Post by dans on Jun 3, 2024 11:48:41 GMT
If you are not current on the story of Kali, click the 'Spoiler' link below to reveal some information about the characters involved.
Characters
Lily Lovelace Martine: A Broadway actress with captivating beauty and undeniable talent. Her life seems to be unraveling at the seams, and she's struggling with her inner demons. By saying the magic word Rakasha, Lily can change to the superheroine Kali. As Kali, she is both powerful and conflicted, grappling with the curse that threatens to consume her.
Martin Martine: A self-employed account with a passion for ham radio. He is starting to find that Lily's discontent with her life is starting to interfere with his satisfaction with his work.
Blaze: A cunning and malevolent female demon with a sinister agenda. Blaze is the mastermind behind Lily's curse and is relentless in her pursuit of chaos and destruction.
Satanus: Blaze's sinister brother and partner in crime, Satanus is equally malevolent and shares the wicked intentions of Blaze. Together, they form a formidable duo set on unleashing havoc upon the world.
Holocaust: A magical deity who is both a force of nature and a source of fear within the other dimensional world of Goldenshore. Holocaust possesses immense power, which he wields with devastating effect. Bound by Stronglink in the Cave of Holocaust, he remains a looming threat to the magical dimension and Earth S.
The Seven Sisters of Silverwell: A group of ethereal beings who guard the magical chain Stronglink and keep Holocaust at bay. Each sister possesses unique skills, wisdom, and beauty. They are bound by their duty to protect Goldenshore but harbor a deep fear of Holocaust. Their names are: Tesvd, Bessa, Drina, Eksiset, Jenell, Wynia, Kasside.
Drina: One of the Seven Sisters of Silverwell, Drina is a beautiful and wise guardian of Goldenshore, a world in a magical dimension. She is empathetic and resourceful, seeking out Kali in her time of need and guiding her on her journey to save their world.
Ibis the Invincible: A powerful human mage who once captured Holocaust and repaired the chain Stronglink. Ibis is revered for his magical prowess and bravery in facing fearsome foes. Ibis has been missing for more than 15 years.
Slyrest: A cunning and treacherous agent sent by Blaze and Satanus on a dark mission to disrupt the peace in Shadowbleak. Slyrest underestimates the power he seeks to unleash, leaving him vulnerable to the consequences.
Behind the Curtain (1)
The bright spotlight blazed like a solitary sun, suspended in the darkened theater. The play was a musical, "The Bright Side of Darkness: A Tale of Resilience and Renewal", starring the talented Lily Lovelace Martine as Persephone Peach, a play written by her high school friend P. Eric Schwartz, who had patterned Persephone after the Lily he had known.
As the band played in the closing act, Lily's voice rose and fell with each note, her graceful movements a testament to years of dedication and hard work. Her performance radiated joy and passion, captivating the audience with every step and note. Sweat glistened on her brow, a mixture of stage lights and raw emotion. Her eyes sparkled with intensity, a tempest raging behind a calm facade. As the final notes echoed through the theater, applause erupted like a wave crashing over the footlights. But for Lily, it was just another boring performance, another insipid role she had mastered, another crowd of simpering sycophants. Lily's smile for the audience was a phony fragile thing, shattering the moment the curtain fell.
Backstage, the air hung heavy with whispers and the lingering scent of stale coffee. Seeking refuge from prying eyes, Lily retreated to her dressing room. She peeled off the sequined gown that had become a second skin, no longer fitting in more ways than one. In the vanity mirror, fleeting glimpses of her true self flashed before her - a life slipping through her fingers like water. With a sigh, she removed her stage makeup and wiped away the persona that the world adored. Lily Lovelace Martine, the star, the enigma, now facing her toughest role yet - navigating the tempest of a life unraveling, alone in the eye of the storm.
"Great performance, Lil!" Stan, the stage manager, poked his head into her dressing room. "You truly embody Persephone's character on stage! Hey, we're all heading down to Jackie's after we wrap up. Want to come along?"
Jackie's was an all-night diner just a short walk from the theater, a popular spot for Broadway casts and crews to unwind after a show. Stan wasn't expecting Lily to join in, as she had been growing more distant and moody every week while her performances as the sweet and happy Persephone grew more powerful. But he had been friends with Lily for years, and he hoped that including her in their post-show routine would help bring back the real Lily - the one now hidden behind layers of roles and masks.
