Chapter 171: The Echoes of Ruin and the Sovereign's Shadow
The silence that followed the destruction of the Void Sentinels was heavier than the battle itself. The frozen earth of the farm was scarred with deep craters and scorched by the violet and crimson energies of the two princes. Volt, the Demon King, remained standing at the edge of the property, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the last remnants of the Shadow Army were dissipating into the mist. On his wrist, the golden crest of the "Prime Architect" continued to pulse with a rhythmic, ethereal glow, a constant reminder that the laws of this world were now under his absolute dominion.
Anos sheathed his sword, the metallic click echoing in the still air. His breathing was calm, despite the intensity of the clash. "They were stronger than the ones before," he noted, walking toward his father. "The Void is no longer sending mere scouts; they are sending executioners." Volt nodded slowly. "They have sensed the shift in the balance. When the mark of the Author was claimed, it sent a ripple through the dimensions. Every ancient entity now knows that the throne of the Demon King is no longer vacant."
Beside them, Akuto was struggling to retract the crimson markings of Sakuna from his skin. His eyes were still burning with a cursed light. "I felt it... during the fight," Akuto whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and excitement. "The more I fought, the more the world seemed to bend to my will. It was as if the very air was waiting for my command." Volt turned to him, his violet eyes piercing. "That is the influence of our lineage. As our presence in this realm grows, so does our ability to rewrite its reality. But be warned, Akuto: power without a steady hand is a path to oblivion."
The growth of their influence was undeniable. In a remarkably short period, the energy signature of the household had increased by thousands of percent, a surge that had redefined the power hierarchy of the surrounding territories. This sudden rise had not only drawn enemies but also whispers of awe from the hidden spirits of the land. The family was no longer a group of refugees; they were a rising empire.
Vanessa walked out from the porch, carrying blankets for the boys. Sasha and Karin followed her, their faces pale but their eyes filled with determination. "It's over for now," Vanessa said, her voice a soothing balm against the lingering tension. "But the world feels different tonight." Sasha walked over to Akuto, placing her hand on his arm. The moment she touched him, the cursed markings finally faded. "You did well, Akuto. But don't let the darkness consume the boy I know."
Inside the farmhouse, Sai sat by the fire, his head in his hands. Sakuna, silenced by Volt's overwhelming presence, was a dormant storm within him. But Sai knew it wouldn't last. "The King has claimed his title," Sai thought, looking at the door as Volt entered. "But the higher we climb, the thinner the air becomes. The Void will not stop until it swallows the light we have created."
Volt sat at the head of the table, the golden crest on his wrist illuminating the room. He looked at his family—his heirs, his companions, his life. "The first trial is complete," he declared. "The recognition we have gained today is only the foundation. We will continue to expand, to write our names into the fabric of this universe until the word 'Demon King' is synonymous with 'Absolute Truth'."
The night deepened, but the farmhouse remained a beacon of light in the frozen wasteland. They were prepared for the long road ahead, knowing that every step they took and every word they spoke was a brick in the monument of their legacy.