Shadow Master (1st Book)

Chapter 24: A Visit from the Void

The same swirling torrent of black goo that Althalos saw surround Seere earlier now surrounded Mere'c Champion, Zaebos, and also Astarte. It formed a wide circle around them, providing space. The circle then seemed to grow smaller, trapping them in. Althalos closed his eyes, in anticipation of pain that he thought was sure to come. The two Nightwalkers noticed this.

"Calm yourself talsod," Zaebos said to him, while Astarte looked up and around, as if trying to say farewell to her home.

"Relax your muscles talsod. I can almost hear them clenching here," Astarte remarked, rolling her luminous red eyes in what Althalos presumed to be exasperation.

The young Champion sighed, and found out that he had been tensing. He forced his muscles to relax and he opened his eyes. 

Suddenly, Merec appeared before them, taking the three of them by surprise. Zaebos and Astarte immediately bowed down, while Althalos stood up to his full height, giving the demon lord a surprise as if he was fighting the God.

I suggest you bow down, little human.

He did not for a second, but then that same stinging headache that always happens whenever he disobeyed the God returned again, and it was like some madman was whipping his skull into shards of broken bones. He immediately bowed down, as the Lord "suggested" he did so, and then the pain just stopped.

Good. Now be a good little servant and hear my words.

"Take care tu pwotheaf, my champion." Merec smirked at him, and Althalos thought it was because of their debacle in his mind. then turned his attention to the kneeling Nightwalkers.

"Zsofk," He ordered, switching to his own language. The demons immediately complied to the supposed command. "Eb tu pwotheaf keyz, uai key!" He seemed to be angry, or maybe demanding, he wasn't sure. His devilish wings were invisible, or rather, hidden.

"Oz uai qezw, Dalk Tylyp!" They replied in unison.

"Good. Farewell my warriors. I hope our paths will cross again." He waved to them in an almost mocking manner, his smirk still present on his hardened face.

Expect more from me, human.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

What was that? A slight tinge in his mind erupted, quickly growing into an earthquake of pain that rumbled inside his cranium. He held his head, but did not show an expression of agony. He wouldn't give the demon lord that satisfaction.

Nothing.. milord. Althalos replied, stammering slightly as he said "milord."

He abruptly spread his wings, which were folded minutes ago, like he had suspected, and the dark lord took to the skies. Althalos's jaw dropped at the sight. Merec stopped midway, stretched his arms wide, revealing lightning bolts, and shouted out,"Lysilf sa swy talsod waldk ab Torfiz!"

The demon lord then abruptly struck the ground where the three were trapped by the darkness with lightning. The black sphere quickly grew small, and the three beings were hit by the darkness. At once, Althalos felt himself go... numb. He looked at his arms, and to his surprise, and slight horror, it was dissipating. Becoming invisible, as if it was crumbling before his very eyes, turning into dust in a slow manner. He glanced at his torso, and his legs, and they were experiencing the same thing. they were being dispelled.

"Woah," He mumbled, which turned into a full-on shout. "Woah!"

He felt lightheaded, but he strived to remain conscious as he was plunged into a complete and total darkness. He tried stretching his arms and legs, but he couldn't. It was as if he was trapped in a hard cylinder. He looked to his sides, expecting Zaebos and Astarte with him, and thankfully, they were, though unlike him, they were calm and seemed almost excited. His vertigo worsened, but he still strained to remain conscious, or to not throw up.