"Have fun," she snorted, then turned away, as he withdrew reluctantly. "I can't believe how absolutely INSIPID Persephone is - and that anyone ever believed I used to be so like her!"
Behind the Curtain (2)
Behind a mystical veil between realms, as close as a dream yet unreachably far away, a pair of demons watched intently as the drama unfolded in the dressing room. Their eyes gleamed with a sinister anticipation, reveling in the chaos and destruction they had caused in Lily's life. Indeed, they had a name for the miserable soap opera in which Lily and her alter ego Kali starred every day: "As Her Heart Hardens".
They sat upon thrones chiseled from cold stone, adorned with intricate carvings of skulls and demons and embellished with precious jewels, a constant reminder of their dominance and cruelty. The walls of their throne room were engulfed in flames, writhing and dancing with each flicker of the demons' thoughts. Yet, the inferno caused them no harm, as it was an extension of their own beings.
Set in the center of one wall was a large magical window, currently focused on Lily's dressing room. Surrounding this grand window were countless smaller ones, each peeking into different scenes at their command. In one, a monstrous figure could be seen struggling against chains in a prison cell, its three heads snarling and glaring with malevolence. With just a fleeting thought from either demon, any scene could be seamlessly shifted to the larger window.
Sitting comfortably within their fiery domain, Blaze and Satanus observed with glee as their plan to corrupt Lily continued. The siblings appeared almost human-like, though much taller and more massive than humans, Blaze with skin red as blood and Satanus as black as space, each with long horns protruding from their foreheads like those of a longhorn steer. They boasted about their powerful heritage - a mother who was an elder demon and a father who was said to be the greatest human mage of all time.
"Your plan is finally coming to fruition, sister," Satanus rumbled reluctantly, his voice lacking its usual thunderous tone.
"Indeed, as I have always known it would," Blaze sneered triumphantly in response. "Each time she transforms into Kali, our spell only makes her darker and more twisted. Soon enough, she will overpower Shiva, our simpering father's weak creation, and join us as we unleash chaos and destruction upon the pitiful planet of Earth!"
"I have a surprise for you, sister!" Satanus announced with grandeur. "I have found us another ally, currently imprisoned but soon to be freed by my agent. Behold!"
The scene in the window shifted once again, granting them a closer look at the bound monster. With their powerful magic, Blaze and Satanus were able to see the turbulent history behind the creature before them.
Betrayal
In a the chilly dank Cave of Holocaust in a region called Shadowbleak in the other dimensional land of Goldenshore, a grotesque 3 headed being named Holocaust lay on the cold, rough rock floor, wrapped head to toe in a chain of glowing magical platinum called Stronglink, each link enchanted by the wizard Ibis the Invincible to be as strong as all the strongest link in the chain, about 20 years ago. This giant was a deity of disaster named Holocaust; when he was free, his very existence caused disasters on Earth - and the longer he was free, the more deadly the disasters grew. He was watched over by guardians, mainly The Sisters of Silverwell, 7 sisters with magical powers, and a host of non-powered attendants. Satanus caused the window to zoom in on one particular attendant, who had furtively sneaked around behind the giant when none of the others was watching him.
"This is Slyrest. I created him and sent him to the land of Shadowbleak some months ago, and he has managed to gain the confidence of Drina, the warden of all the others."
Slyrest was carrying a glowing platinum key that matched the links of the chain, which was clasped behind the middle of the giant's back with a similarly glowing padlock. He surreptitiously slipped the key into the lock and twisted it triumphantly, just as several of the sisters noticed and yelled at him to stop. But the lock snapped open. Holocaust roared in triumph, and began squirming and rolling around violently, trying to loosen the chain. Slyrest didn't even have time to shout before the giant crushed him to paste - and then Holocaust was free!
"We have to get help!" one of the guardian sisters screamed at another. "Drina, we'll do our best to hold him but we can't do it alone. We need Earth's assistance! Try contacting Ibis again!"
Drina, a blonde woman wearing an ankle length green Grecian chiton robe that left her shoulders and arms bare, her hair held up in a knot by a green cloth headband, nodded reluctantly. "I go, sister Tesvd! But I shall return quickly with help!"
Back in their fiery lair, the demons shared a fiery high five. But Satanus wasn't finished yet. "One more embellishment!" As Drina waved her hand and vanished, Satanus snapped his fingers. "You will LOVE what comes next!"
