!!!!! Pr Credits To Draconis Von BloodTrap & Dragonofsomesort Who Constantly Help With SR chapters, Please take the time to rep them for their work :)
i decided to do this weeks regular release early since i will be busy this Wednesday, its not one of my best chapters but i'm sure you guys will understand the pacing once you read it till the end. i noticed that what i consider myself bad at, is writing from the perspective of non spectral characters, that being said its something i will have to improve. i noticed a few individuals pming me regarding loopholes and continuity issues in my past chapters, i'm thankful to you all for managing to pick these out, it lets me fix and reword these before it becomes a large issue
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Currently seated at a table with Avrin were Erebus and Kael. Erebus had even gone as far as to personally brew tea, which he had come to love, his personal favourite was ginger with some lemon, he felt it was refreshing.
Avrin was seated with his right hand against his cheek as he listened to Erebus explain everything in a not too long or short summary. Having listened for a half hour, it was nearing the end of things until today.
“Lord Monarch, as I have explained up until now, I have done my best to keep our race hidden. Of course, I’m sure you know how hard Asura is to handle at times, but he hasn’t given away any secrets, which is good.” Erebus finished his story. Kael was silently listening while drinking the brewed tea with both his hands over the simple cup.
“Well then.” Avrin started before quietly thinking, then taking a deep breath. He didn’t want to be a general in this life as well, he wanted to be free to do as he pleased. Erebus, in his eyes, was doing a fine job but he wasn’t strong enough to properly lead in this world, which meant Avrin still needed to hold the reigns. Regardless of the outcome, the Spectrals would most likely always treat him as the rightful ruler.
“I realise our understanding of this universe is limited. As I grow stronger, I know that there are beings out there that greatly tower over us. That being said, regarding the rankings I had told you about before, it was a good move on your behalf to not put them into place as levels of ability. In this case the proper way to do things is to use these as titles of ranking in status instead of power. I refuse to believe such a vast universe lacks a ranking of its own.” Avrin explained the way he wanted things for several minutes.
Of course, he wanted order to be a focus early on instead of later when things may get out of hand. From there, he decided that Erebus would be ranked as a King, second under Avrin. This was because Avrin trusted his leadership, as he seemed to be the most thoughtful of the bunch. Asura and Kael would be ranked as Grand Princes.
Despite them being as strong as Erebus, this was just to keep them in line. Eitri, of course, was ranked as a Craft King. Avrin realised he would have two at the top in both categories hoping this would allow people to see what to work towards. It was not strength alone, but wisdom.
Shandian would be ranked as an Earl. Avrin decided this because Shandian still had a bit of progress to make. With these individuals ranked in title, it meant there was a chain of command. Though he had little time right now to properly organize this all, he trusted Erebus to organize it for him. After all, it would be incredibly dumb if Avrin did not make good use of his loyalty.
“Erebus, from here onwards, make sure titles are given deservingly. This is the first generation and I expect many to work hard for the later generations to look up to. My main goal at this moment for our people is for them to strengthen themselves. I can’t always be around to protect you all, and allowing everyone to come here was a gamble that paid off.” After Avrin finished, Erebus was eager to speak.
“Lord Monarch, does this mean your title as Emperor will change to your current status?” Erebus’s question was quite straightforward, but it was simple. “Both will be fine. It does not matter to me at this stage. Things will slowly fit into place.” Avrin replied before standing up. His body felt strange, as if his particles were shifting and changing, but he knew what this was.
“-I will be entering the second phase of the Beginner stage soon. I will be incredibly weakened, so it’s best if I focus on overcoming it as soon as possible-” Avrin quietly thought before Kael spoke out.
“Master, is everything alright? You look tired?” Hearing Kael’s words, Avrin glanced back and spoke. “I’m going to be entering into seclusion nearby. Until I’m ready, I don’t want anyone to bother me. You both know what to do. Kael, from here on out, Erebus is your superior. I will return when I complete a certain something.”
Avrin extended his Divine Sense and vanished in a mist of purple ash before reforming four miles away inside a hidden cave entrance that was narrow but lead down inside the earth. Avrin emitted Nebula Mist that caused the entrance to rumble slightly before debris fell and blocked it. From there, he made his way down the cave with a small frown of disatisfaction.
