Chapter 110 – The Void's Obsession
Ivan rose slowly, brushing what looked like shadow dust from his shoulder.
A radiant smile split his face.
— Hahaha… Zarion, you're perfect for me.
Zarion exhaled, hand resting on his sword's hilt.
— Sorry, but you're not my type.
Ivan narrowed his eyes.
— What?
— You're obsessive and creepy at the same time, Zarion replied flatly. Like an overly devoted fan.
A moment of silence. Then Ivan exploded:
— SHUT UP!
He vanished in a burst of mist and reappeared right in front of Zarion, fist coated in energy.
Zarion blocked the strike with a flick of his blade.
The shockwave shook the battlefield, scattering shards of void around them.
Both fighters leapt back.
But suddenly, invisible slashes tore through Ivan's arms and legs.
Zarion reappeared instantly, ready to slice him into a thousand pieces.
Ivan regenerated before the blade could land, catching the strike barehanded.
A mad grin twisted his face.
Then, with an energy-charged kick, he sent Zarion flying, his sword skidding across the ground.
Zarion slid, snatched his blade mid-motion, and stood again.
— Okay, you've got skills. But you've also got a serious attachment issue.
He swept the air with a fluid motion.
Invisible slashes erupted from all directions, tearing into Ivan in a storm of cuts.
Ivan crossed his arms, taking the hits. Each wound closed instantly.
— Hahaha… that tickles, Ivan said with a manic smile.
Then he spread his arms.
The void condensed around him, forming hundreds of floating blades.
They surged toward Zarion.
Zarion advanced calmly, blocking each blade, slicing through those he couldn't dodge.
His dark gaze remained fixed, unflinching.
He ended up face-to-face with Ivan.
They struck simultaneously.
Blade and fist collided in a deafening boom.
A shockwave tore through the zone, shattering nearby illusions.
They stepped back, caught their breath, then charged again at blinding speed.
Each impact echoed through the world.
— Zarion! Ivan shouted, laughing. I'm obsessed with your perfect body! Tell me, how did you get it?!
Zarion sighed.
— Not telling you. Also, take a nap. You need it.
Ivan burst into laughter, lost in his madness.
— HAHAHA, I'll have you, whether you want it or not!
Zarion murmured:
— I seriously doubt that.
---
Elsewhere…
Nova eyed his clone.
— Alright… all means are fair in war.
He raised his sword.
— Void Art – Ninth Movement: Multiple Void Slashes!
His clone instantly mirrored the move.
Both warriors vanished into a hurricane of invisible blades.
Their slashes canceled each other out, ripping space apart.
Nova stepped back, gritting his teeth.
— He copies everything. Even my stylish pauses. Okay… time to go all in.
He closed his eyes.
Silence fell.
The void filled him. His breath, his thoughts — gone.
When he opened his eyes, his aura had changed.
It no longer glowed — it absorbed light.
— Void Art – Sixteenth Movement: Absolute Void.
His blade turned translucent, vibrating with indescribable energy.
Each motion warped reality around him.
The clone tried to follow… but for the first time, it couldn't predict.
Nova had become unpredictable.
Each strike hit the unseen, even slicing through the void itself.
— Not copying anymore, huh? Nova said with a smirk.
The clone cracked, then exploded in a silent wave.
Nova sheathed his blade.
— And that's that. Original > Copy. As always.
---
Valor kept his clone pinned to the ground with gravity.
— Stay calm, it's for your own good, he said in a professorial tone.
He raised his foot, ready to crush its head.
But the clone reversed gravity, launching Valor into the air.
— What?!
Valor flipped midair and unleashed a meteor shower, shouting:
— METEOR OF SUPREME PERFECTION!
The clone tried to counter, but stone chains erupted from the ground, binding it.
Its mana was sealed instantly.
— Bad karma, buddy, Valor said with a grin.
The meteors crashed. A cataclysmic explosion swept the area.
When the dust settled, the clone was still alive, crawling.
Valor appeared before it, placing a foot on its head.
— That's what you get for trying to imitate my perfection.
A blue flame appeared in his hand.
— Goodbye, discount version of me.
He cast the flame.
The clone vaporized instantly.
Valor sighed, ran a hand through his hair.
— Even reduced to ashes, I'm still magnificent.
---
Ryn fought at near-invisible speed.
Her clone blocked every strike with twin daggers.
— Impressive, you've got style, Ryn admitted. But not enough.
The clone activated magic circles, unleashing a rain of light beams.
