Hespera's fingers trailed lazily over the surface of the Boosted Gear, feeling the weak pulse of the dragon's presence trapped within. It was faint now, nothing like the once-dominant force that had roared across the heavens.
Ddraig—the Red Dragon Emperor, one of the Two Heavenly Dragons, once feared by gods and devils alike.
And now? It was become a dying ember.
Hespera tilted her head, her heterochromatic gaze gleaming with twisted amusement. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen~"
The crimson gauntlet flickered weakly, as if struggling to resist.
A pathetic attempt.
Hespera's grip tightened, her nails tapping against the smooth, cold surface of the sacred gear.
A breath. And then—
"Hah… What… are you?" The voice was deep, ancient, but weakened, laced with confusion, wariness—and fear.
Hespera laughed softly, her smile sharp. "Oh, poor little dragon," she cooed mockingly, tracing along the jagged edges of the gauntlet. "You're finally awake? I thought you'd stay quiet and die in your sleep like a good boy."
A low growl rumbled from within the gear, but it was distant, lacking the power it once held. "This… shouldn't be possible…"
Hespera's smirk widened. "But it is," she whispered.
The air around them shifted, growing dense, thick with Nihility and Chaos.
Beside her, Pandemonium Noctis shivered, but it wasn't from fear. No. It was from anticipation.
Her black and white kimono rippled, ink-like tendrils writhing at the hem as she took a slow, deliberate step forward.
Her void-like gaze fixated on the Boosted Gear, hunger glinting beneath the eerie calm of her expression.
Hespera tapped the gauntlet thoughtfully. "Ddraig, tell me—do you know what happens to a dragon when it dies?"
Silence.
A pause, then a ragged, labored breath. "Dragons… do not die easily. But answer... to your question... we return to the... universe."
Hespera giggled. "No, they don't~ They are "recycled". The magic inside you gets reused by the universe in whatever way it deems necessary. But you? You won't get that honor. Instead, you get the privilege to be my cutie's nourishment. Yay you~"
The Boosted Gear flickered violently, the remnants of Ddraig's power attempting to push back—to fight, to resist.
But Nihility consumes all. And Hespera was Nihility incarnate.
She lifted the gauntlet to her lips, her tongue darting out to lick the smooth crimson scales, tasting the faint remnants of divine power.
Ddraig flinched. "You… are a monster."
Hespera moaned softly, grinning. "Mmm~ You say that like it's a bad thing."
She turned to Noctis, twirling a lock of silver-streaked hair between her fingers.
"Cutie, you're drooling~"
The sword spirit didn't react outwardly, but her grip flexed, her fingers twitching ever so slightly.
"Dragon. Still struggling," Noctis murmured, tilting her head, her long lashes fluttering. "Mistress. Noctis hungry."
Hespera pouted. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Why can't they just accept their fate with dignity? Don't worry, sweetie. I'll feed you soon. Promise."
A breath. A flicker of dying flames.
"…You will regret this," Ddraig rasped.
Hespera laughed—sharp, delighted, utterly unhinged.
"I don't regret anything~"
She gripped her katana and... stabbed it straight into her arm that was hosting the Boosted gear.
The Boosted Gear howled in agony. Nihility was really an op power. Normally, a person would be screaming in pain after stabbing themselves in the arm with a magical sword. However, Hespera used her Nihility power to disassociate the pain from her arm. She felt nothing.
A vortex of black and white energy coming from the katana erupted, twisting like a hungry beast as it latched onto the sacred gear, sinking its fangs into the dragon's very soul.
Ddraig screamed.
All while Pandemonium Noctis swayed from side to side as if she was drunk on the delicious meal.
Ddraig's roar of agony reverberated through the room, but it was powerless—a dying echo of what once was.
The Boosted Gear trembled, flickering violently as if trying to resist the inevitable. But Nihility knew no mercy.
Hespera sighed dramatically, resting her free hand on her hip as she watched the sacred gear's desperate struggle.
