Zether's shadows tightened around Zavala. The corrupted Demon King was frozen in his place, unable to even lift a finger. The darkness wrapped around his arms, legs, and torso. The Demon King looked like he had been restrained by living smoke. Zavala pulled against them with everything he had, but the shadows refused to give. Green Arcane Energy surged through his body, burning brighter with every attempt to break free. The ground beneath him cracked from the pressure, yet Zether remained completely still.
His amber eyes watched Zavala carefully. There was no anger or any emotion at all in them. The figure standing before them barely resembled the Zether they had known before. His physical form had been consumed by darkness. Zether had given himself completely to his Cosmic Energy. Every emotion he once carried had been cast aside in order to achieve this new power. Even his movements seemed different now, as though the darkness itself had become an extension of his body.
Without warning, Zether disappeared. It was like he was there and then gone in an instant. Zavala barely had time to react before Zether appeared directly in front of him. His fist drove straight into Zavala's face with tremendous force. The strike happened so quickly that it appeared as though Zavala had been hit five times at once. His head snapped backward with each consecutive impact, while waves of darkness rippled outward from every strike.
The final punch sent Zavala's body flying backward as the shadows released him. Zavala's body began falling through the air, his limbs struggling to regain control. Green Arcane Energy poured from the cracks spreading across his skin. He tried forcing his body upright, but something massive was already forming above him.
Zavala looked upward and his eyes widened. A gigantic shadow fist had appeared above his body. The fist was enormous, towering over the ruined buildings surrounding them. Its fingers slowly curled inward as darkness gathered around its surface. Zether lowered his hand. The shadow fist came crashing down.
It struck Zavala with tremendous force and drove him directly into the ground. The impact shook the entire eastern district. Stone exploded outward as a massive crater formed beneath him. The shockwave ripped through the surrounding streets, sending rubble and broken pieces of buildings flying through the air.
Renku and Andreia both raised their arms against the sudden wave of debris. They watched the crater from a distance as dust and smoke filled the battlefield. Green light began shining through the rubble. Zavala was still alive. However, the attack did seem to do some damage to the Demon King. Zether slowly lowered his arm as the shadow fist disappeared into the ground. His amber eyes remained fixed on the crater. He could feel Zavala's presence beneath the destruction.
Zether slowly raised both arms. The surrounding air shifted unlike anything before. Light became obsolete as the shadows surrounding the battlefield began moving toward him. At first, only a few tendrils crawled across the ground. Then dozens followed. Shadows emerged from broken buildings, ruined streets, and beneath fallen structures. The darkness began spreading throughout the entire district.
Renku watched with growing concern as the shadows climbed the surrounding buildings. They moved like living creatures, pouring from every dark corner and gathering around Zether. Andreia stared at the growing mass.
"He's calling them," she said quietly.
Renku's eyes narrowed.
"Not just the shadows here," he replied. "He's calling all of them."
The darkness continued gathering. It flooded across the streets and climbed the remains of Arcadia's buildings. Shadows stretched across walls and rooftops before flowing toward Zether. The sky above the battlefield slowly became darker as the massive presence continued growing. The darkness from all over the multiverse was being called and it was answering. His arms were still extended as his body remained completely motionless.
"Come." His voice carried across the battlefield. "All of you."
The shadows responded immediately. They surged toward him from every direction. Thousands of tendrils moved through the ruined city, gathering around Zether like an enormous storm. Darkness rose behind him, forming a massive wall that towered over the battlefield. Renku stared at the sight before him. He had seen Zether use his shadows before. He had witnessed him manipulate darkness during countless battles. But this was something entirely different.
Zether wasn't simply controlling the shadows. He was becoming their source. Zether was now becoming Urmba. The Shadow God. Andreia slowly stepped closer to Renku.
"How much power does that give him?" She asked, the concern evident in her tone.
Renku didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained fixed on Zether. He had known that there was a way to tap in to the cosmic energy they have. However, he never thought it would feel like this. He could feel that Zether was no longer a simple Orion, he had transcended far beyond that.
"I don't know," he finally said. "I've never seen anything like this."
