Chapter 99: The Scythe of the Abyss and the Celestial Duel
The air in the Inner Sanctum was no longer thin; it was suffocatingly dense with the conflicting energies of the abyss and the heavens. The Celestial Projection, a figure of blinding white light, hovered above the obsidian throne, its presence radiating a cold, mechanical authority that felt like an ocean of ice.
"Reincarnation is a privilege of the righteous," the Judge spoke, its voice not a sound, but a direct vibration into their minds. "You, Volt, have stolen a second life to spread a plague of shadows once more. For the safety of the celestial order, this sanctum shall be your tomb—again."
Von (Volt) stood his ground, his boots digging into the black marble floor as it cracked under the pressure of his mana. The Void Reaper, having absorbed the memory shards of the hall, had transformed. It was no longer a sword; it was a massive, jagged scythe of obsidian, dripping with violet flames that seemed to hiss as they touched the divine light.
"The 'righteous'?" Von growled, his voice a guttural rasp that echoed through the dimensions. "You mean the cowards who attacked from the shadows while I was building a world of balance? You don't get to talk about righteousness in my house."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Hidden Quest 'Defeat the Celestial Projection' Status: ACTIVE. Opponent Power Level: Divine. Skill 'Abyssal Overload' at 98% capacity. Warning: Prolonged use will lead to mana burnout.]
The Judge raised a hand, and hundreds of spears of solidified light appeared in the air, all aimed at Von. With a single flick of its wrist, the spears rained down like a golden thunderstorm.
"Sai! The barrier!" Rena screamed, her hands glowing with a desperate, emerald-green mana to support the defense.
Sai roared, slamming his heavy shield into the ground. A dome of translucent steel-blue energy erupted, protecting them from the initial barrage. The spears hit the shield with the sound of a thousand glass bells shattering. "Von! I can't hold this against a god! Do something!"
Von didn't run. He didn't hide. He spun the massive scythe in a blur of shadow, creating a vortex that caught the remaining spears and turned them into grey dust. With a sudden burst of speed—the 'Void Step'—he appeared directly in front of the Celestial Judge.
"Die in the light you worship," Von hissed.
The scythe cut through the air, leaving a trail of black fire. The Judge blocked the strike with a shield made of pure solar energy, but the impact sent a shockwave that shattered every mirror and crystal shard remaining in the room. The collision of the two powers created a "Mana-Vacuum," making it impossible for anyone to breathe for a split second.
Aki, who had been looking for a way to flank the entity, realized that his daggers were useless against a being of light. "I can't stab a sun! Rena, I need a boost! Use that fire magic to coat my blades!"
Rena didn't hesitate. She channeled her fire mana into Aki's daggers, turning them into white-hot streaks of flame. "Aki, you only have one shot! If you miss, the feedback will kill you!"
Aki grinned, his master thief instincts taking over. "Miss? I never miss when the prize is survival." Using the confusion of the main clash, Aki leaped from a floating pillar, his fiery daggers aimed at the 'core' pulsing in the Judge's chest.
The Judge sensed the threat and swatted Aki aside with a wave of energy, but the distraction was all Von needed.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Synchronization at 100%. Skill Unlocked: 'Sovereign's Final Judgment'. Do you wish to execute?]
"Execute," Von commanded.
The obsidian scythe grew ten times its size, becoming a colossal blade of pure void. Von swung the weapon in a horizontal arc. It didn't just cut the Judge; it cut the space the Judge was occupying. The white light was torn asunder, replaced by a screaming silence as the abyss consumed the divine projection.
"Impossible..." the Judge's voice flickered. "The heavens... cannot... fall..."
"Then fall into the dirt," Von replied coldly.
The projection exploded in a burst of white sparks, leaving the room in a sudden, haunting silence. The obsidian throne remained, but now it was covered in a faint, violet frost.
Von slumped to his knees, his scythe turning back into a sword and then vanishing into his shadow. His breathing was heavy, and the black tattoos on his arm were pulsing with a dangerous red light.
[QUEST COMPLETE: Celestial Projection Defeated. Rewards: 50,000 XP, 5,000 Gold, and 'The Broken Crown of Eternal Night' (Relic). Relationship with Sai, Aki, and Rena: Solidified.]
Aki crawled out from under a pile of rubble, coughing. "Is it over? Did we win? Please tell me we won so I can go back to complaining about my boots."
Rena ran to Von's side, her eyes filled with concern. "Von! You're bleeding from your eyes! Stop the synchronization now!"
Von looked up at her, a faint, tired smirk on his face. "We have the Crown, Rena. But this was only a projection. The real Judges... they know I'm here now. And they're coming."
In the far corner of the room, a new portal began to open—not of light, but of the same shifting mist that had brought them to the mountain. Their journey had only just truly begun.