THE CHAMBER WAS ENORMOUS, THE CEILING LOST IN DARKNESS.
GLOWING RUNES CRAWLED ALONG THE WALLS LIKE LIVING THINGS.
AT THE FAR END, THE THRONE SAT UPON A MOUND OF BONES.
ON IT RESTED A FIGURE DRAPED IN A CLOAK OF SHADOWS, HIS FACE HIDDEN BEHIND AN OBISDIAN MASK.
DOZENS OF ABYSSAL ELITES KNELT AROUND HIM, THEIR EYES GLOWING LIKE BLOOD.
"WHO… ARE YOU?" ARIANA MANAGED TO ASK.
THE FIGURE'S VOICE ROLLED THROUGH THE CHAMBER LIKE THUNDER:
"I AM THE WARDEN OF THE ABYSS.
AND YOU…" HIS GAZE FIXED ON RYUJIN.
"…YOU ARE FINALLY HOME."
RYUJIN'S HAND TIGHTENED AROUND HIS KATANA.
"DON'T. CALL. THIS. PLACE. MY. HOME."
THE WARDEN LAUGHED, DEEP AND COLD.
"OH, YOU THINK YOU'RE ONE OF THEM? THE HUMANS?"
HE STOOD FROM THE THRONE, HIS PRESENCE ALONE MAKING THE STONE SHAKE.
"TELL ME, RYUJIN… DID YOU NEVER WONDER WHY YOUR EYES TURN BLACK? WHY YOUR BODY SURVIVED WHAT SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU?"
RYUJIN FROZE FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND.
THE MEMORY OF THE GOBLIN LORD AND THE BLACK SMOKE RUSHED BACK TO HIM.
"YOU'RE NOT JUST A HUNTER," THE WARDEN SAID.
"YOU CARRY THE BLOOD OF THE ABYSS. YOU'RE THE SHADOW ASCENDANT, THE ONE MEANT TO LEAD US."
KAI SHOUTED,
"SHUT THE HELL UP! HE'S NOTHING LIKE YOU MONSTERS!"
BUT RYUJIN DIDN'T REACT.
HIS BREATH GREW HEAVIER, HIS MIND FILLED WITH QUESTIONS HE DIDN'T WANT TO ASK.
Blood of the Abyss?
Meant to lead them?
THE WARDEN SLOWLY DESCENDED THE STEPS OF THE THRONE, STOPPING ONLY A FEW METERS FROM RYUJIN.
"YOU FEEL IT, DON'T YOU? THE HUNGER. THE INSTINCT TO KILL.
JOIN ME, RYUJIN. EMBRACE YOUR TRUE NATURE.
BECOME THE KING OF THE ABYSS."
ARIANA STEPPED FORWARD, HER VOICE DESPERATE.
"DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! YOU'RE HUMAN, RYUJIN! YOU'RE… YOU'RE ONE OF US!"
KAI WHISPERED,
"HE'S NOT ANSWERING… DAMN IT…"
RYUJIN SLOWLY LIFTED HIS HEAD.
HIS EYES WERE COMPLETELY BLACK.
"KING OF THE ABYSS…?"
HIS VOICE WAS LOW, DEADLY CALM.
"IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT…"
HE TOOK A STEP FORWARD.
"…THEN I'LL SHOW YOU HOW A KING KILLS."
THE WARDEN LAUGHED IN PURE DELIGHT AS THE ABYSSAL ELITES ROARED AROUND THEM.
THE AIR SHOOK WITH POWER AS RYUJIN'S DARK MOON FORM FULLY AWAKENED—
HIS AURA SO DEADLY THAT EVEN THE ELITES HESITATED TO MOVE.
"YES… SHOW ME!" THE WARDEN ROARED.