Shadow of the Abyss

"It's all gone…" Davos said, shrouded by waves of sand cascading beneath the endless night. Dunes rustled, forming large canyons forged of sand that seemed nearly endless, propelled by Dead Laws that altered the state of reality. Ensuring no life could exist within this desert biome.

He didn't recognize the land anymore. It had all been claimed beneath another king after his defeat by the hands of one of the Monarchs of Hell. His land was conquered, the men, woman, and children he'd once reared perhaps torn asunder by some unknown lord, only to meet his end by another.

His world was no longer the bright heavenly realm he had spent nearly a chaos cycle molding from nothing but a dust-filled dune in which nothing could exist.

"The Strong Eat The Weak," he muttered, closing his eyes, burdened by sorrow that echoed from his depths. He sighed. "If a land cannot survive without its king, does it deserve to survive?"

"Forgive me, children of Ska'ar. It would seem I failed. Twice." Fist clenched, Davos knelt, passing his fingers through the sands of his home. "May the sands of time grant you life once more." He prayed, recalling the faces of old and young, and closed his heart to it all.

For five years, Davos walked the dune land of Sa'ar through the Dead Laws that inverted the laws of the land. Cold became hot and hot cold through Regions that once represented life twisted into death, killing all who entered it; he passed through nearly perishing to the Dead Laws on more occasions.

Still, he held out hope. Since Sa'ar had not entirely perished, there was still hope. Still, a possibility that what he'd hidden remained. From his time in the lower Realm, the peak of all creation was the Chaos Lords, entities who'd master all paths of the Dao.

To achieve such a feat, many Chaos Lords would often enter the Wheel of Reincarnation to create a new path, journeying to the ancient stash they'd left behind in order to reclaim their lost power once they achieved what was needed.

Davos hadn't needed to make that sacrifice to reach the peak but had always managed to consider the idea of having a dozen or so stashes a necessity in times of great need. He'd never imagined it possible he could be defeated.

Not once, but it had been Rayla, a child he'd adopted after his ascension through the Thirty-Three Heavens, who had insisted on it after she'd heard his thoughts of combating the Monarch of the Nine Hells.

'How right she was,' Davos considered, smiling, tightening the cloak used to defend against the ravaging elements. His mana had depleted years ago. And Astral Energy was simply too precious to use now that he was cultivating the soul using a conditional Vow. The less he used his soul for the next ten years, the purer it would become.

He'd already sealed most of its function, blinding himself to most things.

It was Beelzebub who'd allowed him to return to his world under the condition of a favor paid in the future. He wasn't so keen on the idea, but options were limited. All that he was given was a Ninth Circle Shard before he was left to his devices.

"I'm here…" Davos muttered, squeezing what little mana he could without relying on his will to transfigure water. He looked unraveled. Disheveled hair and emaciated flesh that had seemed to have aged considerably. What regality he once held seemed to have vanished after five years of torment.

"I remember this place…" he said aloud, his eyes glancing around at the dunes that obscured his vision of the skies and horizon. He squatted down, remembering the stunning emerald sea that once touched the horizon. It had been said even the Seraphim of the Heavens would travel from their realm in the hopes of merely glimpsing what was said to be one of the Twelve Wonders of the Myriad Heavens.

"Serph. It seems you were taken." He said, shaking his head. "No… you probably left after I fell. I was the only reason you stayed in the Myriad. Are you in heaven now? Gabriel must have kept his word." He smiled decrepitly.

"I thought I'd at least be able to see you once more. But I can trust that Gabriel would keep his word. He's a fool but an honorable one."

Davos stilled himself, pulling the mind away from thoughts of old, outstretching his hand, clenching some invisible space. "By the Vow of Earth, Heaven, and Soul, hear the call of Davos of Sa'ar, And reveal thy self to the one to wields the Blade of Chaos. "

The realm shuddered. The dead laws that infested Sa'ar receded beyond the endless night in which no star could exist. A door appeared in a cloak of mist before him, golden and regal. Yet Devos was not pleased, for the door appeared ajar.

