Chapter 22: Hell Meets The storm
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The middle parts of the continent lay in ruin, a testament to Veldora's unrelenting wrath.
Cities were reduced to rubble, forests burned to ashes, and rivers ran red with the blood of those who had tried to stand in his way.
His form ever twisting and adapting , moved with a terribly unquenchable anger.
The remnants of his fury had carved a path of destruction that none could escape.
Driven by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, Veldora set his sights on the demon realm.
He remembered Noir, the demon who assisted in killing Charybdis, and his anger reignited with a fierce intensity.
The journey to the demon realm was a blur of violence and devastation.
He punched his way through mountains, tore apart landscapes, and created shockwaves that reverberated across the continent.
He could faintly sense Velgrynd and her human toy approaching but he paid them no attention.
When Veldora's skill that was focusing on adapting to fulfill his goal of reaching the demon realm attained a saturation point ,he could feel the barrier separating it from the demon realm.
It was an invisible wall, a rift in reality, but it could not stop him anymore.
He had temporarily shut down his magic to completely focus his existence power in gaining acces to the realm physically.
With a roar that shook the Cardinal world, Veldora drew back his fist and punched with all his might.The impact cataclysmic in both worlds physical and spiritual.
The fabric of reality and space time tore apart, creating a massive rift.
The energy released was so intense that the skies above the continent cracked as if made of glass, and the earth trembled creating earthquakes.
A portal to the demon realm yawned open, an unstable, swirling vortex of dimensional energies.
Veldora stepped through the rift, the air growing thicker with dark energy and malevolence.
He entered this foreign territory, his eyes burning with a singular focus.
The realm itself seemed to recoil at his presence its spirnature conflicting with his physical presence, its inhabitants shuddering in fear.
He could sense that insect and almost instantly with a single jump veldora tore through the realm and reached him.
"So, the mighty Veldora has come to seek vengeance. How quaint."
Veldora's response was a primal roar that shook the very foundations of the demon realm.
He lunged at Noir with a speed that belied his massive form, his claws tearing through the air.
Noir raised his hand, dark energy swirling around him as he prepared to counterattack.
But Veldora's prowess was unmatched. He struck with physical force so great that it shredded the very fabric of the demon realm.
Noir's defenses crumbled under the onslaught.
The demon barely had time to register the impact before he was obliterated, his form disintegrating into nothingness.
The fight, if it could be called that, ended almost as soon as it began.
The fight was observed by many of the other primordials but none dared to interfere.
The dark energy that once thrived in the realm dissipated, as Alastor utilised the ever present magicules to try to adapt to the dimensional energies.that flowed frely from the rift he created
Veldora stood amidst the ruins of the demon realm, his monstrous form heaving with exertion.
He had avenged Charybdis, but the rage that had fueled his rampage left him feeling hollow.
His eyes scanned the desolate landscape, taking in the devastation he had wrought.
With a final, guttural growl, Veldora turned away from the demon realm.
The rift he had created still pulsed with chaotic energy, a gaping wound in the fabric of reality.
As he stepped back through the rift, the path of destruction in his wake served as a grim reminder of the power of his vengeance.
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The destruction Veldora wrought was unparalleled, but even the mightiest force of nature could not quell the storm within his heart.
After leaving the shattered remnants of the demon realm behind, Veldora flew aimlessly until he found himself over the familiar expanse of the Jura Forest.
This place, once a sanctuary and home, now felt like a distant memory.
Veldora's shirtened wings beat heavily as he descended, seeking solace in a specific location—the cave that Charybdis had used as her base when they lived together.
He landed with a thunderous impact, his monstrous form casting long shadows in the dim light of the cave.
The memories of their time together flooded back, overwhelming him with a mixture of nostalgia and grief.
Veldora shifted into a larger, more familiar form albeit still being a humanoid dragon, though his heart remained heavy.
He moved to the center of the cave, where traces of Charybdis's presence still lingered.
Veldora sat down, his head hanging low.
The silence of the cave enveloped him, a stark contrast to the chaos and destruction he had unleashed.
Tears began to flow from his eyes, glistening in the dim light.
Despite all his power, he realized that his rampage had been a way to run away from his true feelings.
The loss of Charybdis had left a void of sorrow and panic that no amount of destruction could fill.
His tears fell freely now, each drop a testament to his sorrow and regret.
He had sought vengeance, but in the end, it had only deepened his pain.
Panic began to set in as the full weight of his loss crashed down on him.
He had lost the only person he could consider family once again.
The thought of being alone, truly alone, filled him with a dread he hadn't felt in centuries.
His breathing grew ragged, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
"Charybdis..." he whispered, his voice cracking.
"Why did this happen? Why did you have to go?"
Veldora in his emotionally driven state had yet to notice that the soul corridor was slowly opening up.
The cave that had once been a place of warmth and companionship now felt like a tomb, a reminder of what he had lost.
Veldora's thoughts raced, struggling to grasp the reality of his situation.
The emptiness inside him seemed to grow, threatening to swallow him whole.
As the echoes of his mournful roar faded, Veldora curled up on the cold stone floor, his wings wrapping around him like a cocoon.
He closed his eyes, trying to find some semblance of peace in the memories of better times.
The Jura Forest outside continued its serene existence, unaware of the turmoil within the cave.
[Announcement: "Alastor, Lord of Vengeance" has shut down Vengeance Mode to allow for natural healing.]
A soothing warmth spread through Veldora's body as his natural healing abilities began to activate.
The monstrous form that had been twisted and battered by his rage started to mend.
Scales regrew, muscles knitted back together to their previous form, and the pain that had been a constant companion slowly began to fade.
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[PoV :Charybdis]
"Pant... pant..." Charybdis panted from exhaustion, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she paused in her training.
The Marble Phantasm, with its grotesque beauty and timeless horror , was her sanctuary.
She had been practicing with utmost dedication, pushing herself to her limits.
Her body glistened with sweat, the exertion of her efforts evident.
"I need to keep going," she murmured to herself, her determination unwavering. "I can't afford to slack off."
She steadied her breathing, taking in the calming ambiance of the Marble Phantasm.
The gentle sound of flowing water and the soft rustling of leaves in the ethereal breeze provided a soothing backdrop to her intense training sessions.
"Focus, Charybdis," she whispered, closing her eyes for a moment to center herself.
"You're getting stronger. Just a little more."
With renewed resolve, she resumed her practice, her movements precise and controlled.
She was unaware of the happenings in the outside world, completely immersed in her own journey of improvement.
"Pant... pant..." Her breath came in rhythmic gasps as she continued, each exertion bringing her closer to her goal.
In the Marble Phantasm, time seemed to lose its meaning.
Hours felt like minutes, and Charybdis lost herself in the flow of her training.
She paused again, her muscles aching but her spirit undeterred.
"I wonder how Veldora is doing," she thought aloud, a brief moment of genuine concern crossing her mind.
"I hope he's okay."
Charybdis shook her head, refocusing on her training.
"He can take care of himself. I need to keep pushing forward."
The odd calmness of the Marble Phantasm was a stark contrast to the turmoil outside.
Here, Charybdis found peace in her solitude, her mind clear and her heart determined.
As she continued her practice, she remained blissfully unaware of the chaos and grief that had unfolded behest of her death.
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Almost 1500 words
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