Aria's face was a mask of seriousness, her eyes gleaming with a calculating intensity. "It's a simple contract, really," she said, her voice dripping with sincerity. "And we demons have a distinguished reputation for keeping our end of the bargain."
Aris's gaze narrowed, her grip on her sword tightening. "And the deal is?" she asked, her tone cautious, her eyes never leaving Aria's face. Aria's smile was a cold, calculated curve of her lips. "I will leave this filth you call home and never set foot here again," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I will even heal the other poor souls I can sense that are badly injured."
Aris's eyes flickered with interest, but her expression remained guarded. "And what's the catch?" she asked, her voice firm, her eyes searching Aria's face for any sign of deception. Cyan's eyes were fixed on Aria, his mind racing with possibilities. What could the catch be? What could Aria possibly want in exchange for her mercy?
Aria's smile grew wider, her eyes gl gleaming with amusement. "Ah, the catch," she said, her voice a purr. "Well, it's quite simple, really..." The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Aria paused, her eyes locked on Aris's. The flames crackled and spat, casting eerie shadows on the walls as the silence stretched out.
Aria's voice dropped to a whisper, her words sending a shiver down Cyan's spine. "I want you and the boy behind you, The both of you should come with me with no questions asked."
The air was heavy with tension, the silence stretching out like a taut thread. Aris's eyes widened in outrage, her face twisting in disgust as she gazed at Aria. Her voice was a low, venomous hiss, the words dripping with malice.
"What made you think I'd ever willingly comply with an outrageous trade like that?" she spat, her eyes flashing with fury. Her gaze narrowed, her voice taking on a deadly tone. "If it was just me, then maybe things might have been different. But to involve my brother... I will destroy you."
Aria's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with amusement. The sound of her voice was like a knife, sharp and deadly, as she said, "Oh, is that so?" Her words dripped with condescension, her gaze lingering on Aris with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.
"You see, I have only been given a single order: to bring that child behind you to my master." Her voice took on a darker tone, the words dripping with menace.
"Though, there were no orders that restricted me from laying waste to anything in my path. For ten years now, I have been searching for him. Do you really think I would just let go after a long wait like that? I will bring him with me, whether you like it or not. Even if I have to kill you, any resistance will be met with major consequences. So, I will ask you one more time: do you comply?"
The silence that followed was oppressive, the air thick with tension. Cyan's eyes were fixed on his sister, his mind reeling with horror. What was Aria planning? What did she want with him? His heart pounded in his chest, his breath caught in his throat.
Aris's face was a snarl of fury, her eyes blazing with defiance. "I'd rather die than trade any of my brothers, demon," she spat, her voice full of venom. Aria's smile never wipped, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "So be it," she said, her voice dripping with menace. "Give Ninrir my regards after you reach the after life."
As Aria spoke, Aris's body began to glow with a transparent aura, the air around her rippling and distorting like the surface of a pond. The aura moved in a resemblement of a tornado, her hair whipping through the air from the force of the pressure.
The ground beneath her feet fissured, cracks spreading out like a web as she unleashed her overwhelming power in a burst of a force. Cyan's eyes widened in awe as he watched his sister's aura surge forth. His mind reeled with wonder, his thoughts consumed by the sheer power of a 5th-tier sword master .
"So... this is... the power of a 5th-tier sword master ," he thought to himself, his voice barely audible over the din of his own heartbeat. "It's beautiful." The village was shrouded in an eerie darkness, the only sound the distant howling of wind through the ruins. The air was heavy with the stench of smoke and ash, the acrid taste of destruction lingering on the tongue.
The moon hung low in the sky, a sickly crimson glow casting an otherworldly light over the devastation. Cyan's eyes were fixed on his sister, his heart racing with fear and desperation. He knew he had to do something, but he was frozen in terror, unable to move or speak. The darkness seemed to close in around him, the shadows twisting and writhing like living things.
The sound of his own ragged breathing was the only thing that broke the silence, his heart pounding in his chest like a drumbeat. Aris's face was twisted in fury, her eyes blazing with defiance as she glared at Aria. "Bring it on, demon," she spat, her voice full of venom. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, her fists clenched at her sides. Aria's voice was like a crack in the fabric of reality, the words pulling at the very air itself. "Quite the remarkable aura you have, considering how young you are," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. The sound of her words was like a knife, sharp and deadly, cutting through the silence.
With a snap of her finger, Aria unleashed a thick, red energy that engulfed the entire village. The houses crumbled, the ground shook, and a beam of crimson light shot up into the sky, illuminating the dark landscape like a beacon of doom. The moon turned a deep, foreboding crimson, casting, an eerie glow over the devastation.
