Chapter 13: The Void King's Downfall
The broken void was a realm of silence and suffocating tension, its oppressive stillness shattered only by the faint hum of madness that hung in the air. Damon's fingers, glowing faintly with an eerie energy, hovered just above Velma's skull. They trembled with purpose, with the promise of destruction.
Velma's eyes shot open, the void's unnatural chill biting into her consciousness. Her heart slammed against her ribs as adrenaline coursed through her veins. Damon's piercing gaze locked onto her, and she braced herself for the worst.
But the storm within Damon shifted. The violent rage in his eyes softened, replaced by a sinister calm that was somehow even more terrifying. His hands dropped to his sides, the promise of violence dissipating, yet leaving behind an unspoken threat. Slowly, he rose, towering above her.
Velma scrambled to her feet, trembling, her mind screaming at her to flee. But where could she run? The void stretched endlessly, a hostile expanse of nothingness. If she wanted to survive, she needed him. Fear coiled in her stomach, but she forced herself to follow him, her steps hesitant yet resolute.
Then, a voice broke the silence—a voice rich with a whimsical malice, echoing within Damon's mind.
"Master! Master! Let us plant my willow seed in this void space. A conquerable, broken world—ripe for the taking."
The willow tree of imagination had spoken, its thoughts laced with temptation and ambition. Damon's lips curved into a smile, a dark, predatory grin that sent icy chills down Velma's spine.
"Perfect," he murmured, his voice dripping with twisted delight.
The ground beneath them groaned, trembling violently. Fissures snaked across the blackened earth, spewing waves of void energy. The air thickened, charged with an overwhelming presence that pressed against their very souls.
From the fractures emerged a colossus. The Void Giant rose to its full height, its body a swirling mass of chaos energy. Red, flaming hair crackled atop its head like a crown of fire, its muscular frame carved from raw destruction. It spun, its sheer velocity a force of annihilation, radiating power so immense it distorted the fabric of the void itself.
Damon's eyes gleamed, his excitement uncontainable. "What a magnificent creature," he whispered, his voice filled with unholy awe. "How can something so immense spin with such force?"
"Damon!" the willow tree interjected, its voice sharp and commanding. "This is no ordinary foe! That's a Void Giant, perfectly attuned to this realm's energy. I strongly advise retreat!"
Damon's grin widened, his bloodlust overriding reason. He snapped his fingers, purple flames of void energy erupting around him. "A battle, is it? Good. It's been too long since I've faced a worthy opponent."
He surged forward, a streak of black and violet energy slicing through the void. As his weapon, Avalonia, spun violently in his hand, its rotations fueled by his spiritual energy.
The Void Giant roared, its deep voice shaking the ground. "Oliak tiam nifat elmi!" The words, foreign and ancient, carried a weight that seemed to bend the void itself.
"Damon!" the willow tree warned, its voice trembling. "It speaks the language of the void. This is far worse than you realize. Retreat before—"
"What does it say?" Damon cut her off, his voice edged with dark amusement.
"It says, 'Madness... My head is washed in madness.'"
Damon let out a sharp laugh, his voice ringing with derision. "Madness, you say?" His eyes burned with intensity. "Then you are perfect. Join me, and I will turn your madness into power. I, the Ayogiré of Madness, promise you streams of strength!"
The Void Giant let out a bellow of fury, its hair blazing as it swung its massive arm at Damon. But Damon moved with inhuman grace, evading the strike effortlessly. He leapt high into the air, pressing his palm to the giant's forehead.
A surge of energy exploded between them. Damon's body trembled as he absorbed a fragment of the giant's madness, his mind flooded with chaotic whispers and violent visions.
"Arghhh!" the Void Giant howled, its voice splitting the void.
"Silence!" Damon barked, his tone dripping with contempt. "You are nothing but a fallen king, drowning in your own insanity. You couldn't even protect your throne. Pathetic."
He raised his hand, summoning a sphere of dark energy. The Void Ring unfurled, its crushing pressure forcing the colossal creature to its knees. Damon hovered above it, his figure radiating power, his dark aura rippling like the eye of a storm.
Velma watched from the sidelines, paralyzed by the scene. Damon was terrifying—a force of nature, untouchable and absolute. Yet, as fear gripped her, something else stirred within her: awe.
The Void Giant groaned, its body broken, its spirit shattered. Slowly, it lifted its head, its crimson eyes locking onto Damon's.
"Kilsè infi Ayogiré anku tifa," it rumbled, its voice laden with reluctant respect.
"What does it say?" Damon asked, his voice calm, almost bored.
"It asks, 'What does the Ayogiré of Madness want from me?'" the willow tree translated.
Damon's grin returned, sharper than ever. "What do I want? Become my subordinate. No… become my slave."
He extended his hand, his smile deceptively gentle. The Void Giant's fiery hair flared in defiance, and it roared one last time. But Damon struck swiftly, the edge of Avalonia slamming into its head. The sound of cracking bone echoed through the void, the threat of destruction hanging in the air.
"Understand this," Damon whispered, his voice low and deadly. "Your defiance is meaningless. Submit, or I will break you completely."
The Void Giant trembled, its strength crumbling under the weight of Damon's words. It understood now—this boy wasn't just strong. He was chaos incarnate, a being who thrived in madness.
Slowly, the giant lowered its head, its fiery defiance extinguished.
"Tolàn nefka Ayogiré," it murmured.
The willow tree translated, "It says, 'I bow to the Ayogiré.'"
Damon's smile widened, his dark energy coiling around the giant like chains. "Good," he said softly. "You'll see. Madness can be a strength, in the hands of the right master."
As the pact was sealed, the void seemed to shudder in submission, its chaos bending to Damon's will. And Velma, standing in his shadow, realized there was no escaping this force of destruction. Damon was her only hope—and her greatest fear.