Bab 121: Chapter 119: A Wolf's Fate
Chapter 119: A Wolf's Fate
At the base of the massive tree where Barrond and Darius were meeting, Labrys paced restlessly, his heavy hooves cracking the ground with each step. The air buzzed with tension as Siaer emerged from the earth, her massive antlers swaying gently in the shifting light.
Labrys turned sharply, his molten eyes narrowing. "Why are you here? They can't be done already." His voice carried a low growl as he stomped toward her.
"He discovered me," she admitted, her tone calm despite the faint twitch in her brow. "Quite embarrassing, honestly."
"Laughable!" he scoffed, flexing his arms as his jagged stone plates ground against each other. "You must've let your guard down. Go back—"
"No need." Siaer's voice cut through Labrys's, her gaze shifting upward to the colossal tree. "I saw all I needed to see. Master was right, we mustn't underestimate him."
The horned Gaurdian snorted, steam billowing from his nostrils as he rolled his massive shoulders. "You're getting soft. Either way, I'll judge how impressive this human truly—"
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
The booming voice of Barrond erupted from within the tree, shaking its mighty branches. The sheer force of it sent a shockwave through the air, causing leaves to fall like rain. Both guardians froze, their bodies instantly tense as their senses extended outward, scanning the meeting room.
----
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
Darius stood unmoved as the force of Barrond's roar ripped through the room, stirring his robes and ruffling his hair. Calmly brushing a strand from his face, he offered a faint smile. "Surely you're exaggerating. There must be a way."
"You're insane!" Barrond slammed a massive paw onto the table, the impact shaking the chamber. His voice groaning with barely restrained anger. "Agarttha is the most powerful convergence site on all of Gaia! It has served as a sanctuary for Gaia's high beings for millennia. And you, a mere human, expect me to hand it over?"
Sighing softly, Darius shook his head, his expression almost disappointed. "I expected better of you, Barrond. Honestly, I'm offended."
Barrond froze, his brow lifting as his rage shifted to confusion. His teeth clenched as he tried to rein in his temper. "You're offended?" His tone was laced with disbelief. "Fine. Enlighten me. How, exactly, have I offended you?"
"You assume I've made this request on a whim. That I'm some greedy child who saw a shiny bauble and decided it should be mine."
"...Well, yes!"
Darius raised an eyebrow, his voice steady and sharp. "Then you've insulted me. To think that's how you view me... It's disappointing, to say the least. My request is not driven by selfish desire. It's made with the intent of mutual benefit, nothing else."
"Mutual benefit?" Barrond's snort was derisive as he leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "Explain to me, human, how handing over Gaia's greatest convergence site benefits me in the slightest?"
Darius met the bear's glare head-on, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Because it will allow me to increase my strength in the time we need." And at the same time thinking, 'besides, you can't expect me to save the world for free.'
Barrond hesitated, caught off guard by the bluntness of his words. For a moment, he searched Darius for a hint of falsehood but found none. "That... that's not a justification," he finally muttered, his tone softer but still resistant. "It's too much to ask."
Darius leaned forward slightly, his gaze unwavering. "Too much to ask to save Gaia?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and deliberate. Barrond's massive frame shifted, the weight of Darius's words settling on him like a stone.
"Alright!" Barrond's voice boomed with reluctant agreement. "But I can't hand over what isn't mine alone. I'll have to bring this to the other Kings first."
"That's more than enough." Darius inclined his head slightly, his tone even. "While you're doing that, I'd ask another—"
"Hold on!" The world-bear interrupted, raising a massive stone paw. His expression turned grave. "Before you start asking for my eyes next, there's something important I need to tell you."
Darius paused mid-sentence, sensing the weight in his tone. He gestured for the bear to continue.
Barrond drew a deep breath, meeting Darius's gaze. "There is news from the human world. News that concerns you."
Darius didn't flinch, but his eyes narrowed. "Go on."
"Crowley has ascended. And to celebrate his new tower and rank, he's announced an event." The bear hesitated for a moment before finishing. "An execution."
The air between them grew heavy. Darius's expression didn't waver, but his aura flickered, a subtle shift Barrond couldn't ignore. "Marcus?"
Barrond shook his massive head. "No… it's your father. Jarek Valdene."
'What?! Darius, we—!'
Time seemed to slow as Barrond watched the human closely, unsure what to expect. Despite his formidable presence, the bear felt a flicker of unease. Yet Darius remained unnervingly composed, his fists clenched but his breathing steady, even his aura suddenly withdrew completely. 'He's restraining himself. Impressive.'
"Do you know when this is happening?"
"In six months." Barrond replied quickly, trying to maintain the delicate balance of the moment.
Darius nodded, processing the information in silence. After a beat, he spoke again, his tone measured. "Thank you for telling me. Now, I'd like to make a couple requests."