The reason for this is because Avrin had arrived but had to leave so soon he hadn’t had time to properly look at everything or offer some advice. This was because he felt his body was at its peak. The closer he neared the peak of a particle type it would go into overdrive, as if his C.Particles were eager to reach the summit.
Having reached the bottom of the cave, he felt unsteady and somewhat dizzy, but he managed to take a meditative position before feeling for his inner workings. As soon as he arrived, his particles were seemingly unsteady and excited, as if they were about to shoot out in all directions.
“-Perfect, they all have enough energy to begin the metamorphosis. All that’s needed is a little push-” Avrin willed all his particles, from C.Particles to the normal Type 8 particles, which had reached 100% completion, to condense. From there, it was simply a matter of willing the cores of the particles to condense.
The shell of the particles slowly turned a transparent purple before the cores were shown. The cores shrunk immensely, and began to beat unsteadily like a heart, but the moment they all beat at the same time the link between them all had snapped.
This feeling was not at all good for Avrin to feel. It made him nauseous, as if his body was about to crumble into ash like when he uses Divine Step, but with no destination, which made it worrying.
Avrin soon felt his own consciousness slip slightly. With his last ounce of strength, he willed Nebula Mist around his physical body and formed a simple barrier that would be enough to last for as long as there was mana around and as long as no one broke it. From there, he glanced at all the particles of his body. The sight was quite unique, if one looked into the night sky and saw all the stars, then all one would need to do is imagine them shrinking and growing, as if beating like a heart, that would be the sight Avrin saw.
“-Nothing to do but wait now. They have been without me for that long, a few weeks or months won’t hurt-” Avrin wasn’t sure how long this process would take, but he knew in this meditative position, time would pass as if he were sleeping. From there, he began to look over the book God had given him.
Several days had passed without Avrin budging an inch, though while he underwent the second stage to advance his particles from the limits of Type 9 to the end of Type 10 and the end of the Beginner stage, the world of Seleria hadn’t remained silent.
Within the great, boundless ocean of Seleria, a lone individual was casually walking over the ocean floor, his body covered by a transparent blue sphere of mana that kept the water at bay. The creatures of the ocean dared not approach this being. They were afraid of the pressure he faintly emitted. The figure, wearing a beautifully made robe made from a material similar to silk, lined with gold and gems, his face was discernable. This was Azrael.
“It should be time.” Azrael quietly spoke before lifting his right arm and raising the robes sleeve. The brand that Zephiron had given him began to light up with a red and black color before a voice sounded out.
“Azrael.... Interesting indeed. You being free was quite a topic between us, though unfortunately none of us had been observing your prison at that time. Interestingly enough, we were able to observe the battle between that strange individual and your daughter. A shame me and that bastard Malaku had tried to brand him, but it seems Septim beat us to it.” The youthful, snake-like voice sounded out with a tone similar to that of a troublemaker.
“My Lord, indeed. Avrin had been branded by Septim, I assume it is because he battled Leo Zircus, but regardless, I understand our time is limited. I am currently a mile away from the sea tribe’s underwater city. I assumed it was better to be here just incase Orochi’s prison was near.”
Azrael spoke with a deep tone of respect. This was his creator and could be considered his father. “--Oh? Very good. Who needs knowledge from those winged cretins and these sea fish when you have me! A mile east of their city you will find a large, rocky arch. Past that first arch you will find a smaller one on the surface of the seafloor covered in coral.
If you look closely, you will find some runes. Infuse your mana with them, and it will open up a portal. Enter that and you will be transported many miles under Seleria, near its core. You will be within a dome of energy keeping the heat and pressure at bay. You will then be transported to a path that leads to a circular platform that spans two-hundred meters.
On this platform is Orochi. This platform is an area Septim is allowed to do as he pleases with, whether he descends or not! You have to be close enough to explain things to Orochi as well as use the chant. Bahh!!!... I don’t have much more time. Tell that nine headed lizard he must quickly leave the platform as soon as possible! After it escapes to the path, use the pendant you must have prepared and teleport both you and Orochi away!--”
With those last words being spoken, Zephiron’s voice quietly faded and the brand flickered before dimming and soon appearing like a normal tattoo. Azrael had a hint of thankfulness and worship.
