Azarel sprinted through the burning streets with his sword clenched tightly in his hand. Every demon that crossed his path was slain instantly. Smoke filled the air around him, while distant explosions continued shaking the ruined city. His eyes remained fixed ahead as he desperately searched for any sign of his sons. Every passing moment made the fear inside him grow stronger. Then, through the smoke, he finally saw him.
Daeron stood several yards away among the destruction. His knees looked like they could buckle at any moment. His clothes were torn and covered in dust, while blood stained his body from the battle. His shoulders hung heavily and exhaustion had completely taken hold of him. Tears continued flowing down his face as he stared toward the destruction surrounding him.
Azarel immediately dropped his sword and rushed toward his son. He pulled Daeron into his arms without hesitation. He held him tightly as the young prince finally stopped fighting his exhaustion. Daeron's body trembled against him and for several seconds, neither father nor son said anything. They simply stood together while the sounds of battle continued raging around them.
"I failed," Daeron finally whispered, his voice breaking under the weight of the battle. "I couldn't stop him. I couldn't protect everyone."
Azarel tightened his embrace and shook his head. "No, Daeron. You didn't fail." His voice remained firm despite the pain he could see in his son's eyes. "You helped save people when everything around you was falling apart. You stood against something that should have killed you, and you kept fighting."
Daeron slowly pulled away, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. His breathing remained uneven as he looked toward his father, struggling to find the words he needed to say.
"But Vilor..."
Azarel's expression immediately changed when he heard the name. "Vilor. Where is he?"
Daeron looked down toward the bloodstained ground, unable to meet his father's eyes. The memory was still too painful. He struggled to force the words from his mouth. Finally, he took a shaky breath and spoke.
"Zavala ordered a kill strike."
Azarel's jaw tightened as Daeron continued.
"The ships... He was in them and... And..." Daeron's voice trembled as tears began falling again. "I couldn't stop the attack."
Azarel's expression immediately changed. "What happened?"
Daeron struggled to steady his breathing as the memory returned. "The transports were carrying everyone we managed to save. I told him to go. I thought I could give them ten minutes."
His voice broke as he continued. "Then Zavala ordered the demons to destroy them."
Azarel stared at him, already fearing the answer.
"Vilor was on one of them," Daeron said. "The transport was destroyed before anyone could do anything."
Silence fell between them.
Daeron lowered his head as tears continued falling. "He was killed with everyone else."
Azarel closed his eyes for a moment, absorbing the loss of someone who had stood beside his family for years. When he opened them again, the grief remained, but so did his resolve.
"Vilor gave his life protecting our people," Azarel said quietly. "His final act was making sure they had a chance to escape."
Daeron shook his head. "But I couldn't save him."
Azarel placed his hands on his son's shoulders and looked directly into his eyes.
"You were never supposed to save everyone, Daeron," he said. "You were supposed to keep fighting for those you could save."
Daeron's expression broke again and Azarel pulled him into another embrace as the burning streets continued around them. Deep down, Azarel was hurting. The pain struck him deeper than any sword ever could. Tears began building in his eyes, but he fought them back. He could not show weakness now, not while Daeron needed him. Every part of him wanted to mourn Vilor, to allow himself a moment to understand the loss, but he knew that moment would have to wait. His son was standing before him completely broken and Azarel refused to let him face that pain alone.
Memories flooded Azarel's mind, arriving all at once as he stood there holding his son. He remembered the very first moment Vilor was born. He and his family had gathered around the newborn with smiles across their faces. The happiness of that day remained vivid in his memory. It had been untouched by the years of war and responsibility that followed.
He remembered watching Vilor grow into the energetic young boy he became. He would always find some new way to get himself into trouble. Vilor had a talent for annoying everyone around him, often leaving Azarel wondering what his son would find to break or disturb next. Yet those moments had always brought laughter into their home, even when they tested his patience.
Another memory surfaced. This time of Vilor spending time beside his father while they explored Arcane technology together. Azarel remembered explaining different mechanisms to him, while Vilor listened with curiosity and constantly asked questions. Those moments had become some of the memories Azarel treasured most, even if he had never realized how precious they were at the time.
