Lyra'kaidos's fear ignited into rage as she snapped at the warrior before her. "That's a lie!" she spat, her voice echoing off the surrounding walls. "The Great Vorakai never had a sixth son." She sprang to her feet, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity as she glared at the warrior.
The air was heavy with tension as Lyra'kaidos took a step closer to the warrior, her gaze burning with a fire that seemed to pierce the darkness. "Even if he did," she hissed, her voice low and menacing, "it would never be a dark entity like you."
The warrior's expression remained unreadable, his eyes fixed on Lyra'kaidos with an unyielding gaze. He raised a hand, his finger snapping with a sharp crack that echoed through the air. A dark, ghostly figure materialized before him, its presence seeming to draw the very light out of the air. The figure coalesced into a shadowy throne, which the warrior sat upon with an air of quiet confidence.
He leaned back in the throne, his eyes never leaving Lyra'kaidos's face. His voice dropped to a low, menacing tone, sending shivers down Lyra'kaidos's spine. "Normally, I'd kill you for that statement," he growled, his words dripping with malice. "But my initial declaration won't let me."
Speratoz and Zephirine exchanged a fearful glance, their eyes wide with unease. Kralyxarion's voice, however, remained steady and commanding. "Withdraw, minion," he ordered, his words dripping with authority. "Your proximity is unbecoming of your station. Maintain a respectful distance."
With a subtle flick of his wrist, a dark tendril of shadow erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Lyra'kaidos's waist. The shadowy appendage pulled her backward, dragging her away from Kralyxarion's presence with an unnerving, ethereal silence.
Lyra'kaidos's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa," she breathed.
Kralyxarion's gaze swept the room, his eyes lingering on each face before settling on Lyra'kaidos. "Enough interruptions," he decreed, his voice firm but laced with a hint of melancholy. "My father had six children. The sixth, which happened to be me." He paused, his eyes glazing over as memories flooded his mind.
"I was just like him growing up... strong, agile, fierce, with a crazy determination for growth." A faint smile played on his lips, but it was quickly extinguished by a scowl. "I loved my family, and I'd be lying if I said I don't still love them. I did everything in my power to ensure the Tribe, Zha'rielvora, was etched into the very soil of Vylaxys." His voice rose, fueled by a growing anger.
His gaze dropped to his hand, his eyebrows furrowing as he clenched his fist. The air in the room grew heavy, weighted by the intensity of his emotions. "But what did I get in return?" The question hung in the air, a challenge to those around him.
"A death sentence by my own people." Kralyxarion's eyes locked onto theirs, the pain and betrayal still simmering beneath the surface. "Why did that happen?" He paused, the word hanging in the air like a challenge. "Jealousy."
He rose from his seat, which dissolved into nothingness, leaving no trace of its existence. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the hall, a haunting reminder of his presence. As he turned his back to them, his voice took on a detached tone, as if he was recounting a distant memory.
"I was reported to the Royal Blade Keeper, the Vorakai... my father." The words dripped with venom, his anger and resentment still palpable. "The report stated that my way in battle was too violent, too irrational, causing grave damage to our enemies and our allies." His voice trailed off, leaving the weight of his words to hang in the air.
"My own father sent me to the dungeons as punishment." Kralyxarion's voice was laced with a mix of anger and hurt. "The embarrassment was real. I spent half a year behind bars, and during those moments, I knew I had to show them how valuable I am to them." His eyes seemed to glaze over, lost in the memories of his past.
"Once my one-year sentence was over, I returned to war. My fury was needed, but I didn't go all out." His gaze dropped, as if the weight of his memories was too much to bear. "And because of that, all my comrades were slain in a battle between the Zha'rielvora and Korvis, the shadow tribe. They spared me, knowing fully well that they couldn't kill me." A hint of a sneer played on his lips. "They left me a deal, asking me to join them and unleash my full potential in battle."
"I refused and went home." His voice was laced with a mix of sadness and anger. "I was questioned by the Blade of The Ancients about the loss. I was insulted for not being a great help, and suspected of killing everyone." His eyes flashed with anger. "The council finalized their decision, and I was banished from the land. My family had nothing to say about it. They erased my name from the family, calling me a brute with no control."
"I decided to settle with the Korvis in the meantime." A hint of a smile played on his lips. "I became a valuable asset to them, and was granted a greater form than the one I had before in that very liquid. It made me the shadowy figure you saw." He paused, his eyes glinting with a hint of pride. "I didn't like the fact that I looked horrifying at first, but I learned to embrace my new power. I wasn't purely relying on physical abilities, but I had dark magic too. I could manipulate darkness at will."
