The western wastes of Eldrin faded into the distance as Beelzebub and his party returned to the city, the Relic of Order clutched in his hand, its golden light pulsing with a divine warmth that clashed violently with his chaotic aura. The void-black sky over Eldrin churned with crimson streaks, the Abyssborn's shadow looming larger, its presence a suffocating weight. The air was thick with the scent of iron, void, and divine energy, the relic's glow a stark contrast to the chaos beyond. The ground trembled with the Abyssborn's heartbeat, a rhythm that thundered in Beelzebub's veins, a call that threatened to unravel him. At Level 39, with 49235 EXP, Beelzebub's stats were a towering force—Strength at 19179, Speed at 15108, Defense at 9281 (adjusted with the +5% Defense from the Order Sovereign title), Mana at 21845 (including +250 Mana from the Relic of Order), Luck at 1840, Charisma at 1890 after absorbing the Guardian of Order's essence. His aura, a twenty-meter storm of cold dominance amplified by his Devourer profession, shimmered with void-like tendrils laced with crimson, fractured reality, chaos, light, divine essence, time, pure chaos, shadow, and order, a visual testament to the Order Sovereign bloodline and Order Pulse talent. The SS-tier Eclipse Scythe in his hand glowed with a blood-red hue (+100 Strength, +35% Blood Damage), its hum a constant reminder of the Abyssborn's will, while the Relic of Order at his side (+250 Mana, +40% Order Damage) pulsed with a divine light, amplifying the storm within.
The voices in his mind—Order's light, Shadow's chaos, Wraith's shadow—clawed louder, a cacophony that threatened to unravel him, the Abyssborn's voice a roaring tempest. Devourer… you cannot wield order… you are mine… The strain of Gluttony pulsed harder, his identity a fraying tapestry woven with stolen wills, the Relic of Order's divine energy searing his chaotic core—HP dropping 10% from the internal clash. He clenched the Eclipse Scythe, its crimson glow reflecting in his void-like eyes—eyes that flickered with a blood-red, shadow, reality-fractured, chaos-laced, light-infused, divine, time-threaded, pure chaos, shadow, and order sheen, a physical manifestation of his evolving magic. He growled, "I'm Beelzebub," shoving the chaos down, but the doubt in his crimson gaze deepened. The relic's divine energy was a burning weight, its light fighting his chaos, threatening to purify or destroy him. A philosophical question gnawed at him, unvoiced: Am I strong enough to wield this, or will it break me?
Ryn walked beside him, her cloak stained with the light and chaos of the Sanctum of Order, her dagger sheathed, her posture tense but steady. Her trust had risen to 90% after their shared trial in the sanctum, and her eyes, though shadowed by her cursed past, held a quiet concern as she glanced at Beelzebub's trembling hand. "You're… not okay," she said, her voice a whisper, heavy with worry. "That relic… it's hurting you."
Beelzebub turned, Charisma weaving a flirty edge into his sharp tone, but his gaze softened with a rare vulnerability. "It's a fight, Blade, but I'll win it. Stay with me—you'll see me master it." Her lips curved into a faint smile, her trust ticking up to 92%, the bond between them deepening with each shared trial. She stepped closer, her hand resting on his chest, the touch a quiet anchor against the storm within. "I'm with you," she whispered, her voice a thread of hope that warmed him more than he'd admit. In that moment, her eyes softened, a flicker of something deeper passing between them. "Beelzebub… I'd follow you anywhere… no matter what," she said, her voice trembling with emotion—a heartfelt confession that formalized their bond.
The Goddess of Life walked nearby, her golden hair shimmering like sunlight, her emerald eyes glowing with a nurturing light. Her aura was a soft glow that seemed to heal the air, flowers blooming in the cracked stone where she stepped, though they wilted under the Abyssborn's shadow. "Beelzebub… the relic's divine energy is too strong," she said, her voice a melody of life and concern. "It fights your chaos… let me ease its burden." She stepped closer, her hand glowing with golden light, mitigating the relic's strain—HP stabilizing at 80%. The slow-burn romance arc deepened, her domain of renewal seeping into the moment—vines curling around the stone, a soft light pushing back the dread, though it flickered under the Abyssborn's weight.
