★119
THIRD POV
"If only you'd listen to what I have to say."
Magos walked forward without urgency.
Asteri lay suspended, his body skewered and held upright by the staff impaled through him. Where his face should have been was a gaping void.
"Void,"
Magos continued, his tone almost instructional.
"You possess it, yes. But you don't understand it well enough. You can't wield it with the strength needed to defeat me."
He reached down, seized Asteri by the hair, and tore him free as if he weighed nothing.
With a single motion, he hurled him into the open portal behind him. Asteri vanished without resistance, his body tumbling into nothingness.
Magos didn't bother to watch him go.
"Easier than expected."
He said, turning away.
The people sheltering within the safe world watched in silence, their faces pale, nervous.
They had seen everything. Asteri, who's meant to be the strongest had been ended without struggle. No cinematic clash, just defeat.
Then the trees withered.
Its vast trunk cracked, black veins racing through the bark before it collapsed in on itself, crumbling into fine ash that drifted into the void. As it fell, something else rose to take its place.
A pressure bloomed, cold and steeped in raw malice. It pressed in from every direction, smothering the space, carrying a murderous intent so pure it needed no form. Magos slowly turned his head to the deadly pressure.
Without warning, that presence surged forward and hurled itself at Magos.
He snapped his fingers, a veil of void wrapped around him—but the moment it formed, it disintegrated, turning to ash as if it had never existed. It circle once, setting where it had took of.
Magos didn't flinch. He didn't even step back.
"Hiding in your truest form, are we?"
He murmured, his voice calm, almost amused.
"Archetypal form of death. Come with me. My Master is just like you. He'd be 'delighted' to have a student of your calibre."
He extended a hand in invitation.
The entity didn't hesitate. It struck again, faster and more deadlier.
Magos reacted on instinct. He tilted his head just enough for the attack to skim past, the force whispering by his face. A thin line opened across his cheek. There was no blood nor rapid regeneration form nothingness.
"Oh—"
The sound escaped him, quiet and surprise.
He reached up, brushing his fingers against the cut, eyes narrowing as if reassessing everything he thought he knew.
"It's a shame to have you as an enemy."
The words lingered for a fraction of a second.
A portal folded behind him. He stepped back into the opening, and the portal sealed shut, leaving nothing behind but silence—and the presence that still burned with unresolved killing intent.
The force lingered for a moment, simmering with rage, then slowly descended into the forest, cooling, settling… waiting.
Asterians were safe. They were alive thanks to their monarch, but he was kidnapped, and his peers were injured. Star Island has no Stars to maintain order if needed.
"N... no way?"
"A..Asteri?"
"..."
"What should we do now?"
They complained while others were silent.
"We can't get him back."
Someone who should've been on their knees crying, begging while blaming themselves, replied casually.
"H—Hinamatsuri, what do you mean?"
"The Dragons have accessed the portal. It's void. Once we get in, our existence will simply fade. A meaningless suicide."
She said, her conclusion final as the fate that awaits them.
"So, what should we do now? We can't just sit and wait."
Elafria was growing impatient, trying her best to act normal. But deep down, she felt guilt.
Magos used her to infiltrate the island. The enemy invaded the moment she acted abnormally, and the fact that Amri was the only outsider who was hunted made it feel like the enemy still had use for her.
"I can read you like a book, Elfaria. Just keep your mouth shut and do as I say."
Hinata snapped, her usual friendly self completely gone. It was replaced by someone cold and ancient. It's as if the Mother of Dragons has awakened.
What's evident? Her brown eyes began to gain light, and faint glowing tattoos could be spotted on her skin.
"The fact that the enemy didn't kill him means they have use for him. As for us, why did you think he spared us?"
She asked, but none answered. Her new personality struck fear in their hearts.
Just then, the door opened, and Elaine flew in.
"He didn't. Naturally, Dark Star of that calibre reduce their surroundings to nothingness by merely stepping in."
She answered immediately as she entered, joining the conversation.
"That fact that the Base World is still intact means he's not interested in doing so. He didn't kill Asteri also means he's planning something."
"Yes. Their powers are sometimes to be feared. At the very least, we should be expecting unexpected visitors later on."
Hinata added. As the Mother of Dragons, she could try to gauge and compare Magos to the Void Dragons Family which in turn tells her how strong he is.
'Nyxon, or rather, Antares once faced Modryth, a True Descendent and it didn't end well. Yet, Nebulas are far more deadlier than any Family. This isn't an opponent to face. The best we can do is "hope" He doesn't comes back.'
"Strengthen the defence and assemble the army. The clones can't do much without their master."
She ordered. Majo lower her head, exiting the hall.
"Scarlet King, join up with the demons to protect Raja."
"My Lady—"
"Don't worry, I'll personally summon you when needed. Besides, you're the only one I can trust to protect them."
"Ok. Leave it to me."
He lowered his head before disappearing.
"Star General Tokito, assigns soldiers as reinforcement for Raja."
"Roger that."
"Asterians will remain here for the time being. It's better to be safe than sorry. Elaine, come with me. We have to recover Atlas."
"Sure."
In that instant, Hinata made plans for the future. With Asterians safe somewhere else, the probability of Star Island being targeted is low, so she sends most of the troops to Raja. The two took off to heal Atlas.
To be continued...