The desolate landscape of Euphoria served as the stage for a tense encounter between Astaroth and Kro'Han. The air crackled with an unspoken tension as the Cultists arrived on the planet along with Astaroth.
The following moments where the two powerful beings faced each other were filled with palpable tension, their respective auras clashing in a silent battle of wills.
Astaroth had helped Kro'Han, but his feelings towards the Precursor were no secret. Kro'Han knew this and was aware he needed to put the Xyran in his place before making him work like a slave.
'Let's see how you hold up when I do this...' Kro'Han thought before unleashing a fraction of his aura.
Within a moment, the Cultists were on their knees, gasping for breath. Yet Astaroth remained unaffected by the Precursor's show of power.
However, unlike the Cultists, he didn't cower in fear and unleashed his own aura, an instance which cleared any doubts Kro'Han had about the Xyran.
'I see... but defiance isn't what I need from my herald.'
Kro'Han, without wasting a second, unleashed the full brunt of his aura before staring down at Astaroth with a gaze that penetrated the very core of his being.
Astaroth, though formidable, couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine in the presence of the enigmatic figure before him. He now understood how the guy managed to give PTSD to someone like Ashton... he was in a league of his own.
Astaroth began to falter and was soon on his knees. But before his legs hit the ground, Kro'Han retracted his aura, allowing those around him to breathe.
"So, you betrayed your 'brother', Xyran," Kro'Han's voice echoed through the eerie silence. "As your master, I can't help but feel... uncomfortable how easily you killed him."
"Let's get one thing clear... I serve no master," Astaroth, his stance defiant, retorted as he got back to his feet. "I serve only myself."
Kro'Han's eyes narrowed, a subtle glint of amusement dancing in them. "You're alive due to my mercy, Astaroth. Do not forget that."
"That's why you're delusional," Astaroth scoffed. "You think I'll be a pawn and serve you faithfully when that couldn't be far from the truth. I won't be your slave to manipulate."
"Manipulate? Oh, dear Astaroth, you've always been free to make your choices," Kro'Han shrugged. "But then again, choices have consequences. You must already know what it feels like?"
"Yeah, and I'm already paying the price for it," Astaroth said, clenching his fists, a surge of defiance coursing through him. "But as my master used to say, siding with you was a mere convenience, not a necessity."
The tension in the air thickened, the planet itself seemingly holding its breath as the two beings stood on the edge of conflict. Astaroth's form rippled with dark energy, and Kro'Han's aura exuded an undeniable dominance.
The confrontation escalated, teetering on the edge of violence, when Kro'Han's expression shifted, a sly smile playing on his lips. He didn't need to fight someone like Astaroth. His words were more than sufficient to tame the raging moron.
"Ah, yes. 'She' is important to you, isn't she?" Kro'Han smirked. "Maybe I should give her a visit?"
Astaroth's eyes widened, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his features. "What do you know about her?"
"I know more than you think, Astaroth," Kro'Han chuckled, the sound resonating through the desolate expanse. "More than you'd care to admit."
Astaroth's fists trembled with a mixture of anger and concern. "Leave her out of this, Kro'Han."
But instead of heeding Astaroth's plea, Kro'Han's demeanour shifted abruptly. He moved with blinding speed, seizing Astaroth's head in a vice-like grip before slamming it mercilessly into the ground. The impact echoed through the realm, a stark reminder of Kro'Han's overwhelming power.
Astaroth, momentarily stunned, felt the cold ground beneath him, blood trickling from his forehead. Kro'Han, unyielding, placed a foot on Astaroth's head, exerting pressure that threatened to crush him.
"You are a pawn, Astaroth," Kro'Han declared, his voice low and menacing. "A convenience. Do not mistake yourself for anything more. If you dare to raise your fist against me again, the consequences will be beyond your capacity to bear.
He continued, "You know what I'm capable of more than anyone alive. Don't make me do something that will leave you broken for the rest of your pathetic, miserable life."
With that ominous warning, Kro'Han released Astaroth, leaving him sprawled on the ground, bloodied and battered. Though seething with rage, Astaroth understood the futility of defiance at that moment.
Kro'Han's power was beyond comprehension, and the reminder of 'her' vulnerability had served as a stark reality check.
As Kro'Han departed, the echoes of his warning lingered in the air. Astaroth, left alone in the desolate realm, grappled with the aftermath of their encounter.
The taste of blood on his lips and the throbbing pain in his head served as tangible reminders of his vulnerability in the face of cosmic forces beyond his control.
Astaroth, battered but not broken, gathered his strength in the silence that followed. The encounter with Kro'Han had left scars, not just on his physical form but on his psyche.
As he rose from the ground, he couldn't help but laugh at his misery. He betrayed Ashton for what? He didn't know where 'she' was, and the encounter with Kro'Han left no doubt in his mind about what would happen next.
Ever since Ashton had told him about Kro'Han, Astaroth had wondered one thing. If Kro'Han was so strong, then why didn't he invade Earth?
Someone like Kro'Han shouldn't have any problems against a budding planet like Earth. Which led Astaroth to two scenarios.
First was the possibility that Kro'Han wasn't as strong as he had let on. Astaroth just tested that possibility and knew he was stronger than Ashton knew.
This more or less confirmed Astaroth's second hunch. Someone on Euphoria was restraining Kro'Han's movement. In other words, for some reason, Kro'Han wasn't allowed to leave Euphoria and needed someone like himself to execute his orders.
If that was the case, it meant 'She' was somewhere on the planet, as Kro'Han couldn't keep an eye on her and control Astaroth if she was elsewhere.
If Kro'Han was indeed bound to Euphoria, it would give Astaroth enough freedom to devise a plan to deal with the Precursor bastard.
"Getting beat up was worth it after all," Astaroth smiled as he followed Kro'Han's trail... for now.