Shadow of the Abyss

The following dawn, Altair woke with a throbbing headache, groaning with a dire sense of nausea. He opened his eyes, feeling every pore ache.

"I feel like I got beaten up, " said Ren, who couldn't be bothered to open her eyes.

Everything was hurting.

Both unwilling to move, they sat there in silence, trying to wrap their heads around how strong Beelzebub truly was. Despite their almighty resistance, his mere presence was enough to strip them of strength.

After a few hours and a nap, Altair nudged Ren's shoulder. "I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry." she retorted through puffy breaths of cold air, peeping her blood-red eyes open. The frigid air was cold, more so than usual. "hold me."

Pulled into his arms beneath the covers, the cold air became warm, and Ren just wanted to melt, smothered beneath his chest. She beamed, falling back asleep in a matter of seconds.

For nearly an hour, Altair played with her hair, twirling it through his fingers until she woke with a weak yawn, beaming in with a bright smile.

"we—"

"Are they in there?" came a nasal voice from outside.

"Gods, this guy again," said Ren, brooding when she felt movement from her waist. Her eyes gleamed as the little thing propped its little head from between her breasts.

"Kuuu~"

Ren nibbled at her ears, smothering Kuu in kisses.

Altair was jealous, glaring at the little pest, when the door to his room snapped open, snapping off the hinges.

"I've got a question, "said Vynn sharply, dusting his palms of some invisible substance. "I must say your servants are quite rude."

"Nia… Alyssa, why didn't you fight back?" asked Altair, studying his Pale Knights.

The two hurried inside and fell to one knee. "Master Iliana said you two needed rest," they said, too, ashamed to lift their heads.

"Next time, beat the shit out of them. Like this. "

From the second Altair's fingers positioned themselves towards Vynn, the young master felt every molecule of his being come to life.

The scarlet bolt that emerged from the tip of Altair's finger tore apart the hotel room, turning stone to vaper and light to liquid. Heat, unlike anything Vynn had ever faced, stormed his being, tearing him off his feet as he roared a mighty cry.

His body blurred in an arc of infernal lightning, shrieking through buildings for miles, barreling through the city walls and into the distance, meeting the horizon, his body still tearing through mountains and rivers.

Altair summoned all his shadows, studying them. "This is the minimum of what I expect from you all. Don't ever hesitate. And now I need a new room."

"Don't worry, master, Talia's got this!" she said, running off.

"You know she's going to kill someone, right?" said Ren, smiling.

"Meh, not my problem." said the Prince, grinning. "let's go before someone tries to—" he stopped looking at the scarlet ray cutting across the sky in the direction of Vynn. He snorted. " Well, if he doesn't die. I'm sure he'll be injured. That bastard is lucky that my lightning is only a D Grade.

I should have used the Vale. That would have killed him." he was assured; however, as he raised his finger, ready to channel his life force to cast Enma, Ren patted his shoulder.

"Leave it alone. We've got to lie low. Or did you forget you're a wanted man?"

Altair did for a second or two. "Fine. But if he should appear before me. He's dead."

"Oh, I'm sure." Ren knew, giggling when Syris came charging in, but before she could say a word, Ren was pulling her along before she had the chance to speak. Altair gave his arms a tight stretch and stared at the V-shape valley his lightning had caused in the heart of Vesim.

The damage alone had killed hundreds, if not thousands, making it all seem so surreal, but for some reason, he didn't care.

He left, finding Talia in a new room at the far end of the hotel with a hint of blood stains on the ground. He didn't ask questions; it had been obvious Talia had killed whoever was staying here in cold blood.

'Woman without morals is a little terrifying.' he thought, surveying the room carefully. He tilted his head towards the smiling talia, awaiting praise. Altair patted her head. "Good Job."

"Hehe"

"My Lord," Said Aurura, walking in. "We've established quite a bit of connection. I wonder, are you interested in returning to the military?"

"Nope. Perhaps if I hadn't come here." Altair remarked, sensing how powerful he'd become. "I've served my time. Whether they like it or not. I'll be leaving. Why do you ask?"

"Because Genisis has finally established an internet connection. I can finally resume my work." She said, removing her Datapad from her pouch.

"Good, then I'll leave you with supplying the Serpents Outreach with whatever they might need. Have Jorm assist you."

