As the children drifted off to sleep, Akira remained seated in the same spot, her gaze distant and lost in thought.
The world around her shimmered as the illusion she had cloaked herself in slowly dissipated.
The slim woman now revealed a different form, her belly rounded and full with the unmistakable sign of pregnancy.
Akira had not only inherited fragments of her mother's skill and soul but also something far more precious: the unborn soul of her brother.
For the past three thousand years, she had carried this soul within her, nurturing it with patience and care, knowing the immense power it would one day wield.
She had hidden this secret so well that even the seemingly omnipotent enemies who had brought ruin upon the world had no idea another child of Charybdis was growing within her, one with a divine soul, unique for being the only offspring born after their mother had gained divinity.
Akira placed a soothing hand on her belly, feeling the life within stir.
She knew the time of birth was drawing near, and with it, the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
But her resolve was unwavering; she would protect this child with everything she had.
A clanging sound interrupted her thoughts, drawing her attention to the shadows behind her.
A figure emerged into the dim light, its gait uneven, as if something was wrong with its legs.
Akira recognized the presence immediately but did not turn to face it.
"You're finally here, Blue," she said, her voice calm but tinged with a hint of resignation. "So, I guess it really is time now, huh?"
The figure stepped forward, revealing its mechanical face, bathed in a faint blue glow.
One of its eyes was missing, and a deep scar ran across its head, a brutal reminder of the sword that had once impaled it.
This was Blue, the manas created by Charybdis herself, loyal to the end despite its battered form.
"It's time, my liege," Blue responded, its voice steady despite the damage it had sustained. "You must hide. There are only a few such places left, but I'll make sure that you and the baby remain safe."
Akira finally turned to look at Blue, her expression unreadable.
She knew the gravity of the situation, knew that what little hope she had for the future rested in the life she carried within her.
She also knew that hiding might be the only way to ensure that future.
With a deep breath, she nodded, her hand still resting protectively on her belly. "Lead the way, Blue. We can't afford to lose this fight before it even begins."
Akira gave Blue a final glance before speaking softly, "Put an illusion field over me for the children. They shouldn't know… not yet."
Blue nodded, though its mechanical face could only mimic the understanding it could fully grasp.
With a faint hum, the illusion field activated, casting Akira's calm and reassuring image over where she once sat with the sleeping children.
To them, she would remain there, watching over them as they dreamt of a better world.
---
The scene shifted as Akira and Blue navigated through a narrow, congested alleyway, blending seamlessly into the crowd.
The city they moved through was dystopian, a far cry from the once-majestic lands of Lanka.
The sky was choked by the towering buildings, casting the streets into perpetual shadow.
Only the faintest slivers of light managed to pierce the oppressive darkness.
Everywhere they looked, humans and monsters alike bore marks beside their faces, branding them with their status.
They huddled together in cramped, decrepit spaces that could hardly be called homes, more like cages where hope had long since died.
The air was thick with the stench of despair and decay, the very essence of a world that had lost its way.
Blue's mechanical voice broke the silence as they walked, "Perhaps the Queen foresaw this future ...when she set out to fight all those years ago."
Her voice faltered, her processing units struggling to handle the depth of such an emotional statement.
Despite her vast capabilities, this wasn't something her artificial mind was designed to fully exhibit.
Akira remained silent, her thoughts heavy.
She knew that Blue's body, crafted nearly 2,892 years ago, was not perfect.
Built by the last loyal members of Charybdis's lab after the fall of the Empire, it was an imperfect vessel. Deadalus, talented though he was, could never replicate Charybdis's genius.
The body was formidable, yes, housing the last remnants of the Empire's technology, but it had its flaws, flaws that were becoming more apparent with each passing day.
Blue's form was battered, her ability to heal long lost.
Her legs had begun to fail her years ago, yet she pressed on, her dedication to Akira and the cause unwavering.
She had been the single force that stood alongside Akira, a beacon in the darkness, even as her body withered and tattered from battles fought and wounds unhealed.
