Zar: The Last Umbraxian

Zar squinted, his vision blurred from the pain coursing through his body. In the shadows of the distant mist, movement stirred. His gaze fixed on the silhouettes—strange beings with humanlike hands and legs mounted on monstrous, beastly rides that looked like grotesque crossbreeds of wild creatures. Their eerie forms seemed almost surreal, a nightmare made flesh.

"The Dreadthorn Kin..." Zar muttered under his breath, his voice trembling. "They were supposed to be eradicated long ago."

One of the tribe members raised a bamboo blowgun, already aiming it at Zar. The dart tip glinted faintly in the mist, coated with a dark, viscous substance.

"Hold your fire," the commander barked, his voice low and commanding. "That thing doesn't look human."

The member hesitated but obeyed, lowering the weapon. As the group advanced, their grotesque mounts snarled and huffed, their claws scraping the broken ground. Finally, they reached Zar, who stood trembling, his gaze fixed downward.

One of the tribe members stepped forward, leaning closer to Zar with a sneer. "Holy hells, look at you!" he exclaimed, his tone dripping with mockery. "Why are you so blue and half-burned? What in the world happened to you?"

Zar's body quivered, his legs barely holding him up. His fists were clenched tightly, though one hand was visibly trembling as it gripped something.

Curious, the mocking tribe member yanked the object from Zar's grasp. Zar offered no resistance—he was far too weak to fight back. The tribe member held the item up, inspecting it.

"Well, well, what's this?" he said, turning the small object over in his hand. It was a badge, slightly scuffed and singed. He read aloud the words engraved on its surface:

"Zar Mordain... Arcadia Institute of Velandor."

The tribe member tilted his head, a malicious grin spreading across his face. "So, you were human once," he taunted. "But now? A sea monster?"

The others erupted in laughter, their jeers echoing through the mist, the sound mingling with the guttural growls of their mounts.

The tribesman smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "Velandor is being torn apart by our people, how did this pathetic excuse for a creature managed to crawl all the way here?"

Zar's heart raced, his body trembling. He muttered under his breath, barely able to process the words. "What...?" His voice was filled with disbelief, the weight of the revelation sinking in.

From behind, a voice called out sharply, "Enough of this! Just kill him and move Drazak, we don't have time to waste on these pests!"

Drazak chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with malice. "Nah, this one's from the city that's been sticking its nose in our business. Every last one of them will learn who they're messing with." He fixed his gaze on Zar, a cruel smirk twisting his face.

He continued, taunting Zar, "You really think we're just some petty gang, scrambling for recognition, don't you?"

Drazak sneered, his grip tightening. "Come on, speak up! Stop cowering like that!"

He grabbed Zar by his glowing blue hair and yanked his head up. But as soon as Drazak's eyes met Zar's, a blinding flash of white energy erupted from Zar's eyes, sending Drazak staggering backward, his grip loosening instantly.

Drazak screamed in agony, clutching his face and rubbing his eyes furiously, but it was useless. The intense flash from Zar's umbrites had blinded him, a direct hit to his eyes causing an overwhelming darkness to consume him.

The tribe members froze for a moment, their shock evident as Drazak stumbled back. But their hesitation didn't last long. In unison, they raised their weapons, firing darts and arrows at Zar. The first few projectiles grazed his violet, glowing skin, while the others struck his body with precision.

Zar's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing slightly as the volatile energy within him pulsed erratically. His glowing veins flickered like unstable currents, dimming momentarily as his consciousness slipped away.

A group of masked tribe members cautiously approached his fallen figure. The masks, crudely made yet functional, protected them from the hazardous radiation emanating from Zar's body. Even from a distance, the air around him shimmered with heat and distortion, making it difficult to breathe.

Standing atop his beast-like mount, the tribe's leader, Baelor, observed the scene with sharp eyes.

Leaning toward his guard, he muttered, "Is he... an Umbraxian? I don't know much about Umbraxis, but something about him tells me he is."

