Chapter 8

Drake's command center buzzed with activity as holographic displays flickered with information from across multiple worlds. The assembled group turned their attention to Chris and Violet as Drake began the introductions.

"Everyone, this is Chris, whom some of you know," Drake said, then gestured to Violet. "And this is Violet, daughter of Vol'nash." His casual mention of her identity caused Violet's eyes to widen in surprise. How did he know who she was?

Drake continued, gesturing to a bald man in a crimson cloak standing apart from the others, his expression distant and thoughtful. "This is Krauser Killener, former Elite Master of the Elyndrians. He handed leadership to me a few years ago, though his counsel remains invaluable."

Next, he indicated a woman whose cybernetic enhancements seemed to shimmer with barely contained energy. "General Odessa Odette, our chief of advanced operations. Her technological expertise rivals my own in many ways."

A massive reptilian figure shifted his weight, drawing attention. "Garr, Krauser's brother and one of our most trusted Guardians." Garr nodded respectfully, his scaled form nearly as imposing as Gremlock's.

"And you've met General Gremlock," Drake finished, acknowledging the Gorgon who still stood behind Chris and Violet.

Drake's expression grew grave as he turned to the tactical displays. "Now, to business. The situation is worse than we feared." He manipulated the holographic controls, bringing up footage from Gorgonia. "The Dark Avatar has possessed Valmir's body, after releasing Dakon. A trade of hosts, if you will."

Images showed the battle-damaged form of Dakon in a recovery chamber. "Dakon is currently stabilizing below. As for Valmir... he's not responsible for what Bahumura is doing with his body."

The display shifted to Pathfinder Point. "We barely escaped with our lives. If it wasn't for Sunder, the Beast God..." Drake trailed off, bringing up footage of a massive battle. "Sunder and Darkclaw bought us time to evacuate, but we've lost contact with both of them. Last images show them vanishing in a flash of light during the battle."

"Darkclaw's clever," Chris interjected. "I met him when he upgraded my boots. If anyone could find a way out of that situation..."

Drake nodded before continuing. "After Pathfinder Point, the Dark Avatar moved on Skyhold Mountain." The display showed the mountain's destruction in a single, devastating blast. "He took The Source, an ancient Builder artifact of immense power."

Violet stepped forward. "He didn't stop there," she said, her voice tight with emotion. "He came to the Afterplane, transformed Evermore's spirits into Shadowfiends, attacked the Eternal Sanctum..." She swallowed hard. "He killed my mother, struck down my father, and stole the Burning Blade."

Krauser's head snapped up at this. "The Burning Blade? An artifact that's existed since the dawn of time..." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Combined with The Source..."

"He said something about attacking Noma himself," Violet added.

Krauser's expression hardened. "I need to find Scrios. The Afterplane must be stabilized." Without another word, he strode from the room, his crimson cloak swirling behind him.

Chris and Violet exchanged puzzled looks at Krauser's abrupt departure, but Drake seemed unsurprised. "Krauser and Scrios will handle the Afterplane situation. Our priority is locating the Dark Avatar before—"

An alert flashed across the main display. "Sir!" an operator called out. "The Dark Avatar's signature... it's gone. Last reading shows transit to the Void Realm!"

Drake's expression grew concerned. "Chris, Violet, I suggest you take rooms at the Sunfire Tavern while we coordinate our response. We'll contact you when—"

"If you'll excuse us," Violet cut in, her voice cold. She turned and headed for the elevator, Chris following after a moment's hesitation.

As they descended, Violet's carefully maintained composure cracked. "My mother is dead, my father struck down, our realm in chaos, and they want us to wait in a tavern?" She turned to Chris, her eyes blazing. "We're going back to the Afterplane. Now."

Chris looked into her determined eyes and nodded. He'd faced demons, traversed realms, and fallen for a princess of the underworld. What was one more impossible mission? "Lead the way," he said.

The elevator continued its descent as they planned their return to the chaos they'd just escaped, neither of them knowing that their next adventure would prove even more dangerous than the last.

***

The Sunfire Tavern hummed with nervous energy, its usual warm atmosphere overshadowed by the day's events. Violet sat in a corner booth, a glass of iridescent purple liquid - some potent demon spirit she'd specially requested - clutched in her hand. Across from her, Chris sipped his tea while watching the news display mounted on the wall.