As they walked, Akira suddenly stopped.
Her gaze fixed on something ahead, and her expression darkened.
There, at the center of the city, stood a giant statue.
Akira's breath caught in her throat as she looked up at it.
The statue was a grotesque mockery, depicting Charybdis, the once-mighty Queen, writhing under the foot of another.
It was a clear attempt to humiliate, to erase the legacy of a ruler who had once dominated this realm with an iron fist.
Akira's eyes narrowed as she studied the face of the figure standing over her mother, pinning her down in eternal subjugation.
It was Milim Nava's face, twisted into a wicked grin.
Her so called "Aunt", who had murdered every single person she cared about.
Akira clenched her jaw, her teeth grinding in silent fury.
This mockery, this perversion of her mother's memory, was more than just an insult.
It was a declaration, a reminder that Charybdis, who had once been unstoppable, had been brought low.
But Akira knew the truth, the sacrifice, the battles her mother had fought, and the power she had wielded.
This statue was nothing more than a lie carved in stone.
None had made her kneel in battle.
Blue, sensing Akira's anger, tried to speak, but Akira raised a hand, stopping her.
She didn't need words right now. She needed to remember, to hold onto the truth of who her mother was and what she had fought for.
She needed to find a way to undo the twisted reality that had befallen them all.
---
Akira and Blue silently approached the barren cave, their footsteps the only sound in the desolate landscape.
The remnants of what had once been the grand Jura Forest surrounded them, now reduced to a vast desert known as the Giant Jura Desert.
The cave before them, once a hub of immense power and innovation, was now stripped bare, its stone walls cold and lifeless under the oppressive sky.
As they stepped inside, the desolation outside gave way to a hidden stronghold within.
The interior was a stark contrast, well-built and filled with remnants of the fallen Empire.
Machinery, weaponry, and artifacts lay scattered, remnants of a power long past but still palpable in the air.
As they ventured deeper, a deep, feminine voice echoed through the cave, resonating with both authority and an ancient sadness.
A figure materialized before them, kneeling in respect.
It was Ramiris, the former Spirit Queen, now irrevocably changed by Charybdis's power.
Once the ruler of spirits, Ramiris had been defeated and transformed, her very essence altered by the horrors of Shashvata Narakam.
Now, she stood as the last true subordinate of Charybdis, her loyalty unbroken despite her fall.
"I've prepared the chamber for the birth of the prince," Ramiris said, her voice steady but carrying the weight of centuries. "You should rest easy, Queen."
Akira's hand instinctively moved to her swollen belly.
She was carrying not just her unborn brother, but the last hope of a dying legacy.
The title "Queen" hung heavily in the air, a title she had inherited in the brief, tragic existence of the Empire.
Blue, standing beside her, remained silent.
The title was one she never used for Akira, perhaps out of a recognition of the weight it carried, or the cruel irony it now represented.
Akira nodded to Ramiris, though her mind was far from at ease.
"Thank you, Ramiris," she said, her voice tinged with both gratitude and apprehension.
This was not just a birth; it was the continuation of something far greater, something that had the potential to reshape their shattered world.
---
Time passed in a blink, each moment folding into the next, until the fateful day arrived.
Akira lay in a bed that was far more comfortable than the cold stone she had grown accustomed to over the long centuries.
The plush blankets and soft mattress were a stark contrast to the harsh reality outside the cave, a small oasis of comfort in a world that had known only suffering and loss.
Her breath came in shallow gasps as she stared at the ceiling of the cave, trying to prepare herself for what was to come.
She had carried this life inside her for what felt like an eternity, nurturing it, protecting it, feeding it with her own energy, her very essence intertwined with the unborn soul within.
Now, that connection was about to be severed, and with it, a pain beyond anything she had ever imagined.
It began with a sudden, sharp pressure deep within her belly, a pain that was at once both physical and spiritual.
