Overture of Collapse
Just minutes after Leon vanished, the changes initiated at the 'Altar of Convergence' began to shake the entire Tower of Radiance.
Rumble... Rumble....
A massive reverberation permeated the tower's very bones, causing it to tremble. The black aura emanating from the chaotic 'Core of Radiance' enveloped the entire altar, and the walls, which once glowed with brilliant golden light, began to stain black as if afflicted by a disease.
Crack! Crackle!
Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the tower's outer walls. The sacred bricks, consecrated by light ether for millennia, could not withstand the chaotic erosion and began to fall off piece by piece. From the tower's upper sections, massive chunks of masonry collapsed, crashing down onto the lower floors.
"This can't be... the Core of Radiance...!"
Garen, Captain of the Light Knights, who was battling chaos mutants outside the tower, cried out in despair. The silver aura emanating from his sword was rapidly weakening. With the Core of Radiance turning chaotic, the flow of purified ether supplied to the entire Land of Light was being cut off.
"Captain! Our strength...!" "The ether is backflowing!"
The knights' desperate cries echoed across the battlefield. They, who once overwhelmed the mutants with the powerful force of light, were now being helplessly pushed back. Conversely, the chaos mutants grew even more ferocious, absorbing the chaos ether spreading in the air.
Whoooosh...
The sky began to darken. The gentle, golden sky that usually enveloped the Land of Light gradually turned gray, then black. It was as if a colossal dark cloud was covering the entire world.
The land, too, was changing. Once lush and vibrant grasslands withered to brown, then began to turn a grotesque purple. Flowers' petals blackened and fell, and tree leaves melted as if chemically corroded.
"Grrrrr..."
Strange cries could be heard in the distance. Some animals, exposed to the chaotic wave, were mutating. Thorns grew from rabbits' bodies, birds' feathers turned to scales, and red light streamed from their eyes.
"Ugh..."
Light groaned from the 'Altar of Convergence,' slowly regaining consciousness. His entire body felt as if it had shattered into a thousand pieces. In his brief duel with Leon, he had been completely overwhelmed, and the aftereffects of having a significant amount of his ether absorbed made it difficult to even move properly.
But the surrounding spectacle instantly made him forget his physical pain.
"This... this can't be..."
The 'Core of Radiance' in the center of the altar was now completely different. What once emitted a warm, sacred light like the sun now radiated a black, ominous aura, like the eye of an abyss. Around the core, chaos ether swirled, contaminating the entire altar.
Rumble, rumble, rumble....
The tower shook again. Light stumbled to the edge of the altar and looked down at the outside. And what he saw was...
"No... no..."
The Land of Light was dying. The land, which had been peaceful and beautiful under the blessing of light for thousands of years, was being consumed by chaos, transforming into a monstrous landscape. The sky was turning black, the land was decaying, and all living things were suffering.
On the external battlefield, the Light Knights were falling. With their ether supply cut off, their sacred weapons lost their glow, and their defensive barriers shattered. Chaos mutants surrounded them, slowly pressing in.
CRASH! Rumble!
Another part of the tower collapsed. Dozens of Watchers screamed, crushed beneath the debris.
"I... I failed to protect them..."
Light's fists trembled uncontrollably. Never had the title of 'Heir of Light,' the hope and guardian of all, felt so utterly powerless. He had been utterly weak before Leon, and as a result, countless innocent lives were now in peril.
"Elena... where is Elena...!"
Suddenly, concern for his beloved pierced his mind. Elena was in the lower-level infirmary, tending to the injured. In this situation, she couldn't possibly be safe.
Light, though stumbling, managed to get to his feet. Ignoring the pain throughout his body, he began to exit the altar.
"Aaagh!"
As he ran down the corridor, he let out a desperate cry. The tower's interior was also being consumed by chaos. Black, vine-like growths were sprouting from the walls, and an unknown black liquid flowed across the floor.
As soon as a few Watchers touched the liquid, they screamed and collapsed. The chaotic toxicity was slowly rotting their bodies.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Light raced down the stairs, heading for the infirmary. Only one thought occupied his mind.
'Only Elena... I must protect Elena.'
The scene Light found upon reaching the infirmary was a pandemonium. Debris from the ceiling crushed beds, and injured people screamed in confusion. Some were already exposed to the chaos ether, and grotesque mutations were beginning.
