Umbryx soared through the skies, his wings cutting through the wind as he pushed himself toward the Skyforge Arena with relentless speed. His mind was focused, his thoughts racing with urgency. But as the towering structure of the arena loomed closer, his flight was abruptly halted.
Ahead, a figure stood suspended in midair, a young woman, or at least, something resembling one. Umbryx’s entire body tensed as an overwhelming force surged through him. It wasn’t pain, but something deeper and far more unsettling. His limbs grew heavy, unresponsive, as though they no longer obeyed his will. He plummeted, landing unceremoniously on the ground below, gasping for breath.
Umbryx: “What is this energy?”. Umbryx muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His body refused to move, as though the very fabric of existence around him had turned against him.
His gaze lifted toward the young woman, but his eyes struggled to make sense of her form. She was a distortion, a flickering silhouette that defied comprehension. Features shifted and blurred, like a dream half-remembered, as though reality itself was rejecting her presence. Or perhaps, Umbryx thought grimly, it was the other way around.
Umbryx: “What the... what am I looking at?”. he murmured, his voice trembling.
The world around her warped and fractured. Colors bled together unnaturally, and space itself twisted in ways that defied logic. Umbryx felt the ground beneath him tremble, the air shimmer with instability.
The woman’s voice broke through the chaos, calm and unwavering yet layered with an ominous echo.
The Young Woman: “You won’t win. Leave while you still have your life, child.”.
Umbryx tried to respond, but the distortion intensified. The sensation was like being unmade, his very essence dissolving into the swirling void around him. Time fragmented, every second stretching into eternity and collapsing into nothingness. The pull of nonexistence grew unbearable, and Umbryx’s vision blurred.
Before he could succumb to the void, the woman extended her right hand, placing it gently on his forehead.
In an instant, everything snapped back into place. The fractured world around him was whole again. The ground beneath him was solid, the sky clear, and time returned to its familiar rhythm.
Umbryx lay there, trembling, his body still weak and his thoughts racing.
Umbryx: What had just happened? Who—or what—was she?”.
As he struggled to process the encounter, one thing became clear: this was no ordinary foe.
Before Umbryx could make sense of what had just transpired, his attention was pulled elsewhere. In the distance, he saw his father and the legendary Old Sky Knights descending upon the Skyforge Arena. Their presence radiated an unmistakable power and authority, but something about their arrival felt... off.
Umbryx’s brow furrowed as he focused, now able to sense Dark Yourupt’s mana within the arena, a dark, oppressive force that seemed to bend the very air around it. It clawed at his senses, but there was something else that unnerved him. Even though his father and the Old Sky Knights were known for their speed and efficiency, it should have taken them several minutes to assemble and arrive. After all, they needed to notify and organize
the 1,000 members of their order scattered across the Vermillion Realm.
And yet, here they were.
Umbryx: “What is going on?”. Umbryx muttered to himself.
As he concentrated, he noticed a faint disturbance, a subtle but undeniable manipulation in the flow of reality itself. It wasn’t just Dark Yourupt’s mana at play; another energy had been at work, one unfamiliar and alien to Umbryx. The changes were fleeting but significant, leaving him uneasy.
Then there was the other anomaly: a faint yet distinct energy signature now resonating within him. Umbryx placed a hand on his chest, his heartbeat steady but his mana fluctuating unnaturally. This energy was unlike anything he had ever encountered. It was subdued, almost dormant, but undeniably present. It felt... foreign, as though it didn’t belong to him but had become a part of him nonetheless.
Umbryx: “What is this?”. Umbryx whispered, shaking his head in frustration. There was no time to dwell on it now.
The energy of the mysterious being that had appeared moments ago was gone, vanishing as quickly as it had arrived. Whatever or whoever it had been, its presence lingered only in the disarray it left behind.
Umbryx forced himself to his feet, his resolve hardening as he turned toward the arena. Whatever was happening, it was escalating, and he couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer. Spreading his wings, he took to the skies once more, pushing himself harder than ever.
