Lucien hovered above the quivering surface of Nax, wings unfurled, aura radiating calm dominance as the remnants of Vorynthax's struggles flickered in the metaphysical currents. His Abyssal Eyes scanned the battlefield, not with concern but with entertained curiosity.
"Ah… you've been such a persistent little thorn," Lucien murmured, a playful smirk crossing his features. "Time for you to meet some friends."
From the deep recesses of the Primordial and Metaphysical Plane, six colossal presences stirred at his call. One by one, they appeared, their sheer scale bending space around them. Azrell, already coiled around the fading pulse of Vorynthax, uncoiled and turned its glowing, sun-devouring eyes toward its master, tilting its massive head in curiosity.
"Lucien…" Azrell rumbled, voice like a collapsing nebula. "You want me to play?"
Lucien's grin widened.
"Exactly. Just… have fun."
The Six Mythical Beasts had all been observed, catalogued, and subdued in their respective corners of the planes. Each had transcendent abilities, and each had been called forth not for combat—at least, not fully—but for showing dominance and reminding a certain Herald who was truly in control.
Azrell, the Devourer of Ten Thousand Suns — the first, coiled and ready, scales shimmering like dark stars, eyes radiating predatory awareness. Vorynthax, the Oblivion Herald — the second, flickering between forms, now trembling under the gaze of its master. Serynthia, the Temporal Serpent — a sinuous, clockwork-scaled entity capable of rewinding or accelerating time around a target. Thalyon, the Cosmic Wolf — massive, radiating gravitational distortion, its howl alone capable of warping planetary systems. Kytherion, the Reality Moth — a seemingly delicate creature whose wings refract and bend the laws of physics, capable of creating illusions indistinguishable from reality. Oblithar, the Endless Maw — a bottomless void in corporeal form, capable of consuming not just matter but the essence of existence itself.
Lucien's aura flared, light and void coiling around him like a crown of inevitability.
"Gather 'round, Vorynthax," Lucien called, voice playful but carrying absolute authority. "You've been quite… persistent. But let's see how you fare against the entire company of your superiors."
Vorynthax shivered, its tendrils flickering erratically, aware it was no longer just facing one being—but six transcendent forces called by the God of Void himself.
"Wh-what… what are you doing?" Vorynthax hissed, trying to warp reality around itself, struggling against the immense gravitational, temporal, and existential pressures surrounding it.
Lucien tilted his head.
"Oh… just a bit of fun. You're quite sturdy for a Herald of Oblivion. Let's see if you survive six beings beyond even your comprehension."
The beasts moved with fluid synchronization, circling Vorynthax, each embodying their domain. Azrell coiled above, ready to strike. Serynthia warped moments around the Herald, rewinding its attacks before they fully formed. Thalyon's massive paws crushed fragments of the metaphysical plane with every step, sending waves of force that forced Vorynthax to bend space defensively. Kytherion flitted around, creating countless illusory duplicates of itself and Lucien, confusing the Herald further. Oblithar's endless maw opened beneath Vorynthax, a gaping void ready to devour any misstep, pulling at the very threads of its essence.
Lucien floated above, arms crossed, pure amusement in his eyes.
"You thought you were going to outlast me? How cute. How… adorably naïve."
Vorynthax struggled, its raw power flickering as it tried to strike back, but each effort was thwarted or absorbed effortlessly. Every strike it managed was met with counters from the six beasts, coordinated perfectly—as if they shared Lucien's consciousness in some subtle, unspoken way.
"Look," Lucien said softly, almost conversationally, "I could end this myself… but watching you squirm under your betters? Infinitely more entertaining."
Vorynthax screeched, its form cracking under the combined transcendent energies, reality itself bending and warping around the battlefield. But Lucien didn't move a muscle; he simply floated, eyes gleaming, as the beasts worked in perfect harmony to overpower the Herald.
"And when you finally… yield," Lucien said, voice playful but sharp, "I get to taste your essence. It'll be quick. No suffering. Just… lessons learned."
The six mythical beings struck simultaneously, a coordinated assault that Vorynthax could barely comprehend. Temporal distortions, gravitational waves, reality bending, existential consumption, predatory devouring—all at once—pushing the Herald to its limits.
Lucien tilted his head, watching carefully, observing the reactions of the beasts. Azrell let out a low, amused rumble. Oblithar's maw pulsated, teasing the Herald. Serynthia rewound attacks just at the last possible moment to taunt its target.
"See?" Lucien whispered, a smirk curling on his lips. "Even at your strongest… you are nothing but a lesson. And this… is your final test."
Vorynthax shrieked, reality bending around it as it tried to escape, but the combined authority of the six beasts was absolute. With a single coordinated strike from Azrell, Oblithar, and Thalyon, the Herald was overwhelmed, essence destabilizing.
Lucien extended a hand, watching, letting the natural course of dominance play out.
"Thank you for being entertaining," he murmured, voice soft but carrying the weight of inevitability. "Now… let's finish this."
With a graceful gesture, the beasts converged. Vorynthax's essence was devoured, absorbed, and assimilated into the primordial energies, leaving nothing but the faint echo of its existence.
"And that, my little friend," Lucien said, looking down at the aftermath, "is what happens when you underestimate your superior… or your friends."
He glanced at Azrell, who coiled lazily, scales shimmering with the absorbed energy of the Herald.
"You did well," Lucien murmured. "Very well indeed."
The six mythical creatures dispersed back to the far corners of the Metaphysical Plane, obedient yet free, leaving Lucien hovering above the battlefield, calm and unbothered.
"I suppose we should see what secrets lie next…" he whispered, eyes scanning the horizon of the metaphysical expanse, already anticipating the next anomaly lurking beyond the edge of reality.
Vorynthax was gone, its essence now fueling the growth of the planes, strengthening the Metaphysical Plane under Lucien's dominion. Even the faint remnants of its power now responded to him, a testament to his absolute control within his current reach.
And yet, as Lucien smiled, there was an edge of anticipation. Even here, with the devourer subdued, there were mysteries beyond his current understanding, hints of challenges that even the Sole Exception might have to consider carefully.