In the depths of Alacrya, nestled within the grandiose obsidian fortresses, roamed the basilisk Sovereign, Agrona. Every step he took echoed through the ornate halls, resonating with an air of mystique and power.
Within the recesses of his being, his heart throbbed incessantly, consumed by a cascade of sensations that defied control—a tingling surge of boundless elation and rapture. He found himself engulfed in a vast expanse of purplish demise, an oceanic abyss that emanated an aura of sheer malevolence. Astonishingly, he stood unwavering in the face of this pandemonium, even if he found himself ensnared within its merciless grasp.
Unleashing an uproarious laughter, his peals of mirth reverberated through the corridors, resonating with a madness that bordered on the edge of sanity. As he strode into the meeting chamber, where the esteemed Sovereigns and Scythes awaited him, a subtle uneasiness pervaded the room, their apprehension heightened by his peculiar demeanour.
He took a seat on his throne.
His hand tightened around his pulsating heart, desperately trying to contain the overwhelming surge of exhilaration and might coursing through his veins.
It had been ages since he had experienced such potent emotions, such an intoxicating blend of excitement and power. The last time he had felt this alive was during his final meeting with the draconic tyrant, Kezzes. However, the sheer magnitude of strength he had sensed from Jin Woo dwarfed even that formidable encounter.
Composing himself, he cast a scrutinizing gaze upon each individual present in the chamber, his eyes searching for a specific figure. "Where is Seris?" he inquired, his voice laced with authority and curiosity. In a modest tone, Dragoth humbly responded, "She mentioned she was paying a visit to the disciple dispatched to eliminate the second reincarnation." Agrona dismissed the information with a dismissive wave of his hand.
His inquisitive nature piqued, he proceeded to inquire about another individual. "And where is Nico-" Before he could finish his sentence, the door violently swung open, revealing the entrance of a young boy adorned with raven-black hair and blood-red eyes.
"Why is it taking so unbearably long!" The boy erupted in a fit of frustration, his angry steps resonating with unrestrained force as he advanced towards Agrona. However, his path was abruptly obstructed by a hulking figure with neatly tied blonde hair. "Mind your insolent tongue, boy," Kiros warned, emanating his mana induced intent, causing Nico and the other Scythes to instinctively retreat.
Addressing the agitated Nico, Agrona adopted a deceptively sweet gesture, concealing an undercurrent of dominance. "Oh, dear little Nico, it seems unforeseen variables have emerged, disrupting our plans. I suggest you compose yourself and demonstrate some patience for the time being, alright?" His words hung in the air, sending a shiver down Nico's spine, as beads of sweat formed on his forehead, prompting him to take cautious steps backward.
"Now, what news do we have from the Asuras?" Agrona inquired, his tone laced with authority and expectation.
"Thankfully, High Sovereign, there have been no sightings of the Asuras on Dicathein thus far," one of the Scythes responded, their voice filled with relief. "However, we have lost all communication with the Greysunders."
A momentary pause befell Agrona, an interlude in which he delicately positioned two fingers upon his furrowed brow, a gesture that served to heighten the anticipation swelling within him. As if compelled by an uncontrollable force, his lips parted, allowing a series of mischievous chuckles to escape into the atmosphere.
Simultaneously, his mana erupted with an unbridled intensity, its fiery essence dancing and flickering in a mesmerizing display. In tandem with this surge of power, a subtle transformation overcame Agrona, as faint tendrils of obsidian scales began to manifest, a testament to the potent struggle he endured in preserving the authenticity of his true form. Overwhelmed by the weight of his immense might, the Scythes and Sovereigns in his presence succumbed to their knees, their bodies quivering under the crushing weight of this ethereal pressure, while the very air surrounding them contorted and distorted, as if warping to accommodate the sheer magnitude of his presence.
In that pivotal moment, amidst the convergence of swirling energies and palpable tension, there arose an undeniable certainty within Agrona's being. It was him—, the catalyst of unimaginable upheaval. There existed no room for doubt; the pieces of this intricate puzzle fell perfectly into place, and a sinister delight coursed through his veins, sending shivers of anticipation cascading down his spine.
"Oh, this is a marvel beyond compare, a dream come true," Agrona declared, his voice laced with a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation. "I yearn with unquenchable fervor to witness the unveiling of this third factor, to see what grand opus it brings forth to the table, my dear father-in-law."
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"Excuse me, what did you just say? Spar with you?" Caera's voice brimmed with furious indignation, her frustration palpable in every huff and puff that escaped her lips. Meanwhile, Regis, perched cross-legged and relaxed, observed their quarrel, a faint smile playing upon his lips as he rested his hand on his cheek.