A deep rumble suddenly moved through the battlefield. The darkness behind Zether began rising higher. It stretched above the ruined buildings and continued climbing into the sky. Within the massive black formation, shapes began appearing. Arms, claws, and distorted faces formed within the darkness before disappearing again. It was as though an entire army existed inside the shadows.
Then the ground beneath Zavala exploded. The Demon King launched himself from the crater, green energy erupting from his body. He charged directly toward Zether with tremendous speed. Zether didn't move. He didn't need to. The shadows reacted before Zavala could reach him. Hundreds of tendrils shot forward and wrapped around Zavala's body. They caught his arms and legs before violently dragging him backward. Zavala roared as he struggled against them, green energy exploding from his body.
The darkness refused to release him. Zether finally turned his head toward Zavala. His amber eyes burned through the darkness. The shadows tightened around the Demon King. Zavala's roar echoed across the battlefield as the darkness continued consuming the space around him. Renku watched silently as Andreia remained beside him. Neither Orion knew what Zether had truly become, but they both understood one thing. The battle had changed completely.
Back in the courtyard, Valak smiled as he watched the events unfolding in the distance. He wasn't surprised by this new form Zether had unlocked. Valak already knew that they could fully manifest their Cosmic Energy in such a way. During his time in the Realm of the Gods, he had discovered this through his heightened senses. Every second he spent within that realm seemed to strengthen his connection to his own Cosmic Energy. The longer he remained there, the more clearly he could feel its presence within him.
The Chaos flowed through him at a much higher rate. The potential he felt was unlike anything he had experienced before. He could feel the Chaos flowing throughout the multiverse. It was connecting him to something far greater than himself. With every passing moment, his Cosmic Energy grew more potent. Valak could feel how addictive that power was and he understood what it meant. If he could fully access it, no one would be able to stop him. Not even the Gods.
However, he needed to find a way to access this energy within the mortal realm. The Realm of the Gods was above all, allowing him to have unlimited access to Cosmic Energy. It was like a well that never ran dry. But in the mortal realm, that energy was not so easily attained. During his first battle with Zether, he could feel something within himself, begging to be released.
Then, on Havoc, he felt that same sensation. This time, it wasn't during a fight or a clash of energies. It was the world itself. The chaotic nature of everything that had occurred there gave him another taste of that energy. However, it disappeared as quickly as it had come. At first, Valak thought it might have been connected to the death he had caused. That theory was quickly dismissed when he thought about it. He had killed before and had never felt this energy.
The more steps he took across Havoc, the clearer the answer became. It was the universe itself. Whenever a chaotic event occurred, the universe's Cosmic Energy shifted, allowing Valak to feel the sudden increase in power.
Zether's connection was different. The more he surrendered himself to darkness, the more Cosmic Energy he could draw from. Darkness existed throughout the mortal realm, meaning Zether could always reach for it. His connection was constant.
Valak's was not. Chaos needed to manifest before he could draw upon it. The greater the chaos, the stronger the connection became. This meant Valak couldn't simply reach into the Cosmic Energy whenever he wanted. He needed something to disturb the balance of the universe first.
Having Arcadia fall would disrupt everything. Chaos would follow as one of the universe's major powerhouses collapsed. Rebellions would spread, worlds would descend into lawlessness and entire systems would begin to collapse. Valak could already feel the chaotic energy burning within him, growing stronger with every passing moment.
As he continued watching Zether, Valak realized he had finally achieved one of his goals. The fall of Arcadia would give him access to an almost unlimited source of Cosmic Energy. He no longer needed to search for chaos. He only needed to let it spread. All that remained was retrieving Dr. Rehgal and calling off the demons.
Down in the streets, Morveth continued his assault on the surviving Arcadians. The demon commander was covered in blood and his sword was stained with the blood of his victims. The streets around him were littered with bodies as the remaining Arcadians desperately tried to escape. Suddenly, his communicator beeped. Morveth stopped and reached for it as a voice came through.
"All demons are to return to the fleet. Our mission here is complete."
