A/N: Well. it's time for Voldemort to delve into some ancient ruins again. What might he encounter within?
Disclaimer: I don't Harry Potter, Spyro the Dragon, or any other works referenced in this story. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 37: The Final Artifact
The distinct crack of apparition broke the silence on a small island. Voldemort wasn't sure exactly where on earth this was, only that the Dark Master had pointed him to an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It had taken a bit of effort to weave through the wards on this place, but now he and Nagini were here. They were on the shore, and could see the ruins of a town up ahead, and beyond that the tower that contained what Voldemort was seeking.
The pair made their way through the town. Little was left to tell was each buildings purpose was, only fallen stone. They approached the tower, entering the garden that stood in front of it. As they did, the plants reacted, growing and twining together to form dense hedges. They continued deeper it, coming to a eight way junction with a sundial in the middle. There was no good way to tell where each of the paths lead. Oddly, despite it being morning, the shadow from the sundial's gnomon was pointing straight towards the tower, while Voldemort's shadow was pointing the correct direction.
It seemed almost too obvious: The shadow on the sundial must somehow magically indicate the correct path. Voldemort and Nagini followed the path, and after many twists are turns arrive back at the sundial. Voldemort frowned, but checked the sundial again. This time, there were two shadows, one pointing north towards the tower, the other pointing due east. Voldemort deduced that path must be the one to the northeast. Once more they followed the path through many twists and turns only to arrive… back at the sundial.
"This is getting annoying," hissed Nagini, "Are we even making progress?"
"I believe we must be," said Voldemort, "This is clearly some form of magical defense. We just need to keep going".
Voldemort examined the sundial, and now there were three shadows: one pointing north, one pointing southeast, and one pointing southwest. Voldemort thought about this setup for a moment, and then chose the south path, even though it was the way they'd just come from. Once again, the path twisted and turned, and brought them back to the sundial. This time, there were four shadows, pointing northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast. As Voldemort watched, the four shadows seemed to twist and retreat into the gnomon.
"Nagini, come!" said Voldemort.
His familiar slithered closer and coiled around him. Deciding his hunch was worth a try, Voldemort climbed on top of the sundial. The world suddenly shifted and Voldemort and Nagini fell from the sky, landing next to the sundial again. As Voldemort got back to his feet, he saw that there were now eight shadows on the sundial, one pointing down every available path. Nagini hissed angrily, and slithered right through the corner where two paths met. Suddenly she vanished. In shock and worry, Voldemort dove into the hedge after her… and found himself at the base of the tower, Nagini at his side. As he looked back, there as a straight path, leading past the sundial to the village ruins.
With an annoyed sigh, Voldemort entered to tower, Nagini not far behind. Their journey though the interior began simply enough with a spiral staircase leading them up. Later this was replaced by an earthen ramp and then a ladder. Voldemort soon realized that this path he and Nagini were on had exceeded the physical space of the tower several times over. Eventually, they reached a hatch door that would lead them to the top level. Voldemort pushed it open, and stepped out into… a cavern? Nagini followed, and looked around in confusion.
"We are deep underground," said Nagini, "this is not a place we should be".
"We made it through our last encounter," said Voldemort, "We can survive this".
They moved deeper into the cavern, following a barely visible path of wear marks on the stone. They entered into a cavern lined with quartz crystals of all colors, heading across a set of bridges strung between some of the larger crystals. The path went even deeper, through oddly circular passages. They didn't appear to be naturally formed, but there didn't seem to be any sign of tools either.
Eventually, path tunnel let them out onto a platform seemingly grown from white stone. Beyond the edge, there was nothing but a starry void. Voldemort, dare a glance back, and saw there were no sign of the caves he and Nagini had traversed, only a doorway formed of the same white rock as the rest of the platform. There was little other ornamentation here, braziers of guttering blue-green flame, and a small dais above which floated a pitch black stone. It bobbed up and down slightly the magic suspending it, waiting for him. Voldemort slowly approached, expecting some sort of trap. It couldn't be this easy. Could it? He slowly reached out and grabbed the crystal. No vision came, nothing seemed to change at all. Voldemort placed the stone into the top of his staff, where it fit stepped back from the dais, and with Nagini at his side they started making their way back.
