Chapter 60: Agony and Despair

As Darius took his first breath in his newly restored body, an overwhelming wave of agony tore through him without warning. The searing pain was unlike anything he had ever felt.

His entire being seemed to fracture, as if his essence was being ripped apart from the inside.

He clutched his chest, his eyes wide with shock and terror, and then the scream tore from his throat—an anguished, primal roar that reverberated through the entire mountain.

The sound echoed like a thunderclap, shattering the calm of the training room. The ground beneath him trembled violently, as if the very earth was recoiling from his agony.

Cracks began to spiderweb through the floor, and the walls of the grand training room groaned under the immense pressure.

It felt as though the entire mountain was about to split open, unable to contain the raw, unbridled power now spiraling out of control from Darius.

"AAAHHHH!" Darius screamed, his voice a mixture of rage, pain, and desperation.

His hands clawed at the air as if trying to grasp something solid to anchor himself, but there was nothing—only the all-consuming pain that seemed to tear at his very soul.

His power, once so carefully controlled, erupted in a violent storm of energy that swirled around him, threatening to consume everything in its path.

The Archers of the Endless, standing in their stoic formation, sprang into action. Their eyes blazed with determination as they channeled all their strength into containing the storm of power that raged around their lord.

With bows drawn, they formed a protective barrier of light and energy, each archer pouring their very essence into the effort.

But even their combined might struggled against the sheer force of Darius' unleashed power.

Darius' screams continued, each one more agonized than the last. His body convulsed, wracked with spasms of pain so intense it felt as though every atom of his being was on fire.

The mountain quaked under the onslaught, massive boulders breaking loose and tumbling down the slopes, while the sky above darkened as if the heavens themselves mourned his suffering.

...

Miles away, Harmony felt it—a searing, gut-wrenching sensation that tore through her heart.

She was in the middle of a conversation, her laughter filling the room, when suddenly everything froze.

Her smile vanished, replaced by a look of pure horror as the bond she shared with her brother flared to life, radiating his pain and fear.

"Darius..." she whispered, her voice trembling as the full weight of his distress crashed into her. She felt his agony, his despair, as if it were her own, and it sent a cold, suffocating wave of panic surging through her.

Without a second thought, she bolted from the room, her mind a whirlwind of fear and desperation.

"DARIUS!" she screamed, her voice cracking as she raced toward him, her heart pounding in her chest. Tears streamed down her face as the reality of what was happening set in.

She had never felt him like this—so broken, so utterly overwhelmed.

It was as if the very essence of who he was was being torn apart.

Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what could have caused this, but all she could think of was getting to him, holding him, protecting him from whatever was causing this unbearable pain.

She had to reach him, had to stop this before it was too late. 

But deep down, she knew this was beyond her. The power that was causing this was something far greater than anything they had ever faced before. And as much as it terrified her, she knew that if she didn't act, she might lose him forever.

Her footsteps echoed in the corridors as she sped toward the training room, her heart shattering with every agonizing scream that tore through the mountain.

The fear of what she might find when she reached him gripped her like a vice, but she pushed it down, focusing only on her brother and the desperate need to save him.

==

=

As Darius' agonized screams reverberated across the realms, they reached the ears of his pseudo siblings—the Endless, each one feeling the sheer magnitude of his suffering.

[Life's Realm]

In a distant and lush part of the universe, where worlds teemed with vibrant energy, Life was overseeing the birth of a new star system.

Her touch brought life to barren planets, and her breath filled the void with color and warmth.

But as the pain from her brother's torment crashed into her, she faltered. The new star she was guiding into existence flickered dangerously, nearly snuffing out before she regained control.

Life gasped, clutching her chest as a powerful wave of anguish hit her. She could feel Darius' agony as though it were her own—raw, tearing, and relentless.

"No... Darius..." she whispered, her voice filled with dread. The connection they shared as siblings allowed her to sense the depth of his suffering, and it tore at her heart.

The radiant energy around her began to dim as her thoughts raced, trying to comprehend what could be happening to him.

Her serene environment felt oppressive now, the beauty of creation marred by the horror she was feeling. She knew she had to reach him, but the distance between them was immense, and the pain she felt from him was nearly paralyzing.

Yet, she steeled herself, determination flaring in her eyes. "Hold on, brother... I'm coming," she vowed, her voice filled with resolve as she began to channel her power, preparing to cross the stars and reach him.

[Plains of The Endless]

[Death's Domain]

In the shadowy corners of existence where souls passed from one life to the next, Death, known as Morta to those close to her, was tending to her duties with a calm, practiced grace.

She had long since learned to embrace her role, guiding the departed with a gentle hand.

But then, Darius' cries of agony tore through her peaceful realm, shattering her composure.

Morta froze, her eyes widening as the scream reverberated through her very being. The souls around her seemed to quiver, as if responding to the immense pain that echoed through the universe.

Her normally composed demeanor cracked, a rare tear slipping down her cheek as she felt the intensity of her former lover's suffering. 

"Darius..." she murmured, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and sorrow. She had felt his pain before, but never like this—so visceral, so all-consuming.

It was as if the very essence of his existence was being ripped apart, and it sent a chill down her spine.

With a flick of her hand, she dismissed the souls she was guiding, her focus now solely on her brother.

"This... this can't be happening," she whispered, her mind racing. She wanted to be there for him, to hold him and ease his pain, but she knew her presence could bring only finality.

