Chereads / The War for the Realms / Chapter 15 - Ch. 15 The Dark emporor

Chapter 15 - Ch. 15 The Dark emporor

As the fog of the dark realm clears, an immense and intricate throne comes into view. It dominates the vast, cavernous throne room of an ancient and forgotten castle. In this seat of power sits a figure feared by all who dwell in the many worlds, a being known only as The Dark Emperor. His presence is a dark legend, whispered in fear by the few who dare to speak his name aloud. Around him stands a gathering of generals and kings from many lands—each one a ruler in their own right, yet all of them bow to him. The room is a swirl of chaotic voices, all of them clashing over their plans, each proposing different strategies for launching the War for the Dark Realm. Ambitions, egos, and power struggles fill the air, yet none of them can pierce the dark aura that surrounds the emperor's throne.

Suddenly, the low growl of a voice echoes across the chamber, silencing the room in an instant. It is the voice of Odroduc, one of the emperor's most trusted—and most feared—commanders. His words cut through the air like the swing of a sword. "Silence, all of you… You fools truly believe these petty plans are worthy of starting a war of this magnitude? No. These are nothing but the whispers of cowards. What we need is not a strategy of small battles or skirmishes. What we need is a singular target, an enemy so universally reviled that all the scattered realms, all the divided nations will unite under one banner—our banner. We must harness the collective hatred, and we must create a force so powerful that it can rival even the gods themselves. For make no mistake, our true enemies are the gods. Some have already allied with us, seeing the truth of our cause. But the rest? They will fall. We will bring them down, and with their defeat, we will cleanse their impure blood from existence."

His voice rises in fury, reverberating off the ancient stone walls. "WE ARE THE ONES WHO WILL FINISH WHAT THE FATHER REALM BEGAN! WE WILL DESTROY THE GODS—EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM SHALL FALL, AND THEY WILL FALL BY OUR HANDS!"

A thunderous cheer erupts from the crowd, yet there is a strange edge to the sound. It is not pure joy or fervor that fills the hall, but a mix of fear and resignation. For while they cheer their leader, many do so out of sheer terror. Most of the kings and generals who serve The Dark Emperor do so not out of loyalty or respect but because of the overwhelming dread he inspires. His rise to power was not the work of a vast army but his own unstoppable strength. He alone conquered countless villages and kingdoms, leaving destruction and ruin in his wake. He is seen as a monster, a beast unfit for any world. Many have tried to kill him, to rid their realms of his terror, but none have succeeded. His skin is harder than steel, and only the most powerful weapons—special-grade blades—can even scratch him. But to truly kill him, a divine-grade weapon is needed, for he is not a god but a demon in mortal form. He is the incarnation of wrath itself, a force of nature that refuses to be bound by any law.

He murdered Lucifer for daring to bind his powers and slaughtered any who opposed him, even among the Seven Deadly Sins themselves. He is, quite literally, too evil for Hell. His conquests were driven not by any grand design but by his insatiable hunger to kill those he deems unworthy of life. Entire villages have been wiped from existence, their streets littered with the charred remains of women and children, mangled beyond recognition. Over the years, his name has become synonymous with terror, and as the centuries passed, his legend only grew darker. Yet in recent years, he has secluded himself within his fortress, seldom appearing before his subjects. Many whispered that he had died, lost to time, only to have him reemerge with terrifying force, his return coinciding with the appearance of a mysterious figure known only as "The Slayer."

At first, many believed The Dark Emperor and The Slayer were the same man, but Odroduc himself shattered that myth, taunting the world by demanding The Slayer's head. His savagery and ferocious nature have earned him the title of "The Demon," for too many, that is precisely what he has become—a nightmarish force too malevolent for any world to contain. As the years passed, his violence grew more uncontrollable, and his patience thinner. Of the thousands of generals and commanders he once commanded, only thirteen remain. The rest he has killed, judging them too weak to serve him. Now, under his iron rule, he commands one of the most powerful armies ever assembled in any realm. His forces have conquered many lands, and he has claimed the first layer of the Dark Realm for himself, sending expeditions to explore the lower levels of this terrifying domain.

