★253
THIRD POV
As the war broke out, Sabaki sat upon his throne, already aware of Antares's presence within the Pond. He said nothing. He simply rose and left, his departure as quiet as his arrival.
Though both Alnath and Sabaki held Domains within Azyrion, the balance between them was uneven. Sabaki controlled sixty per cent of the region, while Alnath held the remaining forty.
Far below, in the azure skies beneath Voltara, two figures remained seated, unmoving despite the growing tension. Aquila of Petra and Apus of Paradys, the strongest Hypergods in Azyrion.
"Looks like Elyvra was the first to be hit."
Aquila said, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
"Unfortunately, yes."
Apus replied, his tone calm, though his eyes sharpened slightly.
"And for some reason… I think we're next."
"We have the strongest military construct in the Pond. I doubt we'll fall easily."
"And the two strongest Hypergods are already here."
Apus replied, his tone steady.
"But don't forget, we're up against an O-Class Dark Star."
"O-Class or not, I'm sure we..."
Aquila stopped mid-sentence. His body stiffened, instincts flaring as something unnatural pressed down from above.
"W… what's going on?"
"We've got company."
Aquila said, pointing towards the sky above Voltara.
High above them, a figure hovered. A knight clad in obsidian armour descended slowly, his presence heavy, dragging darkness along with him as though it belonged to him.
As he drew closer, both Hypergods shot forward, rising to meet him before he could touch the ground.
"That's…"
Aquila's voice faltered. The confidence he had just moments ago slipped away as he faced the Dark Star directly.
"Lord Sabaki isn't here. You'll have to deal with us."
Apus said, raising his hand.
"Summon."
At his command, the skies shifted. Behind them, the full army of Voltara assembled in an instant, ranks forming with precision, their presence filling the heavens as they prepared to face what had come.
'Y..you're kidding, he came all alone? The knight in black is...the Death Knight?... Mors? A...n an O-Class Dark Star?'
Sweats began to run down Apus's face, as revelation struck him harder than any confrontation ever. He turned immediately to the army behind him.
"Retreat!"
He shouted but it was already too late.
"Mortis Dominion."
Mors spoke, and the moment his foot touched the ground, the Domain did not crack, nor did it resist. It simply gave way. Voltara bloomed into black ash.
No sound followed. More than half of it dissolved in perfect stillness, as though it had never held form to begin with, fading out of existence without struggle.
High above, within the Garden, the Watcher observed the Pond. His gaze settled where Voltara had once stood. Now there was nothing but a vast absence, a hollow left behind.
Yet he did not mistake it.
'That is not void… it is death. Mors huh."
The realisation came at once, sharp and certain.
Without delay, he reached out, contacting Adhara, the ruler of Voltara.
'Ashara, return to Azyrion, Antares can be dealt with later.'
He contacted the God of Judgement as well as the Soaring Star, Arumsis for support. Since most of the O-Class Dark Stars are targeting strongholds, Arumsis's Domain is still new and devoid of life.
"I'll deliver judgement and take care of that rebellious bastard!"
Adahara refused to back down, instead charging Judgement on someone it will not work on.
'I'd suggest you save those Grace Beams for Mors. You're free to ignore but you'll surely regret it.'
But he ignored it and fired it. The Watcher had to take action by seizing the beam and forcefully teleporting Adhara back to Azyrion.
'Use that hatred and finish off Mors.'
He left him that message.
Adhara appeared in Voltara but it wasn't there. He drifted in the midst of nothingness, watching as a knight clad in black grasped Arumsis by the neck with a single arm, his body crumbling away, piece by piece, into black ash.
To either side lay the fading remnants of Aquila and Apus, their forms succumbing to the same fate, dissolving into ashes and vanishing into the void.
Unpleased, he closed the gap in a single step, his sword ready to sever the knight's arm and save Arumsis, but the sound of metal crashing was heard.
The blade was destroyed and not a single mark was left on Mors's armour. Without looking at his opponent, Mors stomped his knee, breaking the joint, before using Arumsis as a weapon to knock Adhara away. He looked down at his hand, and Arumsis was gone. Adhara managed to retrieve his ally.
Healing magic was cast but his decomposition never stopped.
"Lord Adhara..."
"Stay put, I'll find a way to heal you."
"You can't… h-here… it's not enough, but… use it…"
With the last of his strength, Arumsis forced what remained of his star power into Adhara. There was no time for more words. His form gave way at once, consumed by Mors's death, leaving nothing behind.
Adhara's hand tightened. He did not hesitate. His aura ignited in a surge of azure light, sharp and controlled.
'This is war. Stars will be sacrificed.'
The thought settled, cold and absolute, stripping away anything that might interfere.
"By the Will of the Supreme Star God… I call forth the God of Judgement, Adhara."
From the Divine Land, a bolt of lightning descended, striking him directly.
The force was overwhelming, tearing through his vessel, breaking it apart piece by piece. Flesh, form, everything that defined him began to fall away under the pressure. It was not destruction. It was necessary. This was the process.
Within the towering pillar of lightning, something else took shape.
A single bolt broke free. It shot forward, aimed straight at Mors.
The Death Knight raised his blade and carved through the air, a clean arc meant to intercept it, but the lightning did not yield. It passed through his strike as though it were nothing.
For the first time, he was forced back. The bolt struck him head-on. The impact erupted into a violent explosion of lightning, tearing through the space around him and swallowing everything in its path.
"Come on, that's not enough to destroy you."
A voice came from the pillar of lighting then emerged a man, no, not a man, but a full-fledged Omni in real flesh (True Body.)
Adhara was no longer in his vessel form, he's grown. His hair remained the same colour, but it grew longer, surpassing his waist. Due to the glowing azure marks on his upper body, no fabric or armour could last, so he remained shirtless. He stared ahead with pure, cold azure eyes, a lightning ring around his head.
Mors' left arm armour was completely shattered, and a death aura gathered around him to obscure his flesh.
"Come, Mors."
Adhara casually beckoned the Death Knight with his hand.
[[IMAGE]]
[[IMAGE]]
To be continued...