Kali to the Rescue
Lily marched toward the back door of the theater, deliberately avoiding the crowd of fawning fans she knew would inevitably be waiting for her at the front entrance. Few of the cast or crew cared to talk to her, and she snarled at those who did. Behind her back she could hear the jealous, resentful whispers, of 'diva' or 'witch', their whispers like venomous snakes ready to strike, but she didn't care. She was a star, and stars didn't waste their time on such trivialities. They could say what they wanted, but they would never dare say it to her face!
She let the door slam shut behind her and stood in the small private street behind the theater. She glanced around and saw no one, though despite being alone in this quiet alleyway, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched or judged. But even if she were being watched, she no longer cared.
She composed herself and said her magic word - “Rakasha”.
Although there was no one around to hear her, long-time readers might detect a hint of desperation in her voice, a far cry from her once confident and commanding declaration of power.
A geyser of fire erupted from the ground, enveloping Lily in a fiery inferno of red and yellow flames that licked at the air, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding buildings. Dark, oily smoke shrouded her, twisting and dancing in the air, suffocating and sinister in its presence. Dimly visible through the greasy smoke, a shrouded figure writhed in seeming agony, growing larger and darker until it was no longer recognizable as Lily. Lily was gone, submerged beneath the tides of transformation. In her place stood Kali, embodying the storm, commanding the fury, a superheroine whose presence promised both salvation and destruction in the same breath. Kali, 'the World's Most Magnificent Woman', a majestic and otherworldly being, with four arms, blood red hair and coal-black skin, adorned in a regal dress of golden links with a silver belt, a diamond skull as the buckle. Strappy sandals made of golden cloth adorned her feet, and a circlet of gold kept her fiery hair out of her face. Her friendly brown eyes had been replaced by raging yellow flames, flickering and dancing in the darkness.
"You are not Ibis!" A woman's voice pierced the air with disappointment and urgency.
Kali whipped around, her eyes scanning for the source of the voice. She spotted a stranger, a blonde woman dressed in a flowing green robe. Readers will recognize her as Drina, the guardian of the Cave of Holocaust in the realm of Goldenshore.
"Can you assist me in locating Ibis? My people need him to recapture Holocaust, the God of Destruction before he ravages our lands, and then destroys your Earth as well!" she asked anxiously.
Kali's expression twisted into a snarl as she looked down at Drina, who stood tall and unwavering despite the immense power radiating from the World’s Most Magnificent Woman. "Of course I am not that feeble pretender, Ibis! I am Kali, the sole Goddess of Destruction," she declared.
Drina remained unflinching from Kali's hostility - she faced down the malice of Holocaust every day! "If Holocaust escapes from my sisters, both our worlds will be destroyed. I must find Ibis," she asserted, floating up off the ground with her arms outstretched.
Despite her initial attempt to intimidate Drina, Kali couldn't help but feel curious about Holocaust, who also claimed the power of divine destruction. She felt slighted that Drina dismissed her so easily while fearing another being who shared similar abilities. "Fool! Ibis disappeared over a decade ago," she snapped. "There is no one who can help you find him. But I am intrigued to meet someone foolish enough to claim my role as their own. Take me to this...Holocaust, and I will destroy him!" she demanded harshly.
"I have no other choice," Drina responded uncertainly. "I do not have time to search for Ibis or any other hero. I hope you can aid us." With a flick of her wrist and a swirl of energy, the two women were momentarily encompassed by a glowing circle before disappearing from the street altogether.
The Cave of Holocaust
In a burst of magical energy, Drina and Kali materialized in the heart of the Cave of Holocaust, located in the dimension of Goldenshore.
The air was thick with swirling, choking dust, a chaotic storm stirred up by the ongoing battle between Holocaust and Drina's sisters and the other attendants. The colossal 3-headed monster known as Holocaust shook the ground with its deafening roar, while the sounds of exploding stone and the desperate battle cries of humans filled their ears. Holocaust thrashed about in the center of the cave, his piercing red eyes filled with a fiery rage. Surrounding him were the Sisters of Silverwell, their faces contorted in concentration as they used their magic to try to restrain the beast. But it was a losing battle. With each powerful blow, Holocaust shattered the walls of the cave, causing debris to rain down on the guardians.
