THE FALL OF THE CREATOR

Chapter 13: The Fall of the Creator

Vanessa barely had time to react—Erebus was already upon her.

Boom!

Its clawed hand slammed down, the sheer force shattering the floor beneath them.

But—Vanessa wasn't there.

At the last second, she vanished, reappearing several feet away, her breath ragged, golden eyes wide with shock.

"No…" she whispered, gripping her trembling hand. "You are mine. I made you."

Erebus snarled.

"You made me a monster."

It moved again—too fast.

Vanessa barely twisted her body in time, but—slash!

Blood sprayed into the air.

Erebus's claws ripped through her shoulder.

She staggered, clutching the wound, her expression twisting into something both furious and—fearful.

"Damn you…" she hissed.

Adrian watched silently. His flames crackled around him, his golden wings casting a long shadow across the ruined battlefield.

He had every reason to finish her himself.

But now… he hesitated.

Because for the first time—Vanessa looked powerless.

"Adrian," Vanessa gasped, blood dripping from her fingers. "This is your chance. You and I—we can still end this the right way."

Adrian tilted his head. "And what's 'the right way'?"

She clenched her teeth. "You take my place."

Sophie's eyes widened. "She's insane."

Vanessa stumbled forward, desperation in her gaze.

"Listen to me! You are the next step! You're beyond human—beyond Revenant. I tried to control evolution, but you? You are evolution."

She took another shaky step.

"We don't need Erebus. Just you and me. We can shape the future together."

Adrian stared at her.

Then—he laughed.

Vanessa's breath hitched. "Why are you—"

"You don't get it, do you?" Adrian's golden eyes burned. "After everything you've done, you actually think I'd stand beside you?"

His voice lowered. "You're pathetic."

Vanessa froze.

Erebus moved.

Boom!

Vanessa barely turned before—a clawed hand plunged through her stomach.

Her golden eyes went wide.

A choking gasp left her lips.

Blood dripped onto the shattered ground.

Erebus loomed behind her, its face unreadable.

"You played god," it whispered in her ear.

Its claw twisted.

Vanessa coughed—blood splattering from her lips.

For the first time—she looked truly afraid.

"You…" she rasped.

Erebus ripped its claw free.

Vanessa collapsed to her knees.

Sophie, Lucas, and Evelyn stared.

None of them spoke.

Adrian stepped forward. His golden flames flickered, his gaze locked on Vanessa's broken form.

She laughed softly.

Even as she clutched her bleeding stomach, even as she trembled—she laughed.

"…Heh."

She looked up at Adrian, her vision blurring.

"You think… this is the end?" she murmured.

Adrian frowned.

Vanessa's lips curled into a smirk.

"…You have no idea… what you've just done."

And then—her body convulsed.

Adrian's instincts screamed.

Something wasn't right.

Her veins—they were turning black.

Her golden eyes—flickering between light and darkness.

And then—she began to change.

"Get back!" Adrian shouted.

But—it was already too late.

–

Adrian's golden flames flared as he leapt back, his instincts screaming.

Vanessa's body twitched violently.

Her veins turned completely black, writhing like something alive beneath her skin. Her golden eyes flickered—then shattered into darkness.

Erebus stepped back.

Even it could sense it.

Something was wrong.

Vanessa's lips curled into a trembling smirk, blood dripping down her chin.

"You really thought…" she whispered, her voice distorting, twisting.

A black aura exploded from her body.

The entire room shook.

Sophie gasped. "What the hell—?!"

Lucas clenched his fists. "She's changing."

Adrian's eyes narrowed. No.

She wasn't just changing.

She was evolving.

But this time—it wasn't natural.

Vanessa let out a guttural laugh as the black veins spread across her body.

Her bones cracked.

Her limbs stretched unnaturally.

And then—she rose.

Her final form.

Her once human frame was gone.

Her body was now something unholy—grotesque.

Her golden hair had turned completely white, flowing like liquid energy. Her arms had elongated, fingers ending in razor-sharp claws. Black, jagged spikes protruded from her back, pulsating with an unnatural glow.

And her face—

No longer human.

Her once-beautiful features had melted into an abyss, her mouth stretching too wide, revealing rows of fangs.

And her eyes—

Two pits of void. Endless. Hungering.

Boom!

A single step shattered the floor beneath her.