“My creator has gone through many years of effort to compile this information, I am truly in his debt...” Azrael clenched his fists before his body, with the sphere of mana, flickered and soon vanished with an incredible speed befitting a Mythical level being.
When he reappeared after several minutes, he was at the first arch. He suddenly raised his hand and began an incantation that lasted several seconds. The moment he finished, a large, one meter rune appeared on the surface of the sea floor, emitting a heavy red glow, before dimming slightly.
Azrael then glanced over at the first arch and looked in the distance before spotting the second, smaller arch hidden between the coral and sand. He made his way over before taking a deep breath. His body began to quiver with a newfound fear. He felt that although Septim didn’t think that anyone would know of this, that if he was caught by him, it would be his doom.
After reaching the smaller arch that was barely the height of a man, he focused closely on it. The arch was made from a mix of coral and rock and blended in well, though small, fingernail sized runes were engraved all across the inner sides of it.
Azrael opened both his palms and pushed dark mana into them and around the coral and rocky arch. Within moments, the runes began to glow with all sorts of colors before the mana converged into one point and formed into a sphere of white light that collapsed and pulsed out, forming into a mirror-like portal that contained magic and laws of magic that were higher than he could comprehend.
Gazing into the mirror, he spotted the obsidian path that lead to the circular platform, around this platform was a large dome of mana that protected the interior which happened to be this obsidian path and circular platform which was in the distance.
At the center of the platform a second dome of magic could be seen, though if one looked closer they would notice this was not a normal magical dome. The second dome itself was made up of bars of white affinity mana that were densely packed together, Azrael could barely see a shadowy figure inside.
Azrael snickered quietly as thoughts of revenge resurfaced in his mind. He stepped forward against the mirror, encountering a little resistance he assumed was meant to keep the water at bay, but in an instant he had appeared on the other side. The moment he did, the portal closed. There was an arch that he could use to exit if he had a change of heart, though considering his determination, it wasn’t going to be used.
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“Layla.....It’s been countless years...though a chance at avenging you has occured...I’ll drown the humans in their own blood, and I’ll rip the wings off of every angel...I’ll have Fafnir’s head torn off and hung at the gates of my kingdom if I survive....”
Azrael gave a soft sigh. He remembered the time before he left.
----Flashback----
Several days ago, Azrael was glancing over some things that belonged to his deceased wife and Lilia’s mother, Layla, when suddenly a soft voice sounded out. “Father, when will we be leaving?” This was the sound of Lilia, who had a resolute look on her face.
Azrael glanced at her and smiled softly. Layla was a human a being who, when compared to a demon, was quite fragile. But regardless, the two had fallen in love. “Lilia, you will remain here.” Having said this, Lilia frowned and spoke in agitation. “Father....you promised together we could avenge mother.... It’s one thing for us to hide here so as to not be discovered by Abbadon....but...with this why do I need to hide?”
“Lilia...I’ve lost your mother, this is a task that you just need to watch from the sidelines. I won’t risk losing you too.... Avrin also made me value Driada.. You’re both my daughters and are safer when hidden here!” Azrael spoke with a firm tone.
“Father!...” Lilia uttered out in displeasure at this decision, but Azrael gave a soft sigh. “Very well. In that case, take this to keep yourself safe.“ Azrael reached for Void and opened it up before beginning an incantation. A blob of green light soon formed above his hand, floating.
“Something that will save your life.“ He spoke silently while Lilia, who would never think her father would betray her or do anything to harm her, happily extended her hand to receive it, though with a thought the green blob of light shot with incredible speed, faster than Lilia could react to in time, and it hit her chest, not making a thud but rather absorbing into her body. Her eyes grew heavy as her vision distorted and blurred.
“Fa.....ther...” She spoke before she fell to the ground, making a small thump. Within moments, several of Azrael’s close guards heard this and came rushing in after hearing the sound. “My King?” The guards gazed strangely at Lilia, who was on the floor limp, and Azrael, who looked as if he wanted to cry.