"Honestly, the way you're acting," she mused, tilting her head, "you'd think you had a chance~"
Pandemonium Noctis shuddered, the blade lodged deep into Hespera's arm glowing with a chaotic light, its aura rippling with twisted satisfaction.
Noctis, usually so silent and stoic, was trembling with pleasure—her entire form shivering like a predator that had just tasted the rarest delicacy.
The black-and-white tendrils of energy wrapped around the Boosted Gear, burrowing deep, prying apart the very essence of the dragon trapped within.
Hespera felt the moment Ddraig began to break.
And oh, it was exquisite.
"No…!" The dragon's voice was barely more than a rasp, his power fading rapidly. "This is not how I am meant to fall! I am meant to fight Albion. I was to finally conquer over that white scaled bastard and ascend to Dragon God."
Hespera cooed mockingly, her fingers stroking along the crimson scales of the sacred gear.
"But it is," she whispered. "And you know what? It's so much better this way."
She twisted the blade—slowly, deliberately.
The reaction was immediate.
The Boosted Gear convulsed, sparks of its original draconic power crackling along its surface, but it was futile.
Pandemonium Noctis was consuming him.
Every ounce of his strength, his legacy, his very existence—all of it was being unraveled and absorbed into the ravenous blade.
Ddraig's screams grew weaker.
The flames of his being, the essence of a Heavenly Dragon, were being siphoned away, drawn into the depthless void of Hespera's weapon.
Noctis let out a soft, breathy sigh, her fingers twitching at her sides.
"Delicious," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, her void-and-light gaze flickering with satisfaction.
Hespera giggled, twisting the katana once more, savoring the way the sacred gear shuddered in its death throes.
"You hear that, Ddraig?" she purred, licking her lips. "You're delicious."
Ddraig gasped, his voice thin, hollow.
"…I was meant for… more… than this…"
Hespera tilted her head, faux sympathy dripping from her voice.
"Oh, you poor thing~ You thought you were meant for greatness? That you had some grand fate waiting for you?"
Her grin widened, sharp as a knife.
"Too bad. Because you're nothing now."
Ddraig choked, his final remnants unraveling, pulled into the depths of Noctis's endless abyss.
A final, shuddering gasp. A flicker of light— And then, silence.
The Boosted Gear dimmed, its once-vibrant crimson glow fading into absolute blackness.
Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor, was gone.
Erased. Devoured.
Hespera slowly withdrew the katana from her arm, watching as black-and-white tendrils slithered around the wound, sealing it shut with perfect precision.
Not a single drop of blood remained.
Her heterochromatic gaze flickered to Noctis, watching her beloved spirit sword with amusement.
The sword was trembling, her form flickering, as if struggling to contain the sheer power she had just consumed.
Then, she exhaled. A long, slow, shuddering breath.
And when she looked up, her abyssal and celestial gaze gleamed with something new. Something raw. Something primal. Something… draconic.
Hespera grinned. "Feeling good, Cutie?"
Noctis blinked slowly, her expression unreadable, and then she smiled. It was soft. Small. But unmistakably there. "Yes," she murmured. "Noctis is… full."
Hespera laughed. "Good girl~"
She twirled the katana in her hand, watching as the once-monochrome blade now pulsed with faint crimson veins, the last remnants of Ddraig woven into its very core.
Her fingers brushed along the blade's surface, feeling the raw, untamed power humming beneath the steel.
Hespera twirled Pandemonium Noctis between her fingers, feeling the new weight behind the blade.
The sword hummed, its aura shifting—stronger, denser, more complete.
Hespera's grin widened, and with a flick of her wrist, she activated her [Identify] skill.