As the Skyforge Arena loomed closer, he braced himself for what lay ahead. The battles yet to come would demand everything he had and more.
As Umbryx reached the outer edges of the Skyforge Arena, a massive explosion ripped through the area, obliterating everything in its path. The blast sent shockwaves that tore through the air, scattering debris and leaving chunks of stone and rubble floating in defiance of gravity. The force of the shockwave sent Umbryx spiraling backward, but he managed to recover mid-air, his wings beating furiously to steady himself.
The scene before him was chaos incarnate. The legendary Sky Knights, the pride and protectors of the Vermillion Realm, were locked in a desperate battle against shadowy figures. These creatures were an unsettling mix, some bearing the likeness of his people, others resembling twisted humanoid forms. They fought with savage precision, each move exuding an unnatural fluidity.
Umbryx’s sharp senses felt the realm itself tearing apart. Massive rifts appeared like jagged wounds in the fabric of reality, consuming everything they touched and spreading the destruction from within. The very essence of the Vermillion Realm trembled, its collapse inevitable if this battle continued.
For a moment, Umbryx froze, overwhelmed by the sight of his home unraveling before his eyes. His mind raced with questions and dread, his focus torn between the battlefield and the sense of helplessness gnawing at him.
Umbryx: "This... this is all because of one person?". he muttered under his breath, struggling to comprehend the scale of devastation.
Desperation surged within him as he scanned the battlefield, searching frantically for his father and his younger brother. His eyes darted through the chaos until something in the sky caught his attention, a dark figure suspended high above the carnage.
The figure emanated an aura of pure malevolence, holding one of the Sky Knights aloft. Before Umbryx’s horrified gaze, the dark being absorbed the Sky Knight into its shadows, as if consuming his very essence. Umbryx's breath caught in his throat as he squinted, trying to make sense of the figure’s presence. Something about it felt disturbingly familiar.
His heart raced as recognition struck like a lightning bolt. The figure turned, revealing its face or what passed for a face. The memories buried deep within Umbryx’s mind began to resurface with a vengeance. A visceral wave of PTSD overtook him, and fear wrapped around him like a suffocating shroud.
Umbryx: “No... it can’t be you,”. Umbryx whispered, his voice trembling. His body locked in place as fragmented memories flooded his consciousness. Images of this same dark figure, its chilling grin and overwhelming power, replayed like a nightmare on an endless loop. His claws shook, and for the first time in years, Umbryx felt utterly powerless.
Then he saw his father, King Zephros, stepping forward with unyielding resolve to confront the dark figure. Their confrontation caused the surrounding space to distort further, the clash of their immense energies threatening to shatter what little stability remained.
But before Umbryx could act, before he could summon the courage to fly to his father’s side, the ground beneath him gave way. A swirling black hole yawned open, swallowing him whole. He fell, the battlefield above shrinking into the distance as darkness enveloped him. The sounds of battle, the cries of the Sky Knights, and the sight of his home falling apart all faded into oblivion.
Umbryx descended into the abyss, his mind overwhelmed by the memories clawing their way back into his consciousness. The sensation of falling was endless, pulling him deeper into the void. All that remained was the echo of his own voice, trembling with fear and disbelief.
Umbryx: "Why now... why him?".
In the suffocating void of darkness, Umbryx's thoughts churned. Fragmented memories swirled in his mind, forcing him to confront long-buried questions.
Umbryx: "Wait," he thought, "why do these memories feel like they’re connected to me?".The realization gnawed at him, pulling him deeper into his own confusion.
As if responding to his turmoil, a voice echoed in the abyss cold, taunting, and all too familiar. The same dark figure that had haunted him on the battlefield now materialized in the void, a faint but overwhelming presence. Its form seemed to bend reality itself, its edges blurring and flickering with a shadowy aura.
Dark Figure: "Well, well," the figure began, its voice dripping with mockery. "I didn’t expect to find the great prince of the forgotten realm still alive after all this time. And my last victim from the Vermillion Realm, no less.".