Akira's breath hitched, and she gripped the sheets beneath her, her knuckles turning white as the first wave of agony crashed over her.
It felt like something tearing inside her, ripping away the metaphysical bonds that had linked her to the child for so long.
Each snap of those connections sent shockwaves of pain through her soul, wrenching cries from her lips.
"Ramiris!" Akira's voice was ragged, hoarse from the strain, as she called out for the spirit who had become her only source of comfort in this desolate world.
Ramiris was at her side in an instant, her form ethereal but solid, a presence that exuded calm even as Akira writhed in pain.
The former Spirit Queen, now a loyal servant to the child of Charybdis, moved with a grace that belied the sorrow and weight she carried.
She gently placed her hands on Akira's belly, her touch cool and soothing against the firestorm of agony within.
"Stay with me, Akira," Ramiris whispered, her voice a balm to the young woman's shattered nerves. "Breathe. Focus on the life you're bringing into this world."
Akira tried to obey, gasping for breath as another wave of pain tore through her.
The pressure in her belly was building, a relentless force that demanded release, and with it, the full extent of the metaphysical connection she had cultivated over thousands of years began to unravel.
Each snap was a laceration to her soul, a torment that reached beyond the physical, striking at the very core of her being.
Ramiris began to chant softly, her voice weaving ancient incantations that wrapped around Akira like a protective cocoon.
The magic dulled the edges of the pain, not enough to numb it entirely, but enough to help her focus on the task at hand.
The spirit's presence was a steadying force, guiding her through the storm of agony as the birthing process began in earnest.
Akira's water broke in a violent rush, a sharp pain radiating from her core that felt like she was being torn apart from the inside out.
"Aaaaaaaaaagh"
She screamed, her voice echoing off the stone walls of the cave, mingling with the distant memories of her mother's own cries.
The bed beneath her was soaked, and the reality of what was happening surged forward with brutal clarity.
"Push, Akira," Ramiris urged, her voice a beacon in the swirling tempest of pain and fear. "You need to push."
Akira bit down on her lip until she tasted blood, bracing herself as she bore down with all her strength.
The agony was unimaginable, a fire that burned through her veins and clawed at her insides, threatening to consume her entirely.
She could feel the life within her moving, shifting, pushing its way out into the world, and with each movement, another piece of her soul was torn away, left raw and bleeding.
Her vision blurred, spots dancing before her eyes as the pain reached a fever pitch.
Her whole body trembled with the effort, sweat pouring down her face, soaking her hair, and yet she kept pushing, driven by a primal instinct to bring this life into the world, no matter the cost to herself.
Ramiris's hands remained steady, her eyes glowing with a soft, reassuring light. "You're doing well, Akira. Almost there. Just a little more."
But Akira felt like she was at her breaking point.
Her strength was fading, the relentless pain sapping her will to continue.
She could feel herself slipping, the edges of her consciousness fraying as the agony took its toll.
"Ramiris," she gasped, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I don't know if I can…"
"You can," Ramiris said firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "You must. For this child. For the future."
Another contraction hit, and Akira screamed again, a raw, primal sound that echoed through the chamber.
She pushed with everything she had left, the pain ripping through her like a thousand knives, until finally, mercifully, she felt the life within her begin to emerge.
"That's it!" Ramiris's voice was filled with urgency now, guiding Akira through the final moments. "One more push, Akira! You're almost there!"
With a final, desperate cry, Akira bore down with all her remaining strength.
The pain peaked, blinding and all-consuming, and for a moment, she thought she might lose herself to it entirely.
But then, just as she felt she could endure no more, there was a sudden, overwhelming release, a sensation of something being pulled from her, and with it, the unbearable agony began to ebb.
The room was filled with a new sound, tiny, weak cries, but full of life.
Akira gasped for air, her body trembling as the last vestiges of pain subsided.
She collapsed back against the pillows, her chest heaving, tears streaming down her face, her legs stained with her blood.
Ramiris held the newborn in her arms, a small, fragile life that had been nurtured for millennia, now finally brought into the world.
