Chapter 43: Crimson Storm — Part 2
The air was heavy with scorched ether as the fractured sky above shimmered with unresolved dimensional tears. Kael, barely able to stand, leaned on Evelyne as they limped toward the scorched ground where the shard had vanished.
But even as his blood dripped onto the white grass, Kael's system pulsed again—another tremor of power.
> [Quest Continuation: Scourge Sovereign Pursuit] Objective:
Track the Shard into the Lower Abyss
Survive its Void Echo Ambush
Seal or Slay the Fragment Core Reward: EXP +2,500,000 | Crown of Sin Trait: Devour Sin (Passive Unlock)
A sharp wind howled. Then the world convulsed.
"Kael!" Evelyne shouted, just as a jagged portal tore open behind them.
From it, an enormous beast, all eyes and tendrils, roared into the broken sky. The Void-Spawn Wyrm, summoned by the shard's residual echo, slithered out, its size blotting out the sun.
---
[ENEMY PROFILE — VOID-SPAWN WYRM]
Realm: Catastrophic Beast Class (Power Reduced)
HP: 460,000
Mana: 120,000
Strength: 744
Defense: 710
Abilities: Chaos Roar, Dimensional Distortion, Multi-Tendril Crush, Soul Eater Breath
---
Kael and Evelyne's bodies tensed. There was no time for rest. Kael's hands clenched into fists as Evelyne raised both her glowing crescent blades.
"We fight," he said simply.
The wyrm charged. Its roar shattered trees and cracked the earth. Kael darted forward, ducking under a sweep of tendrils that tore through marble pillars. He flipped up and drove a flaming punch into its side.
> [Critical Hit — 14,229 DMG]
Evelyne followed with an arcing slash of moonlight, cutting deep into its scaled neck. The beast screamed, vomiting black energy that scorched the grass into ash.
Kael and Evelyne dodged in unison. Sparks lit the air. Their bond, refined through the Sacred Dimension, allowed them to move as one.
> [System Synergy Activated: Combat Link — Evelyne Bonus x1.2 Applied]
Kael landed blow after blow, but the wyrm was relentless. One of its massive arms struck Evelyne midair, slamming her into a shattered pillar. Kael's rage ignited. Flames burst from his back as he entered Flame Soul Ignition Mode.
With a primal scream, he summoned his full power.
> [Flame Soul Ignition — Temporarily doubles all physical stats for 60 seconds.]
Kael blurred, fists raining down like comets. Tendrils shattered, bone cracked.
> [Damage: 24,000 | 17,800 | 19,900]
The wyrm reared back, trying to consume him with its Soul Eater Breath—but Evelyne reappeared, bleeding but alive, her arms wrapped in crescent fire. Together, they launched a dual attack.
> [Combo Skill: Eclipse Breaker — Activated]
An explosion of fire and moonlight rocked the battlefield. The wyrm screamed, its chest split open.
> [Wyrm Health: 12%]
But before it fell, the void behind it shimmered again.
The Shard returned.
His body, cracked and barely holding shape, hovered above the voidspawn like a god of ruin.
"I will not perish in exile. If I fall, I drag you all with me."
> [Boss Phase II — Initiated]
Kael's heart froze. "We've barely survived the beast—can we take him now?"
Evelyne stood tall beside him. "We don't have a choice."
Their eyes locked. Kael smiled weakly. "Together, then."
The shard and the voidwyrm fused. A horrific roar shook the Sacred Dimension as the skies split in two.
Just before their final clash, the Shard's voice pierced the wind like a blade:
"You dare wound a shadow of the Upper Realms? Know this, insect — when I return in full form, when my soul leaves this cage and walks the heavens again… I will find you. I will rip your existence from every thread of fate. My true self is watching, Kael Vire—"
> [Warning: A being of a higher realm has marked you as prey. Prepare accordingly.]
Kael felt a shiver crawl down his spine.
And the battle for survival began anew…
The ground trembled beneath Kael's feet as the fused monstrosity of Shard and Voidspawn howled into the broken skies. Its amalgamated body pulsed with chaotic energy—void tendrils interwoven with humanoid limbs, eyes of crimson set in grotesque patterns across its warped face.
Kael darted forward, flames trailing behind him as he aimed a punch straight into the creature's midsection. His fist struck true—but was met with dense, writhing muscle.
> [Direct Hit — 17,903 DMG]
The beast retaliated instantly. A massive arm surged toward him, crackling with spatial distortion. Kael barely dodged, the shockwave knocking him sideways. Evelyne leapt over him, her blades blazing with pale fire, slicing down on the creature's extended limb.
> [Critical Strike — 39,201 DMG]
The monster let out a gurgled shriek, dozens of void-tentacles lashing out in all directions. One struck Kael in the side, sending him skidding across the battlefield.
> [HP -942]
Gasping, Kael rolled to his feet. "We can't win if we just keep chipping at it!"
"I'm building up my Mooncore!" Evelyne shouted, dodging elegantly between strikes. "When I give the signal, unleash everything!"
Kael clenched his fists, eyes narrowing. Flames erupted from his back as he invoked his inner core. Then he sprinted through the storm of lashes—maneuvering between blows, deflecting them with bursts of heat.
Each movement he made felt heavier. The enemy's presence was suffocating. His body screamed with exertion.
> [Warning: Stamina Level Dropping Rapidly]
The shard's voice roared from within the monster's chest: "Fools! You think mortal flame and borrowed divinity can slay me? I was born from calamity!"
As he raised both malformed arms, an orb of void-fire gathered in its hands, aimed at Evelyne.
Kael's eyes went wide. "No you don't!"
He summoned everything. A nova of fire surrounded his body as he launched himself at the enemy, intercepting the orb midair.
The explosion sent them all flying. Smoke blanketed the sky. The ground cracked for miles.
> [HP -2,178]
> [Flame Tether: Selene has shared 50% of the damage. Connection echo activated.]
From the ash, Kael rose again, battered and burned—but alive.
And the monster was still standing.
But now—so was Evelyne, her Mooncore fully charged, her body glowing like a descending goddess of judgment.
"Now, Kael!" she shouted.
He roared in response, igniting his full aura, and together they charged.
The sky itself seemed to split as flame and light met void and shadow, and the most brutal phase of the battle began…
> [To be continued in Chapter 44: Fused Calamity — Part 3]
---
[STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN]
Level: 13
EXP: 2,730,000 / 3,276,800
Realm: Starforged Realm, Tier 4/9
HP: 4,200 / 6,100
Mana: 2,650 / 4,800
Strength: 188
Endurance: 172
Willpower: 196
Charm: 218
Intellect: 164
Dexterity: 176
Traits:
Embersoul
Soul-Eye Appraisal
Flame Soul Ignition (NEW)
Combat Sync: Evelyne (x4 Boost)
Sacred Dimensional Traveler
Bonded Partner:
Evelyne — Love: 100% (True Realm: ??? | Current Realm: Worldbreaker Realm – Peak 🔒 Restricted in Lower Realms)