★277
THIRD POV
Somewhere in Azyrion, the gates of the Abyss flung open, space itself trembling in response. Sensing the disturbance, the Stars gathered at the site of the emergence, their eyes fixed upon the rift.
From the endless dark, a figure draped in fabric woven from the void itself stepped forth. He stood tall and silent, no sound, no breath, only presence, as his gaze swept across the World.
[[IMAGE]]
[[IMAGE]]
It was Kenos and they seemed relaxed since he's one of the Omni and won't just attack them out of the blue.
"The Primal Lord of Azure."
He spoke in a silent voice. Black orbs orbiting behind him.
"Void Emperor."
He appeared hovering above his people.
'Algol won't last long, I need to be quick.'
"I'll get straight to the point, you have two options. Join us, the Dark Nebulas."
"Dark Nebulas?"
Azureon asked, surprised. Such a title never existed until now. Unknown at least to the Stars.
"The pinnacle of Dark Stars."
"Like the Omni? I thought we were equals. Stars and Dark Stars?"
"Only three of us exist, they are billions of you. I find that word 'equal' inapplicable and inappropriate."
Eternal Azureon was silent.
"I'd like to hear the last option even though it's clearly obvious."
"No Art exists to manipulate natural energy compared to Azure. It's an extremely rare feat. With Azure and void, we'll be unstoppable. Not to mention if we have a hybrid."
"Unstoppable? What are you Stars planning?"
His eyes widened as he posed the question.
"We're running low on time."
A portal opened next to Kenos sending waves of void nullifying the existence of those within its range.
"You've made your move, I can no longer accept that."
Azure aura surged his body.
"It's obvious you'll choose the latter so I took action. Anyways."
Across the world, identical portals tore open, each releasing waves of pure void energy.
In an instant, Stars and Drops alike were erased, their essence devoured without resistance. Yet amidst the devastation, Azureon stood untouched. The Azure within him did not nullify the void, it merely tempered its erasure, reducing the rate of nullification as it struck him, allowing his body to regenerate from even the slightest wounds
"Defying a paradoxical existence, I need it. I need it. Rise and Destroy."
He gave the command, and the fallen Stars rose once more, now twisted into Kenos's shadows, spreading across the neighbouring Drops like living darkness with a single goal in mind. Destruction!
Azure energy surged around the Primal Lord, condensing into a radiant lance, while a ring of solid light formed and hovered behind his back as he charged toward Kenos. His attack spread his palm to attack.
'Lord Acamar showed me a few tricks I can use to my advantage now.'
"Halt at my command! "
The void around Kenos's arm froze, and though he tried to step back to evade the oncoming lance, his anti-body refused to obey.
'Energy interference. It's not that I can't move, there's nowhere to move. That's no mere energy, it's Energy influence. Damn you, Acamar.'
(Acamar or the Star God must've given him something.)
Azureon lance stroke done Kenos, Azure carving through his non-existence.
"You're buying time for Acamar, aren't you?"
Suddenly, his voice came from behind, Lord Azureon shocked and paralysed by his presence. An arm impaled him before solidifying to a tree with Azureon impaled by its only branch. Kenos was in front of him, his body completely healed as if he wasn't injured in the first place.
"H..how? I did interact with your nonexistent form."
"You did manage to do that but once. I've adapted, It'll never work on me."
As if to test it, Azureon attacks again. The lance appeared inches from Kenos's neck to decapitate him but the solidified Azure energy snapped and broke into pieces as soon as it came into contact with his skin.
"The second Azurer, where is it?"
"You'll never find him."
"Yes?"
He spoke softly, his fingers shimmering with golden particles as they rested gently upon Azureon's head. Slowly, he lifted his hand, and a thread of light followed his motion, drawn from Azureon himself. One of the orbs floating behind Kenos flared, releasing a blinding flash of azure light.
"I see."
(Just like Pain Ningendo/Human Path.)
He murmured, and the golden particles dissolved into the air. Turning away, the orb that had flashed moments ago expanded, its essence unfurling like a living mist. In a single motion, it consumed Azureon and the shadowed tree whole.
"Satisfied?"
He asked, and the orb responded with a soft hum, glowing in Azure light. In the next instant, he vanished, reappearing within the hidden plane.
There, he found the young Star seated in a tranquil garden, Azure energy putting up a show for him.
"Azrion."
Kenos called out to the child, and it turned toward him, its eyes blazing with the same Azure fire that once burned within Azureon.
"Who are you?"
He asked coldly
"Kenos, the Void Emperor. So you've been hidden in this special space all alone?"
He asked, glancing around the plane.
"Yeah, Azureon keeps me hidden. He usually comes to show me how to use my power."
"Show me what you can do."
"Attack me."
Without a second thought, a void spare was fired at the child and it vibrated turning into flowers.
Kenos was surprised and walked closer to the child.
"You possess power that the Gods envy, Azureon probably wants that power for himself."
He lied.
"You think so? He's always nice to me though.'
"That's how they get into your head."
He said, his finger pointed to his head.
"They control you while honing your abilities. When the time comes, he'll either kill you and take it or make you work for him. Do you want that?"
He asked. Naturally, anyone fed that information will have the same answer. Not to mention Azrion is just a child, a few thousand years old.
"I don't."
"If I were you, I'd be upset about it too. Don't you want to be free?"
"I do. But I can't get out of here. My illusions can't take me outside because I've never seen the outside world. Can you get me out, Kenos?"
"That's what I'm here for."
He gave him a hand and Azrion took it. A kid isolated since birth, was offered a chance to escape. You won't hesitate to leave will you?
The next second, Kenos released void energy devouring and nullifying the plane.
"Your new life begins now. I shall burn all those from your previous life."
He said and they teleported back to the burned Drop of Azyrion where Kenos's shadows took over.
From the heavens, a vast pillar of golden radiance descended with divine authority, engulfing Azyrion in a blinding surge of power before piercing through and emerging from the Supreme Star, Acamar.
The heavens trembled, space itself shimmering from the impact, yet Acamar's face remained serene and unreadable, as if divinity itself had merely exhaled through him.
"You're late, Lord First. Unfortunately, the game is over."
He didn't move, yet he was standing before them, his arm outstretched to seize the young Azure Star while a blade hovered inches from Kenos's head. Kenos merely smiled, the corners of his lips curling into a knowing smirk, before his form was replaced with a shadow as he vanished from the scene.
Sensing Algol's broken state, the Abyss reclaimed him in silence, its pull absolute. Kenos reappeared moments later within a parallel World where two figures awaited his arrival.
"Algol won't be joining us, as expected."
He said.
"It seems Lord First is truly unbeatable."
Phoenix replied with a smile.
"The three of us should be more than enough for it."
Mors added.
"Exactly. Perfect pinch, give in or die out."
Kenos said standing between the two facing the hordes of Dragons approaching them.
...
..
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To be continued...