Chapter 48

[Xyrus]

"Wonderful."

Agrona Vritra, king of Alcrya, also the head of the Vritra clan. With a wicked smile on his face, he was staring further into the territory of Beast Glades from the tallest place in Xyrus Academy.

"Earth is trembling, mana is chaotic, this feeling of death that hunts me down. What a terrifying creature... It's still affecting me from kilometers away, managing to dump our way of communication." He said with visible excitement and then looked at the unconscious body in his hands.

"Don't you have a wonderful family Arthur Leywin or should I call you King Grey heh?" Agrona chuckled and then glanced at the person approaching him.

"Charge up the attack, we've already got my daughter and an important part of our future plans." He gave the command, the man next to him reluctantly nodded.

Preparation for the activation of the devastating technique soon was done. The man who had to activate the technique was Aldir, current holder of the World Eater technique.

"It will take time to activ-" Aldir couldn't finish his words, as he noticed a bizarre sight. The same man who gave him command was pierced with black spike, though the man seemed to not mind it at all.

"I was wondering, where are my retainers disappearing all of a sudden... So that's what you transformed into." He spoke while looking at the shadowy figure.

"Finish charging technique soon. Something terrifying is approaching."

_________________________________________________________________________

At this time in the Beast Glades, a purple column of mana burst out in the sky.

The mountain where this took place, started collapsing under the pressure. Clouds above it were all pushed away, as sun rays eventually struck the site. The light finally landed in the center of a massive crater, displaying Ashborn in his full glory.

He was looking up into the sky. His black helmet-like liquid disappeared in his shadow, revealing the purple glowing eyes. He afterward looked around once more, to check on his surroundings.

Even though Asuras were powerful beings, against the undying legion of shadows they couldn't fight forever. Although the Shadow Army itself could fight even for eons if their King had enough magical power for them.

"Skreee!" Beru screeched wildly, pinning down his enemy on the ground. In an instant, he blurred out of sight from there, perplexing opponent.

Using this moment, Windsom brought down his massive head in front of the enemy and charged another burst of energy right above Asura. An Asuran warrior was scorched alive.

On the other hand, not many shadow soldiers could stand their ground against the Asuras. They were just ferociously charging at opponents trying to exhaust them while being struck by their attacks continuously.

This led to Ashborn overloading his still incomplete Black Heart. With the colossal amounts of mana being produced in it, the container began to fracture. So as a result mana was bursting out from the heart in the form of dark flames with a purple hue.

For Asuran warriors it seemed like Ashborn's left side of the chest was flaming. Thinking it was better to attack while the enemy wasn't moving, Asurans charged at Ashborn. The first line of their assault team flew ahead at high speed, aiming their best attack for the head.

Yet, their attacks were rendered fruitless. The moment they shifted, Ashborn glared at them with his soul-piercing eyes, even if he wasn't unleashing his intent to kill, the Asuras were shaken to the core.

Viewing this Ashborn drew his Greatsword and leaped towards the nearest enemy. His blurry figure shortly appeared next to the appalled Asura, who, despite being close to demise, couldn't move.

With one swift movement, he sliced his great at the chest of the foe, cutting through it like butter.

'Beru, Windsom.' Ashborn called out for his shadows.

'Understood, my Liege/Lord.' A short reply came from both soldiers. Beru expeditiously moved at the enemies, who successfully prevented being incised by Ashborn.

"Skreee DIEEEEEEE!" Beru with his claws dug into the flesh of Asura, till it came out from the other side. This wasn't enough to kill Asura as they have superior regeneration to ordinary beings, nonetheless, Beru as well wasn't going to stop there.

With his second claw, he grabbed the head of the enemy, squeezing it so hard that it was crushed like an egg. Others were terrified, their comrade just died so easily, who were they even fighting against?

Windsom subsequently drew up another burst of energy, directing it upon stalling enemies. With the loud bang, a blast flew towards Asuras while on its way tearing the land apart. Within the second fried corpses were laying on the ground unmoving.

'Why aren't they trying to run away?' Wondered Ashborn, watching other Asuras flying far away from the epicenter of the battle.

'There wouldn't be any need for jamming my contact if they aren't doing anything outside of Beast Glades.' He narrowed eyes at Asuras who kept chanting barrier magic for the entirety of the battle.

"Return to my shadow, everyone." He called back all of his soldiers, confusing Asuras. When every soldier was discolored in his shadow, he closed his eyes while also withdrawing his armor and great sword.

"Time to stop playing around." He opened eyes and flared out all the mana accumulated in his Black Heart.

Mana washed all over the place, covering vast amounts of land in bare seconds. Those with high sensitivity towards magic fell under heavy pressure as if the angel of death pointed its scythe on their necks. Especially creatures close to the outburst were immobilized in place.

'My king! Your family is in danger.' After the barrier fell, a message from Uto reached Ashborn.

Ashborn even stiffened up, they were actually doing something outside of this battle. Obviously, they would aim for something he treasured. Yet, the riddle is how they knew about it? He killed Windsom and learned from him that he at no time informed Asuras...

"What to do about this..." Ashborn glanced at the corpses of Asuras and since he didn't have enough magical energy to summon them all, the only option for now was...

"Rest in my shadows." With the snap of his fingers, his shadow expanded and devoured the deceased bodies of Asuras. Later he will get back to this.

_________________________________________________________________________

"You insect get off me!" Agrona Vritra screamed attempting to remove Uto, which was stuck to his body like glue.

"Shut up, hybrid of snake and deer!" Uto screamed back at him not intending to lose grip on Agrona, while also taunting him.

