★128
ASTERI'S POV
We stepped into being into the unknown. The environment was unlike anything I've experienced. Emptiness with qualities of fullness.
Before us stood a towering black tower. The was no sky to gauge it's height. It stretches as far as one's eyes can see.
The tower was perfectly shrouded in darkness so dark that it could be mistaken for the emptiness that contained it. There was no energy present, which only mean one thing.
This is...
'Void.'
Entares answered.
"Where are we?"
She asked. That question shattered her reality, our 'trip' wasn't a date.
Elfaria, who was cloaked in my protective aura, was terrified. Anyone would be. This is a place devoid of anything and everything. The two main forces here are darkness for concealment and void for nullification, a perfect hideout for my friend here.
No Major Concepts to give rise to archetypes, just a pure state of nonexistence.
I didn't answer because I could. I don't have to explain anything to her. As a matter of fact, she's here for one reason and Magos is fully aware of that.
Naturally, we shouldn't be able to move, think, or do anything due to the absence of these structural concepts, but thanks to Enta and me, that's not impossible. A Dark Star of his calibre should be in a self-sustaining state due to his connection with the void.
"Stay close."
I finally broke the silence.
She nodded, and with that, I led the way into the strange building. I had to take the lead because there's no up, down, forward, or backwards, but like I said, that's not an impossible feat for me. The pitch black doors opened automatically, and we walked in.
Unlike the exterior, the interior is lit with dim red flames, giving it a creepy and eerie look. It looked more like a dungeon from a fantasy. The walls, ceilings and floors are of same source, solidified darkness. They have features and didn't appear like a smooth black cardboard.
My fingers getting rub hers before holding them in a gentle squeeze. She flinched at my immediate gesture, but now that her attention is undivided, I asked for confirmation to which she replied with a nod, ready to face whatever I'm about to show her.
Without hesitation we stopped into the building, the doors closing behind us.
Our footsteps were the only source of sound in the tower as I navigate the path. By tracking the void energy he emited, finding him wasn't easy, and with no time, we arrived at the throne room.
We walked, standing at the centre of the room facing the sole figure in this tower, it's creator as well as my enemy.
He was seated on his throne which gave off similar yet inferior energy compared to Entares's.
"You come back."
He began.
"Too soon I'd say."
Magos spoke with his eyes closed as if he were sleeping without a care in the world. He sat upright, no fancy royal pose. His staff hovering next to him, the orb humming with dark energy, ready to attack.
"A lot rests in my hands. I can't afford to waste anymore time."
I replied. Though it wasn't an ideal approach, I have to act faster then planned.
"It seems like I made a mistake."
"Yeah. Not killing me or them."
He could've obliterated the Base World in his attempt but he chose a different route.
'He wanted me to feel something. That's why he tired to recreate that timeline here. That's not the Dark Star way of doing things. Could it be that Magos is like me, a being trying to feel something we're not designed to feel?'
"It'll be no fun to wipe them with a single spell. I wanted you to do it just like 'he' did."
He spoke in all honesty. One of the reasons I'm proud of our race, honesty is part of who we are.
"Speaking of 'him', what happened to him?"
He asked.
"We negotiated, and with time, I'll grant him his wish."
"Negotiated, huh."
He repeated, unable to understand how I can reason with a monster like Evil Asteri. If he wanted to end everything we've build, I shouldn't be able to buy him off.
"Not that I care about you guys."
He kept that aside, knowing it's futile to be involved in such matters.
"You know what's going to happen and yet, you've brought her. I hope you're prepared for the consequences?"
His crimson eyes opened slowly, his gaze landing on Elfaria. The gaze sharp enough to make Stars question their stand. I raised my palm blocking her view, she doesn't have to face his warth.
"I don't know what you did to her or why she betrayed me, but I'm here to make one thing clear."
I said, standing in front of her.
"And that is?"
"I'll defeat you and prove I'm a bigger threat than you are."
I snapped, summoning a Mystic Class sword.
(Damn cliche xd.)
In doing this, I'll position myself beyond the cosmic horror my people fear. With that, I won't get betrayed like the Evil Asteri because I'm way too evil compared to him.
"I see. Prove it, then."
The base of his staff gently tapped the floor with a soft metallic clang. In the next perceivable second, I can feel the entire structure collapsing inwards along with the void.
I reacted instantly, dark grey aura enveloping us both. At that moment, the tiles, bricks and darkness-based structures erupted, converging into the glowing orb of his staff.
We were floating in a collapsing void, but my eyes were locked on the lump of void that was piling up right above the staff.
It pulled in darkness and nothingness alike, charging something catastrophic. Despite that, it has weight and presence that pressed on reality. This is no ordinary feat, this is part of who he is.
"Void's End."
He spoke, the cluster of void responded immediately, traversing through the void with speed of it's own nature, erupting right before us. I could've countered but not yet.
Elafria shrank behind me as we were engulfed in absence, which devoured my barriers to nothingness. As expected.
It eroded my defenses instantly, gnawing at my aura layer by layer.
"Void Eater."
