The Price
Chapter 31
"Fool..."
The word slithered through the air like poison.
Then-
"FOOL!!"
The entity's voice exploded with fury.
The flames of darkness surrounding its body surged violently, twisting like a raging storm.
"How dare you!"
Eidolon lay on the shattered ground, laughing weakly through blood-stained teeth.
"Haha... I thought you said you'd grant one of my wishes..."
His voice was hoarse, broken.
"If that's true..."
He coughed, blood spilling from his mouth.
"Then become mine."
The arena fell silent.
Eidolon's smile stretched wider.
"Give me everything that belongs to you."
His eyes burned with madness.
"Your power... your existence..."
He slowly raised a trembling hand toward the creature.
"Even you."
The words came out like a curse.
"Belong to me."
For a moment-
The world stopped breathing.
Then-
BOOOOM!!!
A deafening sonic explosion erupted from the entity's body.
The ground beneath it shattered instantly, stone and sand blasting outward like a storm of knives.
The force hurled Eidolon across the arena.
His body slammed violently against the broken ground.
"SPAAAH-!"
A violent spray of blood burst from his mouth.
His body twitched.
Black blood began leaking from his nose... his ears... his eyes... even the corners of his lips.
His skin turned pale.
Cracked.
His life was fading.
Slowly.
Painfully.
"HAAA-!!!"
The entity roared, its voice shaking the entire coliseum.
Dark flames whipped around its towering form as it stared at the dying human lying before it.
Then-
It raised its right arm.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Its five fingers opened wide.
Like someone waiting for a high five.
Or claiming something that already belonged to them.
Eidolon's lifeless body suddenly trembled.
Then-
It lifted.
Slowly rising from the cold, shattered ground.
Pulled by an invisible force.
His limp body drifted through the air toward the being of darkness.
Closer.
Closer.
Until-
He stopped.
Hovering inches away from the creature's massive black hand.
The entity stared at him silently.
Then it sighed.
"Hm..."
A hint of disappointment colored its voice.
"Pathetic."
Its fingers curled slightly.
"But..."
A slow grin spread across the faceless darkness.
"I can't let you die now..."
The voice lowered into something far colder.
"...right?"
The darkness pulsed.
And the being spoke one final word.
"Master."
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