One head of the monster was a bleached white skull, its empty eye sockets shooting out black beams that disintegrated anything in their path. Attendants and rocks alike exploded into nothingness, sending deadly shards of stone flying through the air. Another head spat tongues of scorching flames, leaving behind charred remains in its wake. The Guardian sisters were using their powerful magic to protect themselves and their human attendants, but it seemed like a futile effort against the overwhelming strength of Holocaust.
"You must stop this creature while I aid my sisters and protect those who are still alive!" Drina implored Kali urgently.
Despite the devastation and destruction surrounding her, Kali couldn't help feeling a sense of familiarity - after all, Kali, her namesake, is the deity of destruction. And she was filled with fury at the audacity of this _pretender_ trying to claim ownership over HER domain: Destruction. With determination burning in her eyes, Kali vowed to put an end to Holocaust's rampage.
She launched herself at Holocaust; her thunderous voice rang out, crackling with her furious energy, sharp and commanding. “Pretender! Turn and face the TRUE Goddess of Destruction! Turn and face… KALI!” She was a force of nature, a divine embodiment of chaos and power, and nothing could stand in her way.
Drina felt a surged of panic as she frantically wrapped all the humans in the care in a protective magical shield - would she be in time to save any of them?
“Sisters! We must flee! Return to Shadowbleak!” Drina’s magically-enhanced voice spoke into the ears of her sisters. “My hero will stop Holocaust; we must save everyone we can!” With an instant melding of their powers, they and the human attendants vanished from the cave. And just in time!
With the force of a thousand avalanches, Kali slammed into Holocaust, their bodies colliding with a deafening boom. The sheer power of the impact sent shockwaves through the cavern, causing the walls to tremble and dust to rain from the ceiling. With a mighty crash, the roof caved in, burying the twin Deities of Devastation under an avalanche of shattered granite and debris.
Characters
Lily Lovelace Martine: A Broadway actress with captivating beauty and undeniable talent. Her life seems to be unraveling at the seams, and she's struggling with her inner demons. By saying the magic word Rakasha, Lily can change to the superheroine Kali. As Kali, she is both powerful and conflicted, grappling with the curse that threatens to consume her.
Martin Martine: A self-employed account with a passion for ham radio. He is starting to find that Lily's discontent with her life is starting to interfere with his satisfaction with his work.
Blaze: A cunning and malevolent female demon with a sinister agenda. Blaze is the mastermind behind Lily's curse and is relentless in her pursuit of chaos and destruction.
Satanus: Blaze's sinister brother and partner in crime, Satanus is equally malevolent and shares the wicked intentions of Blaze. Together, they form a formidable duo set on unleashing havoc upon the world.
Holocaust: A magical deity who is both a force of nature and a source of fear within the other dimensional world of Goldenshore. Holocaust possesses immense power, which he wields with devastating effect. Bound by Stronglink in the Cave of Holocaust, he remains a looming threat to the magical dimension and Earth S.
The Seven Sisters of Silverwell: A group of ethereal beings who guard the magical chain Stronglink and keep Holocaust at bay. Each sister possesses unique skills, wisdom, and beauty. They are bound by their duty to protect Goldenshore but harbor a deep fear of Holocaust. Their names are: Tesvd, Bessa, Drina, Eksiset, Jenell, Wynia, Kasside.
Drina: One of the Seven Sisters of Silverwell, Drina is a beautiful and wise guardian of Goldenshore, a world in a magical dimension. She is empathetic and resourceful, seeking out Kali in her time of need and guiding her on her journey to save their world.
Ibis the Invincible: A powerful human mage who once captured Holocaust and repaired the chain Stronglink. Ibis is revered for his magical prowess and bravery in facing fearsome foes. Ibis has been missing for more than 15 years.
Slyrest: A cunning and treacherous agent sent by Blaze and Satanus on a dark mission to disrupt the peace in Shadowbleak. Slyrest underestimates the power he seeks to unleash, leaving him vulnerable to the consequences.
