Zero trudged deeper into the forest, each step heavy with exhaustion. The aftermath of the battle at Captain Dravos' basecamp weighed on him, his body sore and battered. Shadows stretched across the forest floor, thick mist curling around gnarled roots and dense foliage. Every crack of a branch, every rustle of leaves seemed amplified in the eerie silence.
Hours passed. Time felt distorted in the oppressive forest. And then—a low, guttural growl rolled through the trees. It was a sound that made the hair on the back of Zero's neck stand up, a sound that spoke of pure predatory hunger.
He froze, his instincts screaming. From the shadows, the Abyss Devourer emerged. Its massive, black-red frame shimmered with a faint hellish glow. Its claws dug into the earth with every step, sending tremors that rattled the roots and stones alike. The air itself seemed to recoil from its presence.
Zero drew his sword, shadows beginning to swirl around him in response to his presence. He struck first, his movements a blur of precision and stealth. But the creature's size and sheer raw power made it impossible to finish quickly.
Strike after strike, the Abyss Devourer deflected, countered, or absorbed the attacks with horrifying ease. Zero tried to call upon his Inner Energy, but his body protested; his mastery was still incomplete, his fragment of Dark Elemental not fully revive becouse his master seal the fragment & give piece of a fragment. Each movement required concentration beyond his current limits.
The beast lunged, claws slicing across the forest floor. Zero barely dodged, but the momentum threw him against a tree. Pain exploded across his side as blood ran down his ribs. He tasted of blood in his mouth.
He gritted his teeth, shaking off the shock. He had no choice now. It was time to unleash the ultimate skill he had been honing in secret—the one combining Inner Energy with the fragmentary power of his Dark Elemental, focused entirely through the sword.
He whispered the name under his breath:
"Shadow Requiem."
A black aura surged violently around him, spinning with every last ounce of his strength. The sword glowed faintly, dark energy merging with the steel, and he swung a massive, arcing attack. The attack tore through the forest air, a comet of shadow and power aimed straight at the Abyss Devourer.
The beast howled in pain and rage as the blade severed its wings. But the pressure was too great. The sword cracked, and the counterattack sent Zero sprawling to the ground, barely conscious.
The Abyss Devourer, enraged, struck again. Its massive tail slammed into him like a bat. Pain shot up his spine as he was thrown to the forest floor. Every breath was an agony, every beat of his heart a reminder of his weakness.
Suddenly, Kyren appeared, moving with lightning speed. He lifted him up and dragged him into a hidden cave, the entrance blocked by roots and creeping trees. Inside, he worked quickly, applying herbs and makeshift bandages, examining his wounds carefully.
For two days, Zero lay unconscious while Kyren prepared food, cleaned his equipment, and monitored his pulse. He muttered to himself occasionally, maintaining a calm, self-soothing presence when the pressure of the forest outside was overwhelming and terrifying.
On the third morning, Zero woke slowly, blinking in the soft light that filtered through the mossy cave entrance.
"How… long?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.
Kyren handed him a small bowl of hot boiled water. "Two days," he said softly. "I've been on guard. You're lucky I was nearby when the Devourer attacked."
Zero surveyed his gear and sword—the blade was still cracked, but still intact. His Dark Elemental shards flickered weakly, and he flexed his fingers, testing the pain. Kyren had done a thorough job. He nodded, silently acknowledging his effort, and then sipped his broth carefully.
They ate slowly, the sound of the forest humming in the distance beyond. For a while, they talked about trivial things—the forest, the journey, the small annoyances of life. The laughter came softly at first, then a little more freely, as if trying to carve out a small oasis of normality amidst the chaos.
Yet beneath it all, Zero felt a lingering unease. Something about Kyren was not right. His presence was soothing, but he couldn't shake the suspicion that there was a layer yet to be seen.
Elsewhere — Division Commanders' Council
In the darkened halls of the high command, tension hung like a storm about to break. The Commanders of Divisions 1, 2, and 3 had gathered, their auras radiating power that caused the very walls to hum.
Commander 1 — Ignarion (Beast race -Theralos) (Fire & Lightning) slammed his fist onto the table, sparks flying.
"The basecamp of Dravos… destroyed. Every trace… obliterated. Yet I have captured a fragment of his soul. Dravos is dead. Be vigilant. There are unknown forces at there."
Commander 3 — Voltraz (Ancient Dragon race- Drakonar) (Fire, Water, Lightning) sneered, slamming his palm to the floor.
"Ha! That's because your soldiers are weak! If your men had competence, Dravos would still be alive! Your caution does nothing!"
He glared at Ignarion, his aura surging dangerously. Sparks and waves of elemental energy whipped around him, threatening to tear the chamber apart.
Commander 2 — Seraphel (Syrene race - Aetherin) (Wind, Dark & Strategic Mind) raised a hand, calm amidst the growing storm.
"Enough. Do not act hastily. There is no need to escalate. We do not yet know the enemy's full strength. Let common sense guide you, not pride or anger."
Ignarion's eyes blazed. "Common sense?! Our camp burn in ashes! And you, Seraphel, speak of common sense while the enemy roams unchecked?"
Voltraz's aura crackled violently. "If my soldiers were there, they would have struck first. Do not lecture me, old man!"
Seraphel's gaze remained steady. He spoke slowly, almost meditatively, letting the tension build.
"The basecamp's destruction… indicates an intelligence and precision not typical of the Abyss Devourer. We must investigate. Rage will not yield clarity."
A captain from Division 3 — Tharion (Ancient Dragon race- Drakonar) (Fire & Water) stepped forward, voice firm.
"Commanders, after the basecamp was destroyed, a few hours later, tremors were detected. At first, we thought the Abyss Devourer went berserk—but now, I am not so certain."
Seraphel's eyes narrowed slightly, his brow furrowing. He murmured, almost under his breath:
"The Abyss Devourer would not… disobey orders. Especially from the Demon General, general has give order not to destroy basecamp/region every commander. There is something else at play here."
He turned to Captain Division 2 — Lysandor (Special race — Regalith) (only he is still survived), a trusted subordinate.
"Lysandor, investigate the surrounding area near the Dravos base. Track everything. Leave nothing behind. Report back immediately."
Lysandor bowed. "Yes, Commander. My men will search every inch of the area."
The chamber fell into tense silence, the elemental energies of the three commanders coiled like predators ready to strike. Sparks of lightning, waves of fire, and twisting gusts of wind lingered, crackling against the walls, threatening to shatter the meeting hall.
Hours passed, discussions continued, but the storm of tension was unbroken. Each commander's aura radiated impatience, suspicion, and barely contained anger. The forest trembled faintly in the distance, a silent echo of the shifting balance of power.