"...confirmation that the Dark Avatar has completely destroyed Skyhold Mountain," the reporter was saying, accompanied by crystal-clear footage of the devastating attack. "Sources confirm the theft of The Source artifact, though its exact capabilities remain classified..."

Chris shook his head in wonder. "You know, where I'm from - Earth - the news is all propaganda and half-truths. But here..." He gestured at the screen, which was now showing detailed tactical analyses of the Dark Avatar's movements. "They just... tell it like it is. Everything. No sugar-coating, no political spin."

Violet barely heard him, her thoughts churning. The glass in her hand was still nearly full; she was more interested in having something to hold than actually drinking it. Her father's throne room flashed through her mind - her mother's still form, her father brought low, the Dark Avatar's mocking laughter.

But something else nagged at her. "Krauser Killener," she muttered, drawing Chris's attention. "How does a former Elyndrian leader just... walk into the Afterplane? And Scrios..." She set her glass down with perhaps more force than necessary. "I've known Scrios for centuries. He's a soul collector, a bounty hunter for escaped spirits. Not exactly the type to do favors."

Chris turned away from the news, giving her his full attention. "You think there's more to their connection?"

"There has to be. I've been around for..." she caught herself before revealing her age, earning a small smile from Chris. "Let's just say a very long time. But the Elyndrians? They were always just another mortal faction to me. Clearly, I was wrong. There's so much I don't know."

Around them, snippets of conversation drifted by.

"...never seen anything like it..."

"...the Beast God himself couldn't stop him..."

"...what chance do we have if..."

Violet watched Chris as he returned to his tea, calmly observing the worried citizens around them. He'd changed since she'd first met him, grown more comfortable with the impossible. Or maybe he'd always been this way, and that's what had drawn her to him in the first place.

"You ready?" she asked suddenly.

Chris turned to her and nodded without hesitation. No questions, no doubts - just quiet support. When had she started relying on that? When had this human become such an anchor in her immortal existence?

Standing, Violet took one last look around the tavern. Every table was occupied, every conversation centered on the Dark Avatar's rampage. The fear was palpable, but so was the determination. These people wouldn't give up without a fight.

They left the Sunfire behind, making their way through Elyndaar City's streets. The journey back to the Darkmire was long but purposeful, each step taking them closer to the Shadowgate and whatever awaited them in the chaos of the Afterplane.

As they walked, Violet found herself stealing glances at Chris. He'd gone from trying to save her from a Dortuk to being ready to face down ancient evils at her side. She wasn't sure what that meant, wasn't ready to fully examine the feelings growing in her immortal heart. But she was certain of one thing - whatever they found on the other side of the Shadowgate, she was glad he was with her.

***

The journey back to the Shadowgate was long and arduous. Chris and Violet traversed the winding paths through Elyndaar City's outskirts, across the misty Osperian Forest, and through the windswept Endless Plains. The familiar sight of the Darkmire Swamp's twisted trees finally greeted them, their gnarled branches reaching like crooked fingers into the perpetual gloom.

Roshema Village emerged from the mist, its wooden structures still standing resilient against the swamp's perpetual decay. As they passed through the village center, they spotted Kali and Sylvix working together, their forms silhouetted against the dim light. Zen was notably absent.

"Kali! Sylvix!" Violet called out, offering a brief wave.

The two villagers returned the greeting with quick nods, their faces showing concern. Chris couldn't help but notice how the usually dead village seemed even more subdued than usual, as if the weight of recent events had cast a shadow over everything.

They pressed on through the swamp, retracing their steps to the old graveyard. The Shadowgate stood as they'd left it, its ethereal surface rippling like dark water. Chris turned to Violet, his voice low.

"We should expect Shadowfiends on the other side."

Violet nodded, her violet eyes gleaming with determination. "We'll handle whatever comes our way. Together."

They stepped through the gate, that familiar sensation of cold washing over them. But the Afterplane that greeted them looked remarkably unchanged – at least at first glance. The eternal twilight still painted everything in muted purples and blues, but as they moved through the Twilight Forest, signs of recent battles became evident.

"Look at these marks," Chris said, running his hand along a scorched tree trunk. "Someone's been fighting here."

