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It was not a sea, nor the gateway to the abyss, it was the ground. The soil and mountains were black. The earth itself was pitch black, so utterly void that it cast no reflection at all. Such an environment could only mean one thing. There was only one conclusion to draw.
'This must be the ninth… or the tenth layer.'
I concluded, my confidence gradually fading as I searched for a safe place to land.
As if my presence had already been detected, a roar erupted, vast and absolute, shaking the darkness itself. The air trembled violently, yet I held my position.
My blood ran cold, my eyes widening. This… was a Dragon. It had to be.
'Give me a break. I just got here.'
I descended sharply to the ground, taking cover behind a mountain while Essen neutralised my signature.
The moment I took refuge beneath the jagged overhang of stone, a shadow swallowed the ground. A massive winged creature swept overhead. It wasn't an Angel. Angels aren't that big and scary.
The glint of it's scales caught the dim red light, horns curving back from its skull, a long tail slicing through the air behind it. Each beat of its wings displaced the atmosphere with terrifying authority.
It was a dragon.
It slowly circled above me once, searching for something.
It must have caught the faint trace of my signature when I crossed over. Even after masking it, something lingered, something unfamiliar to this realm.
The creature hovered, scanning the land below. Its presence pressed against everything, ancient and territorial.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, jt glided away. I stayed still for several more seconds before allowing myself to breathe normally.
"…What's this I'm feeling?"
My hand moved to my chest.
My heartbeat was faster.
"That's odd."
There was no fear in my thoughts. No anxiety clouding my mind. I felt calm, perfectly aware and yet…my body was reacting.
As if it understood something my mind did not or recognized this place long before I did. Whatever it was, I'll get over it for now. I'm in control and that's what matters.
'I need to know where I am and how I can move forward.>'
In this strange environment, I didn't need to make a decision on where to go. I stepped forward without knowing exactly what was ahead of me.
This place is spooky even without the dragons.
Black earth, two red suns illuminating the world in a deep crimson glow. Seriously, you need a torch to walk out here. Even under two blazing red suns, the black earth remains shrouded in shadow. Looking up, the sky is bleeding red, looking down, the shadow never leaves.
Even with my eyes pilled, I could only see twenty meters at max. Etherium isn't helping because the Energy too was blending with the darkness.
"Oh Star, I hope I don't run into a sleeping Void Dragon."
I murmured.
"The worst you can do is kill it."
Enta replied, through an artificial mouth on my chin.
"That'll put the whole crew on alert that an outsider is here. Not to mention that outside, is a Star."
Hahaha, I chuckled.
"How bad can it get?"
Hehe, I giggled.
"A Star in Kalidor is a crime on its own. Not only did I not land in the safe zones, but I fell deep into the red zone. A place where dragons themselves don't occupy. If you ask me how bad it can get after killing a Void Dragon and having the whole World after me, well, I don't need to answer that."
"Running isn't really an option either."
"The best option is to stay low alert at all times."
"It is. But in a foreign territory, prepare for the unexpected."
With Enta keeping me company, I didn't lose my mind, but it got me talking to myself.
After walking randomly for what seems like hours, I heard a cry that wasn't a dragon's. It sounded more...human. Etherium was activated, so I was about to see the ripples.
'There.'
I turned and followed the ripple.
[[IMAGE]]
[[IMAGE]]
'Hey! What happened to staying low?'
Entares is right. I didn't know why I'm heading towards that cry, but if you really want an answer, I'd say I'm bored. It was close because I managed to get there in time. I slipped behind a jagged rock formation and peeked around it.
What I saw made me narrow my eyes. Three Void Dragons, two males and a female.
Their forms were mostly humanoid, but the traits were unmistakable, dark scales tracing their skin like living armor, curved horns breaking through their hair, tails swaying lazily behind them. Their presence carried that an ancient pressure as the one that flew overhead but far too inferior.
They were cornering someone, a young lady. Long black hair flowing down her back. A black cloak draped over her shoulders. Unlike the others, she had no horns, scales, wings or a tail. There were no visible signs of Dragon-kin. Just a normal girl, too strong to be human.
One of the males stepped closer, his clawed hand grazing the edge of her cloak. Another laughed, low and mocking.
The girl didn't cry out again. She just lay there, still. Perhaps too still for someone in her position. I watched in silence, my expression unreadable.
'Maybe she's a younger who knows.'
"So you're the insolent bitch, huh?"
A kick landed, the girl hit the ground but didn't scream.
"You shouldn't have come here. You should've stayed home."
'Home?'
Cane another kick harder this time.
"It's too late now. You're gonna die anyway."
They laughed. Took turns in beating her like it was nothing.
'This is obviously what some teenagers experience during their lifetime. Bullying.'
I stayed behind the rock, watching.
'Worst case scenario… she's not one of them.'
"So what, you're gonna save her?"
Enta said it way too loud for a whisper. All three heads snapped in my direction.
'Great.'
One of the males sniffed the air.
"…There's someone else here."