"A ritual was forged, binding me to this land." Kralyxarion's voice was low and menacing, his eyes glinting with a fierce intensity. "If I die, I would be reborn, but my freedom would be forever tied to this cursed place. The moment I step beyond its borders, I would succumb to instant death."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the trio. "For centuries, I've been the instrument of death for countless Zha'rielvora who dared to trespass on this land. You three will not be an exception." His words hung in the air like a death sentence, leaving no doubt about the fate that awaited them.
Zephirine's words cut through the air, striking a nerve. "So you enjoy being a pawn? An undying slave?"
Kralyxarion's cool demeanor shattered, his eyes blazing with fury. "Silence! I am not a pawn!" he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. "For I am free... No man controls me. I am simply a protector of a tribe that acknowledges true power."
His chest heaved with anger, but he slowly regained control, his expression cold and calculating once more. "I've answered enough questions. It's time for you all to leave." His gaze swept over the trio, his eyes lingering on Lyra'kaidos. "As for the trespasser... The Veloxi..."
Lyra'kaidos's eyes widened in shock as Kralyxarion mentioned her friend's last name. "Kryo'nya?!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with rage. "Where did you keep him?" Her eyes blazed with fury, her hands clenched into fists.
Kralyxarion's smile was cold and mirthless. "Nowhere exactly. You simply walked into the forgotten ritual. It breaks up the whole squad. Some of your comrades are dead already." His eyes glinted with malice. "I would love to send you to them. I'll try to go easy on you three since you don't have a Psyrixal in hand."
Kralyxarion hurled his axe at the trio with incredible force. The axe suddenly enlarged, its blade growing wider and heavier as it flew through the air. The trio shrieked in terror, frozen in fear as they realized they couldn't escape the attack in time.
Just before the axe struck, a figure clad in pure black appeared out of nowhere, colliding with the axe in mid-air. The impact generated a mild shockwave, causing the air to vibrate and the ground to tremble. The sound of the collision echoed through the area, a loud clang that seemed to hang in the air.
As the trio regained their footing, they gazed in wonder at the pure black figure. The living shadow armor, complete with a dark hooded cloak, seemed to shift and writhe like a living entity. But as the hood fell away, revealing the face beneath, Lyra'kaidos's eyes widened in shock.
"Kryo'nya?" she whispered, her voice trembling with excitement.
Kryo'nya's reassuring smile lit up his face. "Are you three alright?" he asked, his eyes scanning the trio for any signs of injury.
Lyra'kaidos launched herself at Kryo'nya, wrapping him in a tight hug. "Kry!" she squealed, her eyes shining with tears of joy.
Kryo'nya chuckled, trying to extricate himself from Lyra'kaidos's grasp. "Hey... you're gonna choke me to death before the big guy does," he teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Lyra'kaidos released Kryo'nya, cupping his cheeks with her palms. Her eyes locked onto his, filled with a mix of relief and worry. "Where did you go?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kryo'nya's eyes scanned the room, his gaze locking onto the massive warrior charging towards his shadow clones with deadly intent. His expression turned grave, and he swiftly turned back to the trio.
"I'll explain later, but you guys can't get killed," he urged, his voice low and urgent. "Did the man say anything strange during the confrontation? Any strange chants?" His eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications of what might be unfolding.
Zephirine chimed in hastily, her eyes wide with concern. "Yeah. He kept saying this word... Umm..." Her head tilted, her brow furrowed as she struggled to recall the word. "Vra'gix!" she exclaimed, her voice triumphant.
Kryo'nya's focus drifted away, his eyes glazing over as if he had stumbled upon a long-forgotten memory. A faint, maniacal laugh echoed in his mind, sending a shiver down his spine. His expression turned grave, his face pale.
Lyra'kaidos's voice cut through the silence, snapping Kryo'nya back to reality. "Kry... Kry... Kry!" she called, her voice laced with concern.
Kryo'nya's eyes refocused, his gaze locking onto Lyra'kaidos. "Huh?" he breathed, shaking his head as if to clear the cobwebs. "Sorry. I got carried away." His expression was tight, his eyes still haunted by the memories that lingered just beneath the surface.
Lyra'kaidos's eyes narrowed, her voice laced with concern. "Something wrong?" she asked, her gaze searching Kryo'nya's face.
Kryo'nya's reassuring smile was a thin veil, hiding the turmoil brewing beneath. "No, not at all," he said, his voice steady. "But there's something you guys must know."
Speratoz's eyes were fixed on the brute, his face pale as he watched the warrior eliminate the shadow clones with ease. "Please, say something good!" he cried, his body trembling with fear. "This man is toying with your copies!"