| If you are not familiar with Shiva and Kali, here are links to every story in which they appear, or which mention them by name, roughly in chronological order: 1953: The New Kid 1955: The Three Blakes 1956: Right and Magic 1958: The Birth of Kali 1959: Fun Times Four in Chicago 1961: Origin of the Super Squad 1962: Super Sisters of the Caribbean 1964: A Halloween Hullabaloo 1969: Deity of Destruction 1970: Disaster in the Meadowlands 1972: Not With a Bang 1970: Shiva’s Last Case 1984: The Return of the Ghast 1985: Shiva and Kali 1986: Black Adam Strikes Back 1986: Challenge of Shazam 1986: Ultraman and the Star Patrol 1987: Representatives 1987: Crisis Over Earth-S 1987: The Books of Magic: Changeling Unmasked 1987: The Infernal Return of Slaughter Slade 1987: Magic and Demons and Ghouls, Oh My! 1987: The Books of Magic #7: Taking Flight 1987: Adventure on Founder's Day! |
Deity of Destruction
The bright spotlight blazed like a solitary sun, suspended in the darkened theater. The play was a musical, "The Bright Side of Darkness: A Tale of Resilience and Renewal", starring the talented Lily Lovelace Martine as Persephone Peach, a play written by her high school friend P. Eric Schwartz, who had patterned Persephone after the Lily he had known.
As the band played in the closing act, Lily's voice rose and fell with each note, her graceful movements a testament to years of dedication and hard work. Her performance radiated joy and passion, captivating the audience with every step and note. Sweat glistened on her brow, a mixture of stage lights and raw emotion. Her eyes sparkled with intensity, a tempest raging behind a calm facade. As the final notes echoed through the theater, applause erupted like a wave crashing over the footlights. But for Lily, it was just another boring performance, another insipid role she had mastered, another crowd of simpering sycophants. Lily's smile for the audience was a phony fragile thing, shattering the moment the curtain fell.
Backstage, the air hung heavy with whispers and the lingering scent of stale coffee. Seeking refuge from prying eyes, Lily retreated to her dressing room. She peeled off the sequined gown that had become a second skin, no longer fitting in more ways than one. In the vanity mirror, fleeting glimpses of her true self flashed before her - a life slipping through her fingers like water. With a sigh, she removed her stage makeup and wiped away the persona that the world adored. Lily Lovelace Martine, the star, the enigma, now facing her toughest role yet - navigating the tempest of a life unraveling, alone in the eye of the storm.
"Great performance, Lil!" Stan, the stage manager, poked his head into her dressing room. "You truly embody Persephone's character on stage! Hey, we're all heading down to Jackie's after we wrap up. Want to come along?"
Jackie's was an all-night diner just a short walk from the theater, a popular spot for Broadway casts and crews to unwind after a show. Stan wasn't expecting Lily to join in, as she had been growing more distant and moody every week while her performances as the sweet and happy Persephone grew more powerful. But he had been friends with Lily for years, and he hoped that including her in their post-show routine would help bring back the real Lily - the one now hidden behind layers of roles and masks.
"Have fun," she snorted, then turned away, as he withdrew reluctantly. "I can't believe how absolutely INSIPID Persephone is - and that anyone ever believed I used to be so like her!"
Behind the Curtain (2)
Behind a mystical veil between realms, as close as a dream yet unreachably far away, a pair of demons watched intently as the drama unfolded in the dressing room. Their eyes gleamed with a sinister anticipation, reveling in the chaos and destruction they had caused in Lily's life. Indeed, they had a name for the miserable soap opera in which Lily and her alter ego Kali starred every day: "As Her Heart Hardens".
They sat upon thrones chiseled from cold stone, adorned with intricate carvings of skulls and demons and embellished with precious jewels, a constant reminder of their dominance and cruelty. The walls of their throne room were engulfed in flames, writhing and dancing with each flicker of the demons' thoughts. Yet, the inferno caused them no harm, as it was an extension of their own beings.
Set in the center of one wall was a large magical window, currently focused on Lily's dressing room. Surrounding this grand window were countless smaller ones, each peeking into different scenes at their command. In one, a monstrous figure could be seen struggling against chains in a prison cell, its three heads snarling and glaring with malevolence. With just a fleeting thought from either demon, any scene could be seamlessly shifted to the larger window.
Sitting comfortably within their fiery domain, Blaze and Satanus observed with glee as their plan to corrupt Lily continued. The siblings appeared almost human-like, though much taller and more massive than humans, Blaze with skin red as blood and Satanus as black as space, each with long horns protruding from their foreheads like those of a longhorn steer. They boasted about their powerful heritage - a mother who was an elder demon and a father who was said to be the greatest human mage of all time.
"Your plan is finally coming to fruition, sister," Satanus rumbled reluctantly, his voice lacking its usual thunderous tone.
