TENSIONS BETWEEN WORLDS
Deep in the endless caverns of the Demon World, lit only by molten veins that glowed like blood beneath black rock, the Demon Lords gathered.
Their forms towered above most demons, cloaked in living armor made of bone, shadow, and fire. Horns curled from their heads, and their eyes shimmered with hellish hues—green, red, violet—each representing a different dominion. In the center of the chamber stood a jagged table carved from obsidian, cracked with ancient runes of blood pact. Around it, they discussed the most frustrating truth.
"The attack failed," growled Varkrith, Lord of Bonefire. "But we succeeded in slaughtering a few hundred weaklings. It was a warning. A tremor before the quake."
"They were supposed to be wiped out," hissed Zeressin, Lady of the Fanged Eclipse, her wings spread like stained glass made of gore. "Yet they fought back—stronger than we expected. These humans... they are rising."
"Their growth is unnatural," spat Molgarn, Lord of Depth. "We underestimated their will to evolve."
A brief silence settled.
Then Varkrith leaned forward, voice grating like grinding stone. "And what of Kar'Thæl?"
Another demon lord, this one draped in silken shadows, answered. "No trace. Not of him. Not of his vessel. Ten days gone… and we are still blind."
"He's hiding," Zeressin snarled. "Somewhere in that world, he is shaping the perfect vessel."
"If he completes the bond in the next 90 days…" Molgarn's words were low and fearful, "...he will reclaim his full strength. He will become unstoppable—even to us."
"Then we must not let that happen," Varkrith thundered. "We will attack them with more powerful demons to snatch Stones from them ..."
Zeressin flicked her claws. "And… we need eyes within. A traitor."
Molgarn nodded. "There are always weak hearts. Someone who craves power. We will tempt them. Make them one of ours."
"A spy among humans," Varkrith concluded. "One who will inform us of any strange behavior. Of any sign… of Kar'Thæl."
And so, the next step in their plan began.
__________________
In the quiet gloom of Arslan's room, glowing blue lights shimmered faintly from the wall-mounted energy veins. Kar'Thæl stood within Arslan's reflection—arms crossed, gaze sharp.
"You heard the bell toll inside your soul?" Kar'Thæl asked.
"Yes," Arslan replied, stretching his arms. "Something's coming."
Kar'Thæl stepped forward, his fiery form merging with the dim torchlight. "Then we don't rest. We refine. We rebuild. Precision must be your sword. Control, your shield."
Arslan nodded. "Mental strength, stamina, and energy control. Right?"
"Exactly. If we are to fight alone—and we will—we must not only master our existing skills, but expand. Improve. Outthink them."
Kar'Thæl summoned a visual projection in the air: ghost-like simulations of Arslan wielding Dark Bow, Abyssal Fangs, Shadow Blades, and Dark Shield and Crimson Verge
"These four weapons are your limbs," Kar'Thæl said. "But limbs alone do not win wars."
He flicked, and next appeared the six techniques Arslan had mastered:
1. Shadow Merge
2. Black Halo
3. Recoil Spiral
4. Phantom Rift
5. Shadow Vein Channeling
6. Eclipsion Pulse
7.Noir Tempest
"And these," Kar'Thæl continued, "are your instincts. Your power. But even with these, you cannot yet match mid-level demons. They regenerate, Arslan. They evolve as they bleed."
Arslan exhaled. "So what do we need?"
Kar'Thæl grinned. "We need… a new Combination Skill. One that goes beyond First Combination."
Arslan's brow furrowed. "Another fusion?"
"Yes," Kar'Thæl said, then nodded. "Something that lets you overwhelm enemies quickly. Before they heal. Before they adapt."
Night had settled over the Mythic Base, stars casting soft blue light onto the stone tiles of the hidden training ground. All others were asleep. Arslan stood shirtless, breathing slowly, sweat lining his brow.
Kar'Thael appeared beside him, arms folded.
> "You've grown in skill. Now it's time to create something no enemy can predict."
Arslan nodded. This was the moment.
---
✦ Step 1: Phantom Rift — Split the World
> Kar'Thael whispered, "Open a rift — but not to teleport. Open it... and anchor it."
Arslan raised his hand and focused. Normally, the Phantom Rift blinked open and closed in seconds. But this time, he stabilized it — slowed its collapse — until it began spinning gently like a disc of distorted space.
Then another. And another. Until five swirling rifts floated around him.
Each one hummed. Each one burned the air.
> Kar'Thael: "Now feed them your mind."
---
✦ Step 2: ECLIPSION PULSE — Send the Soul Echoes
> "Not a clone," Kar'Thael said. "This time… send intentions through each rift."
Arslan focused and shouted:
> "ECLIPSION PULSE!"
A pulse of black energy shot from his chest, arcing into all five rifts. Within each tear, an echo of Arslan appeared — not exact copies — but shadows of will, versions of him tuned to react independently.
They flickered in and out of view. Semi-transparent, half-real.
> These were not puppets.
These were phantoms of rage, precision, and instinct.
---
✦ Step 3: Crimson Verge — The Soul Weapon Awakens
Now came the center of it all — the blade forged by Arslan's darkest moment.
Crimson Verge glowed in his grip, its red aura pulsing with heartbeat rhythm.
> Kar'Thael: "Infuse the weapon into all five echoes — through the rift link."
Arslan held the Verge upright, eyes shut — and with a deep exhale, his aura split.
The Crimson Verge in his hand flickered, and copies of it surged through each rift, attaching to the phantom versions of himself.
Now — five echoes, five rifts, five Verges.
---
🔥 Execution Phase — Veilbreak Annihilation Begins
Suddenly, all five phantoms lunged from their rifts, slashing outward toward the center of the battlefield — their paths crossing.
Arslan, at the real center, swung his Verge downward in perfect sync.
As all blades struck from different angles into the same zone, the rifts collapsed inward, pulling energy, matter, sound, and light into a single sphere.
> The ground cracked.
Gravity twisted.
Time itself… bent.
Then — BOOM.
The collapsed space exploded outward in a vein-shaped, red-black shockwave.
Targets (Kar'Thael's summoned illusion demons) vaporized instantly. Even the training ground floor cracked in spiral lines.
---
Arslan fell to one knee, barely able to breathe. His vision blurred, but his mind was sharp.
Kar'Thael slowly approached, grinning with pride.
> "This… This is not just a combination. This is a god's strike."
Arslan gasped:
> "Too... heavy on the soul."
Kar'Thael nodded:
> "That's why it's your trump card. You don't use Veilbreak Annihilation on anyone. You use it when the world is on the edge of collapse."
Arslan asked:
> "Is it complete?"
Kar'Thael:
> "Only when your phantoms begin thinking ahead of you."
Arslan smiled weakly, knowing more trials would come.