Morveth immediately recognized the voice. It was Valak. He looked across the ruined streets before glancing toward the distant eastern district. The destruction had spread farther than even he had expected.
"Understood," Morveth replied.
He lowered his communicator and looked toward the surviving Arcadians. For a split second, it seemed as though he might continue the slaughter. Instead, Morveth sheathed his sword.
"You heard him," he said coldly. "We're leaving."
The other demons nodded before finishing off their final victims. They began boarding the waiting transporters as Morveth took one final look toward the eastern district. Green flashes and waves of darkness continued clashing in the distance. He gritted his teeth before turning away and boarding the transporter.
Meanwhile, aboard one of the Arcadian transports, Queen Helena stared through the window in horror. Her kingdom had been reduced to ruins within a matter of hours. Smoke covered the skyline as fires continued burning throughout the capital. There was no signs of her Husband or their two boys.
Dr. Rehgal sat nearby, his grip tightening around his notebook. Every calculation, discovery, and piece of research he had gathered throughout his life was contained within those pages. He had always kept the notebook close, ensuring his work could never be stolen by Angelic spies. Now, as Arcadia burned before him, Dr. Rehgal held it tighter than ever.
A red light suddenly appeared within the transporter. It expanded rapidly to form a portal. Horror filled the atmosphere as Valak stepped out of the portal. No one moved, too afraid to confront the Orion as it would mean certain death.
"Ah, there you are, Doctor," Valak said, his voice almost playful in nature.
Valak approached Dr Reghal, who was frozen in fear.
"Now, now, don't be afraid. I am not here to kill you," Valak said. "I'm taking you on a vacation."
As Valak reached out to grab Dr. Rehgal, Queen Helena acted instantly. She drew a sword from one of the soldiers' hilts and charged toward the Orion. Valak's back was turned toward her. Helena knew this might be her only opportunity to end him. She gripped the sword tightly, remembering everything her husband had taught her.
She swung with all her strength. Her entire body moved behind the strike as the blade came crashing toward Valak's back. Valak sensed her the entire time. He felt her heartbeat quicken moments before she made her move. He already knew she would be the one to act. The blade stopped inches from his body. Valak hadn't moved.
Crimson energy suddenly consumed the sword and spread across Helena's body. She froze completely, unable to move as the energy surrounded her like a prison. Valak never turned around. He didn't acknowledge her attack. He didn't even speak. Helena stood frozen behind him, still gripping the sword as the crimson energy continued burning around her. Valak simply continued reaching toward Dr. Rehgal.
None of the other Arcadian survivors moved. They watched helplessly as their queen remained completely paralyzed. Valak reached forward and grabbed Rehgal by his shirt, lifting the doctor from the ground with one hand. He turned slightly toward Helena. His expression was completely empty. There was no anger, no amusement, and not even a hint of satisfaction. His face remained completely neutral.
Valak slowly raised his free hand. His palm remained open for several seconds before he suddenly closed it into a fist. Nothing happened. No explosion followed. No burst of crimson energy filled the transporter. There was no visible attack at all. The survivors looked at one another in confusion. They had expected something to happen. Valak lowered his hand as Helena remained frozen in place.
Helena's vision suddenly became blurry. She couldn't understand why, as she had always possessed perfect vision. Then a pain unlike anything she had ever experienced tore through her body. Even giving birth to her two children had never brought her this kind of agony. Helena raised a trembling hand toward her chest. Her eyes widened when she realized something was wrong.
There was no heartbeat beneath her fingers. Each breath became harder than the last. Blood suddenly rose through her throat before she violently coughed, spilling a pool of blood onto the floor. The sword slipped from her hand and crashed beside her. Valak never stopped walking. He simply dragged Rehgal toward the portal, never once looking back at the woman he had just killed.
Helena collapsed onto the ground. Her eyes slowly became glassy as the life faded from them. Valak had destroyed her heart from within. In her final moments, Helena remained proud. She had stood as the Queen of Arcadia until the very end, fighting for her people against an enemy she knew she could never defeat. She had not surrendered. She had not begged. She had simply fought.
"My Queen!" Rehgal screamed as Valak dragged him through the portal.
