Chapter 254: Ryun

Chapter 254: Ryun

Difficult Conversations

The great wolf ran across the endless dark, a white shape keeping pace on his side. The stars flickered around them, tiny spots in the distance. They were hurrying, though they could not be late. A True Death was never late.

Their target was a being whose death was near, someone who was old and powerful. Who might decide not to accept his time. The wolf wondered if he was going to get a chase, it had been a long time since he had gotten a chase worthy of all his power.

As one of the first and most important Aspects in existence, True Death was a foundation upon which all of reality stood. Their power was without equal among the Aspects, with only a couple ever being able to act on their level.

With another step, they knew that it was time, in the next moment they were pulled through space itself by their purpose. They arrived at their target, a massive mountain the size of some worlds. In the center of it was a wide and a round hole, a cavity that had been carved out over generations beyond counting. By the first inhabitants of this world and all those that had come after.

The mountain was filled with people, but none of them could see them. The wolf and the scythe stood in the center, watching the person they were there for. The Great Dragon of Time was old, older than his entire race several times over. His great power and mastery had allowed him to travel through time, to live lifetimes for every moment since the beginning of the universe. To slow down his aging to a crawl. But all things must come to an end, even time must run out eventually.

His body could no longer handle his great power. The Twin Aspects of True Death watched as the Dragon civilization wept for their god, as they wailed for his death.

The Great Dragon breathed his last breath, and then a moment later it happened. The last effort of a mortal being, attempting to cheat True Death. The world fell away as they were transported to a place beyond time and space, a realm crafter by a dragon who believed himself to be a god.

His body reverted to his youth, to the peak of his power, and he opened his eyes.

I did it, the dragon whispered.

You did nothing but prolong the inevitable, Scythe said.

The dragon whirled around, his eyes locking with the wolf and scythe. You you are them, arent you? Death?n0ve(l)bi(n.)co/m

We are those who give the gift. We are those who are hated, and who are whispered about in fear. We are those whose name is used to scare children. We are those who all mortal beings must meet.

I am not a mortal! The dragon bellowed. I am the master of Time!

Then you above all others must know, that all things have their time and place. And this is the moment of your death, Scythe said.

The dragons power roared up, and the wolf gnashed his teeth. At last, a worthy hunt.

Ryun woke up and immediately sat up. He rarely slept these days, but from time to time, he did get the urge. He didnt think that he needed it really, but sometimes when he did, he remembered something of the Aspect of True Deaths life. He focused inward, to the place where he had placed the remnants of the being that used to be the wolfthe Reaper. It was entwined with his technique, a remnant of a remnant. It shouldnt be anything, and yet there were memories.

Sometimes, he wondered just what was left of it. A fraction of a fraction shouldnt be anything, and yet it was a fraction of a being that was one half of the Aspect of True Death. A fraction of a remnant might still be something. He shook his head, aside from the memories he didnt have any other issues.

He shook his head, banishing the dream and stood up. He needed to get ready for the trip.

The void pushed inside of his body as he willed it. He was in the tier 9 area of the Void plane; his body had almost fully adjusted to it. It still hurt him, but with his regeneration he could survive for a lot longer. He pushed the Void Essence into his core, overdrawing into his already full core and deepening it. He didnt have much time, so push all of his will on the Void surrounding him. It was a strange process, he wasnt even sure if he was doing anything, or rather he wouldnt be if he couldnt tell the rush of Void through his conduits. Regardless, he could increase his intake by a lot, though he tired himself out the more he tried. And that could be dangerous. Overtaxing his willpower could lead to falling unconscious, which would be bad if it happened in the Void Plane.

When he felt himself reach a limit, he stopped and pushed himself out of the Void plane. Once in the air, he pulled out a set of robes from his forge and made his way down to the forest beneath him. It was the middle of the night, and the camp that they had made was in a small cave off the road.

Erdania and Selia were inside, talking quietly. Ryun of course heard everything that they were talking about on his way down, but he tried not to react. Keeping his emotions in check. He didnt want Selia to think that he was spying on them. He made his way down as fast as he could so that he didnt hear too much.