Then came the memories of the boys growing older. He remembered their arguments around the dinner table. All the ridiculous fights that would erupt over the smallest things and the countless times Azarel had been forced to separate them. At the time, those moments had seemed ordinary, almost insignificant. Now they felt like pieces of a life that had been taken from him far too soon.
Azarel's breathing became unsteady as the memories continued rushing through his mind. He tried desperately to hold himself together, reminding himself that Daeron was still standing in front of him and needed his father to remain strong.
But this time, he couldn't hold it back. A single tear escaped from the corner of his right eye and slowly traveled down his cheek. Azarel quickly wiped it away, but another followed almost immediately. For the first time since the battle began, the King of Arcadia allowed himself to mourn his son.
Daeron noticed his father's tears. He couldn't help but blame himself for his brother's death. Daeron replayed the moments over and over again. What if he had not told Vilor to go? What if Vilor stayed and fought with him. Could they have stopped Zavala together? All Daeron could think about was how he was the one who tore his family apart.
"It's all my fault. He is dead because of me," Daeron said, the regret was clearly visible in his tone.
Azarel broke from holding his son and placed his hands on Daeron's shoulders. He looked directly at his son, there was no hatred or anger. The only thing that was visible on his face was the expression of guilt.
"No, Daeron, It's not your fault," Azarel said, trying to assure Daeron. "It is my job to protect you and your brother. I should have been here. This is my fault not yours."
Daeron looked at his father before releasing all the emotions he had left. To the people of Arcadia, Azarel was their king. To his wife, he was her husband. But to Daeron, he was something far more personal. He was his father, his hero and the man Daeron had spent his entire life trying to become. No matter how powerful Daeron became, there had always been one person whose approval mattered more than anyone else's. Seeing Azarel take responsibility for Vilor's death eased something inside him, even if only slightly. For the first time since the transports were destroyed, Daeron no longer felt completely alone.
Suddenly a massive surge of power erupted which caused the ground to shake once more. Azarel and Daeron both looked up to see the towering auras coming from Renku and Andreia. They both knew staying this close to the fight would only result in one outcome: death.
Azarel slowly stood and reached down, helping Daeron back onto his feet. Daeron struggled to steady himself as his exhausted body fought against every movement.
"We need to move," Azarel said, placing Daeron's arm over his shoulder. "We'll only be in the way if we stay here. Put your weight on me."
Daeron nodded weakly and leaned against his father. His body was still suffering from the battle with Zavala. Even with Azarel supporting him, every step felt like walking across burning coals. Pain shot through his legs with each movement, forcing his muscles to contract and stiffen as he struggled to remain upright.
Azarel noticed the pain in his son's expression but said nothing. He simply tightened his grip around Daeron and continued forward, refusing to let him fall. Behind them, another explosion shook the city.
Renku and Andreia continued their assault on Zavala. They never gave him an inch or even a second to recover. The corrupted demon groaned in pain as green Arcane Energy continued spreading throughout his body. His body tore continuously with each passing second. His movements had become increasingly unstable, yet the power surrounding him continued growing stronger with every passing moment.
Renku suddenly raised his hand as blue Cosmic Energy gathered around his arm. The familiar Chains of Hope erupted from his body, shooting toward Zavala before wrapping tightly around his torso. Zavala attempted to break free, but Renku pulled the chains in the opposite direction. This allowed Renku to use Zavala as a weight to propel himself forward.
Renku swung his body around the chains before driving his foot directly into Zavala's abdomen. The impact forced Zavala backward as the air was violently knocked from his lungs. His body folded around the attack before he coughed violently, spitting a stream of glowing green blood onto the ground.
Andreia didn't hesitate.
She appeared in front of Zavala before he could recover and drove a single light-infused punch directly into his face. The impact sent Zavala flying backward through the air, his body crashing through several pieces of rubble before finally coming to a stop.