Umbryx, his body tense and his mind still clouded by the shock of his regained memories, stared at the figure. The weight of the figure's words made his confusion deepen, but his instincts pushed him to speak.
Umbryx: "Why…why did I forget all of this? What were you showing me? What is this supposed to mean?".
The dark figure tilted its head, amused by Umbryx's turmoil. Its voice carried a sinister lilt as it teased,
Dark Figure: "You’re not going to ask my name first? How rude.".
Umbryx's eyes narrowed, his fear momentarily replaced by sharp resolve.
Umbryx: "I already know who you are," he replied, his voice steady. "Dark Yourupt.".
A slow, wicked grin spread across Dark Yourupt's shadowy face.
Dark Yourupt: "Ah, at least you remember that much," he sneered. "Very well. To answer your question, the reason you forgot? It's simple. When I destroyed your home realm, your precious forgotten realm. You dragons are more than just creatures of fire and scale, after all. Your home was a concept, a fundamental part of creation itself. When I tore it apart, it unraveled from every level of existence. Your and everyone's memories of it? Gone. Any lingering essence of your people? Erased or absorbed by me.".
Dark Yourupt's tone grew darker, laced with sadistic pleasure.
Dark Yourupt: "The destruction of that concept reached throughout all of creation, even erasing any overgrown lizards who managed to escape. And as for those who didn’t? I absorbed them. Over 80% of your people now fuel my power including all 1,000 of your precious old Sky Knights.".
Umbryx's fists clenched at his sides as Dark Yourupt continued, his words cutting deeper than any blade.
Dark Yourupt: "Even the likes of Zarathen Ith’Khar, with his reality-warping imagination, were powerless against me. And your little brother... ah, your brother. Such potential in that one. His wish-based powers could’ve changed the tides of creation at its peak like your grandfather, but it was thanks to me that he awakened them just in time for me to snuff them out.".
The words hit Umbryx like a tidal wave. His body trembled, not just with anger but with the weight of the revelation. He could barely process the horror of it all, the image of his little brother standing defiant only to fall, absorbed into the shadows like the rest.
Dark Yourupt leaned closer, his grin widening as he basked in Umbryx’s pain.
Dark Yourupt: "You see, prince," he spat, "you’ve already lost everything. Your home, your people, your memories. You’re just a shadow of what you could’ve been, a reminder of the futility of resistance. So tell me, what do you have left to fight for?".
Umbryx's gaze, through clouded with emotion, burned with a flicker of defiance.
Umbryx: "You’ll regret answering that question," he muttered under his breath, his resolve hardening as the darkness pressed in around him.
Umbryx’s fury burned hot as he mustered every ounce of strength to lunge at Dark Yourupt, but before he could move a step, an overwhelming wave of mana emanated from the shadowy figure. It was suffocating, a force that weighed down his body and rooted him in place. Umbryx struggled even to stay standing, his legs trembling under the oppressive energy.
Dark Yourupt chuckled, a cold, mocking sound that echoed in the darkness.
Dark Yourupt: "And what do you think you can possibly do?" he sneered. "Do you even understand who you’re facing? I am creation's shadow. I have slain beings capable of obliterating Ao Pūrākau Rungaa with a thought. Yet here you are, a prince who couldn’t even save his own people, thinking you can lay a finger on me. Your father couldn’t defeat me not once, but twice so tell me, Umbryx, what makes you think you can?".
Umbryx seethe with rage, his heart pounding as his memories of his father, his brother, and his people flooded back. The thought of their suffering reignited something deep within him. Despite the crushing weight of Dark Yourupt’s mana, he forced himself to move. His muscles screamed in protest, and each step felt like wading through an ocean of despair, but he refused to stop. He wouldn’t let this monster's words break him.
Just as he managed to inch closer, Dark Yourupt raised his right arm and unleashed a powerful shockwave, sending Umbryx hurtling backward. He crashed into the ground, struggling to recover as pain wracked his body.
