Chapter 493: Daemon Lord

Gripping his blade, Aether frowned as he looked around. Shadows were everywhere for whatever reason, more than he had ever seen, all circling around one person. Aeriel. Looking around, there were bodies, enemies, and allies. Everyone was dead.

’What the heck happened here...?’ Aether ran, bursting through the shadows to see what was up with Aeriel. Reaching him, he saw him on the floor, clutching his head, as all the shadows just stared at him. He could see the tears flowing from his eyes.

...

Had he seen this before? This scenario?

...

His eyes widened as he realized that this was exactly what he had dreamt of, this exact scenario... but then, had that dream not been for him, but for Aeriel this whole time.

’Damn it.’ Aether knelt, trying to calm Aeriel down, but before he could, one of the shadows just caught him by his mantle and threw him away. Turning back to face him, he could feel its anger, right in his soul.

But why had it stopped him... were they... no, in Aeriel’s control.

Who was controlling them then? Was it Aeriel’s Abyss?

’Either way, what it is, it doesn’t matter; they are clearly not on our side.’

Getting back on his feet, Aether wanted to try to fight, but before he could, the shadow had opened for him, revealing Aeriel... who was different. His eyes were pure black, and Abyssal matter traveled through his whole body... under his skin.

’Is this half control? It’s similar, but at the same time, I’m not sure...’

The boy was holding a blade in his hand, a Rapier, a beautiful white blade... the exact opposite of Voidpiercer, yet shaped exactly the same... if there was any doubt inside his mind that the person standing in front of him was the Prince that created the original blade, before it had been corrupted. Then now he was sure.

But then, if this form was half control... why was the Abyss taking over? Had something happened in the timeline?

Aeriel stared at him, tilting his head, before Abyssal matter shot up from his shoulder, trying to stab his throat. Dodging it just before it reached him, he tried to take a deep breath, but before he could, a Lost kicked him to the ground.

He watched in horror as they all ran to him, kicking him and punching him while on the ground. Aether tried blocking it, but they just phased through his guard and punched him right in the face.

’How is that ever fair!’ He frowned, using Erosion to get out of the way. But as he did, he noticed, with the corner of his eye, the tip of Aeriel’s rapier coming right for his head.

But as it was about to stab him, Aeriel suddenly staggered, stopping his attack to grip his face with his bare hands, almost as if trying to pull it off. His screams echoed through the battlefield, like an animal fighting for his life.

It was madness.

...

He also felt something, not like anything he had ever felt; his gut was screaming at him for whatever reason, warning him, but he had no idea what. And as seconds passed, that scream only got stronger, until he couldn’t ignore it and finally ducked, like it was telling him.

... And he sensed something above him. Raising his head, he saw something he had not expected: all the shadows were cut in two, as well as Aeriel, who had lost his head... and among all of them, stood one person.

He couldn’t see him well; his image was blurry, almost as if his eyes weren’t meant to see him. He had pale skin, paler than anything he had ever seen. His hair and eyes were black, not a little bit of light.

But the most important thing... was its horns... he recognized them as the same ones he had dreamt about. It was holding Aeriel’s blade tight in its hands. Turning its head, it noticed him, tilting its head as it saw him.

It had probably not expected anyone to survive the attack. An attack that was able to kill even the shadows, one that was able to cut them in two. Which made no sense. Someone who was able to easily kill a Vessel in their half-control form.

"Who are you?" Aether asked, getting to his feet while holding his blade in his hand... but once the figure saw the blade, its eyes widened, confused and surprised.

...

Truth be told... he already had an idea of what this thing was, who it was... and his theory seemed pretty proven... the one standing in front of him was the Daemon Lord of the Abyss. Who else would it be? There was a reason for all of this. Why was it after Aeriel’s blade, and why was it surprised to see Voidpiercer.

He was strong... really strong.

The Daemon took a step forward, and then another, until he was standing in front of him; they were almost the same height. The figure was only slightly taller than him.

"It stared him in the eyes before grabbing his arms, the one with the Abyss mark. "Who am I? I’m someone who belongs to this place... You, however... have no place in this. The real question is what you are. You aren’t the first Vessel, and yet you hold his mark. You have Aeriel’s blade, yet the version I was meant to create..."

Aether laughed, happy to see his theory actually being confirmed for once. "What am I? Simple, I’m a human... My name’s Aether, by the way."

...

"Aether?"

The Daemon said, surprised, as it stared into his Core... and a big smile appeared on his face. "I see..." He backed away. "Well then, Aether, I will give you some advice.

Kill yourself." It said as it suddenly disappeared into thin air, leaving him standing there as if nothing had happened.

Aether stared at the now empty space where the figure used to be...

’What... just happened?’