Renku landed beside Andreia and stared toward Zavala. His expression changed when he noticed the green blood scattered across the ground. He looked toward Andreia, realizing something far more serious was happening to Zavala.
"Andreia," Renku said, his voice becoming more serious. "Look at his blood."
Andreia glanced toward the glowing liquid before looking back at Zavala.
"His entire DNA is being altered," Renku continued. "The Arcane Energy isn't just increasing his power anymore. It's changing him on a conceptual level."
Andreia's expression tightened as she watched Zavala slowly rise from the rubble.
"His body won't be the only thing it takes," Renku said. "Soon, his soul and consciousness will be consumed by the Arcane Energy."
Zavala slowly lifted his head, green energy pouring from the cracks spreading across his body. He once again spewed out green blood onto the ground.
"I will not stop," he muttered, coughing up more blood. "My people will not be sent back."
Renku's eyes narrowed as he watched Zavala shake his head as if he was fighting against the power.
"We must free him from this power," Renku urged.
Renku whipped his Chains of Hope around his hands and forearms. The blue Cosmic Energy tightened around his limbs. It had formed a layer of chain armor that would strengthen both his defense and his attacks.
"Destroy the crystal at all costs," Renku said, "I will hold him off. Just make sure you don't miss."
Back in the courtyard, Zether's shadows continued attacking from every direction. The shadows moved at a rapid speed that would overwhelm any ordinary being. Valak, however, moved between them effortlessly, weaving through their attacks as though time itself had slowed around him.
One shadow swung its massive arm toward Valak's head. He leaned backward, allowing the attack to pass inches above him before another creature lunged from behind. Valak twisted through the gap between them. He barely moved his feet as the shadows continued their relentless assault.
Zether watched from across the courtyard, his expression becoming increasingly frustrated. Every attack he launched seemed to be anticipated before it even reached Valak. Suddenly Valak stopped moving. He placed one hand against the ground as a sinister smile appeared across his face.
"Enough!" he yelled, his anger and rage pouring out.
Crimson flames erupted from beneath his palm, spreading rapidly across the courtyard. The Chaos Flames consumed everything in their path. Not even the shadows could escape the flames. Each one was instantly engulfed in the chaotic flames.
Zether immediately raised both arms to protect himself. The flames slammed into him with tremendous force, forcing him backward as he struggled against the overwhelming heat and energy. His vision had become blurry from the sheer heat emitting from the flames.
Valak noticed the opening and moved instantly. All he needed was a millisecond to exploit it.He emerged from the fire directly behind Zether and drove his fist into the back of his opponent's head. The impact sent Zether flying across the courtyard before his body crashed through the remains of another stone structure.
The rubble fell on top of him. Everything was still, then the debris began shifting as Zether pushed himself free. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he slowly rose to his feet. He wiped the blood away and looked toward Valak. Before he could attack again, something else caught his attention.
Zether felt that strange unnatural pressure again. That same overwhelming Arcane Energy from the eastern district surged through the air once again. But this time, he felt something else within the chaos.
Two familiar energies, Renku and Andreia. Zether's expression immediately changed. He realized they were both fighting whatever had created that terrifying power. He turned his gaze toward the distant green light illuminating the sky. Valak watched him silently, already knowing what was going through his mind.
In the eastern district the battle continues. Renku pushes hard to try and hit the crystal that is pertruting from Zavala's chest. Zavala lifts his right leg up and swings it towards Renku. The speed of the kick would seem fast to the normal being, but Renku was no normal being. The Orion of Hope quickly shifts himself to slide directly under the swinging leg. The only problem with this was Renku was not ready for Zavala's next move.
In the blink of an eye, Zavala's left hand came crashing down and grabbed Renku's head. Within the next few seconds Zavala smashed Renku against the ground with a tremendous amount of force. Renku had the wind completely knocked out of him. It did not stop there. Zavala then took off and dragged Renku along the ground. His face scraped violently against the stone path, not allowing Renku to even take a breath.
