Temperature fluctuated wildly—sweltering heat one moment, a more intense heat the next—coloring the plane in with multicolored light.
Plants withered and crumbled to dust while the ground beneath cracked.
The climate itself was malfunctioning.
Lesser demons and devils present in the plane were all tumbling through the air like leaves in storm.
All these intense presence that consumed everything was as a result of the Dracogon making his way downward.
Even Hollow, who wasn't present in the physical plane but rather inside Ryder's soul, could feel it.
"I guess this is where the whole story changes. I am afraid I won't be letting you go from my grasp, even if it means battling the Dracogon." Hollow spoke inside Ryder's mind, slowly disintegrated into particles and flowed away until he disappeared.
There was something Ryder noticed in the demon monarch's mental voice but what exactly it was was still hard to tell. Was it uneasiness, or perhaps... concern?
No, that couldn't be right. Demon monarchs didn't feel concern, especially not when they are the strongest. But if he is, then the Dracogon ought to be terrifying even to think of.
Following Hollow, Ryder felt the world around fading shortly after Hollow disappeared.
The world was breaking into particles just like Hollow's body; he was clearly exiting his soul space as well.
Then, with a sensation like a stretched rubber band forcefully snapping back to shape, he was thrust back into the plane where he was.
Opening his eyes, he was met with the greatest transition he've ever seen. The seemingly beautiful landscape once more with greenery, flowers, trees, and sweet, calm breeze he was suppose to see... were gone.
Instead, the horizon was even worse than the Dracogon dead plane he and Luxy left.
The light radiating around the entire plane now was orange, as if they stood inside an enormous blaze.
"W-What is this presence?" Ryder stuttered. "It feels like it's calling me."
The call was wordless, yet Ryder could decipher it.
Appearing out of nowhere was Hollow.
One moment there was nothing but shimmering air; the next, Hollow stood before Ryder, his suddenly materialized.
Gone was his usually casual posture. He stood rigid and tense, his feet planted firmly apart, his fists clenched tightly.
And his predatory eyes reflected the orange glow—not his own aura, but that of the Dracogon's that had transformed the horizon.
"The one who helped us realize how special you are is currently in this plane."
Hollow's voice carried no emotion. His gaze never left the burning horizon, not even when addressing Ryder directly.
"I never needed you to tell me that," Ryder retorted. "My body and soul can already translate our cur…"
Vwwoooooooo!
Suddenly, right before their eyes, the entire landscape was reduced to a smooth, leveled land. The rocks, the mountains, and the buildings all disappeared in a flash, due to a sudden burst of force as the intruder approached.
The shockwave that followed knocked Ryder back three steps despite all the strength he had gained from Luxy.
He felt a nosebleed start, the warm trickle of blood toward his lips.
Just like how he felt powerless when he first met Luxy, he was feeling the same now.
Back then, he knew that should have been the case, after all, he was a mere human. But now, he shouldn't have felt so weak... How strong does something have to be to make him feel such way.
The Dracogon's real body that had descended to the surface was now right within their field of view.
All the devils in the plane panicked, running around chaotically.
Lesser demons ran around disorganized in every direction, some took flight into the air, colliding with each other in their haste to escape, some others who didn't possess wings clawed at the ground, attempting to dig their way to safety.
Ryder took a step backward; even Luxy hopped behind him and peeked over his legs.
Even Hollow wasn't radiating such an aura, despite being a demon monarch, just like the Dracogon.
In truth, Hollow never exuded an aura of heaviness at all. He was terrifying only due to his tone, his composure, and the way he acted, not his aura.
"Come forth, fellow monarch. Let's settle this once and for all."
Vwwoooooooom!
The Dracogon stood on two feet instead of four, as Ryder had expected. Not only did he have draconic features, but he also had a demonic appearance.
Its dominant stance gave it an unsettlingly humanoid aspect that somehow made it more terrifying than a traditional dragon would have been.
Its eyes were empty, with only raging flames burning without a source inside. His mouth had no tongue or organs, only teeth and an endless burning flame down its throat.
He stood as a literal giant, nearly twenty feet tall in height.
His sharp claws on his long limbs scraped the ground. Overall, his aura made it impossible for anyone in his field of view to breathe in or out.
"Hollow," the Dracogon called in an elongated, husky tone.
"Hollow..."
"Hollow..."
"Will you say something already? I'm tired of hearing my name." Hollow yawned and smacked his mouth nonchalantly.
"Hollow..."
"You... You dare?" The Dracogon ignored Hollow completely, continuing. "How dare you get in my way?"
"You've got some nerve trying to steal my host."
Hollow smiled, his sharp teeth on display. "You should've said that from the start instead of calling my name over and over, dummy."
"You see, punk, no one gives a damn about anything in the Astral Shadow Plane. We take what's best for us as quickly as possible before we lose it, it doesn't matter who owns it."
"You've lived long enough to know this yourself. I can't keep lecturing you on general knowledge."
"You see that host over there? He isn't yours anymore." Hollow pointed at Ryder, causing him to flinch.
'Damn it! You're having your conversation, don't involve me please!' Ryder screamed inwardly.
"That host belongs to whoever lays their hands on him first, before anyone else and I did."
'No you didn't, I did.' Luxy wished he could say this aloud, but he didn't dare to interfere in a conversation between two monarchs.
"After so many years that felt like eternity Dracogon, you finally found a vessel that could hold a demon, and yet you wasted your precious time testing and assessing him, only to let it slip out of your grasp. How foolish." Hollow clenched his fist and took a fighting stance.
"Is this all you have to say to justify not feeling like a thief?" The Dracogon spoke in his usual malicious, elongated tone. "You think you can convince me to follow your mentality?"
"Unfortunately, Hollow, I think I'll have to remind you, and all the other monarchs, why they shouldn't involve themselves in my business."
The Dracogon puffed out smoke from his mouth.
"I won't sugarcoat my words, Hollow. I'll be giving you an unfriendly reminder."
Turning his head slightly, Hollow observed. Just as he had hoped, all the creatures from his plane were disappearing one after another, evacuating the plane, just like Luxy did to the Dracogon's plane. They were all using self-banishment.
Hollow nearly breathed out a sigh of relief, he didn't want them to be caught up in the confrontation he was having with Dracogon.
'More than half of the creatures in this plane have migrated to another plane,' Hollow thought inwardly as a sudden, small burst of blue, flame-like aura exploded over his hands.
"I guess I can go all out now."
The Dracogon's claws dangled as the heat pressure increased in the air.
The declaration of battle doesn't always need to be spoken. The actions of Hollow and Dracogon already made it clear that a battle of pure chaos was about to unfold.