"I just want to see how strong your Vritra and mana arts," Arthur calmly explained, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. Caera couldn't help but emit a weary sigh, her resistance fading in the face of Arthur's persistent request. Reluctantly, she retrieved her Ruby sword from the confines of her dimension ring, a glimmer of determination flickering in her gaze.
A self-assured smirk adorned Arthur's face as he called upon Drakon, the resplendent golden blade materializing within his palm, its radiance harmoniously blending with golden streaks. "Do not hold back," Arthur urged, his voice brimming with anticipation. Caera, adopting a battle-ready stance, propelled herself forward with the aid of her wing magic, her feet defying gravity as she launched a thrust with her sword, aiming for Arthur's position. However, with swift precision, Arthur gracefully sidestepped, effortlessly parrying Caera's blade with his own.
She swung more, as Arthur complimented her sword play.
Despite her tender age, Caera's prowess with the sword displayed a remarkable refinement, foreshadowing her potential as a formidable powerhouse in the future. However, in the present moment, every strike she unleashed was met with an astonishing display of strength and precision from Arthur, as he effortlessly countered with twice the force and intensity.
Sensing the need to elevate the intensity of their duel, Arthur decided to release the constraints on his elemental abilities. Leaping backward, he brandished his sword with a sweeping motion, causing a surge of verdant vines to burst forth from the ground, hurtling toward Caera with swift agility. Twisting her hips with a calculated grace, Caera endeavored to sever the branches with a well-timed swing of her blade. However, the vines proved to be more elusive than anticipated, veering off their initial trajectory and ensnaring her heels with an unexpected twist.
Gritting her teeth and fueled by a burgeoning determination, a foreboding aura enveloped Caera, accompanied by the emergence of inky black flames that engulfed her sword. With resolute resolve, she lunged forward, the flames leaving a trail of darkness in their wake as she sought to close the distance between herself and Arthur.
Imposing a solemn restriction upon the employment of destruction, Arthur enshrouded his blade in brilliant blue flames, seamlessly tracing the contours of Caera's sword. A mesmerizing dance unfolded as the azure and obsidian flames intertwined, the ethereal essence of soul fire momentarily asserting dominance, gradually diminishing the vibrant inferno. Yet, undeterred, Arthur encased the dwindling flames with a layer of pulsating aether, effectively transforming the once azure blaze into a mesmerizing torrent of ethereal lavender fire that voraciously consumed the soul fire's essence.
With a sudden leap backward, Caera attempted to distance herself from the entangling flames. However, almost imperceptibly, ethereal tendrils, resembling misty illusions, stealthily ensnared her heels and wrists, rendering her helplessly immobilized and forcing her to relinquish her grip on the sword.
In an astonishing display of control over the surrounding gravitational forces, Arthur executed a deft reversal of gravity's influence. As a consequence, Caera's restrained form began to float weightlessly, her equilibrium utterly disrupted. Utterly at Arthur's mercy, she struggled futilely to maintain her balance.
Focusing a potent, high-frequency pulse of energy at the tip of his fingertip, Arthur burst-stepped to Caera's side with unparalleled swiftness, his movement nearly instantaneously traversing the intervening space. With a precise maneuver, he directed his finger to prod near her collarbone, unleashing a wave of exquisitely resonating vibrations that coursed through her entire body. Overwhelmed by the intensity of the vibrations, Caera involuntarily emitted a moan before ultimately landing upon the ground, her restraints released, and her control shattered.
"K.O," Regis proclaimed, declaring the conclusion of their intense duel.
Caera, still somewhat dazed from the encounter, mustered the strength to rise to her feet, her disoriented state evident. In a feeble attempt to retaliate, she swung her arm towards Arthur, her frustration palpable. "Why did you go all out?" she demanded, her voice tinged with disappointment. "I thought you would hold back."
Arthur's response was calm and unwavering. "I did," he asserted. His words only served to deepen Caera's sigh, realizing that even with Arthur's supposed restraint, she had been outmatched. Succumbing to her exhaustion, she took a seat, her trembling feet betraying her weakened state, as beads of sweat clung to her clothing, glistening against the fabric.
"You two are getting along great," a mellifluous voice, tinged with honeyed tones, startled the trio. The voice was unfamiliar to both Regis and Arthur, yet Caera's heart skipped a beat, recognizing the voice all too well.
Startled by the sudden interruption, Regis instinctively sprung to his feet, his nails extending into crimson claws while a menacing crimson aura enveloped him. Positioned protectively in front of Caera, Arthur assumed a defensive stance, prepared to shield her should the need arise. Together, they faced a resplendent woman with hair like luminous pearls, her countenance adorned with obsidian horns.