After dragging Renku across the ground for several seconds, Zavala threw the Orion towards some spikes that were standing upright on a slight angle. Renku, who was still trying to recover from the damage that was inflicted on him couldn't react at all. Instead a brilliant gold light appeared behind him. Andreia caught Renku, stopping only centimeters from the spikes.
"You okay Renku?" Andreia said as she allowed Renku to stand up.
Renku's armor was torn up, he had holes throughout his sleeves and cracks appeared within the silver armor plates. Renku was still trying to take in some air. For some reason, Renku wasn't recovering as quickly as he normally did. He noticed that a green rust had appeared on his clothes and armor. Renku was no stranger to close fights or taking damage. He had been in plenty of battles where he was forced to push past his limits. But this was different.
With each touch from Zavala a new mark would appear. It was as if Zavala himself had become toxic waste. Renku finally managed to get his breathing under control again.
"Thank you Andreia," Renku said with gratitude.
"We can't get close enough to damage the crystal," Andreia stated, her tone filled with frustration.
"We can't allow him to touch us," Renku said. "His power is highly toxic to us."
Andreia looked at Renku with confusion.
"Toxic? What do you mean?" she questioned.
"Our cosmic energy and his power are not compatible at all. Something in his power is causing our recovery to slow right down. It's also leaving more damage on us than normal. If one of those crystals pierces you, it could be catastrophic," explained Renku.
A giant roar could be heard coming from Zavala as he continued to destroy building after building. With each step he took, the ground was left corrupted by the green energy. The stone beneath his feet slowly melted away from the raw power being emitted.
Zavala suddenly found himself standing in complete darkness. There was no ground beneath his feet, yet somehow he remained standing. There was no sound of the battle and Arcadia was nowhere in sight. He slowly turned in every direction, trying to understand where he was. Nothing existed around him except an endless black void.
"Where am I?" Zavala asked, his voice echoing through the darkness.
Zavala looked down at his hands. Green energy covered them, slowly moving across his skin like living veins. He tried moving his fingers, but something felt different. It was almost as though his body no longer belonged to him. He noticed the green crystals that had forged themselves within his forearms.
Suddenly, something flashed before his eyes. A memory. Zavala saw his people before their banishment. Their cities were alive and the people moved through the streets without fear. He saw himself standing among them, speaking with soldiers and helping those who needed him. Another memory appeared. This time he saw the people he had sworn to protect. Their faces were filled with hope as they looked toward him. Zavala reached toward them, but the memory immediately disappeared.
His entire life began flashing before him. Each memory appeared for only a moment before disappearing into the darkness. Zavala desperately reached toward them, trying to hold onto what remained.
"Wait..."
The memories continued fading.
"No."
Zavala reached forward again.
"Don't take them from me."
Suddenly, two enormous green eyes opened within the darkness. They hovered above him, glowing with an unnatural intensity. Zavala froze as the presence behind them filled the void.
"You have already given your body." A voice spoke.
Zavala's eyes widened. The voice echoed throughout the void, surrounding him from every direction. He could not tell if the being was behind him, in front of him or on either side. All that was there were these two green eyes looking directly at him.
"You gave your flesh for a greater cause. You gave your strength for those who could not protect themselves." The voice spoke once more.
"No... I never chose this." Zavala shook his head.
"You chose to surrender." The voice answered back.
The answer caught Zavala off guard. His pride and honor suddenly felt under attack. The demon king would never surrender and give in. At least, That was what Zavala told himself. He clenched his fists as green energy crawled across his arms.
"I haven't surrendered," Zavala said, this time he was stern with his response.
The enormous eyes remained fixed upon him. It was like they were studying him, almost judging him.
"Then why are you here?" The voice questioned.
Zavala turned around. Far away within the darkness, he suddenly saw Arcadia. The battlefield remained visible in the distance. Renku and Andreia were still fighting as the ruined city burned around them. Zavala's eyes widened. However, the battlefield was slowly moving away from him.
"No." He immediately ran toward it. "Wait!"
The battlefield continued drifting farther into the darkness.
"I need to go back!"