The guard, a scarred warrior holding a dart launcher, scoffed. "Impossible. Umbraxians were wiped out over 100,000 years ago. What reason would something that ancient have to appear here, in a ruined village like this? No, this is something else.

As the group of masked members circled Zar's still body, one of them crouched and hesitantly reached out. His gloved hand hovered over Zar's wrist, trembling as if even touching him could spell doom.

The moment his hand made contact, Zar's body jerked violently. His eyes snapped open, and his veins began pulsing at an alarming speed, the energy within him coursing wildly.

A deep, guttural sound escaped Zar's throat as his instincts took over. In an instant, a massive surge of Umbrites exploded outward from his body, engulfing everything in its radius. The masked members nearest to him didn't even have time to scream—the blast incinerated them on the spot, their bodies dissolving into ash and particles as the raw, destructive force consumed them.

Zar staggered to his feet, a surge of adrenaline momentarily masking the searing pain in his brain. His glowing blue veins pulsed violently, as though fueled by his desperation to survive. Despite his battered state, Zar felt a strange, feral energy coursing through him—enough to stand and fight, even as his mind teetered on the edge of collapse.

Across from him, the entire tribe braced for an assault. Weapons raised, they began to advance, but Zar refused to give them the chance. With an instinctual roar, he unleashed a massive, continuous beam of umbrites that tore through the ranks like a blinding torrent. The sheer intensity of the attack vaporized the majority of the tribe in an instant, leaving no trace of their existence.

Yet, amidst the devastation, one figure emerged unscathed. Baelor, the tribe's leader, leapt into the air with inhuman agility, dodging the deadly beam with precision. Baelor wasn't just any warrior—he was a Tenebris, a master of Tenebryl, one of the four magics of Xandria.

Tenebryl is a rare and formidable magic, deeply intertwined with martial arts and spiritual mastery. Unlike other sorcerers, a Tenebris possessed significantly higher vitalis levels—raw strength, durability, and speed—that placed them leagues above most magical practitioners.

Before Baelor touched the ground, he summoned four identical clones of himself. The clones moved with uncanny precision, surrounding Zar in an instant and hurling thick iron chains toward him. The chains wrapped tightly around Zar's body and both arms, restraining him completely. Taking advantage of Zar's momentary vulnerability, Baelor leapt into the air, aiming to deliver a devastating kick.

But just as Baelor's leg was about to strike, Zar's body pulsed with surging umbrites. The chains binding him glowed white-hot before disintegrating into ash. Channeling the unleashed energy into his fist, Zar countered with a powerful punch aimed directly at Baelor's descending leg. The impact reverberated through the air, forcing Baelor to twist mid-air and land unsteadily a few feet away.

Baelor's clones wasted no time, launching a coordinated assault on Zar. Their movements were synchronized, overwhelming him with a barrage of attacks.

Baelor soon joined the fray, his martial prowess evident in every strike. Zar fought back fiercely, managing to destroy two of the clones with bursts of concentrated umbrites.

Recognizing Zar's strength, Baelor devised a deceptive strategy. One of his remaining clones feigned injury, limping heavily on a wounded leg. The subtle ploy was designed to confuse Zar, making it harder for him to distinguish the real Baelor. However, Zar was beyond caring. His instincts guided him, and he unleashed a relentless torrent of umbrites on the injured clone, determined to eliminate every threat.

Seizing the distraction, Baelor moved swiftly. He closed the distance and landed a crushing blow to Zar's back, sending him stumbling forward and spitting blood. The pain was excruciating, but it fueled Zar's feral resolve.

Before Baelor could strike again, Zar spun around with a roar, driving a brutal punch into Baelor's chest. The force shattered ribs and dislocated his right arm, sending waves of agony through the tribe leader's body. Baelor's face twisted in desperation and rage. He attempted to leap away to regain his footing, but Zar was faster.