Dark Yourupt observed him with a mixture of amusement and intrigue.
Dark Yourupt: "I must admit," he said, "I’m not surprised you could push through my mana. Unlocking your mana has given you a semblance of strength, but let’s not pretend it changes anything. However, I had a reason for letting you regain your memories and allowing you to keep them, even though you shouldn’t be able to hold onto them conceptually.".
Before Umbryx could respond, Dark Yourupt vanished in a blur and reappeared behind him. A heavy, crushing force struck Umbryx’s back as Dark Yourupt stomped down with his foot, pinning him to the ground. Umbryx growled in pain, unable to break free.
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Dark Yourupt: "You don’t remember everything yet," Dark Yourupt continued, pressing his foot down harder. "But I do. I recall a dragon, a pathetic creature who awakened his mana in a desperate bid to save his little brother. That dragon tried to attack me, only to be stopped by his own father, who begged him to flee. But before the boy could escape, his father fell by my hand. And then, before I could finish the job, that dragon vanished into nothingness. Does that ring a bell?".
Umbryx’s mind raced as the memories flooded back. His earliest recollections before regaining his full memories had been hazy, a void filled with anger he couldn’t understand, a faint image of a dragon, and a burning hatred for a shadowy figure he couldn’t name at the time. It all clicked into place now, like pieces of a shattered puzzle.
Umbryx: "You..." Umbryx gasped, realization dawning on him. "You wanted me to regain my old memories not out of mercy, but to force me to reclaim the power I’d lost. By forgetting my past, I was... nerfed, weakened. All this time, I’ve been using my old techniques without even realizing it. But why? Why go to such lengths?".
Dark Yourupt leaned in closer, his tone a mix of condescension and malice.
Dark Yourupt: "Exactly. You’ve finally caught on. By erasing your connection to your true self, you were a shadow of what you could’ve been. But now, I’ve drawn the real you out of hiding. And trust me, boy, this is only the beginning.".
Umbryx’s breath quickened as he stared up at Dark Yourupt, his body trembling with a mixture of rage and dread. The pieces were all there now, but he couldn’t ignore the gnawing fear that this awakening might be playing directly into his enemy’s hands.
Dark Yourupt’s voice dripped with sinister amusement as he began to circle Umbryx, who still struggled against the oppressive force holding him down.
Dark Yourupt: "And to think," Dark Yourupt mused, "that it was my illusion that helped you regain your memories. While you were wandering through the fabricated past I created, I had all the time I needed to sift through your older memories." He leaned closer, his shadowy presence pressing down like a physical weight. "It confirmed a theory I’ve held for quite some time.".
Umbryx’s eyes flickered with defiance, but he remained pinned under Dark Yourupt's crushing aura.
Dark Yourupt’s smirk deepened as he continued,
Dark Yourupt: "Do you know how your father and the Sky Knights arrived at the arena so quickly? I do. It was because of her. The one I’m looking for. But there’s no point in explaining that to you now, not when you’re firmly in my domain.".
Umbryx’s mind raced at the mention of her, but before he could fully process it, Dark Yourupt’s tone shifted, taking on an even darker edge.
Dark Yourupt: "Ah, and that fight you had with my other self," he said mockingly. "Did you think you stood a chance then? Foolish. That body you faced was merely an extension, a fragment of my essence. While you were busy flailing about, I seized the opportunity to destroy your domain, cast the illusion, and place you back in the house of your past before you even realized it wasn’t real.".
Umbryx’s stomach churned at the revelation, the weight of it crushing his fragile hope like glass underfoot.
Dark Yourupt’s voice grew colder, his words cutting like shards of ice.
Dark Yourupt: "And now she is involved. I can feel her meddling. She must have given you null energy. That’s the only reason you still exist, even after the very concept of dragons was obliterated. That minuscule fragment of null energy was just enough to shield you from the after effects from the memory loss. But don’t think for a moment that it makes you whole. No, no. Even with the remnants of a dragon’s tail and form, you’re nothing more than a Living Anomaly, a creature persisting when it shouldn’t.".
