The sunlight began to fade as Ethan and Valdraxx stood at the edge of the forest, surrounded by towering trees. The rustling of leaves and the evening birdsong provided a peaceful backdrop, yet Ethan's thoughts were far from tranquil.
He remembered the mysterious artifact that Valdraxx had mentioned a thing that seemed both precious and dangerous. Curiosity began to consume him.
"Valdraxx," Ethan started in a soft yet curious voice, his tone slightly trembling. "About the artifact you stole, what is its purpose that you were willing to sacrifice yourself to obtain it?"
Valdraxx, the giant dragon now residing within Ethan's body and mind, responded with a deep voice that seemed to vibrate the air around them.
His voice echoed in Ethan's mind, creating a sensation that was both terrifying and exhilarating.
"Essence of the Devourer," Valdraxx replied, with a serious tone that carried dark history.
"That artifact is the core of the Devourer race's power. Thousands of years ago, when the dragon race still ruled, we led all races to eradicate the Devourers completely."
Ethan fell silent for a moment, trying to process what he had just heard.
"So… the artifact that is now within me comes from my own race?" he asked, his voice reflecting confusion and shock.
This was not just an ordinary artifact it was something that connected him to the past, something that might contain terrible power.
Valdraxx replied firmly, "Yes, and even though I am within your body now, I still doubt whether you are truly the last descendant of the Devourer race. I do not feel the full power of the legendary Devourer within you, Ethan. However, that does not mean that potential is not there. In that era, the Devourers were led by a figure known as Khar'zul the Eternal."
The name slipped from Valdraxx's mouth like a death whisper, describing a figure who was both feared and revered in his time. Ethan could sense the latent fear in Valdraxx's voice when he mentioned that name.
"Khar'zul?" Ethan repeated the name, as if trying to associate that figure with the tales he had heard.
Valdraxx continued, his tone growing darker. "Khar'zul was a madman consumed by an insatiable hunger. He possessed extraordinary power, beyond what you can imagine, and an incredibly sharp intellect. But that power came at a high price his ambition to dominate everything led to the destruction of his own race. The Devourers had the ability to consume other creatures and take their power, but Khar'zul went even further."
Ethan began to feel that this was not just a forgotten tale from the past this was something much larger, something that could determine his fate in this world of Arkhana.
"What do you mean, Valdraxx? How far did Khar'zul go?"
"He was obsessed with power and his own survival," Valdraxx explained, his voice like a scorching flash of fire.
"He did not just consume his enemies. Khar'zul even dared to consume his own kin who trusted him, who followed him. His hunger was never satisfied, and when he felt his entire power was still not enough, he began betraying other Devourers, consuming them one by one."
Hearing this, Ethan felt a chill creeping down his spine. The idea that Khar'zul would consume his own people for power was something truly terrifying. The figure of Khar'zul appeared to be a dark legend that should have been forgotten, yet now, part of that legacy resided within him, within Ethan's body.
"So, because of Khar'zul, the Devourer race became extinct?" Ethan asked, still trying to piece together the fragments of this broken history.
Valdraxx replied heavily, as if carrying the sorrow of thousands of years past.
"True. Khar'zul may have been powerful, but his ambition destroyed everything. When we, the dragon race, realized the threat posed by the Devourers, we decided to exterminate them. Leading a coalition of various races, we hunted them one by one, until eventually, no Devourers were left. At least, that's what we thought… until now."
Ethan paused for a moment, his mind fixated on a single question that haunted him. "If the Devourers have been hunted to extinction, how can I be one of their descendants?"
Valdraxx did not answer immediately, as if considering his response carefully. "That remains a puzzle for me, Ethan. You are an anomaly.
I found you not because I was looking for you, but because fate drew us together. However, if you are truly the last descendant of such a feared race, then your fate is far more complicated than we think."
Ethan's thoughts were still filled with questions about the Devourer race, especially after hearing Valdraxx's tale of Khar'zul and the terrible powers that once existed.
His curiosity intensified, and he could not help but ask further.
"Valdraxx," Ethan broke the silence, his voice filled with deep curiosity. "Have you ever seen a Devourer race up close?"
Valdraxx's voice resonated in Ethan's mind, the annoyance clear in his tone. "Are you crazy? Of course not!" Valdraxx replied curtly.
"The Devourer race disappeared thousands of years ago, even before I was born. They were considered extinct long before my time. Even among dragons, we often regarded the Devourers as mere myths, scary tales told to frighten children."
Ethan was slightly taken aback by Valdraxx's harsh reaction, but his curiosity did not wane.
"So, if you've never seen them yourself, how do you know so much about them?" he asked, still unable to hide his persistent curiosity.
Valdraxx fell silent for a moment, as if contemplating the right answer. Then, with a calmer tone, he replied, "I spent years studying various books, ancient manuscripts, and historical records. Of all the knowledge I have gathered, only a few speak of the Devourers. That race was like a ghost hidden from history, as if the world tried to forget their existence. Yet, among the thousands of books I read, there was one ancient manuscript that discussed them in greater depth, though most of its pages have been lost."
Ethan listened intently, feeling that Valdraxx held a great secret that might help him understand more about his own power.
"What did the manuscript say? What made the Devourers so feared?"
Valdraxx huffed quietly before continuing.
"The manuscript is incomplete, but what remains is enough to provide a terrifying picture of what they once did. Devourers are beings born with the ability to consume the powers and souls of other living beings, not just their flesh. They can absorb the essence of life, turning it into raw power that makes them stronger. They do not need mana or hyak like most beings in Arkhana, they consume and assimilate the power from anyone or anything they defeat."