Chapter 46: The Cost of noise
Damon's new mansion was a fortress of obsidian and "scars"—wards that hummed with the resonance of the Void. He spent the evening reconstructing his home into a sanctuary fit for Saya, but the "noise" of the world followed him. At 2:00 AM, ten shadows crossed his perimeter. They were elite assassins sent by Ryker, who intended to reclaim the loot he had publicly "gifted."
Damon didn't even leave his chair. He watched through the tracking spell as the assassins neared. With a silent command, the shadows of his own furniture rose like liquid ink, wrapping around the intruders' throats.
"I came back for peace," Damon whispered as he stepped into the hall. "But you people keep screaming."
He didn't just kill them. He used [Soul Extraction], pulling the shimmering blue orbs from their chests. He then moved to Ryker's penthouse. The Diamond Master didn't even have time to scream before Damon's hand closed around his throat. "I will never forgive anyone who disturbs my peace," Damon said, his voice a low vibration that shattered the glass windows.
By dawn, Damon returned home with ten new souls in his inventory, including Ryker's. He stood in his courtyard and released them. "Rise," he commanded.
The ten souls manifested, their bodies reconstructed from shadow and cold fire. They weren't ghosts; they were Void-Soldiers, bound to his will. Ryker, now a silent, armored husk, knelt at Damon's feet alongside the assassins. They were the perfect servants: tireless, loyal, and utterly silent. Damon looked up at the sky, knowing Arthur was still watching through the tracking spell. He wanted them to see. He wanted them to know that the "Epsilon" was the center of their ending.
To be continued...