Dark Yourupt grabbed a handful of Umbryx’s hair, yanking his head upward so their eyes met. His grip was unrelenting, the pain searing.
Dark Yourupt: "But don’t worry," he hissed. "I’ll make good use of that power when you join your people.".
With a snap of his fingers, Dark Yourupt summoned the shadows of those who once lived in the Vermillion Realm. One by one, the silhouettes of the fallen dragons and people appeared, their figures twisted and hollow, void of their former selves. They stood in silence, facing Umbryx with empty eyes, a haunting reminder of all he had lost.
Dark Yourupt lifted Umbryx’s entire body effortlessly, holding him aloft by the back of his head. He forced Umbryx to face the ghostly figures.
Dark Yourupt: "Look at them," Dark Yourupt sneered. "The remnants of your past, the echoes of your failure. You were supposed to protect them, and yet here they stand, a testament to your weakness.".
Umbryx’s gaze darted across the crowd of shadows, his heart twisting with grief and guilt. His people. His knights. His family. All reduced to this wretched state. He wanted to scream, to fight back, but the crushing weight of Dark Yourupt’s mana and the emotional torment of his words left him paralyzed.
Dark Yourupt’s laughter echoed through the void, triumphant and cruel.
Dark Yourupt: "Do you see now, prince? You are nothing. Just a remnant of a bygone era clinging to existence like a cockroach.".
Dark Yourupt’s sinister grin widened as he held King Draco’s Gauntlet in his hand.
Dark Yourupt: “And you won’t be needing this anymore,” he said mockingly, his voice dripping with disdain. With a casual squeeze, the ancient relic shattered into countless fragments, the pieces dissolving into dark motes that faded into the void.
Umbryx, still pinned and surrounded by the shadowy echoes of his people, felt the weight of their gazes, their sorrow, their anger, their betrayal. Memories of his failures came crashing down like tidal waves, and for a moment, despair threatened to consume him.
But then, amidst the flood of grief, something shifted. A flicker of resolve sparked deep within him. Umbryx’s expression, once grim and defeated, began to change. He started to laugh, a hollow, eerie laugh that echoed through the darkness, catching even Dark Yourupt off guard.
Umbryx: “You’re right,” Umbryx said, his voice steady but filled with an edge of defiance. “I’m not a real dragon anymore. And so what if I’m not? As a dragon, I failed. I couldn’t protect anyone. I let my people down. I let my brother down.” He glanced at the twisted shadows of his fallen kin, his tone softening for a brief moment. “I’m sorry for that. I’ll carry that regret with me forever.”.
His laughter faded, replaced by a low growl. He raised his head, his eyes gleaming with a newfound fury.
Umbryx: “But with the life I’ve lived these past ten years, with the memories of my old self, and now these feelings, these new, raw, powerful feelings. I’ve realized something.”.
Umbryx’s voice rose, echoing with pure venom.
Umbryx: “I don’t just hate you, Dark Yourupt. I despise you. From the very depths of my soul, I loathe you so much that even if I could kill you here and now, I’d hunt you down in every world, every plane of existence, and destroy you again and again.”.
He stood tall, the weight of Dark Yourupt’s mana no longer enough to hold him down. His entire body began to radiate a fierce, otherworldly energy, mana so intense that it distorted the air around him.
Umbryx’s voice cut through the surging maelstrom of energy around him, fierce and unwavering.
Umbryx: “Darius, Juris, Selene, Doctor Liraen, Father, and Arythos.” He paused, the names rolling off his tongue like sacred vows. Each name carried weight, an anchor to his fury and resolve. “All of those names meant something to me. They were more than just people, they were my world.”.
His left arm glowed brighter, the light searing through the encroaching shadows as his mana intensified. Umbryx’s voice grew louder, filled with unyielding determination.
Umbryx: “You took them from me, Dark Yourupt. You stole everything I held dear. But now...” His hands clenched into fists, the shadows around him spiraling into a hurricane of pure force. “Now that I have the chance to face their killer, I will not let this opportunity slip away.”.