Grabbing Baelor by the foot mid-air, Zar hurled him violently to the ground with a bone-jarring crash, leaving the once-dominant Tenebris momentarily incapacitated.

As Baelor struggled to push himself off the ground, Zar began to stagger toward him, his glowing eyes locked on his prey. The veins coursing with umbrites pulsed brighter with each step, illuminating the eerie battlefield. Just as Zar closed the gap, Baelor's last remaining clone leaped at him in a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable.

The clone's sudden attack diverted Zar's focus for a moment, giving Baelor a precious window to strike. However, Zar's instincts proved sharper. With one swift motion, Zar seized the clone, crushing its arm with one hand, leaving it writhing and defenseless. His gaze never wavered from Baelor, even as he held the battered clone at bay.

Baelor seized the moment and lunged at Zar, aiming for a decisive blow. But Zar was ready. In a blur of motion, Zar's free hand shot out, grabbing Baelor by the neck with an iron grip. The Tenebris thrashed and clawed, his body writhing in desperation, but Zar's hold was unrelenting, fueled by feral rage and the volatile power coursing through him.

Without a word, Zar began channeling raw umbrites into the hand gripping Baelor's neck. The dark energy surged into Baelor's head, causing his skin to glow white-hot as veins of energy carved fiery paths across his face. Baelor's screams were cut short as his head began to overheat, glowing brighter and brighter until it reached a critical point- then, in a sickening instant, it exploded in a blinding flash of light and energy.

As Baelor's lifeless, headless body crumpled to the ground, his final clone dissolved into ash. Zar released his grip, letting the remains of Baelor's neck fall limply.

Zar collapses onto the ground, his body trembling from exhaustion and the aftershocks of battle. For a moment, he feels relief—but it is short-lived. His entire body and brain erupt in excruciating pain, as though they are about to explode from within. He claws at the ground, desperately trying to suppress the agony.

"I can't die here," he thinks, panic flooding his mind. "Not like this."

Gritting his teeth, Zar begins cycling through every vitalis meditation he has ever learned, focusing on stabilizing the raging magic within his body. The umbrites coursing through him feel like they are tearing him apart, and every breath is a fight to stay conscious. For fifteen grueling minutes, he sits in silent torment, his veins glowing and pulsing as he battles to bring the chaos under control.

Finally, the pain begins to subside, and the violent flow of energy within him slows to a bearable rhythm. His body feels fragile, as if one wrong move could break him again.

"Why is this happening to me?" Zar thinks, his mind spiraling into despair. "I never wanted this... this curse. That's all it is—a curse for anyone foolish enough to believe they could master this root of destruction."

As he stares at the scorched ground beneath him, his thoughts shift to what comes next. His mind races, searching for answers. Then, suddenly, his heart sinks. He remembers what Baelor had said—Velandor was under attack.

"No... no, no, no," he mutters to himself, his voice trembling. A surge of panic overtakes him. "Nyssa… she's still there. She's my only hope to survive this. Please, no!"

Forcing himself to his feet, Zar stumbles as he gathers his strength. He spots a cloak lying on the ground and wraps it tightly around himself, pulling the hood low over his face. He also finds a mask, which he secures to hide his inhuman features. The last thing he needs is for civilians to recognize him—or worse, to discover that he is an Umbraxian.

Zar's gaze lands on one of the horses left by the defeated tribe. Without hesitation, he mounts the animal, gripping the reins tightly as he spurs it into a sprint. The wind whips at his cloak as he barrels down the dirt path toward Velandor, his mind consumed with fear and desperation.

Zar pushed his horse to its limits, taking every shortcut he could recall, his mind racing faster than the wind whipping past him. The once-thriving streets of Velandor were unrecognizable—a harrowing scene of destruction. Homes were ablaze, their roaring flames lighting up the night sky like funeral pyres. Screams echoed from every direction as people ran for their lives. Sorcerers battled desperately, their spells clashing with the relentless forces of the tribe.

