Chapter 40

Cyrus POV

"So, how are we going to defeat that thing?" I asked the drake beside me.

"We need to take out its weak points. You had the right idea going for its horns—that's its primary weakness. If we can break those off, I'll finally be able to do real damage to the basilisk," the beast assured me.

"What about the dark orb floating behind it? Do we have to worry about that at all?"

"No. Void Fang Basilisks are built a little differently from other astral behemoths you may have encountered. Their cores don't reside within their bodies. These creatures can change their form whenever they shed their old skin. To facilitate this, they evolved over eons to create a special tether for their core, allowing it to exist outside their body. Early on, this isn't much of a weakness, but as they grow stronger by absorbing cosmic energy, it becomes their greatest vulnerability."

"So why don't I just go for that and cut it off from its power source?"

"Little one, your cosmic potency isn't strong enough to damage it. You are merely at the embryonic stage. I'll handle that," the celestial being said as it grabbed me and darted away from our previous position in the void.

As we evaded the behemoth, I felt the immense pressure of the drake's growing cosmic intent. The energy was suffocating—nothing like anything I had ever experienced before. I wondered who would be stronger—my father or this being. Would Dad have even needed this being's help in the first place? I thought to myself as we made another sharp turn around a celestial body, causing the basilisk to crash, slowing its momentum.

"Little one, how much have you recovered? Are you ready for another attempt?" the drake asked while weaving through the debris of the shattered platform.

"I'll manage. What do you have in mind?"

"I will create an opening, and I need you to latch onto the basilisk and finish taking out its other horn."

"What do you mean, 'other'?" But before I could finish my sentence, the basilisk came into focus, its massive head looming before me. One of its horns was already half its original size, leaking dark essence. Seeing that my initial attempt actually succeeded, my confidence grew reassuring me of my ability to complete the task at hand. 

"I'll be ready," I affirmed, but the curious and greedy part of me wanted to at least try putting to use the insight I had just learned. I tucked that desire away hoping I would get another opportunity. The current situation was just too dire risk something like that now with another being's life on the line. The technique needed much more time than what I would be allowed. 

The drake didn't respond—it simply executed another maneuver, sending the basilisk crashing into more debris.

With the astral behemoth disoriented, we rose above it, gaining the high ground.

"You ready?" my ally asked telepathically.

"Yes." I said steeling my resolve.

Immediately, the drake launched me toward the basilisk. I layered cosmic energy around my body, hoping to soften the impact, but the behemoth recovered too quickly. It lunged at me, its maw opening wide, revealing jagged void-black fangs.

Staring down its gaping maw, I knew I had only one chance to change my trajectory and evade the attack. Releasing the cosmic energy surrounding my body, I hurriedly channeled it into the first rune of my tattoo. In a matter of seconds, my chest glowed magenta, generating a force that warped the space around us. The basilisk's momentum didn't stop completely, but it slowed just enough for me to flip forward, push off its nose, and propel myself toward the unbroken horn.

The massive serpent snapped its jaws shut as I barely managed to grab hold of the remaining horn. Immediately, the nebula drake appeared beneath the basilisk, headbutting it and sending us surging upward through the void. I channeled cosmic energy into my hands, reinforcing my grip so I wouldn't be shaken off during the assault.

"Hurry, little one! I'm keeping it occupied, but I can't hold out much longer in a physical fight. It has grown significantly after absorbing my cosmic energy," the drake's voice echoed in my head.

Steeling my mind, I took a deep breath to calm myself despite hanging on for dear life. I activated my rune once again, slowing the serpent's head just enough to land several clean strikes on the horn. After my barrage, I saw fractures forming along its surface. But as my ability wore off, I lost my grip and was flung backward.

Desperately, I thrust my hands deep into the serpent's scales, barely stopping myself from being tossed into the endless void.

"Little one, are you okay?" the drake asked as it dodged a vicious bite from the serpent.

"I'm alright! Just hold on a little longer—I think I can break it with one more try." I projected my thoughts back to the drake.

As we twisted through the void, I carefully climbed my way back toward the horn.

"I'm here—get ready," I signaled.

Clutching the cracking horn with all my strength, I activated my ability once more. Each punch I landed carried everything I had left. Pain exploded in my right arm as the bones cracked under the pressure. Still, I refused to stop.

I don't care what it takes—you need to die already! I roared, unleashing one final punch.

With the final devastating blow, my arm shattered completely—but so did the horn. The moment it snapped off, my body became weightless, floating away into the void.

"You did well, little one," the drake's voice rang in my head.

Above the serpent, a blinding sphere of cosmic energy materialized.

"This battle is finished. Now, perish, you wretched beast!" the prismatic drake's voice boomed through the void.

In an instant, a cataclysmic force descended upon the basilisk, erasing it from existence in one fell swoop.

As darkness overtook my vision, I finally succumbed to the pain and passed out.