In the past, Samael has merged multiple times with parts of his soul, discovering more about himself each time he does. They were unique experiences, concepts many may find hard to understand.

Most of the time, they were ways for him to prevail in situations he alone cannot withstand. Often, it would feel as though he was simply unconscious, but this time, it was different.

Samael did not know what would happen to him when he reached the centre of the Deadzones. All he knew was that the Void needed him to reach it, and it would handle the rest. He believed it would be like every other time he let go of the reigns, but it wasn't.

When he reached it, Samael felt a presence as vast as the night sky envelope him, submerging him in its radiance and power. He felt... safe. Perhaps because it was the Void that was upon him, his home, and his family.

But he wasn't unconscious. Rather, he saw a manifestation of the abyss before him, alone and fuming in rage.

So much wrath... But for who? For what?

Right now, his connection to the darkness in front of him was at its weakest. He did not know why nor truly understand, but perhaps it was like his soul. It was protecting him.

Protecting him from the pain, the longing, and the anger it had been ensuring for so long, it was bottled and kept tamed behind cages.

Even now, it felt restrained, coveted by worry, worry of what might happen to the sole heir and the last kindling of flame the Void has.

It was scared for him.

Shifting his gaze at the darkness standing in front of him, Samael's expression became solemn.

He did not know why the Void was so afraid of sharing the emotions it felt. He did not understand why it was so scared and worried about showing its anger and pain. He did not know much.

The Codex stated that he was yet to be ready for the truth and the consequences and burdens it accompanies.

In the end, it was always his weakness that held back the people around him.

He too was afraid, afraid that he wouldn't be able to live up to the greatness of that which came before him. Yes, he was indeed scared of failing and losing everything again.

But what if that fear is what's keeping him chained down? What if that fear is the only thing keeping him from greatness? From the freedom of weakness?

Then perhaps it was time for him to be strong.

Reaching out, the darkness flinched as it turned to meet Samael's gaze, uncertainty present in its deep eyes.

Yet, in the face of such adversaries, Samael mustered a smile. This time, allow him to share the burden, even for a moment.

The Void's gaze softened as it held Samael's hand, merging with him once more, returning to a place it can proudly call...

Home.

***

Ishkar fell to his knees as a pressure like never before crashed against his body, forcing him to buckle under its immense weight.

But what truly puzzled him was not the intensity of the pressure but the authority it held.

It was a new concept even to him, who has fought hundreds, if not thousands, of battles in his life. It was terrifying. It sent a chill down his bones and made him feel small.

At that moment, he had the utmost urge to just run. He did not even wish to fight it. But he could not. The pressure it released did not only make him buckle, but it ordered him to kneel.

It was akin to a king ordering a slave to bow down before its magnificence. What choice does he have but to lower himself?

Another thing that confused Ishkar was the sudden change in Samael. Although vague, he could still sense Samael in the midst of the chaos, along with another presence he cannot define or understand. It was as if a wall of darkness stood before him and the truth.

But right now, the only thing he can do is trust in the boy.

"Spawn of zealots, you do not belong here. Go back from whence you came."

The winged abomination's beak was turned to dust as it came into contact with Samael. As of right now, his body was submerged in Void matter, appearing like a cloud of darkness.

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The Abomination released a bloodcurdling screech as its face began to melt away. Unable to withstand the force of the pressure, it's body buckled and fell face down; it's bones were crushed underneath the titanic weight.

However, the remaining three beasts released an ear-shattering roar as their bodies grew black nerves extending towards their entirety along with newfound strength to resist the pressure.

Without a second thought, they dashed towards Samael, their jaws wide open as their bodies glew with their respective elements.

Spitting forth a small flicker of flame, it erupted into a large explosion upon collision with Samael, destroying the surrounding field.

Ishkar's eyes widened. Just how did their power quadruple in an instant? Just what was happening?

Right now, Samael has unified with the Void at another level than before. Due to his level, he was unable to fully merge as his body would crumble and his soul would be crushed.

But taking the risks, he took it upon himself to, even for a brief moment, take it another step forward and shoulder even a meagre portion of the Void's rage and burdens.

Right now, he was fully conscious of what was happening. He was also fully conscious of the boiling rage that almost blinded him. And all that was pointed at the Abominations in front of him.

Right now, they were one.

