Scene: The Price of Power
Nero held the obsidian seed above Verlord's citadel, veins of shadow coiling up his arm. "The ritual requires concentrated negative energy... and silence."
Verlord's claws flexed. "You forget the Dark Seekers. They'll sense this."
"Which is why you'll guard us," Nero countered, Whity already chanting beside him. "Save your son? Earn your favor."
Verlord's gaze hardened. "Succeed... and my debt transcends lifetimes."
Scene: Ritual of Shadows
Atop the spire, Nero and Whity's incantations tore holes in reality. Stygian mist funneled into the seed as the Eye of Destruction trembled. Below, Verlord stood sentinel before his gates—until the earth cracked open.
Dark Seekers oozed from crevices, their leader's voice like grinding bones: "Violating our territory, Verlord? What madness brews above?"
Verlord's wings flared. "My business. Remember our pact—cross this threshold, and your bones fertilize my gardens."
Scene: Broken Truce
The Seeker leader levitated, eyeing the vortex of darkness. "That energy siphon breaks our accords. Stand aside."
"Last warning," Verlord snarled.
Chaos erupted. Verlord's hellfire incinerated lesser Seekers—but their leader exploited old wounds from Aryavarta, hammering cracked ribs with precision. Inside, Whity beheaded intruders mid-stride, never breaking chant.
Above: The seed pulsed like a dying star.
Below: Verlord collapsed, blood pooling as the Seeker raised a blade of void. "Your contract dies with y—"
CRUNCH.
Scene: Demonic Rebirth
The Seeker leader's wrist imploded. He gaped upward—where a figure blotted out the blood-moon.
"YAAAAA!"
Darky descended like wrath incarnate, crushing the Seeker's throat. "Touch my lord's allies?" He lifted the choking demon. "I'll teach you respect."
With a wet tear, the Seeker's head vaporized. Darky danced in the crimson downpour, sighing as gore soaked his skin. "Ahhh... refreshing."
Verlord stared, trembling. This... is Nero's true power?
Scene: Whiplash Comedy
Darky teleported Verlord to the ritual spire—then froze. His hellish eyes locked on Eri beside Nero.
(Spiritual Voice Shattering the Mindscape)
"MY LORD!" Darky wailed, tears like molten silver. "YOU REPLACED ME?! MARRIED IN MY ABSENCE?!"
Nero pinched his brow. "Darky, this isn't—"
"ABANDONED! FORGOTTEN!" Darky crumpled, sobbing.
Eri knelt, patting his head. "Your master fought gods to resurrect you. He bled for this moment."
Darky peeked through fingers. "...Really?"
"Would I lie," Nero deadpanned, "when you can smell deceit?"
Scene: Departure
As Verlord gaped at the sobbing demonic entity, Nero tossed him a communication crystal. "Contact me when you have Eri's enrollment papers. And Darky—"
"YES, MY LORD?"
"Stop crying. We're leaving."
Scene: Farewell Fiasco
At Baltimore's cave, Darky eyed the old mage. "Who's the wrinkly meat-sack? Snack storage?"
THWACK! Baltimore's staff met Darky's skull. "Respect your elders, chaos-spawn!"
(Author's Note: Darky = Nero's suppressed id (rage/impatience/foolishness). Whity = His calm wisdom. They're two halves of a primordial whole.)
Darky lunged, only to be thwacked repeatedly by Baltimore's spectral afterimages. "I'LL INCINERATE YOUR BEARD!"
"Try," Whity's voice cut through like frozen steel.
Darky paled. "N-NOT YOU—"
POOF! He shrank into a panicked black cat, darting between stalagmites as Whity gave chase with a broom.
"COME HERE, IDIOT!"
"NEVER! YOU'LL SEAL ME AGAIN!"
Eri doubled over laughing as Whity cornered the hissing cat-demon. "They're ridiculous!"
Nero sighed—but a ghost of a smile touched his lips. Home isn't a place... it's this chaos.