Chapter 138: The Elder's Maw and Vaelyss's Gaze
Chapter 138: The Elder's Maw and Vaelyss's Gaze
The air thickened, heavy with the stench of decay and void-corruption, as Kael and Vaelyss, flanked by her two silent draconic guards, neared the pulsating fissure. It wasn't just a tear in reality; it was a gaping maw, an organic wound in existence, constantly spewing shadowy motes and distorted whispers. These whispers, faint at first, swelled into a discordant chorus as they approached, trying to pry at Kael's mind, to sow doubt and fear. Thanks to his Throne of Ascendancy, these insidious mental attacks registered as annoying static, easily compartmentalized.
"The Elder's influence is pervasive here," Vaelyss observed, her voice sharp with analysis. "Every shadow, every murmur, is a tendril of its will. Don't underestimate its subtlety, Kael Viren."
"Subtlety is a luxury it won't afford me for long," Kael murmured, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his Shadow-Flame Broadsword. The weapon hummed in response, a low, eager thrum against his palm. He reactivated Void-Walker's Intuition, and the world shimmered with hidden void-energy pathways, like glowing arteries beneath reality's skin. He could discern concentrated pockets of corruption, dormant traps, and the faint, almost imperceptible trails of creatures that had passed through.
As they crossed the fissure's threshold, the very ground beneath them seemed to shift and writhe. The already dim light vanished, plunging them into an oppressive, inky blackness. Only the faint, unearthly glow from the void-essence within the fissure, and the occasional spark from Kael's eyes, offered any illumination.
Suddenly, the ground erupted, not with an explosion, but with a series of thorny, obsidian-like tendrils, thick as tree trunks, lashing out from the depths. They moved with surprising speed, tipped with jagged, crystalline points that seemed to drink the meager light.
One of Vaelyss's guards, a hulking figure with scales the color of molten obsidian, moved with surprising grace, deflecting a tendril with a powerful sweep of its clawed hand, sending shimmering sparks flying. The other guard unleashed a focused blast of arcane energy, incinerating another tendril into a cloud of ash and void-smoke.
Kael, however, held his ground. He didn't evade. Instead, he met the incoming tendrils head-on. His Nullfire Core flared, a protective aura shimmering around him, absorbing the corrosive void-essence radiating from them. He brought his Shadow-Flame Broadsword down in a sweeping arc, its edge glowing with an ominous mix of shadow and flame. The blade tore through the thick, corrupted growth with ease, severing several tendrils. As they fell, their forms withered and dissolved, the void-essence within them drawn inexorably towards Kael, feeding his Abyssal Dominion.
Vaelyss watched, her golden eyes narrowed, observing every micro-expression on Kael's face, every subtle shift in his stance. He showed no sign of strain, no hint of fear. His movements were fluid, almost economical, and utterly devastating. The absorbed void-essence seemed to flow into him, not corrupting, but strengthening.
"An intriguing form of adaptation, Kael Viren," Vaelyss remarked, a faint smile touching her lips. "You truly are a connoisseur of the void."
"It has its uses, Empress," Kael replied, his voice calm, his focus unwavering as more tendrils lashed out from the darkness. He pushed deeper into the outpost, following the paths revealed by his Void-Walker's Intuition, letting the Elder's own defenses become a source of his power. This wasn't merely about survival; it was a performance. Every parry, every absorption, every devastating strike, was a brushstroke in the masterpiece he intended to paint for the Empress. The Sunken Voids of Xylos, once a threat, were now his stage.
Status Overview
KAEL VIREN
System Level: 56
Realm: Heaven's Echo (Low Tier - Tier 1)
HP: 450,000/450,000
Mana: 580,000/580,000
Sin Tier: Tyrant Rank
Key Stats:
Str: 38,000
Dex: 39,000
Will: 25,000
Charm: 28,000
Notable Skills/Traits:
Abyssal Dominion (T1): Unique mastery over void-essence, allowing absorption and solidification of such energies.
Soul-Forged Armament (T1): Enhanced capabilities for his Shadow-Flame Broadsword.
Throne of Ascendancy: Resilience against mental assaults.
Verdant Sovereign's Heart (Mythic): Powerful passive trait related to nature's sovereignty.
Sacred Dimension Pearl (Upgraded): Sanctuary and accelerated cultivation space for his Union and Companions.
Void-Walker's Intuition: Enhances perception of void energies, revealing pathways and traps.
Nullfire Core: Potent resistance and potential absorption/nullification of foreign energies.
Phoenix Mantle: Rapid regeneration from severe blows.
System AI: Nexus (Online)
THE UNION
Members: Selene, Evelyne, Thalaria, Nysera, Valeria, Aelisa
Current Status: Within Sacred Dimension Pearl for safety and accelerated cultivation.
General Realm: Heaven's Echo (Low Tier)
Aelisa: Heaven's Echo (Peak Rank)
Known Abilities:
Selene: Lunar slashes
Evelyne: Stellar explosions
Thalaria: Thunderous strikes
Nysera: Insidious hexes
Valeria: Nature's wrath
COMPANIONS
Emberfang:
Type: Infernal Flamebeast Cub
Tier: 7/10
Current Status: Within Sacred Dimension Pearl.
Vira:
Type: Sky Serpent Hatchling
Tier: 4/10
Current Status: Within Sacred Dimension Pearl.
What new, insidious threats do you anticipate Kael will face as he pushes further into the Elder's corrupted domain?