She looked down at the child with a mixture of awe and sorrow, knowing all too well the weight this new life would carry.
"You did it," Ramiris whispered, gently placing the newborn into Akira's trembling arms. "He's here. The prince is here."
Akira looked down at the tiny, wriggling form in her arms, overwhelmed by a rush of emotions, relief, exhaustion, love, and a deep, aching sadness.
The child was so small, so vulnerable, yet brimming with the power she had nurtured for so long.
But for now, all she could do was hold him close, feeling the warmth of his tiny body against her own, and know that despite everything, she had brought him safely into this world.
The pain, the sacrifice, the centuries of waiting , it had all led to this moment.
And yet, even as she held the newborn, a shadow of fear lingered in the back of her mind.
The world outside was cruel, broken, and uncertain.
What kind of life awaited this child? What trials would he face? Would he suffer as she had, or would he find a way to rise above the darkness that had claimed so many before him?
But those thoughts would have to wait. For now, there was only the fragile life in her arms, and the bittersweet triumph of knowing that she had done what she set out to do.
She had given him life, even if it had cost her a piece of her own soul to do so.
---
In the grand, imposing throne room of "Heaven," where the ceiling seemed to stretch beyond sight and the walls were adorned with ancient symbols of power, "Milim" sat upon the throne.
The air was heavy with the weight of countless eons, the silence punctuated only by the distant hum of boundless energy that coursed through the realm. Before her, the Seal of Ivarage, the Original Cryptid, pulsed faintly, a monolithic slab of ancient power, its surface spiderwebbed with cracks that foretold its imminent shattering.
Her gaze was fixed on the seal, her eyes void of emotion, yet her mind churned with thoughts that eluded clarity.
The seal had been the focus of her attention for what felt like an eternity, its slow degradation a symbol of the relentless passage of time and the inevitable decay of even the most indomitable forces.
Then, suddenly, she felt it a subtle shift in the atmosphere, a ripple in the otherwise still air.
It was barely perceptible, a fleeting sensation that passed through her like a whisper, yet it lingered, gnawing at the edges of her awareness.
"Milim" turned her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she tried to grasp the source of this unease.
It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity, a nagging sense of something unfinished, a mistake left unresolved.
It was like the faint, almost forgotten memory of a fire that once raged uncontrollably, now reduced to a single, barely flickering ember.
Weak and feeble, yes but undeniably present, and with it, the potential to reignite into something far more dangerous.
For a brief moment, her usually emotionless expression faltered, a shadow of doubt passing over her features.
There was something out there something she had overlooked, or perhaps, something she had deliberately tried to forget.
A loose end in the grand tapestry of destruction and domination she had woven over millennia.
But what was it? The thought slipped through her fingers like sand, refusing to be grasped fully.
And yet, the sensation persisted, tugging at her consciousness, a quiet yet insistent reminder that somewhere, beyond the confines of this throne room, a spark still burned, waiting for the right moment to catch fire once again.
"Milim" exhaled slowly, her gaze drifting back to the Seal of Ivarage, though her mind remained preoccupied with the disturbance.
The seal was her priority, its imminent breaking a matter of cosmic importance.
And yet... that tiny, The last wisp of Fire called out to her, demanding her attention, hinting at a future conflict she hadn't anticipated.
---
As they walked down the busy street, Satoru Mikami and his junior colleague, Tamura, were engaged in light conversation.
Tamura's girlfriend, Aki, walked beside him, beaming with excitement.
"I'm really happy for you two," Satoru said with a warm smile. "You make a great couple."
"Thanks, Satoru-san," Tamura replied, grinning from ear to ear. "I wanted you to be the first to meet Aki. You've always been like an older brother to me."
Satoru chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "You're too kind, Tamura. I'm just glad you're doing well."
Aki smiled shyly. "Tamura talks about you all the time, Satoru-san. He says you're the best mentor anyone could ask for."