---
[IDENTIFY] – ACTIVE
Target: [Pandemonium Noctis] – X-Grade Spirit Weapon
Classification: Chaos Weapon / Nihility Blade / Dragon-Fused Artifact
---
[Core Information]
Weapon Rank: X-Grade (Artifact-Level)
Type: Adaptive Spirit Weapon (Shapeshifter)
Owner: Hespera Eveningstar
Sentience: Yes
Bound: Permanently Soul-Bound
---
[New Status Detected] – Power Surge from Consumed Entity
Entity Consumed: Ddraig, Red Dragon Emperor
Power Assimilation: 100% Success
Sacred Gear Adaptation: Complete
---
[Weapon Attributes & Effects]
1. [Nihility Edge] – The blade exists outside the realm of causality. All defenses, magical or physical, hold no absolute power against it. Cuts conceptually, rather than physically.
2. [Chaos Rend] – A single swing distorts space, consuming the area in pure Chaos energy. Unstable and unpredictable, this attack has no pattern—only destruction.
3. [Devourer] – Consume your enemies, Pandemonium Noctis holds dominance over all entities. Any creature struck by this blade has their essence siphoned.
4. [Boosted Overdrive] (NEW) – The sword can now accumulate and multiply power infinitely, similar to the Boosted Gear's signature ability [Boost].
5. [Pandemonium Gauntlets] (NEW FORM UNLOCKED!) – The weapon can now shift into gauntlet form, replacing the Boosted Gear entirely. While in gauntlet form, all abilities remain functional. Unlike its predecessor, there is no time limit on boosts.
6. [Spirit Evolution: Draconic Ascendancy] (NEW TRAIT!) – Pandemonium Noctis has undergone a permanent evolution, fusing the essence of Nihility and Dragonic Domination. The weapon's potential has surpassed its previous limits, unlocking higher-tier growth possibilities.
---
Hespera whistled lowly, tilting her head as she read over the details.
"Damn, Cutie," she purred, flipping the sword in her grip. "You really leveled up, huh?"
Noctis shimmered, her humanoid form materializing beside Hespera, still dripping in shadows and light.
Her dual-colored eyes flickered, her fingers flexing as she held out her palm.
A ripple of black-and-crimson energy surged, and suddenly—
The katana warped. It bent, shifted, twisted—
And in the next instant, two sleek, obsidian gauntlets with pulsating violet veins coiled around both Hespera's arms.
They looked almost identical to the Boosted Gear—only darker, sleeker, more dangerous. The Crimson scales were now a glossly obsidian with violet undertones. The green paled to a more jade hue.
Hespera lifted her hand, flexing her fingers. The gauntlets responded perfectly.
A rush of power coursed through her. The sensation was intoxicating.
Noctis's voice was soft, but pleased.
"Do they fit, Mistress?"
Hespera chuckled, admiration laced in her tone. "Like a fucking dream~"
Her fingers curled into fists, and at that moment—
The newly-born Pandemonium Gauntlets flared with power, the very air trembling in response.
A system notification pinged.
---
[SYSTEM ALERT!]
A unique artifact has been created!
You have replaced the [Boosted Gear] with a superior, Chaos-forged weapon!
New Title Acquired: [Draconic Nihility Queen]
New Passive Ability Unlocked: [Absolute Boost – No Limits]
---
Hespera's laugh filled the room, delighted, utterly thrilled.
This…This was so much better than she ever imagined.
~☆~
In the realm beyond mortal comprehension, where the very fabric of existence was woven and rewoven by cosmic hands, Rebirth, the God of Reincarnation, sat at a grand table enjoying a peaceful meal with his fiancée, Order, the Goddess of Balance.
The celestial dining hall was a masterpiece of structure and serenity—a place where everything was in perfect harmony. The air hummed with equilibrium, the walls pulsed with divine laws woven into their existence, and the very plates upon which they ate maintained a mathematically perfect symmetry.
Order, an elegant woman adorned in robes of shimmering silver and gold, sipped her tea with refined poise, her piercing golden eyes ever-calm as she studied her soon-to-be husband.
Rebirth, typically composed and serene, was mid-bite into a divine ambrosia fruit when it happened.
