Chapter 1473: Sob
The atmosphere inside the underground chamber became increasingly tense with every passing second. The black mist leaking from the three Dragonborn continued growing thicker and larger. Dark tendrils of energy slowly spread through the chamber before immediately being suppressed by the Sky Anchor’s radiant white light.
Velrion stared at them with a grim expression. Despite his decades of experience as an Archmage, he could not help but feel genuine fear at the sight before him.
His mind immediately imagined the worst possible scenario. Three Dragonborns losing control simultaneously within Leonora’s capital.
The disaster would be beyond anything the world had ever witnessed. Compared to that catastrophe, the invasion that had nearly destroyed Leonora several weeks ago would seem insignificant. Thousands would die within moments and perhaps even the entire continent would disappear beneath their wrath.
The mere thought caused cold sweat to form on Velrion’s forehead.
He turned his gaze toward Erend, who stood before the three meditating Dragonborn. His expression wasn’t much different from his own. If anything, Velrion was certain that Erend’s fear was far greater than his.
After all, Erend understood exactly what they were confronting right now. He had experienced it himself.
Velrion let out a long sigh and couldn’t help but feel regret creeping into his heart. It was ultimately his decision to allow this ritual to take place beneath his tower.
If something went wrong here, then the responsibility would fall entirely upon him.
"No..." Velrion shook his head and forcefully pushed away the dark thoughts whispering inside his mind. He looked once more at the Dragonborns sitting before him and clenched his fists. "I have to believe they’ll succeed."
He could not allow himself to doubt the very beings who had saved Leonora and the Sky Anchor simply because they possessed a weakness like everyone else.
Dragonborns were not monsters. They were heroes who had risked their lives countless times to protect others.
He owed them his trust.
While Velrion fought against his own fears, Erend was experiencing a similar struggle. However, his worry was far greater because he understood better than anyone just how terrifying the Black Rage truly was.
He didn’t know exactly what the three Dragonborn were seeing inside their subconscious. He didn’t know what kind of memories or emotions the Black Rage was forcing them to relive.
But he knew one thing with absolute certainty. Whatever they were experiencing could not possibly be pleasant.
In fact, it was likely something so horrifying and painful that he couldn’t even imagine it himself.
"Come on... You can do this," Erend thought grimly. His fists tightened at his sides as he stared at his friends.
The black mist continued becoming denser as though attempting to burst free from their bodies. Meanwhile, the Sky Anchor’s light formed a protective cocoon around them, encasing the three Dragonborn within a prison of pure white radiance.
Erend raised his head and looked toward the Sky Anchor’s crystalline form.
"What do you feel?" he asked.
There was a brief silence before the Sky Anchor answered.
"I sense fear... and sorrow," she said quietly. "They are experiencing tremendous emotional turmoil at this very moment."
Erend could clearly hear the sadness and worry hidden within her voice.
So this was how the Black Rage operated. It showed its victims their deepest regrets and greatest sorrows before slowly breaking their hearts and convincing them to embrace its overwhelming power. It was truly a cruel existence.
Who in this world did not possess pain or trauma buried deep within their heart? Such things were inevitable for anyone who lived long enough. Humans experienced them. Elves experienced them. Even Dragonborns were no exception.
The difference was that Dragonborns possessed unimaginable power.
And when individuals with such power broke emotionally, the consequences would become equally unimaginable.
Eventually, Erend came to a conclusion.
There was no way Eccar, Aesa, and Sylven could overcome the Black Rage during their first encounter with it. They had only recently learned of its existence and had barely begun understanding how dangerous it truly was.
Expecting them to conquer it immediately was simply unrealistic.
"We’re taking them out," Erend finally said as he looked toward the Sky Anchor.
The Sky Anchor remained silent for several moments before replying. "I’m not certain that I can."
"I’m not certain either," Erend admitted. "But let’s try. Do your best to disrupt their meditative state."
"Understood."
The white light radiating from the Sky Anchor immediately intensified.
This time the light felt different. The gentle and soothing warmth that normally accompanied her power was gone. Instead, the light now carried a sharp and forceful presence designed specifically to disrupt the Dragonborns’ connection to their subconscious.
The brilliant white radiance surged forward and crashed against the black mist surrounding the three Dragonborn. The dark energy struggled violently before being suppressed even further.
Then, the white light entered their bodies directly.
For several moments, nothing happened. And then the three Dragonborn abruptly opened their eyes.
They gasped loudly for air as though they had been drowning moments earlier. Their breathing became ragged and their eyes were wide with shock and fear.
A moment later, all three of them collapsed onto the chamber’s floor.
To Erend’s surprise, none of them spoke. Instead, tears silently streamed down their faces.
Eccar clenched his fists as tears dripped onto the floor beneath him. Aesa covered her face with trembling hands while silently sobbing. Meanwhile, Sylven simply lay there with empty eyes as tears continuously flowed down his youthful face.
The atmosphere inside the chamber became unbearably heavy.
Erend looked at his companions with sympathy. Although he had no idea what they had experienced, seeing their reactions was enough for him to understand that the Black Rage had shown them something they desperately wished they could forget.
Velrion stood frozen in place as he stared at the three Dragonborn in complete disbelief. He had expected resistance, anger, or perhaps even violence. He never expected tears from them.
The Archmage slowly realized that perhaps the Black Rage was even crueler than he had initially imagined.
For several moments, no one spoke.
Only the sound of quiet sobbing echoed throughout the underground chamber.
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