But Zar's focus was singular. He didn't have time to stop or help anyone else. His only thought was of his family—his parents and his wife. Were they safe? Were they still alive?

The journey felt like an eternity, but at last, Zar reached his home. The door stood ajar, creaking slightly in the wind, as if inviting him into a nightmare. Panic overtook him, and he dismounted the horse in haste, stumbling as he sprinted inside.

The sight that greeted him stopped his heart. The house was in utter disarray—furniture overturned, walls scorched, belongings scattered everywhere. Signs of a violent struggle were painfully clear.

"Mom? Dad? Nyssa?" Zar's voice broke as he called out, the silence that followed only amplifying the dread gnawing at his chest.

His legs carried him to his parents' room, where the door hung loosely from its hinges. He stepped inside and froze.

There, in the middle of the room, lay his parents. Their bodies, cold and lifeless, were marred with deep, brutal wounds—evidence of the tribe's merciless slaughter.

Zar's knees buckled as the weight of the scene bore down on him. He staggered backward, his breathing erratic. Tears blurred his vision, spilling down his cheeks as his trembling hands clutched his head in anguish.

"No... no, no, no..." he muttered under his breath, his voice trembling. He wanted to look closer, to confirm what his heart already knew—but he couldn't bring himself to take another step toward them.

He sank to the floor where he stood, curling in on himself as sobs wracked his body.

As Zar sat motionless, staring blankly at the lifeless bodies of his parents, he heard soft, hesitant footsteps from behind. His heightened senses, dulled by his grief, suddenly flared to life. Turning slowly, he saw her-Nyssa.

She stood frozen in the doorway, her hands covering her mouth, her eyes wide and brimming with tears. Her face was pale, trembling with disbelief.

"Who... who are you?" she whispered, her voice shaking.

Zar rose to his feet, pulling back his hood to reveal his face. "Nyssa, it's me," he said gently, his voice laced with desperation.

But Nyssa recoiled in horror. "Stay away from me!" she cried, backing up a step.

Zar's heart sank. "Nyssa, calm down. It's me, Zar!"

Her expression shifted from shock to anger. "How do you know my name?" she snapped, her voice breaking under the weight of her emotions.

"It's me, Nyssa! Please, stop panicking!" Zar pleaded, taking a step closer.

That movement made her flinch. In an instant, Nyssa raised a crossbow, her hands trembling but her aim steady. "Don't come any closer!" she screamed.

Zar stopped, raising his hands in surrender. "Nyssa, listen to me! I'm your husband. I didn't hurt them! The tribe protesters-"

"Don't lie to me!" Nyssa interrupted, her voice cracking with fury and fear. "You're not Zar. You're a monster-a hideous monster who killed my parents-in-law! Don't move another step, or I'll shoot!"

Her words struck Zar like a dagger. He could see the fear in her eyes, the revulsion. She didn't recognize him-didn't believe him. But before he could say another word, Nyssa's trembling fingers tightened around the trigger.

The arrow shot forward with deadly speed, but Zar caught it mid-air with his hand, the sharp tip mere inches from his face. Nyssa screamed, her piercing voice echoing through the house. "HELP! HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!"

"Nyssa, stop!" Zar begged, his voice growing louder. "I am Zar! I'm your husband! I didn't kill them! It was the tribe protesters-please, believe me!"

His words fell on deaf ears as Nyssa backed away, her screams continuing. Suddenly, heavy footsteps thudded against the floorboards as someone else rushed into the house.

"Nyssa! What's going on? Are you okay?"

Zar turned to see their neighbor, Kael, a burly man with dark hair and sharp features, standing in the doorway. He was panting, his eyes darting between Nyssa and Zar.

Nyssa didn't answer right away. Instead, she sprinted toward Kael, throwing herself into his arms. She clung to him tightly, sobbing uncontrollably, her face buried in his chest.

Kael's eyes narrowed as he glared at Zar, his expression shifting to one of protective hostility. "Stay right where you are," Kael growled, shielding Nyssa behind him.

