Chapter 6 - The Ancient Takes the Blade

Rain hammered like nails on anvil, turning camp paths to sucking mire. Arin burst from tent, sword naked, crown's crack yawning wide—crimson light spilling like blood from wound. Shadows writhed unnatural ahead: twelve assassins cloaked void-black, daggers rune-etched glowing faint blue. Court work—Seraphine's kin, slipping wards like ghosts."Mine." Ancient voice thundered takeover—no request. Arin's body locked; legs strode forward puppet-smooth, decades' battle grace flooding limbs. Panic spiked—No, stop!—but mouth grinned wolf-wide, not his. "Come, pups. Grandpa's hungry."Assassins fanned lethal: leader hurled star-blades whistling death-song. Arin—it—twisted fluid, catching one mid-air, hurling back double-speed. Throat gush; man gurgled drop. Others swarmed—blades stabbing shadows. Ancient parried blur-fast, counter ripping belly open. Guts steamed rain-hot. "Too slow. Seen your grandfathers dance better."Korran charged bellowing from tents, axe swinging wild. "Sire!" But Arin waved off—voice gravel-deep, not his tenor. "Stay. Watch." Another assassin leaped high, dagger plunging heart-true. Ancient sidestepped casual, gripped throat mid-air, crushed. Bones popped wet. Body flung into mate—tangle crumpling.Rain masked screams; soldiers gathered wide-eyed, torches sputtering. Voices inside rioted—sly one cackling glee, sobs whimpering monster. Arin fought cage-frantic, but ancient owned flesh: sword spun whirlwind, severing limbs staccato. Blood sprayed arcs, mixing mud rivers. Last three backed desperate, chanting ward-spell—air shimmered blue barrier."Child's play." Ancient laughed earthquake-low. Crown flared blinding; crack split audible, red pulse shattering ward like glass. Assassins froze horror—then charged suicide-blind. Sword danced reaper: one decapitated clean, second gut-hooked screaming, third impaled mid-turn. Silence crashed; only rain pattered corpses.Arin gasped control back, knees buckling. Vomited bile—his reaction, not puppet's. Soldiers stared slack: young captain dropped torch, flame hissing mud. "Gods... Emperor-Demon walks." Korran hauled him up gruff. "Sire? You... flowed like old legends."Ancient receded reluctant, chuckling deep. "Taste power? More coming." Seraphine dragged out chains-rattling, eyes wide first-time fear. "The Devourer wakes. Court foresaw—sealing fractures or die all." Arin wiped mouth, voice hoarse own again. "Then seal me. Or kneel."Dawn grayed east; horns wailed distant—Iron Gates host, forty thousand marching. Five days. Crown cooled deceptive, but inside? Fractures shifted eager. Seraphine whispered final: "Seven souls trapped. Yours last cage. Feed wrong... all escape."Runner gasped in: "Mages sighted, sire! Capital wards failing—riots!" Ancient purred awake faint: "Feast begins."