novelraw Chapter 272: Veyrith Appearance
Chapter 272: Veyrith Appearance
Sharky sat with his family, surrounded by warmth and laughter. The feeling was overwhelming—he felt truly happy again. Words couldn’t describe what he felt at that moment.
"So, tell me," he said, looking at Elira, Sophia, Rosie, and Jean, "what did I miss all these years?"
Elira smiled and leaned in. "Let’s start with Marcus."
Sharky raised an eyebrow. "What? The old Principal of Dravaris? Did he start another attack or something?" he asked with a half-amused look.
He already knew that Marcus, after killing Cyras Dren, had taken control of Malvara and the Veilborn. And if Elira hadn’t stopped him back then, he might’ve destroyed Dravaris completely.
"No," Elira replied, shaking her head. "He hasn’t caused any trouble... but he and his Veilborn vanished. Completely. The Etherbon Council searched everywhere, but not a single trace."
"Even Alaric couldn’t locate him through his telepathy. And the Earth King couldn’t sense his presence anywhere on Aetherion," she added.
Sharky tilted his head. "So if he’s gone, isn’t that a good thing? Why are you all so worried?"
"I agree, it seems like a good thing," Elira said. "But his disappearance is strange. If we can’t find him, we can’t predict what he’s planning. This ’good thing’ might turn into something dangerous later."
Sharky gave a half-smile. "You and your endless precautions," he muttered, pulling her gently into his lap. As he nuzzled her neck, Elira smiled softly. She could feel how much he missed her—and she had missed him just as much.
"So... that’s everything?" Sharky asked, turning to Rosie.
"Mostly," Rosie replied. "Since the Council couldn’t find Marcus, Queen Seorin sent her thunder spies to search the skies—but nothing. Even King Vodyan’s deep-sea scouts couldn’t detect a single ripple under the ocean.
It’s like Marcus and the Veilborn just disappeared from the world."
"But while the past faded," Rosie continued, "the future started to grow.
In these six years, many new Etherbon children awakened—and for the first time, we created a proper system to train them.
Schools from Velmora, Dravaris, and even neutral regions began working together—sharing peaceful research and training programs."
Sharky nodded. "Peace is always a good sign."
"Oh!" Sophia suddenly remembered. "Something strange started happening last year. The 14th continent—Veyrith—has begun to appear."
Sharky sat up straighter. "Veyrith? The lost continent?"
Sophia nodded. "Yes. It started becoming visible—faint outlines, strange energy readings. But no one can enter. Not even the strongest Council members."
"Did you try to go there?" Sharky asked curiously.
Sophia smiled gently. "No. You were inside the simulation chamber. We didn’t want to leave you behind. So we waited."
Sharky nodded in understanding.
"Well, whatever’s happening out there... I don’t care for now," he said, standing up with a smile. "Let’s just enjoy our time together."
Just as he was about to close the door and have a quiet moment with his wives, his daughter, Maria, burst in.
"Dad!" she said excitedly. "I’ve decided where we’re going first!"
Sharky blinked in surprise and chuckled. "Alright, where to?"
Maria grinned from ear to ear. "We’re going to Neonxya! They’ve got robots, flying scooters, food that appears in your hand—I saw it on the news!"
Sharky laughed. "Neonxya it is, then! But first, can I have a little time to help your mom—"
"No, Daddy!" Maria cut him off. "First, you play with me!"
Everyone burst into laughter, and Sharky sighed in defeat. He looked at his wives, who were all smiling.
"Well... I guess I have no choice," he said, as Maria grabbed his hand and pulled him outside to play.
His private moments would have to wait. But right now, the laughter of his daughter was more than enough.
---
The skies above Neonxya shimmered like a canvas painted with neon colors. Flying scooters zoomed past in silent streaks, robots wandered the streets offering candy, and tall crystalline towers pulsed with soft light. It was a city of dreams—and Maria couldn’t stop smiling.
As their hover-train touched down on the floating station, Maria clapped excitedly. "We’re here! We’re finally in Neonxya!"
Jean chuckled, brushing back her daughter’s wild silver-blue hair. "Hold on, little girl. Let your dad step out first."
"I already have wings!" Maria said proudly, flames flickering faintly from her back as her phoenix powers stirred with joy.