Zavala pushed himself forward, but his body barely moved. It felt like the darkness itself was holding him in place. For the first time Zavala truly felt fear. Not the fear of losing a battle, not the fear of death. This was the fear of being completely useless, unable to have an effect. All he could do was reach out and hope he could regain control.
The voice returned. "You have fought long enough."
Zavala struggled against the unseen force.
"My people need me!" Zavala yelled, panic was setting in now.
"They no longer need the man you were." The voice replied.
Zavala suddenly stopped his struggle. Those words spoken rocked him.
"What does that mean?" Zavala said as the fear began to consume him.
"You have given everything," the voice said.
Zavala looked toward the distant battlefield again. Everything he had fought for was disappearing beyond his reach. All the time he spent fighting to save his people from the hell they were condemned to would mean nothing if he failed here. He was the Demon King, the chosen one to bring peace back to his people.
"No!" He screamed and began running again. "I am Zavala!"
His voice echoed throughout the void.
"I am the DEMON KING!" He yelled, this time fear was replaced with anger.
The battlefield grew smaller.
"I will not let you take me!" Zavala said, fighting to gain control.
Green energy intensified around his body.
"I am still in control!" He yelled.
"You are becoming something greater," the voice said calmly.
Zavala's expression twisted with desperation as the battlefield continued disappearing. He knew this was it. This battle right now was everything.
"I don't want to be anything else," Zavala said, still struggling to break free.
The voice fell silent. The two enormous green eyes continued staring at him as Zavala reached toward Arcadia. His fingers stretched toward the fading battlefield, but it was already becoming impossible to reach. For the first time, Zavala understood what was happening. The greatest battle he had ever fought was no longer happening outside his body. It was happening within himself.
Back on the battlefield. Renku and Andreia both knew they had reached the point where another opportunity might never come. Zavala stood before them, his body continuing to crack beneath the overwhelming Arcane Energy consuming him. Neither Orion spoke as they prepared themselves for one final assault.
Renku raised both arms as blue Cosmic Energy began flowing around them. The energy wrapped tightly around his forearms, creating a protective layer between his body and Zavala's corrupted power. He knew the Arcane Energy would still hurt him, but this would give him a chance to withstand the damage long enough to reach the crystal.
Andreia extended one hand toward the sky. Brilliant golden light gathered between her fingers before forming into a massive bow. She pulled the string back, creating an arrow entirely from concentrated light. The arrow hummed with power as she aimed directly toward the crystal protruding from Zavala's chest.
Zavala suddenly charged. Renku immediately moved to intercept him. Zavala swung his fist toward Renku's head, but Renku shifted to the side and narrowly avoided the attack. He countered with a powerful punch to Zavala's ribs before following with a kick toward his stomach.
The impact created another violent shockwave. Green Arcane Energy collided with blue Cosmic Energy, sending waves of energy across the battlefield. Renku continued moving around Zavala, dodging and parrying every attack he could. Each successful strike slowed Zavala down, creating the opening Andreia needed.
Zavala swung again. Renku caught his arm and redirected the attack before driving his knee into Zavala's abdomen. Zavala staggered backward, allowing Renku to strike him across the face. Another shockwave exploded through the ruined streets.
Andreia remained behind them, keeping her bow drawn. She waited patiently for the opening Renku was trying to create. Her eyes remained fixed on the crystal as she watched every movement between the two fighters. Zavala suddenly roared and attempted to grab Renku.
Renku ducked beneath his arm before twisting around him. He immediately raised both hands, causing his Chains of Hope to erupt from his body. The blue chains shot forward and wrapped around Zavala's arms before tightening around his wrists. Zavala struggled against them.
Renku planted his feet firmly against the ground and pulled with everything he had. The chains dragged Zavala's arms downward, forcing them against his sides before pinning him to the ground.
"Now!" Renku shouted.
Andreia released the bowstring. The brilliant arrow of light launched forward with tremendous speed. It tore through the air, leaving a golden trail behind it as it traveled directly toward Zavala's chest. Renku held the chains tighter as Zavala desperately struggled beneath him. The arrow drew closer. It was only moments away from striking the crystal. Then suddenly, a green aura erupted around Zavala's body.
