Chapter 20: Ascendancy of the Hellvine Sovereign
Prologue: The Grimoire's Whisper
The air hummed with residual magic as Nero stood at the edge of the Eye of Destruction, Eri's borrowed form now shed like a second skin. In his palm, the Root of Mana materialized—a grimoire bound in writhing shadows and gilded runes. Baltimore's breath hitched.
Grandpa (awe-struck):
"The Root… Legends say it holds the first incantations scribed by the Primordial itself. How—?"
Nero (tossing it to him):
"Use it. Teach the village. I've no need for dusty pages."
Baltimore clutched the tome, its leather cold as a corpse's touch. "Dusty pages?" He nearly laughed. This book could unravel reality.
Scene 1: The Sovereign's Return
Nero soared from the Eye, his cloak billowing like a storm cloud. Below, Aryavarta's legions amassed—spears glinting, mages chanting, their fear a tang in the air.
General Zoke (bellowing):
"Halt, fiend! The king's justice awaits!"
Nero hovered, his hood shadowing eyes that glowed like dying stars.
Nero (mockingly):
"Justice? Your king trades in blood, not justice."
Arata lunged, his blade screeching against an invisible barrier.
Arata (spitting):
"Coward! Face me!"
Nero (coolly):
"You're beneath my blade. But since you insist…"
He snapped his fingers.
Scene 2: The Calamity Unleashed
The ground split, frost crawling like serpents from the fissure. The Calamity of Frost emerged—a titan of ice and rage, its roar freezing the very air. Soldiers shattered mid-scream, their armor brittle as glass.
General Kenta (retreating):
"Fall back! This isn't battle—it's slaughter!"
Nero watched, detached, as the beast carved through ranks.
Nero (to Zoke):
"Tell Fernando I'm coming. And pray I'm merciful."
He vanished, leaving the generals knee-deep in carnage.
Epilogue: The King's Shadow
Fernando's Sanctum — Midnight
A raven alighted on the king's shoulder, its eyes reflecting Nero's ascent.
Fernando (smiling):
"The Hellvine Gate… Perfect. Let him play savior. When he kneels before the Primordial, even his power will beg to be mine."
Deep beneath the palace, something ancient stirred.
Author's Note:
Nero's reign begins, but Fernando's machinations coil tighter. The Root of Mana's secrets await, and the Primordial's hunger grows. Next: Throne of Shattered Skies, where masks crack and gods tremble.
—Where the sovereign's shadow eclipses the sun.