"Light!"
A familiar voice called out. It was Elena. She was supporting an injured person next to a pile of collapsed debris. Fortunately, she didn't seem to be severely injured, but her face was etched with fear and despair.
"Elena... thank goodness..."
Light rushed to her and embraced her. But there was no time for relief in this situation.
"Light, what in the world happened? The tower suddenly started shaking, and then..."
"No time to explain. We have to leave this place immediately."
Light took Elena's hand and looked around at the injured. Only a few people were mobile. But he couldn't abandon the others.
"Move everyone to the underground shelter. Those who can move, help the injured!"
Light's voice held firm resolve. Despite the desperate situation, he could not give up. At least those who could be saved must be.
Rumble... Rumble....
The tower shook again, and more debris fell. There wasn't much time.
"Hurry!"
From a distant hilltop, the 'Seven Lords of Malice' watched the collapse of the Tower of Radiance.
"Hahahaha! Finally! Finally that disgusting tower of light is crumbling!"
'Serpent Lord' Ventus let out a frenzied laugh. Poisonous gas spewed from his body, and the surrounding grass withered instantly.
"A thousand years... no, even longer, we've waited. The age of light is finally ending."
'Abyss Lord' Abyss muttered in a deep, gloomy voice. Tentacle-like things squirmed beneath his black robe.
"But this is only the beginning."
'Iron Lord' Baldur spoke in a heavy voice. The sound of metal heating constantly resonated from his massive body.
"Now we must make the entire Land of Light our own. We must eradicate all their remnants and usher in a true age of chaos."
"Indeed! No longer do we need to endure that repulsive light!"
'Rage Lord' Ragna swung his massive axe in the air. A red aura emanated from the axe blade.
"Speaking of which..."
Baldur turned to the other lords.
"That Leon fellow, he truly exceeded expectations. The purity and destructive power of that chaos... it was like seeing the 'First Balance Destroyer' reborn."
"Hehehe... yes, his ether absorption ability was truly terrifying. To fell the Heir of Light in one blow."
'Shadow Lord' Noir laughed mockingly. His form was as blurry as a shadow.
"It was a truly wise decision to bring that fellow to our side."
"He's not fully on our side yet."
Baldur said calmly.
"But he will be soon. His vengeance is not yet complete, and we can help him with that. Then, he will naturally become our true comrade."
"Hahaha! When that time comes, no one in this world will be able to stop us!"
The frenzied laughter of the seven lords echoed towards the collapsing Tower of Radiance.
At the same moment, on another hill, Leon stood alone. His black cloak flapped in the wind, and his red eyes gazed coldly at the crumbling Tower of Radiance.
Rumble, rumble, rumble....
The sounds of the tower's collapse continued to echo. A cold smile appeared on Leon's lips.
"This is... this is the sight I wanted."
His voice was filled with satisfaction. The Land of Light, which had once insulted and trampled him, was now suffering, consumed by chaos. Those who had called him a 'dropout' and cast him out were now crumbling in despair.
"They called me a dropout with an ether rating of 2.8..."
Leon raised his hand and looked at it. Black flames danced in his palm. After merging with the Heart of the Abyss, his power was beyond imagination. Now, no one could call him a dropout.
"Light... that fellow, called the Heir of Light, was nothing but a mere insect before me."
The red light in Leon's eyes intensified. What he felt during his confrontation with Light was an overwhelming sense of superiority. The sight of the one who was once everyone's hope falling helplessly before him brought him extreme pleasure.
"But..."
Leon's smile grew even more cruel.
"This is just the beginning. The remnants of light still remain, and I haven't plunged them into complete despair yet."
He looked at the battle raging around the distant tower. The Light Knights were desperately resisting, but their defeat was only a matter of time.
"I will trample them one by one. And I will make everyone in this world fear me."
Leon looked towards the 'Seven Lords of Malice.' Their alliance was still in its early stages, but if their power combined with his own, no one in this world would be able to stop them.
"A new era... the age of chaos has begun."
With Leon's declaration, thunder roared in the sky. It was as if the world itself was responding to his words.
Rumble, rumble, rumble....
The Tower of Radiance let out its final groan, and a larger section collapsed. The age of light was ending.
And the age of chaos had just begun.