Ryn dashed at full speed, dodging every shot.
She leapt, blade raised, and unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes.
The clone blocked, but Ryn's strength increased with each hit thanks to her buffs.
— Surprised you're keeping up… but don't die too fast, she said with a smile.
She extended her hand.
Chains of light burst from the ground, chasing the clone.
It tried to fly, but a kick from Ryn slammed it back down.
The chains closed in, locking it completely.
Ryn looked to the sky.
A massive magic circle formed above them.
— Disintegration.
A colossal beam of light descended.
The clone was obliterated, leaving only a smoking crater.
Ryn sighed.
— Copy my buffs, sure. Copy my patience? Never.
---
Lya calmly faced her clone.
Her third eye opened wide.
The scenery shifted.
The clone found itself chained above a sea of lava.
— You think you'll trap me with an illusion? the clone shouted.
Lya smiled.
— Think again. This isn't an illusion. I just… reshaped reality.
The clone screamed, trying to become intangible.
Nothing.
Its hands slowly dissolved.
— Now you understand, Lya whispered.
She closed her eyes.
— Disappear.
The clone was swallowed by the lava, screaming one last time.
Lya opened her eyes, standing tall, impassive.
— Copying my gaze is easy. Enduring it… is something else.
---
Meanwhile, Zarion and Ivan continued their battle at the heart of the void.
The ground cracked, dimensions twisted.
One fought to kill.
The other, to possess.
And in the shadows… something watched.
Chapter 111 – Resurgence of the Void
Zarion, black blade in hand, scanned the battlefield.
The ground was nothing but unstable energy and fractures of void.
— I think I'm the last one left, he murmured. The others have finished with their clones.
A mocking voice echoed above him.
Valor appeared in midair, hands in his pockets, floating like he was out for a Sunday stroll.
— Ah, the great Zarion, always the last to finish.
He teleported right in front of him, flashing a bright grin.
— Hurry up and finish him, man. Liora can probably hear us from miles away.
Zarion sighed.
— Yeah, but you were too busy admiring your own glow.
A vein pulsed on Ivan's forehead, still standing despite his wounds.
— Arrogant fools! You think defeating me is so easy?!
Valor raised an eyebrow.
— Honestly? You're not that impressive.
Ivan, enraged, screamed:
— Insolent!
From the ground, blades of shadow erupted in every direction, rushing toward Valor.
He remained still, arms crossed, a small smile on his lips.
— Seriously? That's it?
Zarion, with a swift motion, sliced through all the blades in an instant.
Then he charged at Ivan, his speed leaving trails of void in the air.
Shadow threads wrapped around him, trying to restrain him, but Zarion cut through them with a flurry of slashes so fast they seemed to happen before he moved.
At that moment, Ryn appeared in front of Ivan.
Three overlapping magic circles materialized in the air, spinning at a furious pace.
This time, she gave him no chance.
— Disintegration.
A blinding explosion tore through the zone.
The light lasted several seconds before a shadow emerged.
A blackened arm suddenly clamped around Ryn's throat. Ivan, charred but standing, strangled her with a wicked grin.
Zarion intervened in a blink.
With a clean slash, he severed Ivan's arm.
Ryn leapt back and landed beside Valor, catching her breath.
— This guy's seriously clingy, she growled.
A ripple of air made everyone shiver.
Nova appeared, his void aura manifesting like a silent storm.
— Void Art, Sixteenth Movement… Absolute Void.
He lunged at Ivan, slicing him from every angle — arms, legs, chest.
Ivan staggered, regenerated instantly, and a twisted smile stretched across his face.
— You all look so alike… it's almost adorable.
---
Lya descended from the sky, landing beside Valor and Ryn.
Her gaze briefly settled on Ivan before turning to Zarion.
— Situation?
Valor raised his hand, palm open toward Ivan.
— See that silhouette over there? Yeah, the one stubbornly refusing to die.
Lya nodded.
— Perfect. Thanks to your clones, I've harvested their mimicry and hunger traits.
— Their copying ability was limited, but I… I can use it to its full potential.
An eye materialized on her forehead — the third eye, pulsing with void energy.
Ivan chuckled.
— Copying won't make you stronger than me.
Lya replied calmly:
— That remains to be seen.
She dashed toward him, twin shadow daggers in hand.
Ivan did the same, their silhouettes vanishing into a flurry of invisible strikes.
The impacts echoed like thunder.
Lya tracked his movements with her eye, but even then, blocking everything was difficult.
