The Sevpons-Chapter 31: Death’s Countdown

The group followed the creature through dark halls until they entered a vast, shadowed throne room. No guards stood at the gates. No resistance.

The creature turned to face Wei and bowed respectfully.

"Velar, Raevin. Esai zae's draxil." (Here, Prince. It's your throne.) the creature said in a gravelly voice, gesturing toward the grand throne at the end of the hall.

Kai narrowed his eyes. "What did he say?" he asked with a hint of irritation.

Wei took a deep breath. "He is telling me to sit on the throne."

Kai tilted his head, suspicious. "Why only you?"

Wei didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the throne—its structure forged from dark metal and bones, with a crown resting upon it like a relic untouched for centuries. Without hesitation, he stepped forward. The sound of his footsteps echoed heavily through the hall as silence enveloped the others.

As Wei reached the throne, the creature approached and respectfully placed the crown in Wei's hands. With a quiet nod, Wei lifted it and placed it upon his head.

The instant the crown touched him, his soul exploded out of his body like a gust of wind through a shattered window. His eyes widened, stunned, before the world dissolved into light.

Wei closed his eyes from the brightness. When he opened them, he found himself in another scene.

He stood in a room of warm colors, filled with love and gentle humming. In front of him was a woman holding a small, grey-skinned baby, wrapped in cloth.

Wei's eyes filled with awe and confusion. He stepped closer.

"That's me... so that means... she is my mom," he whispered.

Just then, the door burst open and a tall, armored monster guard rushed in, panic etched into his snarling face.

"Velana, neas duren'zar shael'kar!" (Queen, we've been attacked!) he shouted.

The Queen stood up abruptly. "Zhean'tor velkarin shael'kar niriel?!" (Who dares attacking us?!) she asked, her tone strong and full of regal power.

She raised her hand to open the window with her powers, but nothing happened. Her hands trembled slightly as she tried again. And again.

"Neas zarnel drai velen Kharox." (I lost all my powers,) she finally admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

As she clutched the baby tighter, a glow emanated from the child. But then, it began to fade—and slowly, the monster baby began shifting into human form.

"Na'zor! Zhael neas'len virael shaen's Kharox zarnireth?!" (No! Why is my baby losing his powers?!) the Queen cried, panic and heartbreak in her voice.

The Guard grabbed her shoulders firmly. "Na'zor, niral dosven vel'thar Tia'l. Niral shal krenath zae vul drel'thas Drai Noctherion." (We don't have time for this. We have to get you out of this dimension.)

But the Queen shook her head violently. "Na'zor! Krenath shaen's rhael vul drel'thas Drai Noctherion velsha! Krenath El'zaen su velsha Drai Entherion!" (No! Take my son out of this dimension safely. Take him to any safe dimension!)

The guard hesitated. "Zanir, Velena..." (But, Queen...)

The Queen interrupted firmly, tears in her eyes. "Esai Neas'len Draethor." (It's my order.)

The Guard bowed his head. "Zae'thor Velana." (As you wish, Queen.)

With heavy arms, the Queen handed over her child, pressing her lips to his forehead one last time. The Guard nodded, clutching the baby close to his chest, then turned and vanished into a swirling portal of shadows.

Wei followed him in the vision. The Guard emerged from the portal at a grand stone gate in an unfamiliar land. Gently, he placed the baby at the foot of the gate, stepping back with sorrow in his eyes.

Then, he vanished through the portal, closing it behind him.

Wei's heart pounded as the vision warped. He stood in the middle of a battlefield now, flames, shadows, and blood. In the distance, he saw his mother's lifeless body. Her crown lay beside her. Around her, Prince Wei—the alternate version—raged like a storm, slaying everyone with his monstrous powers.

Wei screamed, but no sound came out. And then, his soul snapped back into his body like lightning.

He collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face.

"What happened, Wei?!" Ryu asked, kneeling beside him.

The creature approached slowly, offering his clawed hand to help Wei stand.

"Vorel zae morven zhean'tor sar, Raevin?" (Now you know who you are, Prince?) the creature asked gently.

Tony clenched his fists. "Can you tell us what happened to Wei?" he asked the creature, frustration burning in his voice.

Wei stood shakily, wiping his tears.

Suddenly, Ryu cried out in pain. He clutched his leg and fell, gritting his teeth.

"Ryu! Are you okay?!" Wei rushed to him.

Kai bent down, inspecting. "Look at his leg. It's like... glitches in a video game!"

Tony frowned. "But this is not a video game..."

Wei turned to the creature. "Zhean vel'karos el'zaen?" (What happened to him?) he asked in the Death Dimension tongue.