The portal closed behind Valak and Rehgal. The remaining survivors immediately rushed toward Queen Helena, desperately trying to save her. One of them dropped beside her and began performing CPR. With every compression, they prayed that Helena would somehow return to them.
The other survivors gathered around them. Their hands came together as they desperately prayed to the Goddess of Creation. Their voices filled the transporter as they begged for a miracle, but no answer came. Helena's eyes remained lifeless. Her body slowly grew colder beneath their hands. The prayers continued, but the Goddess remained silent. Their Queen was gone.
Back down on the streets of Arcadia, the battle against Zavala was reaching its conclusion. Zether had managed to keep the Demon King contained, but he could feel the situation getting worse with every passing second. The eastern district had been reduced to ruins around them. Buildings had collapsed into the streets, fires burned through what remained, and the ground continued to crack beneath the enormous amount of energy being released.
Yet somehow, Zavala was still standing. His body barely looked human anymore. Green crystals had pushed through his skin, spreading across his arms, chest, and legs. Arcane Energy leaked from the cracks covering his body, filling the air with an uncomfortable pressure that even Zether could feel.
Zether watched him carefully. Something wasn't right. This wasn't just about whether Zavala could continue fighting. The Arcane Energy inside him was becoming unstable. Every time it surged through his body, the pressure increased.
If it continued, Zavala might lose control completely. And if that happened, there was no telling how much of Arcadia would survive. Zether glanced behind him. Renku and Andreia were still standing, but barely. Both had taken serious damage throughout the fight, and neither of them could afford another direct hit from Zavala. Zether knew he couldn't keep fighting him like this.
He had already tried overpowering him. It hadn't worked. Zavala's body was changing too quickly, and the Arcane Energy only became more dangerous whenever they pushed him further. Zether needed to take the fight somewhere else.
His eyes returned to Zavala. The shadows around his feet began moving. At first, they were barely noticeable. Small pieces of darkness shifted across the ground before spreading between the cracks in the stone. Zether could feel them responding to him.
They were everywhere, hiding behind ruined buildings, beneath the rubble, and across the streets. He no longer had to search for them. They were already waiting. Zether lowered his head. There was only one thing left to try.
"Shadow Abyss," he muttered.
The ground beneath Zavala suddenly turned black. Zavala looked down just as several tendrils erupted from beneath his feet. They wrapped around his legs and immediately began climbing his body.
Zavala roared. Green energy exploded from him, tearing through the first wave of shadows. Several tendrils were destroyed, but more appeared almost immediately. Zavala pulled against them. The shadows tightened.
His arms were pulled against his body as more darkness crawled across his chest. He tried forcing the Arcane Energy through his body, but the darkness continued swallowing it.
"What is this?" Zavala roared.
Zether didn't answer. The shadows climbed higher. They covered Zavala's shoulders before reaching his neck. His glowing green eyes remained visible for another moment as he continued fighting. Then they disappeared. At the same time, Zether's body began fading. Renku noticed it first.
"Zether?" Renku called.
The Orion of Shadows didn't respond. His body slowly broke apart into darkness. His arms disappeared first, followed by his torso and legs. Within seconds, there was nothing left of him. He had vanished into the same darkness surrounding Zavala. Andreia stared at the scene.
"What is he doing?" she asked.
"I don't know." Renku shook his head.
Neither of them could see what was happening anymore. The darkness continued spreading until Zavala disappeared completely. The green light beneath it flickered several times, almost like something was fighting from inside.
Then the battlefield went quiet. Renku and Andreia stood there, watching the enormous mass of darkness. Nothing moved. No explosions came. No screams. Just silence. A faint green flash appeared inside the darkness. The ground beneath them trembled. Andreia instinctively stepped closer to Renku.
"What do you think is happening?" she asked Renku.
Renku kept his eyes fixed on the darkness.
"I don't know," he responded. "I have never seen this type of power before."
Another green flash illuminated the black mass, then it disappeared. Everything went still. Whatever Zether had done, the fight was no longer happening in Arcadia. It had been taken somewhere neither of them could reach.