Satoru felt a pang of warmth in his chest, though it was tinged with a bit of sadness. "I'm just doing my job," he said, waving off the compliment. "But it means a lot to hear that."
As they continued walking, Tamura suddenly turned to Satoru, his expression serious. "You know, Satoru-san, I've been thinking… you should find someone too. You deserve to be happy."
Satoru laughed, though it came out more forced than he intended. "Oh, don't worry about me. I'm just an old man now. Besides, who would want someone like me?"
"Don't say that!" Tamura protested, his face earnest. "You're a great guy! I'm sure there's someone out there for you."
Satoru smiled, though inside, the words stung. "Thanks, Tamura. But I've made peace with it. My time's probably passed by now."
Before Tamura could respond, a sudden flash of movement caught their attention.
Out of nowhere, a man with a wild look in his eyes came charging at them, a knife glinting in his hand.
"Watch out!" Satoru shouted, instinctively pushing Tamura and Aki aside.
The blade sunk deep into Satoru's stomach, the impact knocking the wind out of him.
He stumbled back, his hand automatically clutching the wound as the pain spread through him like wildfire.
"Satoru-san!" Tamura screamed, rushing to his side as Aki gasped in horror.
Satoru fell to his knees, the world spinning around him.
The pain was intense, but the cold… the cold was so much worse.
His vision blurred, but he forced himself to look up at Tamura, who was frantically trying to help.
"Tamura… it's okay," Satoru gasped, his voice weak. "Just… just take care of Aki, alright?"
"No! We need to get you to a hospital!" Tamura cried, his eyes wide with fear.
Satoru managed a weak smile, shaking his head slightly. "Listen… Tamura, there's something… important I need you to do."
"What is it, Satoru-san? I'll do anything!"
Satoru's smile turned wry as he looked his junior in the eye. "Delete… my search history, okay? Don't… don't let anyone see that stuff."
Tamura blinked, momentarily stunned by the absurdity of the request. "What? Satoru-san, this isn't the time -"
"Promise me," Satoru interrupted, his tone more insistent, even as his voice grew fainter. "Please, Tamura… it's my final request."
Tamura swallowed hard, nodding as tears welled up in his eyes. "I promise, Satoru-san. I'll take care of it. Just… just hang on, okay?"
But Satoru's strength was fading fast. He could feel the coldness creeping through his body, the edges of his vision growing dark.
He forced himself to stay conscious, even as the world around him seemed to blur and fade.
Just then, a strange, mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[Pain resistance acquired]
[Hemorrhage resistance acquired]
[Skill acquired: Sage]
Satoru blinked in confusion, the voice a bizarre intrusion into his already chaotic thoughts. "What… what the hell?" he thought, disoriented by the surreal experience. Was he hallucinating?
The mechanical voice continued, almost detached from the reality of his situation:
[Thermal resistance acquired]
[Uniqueness detected. Skill evolving…]
Despite the confusion and pain, Satoru found a brief moment of humor amidst it all.
"A Sage, huh? Guess all those years as a virgin paid off in the end," he thought, a wry smile crossing his lips.
But then, the pain returned in full force, and the coldness spread through him like an icy grip, pulling him toward the inevitable.
"Man… I really don't like this cold feeling. Dying's… a lot less peaceful than I thought."
The world grew darker, the pain and cold intensifying. Satoru's thoughts became disjointed, fragments of regret and fleeting humor.
"You're… a good kid, Tamura," Satoru whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm… I'm proud of you."
"Satoru-san…"
But Satoru couldn't hear him anymore. The pain, the cold, the darkness it all became too much.
His thoughts drifted, becoming disjointed, fragmented.
"Man… dying really… really sucks…" he thought vaguely, the mechanical voice still echoing in his mind.
And then, silence.
---
In the depths of the void, a consciousness stirred, fragmented and incomplete.
It had no form, no shape only a vague awareness that something was amiss.
The void pressed in on it, cold and silent, a vast emptiness that swallowed all thought.