"You three are stuck in an illusion," Kryo'nya announced, his words dropping like a bombshell.
The trio's eyes narrowed, their eyebrows furrowing in deep confusion.
Before they could throw any questions, Kryo'nya teleported in a split second, replacing himself with a speed clone above Kralyxarion. He went in for a drop kick, but had no effect on the brute. He got knocked back but managed to recover with his Shadow energy shield. He landed on his feet, taking two hops backwards.
"This man isn't technically your enemy," Kryo'nya explained, his voice calm and steady. "He's an obstacle created by Vra'gix."
Kralyxarion's smirk grew wider, his lips curling into a sneer. "Foolish vassal," he taunted. "Do you think possessing the same abilities as me gives you an insight into Vra'gix?"
The trio's confusion boiled over, and they yelled in unison, "What's Vra'gix?!"
Kralyxarion lunged at Kryo'nya, his massive frame moving with surprising speed. The air seemed to ripple with the force of his attack, and the sound of his footsteps echoed off the walls.
He swung his axe in a mighty arc, aiming for Kryo'nya's head. But Kryo'nya dodged the blow with ease, avoiding the blade by mere inches.
The axe bit deep into the floor, sending shards of stone flying everywhere. The impact was tremendous, and the ground shook beneath their feet.
Kralyxarion swung his axe again, the blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kryo'nya dodged and weaved, avoiding the blows with incredible agility.
The air was biting cold, each breath a visible mist that hung in the air. The empty hall echoed with the sound of metal clanking and stones crashing, a symphony of violence that underscored the intensity of the battle.
Kryo'nya and Kralyxarion stood frozen, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. Kryo'nya's armored mask conformed to his face like liquid shadow, hiding his features behind a dark, armored visage. The mask was etched with subtle, ethereal lines that pulsed with a soft, blue light. A shadowy aura surrounded him, making him almost spectral.
With a swift motion, Kryo'nya assumed a battle stance. His right hand clenched into a fist, drawn back to his waist like a coiled spring. His left hand covered his right, while his left leg pushed forward, and his right leg anchored him firmly to the ground.
In a voice barely audible, Kryo'nya whispered, "Darkwhisper: Velocitas' Fury - Quickstrike!" A glowing straight line materialized, shooting towards Kralyxarion like a spectral arrow. The line formed a circle around the brute, trapping him in a ring of light.
In the same instant, Kryo'nya sprinted towards Kralyxarion with incredible speed, his movements leaving behind a trail of blurs. He struck the left side of Kralyxarion's abdomen, just below the ribcage, aiming to weaken him by targeting his spleen.
The damge of the attack was low and ineffective. Kryo'nya's eyes narrowed in frustration. "Damn it. The Umbra-mantle isn't corresponding with my attacks." He whispered to himself, his voice laced with disappointment. "It's been five days now. I thought I could manipulate it properly by now."
The team offered to help out, but Kryo'nya stopped them. "No. Find your way into the rooms, and see if–"
His words were cut short by the sound of Kralyxarion's axe hurtling towards him. Kryo'nya sprang into action, performing a swift front flip over the axe. But before he could land on his feet, Kralyxarion launched himself into the air, his massive fist flying towards Kryo'nya.
The punch connected with a devastating impact, sending Kryo'nya flying into an old pillar. The pillar crumbled beneath the force of the blow, crashing to the ground with a loud roar.
Kralyxarion gave Kryo'nya no quarter, using his dark portal to teleport next to him. He grabbed Kryo'nya by his hoodie, tossing him horizontally onto the ceiling. Kryo'nya crashed onto the stone surface hard, his body rebounding downward.
But Kralyxarion was relentless, striking Kryo'nya with another blow that sent him hurtling into another room. The sound of crashing echoed through the halls, a cacophony of destruction.
"Kry!" Lyra'kaidos yelled, her voice echoing with concern. She attempted to run towards the fight, but Speratoz pulled her back.
"Lyra'kaidos, no," he groaned, his eyes wide with worry. "Let go! He's taking too many hits without recovering even for a second. He's gonna die," Lyra'kaidos exclaimed, her voice laced with fear.
Speratoz held firm, his grip unyielding. "No, he won't. He's fast enough to escape the attacks. I think he's distracting Kralyxarion so he doesn't attack us."
Zephirine's eyes widened in understanding. "Yeah. The big guy enjoys hurting others, so the more Kryo'nya receives, the more eager Kralyxarion would be to deliver. We have to find a way out of here."