Barrond blinked, caught off guard by the shift in topic. "Requests?"
"First, I'd like your two guards standing outside to train my little brother, Haku. Have them spar with him, test him, and provide him with plenty of mana-beasts to fight and consume."
Barrond hesitated, stunned by the abruptness of the request. "Uh… yes—yeah, consider it done."
"Second, are you able to take me to Rancito Cordoba?"
"Yes, I can get you there in a few days travel." Barrond hesitated, his voice dropping slightly. "But, Darius… as you are now—"
"Don't worry." Darius's interruption was calm, measured. "I have no intention of running headlong to my death. I'll use these six months to grow stronger before I go."
Barrond studied him, his massive roots shifting uneasily. Then, with a steadying breath, the bear straightened, his chest puffing out. "I'll take you—when you're ready. And if you're ready."
Darius's brow lifted. A momentary flash of light in his eyes, "explain."
Barrond pushed on, his tone firm. "Before I allow you to leave, you'll be tested. The Stone Tyrant Labrys will oversee your trial. If you pass, I'll take you to Rancito Cordoba. If not..." He trailed off, his meaning clear. "I won't send you to your death."
A weak smile crossed Darius's lips, "I appreciate your concern, Barrond. It speaks to your sincerity, even if it risks offending me."
The world-bear nodded. "I'm glad you're level-headed enough to understand. I wish I could do more, but—"
"Still, we have a misunderstanding," Darius interrupted, his voice steady but pointed. "It seems you don't understand the reality of our relationship."
That subtle yet unmistakable prick of unease crept into Barrond's chest, the same chill he'd felt when they first met.
Darius shifted slightly, his hands still clasped behind his back, his glowing azure eyes narrowing. "You know about my origins, but I haven't really told you the full extent of the life I lived before I came to Gaia." His gaze sharpened. "You caught a glimpse of it the first time we met, but now, I'll need to make things clear."
Barrond's brow furrowed, irritation flickering in his expression. "That murderous aura of yours?" He snorted, lifting a massive paw dismissively. "Don't think that will change anything."
The atmosphere shifted as the center of the Lithic Bastion stilled.
A weight descended on Barrond's domain, oppressive and suffocating. The air twisted with malice, drowning everything in chaos. Rage, fear, and anguish surged through the center region. The grass, the trees, the stones—all felt the pulse of death and slaughter, an apocalypse of despair that shattered the very essence of peace. Every lifeform in the domain, from the mightiest guardian to the smallest insect, was crushed beneath the surging tide of raw killing intent.
And then, as suddenly as it appeared, the storm vanished. Silence blanketed the world, deafening and alien. The absence of chaos was so shocking that it felt like a cruel illusion.
Barrond stood frozen, his colossal body trembling. For the first time in eons, doubt seeped into his thoughts. 'Was peace even a concept, or had life always been meant for death?' His mind rebelled against the stillness, questioning whether anything had ever existed beyond the carnage.
"STOP!" The bear roared, slamming a paw into the ground with such force that the earth cracked beneath him. His body surged with earth mana, doubling in size as he shook his head, desperate to dispel the lingering intent. His eyes blazed as he glared at Darius. "You dare?!"
Darius hadn't moved. His expression was as calm as ever, his voice steady. "I showed you my true killing intent. This is something I cultivated over a lifetime, Barrond. Not from a handful of deaths, but from the weight of millions."
"We have a relationship of mutual agreement, nothing more," his tone calm but firm. "You need something from me, and I need something from you. I hold no delusions that I could stop you if you truly meant to keep me here." He turned, walking toward the wall. Pressing his signet ring into the wood, he glanced back. "But I think we both know that wouldn't be a good choice for either of us."
Barrond remained still, his massive bulk unmoving, though his expression betrayed him. His thoughts churned. 'He called my bluff.' Letting out a heavy sigh, the world-bear lowered his head slightly.
As the swirling portal began to take shape, Darius cast a final look over his shoulder. "I'll return soon bringing Haku. In the meantime, I'd appreciate it if you could confirm the exact date of the execution."
Snorting, Barrond clicked his barked tongue, irritation barely masking his unease. "Go," he muttered as Darius stepped through the glowing gateway and disappeared. The portal faded, leaving the room eerily silent.
The bear stared at the spot where Darius had stood, his massive claws tapping against the floor. 'It's too late to turn back.'
The stillness was broken as the ground trembled faintly, heralding the arrival of Labrys and Siaer. The two guardians entered the meeting hall, their usual composure replaced by something more unsettled. Their eyes darted briefly to each other before focusing on Barrond.
"What do you think, Siaer?" Barrond rumbled, his deep voice filling the space. "Was I wrong?"
