Thump, thump, thump…
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump…
Canaan's heartbeat was growing heavier and heavier, more and more frenzied. Though, he remained completely motionless sn did not react at all to Babel's cries, the ever darkening abyssal light of his pupils were the only testament to the fact that he was alive.
When Babel attempted to hold his hand she immediately reeled back in shock.
Canaan's hand was unbelievable icy and cold, it was even colder than the coldest regions of the extreme ice in these dark lands… Furthermore, it was the kind of cold that directly pierced through one's heart and chilled the soul.
"Canaan...." Babel whispered as her heart ached for him. She could barely imagine how much pain and self reproach surged within him right now.
Canaan suddenly collapsed onto his knees and then...
His prostrate body silently froze in place after which his gloomy eyes and his rigid body started to crazily convulse...
"aaAh… Wuu…" It was as if someone was tightly gripping his throat as frightening hoarse and painful noises leaked out from his mouth.
"Wuuu… Uwaaa…. Aahhh… AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Like a truly shattered soul, he wept loudly as he screamed hoarsely in despair…
"UWAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH——"
Tears he thought that he would never shed frantically flowed from his eyes like water from a burst dam...
At the same time waves of overflowing devilish might gathered with his core, and battered the seal again and again until finally..
[SHAAAATTTEEERR]
His eyes, his skin, even his hair glowed deeper and deeper with darkness .
It was the absolute darkness of the primordial abyss.
Rumble!
The dark clouds covering the sky suddenly churned chaotically . Light was swiftly fading from the earth .
Countless pupils within the lands contracted into needles as they faced the skies before them, countless nerves tensed up like taut strings, and countless hearts beat wildly like percussions.
It was because an all-encompassing, devilish aura was falling from the sky .
When the power manifested itself into existence, the breath was squeezed out of the lungs of every devil god within its vicinity . But before they could even begin to compose themselves, it started growing at a mad rate that exceeded the recognition of any devil god and any common sense . . .
Rumble rumble rumble RUMBLE RUMBLE
Light faded into darkness, and the black clouds began to tremble more and more… it was to the point where they felt like the lifeless objects were actually wailing in terror .
That wasn't all . The massive quake spread to the boundaries of the world around them, and every the skies above each and every devil god clan. It wasn't even any release of power, but just the natural pressure of a nee overbearing presence that had engulfed the whole sky .
"Wh… what… was that?!"
A few ten thousand kilometers away, one of the devil gods of the house of Arzul, opened his mouth so wide that the edges of his lips threatened to split apart .
Immense power gushed into Canaan's body without end. Filling ever part of his soul and sinking into his cells, which now glowed with deep crimson-black hue. Wound around his neck the abstruse gemstone that had always remained dormant glowed. Reacting to the birth of its new master.
The world around him shrunk and simplified and the planet beneath his feat became several times more fragile. The surge of power was exhilarating and yet terrifying. With a thought he could project his divine perception across several star systems and perceive every soul. With a wave of his palm he could destroy countless worlds.
Despite the giant leap from a mortal like body to this new form his power felt familiar and natural. The air of nobility around him depend. Now accompanied by a faint aura of tyranny and power. At the same time the attraction he others would feel at the mere sight of him increased in potency by a large margin.
At least the seal Heide had placed on him had been broken. This was something he yearned for even in his dreams. So why? Why couldn't he feel happy about it in the slightest?
"Ah" A pain filled cry entered his ears, only then did he rise from his sorrow to remember that he wasn't alone.
Besides him Babel faintly cried out in pain as he knees sunk into the earth against her own will. Her already plae face paled even further as she tried to resist the oppressive force he unconsciously released.
And feeling the crushing pressure now bursting from Nan, Talia felt the fearful shivers coursing through her body as she experienced them! He had just recovered, and he was already this strong? This power...while still paling in front of Heide's was enough to level the entire southern abyss, which was her home. Suddebly Canaan was vastly more powerful than her and the other great enchantresses?
On her own she came to the conclusion that the young weak Twelve year old boy that was once at her absolute control was far more dreadful than she could imagine.
But more soul crushing than then fear she experience was the deep sense of inferiority. Even she didn't know why there feeling pricked her so. It seemed as if the insecurities of the useless women who lost themselves in love, women she mocked time and time again had become hers. The realization startled and scared her.
A slight panic flashed across Canaan eyes as he withdrew every ounce of his aura and ceased his unconscious release. The world retuned to calm, sighing in relief.
He then came to Babel's side and helped her up, sending a warm current of his power into her body. The pressure surrounding her dissipated in its entirety and she felt the warm current streaming into her removing all traces of pain and discomfort.
