LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 12: A Dying World
The very fabric of reality began to crack open as the portal materialized in the heart of Leor's realm. A rift that shimmered with an ethereal blue light, its edges crackling with energy. Leor, Shania, Seraphina, Azarath, and the contingent of demon and human guards emerged from the portal into a world teetering on the brink of oblivion, a world where Leor's heritage wasn't a secret, but the key to its very survival.
Valek'thar—a realm once renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, towering silver cities, and lush forests—was now a shadow of its former glory. It was home to many kinds of demons, but now it just didn't seem like it anymore. The sky, once vibrant with the pulse of energy, hung heavy and dark, suffused with an unnatural gloom.
The air itself felt thick, weighed down by the suffocating silence and the stench of decrepitude. The towering obsidian spires that once stood proud in the horizon now lay in ruin, crumbled into a lifeless rubble. And beneath the fractured remains of the demon cities, the ground had withered, its once fertile soil now cracked and barren.
Leor's heart clenched at the sight, his chest tightening with an emotion he could not express. This was his kingdom—a realm that had thrived under his rule and protection—and now, it had been reduced to nothing but a dying world.
Leor's eyes began to glow as visions began to flood his mind. He saw flashes of his people, once fierce and indomitable, forced to flee. He saw his soldiers try to stop the Devourer and in an instant, their entire essence ruthlessly absorbed by the glowing orb which had now grown in size. He saw them all reduced to nothing but wisps of smoke before the orb. He saw a massive rift and thousands of his subjects fleeing to other realms, he also saw those left behind, living in terror, hiding from the destruction that had come to claim their world.
Shania stepped forward, touching Leor's arm, her brow furrowing as she took in the devastation. "Damn," she whispered, her voice tight with emotion.
Seraphina knelt by the cracked ground, her fingers brushing against the brittle remains of what was once a vibrant plant, now reduced to dust. "The Devourer is ruthless. It's as if the very essence of the realm was drained." She explained, her voice was filled with disbelief, though beneath it was a simmering anger, one that matched the growing fury in Leor's eyes.
"The Devourer feeds on essence, draining it completely," Azarath muttered, his crimson eyes scanning the horizon. "It has consumed the essence of the realm itself. It's only a matter of time before it completely destroys it."
Before anyone could utter another word, Leor's body burst into flames as he began to morph into his demon form. Black scales erupted from his entire body as he grew bigger in size, transforming into a hulking figure. Horns, glinting like obsidian daggers, erupted from his skull. His eyes crackled with lightning as they glowed and looked exactly like thunder. Large feathery black wings unfurled from his back burning with a blue flame. With his transformation now fully complete, he surveyed the landscape with a mixture of sadness and rage. His claws glinting like sharp blades in the light.
Shania, after watching him transform, felt a tremor of unease crawl through her. This wasn't the initial form she had once seen when they first met; this was his true form, a creature of raw power and primal instincts. Yet, beneath his outward ferocity, she still saw the willingness to protect that others that had drawn her to him.
Seraphina, understanding how Leor felt, whispered softly, "We will stop the Devourer. We will save Valek'thar."
Suddenly, the soft shuffle of footsteps echoed in the distance. The group turned sharply, hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. From the shadows of a collapsed tower, a figure stumbled forward—a demon soldier, with legs and horns of a goat, and upper body of a human. The creature's silver armor was battered and caked with ash. The soldier's eyes widened as he caught sight of Leor, and without hesitation, he rushed forward.
"Your Majesty!" He cried, dropping to one knee before Leor, his voice trembling with both relief and urgency. "You've returned. We feared the worst... we thought you had abandoned us."
Leor stepped toward him, placing a hand on the his shoulder. "I would never do such a thing, Borias."
The soldier stuttered as began to recount all that happened. "It—it was the Devourer. At first, we—we, thought it was just an artifact with chaos magic, but it—it was something far worse. It consumed everything in its path. General Sonoron led our armies to stop it, but they were no match for it. As the Devourer grew unstoppable, the General managed to rally our remaining forces to open a rift, one large enough to send as many of our people as possible to safety in other realms. But... not all could be saved I'm afraid." His voice faltered. "Many were destroyed, and some scattered, hiding wherever they could find shelter."
Leor let out a low growl, his anger evident. Sonoron had always been one of his most trusted generals, a demon of immense strength and loyalty. The thought of him fighting a losing battle, struggling to save his people while he had been away, weighed heavily on him. "Where is Sonoron now?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.
