Snapping my eyes open to the echoes of a lone draconian roar, a long breath of air escaped my lips as my eyes locked over a shadow piercing over the horizon. Startled for a moment, a shield of divinity suddenly warped around me. As the shadow whipped by the village, uprooting stone structures, trees, along with hundreds of people, I was torn off my feet into the wall, as explosions raged, merely from the acceleration of the shadow.
Unable to hold on, I was thrown high into the air. Ren and the other two I was guarding had long vanished from my sight as shards of stone tried to pierce my skin. I reached far above the clouds. A raging sensation curled over my stomach as I peered down at the ant size village.
"Oh Shit," I snapped, twisting my gaze towards the winged beast, widening its long wings with grey and white feathers as large as my body, its long elongated head covered in feathers and scales shrieking as the winds suddenly became like piercing daggers. Within its thick neck the length of a skyscraper. Abyssal Qi surged like a flood gate as the dragon falcon beast locked eyes with me.
"Oh, screw you!" I thundered, feeling a gruesome sensation raging from its body. The Dragon opened its mouth, and an intense heat erupted; blasting the clouds over the horizon, a beam of abyssal flames shattered various speed barriers and struck my body.
Struck down from the skies, I grunted at the intense force of the beam of abyssal flames. I coughed up a mouthful of blood and snapped my eyes open, at my body free falling. Quick to mend my mind with the darkness, I teleported just above the dragon and crash-landed on its head. Annoyed that teleporting did not stop inertia.
"You ugly fucker! The hell are you coming after me for!" I roared, drawing the Spear of Pestilence, and released the flames of hellfire. Hurrying to my feet, I stabbed down over the dragon's head, exploding out in a slew of hellish flames that threatened to devour the world.
The dragon bellowed, roaring to the world, as flames of the highest caliber seared its feathers and flames, making it easy for my spear to bypass its defenses and reach its skin. Nevertheless, the dragon did a nose dive toward the village below before I could do anything.
"I hate this!" I cried at the very forefront of the dragon. Holding onto the dragon, I couldn't help but notice the dragon wasn't slowing. "Oh, you got to be kidding me. Screw this realm! When the hell were mindless beasts so suicidal?"
Letting go of the dragon before it could crash, I stepped onto a sliver of darkness below my feet. Still, an eruption of flames and shrapnel exploded, shattering a large majority of the village, as a mushroom cloud of destruction with me caught in the middle exploded.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!
Skipping over the ground like a rock over the water, I was blasted through several homes and structures before I pierced my spear down into the ground to slow my speed. Blood ran down my brow as I locked my gaze over the dragon ahead.
Sensing my existence, the dragon turned to me with large reptilian eyes that shimmered with flames. It opened its mouth, ready to fire off another beam, but I was ready; I dropped my spear, and a smile reached my lips.
"This fucker doesn't remember the fire lord, does he." Slapping my chest, I roared, "Come at me!"
Blasting off another bolt towards me, I stomped and pulled at the invisible force I held with each element I had a heavy understanding with and bent the will of that bitch, manipulating the fire in the beam of abyssal flames. A cold smile appeared as I began whipping the dragon with its own flames. Tearing off scales and feathers alike, blood-red like fire splashed over the gravel.
"Never seen a Fire Lord have you?" Crackling in evil laughter, I continued, glaring at the beast, releasing a whimpering roar under my new whip this foolish beast created for me. "How dare you use fire against me. Kneel to Master."
Noting the humiliation in its eyes, I dismissed the flames and opened my palm, and the spear of pestilence flew up into my right hand. Clenching my left hand, the image of Zilya appeared in my mind, and a sword of darkness tainted with the flames of hellfire appeared.
Feeling the glare of the twin's sun on my neck and the brisk winds whipping past me, the heavy scent of blood and brimstone began to rage. As if something had released itself into the wild. My scarlet eyes hummed with hunger.
The dragon shivered.
Bolting off my feet, the winds exploded in a frenzy as the arcs of lightning rippled from my flesh, quickening my pace. I arrived before the dragon, who swiped its claw at me, countering with a vengeful strike with my sword. Sword qi danced with such might and enlightenment my sword cut through the dragon's claws like hot butter. While my spear hooked into a graceful ark, ready to steal the life from the dragon ahead, fast yet slow, the dragon could not even react as my spear tore through its feathered scales into the flesh near its neck, spewing flames of hellfire, a grim glint appeared in my eyes as the darkness hummed to life.
Showering my body with blood, a sliver of that strange energy rippled through my bones, but I did not focus on such things. Not now, noticing my spear did not go as deep as I would have liked, the dragon was quick to flap its wings, pushing me back, my sword pierced into the ground, holding me in place.
Frowning, knowing I could not do much, a smile soon appeared as I was about to cast a few circles but stopped and shook my head, " Next time, I will aim for the wings, flee, little dragon." I said, meeting the dragon's cold, fearful eye, "and remember, on solid ground, your, my bitch."
Turning my back to the dragon, the sword of darkness vanished from my hand. I closed my eye to get a sense of the state of the village, and a fascinating gasp left my lips. Snapping my eyes open, I could not help but note the small size holes held in a majority of all beasts in the center of their heads.
"Avar," I whispered, knowing this was all her doing.