"Indeed, as I have always known it would," Blaze sneered triumphantly in response. "Each time she transforms into Kali, our spell only makes her darker and more twisted. Soon enough, she will overpower Shiva, our simpering father's weak creation, and join us as we unleash chaos and destruction upon the pitiful planet of Earth!"
"I have a surprise for you, sister!" Satanus announced with grandeur. "I have found us another ally, currently imprisoned but soon to be freed by my agent. Behold!"
The scene in the window shifted once again, granting them a closer look at the bound monster. With their powerful magic, Blaze and Satanus were able to see the turbulent history behind the creature before them.
Betrayal
In a the chilly dank Cave of Holocaust in a region called Shadowbleak in the other dimensional land of Goldenshore, a grotesque 3 headed being named Holocaust lay on the cold, rough rock floor, wrapped head to toe in a chain of glowing magical platinum called Stronglink, each link enchanted by the wizard Ibis the Invincible to be as strong as all the strongest link in the chain, about 20 years ago. This giant was a deity of disaster named Holocaust; when he was free, his very existence caused disasters on Earth - and the longer he was free, the more deadly the disasters grew. He was watched over by guardians, mainly The Sisters of Silverwell, 7 sisters with magical powers, and a host of non-powered attendants. Satanus caused the window to zoom in on one particular attendant, who had furtively sneaked around behind the giant when none of the others was watching him.
"This is Slyrest. I created him and sent him to the land of Shadowbleak some months ago, and he has managed to gain the confidence of Drina, the warden of all the others."
Slyrest was carrying a glowing platinum key that matched the links of the chain, which was clasped behind the middle of the giant's back with a similarly glowing padlock. He surreptitiously slipped the key into the lock and twisted it triumphantly, just as several of the sisters noticed and yelled at him to stop. But the lock snapped open. Holocaust roared in triumph, and began squirming and rolling around violently, trying to loosen the chain. Slyrest didn't even have time to shout before the giant crushed him to paste - and then Holocaust was free!
"We have to get help!" one of the guardian sisters screamed at another. "Drina, we'll do our best to hold him but we can't do it alone. We need Earth's assistance! Try contacting Ibis again!"
Drina, a blonde woman wearing an ankle length green Grecian chiton robe that left her shoulders and arms bare, her hair held up in a knot by a green cloth headband, nodded reluctantly. "I go, sister Tesvd! But I shall return quickly with help!"
Back in their fiery lair, the demons shared a fiery high five. But Satanus wasn't finished yet. "One more embellishment!" As Drina waved her hand and vanished, Satanus snapped his fingers. "You will LOVE what comes next!"
Kali to the Rescue
Lily marched toward the back door of the theater, deliberately avoiding the crowd of fawning fans she knew would inevitably be waiting for her at the front entrance. Few of the cast or crew cared to talk to her, and she snarled at those who did. Behind her back she could hear the jealous, resentful whispers, of 'diva' or 'witch', their whispers like venomous snakes ready to strike, but she didn't care. She was a star, and stars didn't waste their time on such trivialities. They could say what they wanted, but they would never dare say it to her face!
She let the door slam shut behind her and stood in the small private street behind the theater. She glanced around and saw no one, though despite being alone in this quiet alleyway, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched or judged. But even if she were being watched, she no longer cared.
She composed herself and said her magic word - “Rakasha”.
Although there was no one around to hear her, long-time readers might detect a hint of desperation in her voice, a far cry from her once confident and commanding declaration of power.
A geyser of fire erupted from the ground, enveloping Lily in a fiery inferno of red and yellow flames that licked at the air, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding buildings. Dark, oily smoke shrouded her, twisting and dancing in the air, suffocating and sinister in its presence. Dimly visible through the greasy smoke, a shrouded figure writhed in seeming agony, growing larger and darker until it was no longer recognizable as Lily. Lily was gone, submerged beneath the tides of transformation. In her place stood Kali, embodying the storm, commanding the fury, a superheroine whose presence promised both salvation and destruction in the same breath. Kali, 'the World's Most Magnificent Woman', a majestic and otherworldly being, with four arms, blood red hair and coal-black skin, adorned in a regal dress of golden links with a silver belt, a diamond skull as the buckle. Strappy sandals made of golden cloth adorned her feet, and a circlet of gold kept her fiery hair out of her face. Her friendly brown eyes had been replaced by raging yellow flames, flickering and dancing in the darkness.