A slash cut her cheek, then Ivan struck her with a charged blow, sending her flying.
She caught herself by planting her daggers into the ground, breathing heavily.
— He doesn't want me copying his attacks… If I go intangible, he'll do the same — and then we're screwed.
A hand rested on her shoulder.
Zarion.
— Alright, let me handle this one.
---
Zarion looked up, and his eyes turned black as the abyss.
The Eyes of the Void awakened.
The air around him grew heavy, as if even light refused to approach.
He extended his hand.
Primordial Void energy condensed in his palm.
— Time to end this.
In an instant, Ivan was sliced apart.
His body disintegrated, the Primordial Void nullifying all his abilities.
Regeneration was impossible.
Zarion approached slowly, his gaze blank.
— Any last words?
Ivan tried to speak:
— Wait…
Zarion raised his sword.
— Eye of the Void – Judgment of the Abyss.
A black light engulfed Ivan.
And he vanished. Erased from reality.
Zarion sheathed his blade.
— Alright, let's go home.
Lya closed her third eye, her face returning to normal.
— That was kinda fun, she admitted.
Valor, fixing his hair:
— Fun? Or were you just admiring the great Valor in action?
Lya raised an eyebrow.
— Yeah, yeah, keep dreaming.
A crack echoed.
Everyone turned.
The ground trembled.
A sinister laugh rose from the void.
The particles that had formed Ivan slowly reassembled.
But this time, something else was at work.
His energy was no longer his own.
It was older, heavier, divine.
Ivan opened his eyes — multicolored, glowing.
— Thank you… Lord Vael.
A massive silhouette with multicolored eyes briefly appeared behind him — a shadow whose presence threatened to erase everything.
Nova gripped his blade.
— Oh no… this smells like a ridiculously overpowered final boss.
Valor sighed.
— As long as he doesn't mess up my beautiful face, I'm fine.
Zarion slowly raised his head, his gaze hardening.
— Get ready.
— This fight… won't be like the others.
Chapter 112 – World Oblivion
Moments before Ivan's reappearance…
His body was slowly disintegrating, each fragment dissolving into a space without shape, without color, without time.
A place where even memories were devoured.
A place even the void feared.
World Oblivion.
The realm of eternal forgetting.
Ivan collapsed to his knees.
His body was nothing more than a blurred silhouette, half-erased.
He raised his head and cried out:
— Where… where am I?!
A hand gently touched his face.
A calm, almost amused voice echoed:
— You are where all existence ends… where even gods fall silent.
Before him stood a tall figure, black hair tied back, eyes shimmering with a thousand shifting hues.
His gaze changed color every second, oscillating between gold, blue, and red.
His aura alone twisted the space around him.
It was Vael.
Ivan, voice trembling:
— Vael… the real… Vael?
Vael tilted his head slightly, a serene smile on his lips.
— In flesh, in form, and in cosmic immensity. Welcome to my domain, Ivan. World Oblivion.
Here, all existence is reduced to nothing. Nothing escapes. Not even you.
Ivan clenched his teeth.
— So… this is how I disappear? Like a worthless memory?
Vael stared at him, amused.
— Come now. You should thank me. If I hadn't pulled you into my world before your dissolution, you would've ceased to exist instantly.
Ivan looked up hesitantly.
— Why… why did you save me?
Vael chuckled softly, a deep, melodic laugh.
— Saved? No. Let's say… I enjoy observing interesting pieces before they vanish.
He stepped closer.
— You amuse me, Ivan. And you might be useful.
Ivan frowned.
— What do you mean?
Vael extended his hand, a divine shimmer running along his finger.
— I'll give you a fragment of my power. But be warned: one misstep, and you'll be erased instantly.
You're playing with pure void energy — the origin of non-existence itself.
Ivan, panting, placed a hand on his chest.
— I accept. I refuse to disappear so easily.
Vael smiled.
— As I hoped.
He touched Ivan's chest.
A jet of black light pierced through him, and the entire world seemed to tremble.
Ivan screamed, his body twisting under the impact.
Multicolored lightning burst from his skin, and his eyes took on the same shifting hues as Vael's.
— Do you feel… this power? Vael asked calmly.
Ivan, gasping, nodded.
— Yes… incredible… terrifying…
Vael walked away slowly, his steps echoing in the void.
— Perfect. Then go back, and do whatever you wish. That's all I ask.
Ivan frowned.
— You… don't want anything in return?
Vael stopped and turned his head, a mysterious smile on his lips.
— No. Chaos already does the job for me.