A spike of chaos.
A ripple of pure, undiluted anarchy tore through the ordered structure of the universe, shattering the tranquility of their meal.
Rebirth's fork snapped in half.
The air around them trembled.
Balance—reality itself—wavered.
Rebirth froze. Slowly, ever so painstakingly slowly, he turned his attention to the realm responsible for this blatant offense.
He stared.
Then, he screamed.
"CHAAAAAAAAAOOOOS!!"
The force of his rageful bellow sent golden light crackling through the celestial dining hall, shattering one—just one—of the countless floating equilibrium orbs surrounding them.
A devastating event, truly.
Order set down her teacup with a sigh. "Rebirth, dear. Shouting does not fix things."
Rebirth ignored her. His ethereal body flared with cosmic fire as he turned furious, glowing blue eyes to the God of Chaos, who had materialized before them just in time to witness the divine tantrum.
Chaos, draped in shifting colors of pure madness, was grinning ear to ear, reclining in midair as though lounging on a non-existent throne.
Rebirth jabbed a finger of divine fury at him.
"WHAT DID SHE DO!?"
Chaos cackled.
"My daughter, not even a year in that world, is already causing chaos!" He clasped his hands together, stars swirling in his eyes as he beamed. "I'm so proud~"
Rebirth's veins nearly burst.
"You—she—SHE JUST ERASED THE PROTAGONIST!"
Chaos blinked innocently. "And?"
"AND!?" Rebirth sputtered, his godly glow flickering between white-hot rage and utter despair. "SHE TORE A MASSIVE HOLE IN THE WORLD'S NARRATIVE! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH OF A NIGHTMARE THAT IS TO FIX!?"
Chaos tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm… Nope!~"
Rebirth looked five seconds away from snapping. Poor boy~ And look, Mr. Vein has appeared!
"She absorbed the Red Dragon Emperor, for Void's sake! She's eating dragons, Chaos! SACRED ONES!"
Chaos snorted. "Well, duh. Kid's gotta eat." His friend could be so dramatic sometimes.
Rebirth grabbed a floating equilibrium orb and chucked it at Chaos's head.
Chaos let it hit him. It popped like a bubble.
He cackled even harder.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! OH, THIS IS EVEN BETTER THAN I EXPECTED!" Chaos clutched his stomach, wiping a tear of joy from his mismatched eyes. "Did you see how she stabbed herself just to absorb the Boosted Gear? Genius!"
Rebirth's eye twitched violently.
Order sighed, rubbing her temples.
"You knew this would happen," she said coolly, not a question, but a statement.
Chaos waved a hand dramatically. "Of course I did~! But seeing it in action? Pure art."
Rebirth was vibrating with frustration. "I should have ERASED her soul the moment I saw what you did!"
Chaos grinned wider, his eyes gleaming with divine mischief.
"But you didn't~"
Rebirth groaned, dragging his hands down his face.
"Because you knew she was special," Chaos sang, twirling in the air.
"Because deep down, you love the chaos she brings~"
Rebirth slammed his hands onto the table. "I HATE THE CHAOS SHE BRINGS!"
Order exhaled deeply.
"Rebirth. Your temper."
Rebirth took a deep, calming breath.
The divine glow around him dimmed slightly.
Then he promptly grabbed another floating equilibrium orb and shattered it against his own forehead.
Chaos wheezed in laughter.
"Okay, okay, I'll be nice~" Chaos snickered, twirling lazily in midair. "Tell you what, Rebirth. I won't interfere directly, but let's just sit back and see what happens next, hmm?"
Rebirth glared. "No."
Chaos grinned wider. "Yes~"
Rebirth groaned. "I'm going to regret this."
"Oh, definitely," Chaos chirped. "But isn't that what makes life fun?"
Rebirth slammed his forehead into the table. He seriously needed a vacation.
Order sipped her tea. "This is going to be a headache."