Ethan took the black beetle, and the moment his fingers brushed against it, the insect slid onto his skin, merging into it until it formed a dark tattoo on the side of his palm.
"Can you hear me, Master?" Vel'Kha'Lems' voice echoed in his mind. "You only need to think to respond."
Before Ethan could emit a single thought, Crul responded from within him with a power so overwhelming that it forced the Lich to his knees in an instant.
[You insignificant worm, you dare to place a mark on the descendant of the Supreme...?! You have nerve,] Crul's mental voice roared with ancient fury.
The absolute pain the Lich felt left him paralyzed, frozen in visceral terror as he looked up at Ethan.
"My... it seems you met a friend," Ethan said with a cold smile, watching the creature trembling at his feet. "I hope it isn't anything harmful to me, or else I will take care of finishing what those others could not."
