The Annihilator: Killer Of Gods

"Before she was known as the Darkness Maiden," Elara began, "but after her encounter with Zalgorath, she attained a new identity.

That was when she started to build her fame. The title 'Abyssal Maiden' was something she earned from her goodwill. She became the hope of many. She took the evil and shaped it into good."

Elara paused, her eyes filled with urgency. "What is happening to her now is a result of her awakening the evil presence hidden deep within her. Karsha, she cannot awaken that power. If she does, the world as you know it will come to an end. Do you understand?"

Karsha nodded, although he didn't fully grasp the weight of her words. He knew enough to understand the gravity of the situation. He exited his soul space, leaving Elara to ponder the consequences of her revelation.

"I had to," she murmured to herself. "If not, things will be the same as the last time."

When Karsha opened his eyes, he was greeted by a sight that could only be described as pure evil. The elders and shadow guards were kneeling, their faces pale as paper.

But on Lady Illo's face was a sinister smile that sent a chill down Karsha's spine. He stood up, his resolve unwavering, and approached her.

"Really, how long has it been? Just a couple of eons, and you already want to revert to your old self. I don't know if I should be sad or just kill you," Karsha said as he closed the distance.

Suddenly, the Mask of Malevolence appeared on his face, and like a possession, an otherworldly yet familiar presence took over his body.

Under normal circumstances, Karsha might have panicked, but strangely, he remained calm, letting this presence do as it pleased.

"Zalgorath—no, this is just a trick. It won't work on me," Lady Illo, now in her evil form, snarled.

"I know it won't work, which is why I'm forced to do this," the presence within Karsha replied.

The mask vanished, revealing Karsha's face. But instead of his usual golden-red eyes, there were now dark voids where his eyes should be.

He appeared before Lady Illo and planted a deep kiss on her lips. Lady Illo tried to resist, but her attempts were futile.

"You haven't awakened your memories yet, so having this power is not something you can manage. Once you regain your past self, we will give it back to you," Karsha, now speaking as Zalgorath, said.

His eyes returned to their golden-red hue, but as soon as they did, Karsha fell back, landing unconscious on the ground.

"Karsha!" Lady Illo shouted, her voice filled with anguish, tears streaming down her face.

The sinister smile faded from Lady Illo's face, replaced by a look of horror and sorrow. She dropped to her knees beside Karsha, her hands trembling as she gently touched his face.

"Please, wake up," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Though weakened, the elders and shadow guards slowly began to rise, their concern for Karsha evident in their eyes. Morris moved closer, placing a reassuring hand on Lady Illo's shoulder.

"He'll be alright," Morris said, though his voice was tinged with uncertainty.

Grandma Illax, her face lined with worry, joined them.

"Illo, this darkness within you—it's not something you can control yet. From what he did, it seems he had sealed it within you. You should be happy and not sad."

Lady Illo nodded, her tears still falling. "I know. But seeing him like this... it breaks my heart."

Karsha's breathing was shallow but steady. The elders began channeling their energy again, surrounding him with a protective aura. Slowly, the color returned to his cheeks, and his breathing became more even. However, he didn't open his eyes.

"Morr, take them away," Grandma Illax commanded, her voice firm. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

Morris nodded and waved his hand, summoning a shroud of darkness that enveloped Karsha and Lady Illo. When the darkness dissipated, they were gone.

In a secluded room somewhere on the island, Lady Illo and Karsha reappeared on a bed. Karsha's head rested on her lap, and her tears fell freely, each drop shimmering in the dim light.

Lady Illo gently stroked Karsha's hair, her fingers trembling.

"You always have to be the hero, don't you?" she whispered, her voice choked with emotion, "Why would you do something like that knowing the outcome?" She added, but with Karsha still unconscious, she could only keep crying as she used her fingers to brush his hair.

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While Karsha's body lay unconscious, his consciousness drifted into an unknown place. As he opened his eyes, the pungent smell of blood overwhelmed his senses. His surroundings felt sinister, cloaked in an aura of malevolence.

"You have come," a voice echoed, sounding eerily similar to his own yet distinctly different.

Karsha spun around, his heart pounding in his chest, and came face to face with a figure that mirrored him in every detail—except for the eyes. They were deep black, devoid of any light or allure.

"Who...who are you?" Karsha stammered, trying to steady his racing heart.

