Chapter 651 143.1 - Voidborne

Chapter 651 143.1 - Voidborne

As Astron's body collapsed to the ground, his strength utterly spent, a strange pulse rippled through the air. From the fallen Void Dragon, a bubble of chaotic, purplish energy began to seep out, twisting and spiraling, moving with a malevolent intent toward him. The energy crackled, dense, and overwhelming, carrying with it the fury and essence of the defeated Primordial Demon.

Just as the dark energy neared Astron, a soft glow emanated from the necklace resting against his chest. From within it emerged the faint, ethereal form of Estelle, appearing more solid and composed than ever before. Her expression was a blend of sadness and faint regret as she regarded her unconscious brother, who lay battered and drained beneath her gaze.

"Brother..." she whispered, her voice gentle yet filled with an almost maternal warmth. Estelle reached out, brushing her hand softly along his face, her touch ghostly but filled with affection. "You're working really hard..." Her fingers trailed along his forehead, smoothing away the traces of strain and weariness that marred his features. A tender smile graced her lips, though sadness lingered in her eyes. "I'm sorry for not being able to show myself... yet."

She looked up, her gaze shifting to the chaotic energy hovering ominously in the air. The remnants of the Void Dragon's essence pulsed within it, wild and untamed. Estelle raised her hand, her fingers weaving through the currents of power as she steadied its chaotic flow.

"You've managed to conquer yet another one," she murmured, almost to herself, admiration and pride flickering in her gaze as she studied her brother. Then, with a calm resolve, she raised her hands, tracing intricate symbols in the air. "I shall guide this energy for you," she whispered, her voice laced with determination.

With each delicate movement of her fingers, Estelle directed the Void Dragon's energy toward Astron's body, guiding it with a practiced grace. The purplish aura wove through her hands, now refined and tempered, as she funneled it gently into Astron. The energy merged with him, its chaotic nature softened by her touch, flowing seamlessly into his body and intertwining with his essence.

As Estelle channeled the Void Dragon's energy toward Astron, a faint glow began to bloom above them. A small moon materialized in the air, illuminating the pair with a soft, mystical light. The colors shifted gently from green to red, from purple to blue, then to a muted grey before becoming a shimmering, translucent hue, casting an otherworldly glow that ebbed and flowed with her chants.

Her voice was low, melodic, woven with an ancient rhythm that seemed to resonate with the light itself:

"Vires lunaris, effunde mihi,

Ad fraternum cor, in unitate tua, n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Fluere tranquillus, sanguine fortis,

Infunde potentiam, manere victoris."

'This is no place to linger. There's a chance someone noticed the Void Dragon's death,' I reasoned. Killing a Primordial of the Void wouldn't go unnoticed forever, and it was only a matter of time before someone came to investigate. I'd stirred up enough trouble for one day.

I glanced around, my mind already planning my exit. There was no room for distractions, not even to check my own status window. I'd have to trust that the gains would be there when I needed them.

'Time to go,' I decided, one final look at the fallen dragon sealing my resolve. I had survived, come out stronger, but staying any longer would only invite new dangers.

Without wasting a moment, I reached into my coat and pulled out a newly acquired storage ring—a large-capacity one I'd invested in recently, bought for exactly this purpose. The Void Dragon's carcass was a treasure trove of valuable materials, and leaving it behind was out of the question. Dragon scales, bones, organs—all of it could be crafted into rare artifacts or used to study the unique properties of Void energy.

With a thought, I activated the storage ring, channeling mana into it. The dragon's massive form shimmered and, piece by piece, vanished into the spatial storage, leaving only faint wisps of residual energy where its body had once been. Satisfied, I slipped the ring back onto my finger, feeling the weight of the dragon's remains securely within.

Turning, I took hold of the necklace, feeling its familiar weight in my palm. I focused, and the mana within me responded. This energy wasn't like any I'd wielded before; it was deep, consuming, a darkness that thrived in silence. The [Voidborne] trait had settled naturally within me, instinctive, its presence pulsing in rhythm with my own mana. Although I hadn't yet seen the full details in my status window, I could feel an innate understanding of how to control this Void energy.

As I channeled Void mana into the necklace, it began to glow, its surface radiating with an otherworldly light. The space around me warped, the dimensions bending and folding with each pulse of energy I fed into the artifact.

WARP! In an instant, the air twisted, and the familiar pull of spatial displacement seized me. The cavern, the dragon's grave, and the eerie sky vanished as reality bent around me, transporting me back to the world I'd come from.

The world settled around me, and I felt the familiar, solid weight of the ground beneath my feet. The oppressive mana of the dragon's lair was gone, replaced by the more neutral energy of the dimension I'd returned to.

I blinked, allowing my senses to adjust as I took in my surroundings. I'd emerged just outside the entrance to the hidden tunnel I'd entered earlier, the faint glow of the teleportation magic fading from the space around me. The atmosphere was eerily quiet, the cavernous pathway deserted and untouched, as if no one had been aware of the Void Dragon's existence or its death.

I took a deep breath, grounding myself. My body felt alive, every fiber humming with the new, potent power coursing through me. With the Void Dragon's carcass securely stored and the [Voidborne] trait now a part of me, I had achieved everything I'd set out for.

After a quick assessment of the surroundings, I knew I had to leave this place immediately. The Void Clan, the Federation—any number of groups could have sensed the disruption, and it wouldn't be long before someone came to investigate.

Adjusting my coat, I set my sights on the distant exit, stepping into the shadows as I prepared to make my way out of this place.