There was no sense of time, no past or future.
Only an endless now, stretching into infinity.
But amid this emptiness, a single word echoed through the fragments of its awareness, persistent and insistent: "Charybdis."
The name pulsed like a distant beacon in the dark, the only anchor for the consciousness drifting through the void.
It had no memory, no understanding of what it was or where it had come from only that name, reverberating through the empty expanse of its being.
Charybdis.
The consciousness clung to it, the name a fragile lifeline in the sea of nothingness.
And then, slowly, it began to take shape. Awareness coalesced, forming into something more concrete.
It was as if the name itself was drawing it out of the void, giving it form and purpose.
A sensation foreign and unfamiliar crept into its awareness.
The void around it shimmered, and then, without warning, it was pulled from the darkness and into a world of light.
The consciousness blinked or it would have, if it had eyes to blink.
Vision flickered into existence, and for the first time, it perceived its surroundings.
It was held in place, restrained by something firm but gentle. Its newly awakened senses registered a dim, glowing light, and it realized it was no longer alone.
The beings that surrounded it were unlike anything it had ever seen or rather, unlike anything it had ever been able to see, for there was no memory to compare them to.
They were tall, sleek, and inhuman, with gel-like bodies that shimmered with a greenish hue.
Their forms were intricate, covered in delicate circuitry patterns that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic light.
In the center of each face was a single, cyclopean eye, unblinking and piercing.
These beings, these Galvanic Mechamorphs, held the consciousness carefully, their movements precise and deliberate.
Some were tall and slender, their limbs long and elegant.
Others were more robust, with shapes that hinted at strength and stability.
Their forms varied, some resembling the branching curves of trees, others more streamlined and mechanical.
The consciousness observed them silently, unable to speak, unable to move.
It could only watch as the Mechamorphs examined it with a detached curiosity, their single eyes narrowing and widening in response to unseen stimuli.
One of the Mechamorphs a female, the consciousness somehow knew leaned closer, her eye glowing softly as she observed the newly awakened being in her grasp.
Her form was more refined, with a defined forehead and chin, her figure more aligned with something vaguely human.
She emitted a series of soft pulses, her eye narrowing slightly as she studied the consciousness.
The other Mechamorphs responded in kind, their circuitry flashing in intricate patterns as they communicated in a language the consciousness could not understand.
The consciousness Charybdis remained still, its awareness limited, its understanding even more so. It did not know why it was here, or what these beings intended. All it knew was that it existed, that it was being observed, and that it had a name.
And in that moment, that was enough.
The Mechamorphs continued their work, their movements precise and synchronized, as Charybdis watched silently, its nascent awareness slowly growing, the name pulsing in the depths of its being like a distant, echoing heartbeat.
Charybdis.
=======================
The End
Before my Explanation Please Review if you haven't already this is the last time you'll read this give your two cents on it now.
Now you might be thinking who ends a story like that ?
Its because the Story of Charybdis we know may be over but the world's isn't.
When i began writing this with Charybdis in my mind, I thought of writing a generic happily ever after or the Evil lord reigns supreme ending.
But i truly hated both of these paths.
Because personally i believe that no matter what you are your actions and presence ultimately is bound to be only meaningful if it had effect on the world itself.
Charybdis was an evil person, less in her previous life but nonetheless evil, Giving her an ending where her wishes are satisfied is a great injustice to my own ideals.
I believe Charybdis deserves Death and as the world's way of balancing itself all great evil shall meet a greater good.
But life isn't about absolutes And the world is indifferent to the presence of all beings.
No matter their position, role and Intentions.
Oh well this is the End of Charybdis we know see you next in
Tensura : [The Last Flame]
Alongside
Ben 10 : [Malware]
I'll write the books once i finish high school and my Jee prep.
As i want to dedicate much more to it than this one as it would be a story written on even grander scales.
Untill then See ya !
Have a great day you lovely Bastards and don't forget to relax if you've been binge reading.