Lost Records - 2

The three devil-like figures stood motionless, their piercing gazes locked onto Ying Yue. Her breath hitched, and her entire body froze under the weight of their sinister presence.

Then, the female devil the one who had ended Thaddeus's life moments ago let out a soft chuckle, her violet accents glowing faintly as she tilted her head. "What do we have here?" she purred.

Before Ying Yue could even process the words, the jagged figure to the left raised his hand, summoning a spear formed from liquid blood. Its surface glistened with malevolence as he hurled it toward her with a violent thrust.

The spear cut through the air with an ear-piercing screech, its speed blinding. Ying Yue's mind screamed at her to move, but her limbs refused to obey. She was paralyzed by the overwhelming pressure of their presence. Her heart pounded in her chest as the weapon closed in.

Boom!

The impact sent a shockwave through the throne room, and Ying Yue's vision went black.

Zarathos, let out a delighted laugh as the dust settled from the explosion. "That old bastard… even after death, he's still trying to keep tabs on us with his little tricks. How irritating."

"Tricks or not, he's gone," Voryn replied, his voice low and guttural. "And we've upheld our agreement so far. The crystal core of this planet belongs to me. Take your share of whatever else is left and don't waste my time."

Zarathos, the largest of the trio, let out a growl of impatience. "Fine. But whoever reaches the other facilities first will claim them. I'm not slowing down for either of you."

Vespara smirked, the eerie glow in her violet armor intensifying. "Oh, Zarathos, don't worry. I'll make sure to take whatever's valuable before you lumbering oafs can."

The three devils shared a cold, humorless laugh before their forms dissolved into streaks of blood-red light, leaving behind a hall bathed in destruction.

...........

Darkness. Silence.

Slowly, Ying Yue's senses returned, her head spinning as she processed everything she had just witnessed. The battle, the devils, the spear of blood they were vivid, yet she was unharmed. It felt surreal, like she was floating in a void.

Then, the darkness began to crack like shattered glass.

No, not again.

The world shifted once more. Ying Yue found herself back in the throne room, though it was no longer chaotic and destroyed. Instead, it was peaceful, lit by a golden glow.

Seated on the throne was Thaddeus, his once-powerful frame relaxed yet visibly weary. He stared at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and hope.

"So, you're here," he said softly, his voice carrying an echo of his former strength. "If you're seeing this, then you already know that I'm dead."

Ying Yue's breath caught as she realized this wasn't the same man she had seen in the battle. This was only a memory an echo of the warrior who once stood against insurmountable odds.

Thaddeus leaned forward, his gaze heavy with sorrow. "Zarathos, Voryn, Vespara… those three monsters. They attacked my planet when I was already too old to fight at my peak. I did my best, but… in the end, I was defeated."

His voice steadied, taking on the tone of a leader addressing his troops for the final time. "You must be wondering why you were chosen, why the burden of this broken world has fallen on your shoulders. The truth is, I don't know either. Perhaps fate has chosen you because you have something I never did a future worth fighting for."

He paused, his words growing heavier. "The universe is vast, and in its vastness, you'll find cruelty and despair, but also hope. Power is meaningless without purpose. Remember that."

Thaddeus gestured to the throne room, and the air shimmered as glowing orbs appeared around Ying Yue, projections of blueprints, weapons, and data, all seemingly endless.

"These are the last remnants of our legacy. My wife, Evangeline, built this system to protect what we loved most, and now I leave it to you. Use it wisely not for vengeance, but for hope. If you let vengeance consume you, you'll become no different from them."

His voice softened, and his expression turned wistful. "I have no illusions about the past. I was once hailed as the mightiest warrior in the galaxy, but in the end, I was just a man trying to protect what mattered to me. Strength is not in how many battles you win, but in how many people you save."

Finally, his voice faltered, and sadness overtook his face. "Ah… Evangeline… I only wish I could see you one last time. But it seems my time has come. I'm coming to you now."

He smiled faintly, the echo of his love shining through his grief. "Ying Yue, the future rests on you. Good luck."

The image of Thaddeus on the throne flickered, his form growing dim as his final words lingered in the air:

"Do not fear the darkness-be the light that breaks it."

........

Ying Yue's eyes shot open, her heart hammering as she gasped for breath. She was back in the library, the glow from her palm completely extinguished.

She looked around frantically, her mind still reeling from what she had witnessed. Her hands trembled as she clutched at her chest, Thaddeus's final words echoing in her mind.

But before she could process anything further, Amon's voice cut through the silence.