"I'd rather have Talia," said Aurora.

Altair raised an intrigued brow, and Aurora explained. "The denizens fear her. Talia is quite bloodthirsty," she said, glancing down at the bloodstains. "I could use that in the long run."

"Alright." Said the Prince calmly. "She's yours. Here that?"

'Aye!" shouted Talia childishly. "Let's do it, big sis! Let's purchase some slaves here. I'm sure now that the cold has killed many of the weak ones, only the strong are alive. Let's get them before they really do die."

As Talia and Aurora left, Altair strapped Shadowclaw to his belt and stepped outside, where he saw hundreds of imperial officers investigating. Charming many of them with devilish intent, Altair made sure there would be no issue in the future, sticking the blame on Vynn by giving the authorities all his distinctive features, ensuring he'd have quite a bit of trouble in the future.

With a few people aware of his full name, Vynn's portrait was printed over the streets of Vesim.

"That should take care of him. I should have done this after our first meeting." He remarked, trying to think of new ways to abuse the Eyes of Sacrilege. "With this Nephilm Curse, life should be harder, but the Eye of Sacrilege sure is powerful… though an entire world is hunting me, so I guess that's just perspective."

***

When at last, Vynn's body came crashing into a large canyon, creating a thirty-meter large crater. Blood gushed from his mouth as he lay there. Crackles of lightning arced around his body in remembrance of the infernal lightning that had punctured his flesh. He spasmed, groaning.

His arm was broken, fractured in a dozen places, with scorch marks all over his body. The damage wasn't heavy, but it also wasn't light.

"Bastard," snapped Vynn, staggering up to his feet, clutching his aching arm. It had been years since he was this injured, longer since an enemy did it.

"Dog, where are you?"

"I warned you," Said Daxian calmly, falling from the skies. He landed like a nimble cat without a hint of sound. "Do you need any more convincing, or do you wish to bring down your entire household?"

"You can't talk to me like that—"

Draxian slapped him. "I can and I will. Your father has asked I keep you alive. And by extension, that includes yourself." he lowered his arms. "I've already reported everything to your father. He wants to—"

"You didn't!"

Suddenly, a large virtual screen magically appeared behind Draxian's back, revealing a lord with a look so intense that Vynn was petrified.

"F-F-Father."

Lord Yandor Lorvince Flameheart glared with a belly full of fire that blazed from his ashen eyes. "In all my years, I've never seen one so foolish. Are you trying to promote a war with Noctom?"

Vynn didn't understand. "We would—"

"Be slaughtered in a week's time, boy. Noctem belongs to one a power so great not even the major powers of Babels Tower dear to test the waters. Yet a child who has yet to even touch upon the level of Godhood dears to approach the powers that be?"

"Father, I— I was only—"

"Be silent, Bastard," Shouted Yandor. "Or I'll hang your mother by a fucking noose and have you join her. " —Vynn froze, paling of color— "You will stay away from that masked man and the woman that is clearly his mate. You are there for the Festival of Chaos, and that is it. Are we clear?!"

"I—"

"That's a yes or no, Bastard," said Yandor coldly.

"Yes, Father."

Yandor disconnected, leaving Vynn with an aching coldness he had never felt before. He lifted his head, shooting Draxian a stare that came from his deepest depths. "You'll pay for this betrayal."

Draxian slapped him again, dazing Vynn.

"You may do whatever you please, Vynn, but I am loyal to the Lord of Cinder. And you are but one Prince. Your elder brother and sister have all faced my palm, and here I still stand, raising the next generation. You will learn, or like your brother and sister, you'll face the whip."

There had never been more venom in Vynn's eyes as he stormed off, nursing his injuries with a healing spell. It was then he noticed that despite the high intensity of mana he was using, his wounds were barely mending.

He gritted his teeth and chanted, [Restoration] a spell that could potentially be cast at any level. Vynn cast it as a level-five spell, but even then, his wounds only began to heal a little faster. He cursed, unsure what type of demonic magic Altair had used on him. But it had taken a full week for his wounds to fully heal and nearly three weeks for him to return to Vesim.

There was a burning rage about him when he did return as the guards all surrounded him, pointing their spears at him.

"Bastard!!!!"

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