The Damned Demon

Chapter 911: A Promise Fulfilled

Asher’s hand trembled violently, his breathing shallow, chest heaving with unbearable sorrow as he slowly raised it towards Arthur’s charred and broken skull. His palm softly rested against the burned bone, the roughness reminding him of the terrible sacrifice he had forced upon his own son.

“What…what have I done…” Asher whispered, his voice barely audible, filled with deep regret and anguish. Every fiber of his being ached with guilt as he stared into the dark, hollow sockets flickering with dark green embers, the faint echoes of the vibrant life Arthur once had.

Arthur gently raised his skeletal hand, grasping his father’s trembling fingers with surprising tenderness. His voice, though eerie and resonant, held a warmth that pierced through the gloom, soothing Asher’s shattered heart.

“You gave us all another chance. Do not grieve for what has already happened, Father,” Arthur said softly, “If you hadn’t done it then none of us would be standing here.”

Asher swallowed thickly, his vision blurred with tears, his heart sinking further into the pit of remorse as he painfully realized something he hadn’t known before, his voice breaking, “You…you were looking after me all this time. All my life, even when I was Cedric…you were there, silently watching over me, keeping me alive…”

Arthur gently clasped Asher’s hand tighter, the skeletal fingers feeling strangely comforting as they wrapped around his palm. “After you were gone, there was nothing. No life. Only death. This planet didn’t even show signs of life for thousands of years until I finally managed to suppress the damage left behind by the Void Reaver,” Arthur explained solemnly. “You had no choice. Derek had corrupted the minds of millions…there was no reversing that. Everyone you cared about had died and you had to erase everything, just so the loop could start again. But this time…I was determined not to let things end as they always do.”

Asher’s throat tightened, grief heavy in his voice as he whispered, “You don’t even know how this timeline would end, Arthur. Yet you took on this cruel burden…Why? Why do you have so much faith in me when I couldn’t even save you last time?”

Arthur tilted his charred skull gently, the emerald flames within his sockets flickering softly as if smiling, “Because you are my father. If I don’t have faith in you, what kind of son would I be?”

The simple sincerity in Arthur’s voice broke the last of Asher’s defenses, tears spilling freely down his cheeks as he pulled Arthur close into a firm, desperate embrace. “Arthur…” he whispered hoarsely, his voice shaking, “I don’t deserve a son like you…but I…I swear to you, I will keep my promise. I won’t fail you again. Your sacrifice won’t be in vain.”

As Asher held his son, he felt Arthur’s bones slowly crumbling, the rough edges of the charred bones dissolving gradually into fine dust, a cruel reminder of the endless torment and solitude Arthur had endured for eons.

He closed his eyes tightly, overwhelmed by the loneliness Arthur must’ve faced—alone for countless centuries with nobody to comfort him or ease his suffering.

But even as his bones started to crumble, Arthur lifted his skeletal arms, gently returning his father’s embrace. The subtle warmth radiating from the dark green embers in his sockets seemed brighter now, filled with a deep sense of relief and acceptance. “You never failed me…you were there for me every single time, Father,” Arthur whispered softly. “That’s more than enough to let me know how much you loved me.”

Asher’s chest heaved as he tightened his embrace, desperately trying to hold onto his son, to keep him from fading. But Arthur gently pulled away, taking a slow step back to look at him directly. The dark green glow in his hollow sockets glimmered softly, reflecting profound serenity and peace.

“You died once as human and then again as a demon. The Damned One can’t condemn you again to death or toy with your fate anymore,” Arthur spoke clearly, his voice steady and filled with quiet strength, “But you must stand tall until the end.”

Asher’s expression twisted with despair, a flicker of doubt in his eyes, “Son, I…I am not strong enough yet for that. I’m not even an immortal yet…how can I—”

Arthur calmly shook his head, interrupting gently, “No, but you were once. And now, your soul carries so much pain and anger, it’s ready. You will now inherit the only thing I have left to give you…the damned power you once bestowed upon me.” He paused, solemnity heavy in his tone, “It’s time I returned it to you. With this, you will become the strongest of all Ashers that have ever existed…the Prime Hellbringer. As long as you don’t succumb to the darkness of your soul, nothing can defeat you.”