And with those words, the world of Oblivion cracked.
Ivan felt an invisible force pulling him back, his body reassembling piece by piece… until he reappeared in reality.
---
Back in the Purple Dungeon
A breath swept through the air.
The ground trembled.
The heroes, still catching their breath from the previous battle, turned in unison.
And there… he stood.
Ivan. Alive.
But changed.
His multicolored eyes glowed with supernatural intensity, and his aura bent space around him.
Each step he took made the ground vibrate, as if he walked on the heartbeat of the world.
He slowly raised his head, locking eyes with Zarion.
— Thank you… Master Vael.
Silence fell — heavy, suffocating.
Zarion, wary, placed his hand on his sword's hilt.
— How did you do that? How did you escape dissolution? And… what is this energy? It's… unstable. Dangerous.
Ivan flashed a predatory smile.
— That's none of your concern.
Zarion charged without hesitation.
His black blade sliced through the air — but Ivan blocked it… with a single hand.
The impact shattered the ground beneath them.
A bead of sweat rolled down Zarion's forehead.
He felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: instinctive fear.
Ivan looked up, his pupils glowing with divine light.
— You see, Zarion… now it's your turn to taste oblivion.
A chill ran through the group.
Valor stepped back, his face suddenly serious.
— I hate to say it, but… this is really bad.
Nova gripped his sword tightly.
— For once, I agree with the narcissist.
Lya, a nervous smile tugging at her lips, murmured:
— And here I thought we'd finally get a break…
Zarion, eyes locked on Ivan, whispered:
— This won't be a normal fight.
---
In the Palace of the Void
An infinite black space, dotted with strands of light and fragments of broken realities.
On a throne carved from the matter of void and inverted light itself, Vael sat, relaxed, watching the scene through a misty screen.
Beside him, Death leaned against the throne's back, arms crossed.
— You're acting weird today. Why'd you help him?
Vael shrugged, a sly smile on his lips.
— I'm allowed to have fun, aren't I?
Farther off, Valt and Nyxa exchanged glances.
Nyxa sighed:
— The old man's really off today.
Valt added:
— Yeah… feels like he's setting up something twisted. And while we're at it, could you explain, boss, the difference between your "Abyssal Realm" and this "World Oblivion"? Because even I'm lost.
Vael raised his hand and conjured two spheres:
One black, pulsing — the other translucent, vibrating.
— Alright. The Abyssal Realm, he said, is like a cosmic prison.
I trap everything I absorb there: entities, gods, architects… even concepts.
It's a place beyond time, space, and narrative — beyond causality.
Everything that enters is erased from reality, but… still exists, within the Abyss.
A sort of "eternal trash bin," if you will.
He spun the black sphere between his fingers.
— Everyone thinks they're erased, but in truth, they still live… in silence.
Then he pointed to the translucent sphere, glowing with fragments of universes:
— World Oblivion, on the other hand… is my body.
It's beyond time, space, and any possible narrative.
Absolutely inaccessible.
Anything that enters — unless it's my incarnation or avatar — is simply erased.
Plunged into absolute oblivion.
Vael leaned forward on his throne, an amused smile on his lips:
— And just to be clear… this "Palace of the Void" here?
It's just a drop of my World Oblivion.
Nyxa blinked.
— A drop?
Vael shrugged:
— Yep. Let's say it's my lounge. Everyone needs a quiet corner — even incarnations of the void.
Valt raised an eyebrow, smirking:
— "Quiet corner"? Dude, you decorated your lounge with floating skulls and dead stars.
Vael chuckled.
— Everyone has their vibe, right?
Death sighed:
— And I'm the one they call morbid…
Chapter 113 – "Oblivion Strike"
Zarion's sword vibrated in the air… before being firmly caught in Ivan's bare hand.
Bare-handed.
As if it were nothing more than a plastic toy.
Ivan squeezed slightly.
The sacred metal groaned under the pressure.
Then, with a backhanded punch, he struck Zarion.
The impact was so violent that Zarion was hurled through three dungeon columns before crashing into a wall of warped stone.
Zarion stood up immediately, brushing dust from his face with a nervous smile.
— Hmm. Just tell me… did you get a power-up or something?
Ivan turned his multicolored gaze toward him.
— Not your concern. I'll say it again.
Zarion shrugged faintly.
— Alright. If you want to play mysterious, I'll play mysterious too.
---
**At HQ – Control Room**
Liora and Elyon stared at the screens, watching unstable signals and terrain vibrations.