The creature observed closely, then replied, "Shaevin mor'es vel'karos su shaen's zarneth." (Looks like something has happened to his past.)

Kai gasped. "Tony, your hand is also doing the same thing!"

Wei's voice deepened with concern. "Zhean vel'niral shuvel? Zhean esar valtherin su tia'l?" (What do we do? What is the solution for this?)

The creature looked solemn. "Esar na'zor valtherin... zan morven su zae's velmaskar's kharox. Tia'l esar zael'thor ven'zar vel'niral shael yuneth." (There is no solution... but to understand your mask's powers. That's the only way we can keep them alive.)

Wei's breath caught in his throat. "Zalek vel'mar vel'thar niriel dosven?" (How much time do they have?)

The creature paused before replying. "Zhael'kar neas'len vorthal. Niriel dosven vel'thar vel'zar. Karethar... vel'thar fivor." (According to my knowledge, they have only a few hours left. Maybe... five hours.)

Wei turned to Kai, face determined. "Kai, stay with them. I will come with a cure."

Kai gave a nod, tense but trusting. "Alright. But please, hurry up."

The creature pointed to a room to the left. Kai helped Ryu and Tony into it, placing them gently onto beds that looked like stone slabs covered with ancient cloth.

Then the creature turned and walked toward another room. Wei followed him, his pace quickening.

The room was circular, with glowing crystals floating mid-air, casting shadows across the walls. The air was thick with ancient energy.

Wei asked the Creature. "Zhael, Esar Neas Kreshtar, zhael'kar Velara neas Velara esar Humen? Nual zhael'kar Neas vel sar drai Humen?"

(If I am a Creature, then why was my mother Human? And why did I also turn into a Human?)

The Creature moved forward and answered. "Niral sar Na'zor Kreshtarsil. Niral sar Nocthyrs. Neas'len Velara esar vel Nocthyr nual Velana drai Noctherion, nual shael velzar velen Kharox su valtherin Fivor'kar Sevpon, Velmaskar. Velsha shael sar valtherin Sevpon, zae esar drai shael'kar Virael. Esai shael valtherin Zael'thor Sevpon, shael Vel sar Humen — zael'kar zae Vel sar Humen."

(We are not Creatures. We are Nocthyrs. Your mother was also a Nocthyr, the Queen of the Death Dimension. She used all her powers to create the seventh Sevpon—The Mask. While she was creating the Sevpon, you were in her belly. As she made the final Sevpon, she turned into a human. That is why you also turned into a human.)

Wei's eyes widened. "Zhael'kar, Sevponsil saral velkaros valtherin?" (So... Sevpons are not made naturally?)

The creature shook his head. His voice now filled the room with ancient gravity:

"Na'zor. Fivor'zel Sevponsil esar velkaros Duren'thas Dorosil.

(No. All seven Sevpons are made in different dimensions.)

Spikes Drai Surnos velkaros Duren'thas Glaretherion Drai Raleth Drai shael Doros.

(Spikes of Sun was made in the Ice Dimension by its ruler.)

Chains Drai Venom velkaros Duren'thas Veonartherion Drai fivor'zar Magel'sil.

(Chains of Venom was made in the Dimension of Life by 108 magicians.)

Sea Drai Varn velkaros Duren'thas Etherion. Shael'es velkaros valtherin.

(Sea of Wind was made in the Ether Dimension. That one was created naturally.)

Shield Drai Drakos velkaros Duren'thas Illunortherion drai Moraz'vel Drakosil.

(Shield of Dragon was made in the Illusion Dimension by the death of the most powerful dragon.)

Vel'mor Drai Death velkaros drai sar'mel Humen'sil velsha zhael'tor craxen velkaros Dorosil Drai Veonartherion nual Surnostherion.

(Two-Faced Death was made by sacrificing two humans when a mysterious crack opened between the Dimensions of Life and the Fire Dimension.)

Blackfire velkaros Duren'thas Royaletherion drai Magel zae sar velen vexar souls drai Shael.

(Blackfire was made in the Royal Dimension by a magician who absorbed a million souls into a sword.)

Nual zae morven Drai Zael'thor Sevpon... Velmaskar Drai Nocth.

(And you know about the last Sevpon—the Mask of Death.)

Wei looked down at his mask and nodded solemnly. "Zaeven, Zae zarek nual vorin shael'kar Neas'len Vornil'sil. Shal velar neas morven drai Neas'len Sevpon." (Thank you. You go and check my friends. I'll be here, focusing on understanding my Sevpon.)

The creature nodded and left the room.

Wei slowly lifted the mask and placed it on his face. The air around him changed instantly. Shadows stirred. Ancient voices whispered once more, and Wei focused.