Over centuries, as his name continued to grow in infamy, he discovered Adonis, the last god he must destroy to complete his grand conquest. To many, The Dark Emperor is seen as a bloodthirsty beast, but to those who have glimpsed the truth, he is something far worse: a cursed, broken soul, condemned to wander the endless realms, tormented by his immortality and the unbearable pain that comes with his powers. His hatred for Adonis is personal, a grudge that deepens with every passing day. Adonis is not merely an obstacle; he is the last barrier preventing The Dark Emperor from enacting his final plan—a plan that will reshape the cosmos.

With the rise of his new empire, built upon the ashes of the weak and the blood of his enemies, the Dark Emperor's rule is absolute. But it is a rule founded on fear. Many nations under his control only serve him out of dread, and his merciless grip has caused discontent to fester. Revolts have broken out in many cities, forcing him to send his most trusted generals to quell these uprisings. But by spreading his generals so thin across the realms, he has inadvertently weakened his own war efforts. This has led to The Dark Emperor himself taking to the battlefield once more, slaughtering armies and gods alike with devastating ease.

As his legend spread, stories of his invincibility grew. It is said he has felled entire pantheons of gods, cutting them down as though they were nothing more than insects beneath his boots. Armies fall before him with a single swing of his blade. He is a force of nature, a walking apocalypse that even the gods fear. His name is spoken only in terrified whispers, for he is the failure of the gods incarnate—a being they could not stop, and one they now dread.

The world trembles before him, quaking in fear at the mere thought of his existence. The gods, once considered mighty and untouchable, now fall at his feet, their power and glory reduced to nothing more than whispers in the winds. And the end is only the beginning, as this relentless figure does not stop at simply conquering the gods. His insatiable lust for power drives him onward, pushing him to continue his rampage of conquest. He travels from realm to realm, slaughtering entire armies with ease, leaving nothing but devastation in his wake. Strangely enough, he seems to be unaware of the true nature of his actions; his mind has become fogged, clouded by an overwhelming desire for dominance that has consumed him entirely.

As he loses himself to this relentless pursuit of power, he gradually drifts away from what made him human. Once a noble crusader, a valiant warrior of righteousness, he has now become a mere shadow of his former self. Though he wields power beyond comprehension, he has lost touch with his identity. Deep within him, three distinct souls battle for dominance, each vying to take control. However, Odroduc, the most powerful of the trio, has gained too strong of a hold on his mind, and Cain's soul has faded into the recesses of his consciousness. With this overshadowing presence, Odroduc has lost any remaining sense of morality; he no longer feels guilt for the atrocities he commits. Instead, he is burdened by an inexplicable pain—one that does not belong to him. This pain resonates from a dormant soul, an entity that neither Cain nor Odroduc can identify or understand. It is a pure evil, a malevolence that neither of them can rival, it's dark energy matching that of Odroduc himself, who embodies the sins of Wrath and Pride.

As Odroduc sits upon his throne, exuding an aura of power and authority, a man approaches him hesitantly, a tremor in his voice as he poses a simple yet loaded question. "Lord Odroduc, I have heard troubling rumors that you have a brother, and that he may possibly be known as the Slayer. Are the rumors true?" The words hang in the air, thick with tension, and Odroduc's eyes blaze with a burning hatred as he lifts his gaze to examine the man before him. "The man you speak of is indeed my brother. But mark my words, he will never rise to anything more than a disgrace to my family name. His weakness is what made our mother and father weak. When they found him, they should have left him for dead, for his very existence has weakened them," he snarls, venom lacing his voice.

The man, trembling in fear, begins to back away slowly, a look of horror etched upon his face. "I—I'm sorry, Lord. I had no idea how deeply he affected you. But if he is as weak as you claim, then explain why he has been labeled as the most wanted and dangerous man in this war," he stammers, panic rising in his chest. Odroduc rises to his full height, fury radiating from him as he grips his spear tightly. "THEY DID WHAT?" The man collapses to the ground, paralyzed by fear at the wrath of the powerful being before him. "They dare do this behind my back? They claim that this is my problem to resolve? They dare lie to me?" Odroduc's voice booms like thunder, each word a proclamation of impending doom. "They will pay for this insolence!"