Liora paled.
— This is… really bad.
She zoomed in on the image.
— He's been empowered… by the number one bastard in the universe.
A voice echoed throughout the Palace of the Void:
— Thanks for the compliment.
Liora paled further.
— Vael… shut your mouth.
---
**Back in the Dungeon**
Zarion raised his sword again.
As Ivan advanced, a glowing circle appeared at his feet.
Then, with a gesture, Zarion opened four teleportation circles beneath Lya, Nova, Valor, and Ryn.
Lya jumped.
— Hey! Hey! What the—
Zarion raised his hand.
— It's too dangerous for you.
Valor protested.
— Wait! We can't just run away like cowards!
— You're not running.
Zarion activated the circles.
— I'm sending you back to HQ. Not the other way around.
A flash of light engulfed them.
— And besides, Zarion added, this is between him and me now.
---
Face to Face
Zarion stood tall, like a wall.
— Tell me. Who gave you that power?
He narrowed his eyes.
— Was it him who slaughtered the two Pillars?
He clenched his teeth.
— I think my parents gave him far too much freedom…
Ivan burst out laughing.
— I don't know if it was him or not.
He stepped forward slowly.
— But don't kid yourself, Zarion. I don't know who your parents are, but do you really think they could stop him if they could?
Zarion lowered his head slightly.
— You talk like that because you don't know them.
His eyes gleamed.
— Enough talk. It's time to clean up this mess. Humans have nothing to do with this.
Ivan took a step.
His very presence made space tremble.
The ground rippled beneath his feet, as if refusing to touch him.
Zarion swallowed.
— So this is… what humans call fear?
He shivered violently.
— First time I've felt it. Interesting.
He raised his hands.
Around him, twelve multidimensional barriers overlapped, each marked with a different seal.
— Alright, he said calmly, I'll take care of you.
Ivan vanished.
Reappeared right in front of him.
— Get ready… to taste oblivion.
Oblivion Strike
His blow struck all of Zarion's barriers with the sound of cosmic glass shattering.
Each layer exploded into a rain of fragmented reality.
The final barrier buckled—
Zarion was hurled hundreds of meters away.
He caught himself by driving his sword into the ground, skidding for over a hundred meters before stopping.
He spat blood.
— …
He looked at his hand.
A red droplet slid down.
— This is… the first time I've bled.
---
**At HQ**
Alarms. Distortion sounds.
Elyon slammed the console.
— We just lost the signal with Zarion!
Valen frowned.
— Looks like they're in trouble.
Liora bit her lip.
— Someone strong enough to stand against Zarion… that's rare.
Elyon crossed his arms.
— Honestly, I never thought he was that impressive…
Liora raised a finger.
— That's because you didn't know him back then.
Suddenly, the four circles opened, and
Lya, Valor, Nova, and Ryn appeared at HQ.
Naël came running.
— What's going on? Tell me everything!
Nova took a deep breath.
— Zarion had already erased Ivan. The dungeon boss. But he came back… like nothing happened.
And he's WAY stronger now.
Elyon blinked.
— What could explain that?
Liora tapped her chin.
— A few possibilities:
• Either he evolved…
• Or he was helped.
Valor cleared his throat.
— I vote "helped." He said: Thank you, Lord Vael.
A wave of cold passed through Liora.
— Vael…?
She turned pale.
— Oh no… we're screwed.
Valen narrowed his eyes.
— Vael… that name sounds familiar.
He placed a hand on his head.
— I heard it in my nightmares. When he slaughtered gods… architects… He terrified me…
And Valt… yes, Valt said that name too…
Miniature Elyonna floated in front of Valen.
She placed a glowing hand on his cheek.
— Valen… you know him very well.
Through thought, she added:
— You once asked me why I hated Vael. I never answered.
You forgot, but… you are an incarnation of Vael.
Just like Valt.
Valen shivered.
— I… remember now.
He took a deep breath.
— Liora… what do we do?
Liora stood tall.
— We monitor the situation. Try to reestablish contact with Zarion.
And hope… he's not dead.
---
Back to the Fight – Zarion vs Ivan
Zarion rose slowly.
Part of the ground around him had become a crater of shadow.
— I managed to protect my internal organs… by reinforcing the impact zone.
He groaned.
— But damn… that stings.
Ivan appeared behind him, a dark smile on his lips.
— So, Zarion?
He raised his hand, void energy pulsing around it.
— Shall we continue?
Zarion turned, ready to fight.
The battle was just beginning.