Zavala stood there in the dark void once again. This time he could feel a new presence within the void. Unlike the green-eyed entity, this one felt familiar. Zavala closed his eyes to focus on where the energy was coming from.
"Behind you," a voice whispered.
Zavala's eyes snapped open. He immediately leapt forward, moving with lightning speed as he turned around. A figure stood several feet away. Its entire body seemed to be made from darkness, with no visible features or physical form. The only things Zavala could see were two glowing amber eyes staring directly back at him.
"Zether..." Zavala muttered.
Zether stood there staring directly at Zavala. He could feel the presence of another entity within this void. One that felt ancient, but very powerful.
"Tell me what are you doing here?" questioned Zavala.
"It is time to stop this fight," Zether answered. "You have caused enough damage and suffering. Let go of this power and I will spare your life."
Zavala's lip curled up at the mere thought of an Orion asking him to beg for mercy.
"You don't know what I've gone through to save my people," Zavala said. His voice began to rise. "You have never known what it is like to watch everything you love get taken from you."
Zether remained silent.
"You only know comfort. You only know what it's like to have everything you need." Zavala clenched his fists. "So don't stand there and tell me when it's time to give up."
His eyes burned brighter as the fire already burning inside him continued to grow. Zether remained completely unfazed, his amber eyes locked onto Zavala.
"Very well then. You leave me with no choice," Zether said.
Before Zavala could respond, the green-eyed entity appeared behind Zether. The pressure hit him instantly. Zether's body dropped to one knee as though an enormous weight had suddenly been placed on his shoulders. The darkness surrounding his body twisted violently as he tried to force himself back up. His hands pressed against the ground while he struggled against the invisible force.
"What the..." Zether muttered through gritted teeth.
He could feel the strange energy moving closer. It wasn't simply surrounding him. It was getting inside him. Zether tried to fight it, but the sensation suddenly became overwhelming. His vision blurred. The void around him began twisting and bending as though reality itself was being ripped apart.
Then everything went black. Zether's eyes suddenly opened. He gasped as he found himself lying on the ruined streets of Arcadia. The burning sky stretched above him, smoke filling the air as pieces of rubble continued falling around the battlefield.
For a split second, he couldn't remember where he was, then he felt someone grab his shoulder.
"Zether!"
He looked up. Renku was kneeling beside him, his face filled with concern. Andreia was beside him as well, leaning over to check on him.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Zether slowly pushed himself upright. His breathing was heavy as he looked around the battlefield. The darkness was gone and so was Zavala. Zether stared at the empty space where the Demon King had been standing. His amber eyes narrowed as the memory of the void began rushing back to him.
He had been inside Zavala's mind and something else had been there with him. Something ancient.
"We have to remove that crystal," Zether said. There was something different in his voice now. For the first time since returning, there was genuine concern behind his words.
In the distance, Zavala clutched his head as another surge of Arcane Energy tore through his body. The cracks covering his skin spread farther, glowing brighter with every passing second. His flesh was slowly being consumed, replaced by the toxic green energy that had been building inside him.
Whatever was happening inside Zavala's mind was beginning to show itself in the physical world. Zether pushed himself back onto his feet. The darkness surrounding his body shifted as he regained his balance, his Cosmic Ascension form still fully manifested.
Andreia looked between Zether and Zavala. "Zether, what's going on?"
Zether didn't take his eyes off the Demon King.
"That thing..." he said quietly. "That isn't Zavala anymore."
Andreia's expression changed as she spoke. "What do you mean?"
"There's something else inside him," Zether answered. "I felt it in his mind. It's taking control of him."
His eyes moved toward the crystal embedded in Zavala's body.
"That crystal is the key. If we destroy it, we might be able to stop whatever is happening to him."
Renku stepped forward, tightening his fists as blue Cosmic Energy began gathering around his arms.
"Then we don't give it another chance," he said.
Andreia nodded and raised her hand, golden light beginning to form around her.
Renku looked toward Zether. "One final push."
Zether remained silent for a moment, watching Zavala's body continue to change. Then his amber eyes narrowed.
"Together."
End of Chapter 26