The dragon, once a majestic creature, dissolved into a swarm of crimson sparks that vanished into Aria's body, leaving behind a faint scent of ozone and smoke. The air was heavy with the stench of ozone, and the sound of crackling energy filled the air. Aria stood within the pillar of light, her body levitating in the air as if she was flying with slow, macabre grace. Her eyes burned like two crimson stars, casting an otherworldly glow over the carnage. rocks, wood splinters, and iron objects lifted from the ground, suspended in mid-air as if drawn by an invisible force.Aris's aura, once a raging inferno, was snuffed out like a candle flame, leaving behind only a faint whisper of its former power.
Her eyes widened in awe and horror as she gazed at Aria, her face twisted in a mixture of fear and admiration. "Oh Gods, what an insane level of power...?" she breathed, her voice barely audible over the din of destruction. Behind her, Cyan coughed, suffocating from the intense power. He stumbled, his vision blurring for a moment before clearing. Aris's head snapped around, her eyes flashing with concern. "Moron, use your aura!" she yelled, her voice laced with urgency.
Cyan enveloped his aura around his body, shielding himself from the crushing pressure. He gasped, his lungs expanding in relief, but his eyes remained fixed on Aria, transfixed by her malevolent power. Aria's hand rose, her fingers splaying like a claw, and the rocks and metal objects that had been floating in the air came crashing down, their weight increased by her dark aura.
The ground shook, and Cyan stumbled, his eyes fixed on Aria as she unleashed her fury upon the world.The ground trembled beneath Aris's feet as she reacted instinctively, gut punching Cyan in the abdomen with calculated precision, rendering him unconscious. She swiftly lifted him onto her back, her movements fluid and efficient, like a master swordsman executing a well-rehearsed kata.
The impact of falling debris and metal objects sent shock Waves through the earth, causing massive damage to the ground, but Aris didn't flinch, her Ninja-like reflexes allowing her to dodge the falling objects with ease. Her face covered in blood and dust, her eyes fixed intently on the path ahead. As she sprinted away from Aria, her iron greaves pounding the earth, she couldn't shake the thought that Aria had been toying with her, playing a cat-and-mouse game with Cyan as the prize.
"Shit, she wasn't playing when she said she toying with me, but what does she want with cyan," Arise thought to herself, her mind racing with questions. Who was Aria, and why was she going to such great lengths to get her hands on Cyan? Aria, however, was not about to let her escape. She increased the level of her power, her aura becoming more toxic, causing the surrounding plants to wither and die.
Crimson lightning danced in the sky, moving at incredible speeds, and the air was filled with the stench of ozone and smoke. The scenery itself was a calamity, a maelstrom of destruction and chaos. Suddenly, an electric element in the color of crimson began to gather at a central point, forming a blue light that bathed the entire area. The light shifted to a translucent purple, circling around a central point like the birth of a black hole. The air was heavy with anticipation, the silence deafening.
Aris skidded to a stop, her eyes widening in horror as she turned to face Aria. What she saw was something inhuman. Aria floated mid-air, glowing bright like a red sun in the night sky, rocks and metal objects floating in the air as if gravity had been eliminated. The scenery was like something out of a nightmare, an evil god of destruction descended upon the world.
"All my god..." Aris breathed, her voice barely audible over the din of destruction. The entire Ranon village looked like hell, the massive purple light drawing in the natural aura from the ecosystem. As she gazed around frantically, searching for any cover, she knew there was none. A drop of her palpable sweat fell on Cyan's head, and he stirred, regaining consciousness. Noticing him wake up, she asked him if he had enough grip on his legs to run. But Aris knew the answer before Cyan could respond, his shivering legs telling the truth. "Sigh, looks like there is no other choice..." she spoke, her tone calm and collected, as she placed Cyan on the ground.
She turned to face the light, her gaze focused on the charging aura. Cyan, completely confused, watched as she walked towards the light, a sense of dread creeping up his spine. "Hey Cyan, try not to worry too much, okay?" Aris yelled, her voice confident, as she walked towards the light. "I'm using myself as bait," she said, with a grin on her face.
Cyan's eyes widened in horror, his voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing?" Aris's words sparked something within him, and he forced himself to stand up, his legs shaking beneath him. "What! You know very well I will never allow that," he yelled, his expression serious. In the very moment the light unleashed a massive explosion, its relentless fury wiping out every remaining building in close range.
The two siblings stood frozen, Cyan paralyzed with fear as he stared at the incoming flames with wide eyes, his face a picture of awe and horror. Time seemed to slow down, and the world around them became a blur. Aris, with her rings circulating more aura through her veins, rushed to Cyan's side. With a swift motion, she stood in front of him and pulled her arms forward, palms wide open in a desperate attempt to protect him.
A shimmering blue energy wall made of aura materialized in front of her, Cyan behind her, a desperate attempt to shield them from the impending doom. The fire from the explosion engulfed them, reducing everything to ashes. The intense heat was suffocating, and the sound was deafening. When the flames and winds finally dissipated, Ranon was completely gone, the entire village now just a huge hole in the ground.
