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ELFARIA POV
I had no idea how it happened, but in one blink I was somewhere else… and the next, I was standing in the Forest of Jura. I was absolutely certain that I had zero intention of visiting Lord Rimuru today. So why in the world was I here?
"Lady Elfaria."
The voice jolted me. I spun around, completely thrown off, only to find the red-haired demon Amri standing beside me like this was the most normal thing ever.
"Umm...forgive me."
Finding it awkward to remain silent, I took the natural route anyone would.
Can we head back?"
"Heh? We just got here."
"I..."
"My apologies, I shouldn't have complained."
She lowered herself apologetically.
"I'll send in the request."
She said, and a portal was summoned immediately, it's edge humming with unnatural energy.
I went through without hesitation, appearing on the other side, the Star Island.
We landed near the entrance civilisation, people attending to their daily activities.
It was almost noon, because the air is warmer.
"Hey, Amri. Can I ask—"
I turned to ask the red-haired demon, but before the words left my mouth, Amri's headless body hit the ground with a sickening thud.
I froze, paralysed, staring at the fresh corpse beside me. Blood pooled rapidly, pouring from the clean slice where her head used to be. My breath caught in my throat. Who did this? When?
"Get out of there, Elafria!"
Atlas's voice tore through the air as he charged at me, but it wasn't just him. The suffocating jet black presence around him, 'his death' I supposed was ahead of him.
It surged toward me, forming a dome of shadow, then, BOOM! a thunderous crash shattered the dome like fragile glass. I was beneath the dome, so I should've died. So why—why am I still blinking? Why am I still breathing?
Before me stood Lord Atlas, his body braced, his attack clashing against a mass of absolute darkness darker than night, deeper like a void. Even a glance sent shivers racing down my spine.
What is that...? I asked myself, but no words were able to form.
A searing red light cut through the darkness, cleaving Lord Atlas's death like it was butter. My eyes unintentionally followed its path, my gaze rising for a second, and I saw it. A figure, barely visible, standing behind the sun itself.
Just as my mind began to process what I was seeing, darkness swallowed the entire island. Darkness not as night or shadow but something far worse.
"Gezz, how the hell did one of you get here?"
Lord Atlas asked, his eyes closed, aura of death radiating.
"Antares, where's it?"
The intruder asked.
"Why is this nobody looking for me?"
Lord Asteri replied. He appeared above us, facing the intruder.
Then with a snap or his fingers, I disappeared.
She wasn't the only one though. Everyone on the island was teleported away, leaving just the three of them.
ASTERI POV
Asteri and Atlas stood shoulder-to-shoulder, facing the lone figure who'd appeared as if reality itself had carried him into the Cardinal World.
If not, a Dark Star shouldn't manifest here without zero emission.
"What do you want?"
I demanded, aura already rising, flickering grey light lit my body.
"I'm here to take you—"
"Sorry."
I didn't wait for the sentence to finish nor do I care about his answer.
A blinding beam erupted forward, lighting the world white. Atlas lunged in the same breath only for his body to rupture, erased mid-charge. His death was instantaneous, jet black essence heading for the Dark Star.
"From his presence, he's a Dark God."
Atlas who's good in assess his enemies tier said.
"A Dark God?"
He asked, chuckling, hovering with his staff at hand.
"Don't compare me with those feeble trash."
[[IMAGE]]
[[IMAGE]]
To be continued...