Chapter 136: Dawn Departure to the Voids
The audience chamber doors, still slightly askew from Vaelyss's dramatic entrance, closed behind Kael and his Union. The metallic tang of demonic power and ancient dragon's breath still lingered in the air. The weight of the newly assigned side quest pressed down on Kael, a secret burden that only he and Nexus knew.
"Kael," Selene began, her voice low, "this... Dragon Empress. Her power is immense. And she wishes to accompany us?" There was a hint of unease in her tone, a rare occurrence for the usually unflappable Eclipse Matron.
"She wishes to observe," Kael corrected, his mind already formulating a mental checklist for the upcoming mission. "Her curiosity regarding our methods is genuine, and perhaps, her wariness of the Elder's growing influence. It's a complication, but also an opportunity." He didn't elaborate on what kind of opportunity, keeping the "Empress's Embrace" quest locked away in his private thoughts. He couldn't risk revealing the System's dictates, not even to his wives. It was a solitude he'd come to accept, a necessary price for his unique power.
"An opportunity for what, Kael?" Nysera probed, her hex-infused senses likely picking up on the subtle currents of his guarded demeanor.
"To further solidify our position," Kael stated, choosing his words carefully. "To demonstrate our value directly to a second Eternal Crown realm sovereign. And to gain further insights into the Elder's operations, unimpeded by Vanessa's general forces." He offered a reassuring glance to each of them. "Prepare yourselves. We depart at dawn for the Sunken Voids of Xylos."
They spent the remaining hours in quiet preparation. Kael reviewed the Elder's known forces, Nexus feeding him tactical data, while his wives focused on fine-tuning their newfound Heaven's Echo abilities, their auras humming with controlled power. The thought of the side quest, the monumental task of winning the "will" of two such magnificent and powerful women, was a constant undercurrent to his every action. He had to be perfect, flawless.
As the first sliver of dawn painted the Demon Capital's obsidian spires with a grim light, Kael and his Union met Vaelyss at the outskirts of the sprawling demonic city. She stood bathed in the nascent light, her silver-white hair almost glowing, the ceremonial crimson-trimmed armor catching the first rays. Her molten gold eyes surveyed them, a hint of anticipation in their depths. She was accompanied by only two silent, powerfully built draconic warriors, their scales shimmering, their presence adding to the palpable sense of ancient might.
"Ready, little mortals?" Vaelyss's voice was a soft challenge, yet carried the weight of her realm. Without waiting for a reply, she rose into the air, not with wings, but with a graceful levitation, her form radiating controlled power. Her draconic guards followed suit, their powerful forms cutting through the dawn air.
Kael activated his Worldpiercer's Will, a thought-command, and he and his Union ascended, following her lead. They moved with immense speed, a silent, powerful vanguard piercing the pre-dawn sky. Below them, the Demon Capital shrank, its dark spires fading into the horizon.
Hours later, the landscape shifted dramatically. The air grew heavy, thick with a strange, stagnant energy. The vibrant, yet harsh, demonic lands gave way to barren, cracked earth, scarred by deep fissures that seemed to pulse with an unnatural, sickly purple light. These were the Sunken Voids of Xylos. Unstable rifts, like jagged tears in reality, occasionally ripped open, spewing forth distorted mana and the faint, unsettling cries of unseen aberrations. Rogue void-beasts, warped shadows that moved with unnerving speed, darted across the desolate plains, their forms barely visible against the murky backdrop.
Vaelyss paused, hovering high above, her draconic senses clearly analyzing the anomaly-rich environment. "The Elder's touch is unmistakable," she rumbled, her voice echoing with a low, primal resonance that spoke of ancient knowledge. "This void-essence they siphon... it corrupts the very fabric of this realm. Dangerous work, Kael Viren."
Kael's gaze swept across the void-scarred landscape. Nexus immediately began a detailed scan. "High concentration of unstable void-essence detected. Energy signatures consistent with Aetherial Dominion's sub-species units. Primary outpost located 18.7 kilometers due north, within the largest void fissure. Warning: Anomalous spatial distortions increasing."
As if on cue, a cluster of warped shadows, larger and more defined than the rogue void-beasts, coalesced from the purple-tinged air below. They were grotesque, multi-limbed creatures, vaguely humanoid but composed of swirling darkness and razor-sharp projections. Aetherial Corruptors, Kael recognized from Nexus's rapid identification. They moved with predatory intent, drawn by the power emanating from the group.
"Looks like we have company, Empress," Kael stated, drawing his Shadow-Flame Broadsword. His wives, disciplined and ready, formed up behind him, their own auras flaring with suppressed power. The true test of their alliance, and the first step on Kael's impossible quest, was about to begin.
STATUS OVERVIEW
KAEL VIREN
System Level: 56 | Realm: Heaven's Echo (Low Tier - Tier 1)
HP: 450,000/450,000 | Mana: 580,000/580,000
Sin Tier: Tyrant Rank
Key Stats: Str: 38,000 | Dex: 39,000 | Will: 25,000 | Charm: 28,000
Notable Skills/Traits: Abyssal Dominion (T1), Soul-Forged Armament (T1), Throne of Ascendancy, Verdant Sovereign's Heart (Mythic), Sacred Dimension Pearl (Upgraded)
System AI: Nexus (Online)
THE UNION
Selene, Evelyne, Thalaria, Nysera, Valeria: Heaven's Echo (Low Tier - Tier 1)
Aelisa: Heaven's Echo (Peak Rank)
COMPANIONS
Emberfang: Infernal Flamebeast Cub (Tier 7/10)
Vira: Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 4/10)
CULTIVATION REALMS: THE GRAND PATH
Lower Realms:
Initiate
Essence Drawn
Veinwoven
Soulroot
Starforged
Sunbound
Moonglade
Skyshatter
Worldpiercer (9/9)
Higher Realms (Categorized: Low Tier (1-3), Mid Tier (4-6), Upper Tier (7-9), Peak (Tier 9 before next realm))
Heaven's Echo (Current Realm)
Low Tier (1/9)
Mid Tier (4-6)
Upper Tier (7-9)
Peak (Tier 9 before Celestiaflame)
Celestiaflame
Worldbreaker
Eternal Crown
Primordial Ascendant
Kael's Current Realm: Heaven's Echo (Low Tier — Tier 1)
Next Advancement: Heaven's Echo (Low Tier — Tier 2)