory…maybe you should try asking her out, after all this is over. I’m sure she could benefit from another loved one to “sooth her mind”.” King Tiger said, giving her a thumbs up.
he stretched his newly healed limbs, and starting walking away.
"Heh, I don't think she'd be into me... Seemed like she was still hooked on somebody else." Kiara said, chuckling.
Belial continued to tread through the raging blizzard capable of freezing even the hottest of stars across the multiverse. He wasn't an organic being, so he couldn't hypothermia, but the sheer force of the wind pushed him back like never before. "Where the hell is Mount Ulric..!?"
Belial screamed into the blizzard, but he got no answer to his screams. He continued to walk through the storm, his insides and outsides becoming painted with ice and snow. It was almost as if this place hadn't existed at all, as it was so quiet and desolate.
"****..."
The blizzard clearly wasn't normal. Belial began to slow down in his movements as he walked forward, his limbs creaking as he began to become covered in ice and snow. "Not yet, God damnit...!" He reached his hand out, but it was simply frozen over.
"Losing... Consciousness..." He passed out in the middle of the blizzard, simply laying in the center of the desolate snowy wasteland.
"Ugh.." He woke up on a soft mattress in a small cabin, a candle providing him with moderate warmth. The cabin really was small, it was like a little bedroom.
"
You search for Ulric, boy?" Said a shade. "Did you save me..?" The shade nodded. "
You are not the first to search for it. Nor do I assume you will be the last." Belial jumped up.
"You know of it, then? Can you take me to it!?" The shade shook his head. "
I cannot lead you to Ulric, boy. The mountain only permits those who find it through their own efforts."
"Damn... Of course." Belial sighed. "Who are you anyway?" The shade spoke. "
A mere shade of the past. I help the people who cannot make it to Ulric survive the eternal blizzard." Belial tilted his head.
"Can't make it? Am I not close?" The shade chuckled. "
Physically, you are very close. But you are not seeing it.. Just like the rest." Belial rubbed his head in confusion.
"Is this some sort of riddle? I'm close but can't see it..." The shade shook his head, "
I play no tricks. Only those with a certain disposition, can climb the dark mountain."
"Disposition...? This sort of sounds like a riddle. Please be specific." The shade chuckled. "
To figure it out for yourself, simply realize why you came to Ulric in the first place." Belial thought..
"For power of course." He said. "I want more power. In fact, I want much more... To save somebody I love." The shade sighed. "
Then you have not the disposition of a monarch as we seek."
Belial stood up, "Explain." The shade opened the door to the cabin, holding a lantern that would protect them from the blizzard.
"
I will show you what this place truly means, boy."
Belial followed the Shade into the blizzard, looking around. "What exactly do you want me to see..?" The Shade responded. "
Below you."
Belial looked down. "What is this..?" Snow-covered corpses that weren't there before permeated the ground. Billions, trillions, no, a number didn't exist for it!
"What is this..?" The Shade responded. "
Those who could not make the climb or die in the blizzard cease to exist. This is simply a vision of what it would have looked like had the corpses stayed.." Belial turned to the shade, the ground returning to normal.
"
An army of the dead is what awaits you on that mountain. An army of hatred awaits you." Belial responded. "So what am I to do..?"
"
As a dead-man, I was sure you'd realize." Belial was surprised. "You knew..?" The shade nodded.
"
Death has many meanings. But in its truest form, it is a complete lack of existence. Whether its conceptual, mental, or physical. You will find nothing but pain on the climb to the top of Mount Ulric." Belial clenched his fists.
"
You will find nothing but torment at the apex of death and stagnation. The screams of those defeated will haunt you." Belial responded.
"If that's what it takes to protect my loved ones... My friends and comrades, and my family.. I'll reach the top. I'll endure the screams."
"Then make the climb."
The shade disappeared, joining the corpses that were taken by the blizzard. "You were just a remnant, huh? Thank you..."
A mountain of absurd size. It stood before him. It's height couldn't be described by any language, it's diameter, all of it exceeded what even those with the highest stamina could climb. "This is Ulric, huh..? The climb could not be made.
"Here I go." But he went. He took the first step up, and then the next, and he began to climb.
"I'm coming to save you, mom... Wait for me." Suffering awaits him during the climb. Suffering awaits anybody who make the climb.
"Let's go." He did it anyway. That was the beginning of the climb to the throne of Ulric.
