The Box: Fate
Chapter 42 — The Revelation of the Ancient King
The journey toward the Ancient Fortress was long stretching across a desolate wasteland where the earth itself looked scorched As the sixteen players walked the weight of Kataki words about the Trillion Anime Zone hung over them Hanzoe walked close to Zanaki her eyes scanning the horizon with a mix of fear and lingering hope
Zanaki Axel Hatanaki said breaking the heavy silence His golden aura was dim flickering as he tried to save energy for the trek You mentioned that Azureus has a human form If we're going into an ancient ruin we need to know what we're up against Summon him Let's hear what a 3,000-year-old dragon thinks about this mess
Zanaki nodded his expression turning serious He closed his eyes tapping into the burning heat near his heart Azureus... come forth Not as a beast but as the King
A shockwave of sapphire pressure exploded from Zanaki chest The wind picked up instantly swirling into a miniature hurricane From the center of the storm a figure stepped out
Azureus in his Humanoid Manifestation was breathtaking He stood over seven feet tall dressed in high-collared obsidian robes that looked like dragon scales His silver hair flowed like a river of moonlight and his eyes were vertical slits of pure electrical blue The aura he radiated was so heavy that the weaker members of the group felt their knees buckle
You seek knowledge hatchlings? Azureus voice was like deep thunder vibrating in the air
Azureus Kataki stepped forward his silver blindfold glowing in response to the dragon power What is the truth behind the 300 members of the Trillion Anime Zone? Why were they brought here?
Azureus looked toward the dark clouds in the North where the Demon King fire still burned You think this was a game? A contest of skill? No The Architect did not want players He wanted fuel
The group stopped walking Hanzoe gripped her blades tightly
The Demon King did not just wake up Azureus continued, his voice cold "He required a sacrifice of souls from a world untainted by this magic The 300 members you speak of... they were brought here as — sacrifices Their souls were fed into the abyss to ignite the Demon King heart
You mean... they're all dead? Hina whispered her face turning pale
Almost all Azureus replied The ritual required a mass of spirits but only those with the strongest will survived the transition Aside from Hanzoe there are only four or five others left from that original group of 300 They are scattered across the Shattered Realms hiding in the shadows The Demon Lord is still hunting them He only needs a few more Outworlder souls to complete the Demon King full awakening
Axel Hatanaki slammed his fist into his palm So we were just meant to be food? That why the link was sent to so many people?
Precisely Azureus said his eyes glowing brighter As a Dragon King who has lived for three millennia I have seen this cycle before But never has a group like yours—the Angel of death—manifested such chaotic power You were the variables the Architect didn't expect
Zanaki looked at his friend then at Hanzoe If there are 4 or 5 others left we have to find them Before the Demon Lord does
The Fortress ahead holds the Origin Spark: Zenith Azureus warned looking at the distant stone ruins It can break your curse blind one but it is also a beacon When you activate it every survivor—and every demon—will know exactly where you are
Azureus vanished back into Zanaki soul leaving a lingering scent of ozone in the air The mission had changed They weren't just looking for a cure anymore; they were in a race to save the last remnants of their world
The Ancient Fortress loomed in the distance a dark mountain of stone waiting to be explored