Chapter 140: The Heart of the Guardian and Vaelyss's Revelation

Chapter 140: The Heart of the Guardian and Vaelyss's Revelation

Kael moved like a phantom, a living embodiment of controlled chaos within the swirling void. The Aetherial Guardian, now fully enraged, thrashed violently, its amorphous body distending and contracting, lashing out with a multitude of obsidian tendrils. Each strike carried immense force, capable of pulverizing bedrock, but Kael was always a step ahead, his Void-Walker's Intuition a guiding beacon in the turbulent dance. He flowed around sweeping blows, parried direct thrusts with the glowing edge of his Shadow-Flame Broadsword, and constantly sought openings. With every successful strike, a surge of concentrated void-essence coursed into him, greedily absorbed by his Nullfire Core. The Guardian, paradoxically, was fueling his very existence.

"It has a core," Kael suddenly articulated, his voice a steady rumble amidst the Guardian's shrieks and the cacophony of void-energy. His eyes, now burning with an intense, almost primal light, fixated on a pulsating point deep within the Guardian's shifting mass. "A central nexus. That's where the Elder's will resides most strongly."

Vaelyss, ever observant, immediately picked up on his analysis. "Indeed," she confirmed, her voice devoid of surprise. "These constructs are often anchored by a corrupted fragment of their creator's essence. Destroy the anchor, and the construct unravels. But reaching it..." she trailed off, implying the difficulty.

One of the Guardian's massive tendrils, thicker than the others and glowing with an internal, malevolent light, slammed down where Kael had just been, pulverizing the obsidian goo beneath. He retaliated instantly, driving his Shadow-Flame Broadsword deep into the thick tendril, twisting the blade. Instead of severing it, the weapon seemed to graft itself, void-essence screaming as it was forcibly siphoned into Kael. This was no mere absorption; it was a consumption, a brutal draining of power directly from the Guardian's limb. The tendril withered rapidly, retracting with a pained shriek, becoming brittle and cracking apart.

Kael used the retraction, pulling himself forward, his momentum carrying him directly towards the Guardian's heaving, amorphous mass. He became a blur of shadow and flame, a relentless force driving towards the pulsating core. The Guardian, sensing his intent, brought dozens of tendrils to bear, forming a dense, impenetrable wall of obsidian claws and writhing flesh.

"Unimpeded action," Kael muttered, a grim smile touching his lips. His Nullfire Core flared, mana surged, and he activated an ability honed from his Abyssal Dominion. "Abyssal Rift!"

A fissure of pure, shadowy void-energy ripped open directly in front of him, not a portal to the Sacred Dimension Pearl, but a direct, tearing wound in space itself. He plunged into it, disappearing from sight, momentarily vanishing into the raw void. The Guardian's tendrils smashed into empty air, their momentum carrying them past the point where Kael had been.

A gasp, barely audible, escaped Vaelyss's lips. Her draconic guards, for the first time, visibly stiffened, their scales rising slightly. To tear a rift in true void, without the aid of a Pearl or a System's direct guidance, was a feat of control over void-essence almost unheard of. It spoke of a mastery that transcended mere skill; it hinted at an innate connection.

Then, just as quickly, Kael burst forth. He didn't reappear behind the Guardian, nor above it. He erupted from within the very heart of the writhing beast, materializing inches from its pulsating core. His Shadow-Flame Broadsword, now blazing with an unholy intensity, plunged deep into the Guardian's vital nexus.

A deafening shriek of agony tore through the chamber, a sound that wasn't just physical but resonated on a fundamental level, as if the void itself was in pain. The Guardian convulsed violently, its tendrils flailing wildly, inadvertently smashing into its own amorphous body. Void-essence, no longer controlled, erupted from its form in chaotic geysers. Kael, still embedded within the creature, stood resolute, his Nullfire Core working furiously to absorb the final, overwhelming surge of power. This wasn't merely a fight; it was a systematic, calculated consumption. As the last vestiges of the Guardian's essence flowed into him, Kael felt a profound shift. It was not a gentle transition, but a violent surge of cosmic energy that ignited every fiber of his being. The sheer volume of void-essence processed, combined with the successful destruction of such a formidable Aetherial Guardian, provided an immense surge of cultivation.

System Notification: Vast Void-Essence absorbed! Aetherial Guardian (Corrupted) destroyed!

System Notification: Cultivation amplified! Kael Viren has gained 1 System Level!

System Notification: Kael Viren has reached Heaven's Echo (Low Tier - Tier 2)!

He emerged, cloaked in lingering tendrils of void-smoke, his breathing even, his eyes still gleaming with intense power. The vast influx of absorbed energy had solidified his advancement.

He turned to face Vaelyss, his broadsword humming softly. Her expression was no longer one of mere assessment or subtle intrigue. There was unbridled power, yes, but also a deep, calculating understanding in her molten gold eyes. A slow, almost predatory smile spread across her lips.

"Kael Viren," she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper, yet carrying an immense weight. "You are... unlike any I have ever encountered. My blood calls to yours."

The air crackled with unspoken tension. Kael knew this was it. The direct confrontation with the Elder would be next, but something far more profound had just shifted in his quest to make Vaelyss his wife.

Status Overview

KAEL VIREN

System Level: 57

Realm: Heaven's Echo (Low Tier - Tier 2)

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. (Significantly enhanced through continuous absorption and Guardian's destruction)

Soul-Forged Armament (T1): Enhanced capabilities for his Shadow-Flame Broadsword.

Throne of Ascendancy: Resilience against mental assaults. (Proven effective against Elder's whispers)

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. (Crucial for navigating and predicting Guardian's attacks)

Nullfire Core: Potent resistance and potential absorption/nullification of foreign energies. (Actively converting Guardian's essence, enabling Realm and System Level advancement)

Phoenix Mantle: Rapid regeneration from severe blows. (Ready, but not extensively used due to Kael's effective defense)

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.