"I have had enough!'

Samael's figure turned to a blur as he appeared beside one of the beasts, startling it as he grabbed its head with one hand.

"In my absence, you have stained this reality with your filth! It's time to show you the power of the abyss!"

Grabbing the neck of the abomination, Samael dragged his hand back, ripping out its foul soul from its body before crushing it with his bare hands.

Like a chain reaction, it's corpse fell limp in Samael's grasp as he disintegrated it, leaving none, not even ashes behind.

The two remaining beasts remained steadfast in their approach, their sense of control gone as they've been turned into nothing but mindless puppets.

But nothing was impossible before the Void. All fear its power. All does.

"Kneel."

The beast's smashed down the earth as their knees dug in the hard boulders, shattering their bones and tearing their flesh.

With but a word, the clarity in their eyes was regained as the control of the Fell flower vanished like cutting the strings of a puppet master.

Overwhelming fear ate through the abominations as they were unable to muster even a whisper.

They trembled before the one chosen by the endless darkness. Their blood ran cold and their bones creaked. Their souls screamed in anguish, asking for forgiveness and mercy they would never obtain.

Samael strode forward towards the beast, each step sending waves of fear into the hearts of his foes.

Standing before them, Samael grabbed the first bastard with both his hands, gouging its eyes as he burnt its soul from the inside, its physical body slowly disintegrating as it released the most heartbreaking scream.

Ishkar's eyes trembled as he watched Samael. Was this really the same kid he taught?

This wasn't a fight...

This was an execution!

And Samael is the executioner.

Grabbing the last remaining abomination by the mouth, Samael sent down a stream of Void matter down it's throat, causing its body to wriggle in agony as its insides were melted and turned to dust before imploding.

Now, he alone stood victorious.

Walking towards the centre of the Deadzones, Samael smashed his feet down, crushing the boulders beneath him, revealing a set of intricate systems of roots tangled below.

The roots were black in colour with smudges of red.

Yes, like the name suggests, these were the roots of the fell flower. With his merge with the Void, Samael learnt a few things about this abomination.

It is the root of the evil they are waging a war against. It is the cause of the portals appearing in all the sanctuaries.

Through these roots, it is able to deliver the commands to abominations and set up portals for their entry.

It is also its primary way of feeding and sustaining itself. The reason the abominations don't eat their victims but simply kill them is because the fallen flower absorbs them.

Using it's pawns, it feeds off of the world, making it stronger each day that passes.

It was a sick joke.

Raising his hands, Samael's aura exploded, tripling in intensity.

He does not know the connection of these bastards to the Void or the old sovereign. But he knows one thing.

They will now face judgement.

"Second Punishment."

Bringing his hand near his face, an orb of Void matter hovered in his palm before forming a scythe.

Upon witnessing the scythe, Ishkar lowered his gaze. It felt as though it would slice him by just looking at it. Whatever it was, something was telling him it would do more than just cut whatever it hit.

A deathly chill engulfed the entirety of Servan, causing the abominations to screech in unison as they cowered in fear.

They knew this sensation very well.

It was "that!"

It was the destroyer of their kind. The eternal punishment awaiting them!

The soldiers watched the beasts act erratically, and they could almost make sense of what they were howling.

"Save us, mother!"

But there was no saving. There was no pardon. There was only...

Punishment.

Winding the scythe up, Samael shot a cold glance at the roots as a screech escaped its surface, wriggling around like the worm it is.

"Null Severance."

Dragging the scythe across, space and time felt distorted for a few moments as the blade cut through the roots.

However, it far exceeded that as the earth began to shake and separate into two.

The entirety of the Deadzones had been severed in two, and it was falling.

Ishkar's eyes widened. "Motherfucker!"

The roots screeched in agony as the severed part slowly deteriorated before being reduced to nothingness.

The damage travelled far and wide as the system of roots nearby also began to crumble, crying in pain.

This wasn't the end of it.

Somewhere in a distant land, covered and hidden in the darkness and ruins, the fell flower...

Cried.

Not of sadness.

But of pain.

The damage was so severe it impacted the main source as parts of it's body began to disintegrate.

The process was torturous and was only stopped by using all of its power.

Samael raised his head as he closed his eyes. What a beautiful sound it was.

The job was done.

Servan is safe.