I countered right after the last layer of aura was nullified.
Using my body as a source of manifestation, the mist-like entity ejected, cloaking and containing Void's End in a single effortless motion. The Void Eater compressed Void's End instantly, slowing devouring it silently, leaving nothing behind.
Amid that void devouring void curtain, a blinding white radiance illuminated the Void Eater before dispersing it. My hands were screaming as a result, a clean bloodlees cut followed as his cheek tore open.
Magos wore a blank expression, unflinching as if knowing my capabilities.
"You want a prolonged battle?"
He asked, his wound regenerating.
"It took all I had to stop the Sword of Light from beheading you. Be grateful I've spared your life."
"Unlike you, I'll end this quickly."
He declared, his dark aura erupted outwards, engulfing his body in a black and red mist.
'This will be bad. Send her away.'
'I know.'
'You're already regretting your actions... take necessary precautions, or you'll die.'
Enta warned.
"A..lor.."
"It's not safe for you out here."
I broke her words summoning a portal.
"Go. I'll summon you once it's over."
I said but Elfaria didn't move. She stood her ground, her silence a barve answer for a human of her status.
I ignored the threat, approaching the Queen of the Land. Slowly, I raised my arms cupping her cheeks gently.
Our eyes locked for a moment, her emerald pupils dilated, reflecting my image. I didn't say anything neither did she. A silent exchange more powerful than words, but without words, she won't understand.
'You're brave but I can't let you stay here.'
"I don't hate you, Elfaria."
I began.
"You we're vulnerable to Magos's power. Using you as a gate pass and causing harm to your land is not your fault."
I let go of her and stepped back, giving her space to gather herself. Then I turned, my attention settling on Magos.
"Don't worry on the past. Focus on the present and how we'll build a future."
With a mere thought, I brought all of us to my world—Paradis. I allowed Magos to continue whatever transformation he was undergoing while I dealt with Elfaria.
Then I began walking towards him. My outer robe dissolved as I moved, melting away until only the inner white garment remained.
Celestial energy gathered in my palm, condensing into a mystic-class sword. Its presence was quiet yet absolute, star-like particles drifting around the blade as though drawn to it.
I stopped halfway and spoke over my shoulder.
"If you need my forgiveness, you'd better go. I can't stand the thought of losing the queen who rules my island…. My next wife, probably."
Her eyes widened in shock. I gave her a small wink and a reassuring smile.
She hesitated for a moment, her cheeks burning red, then nodded. With the looming threat and the weight of my words, she finally understood I'd like to face Magos alone.
"I... I'll do anything to get that spot."
Without another word, she spoke her resolve and stepped into the portal, vanishing from sight.
It was then that Magos finally earned my full, undivided attention. I gave the sword a casual swing, star-like energy trailing through the air in its wake.
"Don't keep me waiting."
I addressed him, but he didn't respond at once.
When he finally did, his voice had changed—thick with darkness and malice. The sound of it made the hairs on my neck rise.
"I wasn't just a Star who was under the guardianship of the Void Emperor..."
He paused.
The chaotic aura surrounding him suddenly stabilised, folding in on itself. From within it, a calm, composed silhouette stepped forward, a glowing red sword held firmly in his grip.
Beside him, an orb of void began to descend—so deep it threatened to eclipse even the void of the previous plane. It drifted slowly and obediently, before settling into his right palm, taking shape as if answering his will.
The instant it settled, his aura detonated outward in a violent surge. Magos stood revealed, fully clad in obsidian armour that bled a suffocating darkness into the air.
In his left hand rested a black blade wrapped in a seething crimson aura; in his right, a pitch-black spear that radiated a malice far surpassing anything I had faced before.
His horns lengthened and twisted skyward like jagged branches, forming a grotesque crown of bone that defied geometry. I used to wonder why Dark Stars bore horns. But now, I understood.
"I was also under the tutelage of the Death Knight."
His words sent a chill down my spine, yet I held my ground beneath the pressure of his piercing red eyes. Under that gaze, even the slightest movement meant death—assuming one could move at all.
'That armour and the spear...'
'Yeah, I can sense it too.'
Enta replied. This is the first time he felt something worthy form the opponents I've faced.
"I'll clean this mess once and for all."
He declared, finally taking his task seriously.
"Be ready, Antares."
He twisted his blade barely an inch, almost imperceptible—but I felt the crushing reality of it.
Every barrier I had cast was meaningless. A red arc cleaved through my elbow, and now my right hand hung by a sliver of torn flesh. I had been too slow, too human.
'You're kidding?'
'S..so fast and undetectable. Switch with me, Asteri!'
Enta exclaimed.
"I appreciate your kindness..."
I responded by releasing my aura, instantly mending my wound and coalescing to form grey armour plates that shielded parts of my body.
"I'll defeat him myself."
I released the mystic‑class sword and summoned my finest weapon—Rose Fang, a blade of boundless durability and endurance.
My aura spiralled along its edge, saturating the blunt metal with a void‑like intensity.
"Here I come, Magos."
I lunged towards him, Rose Fang at the ready.
To be continued...