The grand hall of the Azure Pavilion was silent, but the air was thick with the scent of ozone and ancient blood. Ren stood in the center, his shadow stretching across the polished marble floor like a living beast.
In front of him, three Elder Knights of the Holy Order knelt, their armor cracked, their spirits broken. They were the ones who had guarded the dungeon where Ren was left to rot.
"Ren... please..." the oldest knight stammered, his voice trembling. "We were only following orders. The Saintess... she said you were corrupted by the Abyss!"
Ren's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. He took a step forward, and the ground beneath his feet turned into a swirling vortex of darkness.
[System Notification: Intimidation Successful.] [Target 'Elder Knight Boros' is paralyzed by Pure Terror.]
"Orders?" Ren whispered, leaning down until his dark eyes were inches away from the knight's face. "When I was screaming in the dark, hungry and broken... did you follow orders then? Or did you laugh while you threw the scraps of bread onto the floor?"
Ren raised his right hand. A blade made of pure shadow materialized in his palm, humming with a low, haunting vibration.
"The Saintess lied to you," Ren said, his voice echoing through the hall. "I didn't steal the power of the Abyss. The Abyss... it chose me. And now, it wants its payment."
With a swift motion, the shadow blade swept through the air. But instead of blood, a burst of dark mist erupted, consuming the knights' shadows.
[Skill: Shadow Soul Devourer - Activated.] [Absorbing 3 Middle-Tier Souls... Strength +15, Intelligence +10.] [New Quest Unlocked: The Siege of the Inner Sanctum.]
Ren turned his gaze toward the highest tower of the palace, where a faint golden light still flickered.
"Run, Elara," he muttered to the wind. "Run as fast as you can. Because when the sun sets today... the light of this kingdom dies with you."