The ruined western district of Tartarus had become unrecognizable.
Buildings had collapsed. Roads had split apart.
Smoke drifted upward into the endless sky of Tiamat and standing amidst it all Erethon remained motionless.
His original form radiated quietly.
His body remained that impossible shade of black that looked less like color and more like absence. His shape glitched occasionally, his silhouette breaking apart and reforming as if reality refused to render him correctly.
Before him Vizer stood trapped. No, Not trapped…Surrounded.
Dermos.
The manifestation of fear. Dark colossal entities towered around him.
Each one possessed enormous bodies made of condensed darkness and countless glowing red eyes. They had no mouths, No identities, No names. Only presence. Vizer inhaled sharply Then moved. His crimson blade formed instantly.
He flashed through one of the giant manifestations The slash passed through. No damage. Another. Again. Still Nothing.
The creatures remained. Watching and Waiting.
Vizer clicked his tongue.
His crimson aura surged violently.
He crossed thousands of meters instantly and carved through dozens yet they simply reformed.
Then One moved. A massive hand descended.
Vizer barely turned….BOOOOOM.
His body crashed through buildings.
Stone exploded. Entire streets were destroyed.
He bounced Twice.
Then rolled across shattered pavement before stopping.
Blood spilled from his mouth. For a few seconds he was out.
Then Vizer opened his eyes and froze.
Someone stood before him.
Just A man. Six feet tall and Entirely black.
Two glowing red eyes and a smile. The figure looked down at him silently.
Vizer's body stiffened. His breathing became uneven. His pupils contracted. His lips trembled. Then He lowered his head.
"Father…"
His voice shook.
"Forgive me for not completing the mission."
Silence.
Then A voice appeared behind him.
"So Ra is your greatest fear…"
Vizer froze.
"…and you refer to him as father?"
Vizer turned.
Erethon stood there. Hands inside his robe. Head tilted..Watching.
Vizer's expression twisted.
His body exploded forward.
He threw a punch Erethon leaned. Another. Erethon moved again. Vizer attacked faster.
His fists shattered the air, Destroyed the streets and Collapsed nearby towers But Erethon simply stepped around them. Like someone avoiding rain.
Then Erethon moved. His right hand landed softly on Vizer's head.
Immediately the crimson shell shattered. The aura disappeared, God's Descent vanished.
The transformation ended instantly. Vizer's eyes widened. His breathing became unstable.
His voice cracked.
"What…"
He swallowed.
"…what are you planning to do?"
Erethon smiled.
Not kindly or cruelly..Just honestly. His glowing eyes narrowed.
"Insanity."
And Vizer screamed.
Not from damage. Something entered, Something impossible.
Thoughts that were not his. Memories that weren't memories, Knowledge without meaning, Questions without answers, Order became disorder, Logic became uncertainty.
Every possibility existed simultaneously and the future and past became indistinguishable.
His own identity began dissolving.
His knees hit the ground. He screamed louder and louder. Then Silence.
His body stopped moving.
His eyes rolled white.
Drool slowly dripped from his mouth.
His hands twitched once, twice and then became still. Erethon looked down at him.
His expression remained unchanged.
Then…CRACK.
He crushed Vizer's head beneath his hand.
The body collapsed.
Erethon looked down silently. Then spoke.
"You're not worthy of insanity."
Elsewhere-
Tartarus trembled as Rayon stood alone, Before him A giant monster larger than mountains.
Its body stretched beyond floating islands.
Its roar shattered clouds. Its foot descended and Shadow swallowed Rayon.
Nothing happened at first then the foot separated. The cut appeared first. Then the blood.
The monster froze Its eyes widened. Its head slid off. Its lower body split apart.
Countless wounds appeared simultaneously. Its flesh collapsed into pieces and then Blood Rained. Endless rain.
The city of Tartarus was bathed crimson.
Rayon stood beneath it. Chains of the Abyss rested on his shoulder in sword form.
He glanced at the falling remains. Then continued walking.
Back in the western district Nyk descended from the sky. His black coat moved slightly in the wind. Destroyer rested across his shoulder.
He looked at the body then looked at Erethon. Then back again. He blinked.
"You could've just killed him, you know?"
Erethon looked over. Then smiled.
"Where's the chaos in that?"
Nyk stared for several seconds then looked away, His expression said enough. Insane wasn't enough to classify this man.
At Relish the forge room glowed orange. Heat distorted the air.
Blood dripped slowly onto wooden floorboards.
Simon stood beside the furnace. His breathing had become uneven. A hole remained through his chest.
His old body shook but his grip…His grip remained firm.
The legendary blacksmith lifted his hammer.
Across from him Miyuki stood silently. Her right hand still stained red. She looked at him Expressionless.
Then She raised her hand and licked the blood from her fingers.
Simon's eyes trembled. Not from fear but from grief.
Then Miyuki disappeared.
She dashed straight toward her father. The old blacksmith tightened his grip. His eyes sharpened. The forge roared as father and daughter collided.