Adorned in a pure black, obsidian like demonic armor which clung to his body like it was skin. In his hand, wielding a draconic spear that exuded a terrifying aura. It carried with it such a sinister aura that my body shivered when I lid eyes upon it’s catastrophic frame.
And most importantly…His Abyssal black eyes. Which I would never be able to forget.
Without a doubt, that was Aranus, standing on top a large piece of metal.
‘…Ah.’
I had forgotten, due to either James’ messing with my memories or me being me…I had forgotten that Elijah and Aranus were ‘destined’ to be the Hero and The Villain in this story. Aranus who had the power of the Abyss and Elijah, or rather ‘Ardoris’ which was his true name who had the backing of Celestials and the System.
“Ardoris…Finally here?”
I heard his chilly voice ring in my ears, not once but countless times. As if it was enchanted with a strange type of magic designed to disturb the poor soul hearing it.
“Yes.”
In contrast, Ardoris’s voice was much more pleasant, fitting his visage of an angel descending from the heavens to smite the demon on the land.
“A little late…don’t you think?”
Although Aranus’ words may have seem playful, there was ‘nothing’ on his face. He had no emotion whenever he said anything.
Heck, I found it hard to even focus on Aranus’ face, His eyes, which were as deep as the abyss managed to draw me in no matter what…Whenever I looked in his direction those eyes would fill my view. And I, due to the fear of falling into the ‘abyss’ struggled to shift my gaze.
‘Don’t tell me…’
I thought, coming to a rather depressing conclusion.
“What time is it this time?”
Asked Aranus…confirming my suspicions.
“Do you even care?”
However, Ardoris did not answer straight away, there was a hint of exhaustion in his voice.
“No,” .
Said Aranus, standing up.
“It’s the 500th one…Where’s the snake?”
“He’s done his job, so he’s resting.”
“Done his job? Haha…Are you playing a trick on me?”
“No, I’m serious.”
“Pathetic.”
Ardoris descended on the ground as they conversed with one another, He looked at the strange metal pieces on the ground, and with a grimace on his face, said.
“…Abaddon.”
“Yes.” .𝒎
Aranus confirmed, and went towards Ardoris, who observed the surroundings.
“…”
Abaddon, a trusted friend and even a teacher of his had been reduced to such a state, and he wasn’t there to even help him to avoid this fate.
Wrath filled his heart, but then…
How many more times?
Abaddon had suffered this fate countless times…Yet even though he knew this would happen, the damned machine still went forward with it…he was programmed to protect, and even though he could override his programming.
He didn’t. He still charged ahead, trying to find another way to defeat Aranus no matter what. He would even share them with Ardoris…with a hint of excitement and glee.
‘Look here! If we do this our chances can increase significantly!’
‘Aranus may have the strength…But we have the brains! We can…’
Yet, in face of absolute strength it never worked, No matter what he came up with.
The Strong do not survive, it’s the intelligent was the most bullshit saying there existed…when it came to the demon in front of him.
No matter what plan you came up with, Even if you possessed unparalleled intelligence…In front of something ‘Absolute’ it was nothing. Completely nothing.
“Sigh…”
Ardoris sighed, watching his best friend be subjected to such a fate so many times had numbed his heart…and this was not the only thing he had to painfully see.
“How many more Aranus…?”
He asked the demon, and he responded with silence.
“…”
A black aura covered Aranus and a different voice escaped his mouth.
[You already know…Don’t you? Not until Celestia is razed to the ground and the [—-] is destroyed.]
It was the Abyss, using Aranus to convey it’s message.
Ardoris looked at it’s despicable visage with a hateful look and said,
“Destroy the [—]? You forget it was your creator. A creation cannot destroy it’s creator.”
[Yes…That may have been the case, but you forget ‘him’.]
Black tendrils coagulated from the black aura and held Aranus’s Face, caressing it like a mother would caress her child.
Ardoris was disgusted by such a sight. The Abyss acting like this was a…horrendous thing to witness.
[The sheer potential hidden within this vessel is just…amazing. With it…I can do it. I can destroy [—] and make this universe mine…Craft it in my image.]
“…”
Ardoris listened to it go on.
[I can do whatever I want you see…I just have to wait. When Aranus’ finally breaks down and the Jade snakes soul vanishes. I just have to wait until then.]
And then everything will be possible.
Ardoris unsheathed his blade, and a fiery aura covered his entire body.
[That determination of yours is commendable…would this make it the 500th loss?]
“I haven’t lost yet.”
[Yes, but you will soon. Well, I will take my leave. Enjoy you two.]
The abyss disappeared, and Aranus was back. He struggled for a while and stumbled. However, he was able to collect himself soon.
“What…did it say?”
He asked, weakened.
“You don’t need to know.”
Ardoris refused to answer, and simply raised his sword up.
Caliburn, the greatest weapon of Celestia shone with a divine light. Aranus responded by raising Vorfius, the greatest weapon of the abyss shone with a sinister hue as if to combat Caliburn.
“Come on, Bring it.”
“Alright.”
There voices were calm, as if they expected this to happen.
Aranus thrusted with Vorfius, and Ardoris parried the blow. He moved ahead, and Aranus kicked him in the stomach.
And just as I was about to see maybe the greatest fight of all time…The tower intervened.
[You have cleared the 49th floor, transporting to the 50th floor.]
𝑖.𝘤ℴ𝘮