They found more evidence as they proceeded – scattered ashes, deep gouges in the earth, and the unmistakable residue of magical combat. The trail led them deeper into the forest, where Evermore Village finally came into view. The damage from previous attacks had been mostly repaired, but the village felt hollow, empty of the countless spirits that once gave it life.

The tavern door creaked as they entered. Nash stood behind the bar, his spectral form focused on cleaning glasses that would never truly need cleaning. The empty chairs and tables cast long shadows in the dim light.

"Nash," Violet approached the bar. "What happened to all the Shadowfiends?"

The ghostly barkeeper looked up, a faint smile crossing his translucent features. "Ah, you just missed quite the show. A peculiar pair came through – bald fellow in a crimson cloak, accompanied by none other than Scrios himself." Nash shook his head in amazement. "Never seen anything like it. They tore through those Shadowfiends like they were nothing but morning mist. Headed toward the Infernal Chasm after they were done."

Chris and Violet exchanged knowing looks. Krauser and Scrios had beaten them here.

Outside, the few remaining spirits drifted aimlessly through the village streets. Chris watched them, a heaviness settling in his chest.

"Violet," he said softly, "the missing spirits... what happened to them?"

Violet's face darkened. "The transformation process... it consumes their souls entirely. They're not just changed – they're gone."

"Like dying twice," Chris whispered, the weight of it settling over him.

They pressed on toward the Infernal Chasm's entrance. The great fiery pit yawned before them, its depths promising the same dizzying descent they'd experienced before. 

"Ready?" Violet asked, extending her hand.

Chris took it, squeezing gently. "Always."

They leaped together, plummeting through layers of burning air and sulfurous smoke until the Endless Hellscape spread out below them. Chris immediately noticed the difference – the reaching hands that once grasped from every crevice were fewer, scattered.

"He took them too," Violet said grimly. "The souls of the damned – transformed them into his army. That's how he overwhelmed the Sanctum so quickly."

The Eternal Sanctum rose before them, its impossibly tall stairway now familiar to Chris. With Violet at his side, the endless steps became manageable, though each step felt heavier than the last. New guards stood at attention – a Fallen Angel and a Demon, their armor identical to their predecessors.

"Death Lord Scrios and his companion passed through earlier," the Fallen Angel informed them. "They've gone to assist Lord Vol'nash."

Inside the Halls of Reckoning, they found Vol'nash, his imposing figure bent with grief. The Lord of the Damned turned as they entered, his eyes finding his daughter.

"Violet," he said, his voice carrying centuries of pain. "My child."

Violet ran to him, embracing her father. "Father, I'm so sorry about mother..."

Vol'nash held her close. "Scrios and Krauser Killener removed the blade, allowed me to heal, but..." His voice caught. "Your mother's life force, her very soul – the Dark Avatar consumed it completely. There was nothing left to save."

Tears streamed down Violet's face as her father continued, revealing the dark truth behind recent events. The Dark Avatar – Bahumura – was Vol'nash's brother, another child of Noma, the God of the Nomaverse. Using the stolen Burning Blade, he had torn open a rift to the Void Realm.

"The Flow runs through the Void," Vol'nash explained, "a river of pure energy that leads to a floating isle. There, an ancient gateway opens to Primordia – the heart of all creation. That is where Bahumura intends to confront Noma."

"We have to stop him," Violet insisted.

Vol'nash shook his head firmly. "Scrios and Krauser have already pursued him. The Void Realm is too dangerous – I will not risk losing you too, daughter. Not now." His eyes softened as he looked at Chris. "Either of you."

"But father-"

"Even if I wished to send you, I cannot. The Burning Blade was my key to opening such rifts. Without it..." He trailed off, the implication clear.

Chris watched as Violet's shoulders slumped in defeat, but he recognized the look in her eyes. This wasn't over. As they left the Sanctum, he could already see her mind working, searching for another way.

"We'll find another path to the Void Realm," he said quietly.

Violet nodded, her expression determined despite her tears. "We have to. The fate of everything depends on it."

Together, they descended the Sanctum steps, their minds already turning to the impossible task ahead – finding another way into the Void Realm, against Vol'nash's wishes, before Bahumura could reach Primordia and destroy the god of creation himself.

Hand in hand, a demon princess and a traveler in a strange world walked into the burning twilight, their path uncertain but their resolve unshaken.