He took a step forward, the ground beneath him shattering as his power surged again. Waves of mana rippled outward, tearing apart the remnants of Dark Yourupt’s twisted realm.
Umbryx: “For Darius, who stood by my side as a brother in arms,” he roared, his voice echoing through the void. “For Juris, who taught me what it meant to be strong. For Selene, who showed me the meaning of kindness. For Doctor Liraen, who gave me hope when it seemed all was lost. For my father, who sacrificed everything to save me. And for Arythos, my brother, who was the light of my life.”.
Umbryx’s aura became a storm, a fusion of shadow and light swirling around him like a living entity. His mana began to crystallize, forming jagged spikes of energy that radiated his raw, unfiltered power.
Umbryx: “I will tear you apart, Dark Yourupt,” Umbryx declared, his voice a mix of wrath and sorrow. “Not just for me, but for all of them. For every
name you erased, for every life you consumed. I swear!”
Umbryx: “Because I am not Prince Umbryx of Vermillion,” he declared, his voice reverberating with power. “I am Umbryx of Shadows. And I’ll tear you apart, piece by piece.”.
A sudden surge of energy erupted from Umbryx, the force creating shockwaves that pushed the surrounding shadows back. Dark Yourupt’s forces, sensing the danger, retreated instinctively as the ground beneath them cracked and shattered.
Light began to pour from Umbryx’s left arm, cutting through the darkness. Shadows wrapped around his body, coalescing into an armor-like form that pulsed with raw, untamed power. His mana exploded outward in waves, shaking the very fabric of Dark Yourupt’s domain.
Dark Yourupt narrowed his eyes, intrigued rather than intimidated.
Dark Yourupt: “So, you’ve awakened once more,” he said, his voice calm but tinged with an undercurrent of excitement. “That mana burst... it’s far more potent than before. I can’t wait to absorb it…it will benefit me greatly.”.
Umbryx didn’t respond with words this time. Instead, his entire body became a whirlwind of shadows and light, the opposing forces intertwining in a way that defied logic. He stepped forward, his aura suffused with a single purpose: destruction.
Dark Yourupt grinned, spreading his arms wide as though inviting the challenge.
Dark Yourupt: “Show me, Umbryx of Shadows. Show me if your hatred can rival my power!”.
As the domain slowly unraveled, its ethereal darkness dissipating, the jagged edges of reality stitched themselves back together, and the physical realm of Pōtangotango emerged once more. The sky was painted in hues of deep crimson and ash, as if the battle had left scars upon the heavens themselves.
Amid the swirling debris and remnants of shattered mana, one figure stood tall: Dark Yourupt. His silhouette was menacing against the dim, fractured light. His posture exuded confidence, his aura as impenetrable as ever, and a faint, dark smile curved his lips. There was no sign of Umbryx.
Dark Yourupt let out a low chuckle, his voice reverberating like an ominous echo through the still air.
Dark Yourupt: “Did you really think you could defeat me, Umbryx?” He gestured toward the empty space where his opponent once stood. “You never had a chance, little shadows.”
He turned his gaze downward, brushing specks of dust off his cloak as if the fight hadn’t even challenged him. With a languid motion, he began to step forward, each stride leaving faint ripples of shadow in the ground beneath him.
Before returning fully to his original form within Yourupt's body, he paused, casting one last glance at the broken battlefield. His eyes, glinting with malice, narrowed slightly.
Dark Yourupt: “Still,” he murmured to himself, almost begrudgingly, “you did manage to surprise me. That rage of yours... the awakening of your true mana... it was almost impressive. Almost.”.
With a final wave of his hand, the remnants of the domain collapsed entirely, vanishing like smoke in the wind. Dark Yourupt's presence began to fade, his essence retreating back into his host.
The eerie silence left behind was deafening, a stark reminder of the power imbalance. As the dust settled over Pōtangotango, one question lingered, unspoken yet heavy in the air.