Aris, who had successfully protected her brother, stood tall, her chest heaving with exertion. Her arms were charred black, her eyes red and tearing up from the intense pain. Despite her own agony, she managed a weak smile, relief washing over her face as she saw her brother safe. Cyan, still in shock, slowly regained his composure. As he stumbled forward, his eyes widened in horror at the sight of Aris's burned body.
He fell to his knees beside her, his eyes welling up with tears. "Why, why did you have to get in the way? You should have saved yourself!" he screamed, his voice raw with anguish. Aris's response was a mere whisper, Cyan leaned in, his ear inches from her lips. The words were calm and faded, "Because you are my friend... but mostly brother."
Upon hearing those words, Cyan's eyes widened, and he let out a gut-wrenching scream. Tears streamed down his face like an endless river, and he fumbled for her hand, his hands shaking with panic. With trembling fingers, Cyan placed his hand on top of Aris's mail, and he started using his aura in a desperate attempt to save her.
Orion: "Notice, your aura is insufficiently weak to heal wounds caused by an Archon"
Cyan's face contorted in desperation, he yelled, "No, No, No this has to work!" as he increased the level of power, his aura surging forth in a desperate bid to save his sister.
Orion's words fell like a hammer blow, crushing Cyan's hopes. "Wounds un-healable ," it echoed in his mind, a cold, merciless verdict. As he continued to pour his aura into Aris, desperation gave way to despair. His vision blurred, and his body shook with exhaustion, but he refused to give up. The sound of Aria's footsteps, a gentle thud, barely registered in his consciousness.
Aria's eyes scanned the surroundings, her gaze piercing through the dust and smoke. She could sense their presence, smell the scent of their fear and desperation. A faint smile played on her lips, a predator's satisfaction.
The dust provided cover, a brief respite for Cyan and Aris. But Aria's patience was infinite, her power absolute. She would find them, and when she did, there would be no escape.
As Cyan's strength waned, Aris's hand twitched, her fingers brushing against his. A faint pressure, a gentle squeeze, it was enough to make Cyan look up, his eyes meeting hers. Her gaze was weak, but her voice was clear, a soft whisper that cut through the chaos. "Stop... Cyan... it's too late... Just run"
Cyan's face contorted in denial, his body shaking with sobs. He refused to accept it, refused to let go. But Aris's hand went limp, her eyes losing their focus. Aria's footsteps grew louder, her presence filling the air. Cyan's vision narrowed, his world shrinking to a single point of pain and despair.
And then, everything went black. The world was silent, the only sound the distant echo of Aria's footsteps, growing louder with every passing moment.
The dust slowly dissipated, revealing a desolate landscape of smoldering trees and charred earth. The air was thick with the acidic scent of smoke and ash, stinging Aria's eyes as she gazed out at the destruction. The flames danced across the ruins, casting a sickly yellow glow over the scene, like a morbid spotlight on the devastation. The crackling of twigs and the distant rumble of collapsing embers were the only sounds that broke the oppressive silence. Aria's eyes, like cold, grey stones, seemed to absorb the light around her, making her almost invisible in the shadows. Her voice, devoid of emotion, sliced through the air like a knife, "You brought this on yourselves."
Cyan's face contorted with rage, his eyes blazing with a ferocity that made Aria's skin crawl. He screamed, his voice tearing through the air like a wounded animal's, "Damn you!!!" His voice echoed through the desolate landscape, sending shivers down Aria's spine.
He lunged forward, his body a blur as he charged towards Aria, Aris's sword clenched in his left hand. The sound of his leather boots pounding the ground was like thunder, making the earth tremble beneath their feet. As he ran, his aura burst forth, a palpable force that seemed to distort the air around him. His hair lashed about his face, his eyes burning with a fierce, golden light, like a wild animal unleashed.
The wind generated by his speed whipped his hair into a frenzy, sending sweat and ash flying in all directions. The stench of ozone and burning metal filled the air as he summoned a ball of energy into his right palm, the sparks of lightning dancing across his skin like living things.
With a fierce cry, he launched himself into the air, A sword in his hand materializing out of nowhere, its unique design seeming to writhe and twist in his grasp like a living serpent.
The blade sliced through the air, leaving a trail of shimmering light in its wake, as he unleashed a devastating horizontal slash. Aria's response was almost lazy, her finger extending to block the attack with a mere flick of her wrist. The impact sent shock Waves through the ground, fissuring the earth like shattered glass, sending dust and debris flying into the air.
Cyan's rage seemed to intensify, his teeth clenched in a snarl as he bit down, the sound echoing through the desolate landscape like a crack of thunder. "I will make you pay for what you did to my sister!" he bellowed, his voice a primal scream that seemed to shake the very foundations of the earth.
END OF CHAPTER 11