Fueled by rage and determination, Odroduc sets out to confront the council of the realms. As he arrives, the air is thick with tension, many of the emperors and kings gathered in an assembly, their expressions a mix of fear and anticipation. He strides toward the Fire Emperor, weapon drawn and ready for confrontation. "YOU… you did this, didn't you?" he accuses, his voice like ice. "Woah there, friend, I don't know what you're going on about," the Fire Emperor responds, his tone deceptively calm yet laced with authority. "You had them place the Slayer as a top priority target! You had them put Adonis Nox on the kill list, you idiot! He's going to kill them all and grow too powerful!" Odroduc's voice seethes with rage, the room falling silent as everyone processes his words.

The Fire Emperor, unfazed by the fiery accusation, shrugs off the concern. "If he's as frail and weak as you always claimed he was, then what's the issue? If we send people to kill him, what's the worry?" he retorts, a smug grin creeping across his face. "That name—wasn't that the name of your brother? HA! So that's who this Slayer is! Besides, if he's as weak as you claim, what's the problem?" he mocks. However, Odroduc is not amused. "He's different now; I don't know what it is, but something has changed about him, and it's frightening. He killed the Twin Kings and apparently fought the Archangel Gabriel, forcing him to spread his wings. Even God himself stepped down to earth to intervene! I don't like the connections he's made; they worry me. He may have become too powerful for the lower emperors to handle, and I even worry that he could rival my own son!"

The Fire Emperor stumbles back, suddenly anxious after hearing Odroduc's revelation. "What do we do? An army has already been dispatched to face him," he says, panic creeping into his voice. "He killed the Mech Army and Aries," Odroduc replies calmly, his expression steely. "Mech Army? Aries? We didn't send either of them; we dispatched the Light Emperor and his army!" Odroduc's demeanor shifts, fear creeping into his heart. "You sent him?" The Fire Emperor laughs heartily, the sound echoing ominously through the hall. "Haha, yeah, I know it's overkill, but knowing what you said, I'm glad we did!"

As Odroduc turns to leave, a sense of urgency drives him forward. "Are your troops ready to move on Adonis' position? He is no longer alone, and I fear he may have found something worth fighting for. He won't go down as easily as I originally thought." The Fire Emperor nods, concern etched on his features as he turns back to his original task, and Odroduc travels through a shimmering portal to meet with the Light Emperor, commonly known as The False God. Upon his arrival, he is met with a demeaning presence; the Light Emperor regards him with disdain. "What do you want, Demon?" he scoffs.

Odroduc clenches his jaw, struggling to contain his anger. "I have come to aid in the capture of the Slayer. He is not alone any longer, and I do not know the strengths of his allies. I wish to challenge the Slayer while you face his allies. Allow me to command your army against Adonis," he demands. The Light Emperor shifts uncomfortably in his seat, feeling insulted by Odroduc's suggestion. "You command my army? HA! What do you take me for, a fool? I will take my army, and you can face him yourself!"

Odroduc's anger boils over at this blatant dismissal. "You are a fool! Your army will only hinder you; death walks with Adonis!" Realizing the urgency of the situation, Odroduc storms out of the camp, his mind racing with strategies and possibilities. As he approaches the bunker that Adonis calls home, the atmosphere shifts dramatically; an ominous dread fills the air. He looks around and sees the armies positioned on the many ridges surrounding the bunker, with the Light Emperor standing tall on the highest ridge, his solid white cloak billowing like a flag of impending doom.

Odroduc steels himself as he draws closer to the doors of the bunker, his heart pounding with anticipation. Clenching his fist, he prepares to unleash a devastating attack to shatter the door that separates him from his brother. He takes a deep breath and calls out, "The heavens burn as hell freezes… eternal rapture!" With a furious lunge, he thrusts his fist forward, sparks igniting in his palm as his arm extends outward. The air around him begins to fold and twist as a burning ball of pure darkness emanates from his clenched fist. As the punch fully extends, the ball of energy shatters, unleashing a hellish beam that erupts from his fist, completely obliterating the door and much of the mountain above.

