Far below, deep in his cavern of shadow, Val'Zhemyr, opened his eyes, like two burning stars in the dark...
Val'Zhemyr: "So.. Azragon, You found the bearer of the core."
Azragon: "Yes, my Lord, I was about to end him and his friends, but the Solaris Sanctum interfered."
Val'Zhemyr: "The Solaris Sanctum?"
Azragon: "It is a world alternate to this one. And Diwatas reside in it. They are guardians of this world. But do not fear, my Lord, for they are forbidden to interfere in this world's conflict. They can only give aid to the people."
Val'Zhemyr: "Fear you say?! Do you think I am afraid of them? Hahaha. They are nothing but ants to me. Let them struggle. Let them think they have hope."
Azragon: "Also, this boy who wields the power of the core. He is quite strong. Him and his friends almost defeated my underling."Val'Zhemyr: "Even if they manage to defeat one of your underling, will they be able to win if they were against a legion?"
Azragon: "No my Lord. I was just surprised that a human was able to deal that much damage to a mutated aswang."
Val'Zhemyr: "Of course. It is to be expected if he wields the power of Sandipa. But that alone will not be enough to put a scratch on me. Not even to you."
Azragon: "I have also heard from the other Generals that some of their "experiments" have been successful."Val'Zhemyr: "That's good. I did not expect this world to have this much evil. If this keeps on going I can recover more quickly."
Azragon: "Should I pursue the boy again, my Lord?"
Val'Zhemyr: "No. He is bound to a power far greater than he understands. Let him grow, watch him closely. And when the time comes. I will take action."
Azragon: "As you command, My Lord."
Azragon bowed deeply as the shadows began to swallow him. With that, his presence vanished, leaving the cavern in suffocating silence. The shadows receded, but Val'Zhemyr remained awake, his gaze piercing through worlds. With a faint, cruel smile formed in the darkness...
Val'Zhemyr: "Your journey has only begun."
The night was quiet. The wind brushed past the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth, yet his chest tightened as if the air itself had grown heavy. He felt something, someone was watching him.
Cafra turned, scanning the darkness between the trees. Shadows stretched unnaturally long under the pale moonlight, clinging to the forest floor like living things. His heart started beating quickly, each thud echoing in his ears. Faricah noticed his sudden stillness.
Faricah: "Cafra... Is everything alright?"
He didn't answer immediately. His eyes narrowed, following a presence he couldn't see but could feel. A cold pressure pressing against his mind, distant yet unmistakable.
Cafra: "I think someone is watching us."
For a brief moment, Cafra felt it clearly. An oppressive gaze, sweeping over him. His body trembled, not from fear alone, but from the strange resonance in this chest. The core reacted. A faint warmth pulsed within him, as though warning him. Cafra clenched his fists.
Cafra: "I know you are watching us.. Whoever you are. Show yourself!"
But he got no response. Silence continued. The forest remained still.. Then, just suddenly as it came, the pressure vanished. Like a predator retreating into the dark after confirming its prey.
Faricah: "Did you sense something?"
Cafra: "Yes. I don't know what it was. But I'm certain that it was the one that has been watching us."
High above, unseen beyond the stars and shadows, a presence lingered for a moment. Silent, patient, watching.
Familiar: "I have found him, Master."
Far away, the presence of Azragon answered. He communicated directly into the familiar's mind.Azragon: "Excellent."
The familiar's gaze locked into Cafra, it's pupils tightening as the core's faint glow resonated event at a distance.Familiar: "Shall I test him?"
Azragon: "No. Remain unseen. Do nothing. Just follow them. Learn his habits, fears. Observe how he fights."
The familiar dissolved further into the shadows, it's form thinning until it was little more than a distortion in the darkness. Below, Cafra suddenly paused again. He looked around, but saw nothing. Yet, the core within him pulsed once, soft, uneasy. Somewhere above, unseen, and unheard, the familiar followed.
Far in a domain untouched by light, Azragon ruled a place where aswangs resides. The ground stretched smooth and dark, reflecting nothing, while the void above churned slowly, as if the domain itself was breathing. At its center stood a towering silhouette, unmoving, absolute.
Azragon. Before him knelt a human figure, bound in chains forged from living darkness. The person's face could not be seen, only their trembling outline, hunched beneath an invisible weight.
Azragon: "You carry great despair."
The chains tightened.
Azragon: "Loss. Hatred. Regret."
The human's silhouette shook.
Human: "I... I didn't choose this..."
Azragon raised his hand. From the void, a black mist emerged, dense, pulsing, threaded with faint crimson light. It moved with purpose, drawn toward the human's shadow rather than their flesh. Nok'tur. The essence of despair.
Azragon: "Nok'tur does not grant power."
The mist coiled closer.
Azragon: "It awakens it."
The darkness poured into the human's silhouette. Their form distorted, stretching, compressing, shadows peeling away as something buried deep within was forced to surface. The human screamed. Azragon watched without emotion.
Azragon: "There are only two outcomes."
The silhouette convulsed violently.
Azragon: "If your will survives..."
The darkness surged, then steadied. The human's shape stabilized, taller, sharper, emanating a controlled, malignant presence.
Azragon: "You will wield Nok'tur's power."
The chains loosened.
Azragon: "And you will serve."
The silhouette hesitated. A faint resistance rippled through the domain. Azragon's voice lowered.
Azragon: "Defy me..."
The shadows recoiled, then collapsed inward. The silhouette was swallowed whole as the darkness devoured what remained of their will. The floor cracked. From the void rose something vast and formless, Nok'tur itself, strengthened by rebellion, its presence far heavier than before. Azragon turned away.
Azragon: "Acceptable."
From deeper within the domain, another restrained silhouette was dragged forward.
Azragon: "And if the will breaks entirely... The result is obedience."
He faced the next human.
Azragon: "A monster that thinks no more."
The void stirred, awaiting the next test. The chamber was vast and silent. Black pillars stretched upward into darkness, their surfaces carved with symbols that shifted when not directly observed. The floor reflected faint silhouettes, though no light source could be seen.
Azragon entered. His presence alone caused the shadows to bend inward, as if acknowledging their master. The towering silhouette stopped at the center of the chamber. Waiting for him were figures unlike the others. They stood upright. Still. Aware. Once human, now something more.
Each bore a distinct outline, their forms wrapped in darkness. Faint, pulsing veins traced along their bodies, responding to their breath, their thoughts. They were the successful experiments.
One of them stepped forward, their voice calm, disciplined, and unmistakably human.
Experiment1: "You summoned us."
Azragon regarded them in silence.
Experiment1: "We have followed your command. We have sharpened our power."
Another silhouette spoke, its tone restrained, yet edged with hunger.
Experiment2: "Tell us our next move."
The chamber reacted. Symbols along the pillars flickered faintly, shadows tightening around the figures as if testing their resolve. Azragon finally spoke.
Azragon: "You are proof that despair can be mastered."
Azragon: "You have not broken. You have not resisted."
A pause.
Azragon: "And so, you are permitted to ask questions."
The first silhouette lowered its head slightly.
Experiment1: "Then speak, Lord Azragon."
Azragon stepped forward, his shadow stretching across them all.
Azragon: "For now, you wait."
A faint ripple of disappointment passed through the room, but none voiced it.
Azragon: "The bearer of the core still walks."
At the mention of it, the darkness within the figures stirred.
Azragon: "When the time comes, one of you will be sent."
The chamber fell silent once more. Azragon turned away, already dismissing them.
Azragon: "Until then..."
The shadows tightened around the figures, anchoring them in place.
Azragon: "...do not fail me."
The silhouettes remained standing, eyes unseen.