Fear and panic flooded Asher’s chest as he desperately reached out again, voice heavy with desperation, “No, wait—Arthur, I can’t let you go! There has to be some other way! Please…let me help you…”

Arthur slowly shook his head again, gently and resolutely, “You already did. You freed me from this curse as you promised. Now I must go…” Arthur tilted his charred head slightly upwards towards the darkened skies, an invisible smile somehow discernible through the skeletal remains. “I can hear Mother calling out to me.”

Asher’s breath caught, his gaze briefly drifting upward, silently hoping some version of Aira was watching over them, gently welcoming her lost son.

Arthur’s voice softened once more, the tenderness profound, almost heartbreaking in its quiet dignity, “Your son in this timeline still lives with an unblemished heart…I wish I could tell him how lucky he is to have you.”

Those words echoed hauntingly as Arthur’s bones continued to crumble, dust cascading gently onto the barren earth beneath. Asher’s chest clenched tightly, tears blurring his vision as he watched Arthur’s skull slowly fall against his chest.

“No…” Asher choked out weakly, heartbroken, and tightened his embrace, desperately holding onto the last remnants of Arthur. He felt the last of Arthur’s bones gently collapsing, breaking into fine ash and slipping through his trembling fingers, vanishing into oblivion.

“Let your soul find peace…my son,” Asher whispered hoarsely, anguish tearing through his voice as the final specks of dust drifted away.

And just like that, the cruel suspension of time lifted. Everything rushed back into motion—the sound of breathing, the rustle of movement, debris falling gently around him. But Asher remained kneeling silently, head lowered, hands clenched as the crushing reality of losing his son once again overwhelmed him.

The women and the Bloodburners gasped for breath, stumbling to their feet with wide, startled eyes, their chests heaving as if awakening from a horrific nightmare. Their trembling fingers brushed over their own bodies in disbelief, confirming they were still whole, still alive.

Rowena’s crimson gaze shook with shock and confusion, her heart racing frantically as she tightly hugged Ravina who was even more confused,

“What…What happened, Mama?” she whispered softly, her voice a fragile, disbelieving murmur. But then her gaze shifted towards the kneeling figure and her eyes immediately sparkled, “Papa!!”

Rowena held onto Ravina firmly, not letting her run away as she, Isola, Rebecca, and the others glanced anxiously at Asher. They were relieved to see that he was alive but they could feel the suffocating sorrow and darkness surrounding him.

“He’s gone…” Naida mumbled softly, her ruby red eyes shimmering, filled with unspoken emotion while Layla sighed with her head lowered.

Yet, before the rest could fully comprehend what miracle had granted them a second chance, their gazes fell once again upon the lone kneeling figure, bathed in an ominous dark-green glow, shoulders shaking subtly.

Asher remained utterly still, kneeling with head bowed low, an aura of immense sadness and sorrow emanating from him. Dark-green flames began to dance gently around his silhouette, casting eerie shadows that flickered along the bloodstained earth beneath.

But their brief moment of relief shattered abruptly as a deafening roar echoed from above, slicing through the skies.

“YOU!!”

Derek had returned, flying downward in a storm of fury and rage, eyes burning with murderous intent, his immense spear crackling violently with radiant blue and white energy.

“You won’t escape death again, Asher!” Derek’s voice boomed with wrath, echoing ominously across the battlefield as he descended at terrifying speed, aiming directly at the kneeling figure of Asher.

Rowena’s eyes widened sharply in horror, fear gripping her heart in icy tendrils. “Asher, look out!” she screamed desperately, her voice filled with raw panic.

“Get away from here!” Lupus loudly commanded his people as his figure blurred into a blood-red lightning streak and grabbed the crimson hilt lying on the ground.

“Grandfather!” A confused Luna cried out as she stood up but what she saw was Lupus hurling the crimson hilt towards Asher just as a giant speeding Derek’s spear was about to strike the kneeling Asher. And the next moment time just seemed to slow down in everyone’s eyes as they held their breath.

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