The path on the way back had changed, and after many twists and turns led them to an empty room. Before they could react, the door slammed shut. There was a brilliant bust of light, and suddenly they were on a grassy field. In the distance, Voldemort could see a figure standing next to a table. As Voldemort got closer, he noticed several things. One, there was a teapot and two cups on the table, two, the figure was rather tall, standing about 6'5", and third, the figure wasn't human. The clawed, scaly hands gave it away. It turned to face him. It was some sort of reptilian humanoid, with matte grey scales and blue eyes as deep as the ocean. It was wearing simple robes over leather armor.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle Jr.," said the creature, "aka Lord Voldemort. So, you have come after all. Ah, I see you brought your familiar with you. You know, phylacteries tend to work better when you're not carrying them with you".
Voldemort pointed his newly completed staff at the creature, but it just chucked, his deep voice filled with mirth.
"Oh, put that thing away," said the creature, "It won't work anyway; you're not properly attuned to that staff yet".
"Who are you!" demanded Voldemort.
"That depends who's asking," said the creature, "but most who I encounter, I am known as Xarxiros. I guess you could say I'm… an outside contractor of sorts. You know why I'm here".
"To kill me?" said Voldemort, "try as you might, I will not fall…"
"…I am eternal!" said Xarxiros, "words repeated by dark lords of many different stripes across the ages, usually just before they were defeated. Your connection to the material plane has become quite tenuous, only two of your phylacteries remain. Nevertheless, I will not kill you. I could, but that is not my place. Besides, Fate and Destiny tend to get annoyed when someone interrupts their carefully laid plans. No, I come to offer you a deal".
"Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it," said Voldemort.
"Ah yes, you've already sold what little remains of your soul to the Dark Master," said Xarxiros with venom, "tell me, why do you seek the destruction of all reality?"
"What makes you think I would desire that!?" said Voldemort.
"Simple, you serve the Dark Master, and that is the Dark Master's end goal," said Xarxiros, "It and I have been in conflict for a very long time, longer than you can imagine, Riddle. It is a force of primal entropy and malice. I desire stability and balance. However, you still have a chance to turn back from this path. Tea?"
"No," said Voldemort, "You're lying! The Dark Master was there for me I was at my lowest, it reminded me of how it watched over me!
"Suit yourself," said Xarxiros, pouring himself a cup and taking a sip, "but really, you believed it? You bought into its lies? Search you own memories, Riddle: tell me what they tell you. After all, since when have you been one to bend your knee to another?"
Voldemort frowned, but did it anyway. The memories in question were there, but with a oddly blurred edge. Not from being forgotten… not this was a sign of tampering!
"It… what did you do!?" demanded Voldemort.
"Well, so far I've talked to you and poured a cup of tea," said Xarxiros, "I've done nothing to you".
"I don't believe you," said Voldemort, "So, these creature I battled at the other temples, they were under your sway?"
"Nope," said Xarxiros, "They were their own beings, not mine. Though, I must thank you not for slaying the one you met in the deep jungle. He is a member of an endangered species, after all".
"I couldn't have killed it," replied Voldemort, "it just kept coming back!"
"Oh, you could have killed him," said Xarxiros, "it was a rather resilient sort, but to use its self healing ability you witnessed, it has to expend some level of magic. When it counteracted your Killing Curse, it burned through effectively every bit it had left. If you had attacked again, it would have fallen".
"Enough of this!" said Voldemort, "you've delayed me long enough with your nonsense! Get out of my way, or I will kill you!"
"Very well, if you insist on violence," said Xarxiros with a sigh, "The hard way it is… 10 percent should do".
"10 percent of what?" asked Voldemort.
"Well, you see I can only express so much of my total power in this place-time," said Xarxiros, "however, I'll only need 10 percent of what I can safely do in this plane to defeat you. Anyway, let's begin".