Siaer shook her massive antlers slowly, the fruits and vines intertwined in their grooves swaying gently. "No, sire. In fact, I believe you underestimated our little friend. He's more of a monster than you led us to believe."
Labrys snorted, his molten eyes narrowing. His thick fingers traced the edge of one of his massive axes, the gesture almost subconscious. "I've never felt anything like that before... Even those twisted mages. They're calves compared to him." His tone carried no bravado, only the raw honesty of someone who'd faced something far beyond their understanding.
Barrond's gaze drifted to the spot where the portal had vanished, his expression hardening. "We must ensure he remains on our side," he said quietly, his words heavy with meaning. Turning his attention to Labrys's axe, his voice deepened, resolute. "Otherwise, we'll need to find another way to save Gaia."
----
The portal closed behind him with a faint hum, and Darius immediately released his aura in a sharp exhale, the tension rolling off him in waves. Along with it came Daemen's freed orb, blazing with erratic energy.
"It's your father, Darius! We should go now!" His voice cracked with urgency, "tell that damn bear and his friends to help us!"
Darius remained silent, his expression unreadable as Daemen buzzed frantically.
"He's been there this whole time! Five years! FIVE. FUCKING. YEARS!"
The orb's energy became unstable, flickering and surging, but Darius made no move to respond. Instead, he lowered himself into the lotus position, his eyes closing as his breath steadied.
"Darius?" Daemen hesitated, his voice concerned.
Purple arcs of lightning mana crackled to life around Darius. His aura sparked as the tattoo on his forehead ignited, glowing fiercely. Lightning surged through his triple burner meridian, its intensity forcing Daemen to pull back.
"Wait..." his orb floated cautiously closer, his movements now measured. Realization struck as he observed Darius more closely. "He's having an Epiphany... Why now of all times?"
Despite his frustration, Daemen hovered quietly, his thoughts swirling. The urgency of the situation clawed at him, but he knew better than to interrupt a moment of comprehension. Reluctantly, he allowed himself to wait.
'Five years… He's been there for five years…' The thought reverberated through Daemen's core. His orb dimmed slightly as a wave of shame washed over him. 'We saw him die… Didn't we? No… We didn't.' The memory burned in his mind, the image of Jarek being torn into the tornado. 'I assumed… Like a child. Damn it! Why didn't I even consider it?'
Suddenly, his orb stopped moving. Daemen's light slowly stabilized, his erratic flickering subsiding as his emotions gradually settled. With effort, he descended to the ground beside Darius, his glow now calm and steady. 'I can't do this… Just like Darius says, I can't keep letting the past burden me.'
Closing his consciousness, Daemen shifted his focus inward. The intricate patterns of Darius's runic language filled his mind's eye, and he began to explore them. If nothing else, he resolved to assist Darius, offering whatever insights he could.
'I can't control the past, but I can try to make myself useful now.'
In the stillness of the Valdene lineage's secret dimension, two kindred souls sat in silence, their thoughts heavy yet purposeful. The outside world, however, buzzed with urgency as the biggest story of the year steadily began to spread.
---
In a smoky tavern by the edge of a steaming marsh, men crowded around a table, mugs clinking against scarred wood.
"Did ya hear? The Valdene's gettin' the axe!" a burly man slurred, slamming his mug down.
"Serves 'em right," another scoffed, leaning forward with a crooked grin. "Knight or no, the family's a relic."
Their laughter mixed with the crackle of the hearth, drowning out the whispers of a old man muttering by the fire, "no one believes me... a skeeter killed em. I saw it..."
---
Far away, within a mage's gilded hall, robed figures exchanged whispers, their voices hushed beneath the hum of floating scrolls.
"An execution," an elder mage laughed, his voice sharp. "Crowley wastes no time flaunting his Ascension."
"Jarek Valdene," an apprentice whispered, confusion in his voice. "Wasn't he...?"
The elder cut him off coldly. "A knight? Barely. That family owed a debt they were bound to pay, and it seems Crowley will be the one to collect, lucky bastard."
---
In a snow-dusted stronghold, the clash of blades echoed in the courtyard. Inside, by the armory's dim firelight, a veteran knight with a fiery aura ran a whetstone along his sword's edge as a courier leaned in.
"Valdene," the courier whispered.
The knight grunted, his voice rough. "They chose their fate. Let him face it." His blade hissed against the stone. "No wolf lives forever."
---
High in the frozen north, a castle sat between three icy peaks rose atop an endless wasteland. A muscular elder sat within it upon a throne of ice and stone, his white beard cascading like frost, his eyes scanning a weathered scroll.
"Valdene," he said softly, his voice cutting through the chill. Tossing the scroll aside, he leaned back, the icy air crackling. "Is this your end, Warwick?"
The frost-laden winds howled through the halls, carrying his words into the frigid void.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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