Chapter 492: The End of It All
“RAAAGGHHH!”
A roar of pain erupted, followed by dark blood splashing out of Emeris’ maw as he looked up into Ryuk’s golden burning eyes, the remnants of life leaving his body as Ryuk activated a second skill.
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Cryo-Eternal Devourer: Absorbs thermal energy turning foes into frozen husks.
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“Your imagination technique is not supreme, neither is this body you’re using,” Ryuk said.
“I don’t know how you got the brush that you turned into your arm, but I can guess it’s an art. And all you do is combine your bizzare dark Aetheris power with your brush to paint your will onto the world.”
“It allows you to ‘summon’ your imagination into effect, after turning the realm to yours with your brush canvas.”
“But I can sense it—every imagination of yours drains a massive amount of energy. And for some reason, I can sense that you had the power to finish me with one imagination.”
“But fear prevented”
“Not just of one thing, but two things.”
“First, you’re scared of close combat with me. Probably because your body won’t last much against me. Meaning your art is not a physically strengthened one.”
“And second, because using an imagination that could outright kill me will take too much energy. Energy that’s probably enough to take your life in return.”
“And for some reason, you have a very low amount of energy compared to what you should have.”
“At least, compared to the amount of energy I’ve been told you have…” Ryuk said, as more dark blood splashed out from High Scholar Emeris before he grinned wildly and replied.
“Opening the Gate of Souls Ruin takes 30% of my energy, and opening the Soulful Ruin of Niagara takes 40%. That’s 70%, and I won’t be gaining them back until three years from now.”
“If I had that, I would have simply decided you were never awake, and you would have fallen asleep the second this battle started, never waking up until I’ve conducted all my research on your abilities.”
“BLEEERRGGGHHH!”
“Call me weak, but don’t say I lack imagination…” High Scholar Emeris said, as Ryuk scoffed, removing his hand from his heart just before he could completely suck out the man’s entire life force as he grabbed him by his neck.
“No, you’re just foolish to allow yourself to use so much energy when you knew we could rebel at any time.”
“You’re too confident in yourself. So confident, you think that clone of yours would have succeeded to keep me at bay, or you would have been more cautious.”
“And that’s the reason for your death!” Ryuk said, his left arm winding backward as he prepared his claws.
“Well, do it pretty fast. My granddaughters are coming with their father. I’d rather not have my death scene be the last thing they see…” High Scholar Emeris said just as Ryuk’s eyes flashed, turning to the void—and true to the man’s words, silvery light figures instantly tore through the air area of the void, eyes scanning the surrounding before pausing onto Ryuk’s figure, their eyes flashing with shock and horror.
“YOU! YOU BASTARD!” King Aurmeis roared out loud as he launched himself forward with speed. But just before he could cover half length, Ryuk’s calm voice rang out.
“My claws will cleave through his skull faster than you can reach me.”
The words ran directly in King Auremis’ heart as his speed slowed down.
But it only slowed as he continued with speed toward Ryuk, only to be held back by three ancient elders who struggled to hold him back, while holding angered expressions themselves but they knew well, Ryuk’s words were true.
High scholar Emeri’s life force was undulating so weekly that even a person half Ryuks current power will have no problem ending him.
“You ungrateful Bastard!”
“All of the help we have given you!”
“We allowed you to join the Coming of Age Ceremony.”
“We allowed you to enter our most sacred grounds—the Soulful Ruin of Niagara!”
“We allowed you to stay in the same class and learn of our ways with our younglings.”
“We allowed you and even had a meeting on the suggesting for you to be allowed to become one of our realm’s guardians in three days from now!”
“And what are you doing!?”
“Anything a robot would have done!”
“I knew you were nothing more than that. I always felt it!” King Auremis roared out in Ryuk’s face as the elders struggled to hold him back with energy symbols locking down his movement and forming a barrier around him, yet his aura only got wilder and wilder as more elders joined in to hold him back.
“It was never about your race. It was always about him and me!” Ryuk said, turning his attention back to High Scholar Emeris, whose transformation began reverting back.
Ryuk watched as his body turned back into that of a normal form.
But this time, he had undergone change.
For once, the scholar’s previously youthful face had gone wrinkled, and his body had become thin and frail.
“Grandpa!”The childish cry rang out as tears streamed from Elliana’s face, looking at her grandfather in those sclay arms.
To her, he had always been a hero.
And truthfully, to every single Silverunics, her grandfather—Emeris Von Lauren—had always been a hero to the Silverunic race.
But to watch him frail and dying in those arms…
When she turned to look at Ryuk—who also turned to look at her—streaks streamed from her eyes.
“I… I never meant to call you a monster.”
“I’m sorry. I truly am!”
“Please… don’t kill my grandfather… too.”She said, sobbing.
But the words were what she was to Ryuk—The cry of a dumb, desperate child.
“One thing…” Ryuk said, as he turned to look at High Scholar Emeris, who opened his eyes.
“What is that?”
“An Energy Core Reactor!” Ryuk said, as the ancient elders’ faces sizzled in confusion while High Scholar Emeris’ eyes flashed in shock.
“An energy core reactor!? The energy within is that of a mini-sun.”
“Why would you need an Energy Core Reactor?” High Scholar Emeris asked, and Ryuk’s hand swung instantly as he reached for his head.
All he wanted was a reason not to kill him and now that that has failed.
He could have what his heart truly desired: Killing the one who turned him to a lab rat.
But mere inches before his claws could reach it—
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPLLLEEEE.
An incredibly bright bulb of energy undulated forth, causing Ryuk’s arm to pulse as he felt an incredibly powerful radiation of energy.
The elders all turned to the source—and they watched it was none other than the Queen, who was holding a single glowing gem the size of an egg floating in her hands.
“My Queen. That—!”
“That is our Our Royal Home’s Power Core. It powers our entire city, its defense and offensice systems, the lighting, and even the City Protection runes.”
“What are you doing, Eilertith!” King Aurmeis said but they were all ignored as the Queen walked right past them, appearing five meters away from Ryuk.
“Here’s the Energy Core Reactor you want. It still has 95% of its energy left,” she said to Ryuk, who looked at the energy core before turning to look at High Scholar Emeris—burning light of fury in his eyes.
But in the end, his claws finally released as Queen Eilerith moved, picking up High Scholar Emeris before he could fall further into the void.
Ryuk’s hand reached for the energy core, his eyes flashing as the golden panel appeared before his gaze.
Then he turned to look at the Silverunics who had already gathered to the side of High Scholar Emeris—their eyes looking at Ryuk, a mixture of shock, fury, hate, and some bit of gratefulness.
“You’re lucky you’re a good man to your race.” Those words were the last thing that was heard before a bizarre, grey-white Aetheris vortex suddenly appeared before Ryuk.
It moved forward, swallowing him within, and in that instant—
Ryuk faded away from the place as if he was never there to begin with.
High Scholar Emeris’ eyelids grew heavier from exhaustion as he was slowly carried off, yet his gaze still locked onto the place where Ryuk had left—a flash in his eyes.
“Ten minutes, huh?”
“Now I understand…”
Do you?