Originally Posted by
Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh
... and in the finding, Ishtar found it was nothing short of a nightmare. The massive being, otherworldly as it was unnaturally shaped, hovered menacingly outside the view of those who did not have the sense enough to perceive it; a thing perhaps for the best. For the voice it offered was sickly sweet, and for a moment Ishtar felt her thoughts slipping. Yet thanks to the response from Glacia's attacks, a sickle of Ki caught Ishtar in the back ... and in the spilling of her blood and the blossom of pain that followed the glowing-horn Oni was jolted back to painful awareness; and brought to bear her mental defense.
Oh ... is this what denizens of the Void look like, truly ?
A thing to perhaps ask Hastur, for now was not the time.
All that mattered was that this nightmare sought to take Erosa ... whatever else it was beyond that was irrelevant.
Understanding then at once what the voice meant when it spoke -- that Erosa remained alive for now, but not much longer -- killing Glacia swiftly took a backseat to saving the Id. A thing that was seemingly underway already Ishtar sensed, by Evangeline, Anula, and strangely ... that Namekian Mage, Pike; the trio struggling against the Aberrant Horror from within the Dream, that sought to claim Erosa's soul. Yet with that handled for the moment -- and beyond the scope of Ishtar's ability to influence -- it seemed all that remained to be done, was restoring its vessel ... a task by any measure, that should have fallen to Asha'rah given her proven proficiency beforehand.
... and given the Fallen Goddesses relationship to the Id, alongside the fact that this situation surely had not escaped her notice ... a thing that should have been done ages ago.
And with that realization, the Oni turned to find, the woman.
Only to see Asha'rah try and fail to strike Glacia, again, and again; with both Hakai, and Katchin.
And in the moment of finding her ... Ishtar was dumbfounded.
Regardless of whatever logic now guided Asha'rah, this was a woman who had not three months before, threatened to utterly annihilate an Aspect of Time; at the thought of Erosa dying to the point where, once it had come to pass the Oni herself had to threaten a response. Yet now, primed to happen again in a manner far worse than previously; Asha'rah was content to ignore saving her lover in favor of lashing out futiley against an opponent well on her way to dying already.
Even if Asha'rah did not see the nightmarish monstrosity pulsating with a sinister, yet ... familiar energy attempting to reclaim Erosa's soul; that a Guardian, her apprentice and a former enemy struggled against something to keep Erosa's soul on this side of things should have been clearly evident.
Yet despite this, Asha'rah had opted against aiding her lover ? Her lover ?
...
Across the telepathic network Ishtar had provided, those yet linked to her could feel her anger; and when her voice echoed across the link not a moment later, they'd understand why:
"Erosa lay dying, her soul currently torn between life, and a fate far worth than death ... yet where is Asha'rah ? Her lover, and the woman who only months before threatened the annihilation of my stepsister by means of Hakai, for even the thought of Erosa suffering harm ?
Busy !
Far too concerned with a battle nearly won, that she has left the care and saving of her lover, her lover to those who can for the moment do little more than buy time, all so that she can turn that Hakai once threatened, on yet another foe."
The 'line' fell silent a moment then, as Ishtar fumed and thought of a way to mend Erosa's ruined body, herself ... before a final word was offered those those who remained to share the link.
"... Never forget this.
Never forget the moment when Asha'rah, a Creator God ... set aside love so that she might strive only to destroy; and not only left Creation, her Creation, but her Love ... to the care of others."
And with that said, Ishtar disappeared.
For despite her anger, and the words she shared ... It had not taken her long to realize she might yet be capable of doing what Asha'rah refused to.