Confusion painted the air as thick as the jungle humidity. Abron, his control over Nicolas momentarily cut off by the unexpected arrival, watched the heroes with a wary eye. Hero Hinnel, the ever-so-righteous Paladin, stood at the forefront, his hand instinctively gripping his golden sword as he made his way closer to his enemy."Demon King Abron" Hero Hinnel began, his voice measured and calm but showed that he was pleased with the sight before him. "We meet once again."Nicolas, his body instinctively reacting to the lingering anger and resentment towards Hero Hinnel, let out a guttural growl, a sound devoid of his usual gentle nature."I would say I'm surprised you and your brother had a reunion only for it to end up in a fierce battle,but I would be lying" Hero Hinnel went on, his eyes surveying the damage to the jungle.Before Nicolas could formulate a response, Xeno stumbled forward, his hand still places on his injured arm. "Heroes! Thank goodness you're here! You must stop t
Abron's words hung heavy in the air, a declaration of war disguised as a truce. Xeno, his face etched with a mixture of defiance and desperation, met his gaze.Seeing that there was no use in him actively partaking in the fight against the heroes, he gently drowned himself once again in Nicolas' subconscious and let Nicolas take over from where he left off."I've done the best so you're free to do whatever you want to these dumbbells"Abron instructed. "Give them hell."Nicolas nodded his head slowly as he closed his eyes then opened them only to stare directly at Hero Hinnel."As you wish," he finally replied, his voice filled with a steely resolve.With that, the fragile peace in the jungle shattered. In a blur of motion, Nicolas, his body now fully under his own control but still getting a steady supply of dark energy from Abron, lunged at Hero Hinnel.Their blades met in a clash of steel, sparks flying as their skills clashed. "I saw that coming" Hero Hinnel said with a mocking to
The jungle echoed with the continuous clash of steel. Neither Nicolas or Hero Hinnel seemed to become tired due to their battle which seemed to drain both of them so much. All they cared about was defeating the other and finally eliminating a threat which seemed bug them wherever they went.Sparks flew as their blades met, the air thick with the scent of sweat and blood.Nicolas, his body enhanced by Abron's honed reflexes and exhilarating dark magic, moved with a terrifying grace. He parried Hero's strikes with lightning-fast reflexes, his own blade flashing in deadly arcs.Hero Hinnel, however, was no ordinary opponent. He fought with the unwavering determination of a Paladin, his faith fueling his every move. He unleashed a torrent of holy energy from his golden sword which brightened the battlefield, the air crackling around him as he pushed Nicolas back."I expected better from you, Demon King. At least something much more better than our last battle" Hero Hinnel said.Nicolas
"That was all she was good for, isn't it"? Nicolas' full attention went to Hero Hinnel who had begun to regain consciousness but his mouth was still as sharp as ever. "You need to stop talking before I finally decide to bash your head in" Nicolas warned the sword hero who seemed not to care about the words he said. Fury choked Nicolas. Hero Hinnel's smug, mocking face burned into his eyes. His words which suggested that Lou-ra had not been strong enough eechoed in his head. "She wasn't really strong enough, my dear Demon King. Never was" Hero Hinnel murmured, as if reading Nicolas' mind. That was the last straw. Nicolas gathered a considerable amount of dark energy to his fists and raised them up with the intention to kill Hero Hinnel before he said anymore words that tarnished the image of Lou-ra which he still had in his head. A monstrous roar tore through the jungle where they had fought, tearing Nicolas' attention away from Hero Hinnel who stared blankly at him. Yuki, Leon
Nicolas' grip on Xeno's shirt loosened slightly, his focus shifting entirely to the luminous figure which he did not fully understand. He needed to know more before he made any decisions. "Restore balance? What in the seven hells are you talking about?" His voice, though still rough with his grief, held a hint of curiosity and apprehension. The figure tilted its head, a gesture somehow conveyed despite the concealing hood. "You seem wary of me" the figure said. "Do I seem so ominous?" Nicolas maintained his distance from the figure and prepared himself Incase he needed to fight. "You tell me" Nicolas replied. "I don't know if you're a friend or a foe." The figure smiled and it could easily be seen despite the hood on his head. "I am Asteria," he said, its voice echoing with an ancient power. The name didn't ring any bells in Nicolas' mind, despite the fact that Asteria had said his name in such manner. "You call your name as if i am supposed to remember it. I'm sorry but I'
The world dissolved into a blinding white light which made it practically impossible for them, except Asteria, to open their eyes. They had no other choice than to be still and wait for everything to settle down.When Nicolas blinked the harshness away, he found himself standing on a pristine white platform, seemingly floating in an endless expanse of white. Skr'll who held his arm tightly while standing beside him regarded the place with a disgruntled grunt. Asteria, ever the stoic, simply appeared further down the platform."What in the nine hells is this place?" Skr'll muttered, her voice echoing in the vast emptiness.Nicolas wanted to tell her to be quiet, but she had asked the same question that was in his mind."Welcome to the land of the gods," a voice boomed from everywhere and nowhere at once. It vibrated through Nicolas's bones, sending a shiver down his spine.Soon, the white environment cleared and it seemed as if they had appeared in a beautiful garden that emanated only
Electric surprise coursed through Lou-ra as her arms instinctively wrapped around Nicolas. The warmth of his body, a stark contrast to the sterile environment where none of the gods touched themselves and the ones she had touched were cold.Although her consciousnesd had snapped her out of the ethereal conversation, a huge part of her didn't want to let go just yet until she had had enough of the only person she missed when she appeared of the gods realm.Her eyes flew open, and a strangled gasp escaped her lips. Her embrace faltered, a mixture of confusion and panic flooding her face."Forgive me, my Lord," she stammered, pulling away abruptly. "It was rather improper for me to behave in such a way… I didn't realize…" She bowed her head in apology, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.It was unthinkable that she, a mere servant, would commit such an act of engaging into an embrace with her master. It was simply unheard of.Nicolas, momentarily stunned, offered her a reassuring smil
As Nicolas, Asteria, Skr'll and Lou-ra continued their journey deeper into the realm of gods,the harsh white void melted away, replaced by a breathtaking landscape which beauty took the breath from them all."This place is magnificent" Nicolas said as his eyes scanned the entire area within seconds.Although Lou-ra had been present in the realm for sometime, she had not been allowed to go beyound places where she wasn't supervised."I am in awe" Lou-ra pinned in.Green hills stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with fantastical trees that shimmered with an otherworldly glow. Crystal-clear rivers flowed through valleys that incorporated various vibrant wildflowers that released a sweet, intoxicating aroma. The very air vibrated with a subtle energy, whispering of magic and wonder. This was the true realm of the gods, a paradise unlike anything Nicolas had ever imagined."Welcome to the innermost parts of Elysium," Asteria announced, his voice echoing in the vastness. "The gar