The female's eyes narrowed.
I clicked my tongue under my breath.
"Nice job."
I muttered.
"Who's there?"
"Really, Zen? You're asking?"
She asked, surprised he's taking this route.
"Attacking isn't a wise option, Lina."
"Screw that. If they die, they die."
She raised her palm toward me, and massive black beam tore through the air.
'My opening.'
The blast erased the rock I'd been hiding behind, along with the space I occupied a second ago. Before the debris even settled, I moved.
I grabbed the black-haired lady by the waist and pulled her into a portal mid-step.
"Huh?"
One of them muttered, turning.
"Tch. She ran away."
"Let her go."
Lina said flatly.
"The Black Desert will consume her. And even if she survives, she won't make it to Pyrral."
She spread her bat-like wings, hovering.
"Are you coming or not?"
She asked Zen.
"Let's go, Kelv."
The two males followed. Three shadows lifted into the sky and disappeared.
I closed the portal inside a cave not too far from where we were. I kept my presence suppressed and moved toward the entrance just enough to see outside.
The three Void Dragons flew off in the distance.
"Good. They're gone."
I muttered. Behind me, the girl hadn't said a word.
I turned to her properly this time and saw that the wounds across her side weren't closing the way they should have, the torn fabric of her cloak dark with blood, so I reached into my dimension vault and pulled out one of Lady Elara's healing potions before tossing it her way.
"Here."
She caught the small glass vial carefully, her fingers tightening around it as she studied me instead of the liquid inside.
"It's a healing potion. Drink it."
I said, nodding toward it when she didn't move.
For a second she just kept looking at it, then at me, like she expected it to melt through her skin or explode in her face.
'Did she think it was poison or something lethal? That reaction was painfully human.'
I frowned, already bracing myself to deal with that kind of thinking.
"Why did you save me?"
She asked.
"…Does it matter?"
"It does,"
She replied without hesitation.
"I don't know you, yet you saved me and gave me a healing potion. That's too generous for a stranger. What are you after?"
I stared at her for a moment, then exhaled slowly.
'Is this how people outside Elyvra think?'
I tilted my head, thinking about it. But was no need to give it a deep thought. I shook my head, more disappointed than offended.
"You were getting beaten."
I said plainly.
"I was nearby. That's it. Not everything needs a hidden motive. If I wanted something from you, I wouldn't have handed you the means to recover first."
I crossed my arms.
"Short answer. If I were in your shoes, I'd like for someone to come save me."
"Even though you don't really know what's in my shoes?"
"Yes."
"..."
She didn't answer, I didn't need her to. I turned towards the exit.
"If this is the Black Desert, where's Pyrral?"
I asked. She knows something at least.
"You're not from here are you?"
'Shit, where did I go wrong? The question? Dammit.'
I need to make things right and clear the suspicion. I turned to drop some paragraphs of denials.
"I um..."
"You're a Star aren't you?"
'Oh Stars.'
I froze on spot.
"I..I um..."
<
'I'm not good at lying...I can't do that. That's not the Supreme Way.'
"I'm not."
Enta took advantage of my panicked state and answered. There was an artificial mouth but it'll be impossible to find because it'll make it seem like I said it.
"You're not a good liar."
She drank the portion and threw the tube aside, the effect was immediate.
"Besides, you're giving off the Star Vibes. White and golden dress symbolises purity and divinity."
'Thank Star, she got it wrong.'
I couldn't help but smile, knowing there's hope I can turn this around.
"White hair, golden eyes, not to mention the portion. Dragons don't use portions."
'Ah...I can't believe I blew my cover already.'
"Don't worry, it's alright. I won't harm you."
She reassured.
'Do I look like a kid to you?'
"..."
I was speechless.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah."
"What is a Star doing in Kalidor?"
She asked.
"I came to see the world for myself. Don't ask me how I got in. It's a secret."
I said, sealing off my entry point.
"Ok. But still, who in their right mind will infiltrate a restricted area and head to the red zone?"
"It was a random displacement. I didn't choose to be here. Enough about me, what about you, miss?"
I can't tell her more about myself so I played the reverse card.
"I'm Vera."
"Just Vera?"
"Unlike you guys, we don't have a Constellation."
'How weird. But there's nobility among the dragons. Who knows, maybe she's from a poor distant family?'
I shrugged it off.
"So, what's your name, Young Star?"
"Antares of Lyra."
I replied.
'I can't risk giving my Constellation to a stranger. Not to anyone in Kalidor.'
She stared at me for an uncomfortable amount of time. That's not normal. Perhaps I shouldn't have played the reverse card. Anyway, there's still hope.
"So where's Pyrral?"
I brought up the hierarchy of Kalidor, a nice topic of interest.
"Pyrral is the ninth Realm of Kalidor. It's where the Void Dragons mostly reside."
'Ah shit, so I got dumped to the lowest level, huh? So much for a 2 to 8 ratio.'
"Oh, so the current layer is called the Black Desert?"
