The darkness had always been Kael's domain, but even the shadows could not remain untouched by time. As the rebellion gained momentum, Kael realized that his standard methods of crushing resistance would not suffice. The world had become too unpredictable, and the Lightbearers' influence was spreading faster than he had anticipated. It was time to look beyond the realm of mere mortals and into the realm of the forgotten.
Sera approached Kael's throne, her footsteps soft as if she too were part of the shadows. She had already started the rituals to uncover the ancient forces Kael sought, but there were risks. Risks even Kael was not sure he was prepared to face.
"My lord, the ritual is ready. But the beings we seek… they are not to be trifled with," Sera spoke softly, her eyes betraying a flicker of doubt. "The pact you seek to form will require more than just your power. You will need to offer something of great value, something that even you may not be willing to sacrifice."
Kael's eyes glinted with determination, his face unreadable. "I do not fear the unknown, Sera. My dominion is built on sacrifice. If I must give to gain, then so be it. The Lightbearers will fall, and I will emerge victorious."
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The Depths of Forbidden Magic
The ritual to summon the ancient beings was unlike any Kael had ever witnessed. It was not a simple summoning of spirits or magic. This was primal, a summoning that reached into the very core of existence. They had traveled deep into the hidden chambers beneath his citadel, into a vault sealed with magic older than any civilization.
A massive altar of obsidian stone stood at the center of the chamber, surrounded by sigils and runes carved into the floor. The air crackled with energy, thick with the scent of burning incense and the power of the ancient ritual. Sera, standing at the altar, chanted words Kael could not comprehend, her voice rising in an unearthly crescendo.
As the ritual reached its peak, the temperature in the chamber plummeted. A dark, unnatural wind began to howl through the vault. The shadows seemed to grow deeper, coiling around the walls, stretching toward the altar like tendrils of darkness seeking to claim the very life force of those present.
The ground trembled beneath Kael's feet as the altar began to glow with an eerie, pale light. From the depths of the shadows, something stirred—a presence, ancient and immense, slowly rising from the void.
Kael stood firm, his eyes narrowed. He could feel the ancient energy in the air, something raw and untamed. He could sense the power of this pact—power that would shatter the rebellion, extinguish the flames of the Lightbearers once and for all.
Finally, a voice echoed in the chamber—a voice that was both deep and cold, like the whisper of a storm across a dead sea.
"You summon us, child of darkness. What is it you seek?"
The voice was not one, but many, layered in a chorus that seemed to come from all directions. The ancient beings Kael had summoned had awoken, their presence filling the room with an oppressive weight.
Kael's voice was calm, steady. "I seek power. I seek to rule the world in shadow. And I offer you the chance to return to the world of the living. Help me crush my enemies, and I will grant you dominion over the realms you once ruled."
A low, rumbling laugh echoed through the chamber. "You offer us dominion? You are but a fledgling in the eternal darkness. Yet your ambition pleases us."
The shadows in the room writhed, twisting in unnatural patterns. The air crackled as if the very fabric of reality was being torn asunder.
"But know this, child of darkness. All power comes with a cost. A price that you will have to pay in ways you cannot yet comprehend. We will grant you the power you seek, but in return, you will offer us more than just your loyalty. You will offer us your soul."
Kael's heart did not falter, though a cold shiver ran down his spine. He had known the price of this pact. The price of true power was never cheap.
"I accept," Kael said, his voice unwavering.
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The Rise of the Ancient Beings
With a final, deafening crash of energy, the pact was sealed. The chamber was plunged into darkness, and the shadows seemed to bow in reverence to the ancient beings that had been summoned. The cold energy of their presence infused Kael's very being, making him feel more powerful than ever before.
Sera stepped forward, her eyes wide with awe and fear. "My lord... you have done it. The ancient ones have granted you the power you sought. But their cost—what you gave—is beyond what we understand. I can feel it. You are no longer the same."
Kael stood tall, his figure radiating an unnatural aura of power. The shadows at his feet danced with newfound energy, their tendrils flicking and moving like sentient creatures. His eyes were glowing with an intensity that made even Sera uneasy.
"I am more than what I was before," Kael said, his voice dark and deep, laced with an authority that was not entirely his own. "With this power, I will crush the rebellion and all who oppose me."
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Aeron's Response
Meanwhile, Aeron had already sensed a shift in the air. The Lightbearers had been preparing for an assault on one of Kael's strongholds when they began to hear rumors of Kael's dealings with ancient powers. The whispers spoke of forbidden magics, of pacts that were sealed in blood and shadows. Aeron, despite his deep hatred for Kael, could not deny the possibility that the war had taken a darker turn.
"The rebellion will need more than just resolve to stand against this," Aeron muttered to himself, standing at the head of his forces. He looked over the men and women who had gathered under his banner—warriors, mages, and rebels who had lost everything to the darkness Kael now wielded.
Aeron's grip tightened on his sword. "We will fight, but we need something more. The ancient powers Kael now controls… they will not be easy to destroy."
Aeron had always known that the world Kael sought to create was one of shadows and despair. But with the newfound power Kael had acquired, it was clear that the stakes were higher than ever before. The rebellion had no choice but to escalate. They needed allies—more than what they had now.
It was time for Aeron to seek the one thing he had been avoiding: the ancient forces that had once fought against the shadows. Forces older than even Kael's newfound power. But where they lay, and how to awaken them, was a mystery Aeron was determined to solve.
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End of Chapter 17