Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 203: Aspect of the Vale III

As Keres Umbel approached, a dreadful abnormality hounded the air, wrenching at the young lord's torn tunic like a vicious cloud of daggers. Laceration tore at the flesh, muscles, and bones. So dreadful was the presence Altair felt. Simply breathing in the air, he felt like he'd swallowed dozens of needles.

'What is this?' he thought, the earth now a painting of red. From his pores and eyes, a vibrant red shone through his clothing.

Bitterly, bearing the force one could not defend against but rather had to resist, more and more Vale Qi began to protrude from the Prince's body. His once black hair slowly withered to an ashen configuration, nearly reminiscent of his bloodline lineage.

'Fear clouds the mind. It rots the soul, taints the will, and weakens the heart.' he thought, through gritted his teeth. So hard he clenched the gums of his mouth bled.

And suddenly, the sensation of emptiness stirred his greater purpose. It shook his bones and unraveled his mind as a memory returned to him: A memory of the Vale.

Keres sucked in a deep breath, noticed the seemingly emptiness of the boy's lifeless eyes, and readied his stance. "There are only two types of people who carry those eyes. Those that are dead and those that are within the depths of enlightenment. Which are you."

Suddenly, the entire Vale Cloak of Qi around Altair began to dwindle. The ooze of essence slid down towards his sword arm onto the Sword of the Vale.

'You are the Vale,' the distant voice of Raven exclaimed through his mind.

Keres opened his palm, and as if the void heard his Will, lightly bent and shattered, torn from the Heaven's Binds, a seething Spear Intent parted the clouds piercing through the vale of eternal night, as it appeared: A glaive glistering silver so radiant everything within a hundred meters was atomized, turned to vaper that dissipated into nothingness.

The void shook, seeking to tear, and yet, beneath his control, space began to stabilize. The domineering force the Silvery Glaive exerted slowly being focused around its edge.

In the distance, Tasha, who was controlling the forces of the elements from destroying the city, frowned.

"Keres Umbel... First Commander within the Imperium of the Astral Plane... I've heard about him. He was felled by the Night Mother when Lord Zariel rode through Myriad Heavens, seeking to kill the Night. So dreadful his strength, it was said that his control of the spear had been second to the God of Weapons, Lord Azazel. So Lord Beelzebub was the one who took his soul."

Tasha found her throat dry and her palms sweaty. She had the advantage due to her race, but she did not dare to combat Keres in a head-on confrontation if they were in the same circle.

'I need to kill him before he can—'

'Do not interfere,' came the cold Soul Whisper of Lord Beelzebub within her mind.

She turned to meet the Monarch's chilling eyes and bowed with a heart of anxiety.

'If he dies... then death is the last thing I've got to worry about... Lord Astaroth will—Hells, I'll be lucky if my mind can still exist after what he'll do to me.' she moaned, her heart pounding against her chest. She turned to Altair, unsure how such a serene expression could be portrayed on such a young boy.

"Save him!" A voice suddenly howled.

Charging forward with a heart full of dread, Ragnar, beneath the laws of time, was propelled through space and time. His body blurred, and like a shrieking beam of light, he pierced forward when the embers of ash came carving through his perception. He kicked back in a panic, nearly sensing he'd lost his head.

"Get back, kid," Zagreus cut in, his sword upon his shoulder. "You're about to see the birth of an Aspect. A dreadful one."

"Are you bloody mad! Aren't you a part of his group? He'll die! That bloody monster is a CHAOS LORD!!!!"

'I know,' Zagreus thought, unsure how long it had been since he last saw Keres. His fist clenched into a ball as he kept his presence hidden lest he distract the two. He smiled, awaiting the finale.

***

Astral Prism, Astera

Upon the silver throne of his Father, a silver-haired man with eyes so gold they appeared as newly spun gold, clouded by a silver mist, sat. The young man appeared barely sixteen, yet there was an aura of supremacy about him, alongside a sense of whimsy.

"Your Grace, your lesson with Lord Hellmaster is starting in a few minutes. He's awaiting you within the atrium like always," said a masked woman clad in all white and silver. She wore the royal attire of the Astral Imperium with pride.

"Already?" The Young Master muttered, twirling strains of his silvery hair. He sighed, his golden silver eyes narrowing. "Has there been any word from Mother or Father?"

Sabine, his royal aid and personal Knight, shook her head. "No word yet. Do they still visit you in your dreams, Sire?"

He nodded, though reluctantly. "Yes. They tell me much about my little brother. And much of my cousins." he grinned. "I'd like to meet him. Uncle Lucifer has invited me for dinner tonight.

Perhaps I might try to convince him to escort me to Arcadia."

"You're much too weak," Said Sabine sharply.

"I'm stronger than you," The boy fired back.

"A mild flook." Said Sabine plaintively. "I—" her Glavie flew from out of th void into her calloused fingers poised upon the throat of the one who saw to teleport in without being ushered in by the heralds.

"A messenger?" The Young Man said. "Lower your weapon, Sabine."

"Is that before or after I cut out his tongue? Who are you to enter the court of the Imperium without an escort?" Sabine demanded.

"Enough," The young man said, his voice carrying weight. "He can be punished later. Let's hear what he has to say."

Sabine lowered her glaive a mere inch from his throat. "Speak."

The Messenger gulped."Its... It's Sir Keres Umbers Soul Lamp. It burns. Lord Jin, it burns! He's alive."

Jin stood up, his eyes like two orbs of silvery gold flames. "Are you sure?"

"Ser Tav confirmed it himself. It's true."

With a sudden laugh, Jin floated down from the Empyrean Throne. "Sabine, ready the First Fleet."

"Sire, that's—"

"My Lord,' The messenger began again. "Ser Keres is within Babels Tower that could lead too—"

"Since when does a Snow need permission to do as he pleases? The Powers of Babel's tower are of no importance to our kingdom. If they try to stop us, we'll burn them all to the ground. Simple as that."