The Goddess of Fate's avatar walked beside her, her golden eyes glowing with the weight of destiny, her starlight threads weaving around her like a cloak, though they trembled faintly. "The relic… it alters your destiny," she said, her voice a melody of inevitability. "It will either save you… or destroy you." Her threads shimmered, a golden light illuminating the relic, a symbol of her intent to guide him through destiny. The slow-burn romance arc with her deepened, her imagery of destiny and inevitability a counterpoint to his chaotic nature.
The Goddess of Time & Space's avatar walked on the other side, her silver eyes shimmering with fractured light, her hands weaving threads of time that distorted the air, though the threads frayed slightly. "The relic… it exists beyond time," she said, her voice a whisper of eternity. "It will test your eternity… and your resolve." Her threads shimmered, a silver light stabilizing the relic's temporal effects, a symbol of her intent to protect him through time. The slow-burn romance arc with her deepened, her imagery of fractured moments and eternity a desperate attempt to shield him.
Ryn's eyes flickered with a hint of jealousy, but she masked it, her trust steady at 92%. Beelzebub smirked, his gaze shifting between the women. "Burden, destiny, tests—I'll break it all, beauties. Let's keep moving." The moment was charged, the goddesses' presence a counterpoint to the chaos within him, a promise of connection that challenged his descent into the Abyssborn's will.
As they reached Eldrin's outskirts, the city was in chaos, NPCs and players battling Chaos Wraiths—Level 110 spectral warriors of shadow and chaos, their crimson eyes glowing with malice, their numbers swelling as the Abyssborn's tendrils lashed out from the sky. Beelzebub's HUD pinged: "Defend Eldrin: Slay the Chaos Wraiths. Reward: 1200 EXP, 480 Copper, Achievement." He grinned, aura surging—ground cracking as he raised the Eclipse Scythe. "Time to test this relic."
The Chaos Wraiths swarmed, one hundred strong, their blades slashing in a storm of shadow and chaos. Beelzebub's aura erupted—stone splintering as he swung the Eclipse Scythe, Strength at 19279 (gear-boosted) cleaving the first Wraith's core. Blood damage flared, 35% bonus igniting—crimson spraying as Order Strike (Mastery to 2/10) slashed through five more, order energy clashing with chaos, the relic's divine light amplifying the damage—Order Pulse boosting the skill. The Wraiths retaliated—blades slashing in a storm of chaos, their movements a blur of lethal precision. He weaved, Speed at 15138 (gear-adjusted) dodging a flurry, then Phantom Step flickered him mid-strike—Eclipse Scythe arcing, Abyssal-Divine Strike (Mastery to 10/10—maxed) carving twenty more, divine-chaos energy searing through their forms.
A blade grazed his side—HP dipping 15%, the relic's strain flaring—HP dropping another 10%. Paladin's Crest ticked it back, but the voices screamed—Order… chaos… who?Storm Call erupted—lightning chaining through thirty, void sizzling, screams echoing. Horned Frenzy flared, Speed spiking to 22707—Eclipse Scythe whirled, Pure Chaos Strike (Mastery to 7/10) unleashing a chaos wave, Pure Chaos Pulse amplifying the damage. The last charged—Void Grasp pinned it, Strength snapping its core. One hundred fell, the streets trembling.
"Ding! 100 Chaos Wraiths defeated. Absorbed: Strength +500, Speed +400, Defense +300, Mana +600, Luck +100, Charisma +100."