"No. The Black Desert is just part of Veyra, also called the Wild Edge."
'We really are on edge.'
I smiled, but a painful edition:)
"What about you? How did you get here, Vera?"
"Um...I was held captive in Pyrral along with the others. A few of us managed to escape. I don't know if they succeeded, but those three found me."
"Oh. What's it going to be now? My goal is to reach the highest layer in Kalidor. I might need a hand, but I can't have you going back to that hell."
"Don't worry. I'll help you if that's what you want. Maybe I'll get to free the others if I make it to Pyrral."
"I'll help you free them."
"I have a map and a few things. I must've left it back there."
"Let's go get it then."
I said enthusiastically, ready to go.
"Hold on. I can't have you going out like that. You'll be spotted kilometres away if you get out dressed like that."
"What do you suggest?"
"A disguise."
"Oh, cool. That goes the same for you, too. If you go out looking like that, those three might recognise you again."
"Fair point."
My body glowed, and I decided to tweak my appearance and persona. This was my first time trying it, changing appearance and forging a new personality. I wasn't sure how it would feel, but curiosity pushed me forward. I could not wait to see how it would unfold.
A long twilight cloak swept over me, unfurling like liquid shadow and swallowing the supreme attire I had worn moments ago. The transformation wasn't violent or dramatic; it simply replaced what was there, layering itself over me as if it had always belonged.
I blinked once, testing the change. My right eye remained open, the pupil burning a faint crimson that hinted at something deeper. Over the left, a black eyepatch materialised, sealing whatever lay beneath it.
I didn't intend to remove it. Some things were better kept quiet. My hair, still white, remained untouched. That was the one constant I wouldn't alter.
"What do you think?"
My voice dropped, deeper and sharper, an edge carved for villains and devils.
Vera didn't answer. She didn't even breathe. She just froze, wide-eyed, as if she were staring at someone she no longer recognised.
"What, did I overdo it?"
I asked, my childlike-Antares voice coming out.
"I think...it's ok."
"Stardamn right it is. I can't keep the childlike appearance in this place at least for now."
"You'll change again when we move past the last three Realms?"
"Yeah. Keeping that appearance in Dragon World will only sell us out. What are you waiting for, get changed already."
"With you, watching me?"
She asked, her cheeks turning red.
"Is that a problem?"
"It's called privacy. It may not be a thing in the Star Realm but somewhere it is."
"Whatever."
I turned once again facing the exit.
"It's not like you're going to strip naked. Just use magic and change your clothes."
I said. Light glowed behind me.
"Learn to give a lady some space."
Vera said, walking over, standing next to me. She barely changed, but the horn changed something.
[[IMAGE]]
[[IMAGE]]
"A horn. Cool."
"Drop that act."
"Seriously, it's cool. Oh, I'm kind of a superstar back home. So let's refrain from using the name Antares."
"What should I call you then?"
"Nyx."
I uttered the name in a low, cold murmur, more verdict than introduction.
"That's the name of the Greek Primordial Goddess of Night."
'Oh Star.'
Opps...
'Now that I think about it, there must be a Lyra Constellation with such a name. I can't use that, it's too obvious. '
"Nyxon then."
I replied with my usual tone.
"Nyxon is better. Drop that childish act. It's time to get serious."
She said firmly.
THIRD POV
"Ok. Allow me to say goodbye to Antares."
Nyxon said, before turning to whisper something to himself. Vera shook her head and waited for him to finish. After a minute, he stood up.
"Let's go."
Antares brought back his villainous persona. It's wrong to address him as Antares, but it's also a farewell from him.
The duo headed out to find the map and move on, their figures disappearing on the horizon. I kept the view of the cave because someone was approaching.
.
.
.
Hours after their departure, a figure emerged from the darkness of the cave.
It's body was cloaked in shifting shadows, the details of it's form veiled as though darkness itself clung to it. Only it's long silver hair stood out, gleaming like threads of moonlight against the gloom.
A solidified void staff rested in its hand, each step slow and deliberate, carrying the weight of majesty rather than frailty. It stood at the entrance, surveying the cave in silence.
From it's staff, a black serpent of living shadow unwound itself spiralling to the ground before gliding into the cave with purpose.
In a brief moment, it came back with the portion tube and gave it to the person. A pink, black and void black motes appeared in the physical reality.
"So it's true. He's not alone."
The old-like entity words came out low and uneven, edged with caution yet laced with a spark of curiosity, as though the thought of another presence both unsettled and fascinated him.
The tube was crushed to nothingness without even trying. The motes are still lingering in the air. The shadowy snake turned into a small shadowy dragon and devoured the motes.
At first, it acted weird, like a rat after drinking a rat poison before stabilising.
"How strange."
The dragon muttered, gaining the ability to speak.
"Shall I hunt them down?"
It asked, its tone edged and cutting.
"No need,"
The figure replied calmly.
"I'm certain our paths will cross again."
With a snap of its wings, the dragon took off, and only then did the silver-haired silhouette follow.
To be continued...