For a few minutes already, Uto was holding Agrona in place, not giving the opportunity to teleport away. It was an amusing sight how both of them played around. Agrona using his attacks on the soul and Uto trying to just hold him in place.

Vritra with his soul attacks vastly reduced Uto's regenerative capabilities. Unluckily for him, if Shadow Soldier's soul isn't totally destroyed it won't die. So Uto simply revived again, though this time much slower than before.

"You've fallen low Agrona. Can't even kill a lowly creature." A new voice interrupted a quarrel of two.

"Destroying the whole floating city wasn't in my plans. Why would I ever want to conquer this land, if later I'm going to destroy it? In addition, I'm sure you don't wish to lose your valuable servant." Countered a quite displeased Agrona.

"Hm, I'll lend you a hand here." Figure overlooked the comment and mysteriously everything around him halted.

"As expected from the King of the Asura. Stopping time itself, what a great mastery over Aether. Nonetheless, not time for bantering. Whoever we are going contrary to is no joking matter." Agrona complimented Kazess blithely, shortly his expression returned to a serious one.

"Those soldiers only die if they are entirely dissipated. Their soul itself regenerates, you better destroy it altogether at once." Spoke Kezess, much to Agrona's displeasure pointing obviously.

"Don't tell me what I already know." Agrona put his hand on Uto's neck, while Kazess picked up Arthur and uncovered sleeping Sylvie in his robe.

"Fortunately, I can always swap my Retainers. This one was a waste I gue-"

*Crack*

Space between Uto and Agrona's hand cracked open, revealing another hand. It quickly slapped away Agrona's hand and grabbed the snake by the neck.

"I've figured out something was wrong, so I have arrived." With the chilling voice, Ashborn finally came out from Uto's shadow and pinned down Vritra on the ground with a loud hit.

With the previous declaration, he brought back his fist and was ready to smash the enemy's skull when he got kicked away. The force behind the kick was great, it was to be expected from Asura. Although it won't be enough against Ashborn.

'Great physical prowess...' Commented Ashborn in his mind, upon experiencing Agrona's kick.

"Aldir, activate the technique." The monotone voice of Kazess rang out in Ashborn's ears.

"It shall be done, Lord Kazess." Responded three-eyed Asura.

Ashborn was taken off guard, he didn't expect this. A technique that causes a chain reaction in mana particles, by individual outbursts of each. This will eventually flat the ground, destroying everything not protected.

"I was outplayed." Admitted Ashborn, staring at Kazess.

"Although I don't have enough mana to put this city under my authority, you will also stop me from blocking the process. Alternative for me is to let you go with Arthur before he dies from technique, or I'll ultimately absorb all the mana while doing the same with the space barrier. I was driven into a corner..." Without looking away Ashborn spoke calmly, not feeling defeated anyhow.

"We've got what we desired, we are leaving." Ordered Kazess, glancing at sleeping, Sylvie. He then proceed to open a portal, but...

"Who gave you permission to do so?" Kazess stopped in his tracks, Ashborn's authoritative voice made him wince. In addition to that, with Realmheart he could see how mana began flowing towards Ashborn, for him it was a frightening sight.

Like tornado mana commenced cycling around Ashborn's Black Heart. Asuras, including Kazess, widened their eyes. At this rate, the technique they were preparing for so long, will be neutralized.

It also made it hard to conjure things and use magic. The tornado was sucking ambient mana, making it uncontrollable to the point where in certain areas, it starts to suck out internal mana from individuals.

"Lord Kazess, I'll hold him off." Aldir spoke up, hearing the seriousness of his words Kazess nodded.

"Person without a soul, we shall meet once again." Said Agrona walking backward to Kazess who created the portal.

"Leaving your soldier on the battlefield, isn't this miserable for self-proclaimed deities?" Rather talkative Ashborn zoomed next to Vritra, targeting a punch for the snake's face with great force behind.

Even if Agrona was to block this attack, it would whack his head and send it on the other side of the floating city. Kazess on the other hand once again stopped time. He still required Agrona for something, he couldn't allow him to die yet.

'Just his pressure mends space.' The dragon commented in his mind. He swiftly took Agrona from there, while Ashborn was keeping his eyes fixed on him. Feeling the gaze of Ashborn, chills ran down on the dragon's back.

Two seconds passed for Kazess before Ashborn finally broke through the technique. Time flow went back to usual, as for Ashborn, he just hit nothing. Two with unconscious Arthur and Sylvie by now run away through the portal, leaving their soldier in the back.

"So you are the one who killed Win-"

"Shut up." Two words from Ashborn were enough for Aldir to cease his voice.

Ashborn's already glowing purple eyes beamed like lasers displaying how agitated he became.

For Ashborn this battle was a loss, he got humiliated.

He tasted defeat once again, but there is one peculiar thing about Shadow Monarchs.

They persistently rise, even after death.

________________________________________________________________________________

Welp season 5 of this FF begins. A lot of people wanted romance and I said I will try to play it out somehow, no smut thing. Just Ashborn trying to live as a human? Nah it will be a one-sided affair from a certain character. (Just like in the novel lmao.)

I can't exactly make Ashborn fall in love with someone. But at least there will be more interactions.

Anyway...

Webnovel Second FF: https://www.webnovel.com/book/tbate-%7C-destroyed-beginning_21385481106342305

Wattpad Second FF: https://www.wattpad.com/story/287446607-tbate-destroyed-beginning

Collab FF with (Erebus512, SocioPhobia, Psema): https://www.wattpad.com/story/284711075-tbate-severing-fate

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/2Ar7hwXqAH

Cya.