Her negative feelings disappeared as she sensed the concern in his eyes. A deep warmth immediately appeared in her heart as she leaned on him.
"I'm fine." She said after some time.
Canaan allowed her to lean on him as he battled with his grief. After a while he nudged her gently and then she separated from him.
He then soundlessly trekked towards the barrier and placed his arm on it, allowing ripples to spread across its form.
Canaan's hand lingered on the barrier, his power pulsating in a dance of potential destruction. With a heavy sigh, he withdrew his touch, allowing the energy to dissipate into the air.
He turned to Babel, his expression a complex tapestry of love and resolve. "You must imform Heide about this, thay another devil emperor has a stake in this world. I hope she has truly changed as you have said. For if she dissapoints me again the twomof us will only have an eternal hatred."
Babel's eyes search his, filled with unspoken questions and fear. "What will you do?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Canaan gently brushed a lock of hair from her face, his eyes filled with tenderness. "I will grieve him for a year. Then every soul who had the slightest involvement with this will pay...a....very...heavy....price.
But there is simething I must ask of you. Please take Talia with you. I cannot lose anyone ever again!" Canaan said in a broken voice.
Babel chest grew so constricted that she felt as if it would burst, feeling the burden of her own secret weigh heavier in heart.
She wanted to tell him...But what was unfurling was a reality he could not stop.
So she remained silent, fearful of the tempest he would unleash.
****
"My lord." Soldiers of the Chaos Asura battalion greeted a broad and powerful figure as he stepped into the forbidden tower of the blood wraiths, a tower that had once only let Talia through its borders.
As Kaldur trespassed further into its confines, the crimson radiance that surged through the air became colder and more vile until he stepped into into a dark, eerie chamber.
Unaffected by the dangerous air he expressionlessly made his way to a crimson stone tablet that hung silently in the air, suspending upon nothing.
Slowly he touched his palm to the crimson stone tablet, causing it release a blinding glow.
Suddenly the cold hair heated up as a deep dark presence exploded into existence in the dim room.
Lord Kaldur hurriedly fell to his knees as he greeted the dark presence.
"Lord Shura devil emperor!" He roared mightily.
The devil runes only projected the shura devil Emperor's presence. However from Lord Kaldur's mind nearly collapsed from the mere attention of this being.
This was the difference in planes!!
The dark presence leisurely skimmed over his being as if he was the lowliest of ants before finally asking emotionlessly.
"Is your sacrifice ready, Lord Kaldur?"
Kaldur trembled slightly before replying. "Yes our house had made adequate preparations, and the 'sacrifice' has been prepared."
"Good. As a reward for your amcestors accepting my order and coming to this prison world, and generations of your clan faithfully guarding my secret I will grant you, the current Lord of the blood wraiths, Great power using the vessel you prepared." The presence announced.
"I thank my lord for his mercy! I thank my lord for his mercy!" Kaldur roared joyfully. The sheer enthusiasm resonating within made jbe think that he he wished to tear his own heart and offer it to the dark presence as devout offering.
"Your gratitude as unnecessary, not to mention pointless. From the moment the ceremony is complete and I claim my great prize my fate with your clan is finished.
Farewell!
Tje glowing crimson devilish ruined dimmed and the presence vanished. The world seemingly took a long breath of relief.
Lord Kaldur no longer felt the grave suppression or even the heavenly joy. Rather an complicated light flashed through his eyes as his expression became an uncomfortable one.
Slowly he rose to his feet and drew a symbol in the air.
As his fingers danced across the space in front of him, wherever they passed a deep crimson light flowed.
He continued until a deep intricate symbol glowed in the air.
Suddenly the fourth wall of the chamber echoed with a grating sound as it began to shift.
Slowly the stone wall moved until it had given birth to a large starry blue crystal.
Kaldur's glazed over in pain as he stared at the crystal.
Within it an incomparably beautiful silhouette rested. Her skin was extremely pale and her eyes were closed.
Bright locks of crimson hair adorned her form, given her a wild kind of exquisite beauty.
Unfortunately her features were tightly scrunched up in rage, and from her form, even in sleep, a deep bone chilling rage rose.
"Talia, I know I have let you down and that you hold nothing but an intense hatred for me. But I really don't have a choice. For the sake of our race I must assimilate you.
But do not worry, after I consume you and our powers join we will be together forever in the truest sense, and you will have become the hero who caused our race to ascend to the peak." Kaldur's voice became madder and madder until it contained no semblance of humanity.
Perhaps the only way he could exist without destroying himself with guilt was to numb himself with madness .