Ark Undead

"You think so too, don't you? Why resist the darkness? You are the Mother of the Abyss, and your children are waiting for your return. The surging darkness within you is proof of that."

"In that world without light or fire, you will find your true self. Therefore, you need not fear the darkness..."

As he spoke, the woman raised her head.

Beneath the blindfold, her gaze was blocked. But the shadowy figure vaguely glimpsed her mocking eyes.

"If that war really ends, then what are you afraid of?"

"The Fire Maiden said softly."

"Your heart is wavering; you're the one truly resisting. You're afraid of his return. Let me guess, in that war, were you...?"

"Shut up!"

The shadowy figure shook the entire building once more, the loud noise echoing across the empty sacrificial ground.

The pervasive darkness suddenly became restless at this moment.

The woman's words seemed to touch a nerve with the shadowy figure, causing its humanoid form to become irregular and unstable.

The Fire Maiden was completely unaffected by him.

Elegant and gentle words flowed from those delicate lips once again.

"Moreover, the darkness within me was never born for the abyss."

Her tone inexplicably took on a sweet tinge.

"It's just so that the ever-burning flame can have a place to rest."

The shadowy figure could no longer contain its rage.

The deep, trembling energy surged toward the woman sitting on the steps.

At that moment, he realized that he could never wait for her to break down.

Moreover, she was not wrong.

That war was the humiliation of my life, being trampled underfoot by that godlike man, who tore my body apart and burned my soul.

If he hadn't been clinging to life under his diminished power, he would never have been able to return here.

He came here to seek revenge, to find peace for the surging hatred in his heart.

Thus, the darkness that swept across the entire sacrificial site merged and twisted.

A giant hand appeared on the throne, aimed at the serene woman.

He wanted to tear off her shell, to completely corrupt her with the abyss, to thoroughly defile her in the tide of filthy humanity, and to crush her into pieces bit by bit!

Then, the giant hand pressed down.

boom!

A tremendous noise resounded in the sacrificial site.

It was followed by a piercing scream.

"Ahhhhh!!"

Contrary to expectations, the scene was not one of crushing a body.

A familiar pain, accompanied by an unforgettable burning sensation, coursed through his body.

Right in the center of the sacrificial site, between the shadowy figure and the woman.

A twisted sword blade was deeply embedded in the ground of the sacrificial site.

Amidst the shimmering starlight and ashes, a heavy greatsword traversed millions of years in a mere instant.

It pierced through the obstacles blocking its path and shattered the darkness that dared to obscure its way forward.

The spiraling blade and the burning flames on the heavy hilt are proof of his kingship.

It is a symbol of the end, an ever-burning ember in the bonfire at the beginning of the world.

And only one person is qualified to wield this greatsword and fully utilize its power.

They were given responsibilities by the First Flame and were recognized as guardians by it.

The incarnation of the King of Cinder.

Footsteps.

It is the collision of steel and stone, and like a heavy hammer, it strikes the soul hidden deep in the shadows.

"I never imagined that there were survivors from that war."

On the helmet, twisted by scorching flames, the fiery crown seemed to be fused onto his skull.

"Thief who steals power and devours the body."

Deep red patterns formed from lava and flames flowed across his armor, and the surging flames illuminated all malice in the darkness, leaving it nowhere to hide.

"It is unpleasant."

Wow!

The surrounding darkness surged toward that noble body in an instant, threatening to bury him into the bottomless abyss.

The twisted darkness transformed into a cage, enveloping the slowly approaching avatar.

However, they cannot even close completely for a moment.

Crimson flames climbed up the filth covering his body, the filth that had once satiated life and expanded wantonly. Now, it felt once again the pain of being used as firewood.

The jubilant flames illuminated the entire dimly lit sacrificial site in an instant, turning it into daylight.

His body was wreathed in raging flames, announcing his return.

"No, no, no... Impossible! You deserve to die, to die in that wilderness!"

The shadowy figure, driven back by the flames, cowered timidly in the shadows, its eyes seeing the very image that had appeared in countless nightmares.

"Your power has also been plundered by us, your strength has vanished into the heavens and earth. I saw it with my own eyes! I saw it!"

They couldn't even muster the courage to take action again.

It was as if a nightmare had manifested in reality; the source of his former fear had returned to him once again.

He was a deserter from that war, and even fighting couldn't be started in his presence.

Now, faced with the return of great power, how can it possibly muster the will to resist?

The nameless hero approached the spiral sword stuck in the ground, reached out, and pulled it out.

"But I'm back."

The immortal crawled out of hell, facing death more than once. Until death transformed from a fearsome enemy into a friend accompanying him on his journey.

"I feel angry."

His eyes are like bright lighthouses, their light illuminating all darkness.

“I will burn you to ashes and nail you to the royal weapon.”

He raised his hand.

Flames coiled around the sword, and the sacrificial site, which had been devoid of light and fire, was now filled with light since his arrival.

The dark figure let out a shrill scream; at that moment, all that remained in his heart was regret.

He hated his own patience; he shouldn't have coveted the power of the perfect Mother of the Abyss.

He hated those heroic spirits who resisted. If they had given up resisting from the beginning, he wouldn't still be unable to complete the transformation of that woman.

If he could end it all before the nightmare arrives, he wouldn't have to face the wrath of someone returning from hell.

But now, it's all too late.

The sword of judgment has been drawn.

The scorching spiral pierced through the darkness, finding the body trying to hide in the shadows, and then pinning it to the ground.

The first golden flame ignited in the royal vessel, which had previously been devoid of any firewood.

Although the flame was small, it was impossible to ignore.

Just by looking at it, you'll be captivated.

It was so beautiful, so alluring.

But to the vile ones lurking in the shadows, this is the light that represents death.

He will lose everything in this flame; his soul, his power, his depths will be turned into eternally burning fuel.

"No, no! I'm sorry, I'll give it all back to you, I'll give it all back to you! Power, authority, I don't want any of it anymore, please, please, please!"

Pierced by the spiraling sword, the wailing shadow lowered its posture to the lowest point, pleading with the hero before it with words of flattery and fear.

The Undead stared at his figure, then slowly walked to the King's weapon and pointed the blade downwards.

"late."

The blade plunged deep into the royal weapon that bore the flames, and the surging primordial fire spiraled upwards along the entire blade the instant the blade touched the royal weapon.

Golden flames engulfed the deep tides, reigniting the spiral sword.

The piercing screams were gradually drowned out by the crackling of the sparks, which were then completely ignited as kindling.

This is the war between the Abyss and the First Flame.

We will not rest until we die.

I gaze at the campfire, which had been burning fiercely but was now gradually calming down.

The flames on the undead gradually subsided, and his armor, along with the extinguished lava, gradually returned to its original state.

The last coward was also killed, and the immortal exhaled a breath of stale air.

He remained silent for a moment before turning around.

He thought a lot as he turned around.

He didn't know how to face the woman standing right behind him.

From those remaining memories, he learned the truth about the world.