Xarxiros snapped his fingers, and the table and everything on it vanished. He took a deep breath, and called eldritch energies to his hands as the world seemed to shudder at his raw power. An orb of dark energy flew towards Voldemort, but seemed to do little else. He raised his other hand, and four beams of crackling energy shot forth, three striking Voldemort and one hitting Nagini. As each beam struck him, it hit with significant force, followed by a strange chill. Nagini slithered forwards and attempted to bite Xarxiros, he deftly dodged the attack. Voldemort took aim with his wand, and launched his spell.
"Avada Kedarva!" shouted Voldemort.
Xarxiros smirked and didn't even bother dodging, but instead simply flicked the killing curse aside like a bothersome fly. Xarxiros cast another spell, this one striking Nagini. At first nothing seemed to happen, but then she began shrinking, soon becoming the size of a rattlesnake. She struck at him again, but the sudden change in stature threw her off. Voldemort tried another spell.
"How dare you?" shouted Voldemort, "CRUICIO!"
Xarxiros evaded the spell again with seemingly no effort. Seven orbs of light like miniature stars began orbiting Xarxiros' head. Suddenly one of them broke off towards Voldemort. It flew unerringly, and struck with searing radiance, yet that strange chill still followed. Nagini continued to get smaller, and was now the size of a common garden snake. She continued at attempt to strike Xarxiros, but the magic affecting her had weakened her to the point that her fangs couldn't pierce his armor. Voledmort fired off another spell.
"FIENDFYRE!" shouted Voldemort.
Xarxiros raised one scaly brow, and the flames swiftly dissipated. He then snapped his fingers, and a pall of darkness surrounded Voldemort, preventing him from seeing. Out if the darkness, a point of light shot towards Voldemort, searing him again followed by that chill He was feeling like he was in bad shape… too many more hit like that, and he'd be without a body again.
Voldemort couldn't see what was going on, but suddenly the darkness closed in around him, binding him in place. The darkness continued to swirl, and a figure stepped forwards. Xarxiros approached him, the crown of stars still orbiting his head and pushing back the darkness. In one hand, Xarxiros held a scimitar formed of concentrated shadows, in the other, clutched between two fingers was Nagini. She was the size of a worm now, and struggling to get free.
"Do you see now, Tom Marvolo Riddle Jr., how outmatched you are? You're way out of your league, and are dealing with things you have no hope of even beginning to comprehend," said Xarxiros, "I overestimated how much power I would need to apply; that wasn't even 5% of my local influence".
"Master!" hissed Nagini, her voice barely audible in both volume and pitch, "Help me!"
Voldemort could do nothing but watch Nagini struggle fruitlessly against her captor's grasp.
"As I said before, I am not going to kill you, Riddle," said Xarxiros, "that is not my task in the grand scheme of things… no, that is the role of another. Know that by following the path you have chosen, you have consigned you soul to total oblivion. If you had been willing to listen, and taken up my offer, you could have turned back from this path… but I cannot help those who do not wish to be saved. As for your pet… well this is why you shouldn't make a living thing into a phylactery. Fear not serpent, for as much as you may think me such for what I have done to you and your master, I am not a cruel being, and shall endeavor to make this quick".
Xarxiros tossed Nagini into the air, lifted his shadow blade and slashed it through Nagini just behind the head, slaying her with a single blow. A specter rose from Nagini's remains, and Voldemort realize it was a fragment of his own soul. It collided with one of the mote of light in Xarxiros' crown of stars, and dissolved away. Voldemort seethed in rage and struggled to break free, but the magic binding him was too strong.
"Now that I have your attention, you have seen visions of some of those the Dark Master has used in the past. Allow me to show you what happened to them".
His eyes flared with power, and images appeared within Volemort's mind.
The ape creature, Gaul, was now in a deep pit. The same purple dragon he'd been fighting earlier stood before him, before a beam of energy struck it from above. When the dragon emerged, its scales had been stained pitch black, and its eyes were white. It spat forth a lance of dark purple energy, tearing Gaul apart piece by piece.
The large green skinned creature known as Gnasty Gnorc was being pursued by a small purple dragon, causing him to drop his warhammer into the lava below.
The short, reptilian creature was riding on a mechanical beast, while the purple dragon chased it, spitting fireballs and sending him into the lava below.