“Keep my daughter safe.....until I return...” Azrael shuddered slightly before he left to where he knew the sea tribe were living. Due to him being branded by Zephiron, he had bypassed a lot of searching and the trouble of having to go to the Avian tribe and convincing them to not tell Abbadon about Azrael’s presence as well as raising suspicion of what he was after.
--------Flashback end---------
Azrael casually made his way across the obsidian path. Looking around, he couldn’t help but shudder. He turned to look and saw the location he arrived at was a simple rocky protrusion from the top of the earth. Around him was a sea of molten hot iron that seemed to glow like a mini sun, which extended for as far as his eye could see. He knew that if this barrier of mana wasn’t present he would have long since been turned to ash.
Glancing over at the platform with the second, miniature prison dome, he took every step as if Septim would see, very slowly and carefully. Though, on his twentieth step, a heavy, serpent-like voice sounded out.
“A visitor?... I wonder how long it has been since I have seen a living creature...” Many dozens of glowing eyes in different colors from within the darkness of the glowing bars peered through. Despite being surrounded by so much light, it was not enough to pierce this darkness and reveal what lurked inside this prison.
“Orochi....it’s quite an honor to have the pleasure of meeting you...though you can see I’m quite nervous being here. If Septim finds out, then not only my hopes, but your hope of being free will be gone.”
“Ha.....hahaha… You want to free me?.... You have magic capable of removing a barrier of Septim’s creation?” The deep voice resounded out again. Hearing this, Azrael frowned. “I come here with advice given by Zephiron. Freeing you is simple, but if you aren’t willing to listen or help me, then I see I have wasted my time.”
Azrael was a former ruler and has lived for many hundreds of years. He was capable of manipulation, and in this case it worked. “Halt!...” Orochi’s deep yet powerful voice sounded out, though the moment he spoke, Azrael, who had turned and took steps to back away, suddenly stopped, to which Orochi spoke again. “I’m listening...” It said.
Azrael hiddenly smirked before speaking. “My request is simple, and it will benefit you too. I want you to help me kill humanity as well as all the angels and the dragon Fafnir, all those who were part of my wife dying. In return, I will guarantee you will be able to devour the Sigil weapons of both Abbadon and the wielder of humanity's Sigil weapons, Leo Zircus.”
Orochi listened carefully. The offer was indeed enticing, but how could it not fear Septim’s wrath.
“You want me to be free....then rampage around and incur Septim’s wrath again?...You must be crazier than look… You must be the demon king Azrael, correct?...Heh… No less than that worm Abbadon.”
Azrael’s face twisted a little before he soon began to explain many things in detail, even more importantly the fact that the gods could no longer interfere. He also explained that with the chant given by Zephiron he would have to use his speed to quickly leave that circular platform or risk Septim descending to punish him.
“Hmph...to risk myself...while you who are not on the platform will not suffer… Very well. If it is a chance at freedom, I want it… If you do manage to free me, you have my word as a dragon that I will litter this world with the corpses of those who were responsible for your wife’s death and you being sealed...”
Azrael’s expression eased and delight appeared. He remained quiet for a few moments, as if imagining the scene. One could say that the thought had caused him to become somewhat crazy. He could negotiate with Abbadon to form a peace treaty but instead decided to pursue revenge and war.
Before Orochi could wake him up from his thoughts, Azrael stepped over and was only a meter away from the circular platform that looked as white as polished ivory. It was also littered with strange runes Azrael couldn’t comprehend that pulsed with a white light similar to Avrin’s brand.
The platform was composed of two ring layers. The first layer, which was definitely used to detect intruders, spun in a slow circle. The second was still and where the dome of magic that formed thick bars of white light that sealed Orochi was located.
“Yies, Nyio Tysera Nyera Hyonta Cysis.” From there Azrael began a chant. While this happened, Void began to glow, causing the space around it to distort. With the chant, a heavy, dense mana surged out of Azrael and Void, forming into a dense hammer of dark magic that radiated a dark affinity aura.
“-No doubt this is a spell Zephiron personally uses, otherwise how can this brat obtain it. Heh, after I keep my word, what is stopping me from taking that book which I’m sure is a Sigil weapon. Ahh, the taste of godly power...almost enough to make me drool-”
While Orochi was having these thoughts, Azrael opened his closed eyes and grasped the hammer, which seemed to radiate a sort of profound darkness. The moment he gripped it, he felt his body involuntarily shudder.
