Jareth and Bahamut stood in the heart of the throne room, the heavy air pressing down on them as they processed everything that had just happened. The thrill of battle still hung in the air, but it was quickly overshadowed by a growing sense of helplessness. Despite having Bahamut's immense power coursing through him, Jareth felt as though he was standing on the edge of a precipice, his own strength too small to do anything against the overwhelming force of the Demon Gods around them.
I need to get stronger... much faster, Jareth thought to himself, fists clenched, his body still tense with frustration. I can't keep standing in their shadows.
But even in the depths of his anger, Jareth found himself lingering on the cryptic words spoken by Tenebris: "Power must match power. No one can intervene unless they hold the same strength." Those words felt like a puzzle to him, an enigma that tugged at the corners of his mind.
Bahamuts' voice broke through his thoughts. "You're still thinking about Tenebris' words, aren't you?" he asked, his tone almost gentle.
Jareth nodded, his brow furrowed. "Yeah. What did he mean by that? Why say something like that when it doesn't seem to make sense?"
Bahamuts took a deep breath, the weight of his centuries of experience clear in his eyes. "Tenebris... he was referring to something very old. Something that governs the balance of power between gods."
Jareth blinked, confused. "Balance of power? What do you mean?"
Bahamuts looked down, as if choosing his words carefully. "There's a law among the gods that has existed for eons: the Binding Pact. It was created to ensure that the stronger gods can't simply wipe out the weaker ones. The Pact dictates that 'power must match power.' In essence, no god can kill or overtake another unless their strength is equal."
Jareth's eyes widened as he began to understand the weight of what Bahamuts was saying. "So, if a stronger god wanted to kill a weaker one, they couldn't? It would break this pact?"
"Exactly," Bahamuts confirmed. "It's a taboo, a forbidden act that strips the violator of their divine power. But it only applies in Eden's lands. The pact only governs the powers of the gods in our world."
Jareth thought about it for a moment. "That's why the Demon Gods can't just wipe us out. They can't break the pact, right?"
"Yes," Bahamuts said, nodding solemnly. "They can't directly interfere with us outside the towers because of the pact. But inside the towers... things are different. Those towers aren't part of Eden. They're the domain of the Evil Gods."
Jareth's stomach tightened with a mix of curiosity and dread. "So the towers... they're not bound by the same rules?"
"No," Bahamuts answered, his voice tinged with sorrow. "Inside the towers, the Binding Pact doesn't apply. The Evil Gods created those towers as places where they could trap and weaken the gods, forcing us into battle. It's their domain, their power. The pact can't stop them from fighting us in there."
Jareth's eyes narrowed. "So that's why the Demon Gods didn't finish us off outside the towers. They could kill us if they wanted, but they can't break the pact."
Bahamuts' gaze hardened, a flicker of pain flashing across his face. "Exactly. The Evil Gods knew that. They created the towers to manipulate that rule. They wanted to ensure that we couldn't fight back with full strength. They want to wear us down, make us weaker, and slowly bleed us of our power."
Jareth clenched his fists, feeling a burning desire to tear down the walls that held them back. "But inside the towers, the rules change. We can fight without fear of the pact."
Bahamuts looked at him, sadness in his eyes. "Yes, but the cost is high. You can't just walk in there and expect to win. The towers drain you. They make you fight with less strength, less power, while the Evil Gods sit back and watch. They get to see us at our weakest."
Jareth stood still, processing the information. He understood now. The Demon Gods had used the towers to make sure their enemies were at a disadvantage. But it didn't matter. If the rules inside the towers were different, they would have to fight on those terms.
"What about us? What about the Godgear users?" Jareth asked, his voice firm. "How do we fit into all of this?"
Bahamuts looked at him with a hint of admiration. "The Godgear users are different. They are not true gods. The Godgear itself is a powerful tool that allows them to enter the towers and fight on even ground with the Demon Gods. The Godgear bypasses the restrictions of the Binding Pact. It doesn't make them gods, but it grants them strength—enough to challenge the Evil Gods in ways that we can't."
Jareth's heart pounded. "So the Godgear users can fight in the towers without losing their power?"
"Yes," Bahamuts replied. "The Godgear doesn't weaken them. In fact, it strengthens them. Inside the towers, the evil souls of the demons they defeat are absorbed by the Godgear and purified by the gods residing within it. The God inside the wearer cleanses the evil energy, converting it into pure power for the user."
Jareth felt a surge of excitement. "So the more demons we kill, the stronger the Godgear users become?"
Bahamuts nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "Exactly. As they defeat enemies, their strength grows. But there's no drawback, no dark consequence. The Godgear was created to cleanse the evil souls and transform that energy into strength. It's a tool that can help us turn the tide of battle."
Jareth felt a weight lift off his shoulders. This was the key to defeating the Demon Gods. If he could gather more Godgear users and lead them into the towers, they could reclaim the lands of Eden. He had to get stronger—faster—if he wanted to change the course of the war.
"What about your wife, Bahamut?" Jareth asked, his voice quieter now. "What happened to her?"
Bahamuts' expression darkened, and for a moment, he seemed lost in the past. "Her name was Seraphina. She was another Dragon God, just as fierce and proud as I am. But she was also kind, something I could never forget. We were on different battlefronts when Tenebris challenged her to a duel. I was defending another land when I got word of it. By the time I arrived, it was too late."
Jareth's heart ached as he listened to Bahamut's story. "What happened?"
"Tenebris killed her. He was consumed by rage and jealousy. He couldn't stand that she was stronger than him. My son saw it all. He saw his mother die right in front of him. And in his grief, he went after Tenebris, seeking revenge. But Tenebris tricked him, baited him into the tower. Inside, my son started to lose his power, just like any god who enters the tower. In the end... he couldn't even fight back."
Jareth felt the sorrow in Bahamut's words, understanding the depth of his loss. He'd thought his own past had been tragic, but Bahamut's pain was on another level.
"I didn't know," Jareth said softly. "I'm sorry, Bahamut. That must have been terrible."
Bahamuts gave him a sad, but understanding nod. "It's not something I speak of often. But you need to know—my son... he's still inside the Evil Gods' prison. He's lost, just like we all are. But there's still hope. We can reclaim everything we've lost, Jareth. We just have to be stronger."
Jareth's resolve hardened. "Then I'll get stronger. I'll fight, and I'll win. We'll take back Eden, and we'll free your son. I swear it."
Bahamuts placed a hand on Jareth shoulder with his astral body, a rare show of support. "I know you will, Jareth. And together, we'll make them pay for everything they've done."