★282
ACAMAR POV
Millions of years after the Rebellion.
Just when we're going through our healing phase, an uninvited portal cracked open at the centre of the Pond. This was the first time someone stormed into the sacred Realm.
Our guess, the Dark Stars. And so the Omni wasted no time and headed out first. I took the safety measures needed before I joined them.
I noticed those three familiar signatures as well, including a foreign one, so I was curious. Upon arrival, the Dark Nebulas, as they called themselves, were all assembled and pissed at that point.
Mors seemed to wear a complete armour. If one doesn't know her true identity, they'll mistake them for a guy.
Kenos was expressionless, and Phoenix was annoyed but unlike Mors, whose annoyance was radiating as a deadly aura. Last was Algol. He has grown stronger from the faint aura he's emitting.
On the other hand, the Omni maintained neutral expressions, though a subtle unease rippled through them at the arrival of the newcomers.
At the centre stood a man dressed entirely in black. His long hair shimmered somewhere between white and silver, never settling on either shade.
Three horns adorned his head, two on the left, one on the right. He stood calm, with the Dark Nebulas arrayed behind him and the Supernovas standing in formation before him.
"Here to finish what you started?"
Belenos asked, her aura leaking slowly. Based on the formation, anyone would've thought the newcomer was with them.
"If we had this beast chained, the World's destruction would've been inevitable a long time ago."
Phoenix replied.
'So they don't have it under control? Could it be?'
"Your foul existence isn't needed here."
Algol snarled and unleashed a roaring blast of void straight at the figure.
The attack carved through the air like a collapsing singularity, yet the figure merely raised a hand and brushed it aside. The beam ricocheted harmlessly, redirecting toward the Drops.
Before it could make contact, I released my power, Yuánlì and my Essereos now fully intertwined, forming a colossal whirlpool that devoured the void beam in an instant.
"I will not permit any destruction."
I said coldly, my voice echoing with authority that rippled through the Drops.
"As the Second said, this entity doesn't belong here. It doesn't belong in this Layer entirely."
'They know about the Layers, too?'
I never told them about it, and I doubt the Star God did. If not, he's one of the few with the knowledge.
"I'll cut to the chase. We need your help in subduing this monster. It wiped out all the Dark Dimensions in a single sweep, neutralising hundreds of millions of Dark Stars. It was heading for the World of Darkness, that's when we pursued it."
Phoenix interjected.
'So they too have their own World System?'
I'm surprised yet curious, even though I know they're currently in the Abyss.
"It's pretty much the same thing you voidlings did millions of years ago."
Elara answered, her usual personality gone
"We...."
"Q... Q... Quantum Quake... Destroyer of Realities..."
It spoke, its distorted voice cutting through Phoenix's words.
In the next instant, it spread its arms wide as a strange byzantium colored substance began to coalesce around it, vibrating with unstable frequency.
[[IMAGE]]
[[IMAGE]]
I froze, analysing the formation, its energy signatures defied every known pattern, because it's not Yuánlì-based or part of the system. Before I could react, it fired the blast backwards without even turning.
Mors was the first to move, swinging Absolith in a desperate counter as the Byzantium force tore through space itself.
"Arc of Severance."
The arc raced forward, but before it could reach the oncoming blast of byzantium substance, it was disintegrated as if erased from view.
Phoenix's Mirror of Reflection rose instinctively to shield them, yet it shattered instantly upon contact, the reflection collapsing in a ripple of fractured light. Kenos had already anticipated it; he vanished in a flicker of darkness, evading the detonation.
Only Algol remained in its path. Gritting his teeth, God's Wrath activated, releasing a blinding torrent of Sacred Yuánlì energy to counter the byzantium surge. The collision birthed a cataclysmic resonance, but in that single reckless heartbeat, Algol made a fatal mistake.
He charged straight through the explosion, intending to punch through the core. The alien blast had already consumed the Yuánlì-energy blast. All that awaited him was pure annihilation.
The impact erupted, reality convulsing around the detonation. When the dust settled, Algol stood unmoving amid the distortion, his right arm gone, regeneration crawling at a snail's pace as the residual byzantium continued to gnaw at his non-essence
"Grace from Heaven."
In Belenos' attack, Yuánlì danced according to her spell, and four magic circles appeared with Quantum Quake at the centre, and all four bathed his being with Sacred Yuánlì light.
"That'll do it."
Belenos took note and appeared right before the entity, her gaze locking onto its masked face. She tried to peer through it, straight into its eyes, but the moment their vision met, her Essereos froze. Paralysis crept through her being; she couldn't even blink.
I closed the distance in an instant, placing my hand atop its head, ready to teleport it away. However, it moved faster than anticipated, faster than the zero-time-lag instant teleportation. With a single sweeping motion, its arm struck my side, the force cracking the 'bones'.
I regained my footing midair, focus sharpening. Before it could follow up, a Yuánlì Vortex manifested at my command, its spiral edge slicing clean through space, severing the creature's arm just before it could retract.
"It's futile. One-on-one isn't the solution."
Phoenix noted. As much as I hate to team up with them, we had no choice.
"For the sake of the Star Realm and for our creator. Let's take this monster where it belongs."
I commanded, and we attacked all at once.
We had to cooperate. We may be at odds with the Dark Stars, but this is personal. We can't let this thing best us in our home, right beneath our creator. Our pride will never allow that.
The fierce seven-on-one battle erupted, shaking the very plane we stood upon.
To be continued...