Sharky lifted her onto his shoulders. "And I have strong shoulders! Let’s go, my fiery star!"
---
The first few months in Neonxya were like stepping into another world. Every day was something new.
Maria dragged Sharky to tech parks, hologram zoos, and gravity-free playgrounds. Jean often joined them, while Elira watched protectively, keeping an eye on Maria’s growing control over her phoenix flames.
"I’m so glad she takes after you," Jean whispered to Sharky one night, as they watched Maria asleep, curled up in a warm glow. "But sometimes I’m afraid... what if she burns too brightly?"
Sharky wrapped his arm around her. "Then we’ll help her learn to shine... not burn."
---
Rosie, bold and fearless, took Sharky to the Neon Combat Arena, where peaceful duels between Etherbon were held using illusion-simulated enemies. She still had her battle instincts, even in times of peace.
"Just because the world is quiet now doesn’t mean we should get soft," she said with a confident grin, tossing Sharky a practice gauntlet.
Sharky caught it easily. "You just want an excuse to throw me around in public."
Rosie smirked. "Always."
Elira nodded. "That’s why I’ve trained Ethan. He’s special. The Council may need her one day."
"Yeah," Sharky nodded, tightening the gauntlet around his wrist. "But don’t worry about anything. If danger ever shows its face... I’ll erase it before it even reaches my family."
Elira smiled softly at his words, while Rosie raised an eyebrow. "Confident, aren’t we?"
"Confident because you guys were my family, and I can’t let any harm happen to my family."
---
One Year Later...
Twelve months passed in what felt like moments.
Maria had grown stronger with her phoenix powers—learning to glide, glow in the dark, and even project flame shields when emotions ran high. She adored her older brother Ethan, often calling herself his "fire-shield," even though he didn’t need protecting.
Ethan, calm and composed, had matured into a sharp, strategic mind.
Sharky would wake up to the kind of quiet joy he once thought only existed in dreams:
Jean gently painted glowing designs on Maria’s wings as bedtime stories played in the background.
Rosie sparring with a hovering training bot, while giving Ethan advice on defensive counters.
Elira seated beside Maria, telling her tales of ancient continents, lost Etherbon, and queens who ruled with grace and fire.
Sharky... felt complete.
---
One night, beneath the soft shimmer of Neonxya’s stars through the glass dome of their floating home, the entire family gathered.
Ethan sat beside Sophia and Jean, quietly sipping tea and reviewing a tactical map projected in mid-air.
Maria leaned happily against Elira’s shoulder, her phoenix glow flickering with calm warmth. Rosie reclined on the sofa, balancing her drink on Sharky’s arm as if it were a perfectly normal table.
"I could live like this forever," Sharky said quietly, looking around at the people who meant everything to him.
Elira met his gaze, eyes soft and full of something deeper than time. "You should know by now... forever is just our beginning."
Sharky smiled.
---
"Dad, I want to go to Sonchi and eat dosa again! And also sushi from Jinhara," Maria demanded excitedly, practically bouncing on her feet.
She had recently developed a love for the unique cuisines of Jinhara, Sonchi, and Zafrabad. Although she had grown up with the pizza from Dravaris and the cakes of Velmora, they no longer excited her as much.
"I’ve had those since forever," she would say. "I want something new!"
"Of course, baby," Sharky chuckled, patting her head. He reached for his wrist console, ready to book tickets for both Jinhara and Sonchi.
But just then, Elira’s communicator buzzed. She answered quickly. The moment she heard the voice on the other end, her expression shifted—eyes narrowing, jaw tightening.
When the call ended, she stood frozen, her face pale and thoughtful.
Sharky noticed immediately. "What happened?" he asked, eyes scanning her face.
Elira looked at him, then at the others. "The Etherbon Council... they’ve detected a faint silhouette in Veyrith."
Sharky’s eyes narrowed. "Marcus?"
Elira nodded slowly. "Yes. They believe it’s him. And this time, through a series of experiments, the Council says the barrier has weakened. We may finally be able to enter Veyrith."
Sharky fell silent for a moment. The name Marcus no longer stirred fear in him—but seeing Elira this worried made him pause.