The very air around her distorted, turning black and gold, as if reality itself was rejecting her existence.

Vanessa tilted her head, her voice a whisper that sent chills through everyone.

"…This… is true evolution."

Erebus took another step back—for the first time, it looked afraid.

Adrian's flames blazed.

His jaw tightened. "No, Vanessa."

His golden wings spread behind him, the fire reflecting in his determined gaze.

"This is a mistake."

Vanessa smiled—too wide, too unnatural.

Then, she vanished.

Boom!

Adrian barely blocked in time.

Her claw slammed into his forearm, sending a shockwave that cracked the walls.

The impact sent Adrian flying, smashing through debris, his golden flames sputtering from the sheer force.

"Adrian!" Sophie screamed.

Adrian flipped midair, landing hard on his feet.

Pain rippled through his arm. The spot where Vanessa had struck him—it was burning.

But not from heat.

From corruption.

He looked down—his skin was turning black.

His golden eyes widened.

"…Shit."

Vanessa let out a low, distorted chuckle.

She lifted her hand, watching as her claws **dripped with Adrian's golden fire—**twisted into something darker.

"I told you," she murmured, tilting her head. "You are like me, Adrian. And now…"

She vanished again.

Adrian barely saw it coming.

Boom!

A claw tore into his chest.

Blood splattered into the air.

Pain exploded through his ribs.

And for the first time—Adrian felt fear.

---

Adrian staggered back, clutching his chest as pain ripped through him.

Vanessa's claws had torn deep, but it wasn't just the wound that made him tremble.

It was the corruption.

Black veins spread from the injury, pulsating with an unnatural energy—a void trying to consume him.

Adrian clenched his fists, golden flames flaring around his body, trying to burn the corruption away.

But—it wouldn't leave.

It was spreading.

"…What did you do to me?" His voice was tight.

Vanessa smirked, tilting her head in amusement.

"You still don't understand, do you?" she whispered. "You are like me."

Her blackened form pulsed with unholy energy, her eyes endless pits of darkness.

"You are not human."

Her claws dripped with Adrian's golden fire—twisted and tainted.

"You are not a savior."

She took a slow step forward.

"You are the next step in evolution."

Her smile widened, grotesque and unnatural.

"And I will make you… perfect."

Boom!

She vanished.

Adrian barely had time to react—

Slash!

Pain tore through his side.

Boom!

Another strike—his leg buckled.

Vanessa was too fast—faster than she had ever been.

Adrian gritted his teeth, his golden wings flaring, trying to track her movements.

But—she was everywhere.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Strike after merciless strike.

His body screamed in agony, the corruption digging deeper.

His golden glow—was fading.

Sophie and Lucas watched in horror.

"He's losing," Sophie whispered, clutching her weapon.

Lucas clenched his fists. "No. He's—"

Vanessa struck again.

Boom!

Adrian crashed into the ground, golden flames sputtering, his body trembling from the void's grasp.

He couldn't… move.

The corruption was drowning him.

Vanessa stood over him, her monstrous form towering.

She reached down—grabbing his throat.

Lifting him.

Adrian struggled, but his limbs felt heavy—wrong.

His golden eyes dimmed.

Vanessa leaned in, her distorted voice a soft whisper.

"You were always meant to join me."

The darkness around them deepened.

And for the first time—Adrian felt himself slipping.

His mind. His power. His soul.

The abyss—was calling.

And he couldn't resist.

Not anymore.

Adrian's world was fading to darkness.

His body, once a beacon of golden fire, now felt cold and heavy—a prison that he couldn't escape.

Vanessa's grip on his throat tightened, her fingers digging in, choking him with a force that made his vision blur. Her voice, now a distorted whisper in his ear, echoed in his mind.

"You wanted to be different, Adrian. But you're just like me. A monster."

His heart pounded—each beat growing weaker. The darkness, the corruption, the void—it was consuming him.

But—something in him fought back.

No.

Adrian's golden flames flickered weakly, but they were still there—his power, his will, still burning.

His golden eyes, barely visible through the suffocating blackness, snapped open.

"You're wrong," he whispered, his voice ragged but defiant. "I am not like you."

Vanessa's eyes narrowed. She laughed—a low, mocking sound.

"Still denying the truth?" she said, tightening her grip. "How cute. But you'll soon learn. You are like me. And there's no escaping it."