The soldier shook his head, his expression grim. "He stayed behind with a small group of elite warriors and went after the Devourer, to prevent it from completely destroying our world, and also to give the others time to escape. That was the last we saw him. He and the soldiers headed north, to stop the Devourer. With our people gone, I stayed behind with hope that you would return and now, you're here, Your Majesty."
A heavy silence followed the soldier's words. Shania exchanged a glance with Seraphina, their faces filled with concern. Azarath remained silent but concerned.
Leor's heart ached with the weight of responsibility. His people had been forced to fend for themselves while he had been absent, focused on his quest for peace. And now, Sonoron—his most loyal general—was likely dead already, fighting a hopeless battle.
Leor's eyes crackled with lightning. "I'm here now," he muttered, his voice thick with assurance. "I will put an end to the Devourer."
"Yes," Shania said, stepping closer to Leor. "We must," she whispered.
Leor's gaze shifted to the landscape around them, to the ruined cities and the broken remnants of his once-great realm. He stepped forward with his eyes closed, reaching out with his mind to see everything.
With each step he took, the world seemed to respond. The wind picked up, swirling around him in a chaotic dance. The barren ground trembled, and with a tremor, a single, vibrant flower bloomed at everywhere his feet touched—a defiant splash of color in a desolate world.
Immediately, something happened—beneath his feet, the cracked ground began to glow with an ethereal green light, a glow that pulsed within the ground beneath him. The withered plants around the landscape shuddered, their brittle stems suddenly regaining color as their life force returned to them. The air around them felt lighter and carried the scent of the flowers.
"Leor..." Seraphina breathed in the fresh air, her eyes widening as she looked around, watching the transformation around them as all the plants and trees came back to life.
The ground had begun to heal rapidly, spreading life-force energy from the ground beneath Leor's feet. The dark clouds overhead parted slightly, allowing slivers of light to filter through. It was as if the realm itself was responding to Leor's presence, drawing strength from him.
Shania and Seraphina, witnessing this phenomenon felt a wave of understanding wash over them. The demon soldier marveled at the sight before him, and even the contingent of warriors the group had arrived with, were all surprised.
Leor wasn't just a demon prince; he was a being with a very deep connection to his realm's very essence. His presence, like a beacon of hope, seemed to awaken a flicker of life in his dying world.
"The life force of the realm has returned," Azarath rumbled, watching with a knowing glance. It is tied to you, Prince Leor. Valek'thar recognises you as its true ruler. Your return has restored its vitality. Though, Devourer still holds dominion here, your presence alone is enough to begin the realm's healing until we stop it."
Leor stared at the ground, feeling the surge of energy flow through him as he restored the essence of Valek'thar. The realm wasn't lost yet after all. There was still time to save it.
"We don't have long now," Seraphina said, her voice steady. "If the Devourer is in the north, then we must go."
Shania nodded, her determination matching Seraphina. "Yes, right away," Shania replied, her voice resolute.
Azarath, his usual arrogance replaced by a grim pragmatism, rumbled, "I couldn't agree more."
The soldier, still kneeling, looked up at Leor, happiness flickering in his eyes for the first time in what seemed like a while. "Your Majesty, I will come with you to protect you."
Leor raised a hand, silencing everyone. Even the wind responded to his unspoken command, immediately becoming silent though thick with the scent of flowers and a promise of violence.
With a deep breath, Leor closed his eyes, concentrating. His connection to his world, dormant for a while, pulsed with a renewed urgency as he reached out with his mind, tracking the Devourer. Images flooded his mind—images of the Devourer, how it destroyed thriving cities, how his soldiers tried to fight it, and most importantly, where the Devourer was.
When he finally opened his eyes, they cracked with fierce lightning. "I know where it is," he rumbled, his voice echoing in the desolate landscape. "Its still feeding on this world. We must get to it, quickly."
Leor turned to his soldier and signalled the demon to rise.
"We will put an end to this," he promised, his gaze hardening as he looked to the north. "Valek'thar will not fall today."
With a newfound determination, Shania stepped forward, her gaze meeting Leor's. "Then lead the way, Your Majesty. Let us finish this." she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
A predatory grin, crossed Leor's face. "Follow me," he instructed, his voice vibrating with power.
With a nod, they all followed him. Their minds preparing for what lay ahead.
As they moved through the landscape, there was a flicker of hope in their heart. The Devourer had come for Valek'thar, but now, its reckoning was near.
With Leor at their head, the group traversed the desolate landscape, all prepared to face the threat and save the realm teetering on the brink of destruction.