Page 362 (1/1)

Chapter 362: Fall of Divinity

The sentient grape vine went silent for a time Aubert de Villaine pondered on the past, and only later did his deep voice return “I did whatever I could, employed whatever methods possible, to beat Jayer Have you seen the fruit of my vine? These are the product ofto understand Every grape is already fermented in to a self-contained dollop of wine You have tasted Jayer’s Cros Parantoux, so I invite you to try my own creations Tell me if I’ve finally surpassed the man”

Lan Jue was surprised by the sudden shift in topic He looked on as three vines, thick as a rapes situated on these vines were different frorapes Those came in bunches, while de Villain’s fruit carape was about as large as an infant’s fist They looked delectable

Three dropped from the vine, and fell directly in to the hands of the vineyard’s visitors Immediately, the heady scent of wine filled the air The savory, h to ht to mouths, but when they took a bite they did not find fruit Instead, a gush of fluid burst forth and down their gullets It ine, a big gulp of wine in every grape

Their taste buds were in overdrive The intense flavors filled theirevery cell It felt like the taste was invaded one’s whole body Thankfully, all three of the Skyfire Adepts were… practiced enough in the art of drinking that they needn’t fear getting drunk

The Wine Master was the first to sense so aed from the wine’s flavors, the Wine Master’s expression shifted for a different reason As he watched, his companion’s flesh darkened until they were purple – the sarapes they’d irapes!” The Wine Master flourished with his right hand and, in a flash of silvery light, his astrurip

“No I have used enic powers to create these perfect grapes They are absolutely the pinnacle of grape farrapes, you see, require fine fertilizer After years of research I’ve found the best kind, and it may surprise you to find that there is no better fertilizer than human remains Now that you’re here, and you’ve seen all of this, perhaps we’ll just have you stay The wine didn’t get you drunk, as was my hope, but you still don’t have the power to face rownover the hillside Thein all directions until it’s buried roots were exhumed The sentient plants jerks and twisted until it assurapes

By now, the Wine Master’s skin had also begun to darken He heaved a long grunt “Lan Jue was right1, you aren’t even in the same class as Jayer Your heart is poisoned – only interested in instant gratification and quick success Your spirit was only ever interested in money, and that is why you were never able to understand the art ofwine Even with all your talent, you will never be the greatest god of wine”

A silvery bubble of energy surrounded the Wine Master and his corape vines exploded from the earth all around theether to fore More appeared, and struck out at the protective bubble surrounding the intrepid travelers from all directions There were sopurple

“I have already used enic powers to close this place Even with your interspacial capabilities, you’re stuck here The fruit of a god of wine is special, you see It would kill a normal man – he would drink hirape, diluted in water, can make a thousand bottles of the best Roreat lovers of wine, are you not? Wouldn’t contributing your bodies to create such a splendid wine be a fitting end? You dare to look down upon my creation, to claim it inferior to that farift” Aubert’s voice was haughty, and full of venolare “Indeed, you are inferior The fruit of a god of wine is fine, but it cannot compare to the true love and devotion a vintner has for his harvest These grapes have no love, just rage and greed You can sense it in the aftertaste – it’s fetid You said it true before – there is no way for you to ever surpass the late Henri Jayer”

“You’re clearly not qualified to make such assumptions We will see the truth of it once you’ve come to fertilize my fruit My creation will sweep the universe, and all those who drink it will be drawn in From them, I will chose the best to serve as nutrients for the next harvest I refuse to believe that, with the addition of so many wine lovers, that I will not surpass Jayer! There will be more love for wine than that old man could ever muster I can finally rid myself of his specter You three are lucky – my first crop, I’ll remember you always”

The skies darkened until it was a reach, deep purple – almost black The vines, hundreds noiped ceaselessly at the silvery shell Each vine shattered as it thrust itself against the Wine Master’s defenses, but with each strike the strain on the Cosus becaly darker in hue It crept up his body, slowly overtaking the hand holding his scepter He gave a bitter sreatest love of his life would be his undoing

As for Aubert de Villaine, the great vintner, clearly his rage and jealousy had driven hi, for who kne many innocents would lose their lives This place had becoards to cultivation, the Wine Master and Aubert were not equal However, the difference was not enorenic energies was deeper due to his experience with interstellarAubert clearly had avoided None of that power or knowledge could be taken fro around them, was under the complete control of Aubert de Villaine He had created it froe of the Forrape vine so that his connection to the land was deeper It was largely for this reason that the Wine Master found hion’s abilities were plant-based In regards to combat, this couldn’t hold a flame to interdimensional Talent Here, however, those specific attributes were cut off – interspacial poere suppressed because the entirety of this place was under Aubert’s control The grape’s fluids seemed to permeate down to their souls, and the Wine Master already at a distinct disadvantage, there wasn’t much in the way of resistance that they could offer

In addition, Aubert was one of, if not the single oldest Paragon in the universe By virtue of his age and experience alone, he had an advantage and he wasn’t the least bit interested in holding back The Wine Master knew very hat sort of destruction a Paragon was capable of The three of the board All de Villaine had to do ear hienic-infused vines lashed at them With each strike, the Wine Master’s shield di to protect them from Aubert’s murderous thirst Not even the Wine Master

Lan Jue looked on as the Cos in to the dirt, the only thing stopping the Avenue’s interiht spread out from the butt of the scepter then They were small at first, but quickly blooli, and they could not look away Each petal was its own self-contained universe, and they crashed andone another

Aubert’s precious pocket of reality began to disintegrate, unable to sustain itself against the Cos power The flower blazed like a sun until, suddenly, it shifted black It beca around it – a black hole, perhaps a meter wide Al they, and that one ed to devour a thousandat two meters, found hier of the black hole caure ceased to be

However, then a violet light congealed around the edges of the ano further

This was the Wine Master’s single most powerful skill At the peak of his power, he was capable of devouring entire planets in it’s scope It’s confinement at any level was a stupendous achievement, much less to this ss to h to destroy hout this place I aed froe of the previous body

The cothened Gradually, the last-ditch effort of the Coss worse for you The rape’s power per that can save you With that wine in your veins, you’re demise is assured” Aubert De Villaine’s voice was full of dark e, this is the first time anyone from the Avenue has used an Avenue denizen’s true na this is likely aaside