The helplessness she felt was unbearable, her normally stoic heart breaking under the weight of her brother's torment.

[Dream's Domain]

[Land of Dreams]

In the realm of dreams, where reality twisted and turned at his command, Dream was weaving a tapestry of fantasy and wonder for the slumbering minds of the universe.

But as Darius' pain hit him, the dreamscape shattered like fragile glass, leaving Dream standing amidst the jagged shards of what once was.

The shock of it took his breath away, his normally composed expression crumbling as the raw intensity of Darius' suffering tore through him. 

The once beautiful and serene landscape of his realm twisted into something dark and chaotic, mirroring the turmoil within him. He could feel Darius' agony as if it were his own, and it shook him to his core.

Dream knew the pain of loss, the ache of sorrow, but this—this was something else entirely. 

"Why now, brother?" he muttered, his voice laced with anguish as he began to unravel the threads of his realm, trying to reach out to Darius in any way he could.

But there was no response, only more pain, more suffering. It was as if Darius was slipping away, and there was nothing Dream could do to stop it.

[Destiny's Domain]

[Threads of Destiny]

In the ancient, ever-shifting library where every event, every possibility, was recorded, Destiny stood before a massive tome. He had been reading through the countless threads of fate, tracing the paths of existence as he always did.

But the moment Darius' screams echoed through the cosmos, the pages before him blackened, the ink running as if in mourning.

Destiny's calm, unyielding gaze flickered, a rare sign of emotion crossing his face. He could feel the turmoil, the agony ripping through the fabric of the universe, and he knew its source—his brother.

"Darius..." he breathed, his voice heavy with the weight of what he was witnessing. 

The pages of the book trembled, the stories within twisting and warping as the balance of existence threatened to spiral out of control.

He had seen many things in his time, witnessed countless tragedies, but this was different. This was personal, and it struck him in a way few things ever had.

Destiny reached out, his hand hovering over the pages, but he hesitated. He knew that whatever was happening to Darius was beyond even his foresight.

The uncertainty, the not knowing what would happen next, was a feeling he rarely experienced, and it filled him with a deep, unsettling fear.

[Destruction's Domain]

[The Land After the Beginning] 

Far away, in a realm filled with the echoes of past devastations, Destruction had been creating a peaceful garden—a rare moment of solace in his otherwise tumultuous existence.

But the instant Darius' cries of pain reached him, the garden around him withered, the plants dying as if they had been scorched by an unseen fire.

Destruction's heart pounded in his chest, a primal rage and sorrow building within him as he felt his brother's suffering.

He had always been the one to break things, to tear down what was no longer needed, but this—this was something that was breaking him.

"Dammit, Darius!" he shouted, his voice filled with frustration and anguish. His hands clenched into fists as he struggled to contain the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

He wanted to rush to his brother's side, to tear apart whatever was causing him such pain, but he knew that this was beyond his power. 

The destruction that followed in his wake had always been controlled, purposeful, but the thought of losing his brother—of being powerless to stop it—filled him with a helpless fury.

Destruction's normally calm demeanor cracked, and he roared in frustration, the sound echoing through his realm like the crash of a thousand mountains falling.

[Hearts Desire]

[Desire's Domain]

In a realm of endless pleasure and temptation, Desire lounged on a velvet chaise, surrounded by the fruits of their creation.

But the moment Darius' screams of pain reached them, the allure of the realm faded, replaced by a cold, gnawing dread.

Desire's eyes widened, the playful smirk that usually graced their lips vanishing as the raw intensity of Darius' suffering washed over them.

"What is this...?" they whispered, a rare note of fear in their voice. The sensation was foreign, unsettling, and it sent a shiver down their spine.

The usually vibrant and seductive realm dimmed, the colors bleeding out as Desire felt the full weight of their brother's pain. It was an emotion they rarely indulged in, something they usually toyed with in others, but now it was their own heart that twisted with sorrow and fear.

"Darius... what are you doing?" Desire murmured, their voice trembling as they tried to make sense of what was happening. The connection they shared as siblings was strong, and now it was pulling at them with an intensity they couldn't ignore.

[Land of Uncertainty]

[Delirium's Domain]

In a realm of chaotic, ever-changing colors and sounds, where reality bent and twisted in impossible ways, Delirium was dancing with butterflies made of light.

But as Darius' screams tore through the cosmos, her dance faltered, and the butterflies shattered into a million fragments.

Delirium froze, her mismatched eyes widening as the full force of Darius' pain hit her. The chaotic, playful energy that usually filled her realm was suddenly suffused with a deep, disorienting sadness.

"Brother...?" she whispered, her voice small and frightened.

The colors around her began to swirl in dark, ominous patterns, and the once-happy melodies that played in her realm turned into discordant, mournful notes.

Delirium clutched her head, trying to block out the overwhelming pain she felt through their bond. It was too much, too intense, and it was tearing her apart.

"I don't like this... I don't like this at all!" she cried, her voice rising in pitch as she tried to shake off the feeling. But no matter how much she tried to retreat into her own world, the pain remained, sharp and unrelenting.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she began to rock back and forth, trying to comfort herself as she whispered, "Please, brother, stop... please, make it stop..."

... 

Each of the Endless, in their own realms, felt the immense, heart-wrenching agony of their brother. The connection they shared was strong, a bond forged over eons, and now it was being tested in ways they had never imagined. The pain of one was the pain of all.