"Dibs," Regis snarled, his voice seething with a fierce determination, as he lunged forward, a blaze of scarlet fire erupting around him, fueled by his relentless resolve.
However, his assault was swiftly met with a countermeasure—a web of purple tendrils, suffused with potent mana, ensnared Regis, effectively severing his destructive advance. Overwhelmed by the force opposing him, Regis succumbed to the ground, his strength waning as he crumbled beneath the onslaught of power.
"Who on ear—" Uttering a mix of confusion and curiosity, Regis spun around, his gaze fixating upon a figure that caused him to pause mid-action. The sight that greeted his eyes was none other than Jin Woo, leaving Regis momentarily speechless, his emotions tumultuous within him.
"Brother?" Arthur murmured in disbelief, dispersing Drakon as the golden blade dissipated into shimmering flecks of gold. "Yo," Jin Woo nonchalantly replied, his gaze shifting from Arthur to Caera, a questioning expression gracing his features. "Another one?" he inquired, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. Before Jin Woo could delve deeper into the matter, however, Regis interjected, his tone brimming with urgency.
"Who the hell is she?" Regis erupted, pointing an accusatory finger towards Seris, his frustration seeping into his words.
"Scythe Seris," Caera exclaimed, her voice resolute and filled with emotion. Without hesitation, she propelled herself towards the enigmatic woman, crashing into her in a fervent embrace
"Oh," Regis murmured, his accusatory finger dropping to his side. Meanwhile, Sylvia materialized from the depths of Jin Woo's shadow, her presence accompanied by Sylvie. Sensing the need for clarification, Arthur turned his attention to Sylvia, hoping she held the answers he sought.
"She did mention having a mentor, didn't she?" Sylvia replied, her words carrying a hint of gentle reproach. As the realization washed over Arthur, he nodded in acknowledgment.
Amidst their conversation, Sylvie gracefully approached Regis, her molten eyes scrutinizing him from head to toe, her curiosity piqued. "And who might you be?" she inquired, her voice laced with a touch of skepticism.
"It's me, Regis," he responded, his voice laden with familiarity. However, Sylvie's retort was swift, her tone sharp and dismissive. "The Regis I knew was a dog."
"Big words from the gecko." Regis swiftly fired back, his words filled with a biting wit, causing Sylvie to bristle with irritation, a fiery response at the tip of her tongue. Yet, their verbal exchange was swiftly eclipsed as their attention refocused on Caera and Seris, their reunion unfolding before them.
"You've grown so much, Caera," Seris responded affectionately, her eyes filled with warmth as they roved over the young warrior. Her gaze then shifted to Arthur, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "It's good to see you making friends as well," she remarked, causing a faint blush to color Caera's cheeks.
Jin Woo, ever observant, interjected with his own comment. "That was quite the spar you two had," he noted, his eyes lingering on Arthur as he analyzed the outcome of their duel. Without warning, Jin Woo firmly grasped the back of Arthur's collar, prompting a puzzled question to escape Arthur's lips. "Where are we going?"
Jin Woo's response was resolute as he began dragging Arthur away from the room. "Let the ladies have their conversation," he explained, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"This seems important." Frustration etched across Arthur's face as he gestured animatedly, trying to convey the importance of the ongoing discussion.
"You'll live without it," Jin Woo retorted, his resolve unwavering as he swept Arthur along, disregarding any protest. "I'll stay here—." Regis, on the other hand, attempted to bid farewell with a wave, but before anyone could react, a shadowy portal materialised beneath him, swallowing him into its unfathomable depths. His screams faded into nothingness, leaving everyone in the room with an uneasy gaze fixed upon Jin Woo, as he whisked Arthur away from the training room.
"You didn't bring yourself here just to act as a living taxi," Arthur voiced his curiosity, his inquisitive gaze fixed upon Jin Woo. Sensing Arthur's eagerness for an answer, Jin Woo released his grip on the collar, allowing them to walk side by side.
"Have you not checked your timetable?" Jin Woo probed, a note of amusement lacing his voice. Arthur, perplexed, reached into his dimension ring and retrieved a sheet containing tomorrow's schedule. As his eyes skimmed over the various periods, they came to rest on the final entry.
A sudden realization washed over Arthur, his expression shifting to one of concern. "Shit."
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(A/N This season might extend a few more chapters than normal, sure you guys won't complain. Anyway tried using AI to get you guys some Regis art this was the best I got.
(A/N Not that bad, except it couldn't get the age, eyes and horns right.)