"Alright," he said at last, his voice firm. "If you’re going... I won’t stop you. But if anything dangerous happens, you call me. Promise me that. You’re more precious than any continent or mission."
Elira’s tense expression softened. She stepped closer and took his hand, nodding quietly. "I promise."
---
After Elira’s solemn promise to Sharky, she began preparing for departure. Within the hour, a golden ring of light flared in the skies of Aetherion—a Council Beacon, visible only to Etherbon with high-level clearance. Its meaning was clear:
"All active Ether Council members, converge. Veyrith has opened."
---
In the storm-covered skies over Jinhara, Seorin Han, the Thunder Queen, had already crossed the borders. As she flew, the skies darkened with heavy clouds, lightning trailing behind her.
With a deafening crack of thunder, she landed near the outer rim of Veyrith’s mysterious border. A spire nearby split from the shock of her arrival. Cloaked in her electric-blue robes and armed with her razor-sharp wit, Seorin was the first to arrive.
"About time," she muttered, glancing at the flickering golden beacon in the sky. "I’ve waited too long to punch Marcus."
---
Far beneath the ocean surface, inside the tranquil blue palace of Surganev, King Vodyan rose from his meditative waters. Calm and commanding, he emerged wearing full aquatic armor, glowing water tendrils flowing from his arms like living rivers.
Moments later, he arrived at the border of Veyrith. Seeing Seorin already there, he gave a knowing nod.
"So, once again... you were first."
Seorin smirked. "Of course. No one’s faster than me."
---
In the wild forests of Savroth, Beast-King Makazi mounted his massive companion—a majestic Stormfire Lion, whose wings shimmered with lightning and flame.
"My friend," Makazi said, patting its mane, "ready for another adventure?"
"ROOOOOOAAAAARRRR!" the lion bellowed, wings spreading wide. Within the hour, they soared through the sky and arrived at the Veyrith border.
Seeing Seorin and Vodyan already waiting, Makazi smirked.
"What’s wrong, beast boy?" Seorin teased. "Still can’t beat me in a race?"
"Want to test that right now?" Makazi challenged.
But before either could reply, a commanding voice interrupted them.
"You two never change."
A trail of fire lit the sky as Saba Parveen, the Fire Queen, arrived. Her arrival was nothing short of dramatic—flames trailing behind her hands and feet, and fire in the shape of a phoenix glowing beneath her as she hovered down from Zafrabad.
Makazi scowled. "Don’t treat me like I’m weak!"
"Relax, beast boy," came another voice—calm and wise. "Even with your Stormfire Lion, you can’t compete with Seorin. She is the storm."
They turned to see Alaric Wynn, the Mind King, standing at the edge of the border. The first to stand against Marcus and Cyras years ago.
Though once defeated by Marcus, Alaric had been his friend before things fell apart.
---
Just then, the sound of gears and thrusters filled the air.
A sleek mecha descended from the sky, landing with perfect precision. From the cockpit stepped a man with a youthful, almost teenage face—Kaito Nakamura, the Tech King. Though he looked barely twenty, he was in fact nearing his late thirties, perhaps early forties. His true age was masked by his Etherbon-enhanced vitality and nanotech regeneration.
Despite his youthful appearance, Kaito was a legend—responsible for many of Aetherion’s greatest technological breakthroughs.
"So, everyone finally made it," he said with a knowing smile, scanning the group with sharp, calculating eyes.
---
A new voice echoed above them.
"Then it’s time."
A giant diamond-shaped construct hovered down, its surface gleaming under the strange lights of Veyrith’s horizon. Seated calmly at its center was Elira Frost, once a feared member of the Veilborn, now known as the Diamond Queen — protector of Dravaris.
There’s a saying in Aetherion:
"If you wish to be rich, stand before the Diamond Queen. Even a shard from her can turn you into a millionaire."
As her crystal platform lowered beside them, the tension in the air grew heavy.
Elira’s voice was calm, but cold. "This time, we don’t let Marcus escape."
Kaito checked his device, eyes focused. "The dimensional frequency is still unstable... but it’s aligned enough. We can enter. Just don’t stay too long—it might close again."
"Then we go now," Saba said, her eyes blazing. "Before it fades."
Together, the Council took their first step toward Veyrith.