Astravon Empire
Kaelvyr stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the figure before him. For several moments, he seemed unable to decide whether he was looking at a living being, a spiritual construct, or something that belonged to an entirely different order of existence. At last, he turned toward Nova.
"What do you mean by your creation?"
Nova walked toward the figure and gently touched its icy shoulder. A pleased smile crossed her face as she looked at it.
"I created it. Isn't it cool?"
The figure turned its crystal-blue eyes toward her. Its physical body was covered in delicate icy sculptures, while blue hair rested around its face and released an unfamiliar energy. The energy did not behave like anything Kaelvyr had encountered before. It carried a transparent glow, faintly spiritual in appearance, yet different from ordinary Spiritual Energy.
"Master," the figure said, "what is my name?"
Nova paused. She tilted her head and looked upward as if searching through her thoughts for an answer.
"Hmm… a name." She tapped her finger lightly against her cheek. "I'll name you later, after I return from this so-called place I'm being sent to."
Kaelvyr continued staring at the creation. His amazement had not faded. If anything, it had deepened.
"What kind of energy does your creation possess?" he asked.
Nova looked back at the figure, her expression becoming uncertain.
"I don't know." She studied the energy surrounding it with open curiosity. "I used that kind of energy while combining Spiritual Energy and Holy Energy. It was pretty interesting. It released a transparent glow that looked spiritual, but it wasn't exactly the same."
Even Nova seemed confused by what she had made. She turned away from the creation and walked toward Kaelvyr, then pointed back at it.
"So, you…"
The figure immediately looked toward her.
"You can entertain him and protect him while I'm gone."
Kaelvyr raised an eyebrow.
Nova pointed at the creation next. "Although you are way, way stronger than it, I don't know… just stay with it."
The figure remained silent, its crystal-blue eyes fixed on Kaelvyr. Kaelvyr, however, only smiled before sitting on the bed.
"So, you're leaving now?" he asked.
Nova nodded. She reached for the door handle and opened it, only to find Eris standing directly outside.
Before Eris could look past her, Nova quickly shifted her body to block the doorway. At the same moment, she snapped her fingers. Behind her, the creation dissolved into smoke and vanished from sight.
Eris narrowed her eyes, clearly trying to see what Nova was hiding inside the room.
"I'm ready," Nova said.
Kaelvyr rose slightly from the bed and looked toward her.
"If you need help, signal me."
"How?" Nova asked.
"Release your Spiritual Energy into the sky. I should be able to see it from here."
Nova smiled. Her eyes moved toward Astra, who remained asleep on the bed. For a moment, her expression softened. Then she turned away and followed Eris outside.
Eris escorted her to the carriage waiting beyond the building. Nova entered, and after the carriage departed, Eris remained where she was, watching until it disappeared from view.
Astravon Empire — The King's Castle
Krios and Zarek stood inside the throne room, waiting for Eris to return. The enormous doors slowly opened, and Eris stepped inside. The sound of her shoes echoed across the chamber as she walked toward them with a calm smile.
"Nova has departed," she announced. "It's time for the next phase."
The King raised one hand. A servant standing behind him immediately moved to his right side.
"Inform everyone to leave the empire," the King ordered. "There is no need for panic or disorder. The elite families may remain."
Krios tightened his grip around his sword.
"Then let's go."
"Wait."
Eris turned toward Zarek and looked him over.
"Where is your sword?"
Zarek glanced at her. "My family is using it. They're—"
"I don't care," Eris interrupted. "How do you intend to fight Kaelvyr without a sword?"
Zarek extended one hand. It immediately turned pitch black as dark demonic energy gathered around his palm. The energy condensed, stretched, and formed the shape of a sword.
"I can do this."
Eris shook her head slowly.
"So, you're working with the Abyssal Devourer."
Zarek nodded.
The King looked at him. "I wish you good luck. Try not to destroy my city."
They were about to leave when the throne-room doors opened once more. A figure entered the chamber, and Krios stepped forward, tightening his hold on his sword.
"I was sent by the Ruler," the figure said.
Krios frowned. "What does he want this time?"
The figure smiled faintly.
"You appear to have handled Nova, so you went ahead with the King's plan."
Krios's expression hardened. "Who are you?"
"There is no need for you to know." The figure's smile faded. "I'm here to tell you not to kill him completely."
Eris immediately stepped forward.
"We are facing an Origin, not some low-ranking species!"
The figure moved back slightly but did not appear intimidated.
"I need to sever the soul thread connecting him to one of his angels."
Eris stared at him before looking around the chamber in disbelief.
"Damn! How insane is our Ruler?"
She forced herself to calm down, then looked directly at the figure.
"Will you be fighting too?"
"No," the figure replied. "I'll wait until you have weakened him."
Eris turned toward Zarek and Krios. Zarek's expression remained serious.
"We cannot disobey the Ruler's orders."
Eris smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
"And do I care about the Ruler's orders? He doesn't even care whether I die or not. We've already done him enough favors."
She turned back to the figure and pointed toward the doors.
"You. Go back home."
"I can't do that."
Eris's expression went still.
"Be still."
The command left her mouth with force. Her eyes turned pitch black as she stared at the figure.
"If you won't leave willingly, I'll make you."
The figure smiled.
"You can't kill me."
"Don't speak!" Eris commanded. Her voice echoed through the throne room. "You don't deserve to."
She stepped back and studied him more carefully. Then, recognition widened her eyes.
"I know who you are. You're the Ruler's right hand, the one said to be so powerful and strong."
The figure's eyes opened wide. Strange markings appeared along both sides of its mouth, stretching across its face.
"Even if you die here," Eris continued, "you'll return. Your core isn't even here."
Her smile returned.
"So… goodbye."
She lifted her hand.
"Die."
The figure's body immediately burst apart. Red demonic energy flooded the throne room, spreading through the air and across the floor. Before the energy could disperse, Krios drew it into himself and consumed it.
He lowered his sword slightly.
"We've reached the King's bad side already."
Eris smiled and turned toward the King.
"Pardon us. We'll be leaving now."
She walked out with Krios and Zarek. The throne-room doors closed behind them, leaving the King alone with the remnants of red demonic energy still fading from the chamber.
He stared at the empty space where the figure had stood.
Such power… so dangerous.
To be continued…