Rise of the Primordial Dragon beast tamer-Chapter 38: Zephiron,The Abyss Devourer.

As Azvoid exited the guild, his casual banter with Lola still echoing in his ears, the sunlight bathed the world with a lazy glow. Lola had finally managed to get past her timid stuttering, the two of them trading jabs and laughter like old friends. If he didn't know better, he would have sworn she was trying to impress him with how quickly her combat prowess had improved.

Azvoid's mood was light, his steps brisk, a rare grin plastered across his face. The way Lola had tried to hide her disappointment when he didn't pay much attention to her outfit—it was almost endearing. Almost.

He was just about to warp home when—

A cold, abyssal chill gripped his mind, yanking his consciousness inward like a predator snaring its prey.

Darkness. Infinite, swallowing darkness.

Azvoid blinked and found himself standing within his mental space. The familiar presence of Noctis should've been a comforting beacon of shadow and power, but the oppressive, soul-sinking aura wrapping around him was something else. Something worse.

"Noctis?" Azvoid called, his voice steady, but his eyes were sharp, searching.

"I am here, young master." Noctis's voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge of alarm. His form emerged from the shadows, his serpentine body coiled like a living shadow, eyes blazing. "But we are not alone."

The air rippled, a distortion of pure darkness twisting into a hulking, malicious figure. It loomed, towering even over Noctis's imposing form, eyes of molten crimson burning with cruel intelligence.

"Zephiron..." Noctis's voice dropped, a low snarl echoing within the mental space.

"Ah... the little pet still remembers me," the shadow chuckled, its voice a guttural rumble that vibrated through Azvoid's very bones. "How adorable."

"Don't you dare insult me, Zephiron." Noctis's tail lashed, the darkness coiling around him like a living thing ready to strike.

Azvoid's fists clenched. For the first time, his mental space felt like it wasn't his own. It was as if the very foundation of his mind was crumbling under the entity's presence.

"So, you're the famous Azvoid Larkson..." Zephiron's eyes glinted with mockery. "The new wielder of the Supreme Dragon Beast Tamer System. I have been watching you... struggling, fighting, desperately clawing at power like a starving rat. It's almost... endearing."

Azvoid's gaze sharpened. "And you're the fallen dragon. The one who got himself sealed away like a pitiful beast."

A hissed growl echoed. Zephiron's shadowy form coiled tighter, but instead of lashing out, it only seemed more amused.

"Ah, the bravado of youth. Tell me, child, do you think yourself strong? You've barely scratched the surface of your own potential, yet here you are, flaunting your power like a child with a new toy."

"Better than being a washed-up has-been trapped in a cage," Azvoid shot back, his tone dripping with disdain.

Noctis chuckled darkly. "I must say, you've got nerve, young master. I almost feel bad for this fool."

Zephiron's grin widened, fangs gleaming within the darkness. "You amuse me, mortal. And that's why I have come."

"What do you want?" Azvoid asked, every muscle in his body tensed, prepared to unleash hell if need be.

"I only wish to... converse," Zephiron said, his voice smooth, yet underlying it was a madness so potent it nearly bled into reality. "After all, I've been so dreadfully bored sealed away, deprived of fresh blood and shattered wills."

Azvoid exchanged a glance with Noctis. Something was off. Why would a being of such malevolence reach out for a conversation?

Zephiron continued, his voice laced with sickly sweetness. "The world will tremble beneath my claws once again. But... I could use a little entertainment before that."

"Entertainment?" Azvoid narrowed his eyes.

"Yes. Think of it as a friendly... invitation."

"Invitation? For what?"

"To a little game." Zephiron's voice was almost seductive now. "You see, as much as I loathe this cage, I can project a fragment of myself into this... amusing little sanctuary of yours. Think of it as me... testing you. Entertaining myself with your struggle. After all, if you are truly the one the system has chosen, prove it. Prove that you are worthy of wielding its power."

Azvoid's gaze turned icy. "And what if I refuse?"

"Oh, you have no choice." The shadows seemed to thicken, oppressive and stifling. "After all, the game has already begun. And I will enjoy watching you squirm."

His laughter rumbled like a distant earthquake, shaking the very foundations of Azvoid's mind. Before Azvoid could respond, the shadows coiled around him and pulled him into a dark, twisted arena within his mental space.

The ground was cracked, writhing with blackened flames, the sky above a swirling vortex of red and black. Noctis appeared beside him, his gaze locked on the sky with a mixture of wariness and fury.

"This is no ordinary intrusion, young master," Noctis growled. "Zephiron's influence has reached deeper than I anticipated. We must tread carefully."

Azvoid's lips curled into a grin that was equal parts madness and excitement. "Careful? Nah. I've been itching for something like this. A true challenge."

Noctis glanced at him, momentarily taken aback before letting out a dry chuckle. "You are either the bravest fool or the most insane bastard I've ever known."

Azvoid's grin only widened. "Why can't I be both?"

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"Good. Then let's show that bastard what happens when he messes with us."

And with that, Azvoid prepared himself to face whatever twisted horrors Zephiron had unleashed within his own mind...