Gripping it with two hands as Void floated beside him Azrael shouted out. “If you do not flee in time, then you can only curse your own luck!” Azrael roared out before he followed Zephiron’s instructions and threw the hammer with as much strength as he could muster towards the dome.
The moment the hammer entered the circular first dome, the runes began to glow, but the moment they started to glow the hammer had already reached the second dome, smashing against the barrier that shuddered and began to crack like glass.
But Orochi was too afraid as to what would happen if Septim came and he, from the inside of the darkened interior, rammed against it, causing it to crack into fragments. His large, shadowy figure was not discernable as he rushed with all the speed he could muster like a meteor and ran towards the obsidian path, causing the wind inside the mana dome to swish about like a torrent. Azrael was almost swept away but maintained his position.
The moment Orochi left the circular platform, a white light shot down. A man clad in a gold and white robe who had an ancient look and seemed to radiate power. The figure glanced over at the platform and the fragments of the prison used to hold Orochi before glancing towards the obsidian path.
This man was none other than Septim, who looked in Azrael’s direction. Azrael felt his heart shudder and he even forgot to breath. Septim was not glancing at him, though, but what was behind him. The large, black and green figure which had its monstrous wings spread, spanning at least sixty meters.
Its main body was much larger than Wruen, who was one of the larger dragons. The creature glanced over with one head that held a dark glow, its breath emitting a dark mist. Then, its second head, which emitted a white and bluish glow and a frosty mist, and so on until all nine of its heads appeared with a menacing, wrathful smile.
“You dare break your shackles.... You have not learned your lesson...” Septim’s voice thundered out as he narrowed his eyes before he turned to Azrael. “And you, after breaking your own shackles, dare to meddle in my affairs?.... You couldn’t have found this place out so easily, no doubt that Zephiron has something to do with this.” Septim clenched his fists and mana surged out of him, causing the area to shudder slightly.
“Hah!.... Some prison, old fart!.... I hear you gods can’t interfere in this world. I dare you to come here!” Orochi taunted, which made Azrael feel helpless and want to puke with fear. Septim’s face was red and he gave a twisted look of anger.
“Correct.... a law is a law....and I, Septim, keep my rules for a reason.... We gods can’t interfere but...this barrier is held up by my magic...under my control...” Septim snickered before he raised his right hand and clicked his fingers.
Azrael knew on instinct that he needed to flee. He quickly withdrew the pendant the moment Septim casually raised his hand and threw it on the ground. The barrier containing the heat shattered and Septim stood casually as a white barrier formed around him. Of course, at the same time, he frowned as he saw that a dark light formed by Azrael’s pendant created by Void’s magic engulfed him and Orochi before the two vanished in a surge of dark light.
Septim sighed slightly before he vanished in a burst of white light, reappearing back within the heavenly palace located far above Seleria. The moment he appeared over a large circular rune with four white pillars on all four sides, a skinny figure wearing a black robe with a pale face, the head of this individual had shaven sides with a simple ponytail at the top of his head as well as pointed ears, glanced over towards Septim.
Septim looked over at this figure and grunted slightly. “Zephiron.... If this plan of yours doesn’t work it will set us back hundreds of years!” Septim spoke towards the black figure, who happened to be Zephiron.
“Hehehe… Relax, this will work perfectly. Of course there is no such stupid rule as us gods interfering. That Azrael is a perfect catalyst for this all. When the world burns and bathes in enough blood, watch Enigma users pop out of the woodwork. Then we will have more than enough material to continue our plans.”
Septim remained quiet before thinking a little and walking off. Zephiron snickered as he thought. “-Azrael, Orochi, you mortal pawns think we gods haven’t planned ahead… Though your usefulness is nearing its end, it will have been of use for this wonderful experimental farm of ours.-”
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now if you will excuse me i have to update the information pages weapon categories for future chapters.
Avrin's Inner Workings Status
Beginner Control ParticlesType 910%Beginner ParticlesType 910%Skymetal WeaponsAstaroth-ScytheLimos-Vajra