Fortunately for Adonis, that was only the stairway leading to the bunker, which is embedded deep within the mountain. Below, however, the ground trembles as rubble collapses, and alarms blare throughout the corridors. Adonis quickly grabs Athena, shielding her with his body, while he uses his immense strength to hold the ceiling up, trying to prevent further chaos from erupting as the structure begins to crumble. The echoes of panic begin to settle when a chilling voice reverberates through the tunnels. "Adonis, brother, those things you treat like people and call friends don't have to die here. Just come out… or I will kill every last one of them."

Adonis raises his head, pushing aside the rubble that has fallen upon him and Athena, his breathing steady and calm as he stares at the ground, lost in thought. Athena's voice trembles as she asks, "Father, are you alright?" Adonis turns to her, his gaze unwavering, cold, yet resolute.

"The exits are blocked by armed guards, and there is an enemy out there whose speed and strength are akin to something only an emperor can possess," Adonis explains, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them. "Nyx, I believe you can hold your own against him, but defeating him will be another matter entirely. If you can pin him down, Tana may be able to land a shot to kill him. Atlas, you, Tlaloc, and Echene will need to battle the generals and some of the army. Monries and Athena, you two take command of the majority of the forces; do not hold back. We cannot underestimate these foes. They are more dangerous than they appear."

The group nods, their expressions resolute as they prepare to execute his plan, each member aware of the high stakes involved. They disperse quickly, sprinting toward different exits, adrenaline surging through their veins. Adonis stands alone for a moment, a dark flame engulfing his body and revealing his formidable armor. The armor glints ominously in the dim light, reflecting the intensity of his determination. He draws his sister blades, the twin weapons shimmering with a malevolent energy, as he begins to march forward, heading toward the imminent confrontation with his brother.

Outside, the atmosphere is thick with tension as Odroduc looms like a storm cloud, ready to unleash chaos. Adonis steps out of the bunker, fully prepared for the battle to come, every ounce of his being focused on the fight ahead. He knows that this clash will determine not just their fates but the fate of countless lives. The air crackles with energy, a palpable tension that signals the looming confrontation between the two brothers, who now stand on opposite ends of the spectrum of morality and power.

"Odroduc!" Adonis calls out, his voice ringing through the air like a clarion call. "I will not allow you to harm those I care about! You may be my brother, but you have chosen your path, and I have chosen mine. Prepare yourself!" His words are imbued with a sense of determination, an unyielding resolve that fuels his very essence. Odroduc's eyes burn with rage as he responds, the fire of their shared lineage igniting a deep-seated animosity. "Adonis, you are nothing but a stain on our family name! Your weakness disgusts me. I will eradicate you and everything you hold dear!"

As the two powerful figures approach each other, the air crackles with the anticipation of their impending clash. Their armies stand ready, tension simmering in the air as the ground beneath them seems to pulse with the weight of their emotions. The soldiers on both sides exchange nervous glances, fully aware that they are about to bear witness to a conflict that could change the very fabric of their reality. Odroduc and Adonis lock eyes, and in that moment, the world around them fades away, leaving only the two brothers and the destinies they are about to forge.

With a thunderous roar, Odroduc launches forward, his spear aimed directly at Adonis. The force of his attack sends shockwaves through the air, the very atmosphere vibrating with raw power. Adonis reacts instinctively, his agility honed through countless battles, and he sidesteps the deadly thrust, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike. The ground beneath them cracks and splinters as Odroduc's spear connects with the earth, a testament to his immense strength.

Adonis counters swiftly, launching a flurry of strikes with his twin blades. Each swing is calculated, aimed to find a weakness in his brother's defenses. The two engage in a furious dance of combat, each strike met with an equally powerful defense. They move with a fluidity that belies their size and strength, their weapons clashing in a cacophony of sound that reverberates across the battlefield. Sparks fly with each collision, illuminating their fierce expressions of determination and rage.