The light arrow slammed into the barrier. The golden light clashed with the green light in spectacular fashion. Neither gave an inch as they struggled against each other. The golden arrow remained suspended inches from the crystal. Andreia's eyes widened with shock. Renku's expression changed as he realized something had gone terribly wrong. Zavala slowly lifted his head and behind the green energy, his eyes began glowing brighter than before.
"Now you die," Zavala said.
The golden arrow instantly disintegrated as the green energy consumed it. Following that, the Chains of Hope suddenly turned green. Renku couldn't believe what he was witnessing, his own cosmic energy was being consumed. He tried to release the chains but they refused to listen. Instead they wrapped around his arms and chained him down. Renku could feel the Arcane energy burning through his armor and clothing. He knew it was only a matter of time before his skin would be effected but the toxic energy.
Andreia noticed this and moved without a second thought. She flew faster than she had ever before, covering the distance in less than a second. Unfortunately for her, Zavala had anticipated this and had already prepared his next attack. A burst of Arcane energy erupted from the ground below Andreia. All she could do was embrace and hope she could handle the impact.
The green energy made direct contact with Andreia who screamed in agony. Her cosmic energy clashed with the foreign energy, trying to fight it off. Each second felt like a lifetime. The pain grew stronger and stronger before finally releasing her. Andreia fell to the ground. Her body was struggling, every muscle fiber felt like it had been burnt by the sun. Even just breathing took it's toll on her.
Zavala slowly walked over towards her. Andreia looked up helpless. Renku tried to break free from the chains but it was to no avail. The crystal that stuck out of Zavala's forearm began to shift directions. It now was facing the opposite direction and had extended in size. It was now a weapon capable of killing even an Orion.
"NO! ANDREIA!" Renku yelled, trying to break free.
Everyone watched in horror. Azarel and Daeron both looked on unable to help while Ezekiel watched from the Angel with the survivors. The monstrosity that Zavala had become was about to deal a massive blow to the entire universe. Zavala raised his arm up with the sharp point of the crystal aiming directly for Andreia. She closed her eyes and then looked over to Renku and smiled. She had accepted her fate.
Zavala brought down his arm with ferocious speed. Renku could do all but watch as tears began to swell up in his eyes. He closed his eyes not wanting to see his friend be killed before him. Suddenly the ground trembled unlike before. This time it wasn't just the planet that shook, but the entire universe shook under this pressure.
Back in the Realm of Fate, Aevor's eyes widened as he looked over at the pillars. He grinned upon seeing them.
"Come forth..." Whispered Aevor. "Umbra."
Out of nowhere black tendrils spawned from the ground upwards. They instantly grabbed ahold of Zavala and held him in place. Darkness consumed the sky itself as if night had just taken over. Over in the courtyard Valak watched with a smile.
"So you have finally achieved it," he whispered.
Zavala roared as he tried to break free from the shadows. In the next moment Renku found himself free and the shadows shattered the chains. He ran over to Andreia who was still trying to catch her breath.
"What is going on?" She asked.
Renku looked over towards Zavala and finally saw who was behind this all. A figure stood before the monster, covered in complete darkness. There looked to be no physical body to the being, just a figure made up of shadows. The figure turned it's head slightly towards Renku and Andreia. Two amber glowing eyes looked directly at them and within an instant they knew exactly who it was.
"It's... Zether..." Renku said.
None of them had seen Zether like this before. It was as if he had casted his physical form away in order to transcend. Then Renku remembered something that was mentioned to him.
Giving yourself to your Cosmic Energy will allow you to utilize it to its utmost potential.
With that Renku had finally realized what Zether had awakened.
"So this is the Cosmic Ascension form," Renku said, his voice filled with awe.
Zether looked directly into Zavala's eyes as his shadows gripped tighter.
"The shadows have judged you. Death is the verdict."
End of Chapter 25