Lyra'kaidos's gaze returned to the wreck, and she nodded in agreement. The trio approached the luminous liquid, their eyes fixed on its glowing surface.
"This liquid... it reverted the crazy ghost back to his real form," Zephirine said, her brow furrowed in thought. "What if it has something to do with the illusion?"
Speratoz squatted, dipping his sword into the glowing liquid. He squinted his eyes, hoping for a reaction. Lyra'kaidos and Zephirine exchanged a confused glance.
"What are you doing?" Zephirine demanded, her voice tinged with concern.
Speratoz ignored her, his gaze fixed intently on his sword. Suddenly, the sword began to fade to black, as if it was repelling every light in the room.
"Just as I suspected," Speratoz muttered. "The strange water caused my sword to deteriorate until it succumbed to darkness."
Lyra'kaidos's face scrunched up in confusion. "I am so lost right now."
Speratoz's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "The phrase on the statue said something about life expiring, and darkness residing, right?"
Kryo'nya's clone materialized behind the trio, his spectral aura dissipating as he took solid form. "Phew," he breathed out a sigh of relief. "Wrong. It's not real. You're not gonna revert back to anything."
Speratoz's eyes widened in shock as he grasped Kryo'nya's cloak. "What are you doing here?! Who the hell is fighting that beast?!" he yelled, his face inches from Kryo'nya's.
Kryo'nya recoiled, feeling uncomfortable. "Uh... Relax, buddy. I'm taking care of him. I'm just a clone." He explained, his grasped top fading away, setting him free from Speratoz's grip before regaining form again.
The trio stared at him, confusion etched on their faces. "Before I got here, I was with forty-one students, and three facilitators," Kryo'nya began. "I immediately knew something was off. I had a feeling that the man who addressed you guys was a fake, and sent the students here on purpose."
"A fake?" Lyra'kaidos asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Kryo'nya nodded. "Yes. A fake. Because come on... ten facilitators? Vra'gix was in control. The three locations were a setup. He sent you to places where this entity registered the forgotten ritual."
The trio exchanged skeptical glances. "But who is this Vra'gix guy?" Zephirine questioned.
Kryo'nya's expression turned grave. "Here's a dark myth surrounding Vra'gix. The devouring of light... In the dawn of time, the world was born from the primordial void of Vra'gix. From this darkness, the first light, Aethon, emerged."
As Kryo'nya spoke, his voice took on a somber tone, and the air around them seemed to grow heavier.
"Aethon's radiance illuminated the land, banishing Vra'gix to the shadows. However, Vra'gix, fueled by jealousy and hunger, began to consume Aethon's essence. As the light dwindled, Vra'gix grew stronger, spreading its dark tendrils across the land."
The trio listened in rapt attention, their eyes wide with wonder.
"The people, terrified of Vra'gix's power, sought refuge in the last remnants of Aethon's light. They built sacred cities, harnessing the fading radiance to keep Vra'gix at bay. But Vra'gix persisted, corrupting the hearts of men and turning them against each other."
Kryo'nya's voice dropped to a whisper, his words sending shivers down their spines.
"As the darkness deepened, Aethon's light flickered, and the world teetered on the brink of collapse. A chosen one, born of Aethon's final ember, shall wield the power to vanquish Vra'gix."
The trio exchanged awestruck glances, their minds reeling from the revelation.
"The prophecy speaks of a warrior who will confront the darkness, reigniting the light and restoring balance to the world. Until then, Vra'gix lurks, waiting to consume the last vestiges of Aethon's radiance, plunging the world into eternal darkness."
Kryo'nya's voice trailed off, leaving the trio to ponder the weight of his words.
"Soooo.... Who is this child of prophecy?" Speratoz asked, his face scrunched in confusion.
Kryo'nya's smile turned sheepish. "Oh. That happened a long time ago. Don't mind me talking in the present."
The trio shook their heads in disapproval, unamused by Kryo'nya's nonchalant attitude.
Kryo'nya continued, his expression turning serious. "A young woman named Aethysiara was the chosen one. She was Aethon's ember. Her squad fought a deadly war. Apparently, they all died in battle after the fall of Khra'xys."
Speratoz let out a low whistle. "Sheesh. Tragic."
Lyra'kaidos's eyes narrowed, her brow furrowed in thought. "Did you say Khra'xys?"
Kryo'nya's expression turned grave. "Khra'xys... The voice behind Vra'gix. The king of eternal darkness. Death himself."
The trio's eyes widened in shock, their jaws dropping in unison. The air around them seemed to grow heavier, as if the weight of Kryo'nya's words was crushing them.