Zar's chest tightened as he watched the scene unfold. The woman he had fought so hard to protect, the one he had rushed here for, now stood trembling in another man's arms, fearing him like an enemy.

Kael stepped forward, his expression dark and furious. "It's you, Zar. I recognize you," he spat, his voice laced with both anger and disappointment. "What have you become?"

Zar, keeping his voice steady, replied, "Kael, stay out of this. This is between me and my wife. Let me handle my own problems."

Kael sneered, crossing his arms. "Problems? Oh, right. Nyssa has always been a problem to you, hasn't she? I've known the kind of man you are for a long time."

Zar ignored the taunt and turned his attention to Nyssa, his voice soft but pleading. "Nyssa, don't listen to him. Please, believe me—it's not what you think. My appearance, this… curse—it's a long story. I'll explain everything to you. Just give me a chance."

Nyssa slowly pulled away from Kael's arms, wiping the tears from her face as she looked at Zar with a mixture of pain and resentment. "It's Umbraxis, isn't it?" she said, her voice trembling. "That cursed magic you've been chasing all this time—it's finally turned you into a monster."

Zar lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze, guilt weighing heavily on him. "Nyssa, I…" he began, but the words faltered in his throat.

Nyssa's tone sharpened as she stepped back, her eyes cold and resolute. "I don't care what happened to you, Zar. And I don't want to know. What I do care about is getting you out of my life."

Her words hit Zar like a dagger. He looked up, his mouth opening to protest, but she cut him off, her voice growing firmer.

"You've already taken so much from me. My freedom, my choices—you stole all of that when you married me. And now? Now you're a monster, and I won't let you ruin what's left of my life."

Kael stood behind her, his arms folded and a smug, almost triumphant smirk on his face as he watched the exchange.

Zar clenched his fists, swallowing the lump in his throat as Nyssa's rejection pierced deeper than any physical wound.

Zar asked in a trembling, insecure voice, "What about you then? How will you live alone?" Nyssa replied coldly, "Kael is here with me. I know he'll take better care of me than you ever did." Zar was left speechless, unable to find any words in response. Nyssa continued, her tone filled with finality, "I'm also three months pregnant with his child." The words struck Zar like a physical blow. "For three months!? You didn't even bother to tell me once? How could you—"

Nyssa cut him off sharply, "Did you ever care to know? All you cared about was your work, your students, your obsession with magic. I don't want to see your face for even a minute. Get out of this house now, or I'll make sure you're executed on the spot." Kael chimed in, "Yeah, get out. You're disgusting."

Zar, overwhelmed and shattered, had nothing left to say. He pulled his cloak tighter around his face, masking the pain and humiliation, and quietly walked out, leaving the house behind, broken.

Zar mounted the horse that stood silently in front of his shattered home and began riding into the void, aimless and broken. He had nowhere to go, no one to turn to-he had lost everything. His identity, his home, his parents, his wife, his student-everything that once defined his life was gone.

His mind spiraled into chaos, drowning in haunting thoughts. "Please... Nyssa, give me a chance, please... Who will be there to support me now? I'll give you everything you want. I won't ever complain about your cooking again, just please... don't leave me like this." Tears streamed down his face, unchecked and unending, as he pleaded in his mind with a desperation that echoed into the hollow abyss around him.

"If only I hadn't chased Umbraxis... If I had just stayed away... I could've been living a peaceful life with Nyssa. All of this, every bit of it, is because of that cursed power."

The weight of his regrets pressed down on him like a suffocating force. His heart felt as though it was tearing apart, and the crushing emptiness around him mirrored the gaping void inside. Each step of the horse's hooves against the ground seemed to echo the futility of his existence.

Thoughts of giving up clawed at his fragile resolve, tempting him to end the pain.

"What's left for me now? There's no one in this world who would ever accept me like this... no one who would even want me alive."

Suicidal whispers clouded his mind, growing louder with every passing second as he rode deeper into the darkness.