Yourupt stirred, his senses returning to the disarrayed battlefield of Pōtangotango, his mind sluggishly piecing together the events that had transpired. His body was wracked with pain, his mana erratic and uncontrollable, leaving him immobilized on his right knee.
He gritted his teeth, frustration welling up.
Yourupt: “No… he took over,” Yourupt muttered, his voice hoarse. “But how?”.
Every attempt to move sent jolts of pain through his body. His once-reliable Healing Factor was dormant, unable to counteract the damage wrought by the shadow’s possession. A sinking realization hit him as his surroundings grew eerily silent.
Yourupt: “I need to get out of here before more forces show up,” he rasped, struggling to lift himself but failing miserably.
As if answering his silent plea, a portal shimmered into existence before him, its edges rippling with precision and power. From its depths emerged maids in immaculate uniforms, their movements calculated and efficient. The insignia of The True Writer’s Old House adorned their attire, a symbol Yourupt recognized immediately.
Amid them stepped Lady Chihaya, her presence both commanding and exasperated. Her sharp eyes scanned Yourupt's pitiful state, and she sighed heavily, shaking her head.
Lady Chihaya: “Can’t believe I have to clean up more of your messes, Yourupt,” she said, crossing her arms as the maids fanned out to secure the area.
Despite his weakened state, Yourupt mustered a faint smirk.
Yourupt: “Hey, Chihaya, how are you going?” he quipped, his voice faint but laced with forced nonchalance.
Chihaya’s response was swift and merciless. She stepped forward and yanked his left ear, her expression a mix of irritation and concern.
Lady Chihaya: “Don’t try to act all cool now, idiot,” she snapped. “Your shadow self managed to take over your body, scrambled your mana flow, and completely shut down your Healing Factor. You’re lucky he didn’t take over again for whatever reason.”.
Yourupt winced, more from her words than the ear-pulling. He staggered to his feet, wobbling but determined to show he was still capable.
Yourupt: “Lady Chihaya, I’m actually fine. See…”.
Before he could finish, his legs gave out entirely, and he collapsed to the ground, barely catching himself with his hands.
Chihaya sighed in exasperation, her frustration evident.
Lady Chihaya: “Stubborn as ever like… never mind,” she muttered under her breath. Turning to one of her maids, she issued a curt command. “Levitate him back to the house. If he complains, ignore him.”.
The maid nodded, stepping forward and beginning to weave a spell. But before the portal could be reopened, a sudden gust of wind swept through the area, rustling the debris.
From the sky, a figure descended,his lone arm and imposing silhouette marking him as The One-Armed Man we saw earlier. His landing was silent but powerful, the force of his arrival sending a ripple through the ground.
The air grew tense as the One-Armed Man kneeled before Lady Chihaya, an act of surprising deference that caught everyone off guard. His voice, deep and calm, broke the silence.
One-Armed Man: "Lady Chihaya, it has been some time, hasn’t it?".
Chihaya raised an eyebrow, her sharp gaze softening only slightly.
Lady Chihaya: "It has been quite some time, the ascended sage or should I say Wfighter.".
Gasps rippled among the maids, their composure faltering momentarily. The One-Armed Man was none other than Wfighter, the legendary mortal whose fists even the gods feared. A being whose strength had become the stuff of myth, Wfighter was said to have single-handedly faced eldritch abominations, his blows capable of wounding even beings as unfathomable as Lordanis, the Great Deep Darkness himself.
Now standing before them, Wfighter was covered head to toe in the blood and guts of eldritch monsters, remnants of his battle with a particularly monstrous entity from the southern part of the realm.
Lady Chihaya’s nose crinkled immediately as she waved a hand in front of her face, trying to block the overpowering stench.
Lady Chihaya "Gods, what is that smell?!" she exclaimed, her tone somewhere between disgust and exasperation.
She pinched her nose, glaring at him.