He made noise as he landed on purpose, then walked into the camp.

Welcome back, Selia said.

Thanks for your understanding, Ryun said. I dont know if I will have more chances to do this in the future.

Tomorrow they were supposed to take a teleporter that would take them directly to the port city where they were supposed to meet the rest of the team. He doubted that he would be able to visit the Void plane everyday while they were on a ship.

The silence returned again, and no one spoke until it was time to leave.

They didnt touch on the topic of their conversation in the cave again. They arrived in the port a day later through the teleporter.

The city was made mostly out of wood, with a large fort on top of a hill. People walked about hurriedly, carrying crates or pushing them on elaborate carts and a few floating contraptions. The three of them made their way through the people to the docks.

Once theyve gotten close enough Ryun saw a ship from the Infinite Realm for the first time. There were many of them in the harbor, but one drew the eye more than any other.

It looked it looked like a modern ship, sleek on the sides with a flat top on the front and the back, while the middle had something that resembled a pyramid with open decks. The flat parts had massive turrets, that from afar looked like they were modern but on closer look were something entirely different. The turrets werent turrets at all, but just prongs that resembled tuning forks, with no opening for anything to fire. The ship had six total turrets, with two of them being around double the size of the others.

The sides of the ship near the center where the pyramid was had additional armor, looking like wings that were folded over the side. The entire ship looked like it was made out of a single type of Essence. With his sense he could feel the people walking about even from this distance. The ship was massive, at least a kilometer long, if not more. And it was surrounded by hundreds of other ships of all kinds of make. Some were made out of wood, resembling ships that he had learned about in Earths history. Others were unique and unlike anything that he had ever seen before.

Thats our ride, Erdania said, startling him.

It is impressive, Ryun told her.

Erdania nodded. The deadliest ship on the ocean, it could lay waste to half the Golden Coast in an instant. If it was pushed to its limits.

Ryun knew that the Golden Coast stretched for a few thousand kilometers, but he didnt doubt it. The ship just looked dangerous.

They made their way down and caught a ride on a small boat to the ship. There they were met with a couple of people. The one in front was a large drake woman. Both Selia and Erdania bowed their heads to her and greeted her.

Dracael, they said.

Finally, the drake womanDracaelsaid. Weve been waiting for months.

Apologies, Erdania said. We had to make sure that our people were safe.

Well, at least you are here now, then her eyes turned to look at Ryun. And this is the last member of our team I assume?

Ryun stepped forward and inclined his head. I am Ryun Nacht.

Ah, the Undying Void, Dracael nodded. I guess that we might test that name by the time we are done.

She turned around and gestured at the people that stood behind her.

These are the rest of the team, Dracael gestured at the closest one. This is Vryull.

A tall cthull met Ryuns eyes and then nodded. Ryun could tell that there was something familiar about him, not the person itself, but the sense around him, though he couldnt quite place it. The drake woman moved on, pointing at a ravzor with bright white fur and slim build.

And that is Maleatus, she said as the man grinned at Erdania and Selia.

Heya girls! You miss me?

Erdania and Selia ignored him and looked at Dracael. I thought that Eratemus was coming as well?

He is, Dracael said. We got one of his bodies in a coffin in the storage. There is no need for him to be here for the trip itself. He has enough stuff to work on here.

Ah, Selia said.

You wound me, Maleatus said as he put a clawed hand over his heart.

And the last two members of our small team, Dracael turned to look at the side, ignoring the ravzor as well. Near the passage that led into the ship the last two stood apart, glaring in their direction. Ryun had already sensed them there but didnt look in their direction. As she pointed, he turned around.

Zacharia and Nahamassa of the Wardens, Dracael said.

Ryun and Zach looked at each other, for a moment everything else fell apart and there was only the two of them in the entire world. It seemed like this trip was going to be even more interesting than he had assumed after his talk with Erdania and Selia. He hoped that it wasnt that long of a trip.