The blue scaled crocodilian creature was knocked form some sort of flying machine, and also met her apparent demise in a pool of lava.
More images presented themselves, images for creatures both familiar and of them meeting their end at the claws and elemental power of a purple dragon, or sometimes humans as well. He was sure he spotted someone who vaguely resembled Dumbledore among those fighting the Dark Master's servants.
The assault of images came to an end, and Voldemort stared at Xarxiros.
"Who… what are you?" said Voldemort.
"That is the question isn't it? I'm not sure what I exactly classify as nowadays. Oh, and keep the staff, you worked hard for it, after all… even though it won't help you in the end. Now then, it's time for you to leave this place," said Xarxiros, "your fate is now sealed. You have chosen your death and total oblivion over the chance to heal your soul and past. Well, I must be off, things to do, beings to help. Goodbye Tom, once and forever".
Xarxiros stepped back, transforming into a massive grey scaled dragon. The aura of power around him swirled with motes of light and shadow, dancing about in perfect balance. Voldemort knew that this was the most powerful being he'd even encountered. Xarxiros gazed at him, those same blue eyes boring deep into his soul, and spoke again.
"Know that you never stood a chance against me, mortal," said Xarxiros, "When you leave this place, you will not tell the Dark Master who you met here. You should make the best of what little time you have left, for your hourglass runs low. Ah, one last thing: don't bother trying to make any more phylacteries; the remaining part of your soul would irreversibly shatter if you tried".
Xarxiros began vanishing, his form dissolving into ribbons of multicolored light. A moment later, everything went black…
Voldemort woke with a start. He was lying on the beach, on the shore of a familiar island. Had all that been a dream? As he began the sit up, the spike of pain told him he hadn't just dreamt that battle, as did the damage to his robes. But that meant…
"NAGINI!" shouted Voldemort, looking around frantically.
Then he spotted her: lying on the sand, having been cleanly sliced in two was the remains of a very small snake. Voldemort clenched his fists tightly, and screamed to the empty air; he'd lost the only one in the world who truly understood him. He had to speak to the Dark Master, and he needed answers now. He apparated away, leaving the island behind.
Back at Malfoy Manor he headed to the private quarters that he'd been using. The shadows shifted, and he knew the Dark Master was present.
"Ah, so you have returned, Tom," said the Dark Master, "I see you are travelling lighter. Where is that serpent of yours?"
"Dead… she's dead," said Voldemort.
"Ah, it's for the best, Tom," said the Dark Master, "that serpent only served to hold you back, I sense a strange presence on you, Tom, one that seems… familiar. What did you encounter in that place?"
Voldemort tried to speak about Xarxiros, but it seemed like he couldn't find the words. He tried again, but still the words would come.
"I see, you have been placed under taboo, annoying things," said the Dark Master, "You must have encountered one of those who do not wish to see the true glory of my power to be unleashed. Fear not, as long as you have my guidance, none can destroy you".
"Why are the protectors of these places attackimg me?" asked Voldemort, "I thought these were your shines".
"No, they are places that artifact of mine were sealed away, guarded by powerful creatures who opposed my might," said the Dark Master, "You must prepare yourself, attune your magic to that of the staff so that you may wield its power".
The Dark Master slid away, leaving the room silent. Was Xarxiros right? Was he just another pawn in a cosmic chess game? No, it couldn't be true! He was the one in control, not some dark spirit, not fate or destiny. He was Lord Voldemort, the most powerful wizard alive today! He'd show them, he'd finish off Potter, and then the world would be his!
A/N: Yeah, let me say this again: Voldemort had absolutely no chance of winning that fight. Xarxiros is simply too far up in terms of power for Voldemort to deal with. Harry, and Vaerath on the other hand are not as powerful as Xarxiros. To put is simply, Xarxiros might as well be deity tier in terms of power. The Purple Dragon, for all its might, is still a mortal being. Voldemort, with the Dark Master using him as it has been, stands a decent chance of being able to fight Harry without getting completely curb-stomped. Also seeing as people seemed unhappy that I didn't have Nagini die in a previous chapter, well there you go. Only one Horcrux remains, and it can be easily dealt with.
Next time, the adventure continues. See you then!