Adrian's body shuddered, but there was a flicker in his mind—a spark of something more.

The void around him wasn't his end.

It was his beginning.

In his mind, he could hear the echo of the words he had once heard from the ancient being.

"You are the balance."

"You are the key."

Adrian closed his eyes, summoning everything he had left—the golden fire that had always been a part of him.

And in that moment, something shifted.

A burst of light exploded from within him, throwing Vanessa off-balance.

She stumbled back, eyes wide with shock.

Adrian rose, his body now surrounded by blinding golden flames that burned away the corruption. His wounds, though deep, began to heal, the darkness in his veins slowly retreating.

He looked at Vanessa—his expression hard, his will stronger than ever.

"You were right about one thing," he said, his voice filled with newfound strength. "I am like you. But unlike you—I choose who I become."

Vanessa's eyes flashed with fury. She lunged at him, her claws slashing, but this time—Adrian was ready.

Boom!

The clash between them sent out shockwaves, shaking the very foundation of the world around them.

Adrian dodged, his wings flaring in a burst of fire, and with a single swipe of his arm, he sent Vanessa flying.

She hit the ground, her form shuddering as the corrupted energy around her flickered.

But it wasn't over.

Adrian took a step forward, his golden flames intensifying, his body now an unstoppable force.

"Vanessa, this is your last chance," he said coldly. "Surrender and I'll spare you."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You think you can defeat me?" she spat, her voice low and deadly. "You are nothing without your power. You're just a vessel—a pawn in my game."

Adrian took another step.

"No. I am more than that."

The air crackled with energy as Adrian's flames rose higher, burning hotter, and the ground beneath him shattered.

He raised his hand, the golden fire swirling around him, as he gathered every ounce of his power.

Vanessa's eyes widened in fear as she realized what he was about to do.

"No!" she screamed, her voice distorted, but it was too late.

Adrian's flames exploded outward, engulfing the battlefield in a wave of golden light.

Vanessa's form twisted in agony as the fire consumed her, burning away the darkness that had once held her.

Her screams echoed through the air, but they were silenced as she vanished into the flames.

The battle… was over.

---

The battlefield was silent.

Golden flames still flickered, licking at the ruins of what was once a battlefield, but the corruption was gone—burned away.

Adrian stood still, his body trembling from the sheer force of what he had unleashed. His golden flames had never burned this bright before, but now, they were fading—his strength slipping away.

He took a shaky breath.

Vanessa was gone.

At least… for now.

"Adrian!"

Sophie's voice cut through the silence. She ran toward him, her eyes wide with concern. Lucas was close behind her, scanning the area warily, as if expecting Vanessa to rise again.

Adrian turned his gaze toward them, his vision blurring slightly. His body felt heavy, his limbs numb.

But he forced himself to stay standing.

Sophie reached him first, her hands hovering uncertainly before she finally grabbed his arm, gripping it tightly.

"You idiot," she breathed, her voice a mix of relief and frustration. "You could have died."

Adrian gave her a weak smile. "Wouldn't be the first time."

Lucas crossed his arms, shaking his head. "You always have to make things dramatic, don't you?"

Adrian chuckled, but the sound was strained.

Then—his legs gave out.

Sophie caught him before he hit the ground, her grip tightening.

"Adrian!" she gasped.

Lucas immediately dropped to one knee, his face serious now.

Adrian groaned. His whole body felt like it was on fire, but not in the way it usually did. This was different.

It was like his flames had burned too much.

Like he had reached a limit he didn't know existed.

Lucas pressed a hand against Adrian's shoulder, trying to steady him. "We need to get him out of here. Now."

Sophie nodded, worry flickering across her face. "Can you walk?"

Adrian gritted his teeth, forcing himself to move. "Yeah… Just—"

Then, suddenly—

A shift.

A presence.

Something wasn't right.

Adrian's golden eyes snapped open, and he forced himself to stand, ignoring the pain.

Sophie and Lucas froze.

They felt it too.

Something in the air—a ripple, a disturbance.

Adrian turned his gaze toward the spot where Vanessa had vanished.

And then—

The ground cracked.

A low, distorted laugh echoed.

Sophie's breath hitched. "No… No way."

Lucas cursed under his breath.

And Adrian clenched his fists, golden flames reigniting.

Because out of the ashes of destruction, something was moving.

Something was coming back.

Vanessa… wasn't finished.

---