章 204: destruction
Xilveth burned, weak and furious looked around himself. The compound, once a thriving hub of energy and bustling demonic life, had been transformed into a nightmarish wasteland. The explosion from the failed portal scheme had ravaged everything within its reach, leaving behind a landscape of destruction so thorough that it seemed as though the very air had been seared away, leaving nothing but despair in its wake.
The ground was torn asunder, gouged deep by the violent force that had erupted from the heart of the portal. Jagged cracks spider-webbed across the earth, some wide enough to swallow what remained of the shattered buildings. The once-sturdy walls that had encircled the compound now lay in crumbled heaps, their stones blackened and cracked from the intense heat. Towers that had once stood tall and proud were reduced to piles of smoking rubble, their silhouettes barely recognizable against the ash-choked sky.
Everywhere, the remains of those caught in the blast were scattered like macabre confetti. Charred bodies lay twisted and contorted, their final moments etched into their blackened flesh. Some were frozen in mid-scream, mouths agape in silent terror, their eyes burnt out but still wide with horror.
Others were mere fragments, limbs torn from bodies by the sheer force of the explosion, leaving a trail of scorched blood across the debris-strewn ground.
Some were turned to ash instantly forever forgotten.
Among the wreckage, pieces of what had once been everyday life could be seen-broken trinkets, shattered crystals that had once held magic, now dull and lifeless. A dagger, half-melted, lay beside a small hand, the fingers still clutching at it in a final, futile grasp for safety. The stark contrast of these remnants of normalcy with the utter destruction around them only deepened the sense of tragedy that hung over the scene.
"RAHHH!" Xilveth roared in anguish and rage
He was furious over the loss of his soldiers, he was distraught over the injuries he had received knowing they would take forever to heal properly but most of all he was fearful over what his father would do once he learned of what transpired.
The crunch of footsteps walking over ash and debris sounded throughout the barren compound. A figure drowned in shadows stepped closer to the crouching figure of Xilveth.
A low growl escaped the demon, "Here to finish me off?" he snarled at the sight of the human that did this to him
An eerie chuckle wafted from the pale man, "You know I originally wasn't going to kill you, perhaps some of your minions but, you were not worth the trouble I would have gone through. Then when I saw what portal scheme you made I could hardly contain my laughter, who routes twice through the forsaken?"
When Xilveth didn't reply Morpheus pressed, "Yes you would have gotten a wider larger portal but, the energy balance is too lopsided. It was practically child's play turning it into a weapon,"
Xilveth growled magic in the atmosphere responding to his anger began pouring into his body, "You should have killed me when you had the chance!" he roared springing forward faster than any human or vampire could ever achieve solely because of the anger fueling his magic
Xilveth's dagger-like nails dug deeply into Morpheus's throat before a shattering sound was heard and Morpheus was no longer there.
"You know you are just killing yourself faster," his mocking voice echoed across the compound
"Shut UP!" Xilveth bellowed his mind forgoing the consequences
The injured demon began to rampage, his magic running rampant gathering the remaining smoldering flames and began launching them where Morpheus's voice was coming from.
"You know you aren't going to get me like this" Morpheus snarked a peel of laughter erupting from his lips
The laughter might as well have been gasoline adding to the flames as Xilveths anger and rage just grew and grew, "STOP HIDING!" he bellowed
"What I always found interesting about you guys is the fact magic seems to love you so much. Channeling through every pore in your body, like you are magic itself. But, I learned something In the last war, this is just as much of a con as it is a boon," Morpheus spoke matter of factly
"Hiding will not stop your death!"
"You see I learned that just like what happened in your realm your bodies can also be polluted by magic itself. I must say it is such an interesting sickness. Through your emotions, you can pull in different types of magic from the atmosphere. Rage is coursing through your veins and your magic, I wonder how your body is feeling,"
Morpheus wasn't wrong, Xilveth felt as if his body was being destroyed inside out. His skin was already cracking and his bones aching. The recent deaths of his minions, the fire, and the rage all mixed together created a dangerous magical environment for a creature that takes magic from the atmosphere. Truthfully Xilveth was lucky he was a demon and not an angel, demons are accustomed to anger.
Xilveth knew the longer this went on the more his body would destroy itself.
Suddenly Morpheus appeared before him and launched a spell, it arched through the air traveling at speeds faster than most wizards could react. Xilveth dodged to the right and then pounced forward causing Morpheus to apparate away.
Like a cat chasing a mouse Xilveth followed, Morpheus would attack and then retreat. Xilveth knew the hit-and-run tactic Morpheus was using would wear him down long before the human.
Gritting his sharp teeth Xilveth chose to pick his battles, fire engulfed his body, and he disappeared.
Appearing inside a cave Xilveth grunted in pain as his body shut down, luckily he was somewhere Morpheus wouldn't be able to track him down. After all, this is cave was an escape route just in case their armies needed to retreat further into the island.
Suddenly the demon froze as he looked down at a smouldering fire pit.
*shicck* "Thanks for showing up buddy I've been waiting," his vision darkened and consciousness illuded him
**
Morpheus stood in the dimly lit cave, the flickering light from the torches casting long, ominous shadows across the rough stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of burning herbs, an ancient mixture that filled the chamber with a heady, almost suffocating aroma. The sound of dripping water echoed softly, punctuating the silence that had fallen over the space.
Before him lay Xilveth, his demonic form sprawled out on a raised stone platform. The deep crimson of his skin was a stark contrast to the dark, ritualistic lines that had been meticulously drawn across his body. These markings pulsed faintly, almost as if they were alive, responding to some unseen force that coursed through them. Xilveth's chest rose and fell in a slow, rhythmic pattern, indicating that though he was unconscious, he was very much alive.
Morpheus gazed down at him, his expression a mix of concentration and something deeper, something more personal. Xilveth had been, a powerful being whose strength had been large enough to command a fortress. His mind might be formidable but that just means the information would be greater.
Slowly, Morpheus bent down, his dark robes whispering against the stone as he moved. He placed his hands on either side of Xilveth's head, his long, slender fingers pressing gently against the temples. The skin beneath his touch was warm, almost feverish, and he could feel the faint thrum of energy that pulsed just beneath the surface.
Closing his eyes, Morpheus began to whisper an incantation, his voice low and steady. The words were ancient, passed down through generations, and they resonated with power. As he spoke, the ritual lines on Xilveth's body began to glow more intensely, the pulsing light quickening in time with the cadence of Morpheus's voice.
"Let me see" Morpheus spoke softly and suddenly he wasn't in the cave anymore
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