The doppelganger smirked, a chilling sight that made Karsha's skin crawl. "I am you, or rather, a part of you. I was once you, I suppose."

Karsha studied the figure with a discerning gaze, his sharp senses detecting the underlying truth behind the facade. This bastard is just acting to scare him.

"You can stop acting and tell me why I am here, Zalgorath," Karsha said, finding a stone to sit on.

Zalgorath looked at him with an amused smile. "You've always been quick to see through things," he replied, his voice echoing with a mix of admiration and amusement.

'What the fuck, is this bastard praising himself or me' Karsha said inwardly, looking at the smug face of Zalgorath, a being said to be the incarnation of Pure evil.

"I can hear you, you know," Zalgorath said with a smile.

With a snap of his fingers, the sinister space was transformed. The oppressive atmosphere dissipated, replaced by a serene landscape featuring a lush waterfall flowing with ethereal mist.

Karsha took a deep breath, the fresh air filling his lungs and calming his mind. "This is more like it," he muttered.

"So why am I here? The last I appeared in a place like this, I was shown the projection of the end of all lives. What would it be this time" Karsha asked.

"Ha, so you've already met that manipulative bastard. What, did he say something about me?" Zalgorath asked, looking like a spoiled child craving approval.

"No, he didn't say anything about you. That bastard just dumped a load of crap on me and sent me on my way. But why would he say anything about you? Aren't you already sealed away in the void or something?" Karsha might not have all the answers, but he was smart enough to sense there were secrets in play. Seeing Zalgorath so talkative, he decided to push his luck.

"Tsk, who sealed me? Those idiots don't have what it takes to seal me. Let me tell you, I fulfilled my purpose and returned to the s—" Just as Zalgorath was about to spill his secrets, he paused, noticing Karsha's smug smile.

"Bastard, you tricked me," Zalgorath cursed, realizing he had been played. Even though he stopped short of revealing anything grand, he still felt used. Karsha had already gained some valuable insights.

Karsha leaned back, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "Tricked you? I just asked a question. You're the one who decided to spill your guts."@@novelbin@@

Zalgorath's eyes narrowed, a mix of anger and grudging respect flashing in them. "You think you're clever, don't you? But you have no idea what you're dealing with."

"Maybe not," Karsha admitted, still smiling. "But I know enough to see through your bluster. You said you fulfilled your purpose. What purpose was that, exactly?"

Zalgorath snorted, crossing his arms. "You think I'll just hand over that information? You're dumber than you look."

"Maybe," Karsha shrugged, "but I'm also persistent. And now I know there's something more to you than just being sealed away. So, why don't you enlighten me?"

The two stared at each other, the tension in the air thickening. Finally, Zalgorath sighed and leaned against a boulder. "I brought you here to tell you more about the Abyssal Maiden, or more importantly, how to help her."

Karsha, despite wanting to pry for more secrets, held back. Something more important had to be tackled first.

"I have sealed her dark powers, leaving only her good part," Zalgorath continued.

"Although it's not a permanent solution, it will suffice for now, at least until she awakens her memories. Once that happens, she will require her other part to become whole. When that time comes, the seal will become undone, and the evil within her will be unleashed."

Karsha frowned, the gravity of Zalgorath's words sinking in. "So, what do we do when that happens? How do we ensure she stays in control?"

Zalgorath's gaze hardened. "When that time comes, she'll need a strong anchor—someone who can remind her of who she is and guide her through the turmoil. That person will be you."

"Me?" Karsha asked, surprise evident in his voice. "Why me?"

"Because you're the only one she trusts, the only one who can reach her when she's on the brink," Zalgorath explained.

"You've already shown her compassion and understanding, and that's what she'll need most when the darkness threatens to consume her."

Karsha nodded slowly, accepting the responsibility. "So, what do I need to do to prepare for this?"

"You need to grow stronger yourself," Zalgorath said.

"Your connection with her will be your greatest weapon, but you'll also need the power to stand by her side. Train hard, hone your abilities, and learn to harness the energy around you. Only then will you be able to face what's coming."

"Hold on, this sounds rehearsed. What are you hiding?" Karsha demanded, suspicion creeping into his voice.

He was determined to follow what Zalgorath had just said, but after a brief moment of thinking, he realized it was exactly what he would have done naturally.

This also meant Zalgorath hadn't said anything of real value. All he had given was a load of crap.

"Spill it," Karsha insisted, his eyes narrowing.