His brow arched as he pushed his way into a Heavenly Realm that had grown far beyond his imagination. A mere breath rendered him whole. He gasped as his emaciated flesh grew plump with meat and water. He stared out at the endless forest and land, which held everything he would need to reach the peak once more if he so pleased.

It wasn't something he wished just yet, but it was something he was looking forward to in the future.

[Welcome Back Administrator]

'The spirit is still alive. That's good,' He thought and said," Have you gained full awareness of the self?"

"Yes, Administrator." the Spirit said," I have taken the name Silia."

Davos grew amused. "And you've not tried to leave?" He glanced back at the door behind him, open wide. She could leave now. It was clear to him she was perhaps the one that had left the door ajar.

"The Empress is about to be born," said Silia cooly, appearing before Davos. Her soft olive-colored skin and golden eyes glowed beneath the artificial sun he'd once created. Beauty itself seemed to come alive beneath her appearance as she slowly fell to one knee.

"The Empress?" said Davos, arching a brow. "Did someone break in?"

Despite her olive-colored skin, Silia's blushing was notable. "I… tried to break out."

Davos wasn't surprised. He was trapped in the Hells for what might have been a Hell Cycle. After all, what sentient being wanted to be trapped?"

"I ask for forgiveness."

"You need not ask for forgiveness. It was your right. Can I assume you've rummaged through my things as well?"

Silia shook her head. 'I wouldn't dare, my Lord. But…"

"Say it," said Davos, his voice hard and cold.

"I have been feeding the child… various materials after my escape attempt failed. Something got in. A soul. A newborn soul. One that has yet to touch the wheel of reincarnation." Tilting his head, Silia continued, "The door was ajar, and I was too weak to close it. But after the strange soul entered, I was able to use my authority in this realm to seal the entrance of anyone who wasn't my Master."

'So she didn't kill the soul but allowed it to grow.' Davos thought, and he said," How long ago was that?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Five thousand Chaos Cycles Ago."

"Five thousand!" Davos yelped. He'd never heard of a soul incubating for that long. Not even High Imperials were induced for that long within the vat. "Take me to this Empress."

Silia obeyed, compelled by an authority that bound her to this land. She forced herself to her feet, teleporting the both of them towards an azure blue shard. An abyssal Shard he'd found in the Abyss during his last expedition. Within the crystal, he saw it. A small infant female, smaller than his palm.

He blinked, taken back by the little thing, and glanced at Silia. "She… How the hell is she alive?"

Silia did not answer. She, too, didn't understand. But the day the soul found its way into the crystal, she buckled to her knees.

Davos drew in on the child but could see nothing aside from its sleeping exterior. It was beautiful, with milky skin and tender lashes. Her hair hadn't come in yet, but even he felt enthralled by the infant's majesty.

An Empress, indeed.

"What is it?" He finally asked, entertaining the idea of keeping it.

"I'm not sure, my Lord. But… I think it's Primordial."

Davos didn't entertain the idea and said," Don't be ridiculous are constant. There…"

"The readings claim otherwise, my lord," said Silia. "The Child is a Primordial or something relating to it."

"What the hell is it the primordial of then? The Primordials of all elements already exist. What could this one be? Karma?"

"Zariel killed that one."

"That bloody name again." Davos snapped, a hungry smile rising.

"Readings indicate it's not a Heavenly Dao… But a Mortal Dao. But as for which one? I cannot be sure."

Davos's expression turned to stone as his mind blanked. 'A primordial of a mortal dao? Could something like that exist?'

"Reading also shows there are Six Lines of Karma connecting to the Empress. Most likely indicating brother and sisters."

"Seven Children? Seven Primordials? What a strange number." Davos mused, arching his lips as he laid himself down on the grass. He smiled and said, "Well, I guess in this life. I can still be a father once more."