Meanwhile, the armies of Odroduc and Adonis clash in the background, the sounds of war echoing throughout the realm. Shouts and battle cries fill the air as warriors engage in their own fierce struggles, yet the two brothers remain locked in their own world, oblivious to the chaos around them. Each combatant draws upon their unique skills and abilities, but the focus remains solely on the battle of wills between Odroduc and Adonis.

"Is this all you have?" Odroduc taunts, his voice dripping with disdain. "I expected more from the so-called Slayer! You've always been weak, and you'll die weak!" Adonis grits his teeth, pushing back against his brother's overwhelming strength. "You may have power, Odroduc, but it means nothing without purpose. You have lost your way!" he shouts back, his words fueled by the desperation of the moment.

With renewed vigor, Adonis channels his inner strength, summoning the dark flames that had previously enveloped him. They surge forth, swirling around him in a chaotic tempest, enhancing his already formidable abilities. The dark energy courses through his veins, and he launches a powerful counterattack, aiming to overwhelm Odroduc with a torrent of strikes fueled by his righteous anger.

But Odroduc is no ordinary foe. He parries each blow with ruthless precision, his own dark energy flaring in response. The ground shakes beneath them as their powers collide, creating shockwaves that ripple through the air. Adonis realizes he must dig deeper; he cannot allow his brother's darkness to extinguish the light he carries within.

As the battle rages on, the voices of their armies fade into the background, leaving only the two brothers standing in stark opposition to one another. Adonis can feel the weight of their shared history pressing down on him, the memories of their childhood mingling with the current reality of their conflict. Once, they had fought side by side, united against threats greater than themselves. Now, they stand as adversaries, each consumed by their own desires and ambitions.

"I will never yield to you, Odroduc!" Adonis cries out, channeling every ounce of energy he possesses. "I fight not just for myself, but for those who have suffered at your hands! I will bring you to justice!" With a final surge of power, he unleashes a massive wave of dark energy, the flames coalescing into a singular point of concentrated power aimed directly at Odroduc.

Odroduc, taken aback by the sheer force of his brother's attack, braces himself. "You think this will stop me? You are a fool!" He raises his spear, channeling his own dark energy to meet Adonis's attack head-on. The resulting explosion sends shockwaves rippling through the surrounding area, both combatants locked in an epic struggle that defies the very laws of nature.

The collision of their powers creates a blinding light that engulfs the battlefield, momentarily casting all into darkness before revealing the devastating consequences of their clash. As the dust settles, both brothers stand panting, visibly shaken yet unwavering in their resolve. The ground is scorched and marred by their battle, but neither is willing to back down.

"Prepare yourself, brother," Adonis warns, determination etched on his face as he readies himself for another strike. "This time, I will end this once and for all!"

Odroduc, though weary, smirks at the challenge, his own fury reigniting. "You're welcome to try, but remember: I am not the weakling you once knew. I have become something far greater!" The brothers lock eyes, and the world around them fades once more as they prepare to unleash their final moves, each unwilling to falter until the other lies defeated.

And thus, the battle continues, a brutal dance of destiny, power, and the bonds of brotherhood that fate has twisted into a grim tapestry of conflict. In this moment, the outcome hangs in the balance, a testament to their struggle, their sacrifices, and the path that lies ahead for both the Slayer and the tyrant, falls on this fine attack from adonis. Adonis grabs the chain on odroducs neck and slams his body to the ground as odroduc begins to stand adonis delivers a devastating kick to the knee of odroduc causing it to become forever seized and locke in that position he then swings his sword and causes one of odroducs horns to break off his head adonis catch it and uses it like a spear as he is about to plunge it through the skull of odroduc he calls out "DEVINE RAPTURE" 

A divine flame engulfs the horn as it plunges into odroducs skull flame burst from his body as he screams in pain but his screams are not alone adonis is in pain also for this atack hurts the user also "an eye for an eye" adonis calls out as he raises his head his face scared and one of his eyes blinded form on of odroducs attacks, the three lined scar burned into his face.