"You are not Ibis!" A woman's voice pierced the air with disappointment and urgency.
Kali whipped around, her eyes scanning for the source of the voice. She spotted a stranger, a blonde woman dressed in a flowing green robe. Readers will recognize her as Drina, the guardian of the Cave of Holocaust in the realm of Goldenshore.
"Can you assist me in locating Ibis? My people need him to recapture Holocaust, the God of Destruction before he ravages our lands, and then destroys your Earth as well!" she asked anxiously.
Kali's expression twisted into a snarl as she looked down at Drina, who stood tall and unwavering despite the immense power radiating from the World’s Most Magnificent Woman. "Of course I am not that feeble pretender, Ibis! I am Kali, the sole Goddess of Destruction," she declared.
Drina remained unflinching from Kali's hostility - she faced down the malice of Holocaust every day! "If Holocaust escapes from my sisters, both our worlds will be destroyed. I must find Ibis," she asserted, floating up off the ground with her arms outstretched.
Despite her initial attempt to intimidate Drina, Kali couldn't help but feel curious about Holocaust, who also claimed the power of divine destruction. She felt slighted that Drina dismissed her so easily while fearing another being who shared similar abilities. "Fool! Ibis disappeared over a decade ago," she snapped. "There is no one who can help you find him. But I am intrigued to meet someone foolish enough to claim my role as their own. Take me to this...Holocaust, and I will destroy him!" she demanded harshly.
"I have no other choice," Drina responded uncertainly. "I do not have time to search for Ibis or any other hero. I hope you can aid us." With a flick of her wrist and a swirl of energy, the two women were momentarily encompassed by a glowing circle before disappearing from the street altogether.
The Cave of Holocaust
In a burst of magical energy, Drina and Kali materialized in the heart of the Cave of Holocaust, located in the dimension of Goldenshore.
The air was thick with swirling, choking dust, a chaotic storm stirred up by the ongoing battle between Holocaust and Drina's sisters and the other attendants. The colossal 3-headed monster known as Holocaust shook the ground with its deafening roar, while the sounds of exploding stone and the desperate battle cries of humans filled their ears. Holocaust thrashed about in the center of the cave, his piercing red eyes filled with a fiery rage. Surrounding him were the Sisters of Silverwell, their faces contorted in concentration as they used their magic to try to restrain the beast. But it was a losing battle. With each powerful blow, Holocaust shattered the walls of the cave, causing debris to rain down on the guardians.
One head of the monster was a bleached white skull, its empty eye sockets shooting out black beams that disintegrated anything in their path. Attendants and rocks alike exploded into nothingness, sending deadly shards of stone flying through the air. Another head spat tongues of scorching flames, leaving behind charred remains in its wake. The Guardian sisters were using their powerful magic to protect themselves and their human attendants, but it seemed like a futile effort against the overwhelming strength of Holocaust.
"You must stop this creature while I aid my sisters and protect those who are still alive!" Drina implored Kali urgently.
Despite the devastation and destruction surrounding her, Kali couldn't help feeling a sense of familiarity - after all, Kali, her namesake, is the deity of destruction. And she was filled with fury at the audacity of this _pretender_ trying to claim ownership over HER domain: Destruction. With determination burning in her eyes, Kali vowed to put an end to Holocaust's rampage.
She launched herself at Holocaust; her thunderous voice rang out, crackling with her furious energy, sharp and commanding. “Pretender! Turn and face the TRUE Goddess of Destruction! Turn and face… KALI!” She was a force of nature, a divine embodiment of chaos and power, and nothing could stand in her way.
Drina felt a surged of panic as she frantically wrapped all the humans in the care in a protective magical shield - would she be in time to save any of them?
“Sisters! We must flee! Return to Shadowbleak!” Drina’s magically-enhanced voice spoke into the ears of her sisters. “My hero will stop Holocaust; we must save everyone we can!” With an instant melding of their powers, they and the human attendants vanished from the cave. And just in time!
With the force of a thousand avalanches, Kali slammed into Holocaust, their bodies colliding with a deafening boom. The sheer power of the impact sent shockwaves through the cavern, causing the walls to tremble and dust to rain from the ceiling. With a mighty crash, the roof caved in, burying the twin Deities of Devastation under an avalanche of shattered granite and debris.
