OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 248: Heart Of Darkness

Chapter 248: Heart Of Darkness

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"Seraphim, Untrod Path, mainly melee, and Aetheric constructs."

"Seraphim, Spell Weaver, Space Element, so yeah, I'm a Warp Weaver."

"Seraphim, Spell Weaver, Ice Element, Glacial Weaver."

The duo's moment was over some time ago, and after a bit of banter, they went ahead and introduced themselves to Morgiana.

'You three...'

Now they were stating their abilities and deciding how they would confront the Tyrant.

Emir glanced at Ragnar, a silent understanding passing between them as they faced the swirling darkness.

'Come...'

It coalesced around them, taking the form of an array of dancing shadows.

"Alright, so how do we tackle this?"

Ragnar's voice then cut through the tension as he gestured towards the dark mass.

'Think! Think!'

Emir cracked a grin.

"Well, I say we go for a full-on assault."

'Stupid... stupid ideas...'

"My constructs and speed can keep it occupied, and your portals can slice through whatever it throws at us."

'You'll die like the rest of them...'

Morgiana's brow furrowed in concern.

"But won't it be too risky for us to charge straight in?"

'It will be...'

Emir chuckled lightly.

"We're used to risky, Morgiana. Besides, that's where our strength lies. In the thick of it."

Ragnar nodded, his expression turning serious.

"I've got your back... Always."

'Always, huh... I'll end that soon enough.'

Morgiana's curiosity was piqued.

'I'LL END IT.'

"You two seem closer than just comrades. What's the story?"

Emir's eyes softened, a fondness evident in his voice.

"Just met him a day ago actually, but he's officially my left hand through everything... He's family."

'Say your goodbyes to family then...'

Ragnar grinned.

"Couldn't have put it better myself."

Morgiana looked at them weirdly for a moment.

"You guys-"

"No."

"I've got a fiancée you know!"

They both immediately cut her off, knowing exactly what she was about to ask.

"But yeah, us guys are simple like that." Emir added.

"...Sure."

'Sure, sure, sure, sure...'

Morgiana nodded and moved on.

"Anyways, are we seriously just rushing in?"

Emir unsheathed his twin swords.

'You're lying... liar.'

"Me and Ragnar are, yes, but you'll stay in the back and act as our glass cannon."

"...Let's go then."

"Ay Ay, brother!"

As they moved closer to the vortex, or rather, orb of darkness, it began to pulse.

'Liar, liar, liar...'

The air crackled, and their surroundings seemed to throb in the same rhythm, only

inte

as they drew nearer.

The chamber quaked, and the very essence of darkness converged into a colossal, twisted figure-a Zerathar.

'YOU ARE A LIAR!'

This Tyrant was a multi-limbed monstrosity with twisted and elongated features.

'YOU ARE WEAK!'

Each limb was tens of meters long, and its height was at least a hundred.

'YOU WILL NEVER WIN!'

Its presence filled the room, suffocating and oppressive.

'YOUR FAMILY WILL DIE!'

Emir's breath caught in his throat.

'YOUR TRUTH WILL TAKE HOLD!'

He had faced Tyrants before, but this was different.

'AND YOU WON'T BE THERE TO SEE IT.'

Unlike them, it wasn't mad; its mind was intact.

'WHY?'

It wasn't weakened; instead, it was perfectly rested...

'BECAUSE YOUR DEATH TODAY IS NOTHING BUT GUARANTEED'

Itching for a fight with six cores filled to the brim with Aether.

The Zerathar with an eerie lucidity, coiled its limbs into a makeshift throne to sit on.

"We greet you, Zerathar."

Emir spat out while showing his respect by bowing slightly.

The other two were surprised but followed right after.

"We greet you, Zerathar."

"We greet you, Zerathar."

The creature before them appeared to nod, and with a wave of its hands, the whispers finally

stopped.

'Finally... it was getting annoying.'

Its face was beyond grotesque, a nightmarish fusion of worm-like extrusions that defied

logic.

Its eyes were like his own.

Two swirling pools of darkness which exuded a sinister aura that sent shivers down their

spines.

'Fucking hell, this bastard will be tough to kill.'

Emir's grip tightened around the hilts of his twin swords.

The chamber fell into a tense silence as the trio faced the Zerathar, the kin of shadows, in a

tense stare-off.

"...You have surprised me, Celestials."

Zerathar's voice echoed through the chamber like grated metal.

"Especially you... Emir."

They only understood it due to its resonance with Aether.

"And why is that?"

"Well, were you not the one who had become a record-breaker?"

"I am."

"A hundred thousand seconds in the infinite labyrinth is one impressive number."

"...HUNDRED THOUSAND?!"

Morgiana, who had a bit of an overreaction, had her jaw almost fall to the ground.

"Yes."

Emir answered simply and asked:

"What of it?"

"I'm just praising you, is all..."

Ragnar, who was beside Emir, nudged his shoulder.

"Good job, bro."

"Yeah."

Zerathar continued:

"Besides, your friend over there almost caught up to you."

"How close we talking?"

"About forty-five thousand seconds off."

"FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND?!"

Emir, Ragnar, and the Zerathar looked at Morgiana with blank gazes.

She nodded.

They returned to their conversation.

"You call that close?"

"Close enough." "Whatever you say..."

Emir tapped Ragnar's back. "Keep up."

"You know I will..."

Ragnar paused for a fraction, then looked up at the Tyrant.

"Zerathar, why mention this?"

"Oh, it's a warning."

"A warning?"

"Yes, no matter how tough a time you had before reaching here, no matter how talented you

might be..."

"I won't hold back; trust that victory here will not come easily."

Emir's knees lowered and his stance switched, ready for the assault.

"We've come this far. We'll see this through; don't worry about it."

Ragnar's staff hummed with Aether, a silent readiness to engage. "Alright, Emir, let's show this Tyrant what we're made of!"

Morgiana's eyes narrowed, her icy aura brimming with contained power.

"Let's do this, boys."

Zerathar chuckled, a sound that sent their cores shivering.

"You misunderstand. I am not your enemy. I am the test itself."

Emir who understood, acted oblivious and exchanged a glance with the others.

They had uncertainty flickering in their eyes.

"The test? What do you mean?"

"I observe, I adapt, and I challenge," it explained.

"The trial is to survive my scrutiny. Your mind, strength, adaptability, and resilience are

commendable, but can you endure this phase?"

Its roars then reverberated through the chamber, shaking their very cores.

What came after was a surge of darkness that enveloped Zerathar causing the entire chamber

to shift.

Emir, who seemed unfazed, chuckled and dashed forward.

"I'll have the academy cry over your death!"

It was now their time to face the 'Heart of Darkness' head-on.