The air is tense with power welling between the two forces, one, the empire's best, and the void king, Zalgo. Big changes are coming.
The first to strike was Kellan, zipping forward and swinging his scythe, infused with Urzael's soul magic, however Zalgo blocks with ease. He throws Kellan across the open area into the wall of a nearby building, making a crater where he landed. Sora and Kieba attack in unison, striking both of Zalgo's legs. While he is staggered, Urzael charges a beam of soul magic, and lets loose, the blue and white light a stark contrast to the void's atmosphere. Although the king of void feels the most pain from the beam, he is mostly unfazed.
Zalgo quickly strikes in revenge against Urzael, who narrowly blocks Zalgo's spear with his sword. Drake, Yuri, and Zephrous all launch towards Zalgo to get him off Urzael. As Zalgo steps back, he laughs, and a burst of void energy erupts from his hand, spreading tendrils throughout the arena. It acts as a way to bind most of the lords and keep the elites out of the arena. Only Urzael and Sora stand against him now, the elites fighting the void creatures outside of the arena Zalgo formed, and the other lords caught inside the walls of it. Sora and Urzael nod at each other, and lunge towards Zalgo. Sora springs up, fusing light with his sword as he strikes at Zalgo's head, who turns his spear to block. But, Urzael strikes with a vertical slash to his torso. Which causes Zalgo to scream in fury, throwing Sora off against the wall.
"Did you really think you can beat a god?" Zalgo laughs, Urzael grins.
"Not the first, won't be the last." He says, and jumps, summoning a wendigo skull that floats, carrying Urzael around. Zalgo throws a few bolts of void energy and darkness but Urzael effortlessly dodges, and gives Zalgo minor injuries from slashing his soul infused sword at him. When Zalgo finally hits Urzael, it sends him into the ground. He groans in pain and Zalgo laughs.
"I am like no god, I control this entire realm you stand in!" Zalgo shouts and continues to laugh with more distortion in his voice than usual. Urzael himself chuckles, which confuses Zalgo.
"Well, you got me, congrats. But I gave him enough time." He says, and shouts for Sora, who promptly unleashes the bolt of light and soul magic he's been focusing on building since he was thrown. It pierces through Zalgo, sticking out of his chest. He screams in pain and stumbles backwards, the tendrils forming an arena fading. The lords surround him and all focus an attack at him as a threat.
"You've lost, Zalgo. Admit your defeat and then we can talk." Sora says, his injuries fading as he heals himself. All the lords can hear Zalgo's distorted breath as he struggles to stand straight, but after he manages to do so, he shrinks down to be the same relative size as Sora.
"What do you even want from this place, mortal?" He asks. Sora, Urzael, and Kellan all step forward. The first to speak is Sora.
"We wish to seek an alliance, against the abyss, enemy of my enemy, yes?" He says, then Kellan and Urzael speak.
"I know what being chained by you is like, you won't make any more reapers." Kellan says, which Zalgo looks directly at him.
"I only make one reaper per universe that exists, Kellan. You need not worry about that, as all the others are dead, and if what they say is true, you are the last of your line." Zalgo tells Kellan. Urzael looks intrigued.
"Curious what 'they' said, however my request from you, Zalgo, is I need subjects for very specific tests, void creatures, specifically." Urzael says. By now the elites start gathering around, the void resting as the creatures focus their eyes on their king. Zalgo remains silent for a few moments, but then speaks.
"An alliance, I simply cannot except, cosmic rules by someone above me. However, I can do a truce, or cease fire, whatever you want to call it. You don't hurt my realm, I won't hurt yours. Though my trials still stand, breaking the cycle of life as some calls it requires strength, and was never for my entertainment. And you." Zalgo stares at Urzael, taking a step towards him with his spear once again out.
"You will speak to me every time you take a being out of my realm, as I won't give up some things here, not even at the cost of my soul." He tells Urzael, bringing the spear very close to his chest. Urzael nods, and his expression looks like it mocks Zalgo, as if calling a bluff.
"We also wish to set up an outpost somewhere in the void, so we can have a way to communicate and travel here." Sora said, to which Zalgo nods. Urzael looks at Zalgo with a humorous look on his face.
"I'm surprised you had to fight over these things, Zalgo, or did you just want a beating?" He says, and Zalgo looks at him, annoyance visible even through the darkness that is his body and face.
"I do no favors to anyone unworthy, the strong survive here, that has always been my rule." Zalgo tells Urzael. Well, that at least explains the sudden tameness instead of the tyrant I expected. Sora thought. He steps forward with his hand extended towards Zalgo.
"Regardless of today's events, I hope the empire can look to the void as a friend. Our arrangements are settled, and now we take our leave." Sora explains, Zalgo hesitantly shakes Sora's hand, and gives a slight nod. He snaps his fingers, and a portal to the exact same place the empire entered from opens behind him.
"What comes next for you will intrigue me, I'll be watching your world, and all that happens. But remember, I will not help you in your conquest nor wars." He says, and blinks back onto his throne, one by one, the lords and elites walk out, until Urzael is the last one, he closes the portal.
"Let's talk some more, Zalgo."
YOU ARE READING
Magic chronicles 2: Rise of the empire
FantasíaWhen Surtr was defeated, Sora started a nation, the magic empire. The strongest mages make up a council known as the mage lords, and Sora, at the top, is the mage king. Chino has been exploring a very long time, and she has found many things, but sh...
