Void Spawn - A litrpg adventure fantasy

As the event progressed deeper and deeper, the higher the anticipation in the air stirred. Each watcher, leader and Samael himself felt their hearts pound in anxiety as they watched every move the cardinals made.

Samael could see it; he didn't even have to look far. The Cardinals were powerful. Even now as he looks upon them, it looks like light bends to their very figures.

Samael gritted his teeth as he gathered his resolve, steeling his will and courage.

Checking his Void Compass, it seems the two movements had yet to occur outside nor in the tunnels. Before they began this operation, they made sure to plant dozens of skilled watchers on every potential loose end. The escape routes were packed with soldiers waiting for the cardinals and children.

Coming up the stage, Icarius gathered along with the other members of the High Table, exchanging glances as they all speared a sharp gaze upon the cardinals.

As the two opposing factions locked eyes, an invisible tension gripped the air. Samael felt breathless as the two auras clashed, causing a mild disturbance in the air.

While most were able to remain emotionless, Ishkar and Nova couldn't help but show their contempt and disgust.

Clearing his throat, everyone's attention gathered on Icarius as the man stood before the crowd of people, their expectant eyes waiting for his next words.

"Welcome to the most awaited day of the year," Icarius said, his voice booming and bouncing off the marble walls of the castle.

Hearing this, everyone's cheers echoed in the air as the atmosphere finally soothed a little.

"First, I congratulate the children here who had been deemed most talented by their peers and families. May you prosper to greatness and achieve your full potential," Icarius resumed. "Today we, the high table along with the ministry, have gathered here to show you our support in your paths as echoes."

Looking at each and every child in the room, Icarius couldn't help but clench his jaw for a brief moment. To think that the church would plan and conduct such heinous crimes was infuriating, but he knew he must remain stoic.

"As such, it is only right that you all enjoy the banquet, extend your arms and create connections..." Icarius fixed his suit. "But before we officially begin, there are rites of passage one must do first before stepping into the world of Echoes." Shifting his gaze towards the Cardinals, Icarius's gaze sharpened for a moment, his tone dropping a tad bit. "Please, Cardinals."

Behind the veil of their face cloths, the cardinals stood one by one as the Cardinal of Judgement, Gladius, made his way forward.

"When the first bird first flew in the sky, it felt freedom to venture as far as its eyes could perceive," Gladius spoke, his voice deep and rich. "Yet, he was restricted by the dark."

The sound of deep rumbling echoed in the castle as a white, lectern-sized remnant was dragged in the centre of the room. Its surface was sculpted and designed intricately, but what truly captivated the eyes of everyone there was the cover on the topmost part of the object.

"But Taranius saw the anguish of the bird and took pity on its inability to see," Gladius resumed. "As such, with a guiding and merciful hand, Taranius spoke into this world..."

Icarius's brows furrowed as he began to listen to the communication remnant he had in his ears.

"We are receiving movements here at Sector 1."

"Sir, we have detected a dozen— no! a few dozen bogeys approaching sector 3 rapidly!"

"Command! Sector 4 had taken severe casualties! The enemy set out an explosive by the plaza—"

Icarius's gaze trembled as he stared at the Cardinals. Gladius did the same as behind that white veil, a smirk formed on his lips.

At that moment, all Icarius's heart was the same thing.

"Erudicio is under attack!"

Standing atop the stone and metal beams, Samael felt a shiver run down his spine as a gut-wrenching sensation struck his stomach. Something he knew well.

His instincts were roaring. Warning him of impending danger.

Shifting his gaze towards the window behind him, Samael's eyes widened as he watched the bright, glowing cloud rise over the city plaza.

An explosion.

What they feared had come to light.

Sharply turning towards the Cardinals, Samael's eyes locked upon the remnant as his instinct screamed at the top of its lungs.

Gritting his teeth, Samael whipped out Void Raven as all orders he had were thrown out the window.

And so, Gladius continued, just before the shockwave struck the castle.

"...Let there be light."

Samael roared when he felt the beam he was standing on violently shake and rattle.

"THE DEVICE—"

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

But it was too late.

Gladius's hands flickered like lightning as he opened the device with the blink of an eye, revealing the golden flames within that cast away the shadows in the room. Bringing along with it...

Judgement.

BOOOOOOOM!!!

All the glasses in the castle shattered like mirrors stuck with a hammer, crashing down like rain that glittered violently in the sky. The ground shook and dust fell from the old pillars of the bastion as the screams of the crowd thundered in the air.

Where fear dwells, chaos soon follows.

Like a domino effect, the people began to run in random directions, seeking cover from the falling glass, while those that were left in the centre unsheathed their weapons.

Omens.

The High Table leader's eyes widened.

The enemy thought the same plan as they did. Hide in plain sight.

Samael held tight upon the metal pole as he looked upon the watchers being swept by the crowd of panicking people while the omens within them simply sliced off those that came near, creating a clear path towards the trembling children.

"Do not fear, children; come into the embrace of the fire," Gladius's voice echoed as the kids stared upon the burning golden light, their pupils dilating as their bodies calmed down like clockwork.

Seeing this, Icarius and the rest charged towards the remnant when multiple cardinals blocked their paths, causing a clash of power to occur that shattered the main stage into fragments.

"Well, well, well, who would have thought you High Table leaders were part of this terrorist attack..." Illial spoke with a loud, grating tone, causing the people who are evacuating to hear.