Racing through broken structures, littered with various limbs, of men of old and children of young, blood tainted the streets, a ruby red. The monsters that had come were relentless and without mercy, but from their death, their torment, be it man or beast, raging energy poured into my veins, fueling my thoughts and soul.
Shutting my eyes, I slowly fell to my knees and leaned against bits of rubble, unable to hold back the clouds filling my sight. My body was burning up, almost as if something was in me. An infection of sorts my body was trying to purge. The air against my throat burned like fire, and the piercing glint of the twin suns made my skin feel like I was being burnt alive.
I opened my eyes to the world of saturated light and growled at the harsh rays of sunlight, akin to a million ants eating me away. Tempted to gorge my eyes out, I pulled into myself and took hold of my Soulforce in hopes of forcing myself to adapt. But as I did, the intensity of this anguish left me howling, trashing over the ground. I hastily halted any further action, anger coiled around my soul, and from the pain, a deep fury arose, damping my pain receptors; my cheeks slowly grew pale as the pain within my soul only increased. Nevertheless, it was a small price to pay, as it allowed me some mobility.
My sights remained clouded, but it did nothing to dampen my battle prowess. I quickly picked myself up from the ground, with the sin of wrath empowering my soul, and made my way out of the depths of the sun and hid beneath the shadows from the sun's rays, and the pain vanished.
Mystified by this response, confusion sank deep within my heart. "What the hell is going on?" I muttered, taking a seat over the ground near a pile of rubble within a tattered house. "Why is the sun harmful to me? I hope I don't become a vampire."
Falling into deep thought, I didn't bother participating in the battle anymore and simply observed the flow of unknown qi racing through my veins and soul till the sun began to set. I was sure Ren and the others would be fine. If not, then Baphomet was out a toy and I, a potential source of Astral Energy.
"So my adaptation is helping this change, great. Just what I need in a new realm." I exclaimed, holding my head. Sensing someone nearby, my eyes settle on Freya approaching my location. Easily finding me resting, her head tilted when she met my soft gaze, " Master, what happened?"
"No idea," I said, explaining what had happened. Freya seemed to nod and hoisted me around her neck, quivering at my slightest touch, her cheeks turned red hot, and she led me out from the rubble. I could have easily walked by myself, but I felt compelled for intimate contact for some reason. My cheeks turned a little pale with the sun's rays falling, but the unbearable pain did not return, at least not as gruesome as before.
Leading me to a small camp a little way from the village, I stood smiling at Avar, caring for the children, wrapping a few in gauze; she regarded my gaze and returned to her task without another word.
Unsure what to think of the icy woman, who I was sure would have no issue slaughtering everyone here if it allowed her to benefit, I merely chuckled, allowing Freya to take me to the matriarch of this little band of villagers.
Covered in minor nicks and bruises, while various parts of her body were wrapt in gauze that seemed to have bled through, I greeted Sorina.
"Why so glum?"
"Of the thousands, we lost around a hundred." She said wearily.
Turning to Freya, who chuckled, she explained, " Not everyone is as cold as you. That is about a tenth of her total people, Master.' Letting her fiery gaze land on Sorina, she continued, " Furthermore, their village is totally destroyed."
"Well, I am sure you can ask Avar to help with that," I cunningly said and decided to change the topic, " But I have some good news and some bad news." Sorina's expression slowly fell, and her fingers clenched into a ball.
"What is it?"
"Your God and my wife is coming soon. I think in a few days, maybe a week. She should be here." I conveyed, pulling Freya a bit closer, feeling somewhat clingy today.
Sorina's expression didn't change. She didn't blink or move, nor did she breathe. Still, like the dead, I waved my hands over her eyes and clapped really loud, "Girl, you better hurry with the cleanup."
Snapping awake, Sorina bolted form out of her small tent. Crackling in laughter at her loud roars of commands that ensued.
Freya pursed her lips. "Master is evil, but is Lilith really coming?"
"Yeah, I was surprised too. I muttered in response, curious as to why Lilith wanted to be involved. Last I heard, she was not going to involve herself. It seems like something happened to make her change her mind. "It doesn't matter, though. It just means I need to increase your training." I sadistically said, drooling at the three-way, potential five-way that could happen.
Freya shuttered, drawing close, licking her lips, "I am masters."
"Yes, you are," I softly said, giving her a few good pats, "Now, did you find Ren and the others," I asked, and a bit of annoying gleam grew within her eyes.
"Yeah, but—"
"Who died?"
"Cenric was rand through by some strange porcupine-like monster, turned into a paste right before my eyes.
"Damn it, did you take his soul?" I probed, but Freya shook her head, " I was helping Sorina with a few stronger beasts. "I didn't have time, sorry, Master."
I shook my head, waving off her concerns, "it's fine. There will be others, plus we still have Rey Nala, Right?"
"Hmm," She hummed in agreement.
"This will be a long journey," I said, peering up at the glimmer of sunlight that faded into a web of darkness and clustered stars, taking it all in. Darkness poured over the land and for but a single moment. I touched upon the glory of the abyss and stood before a nebula, a vortex of infinite might—a force of such infinite power and grace. I knew I was before something that demanded respect and worship.
"The abyss," I whispered, or maybe thought it, and I was back, under the night of the three moons shimmering. Pulling the tent close, I pulled Freya in, and another training session began.