Lady Chihaya: "Just go to the bath area in the west wing of the house, clean yourself up, and then we’ll talk about the rifts tearing through creation.
I’ll have my maids handle the repairs to the space-time fabric. But seriously, Wfighter, you smell like you rolled in rotting despair. Just—ugh—get cleaned up before I".
Before she could finish, Wfighter raised his remaining hand in surrender.
Wfigther: "Okay, okay, I get it," he said, chuckling softly. "I’ll see you back in your office once I’m presentable.".
Lady Chihaya muttered something under her breath as Wfighter turned, stepping through the portal.
The maids carefully lifted Yourupt, who remained in a weakened state, and followed Wfighter into the shimmering gateway, transporting them all to the House of Creation's Creator.
As they passed through the portal, Chihaya turned to survey the aftermath of the battle within Pōtangotango, her expression a mix of calculation and concern. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned additional maids to begin sealing the rift, their spells weaving delicate threads of order into the chaotic tear in reality.
Chihaya: "This is becoming far too frequent," she murmured, her gaze lingering on the spot where Wfighter had stood. "If even someone like him is being drawn into these rifts, then something far worse is on the horizon.".
As Chihaya surveyed the area, her eyes scanning every corner to ensure that no threats were lurking nearby, Orinthia materialized in front of her, teleporting in with a quiet shimmer of energy. The maid bowed slightly before speaking.
Orinthia: "My lady, we have sensed and recovered some null energy from here and from the rift itself before we fixed the tear. No further anomalies should appear out of the rift," Orinthia reported, her voice calm and professional.
Lady Chihaya: "Good work, Orinthia," Chihaya replied, nodding in approval but not fully meeting her maid’s gaze. She was still preoccupied, her mind lingering on the uncertainty of what was to come.
Orinthia, ever perceptive, noticed the tension in Chihaya’s posture.
Orinthia: "Is everything fine, Lady Chihaya?", she asked softly, concerned about lacing her voice.
Chihaya hesitated for a moment, her gaze drifting toward the now-stable rift. After a long breath, she responded, her tone composed but edged with quiet concern. "Just worried about what may be coming for all of us. But we will be alright, I promise."
There was a pause, a moment of stillness between them. Chihaya’s thoughts were far away, but she quickly regained her composure, her leadership instinct taking over.
Lady Chihaya: "Anyways, call back everyone and prepare for tonight’s party," she ordered, her voice steady once more.
Orinthia nodded and bowed.
Orinthia: "Understood, my lady." With a final glance at her mistress, she turned and teleported away to carry out the task.
Chihaya remained standing in the quiet aftermath, the air still thick with the faint residue of energy. Her fingers curled slightly as she reflected on the weight of her duties and the uncertain future ahead. She was responsible for the safety of many, but in her heart, she couldn’t help but feel a lingering unease.r gaze drifted downward, where scattered across the floor lay the shattered remains of King Draco's gauntlet. The once-proud artifact, a symbol of power and protection, was now reduced to broken pieces. Chihaya's heart sank as she knelt to collect the fragments, carefully inspecting them. She could see bits of the gauntlet’s memories, seeing the horrors of that day as King Zephyros was using his father's weapon trying to take down Dark Yourupt.
Lady Chihaya: "How could this have happened to King Draco and his people?" Chihaya murmured under her breath, her fingers brushing against the jagged edges of the pieces. Each shard pulsed with residual mana, as if echoing the destruction it had endured.
She looked at the pieces in her hands, her mind racing. Dark Yourupt had caused this destruction and was not only ruthless but also powerful. And the lingering mana from the gauntlet felt...wrong, tainted by Dark Yourupt’s cursed mana. A shadow had passed through this place, something that should not have been allowed to do so.
After a moment, she whispered to the empty space, her voice barely audible,
Lady Chihaya: "I wish you were here, Father.".
Her words hung in the air for a beat before she straightened, forcing the sentiment aside. It was time to move forward. With a decisive motion, she stepped into a portal, leaving the rift and the lingering doubt behind, ready to face whatever came next.