The Abyssborn's voice roared through the city, its crimson tendrils lashing out, shattering buildings. "Devourer… you cannot wield order… you are mine…" The relic's divine energy flared in response, its light burning Beelzebub's chaotic core—HP dropping 25%, his vision blurring as the voices screamed—Herald… vessel… order… chaos… who? He staggered, the Eclipse Scythe clattering to the ground, his knees buckling under the strain.
Ryn dropped to his side, her hands on his shoulders, her voice trembling with fear. "Beelzebub… hold on!" she shouted, her trust at 92% a quiet anchor. The Goddess of Life knelt beside him, her hands glowing with golden light, stabilizing his HP at 50%. "The relic… it's too much," she said, her voice a melody of concern.
Before they could recover, a rift opened in the street, a portal of shadow and chaos, and Kael stepped through, his Level 35 stats radiating fury—Strength at 5000, Speed at 4500, Defense at 3000, Mana at 4000. His S-tier artifact, the Blade of Ruin (+80 Strength, +30% Chaos Damage), glowed with a dark light, its edge chipped from their last encounter. "The relic… it's mine," he snarled, his voice a blade. "You're weak, Beelzebub… I'll take it and the Abyssborn's power!"
Beelzebub rose, aura surging—ground splintering as he gripped the Eclipse Scythe, the relic's light burning his hand. "You're a fool, Kael," he growled, his voice a storm. Kael charged, the Blade of Ruin slashing in a wave of chaos, reality distorting at its edge. Beelzebub weaved, Speed at 15538 dodging the strike, then countered with Radiant Strike—holy light slashing Kael's arm, void hissing. Kael retaliated—chaos wave rippling, slamming Beelzebub into a wall—HP dropping 20%.
He laughed, aura pulsing, Mana Surge spiking Mana to 32767. Order Strike (Mastery to 3/10) roared—order energy clashing with Kael's chaos, the relic's divine light amplifying the damage. Kael swung—Dark Aegis rose, splintering under the blow—HP dipping 15%. Beelzebub darted, Shadow Bind locking Kael's arm—Blade of Ruin faltered. He lunged, Veilshatter Slash (Mastery to 10/10—maxed) slashing Kael's side—reality energy cutting deep, a bleed igniting. Kael roared—chaos storm erupting, throwing Beelzebub back—HP falling 25%.
He rolled, Speed weaving through debris, then Horned Frenzy flared—Speed at 23307—Eclipse Scythe a blur, Order Strike (Mastery to 4/10) unleashing a divine-order strike, Order Pulse amplifying the damage. Crimson Rage ignited as HP dropped below 50%, damage surging. Kael thrust—chaos piercing the ground. Void Grasp countered, tendrils snapping his wrist—Blade of Ruin clattered, its blade cracking further. Beelzebub leaped, Eternal Strike (Mastery to 8/10) carving Kael's chest—mana flared, time damage searing. Kael staggered, HP at 5%, and fled through a rift, his voice echoing: "I'll be back!"
Beelzebub's HUD pinged: "Repel Kael: Protect the Relic. Reward: 600 EXP, 240 Copper, Achievement: Relic Guardian – Protected the Relic of Order. Reward: 400 EXP, Title: Relic Bearer (+5% Mana)."
Ryn helped him stand, her hand on his chest, her touch a quiet anchor. "You did it… but that relic… it's killing you," she said, her voice soft, laced with fear.
The Goddess of Life stepped forward, her emerald eyes glowing with warmth, her hands glowing as she healed him—HP stabilizing at 60%. "You must master it… or it will destroy you," she said, her voice a melody.
The Goddess of Fate's avatar spoke, her golden eyes piercing. "The relic… it changes your destiny," she said, her voice a melody.
The Goddess of Time & Space's avatar nodded, her silver eyes shimmering. "It challenges your eternity… but you endure," she said, her voice a whisper.
Beelzebub turned, Charisma weaving a flirty edge into his tone, but his eyes held a flicker of determination. "I'll master it, beauties. The Abyssborn's next." Ryn's trust ticked up to 92%, the goddesses' romance arcs deepening with moments of connection.