"You bastards!" Aphemis roared, her bloodlust leaking out of her vessel.

"Aphemis!" Icarius roared. "Don't listen to their taunts; if you go all out here, they'll believe the words of these bastards!"

"Oh? Do not bare your fangs upon me, Demon. I do not take kindly to your kind's existence," Caesar, the Cardinal of Justice, spoke.

Aphemis's rage began to boil as her bloodlust leaked further.

"Icarius!" Nova roared. "What now?!"

Icarius shifted his gaze upon the approaching kids, the omens and the people watching their moves. Doubt had been planted in their minds; each action they do now bears a consequence.

Looking at Gladius, Icarius gritted his teeth. The man truly was smart.

But he still had a backup plan. He just needed time.

There was no other choice.

Glancing at Nova, the man's eyes widened as he gave a nod.

Looking at the approaching omens, Icarius roared. "NOW!"

Nova's jaw clenched as a green chain-like energy circled up his forearm.

"Slow... down!"

A wave of energy shot out of Nova's body as the Cardinal flinched in surprise. However, the other members of the High Table themselves were hit by the attack.

Without wasting time, Icarius burst forward as he struck down the Omens. His figure struck like thunder as he zapped left and right, pulverising the soldiers.

The Cardinal watched in rage as Gladius's body began to shake, his energy beginning to seep out as his slowed body began to gain pace, causing Nova to groan. "Hurry!"

Icarius tripled his speed as he pushed himself to the limit, ripping through the omens, mixing in with the crowd as he grabbed one by the neck.

The people looked at Icarius with fear. Double still festering in their minds. Was he truly a terrorist?

Then again, who would know the location of Oros if not him?

Icarius's brows furrowed.

"I know there is doubt within you, but do not be shaken by their words," Icarius spoke, his voice booming outwards. "But I know my words alone guarantee nothing... but hers does."

The sound of heels hitting marble wafted in the air as a figure entered the castle; draped over her small and almost fragile body were robes and cloaks. But what made her stand out was the cloth over her eyes and a single eye upon the design.

The crowd stirred as murmurs began to rise. The Cardinals themselves flinched as they looked at the woman as if they were looking at a ghost.

"You thought you got here, didn't you?" Nova taunted. "Bitch, surprise! She isn't dead."

The Cardinal's face warped with rage, soch so that they could almost see through the veil over their faces. However, Nova's groans strengthened as he felt the intense strain of their power.

Within the crowd, the voices of the people rose within the chaos as they spoke one word.

"Oracle!"

The woman strode forward without fear, looking upon the chaos as she made her way towards the restrained Omen.

"If you are truly faultless Cardinals, you will not object to me utilising my powers to see through," the oracle said, her voice almost mystical and mysterious, causing the people to shudder as she reached for the forehead of the omen.

For a moment, silence befell the room.

Then she spoke, not of her tone but of someone else.

Gladius.

"Your orders are simple. Attack Erudicio, cause chaos and kill as many, but spare the kids. Should even a hair in their body be touched, you can be sure you are next."

She turned her head as she pointed at the Cardinal of Judgement. "Traitor."

The people's eyes followed her finger as they stared at the Cardinals with a mix of emotions.

Icarius's smile widened. Now the tables had turned.

Nova's gaze looked at the Cardinals as he felt their resistance stop. His brows furrowed. "What the...?"

Sensing the surge of energy within them building up, Nova's eyes widened.

"ICARIU—"

But Nova was not fast enough.

Before everyone's eyes, Gladius's figure flickered for a moment as he appeared inches from the Oracle, his fist glowing violently golden as it inched from her face.

The world seemed to slow down as the people still looked at the stage, unaware of what was happening. Even Icarius himself was still trying to catch up to Gladius's sudden burst of speed when a voice echoed over the light, creeping from the darkness of the depths.

"Hyperdrive."

BANG!!!

The sound of metal clashing and ringing left a thunderous boom in the air as sparks flew everywhere. Icarius sharply turned towards the Oracle to find Samael's figure in between the Cardinal and her, his blade Void Raven on his palm as he parried Gladius's attack.

Samael felt his arms ache and tremble under the sheer impact of the blow, but he remained stoic and calm, showing no signs of fear as he watched the expression of the Cardinal peeking through the veil morph in surprise and rage.

But Samael wasn't done. Even if only a little, this was his opportunity for revenge.

Samael's fist balled to a fist as void matter condensed upon his fist. He gathered as much as he could, pushing way beyond his limits as lines began to pulse out of his flesh.

Elyria warned him to stop, but he couldn't care less if he hurt himself. Today, he will show them why he is a threat.

Like a ballista, Samael's hand left an afterimage as it fired forward like a speeding bull, causing multiple shockwaves to erupt as his fist crashed against Gladius's head with a sickening boom.

Icarius, Nova and the rest of the people watched with eyes wide open as the ground beneath the two cracked and fragmented.

As the attack connected fully, the Void matter burst out like a flooding dam as it hammered Gladius straight, sending him back flying with unparalleled ferocity as his figure blew a hole through the side of the castle with an ear-shattering explosion, causing the entire place to shake violently.

As the dust finally came to a halt, Samael's figure showed from the darkness, his right hand completely charred black with bits turning to ash. Purple lines occasionally pulsed off his flesh, like a living thing burrowed under his skin, letting off a steam without scent.

Samael felt the pain, but at that moment, he couldn't help but smile.

"That was refreshing."