Smoke filled the surroundings, as the colour red enveloped the sky. The sound of falling debris could be heard everywhere as torn buildings and infrastructures appeared everywhere.
Obvious signs of skirmishes appeared everywhere as craters and gashes appeared on the empty streets of the current undisclosed location...
"Khhhh..."
With some difficulty, a handsome man got to his feet. His skin was white as jade, and he had short black hair that was in a mess at this moment. The man looked handsome...however, there was something different about him.
...He had two long black horns on the top of his head.
Standing up straight, the Patriarch's elegant clothes were now tattered.
He stood expressionlessly in the centre of the wreckage and surveyed the surrounding destruction, as well as the massive crater around him.
Silence covered the area he was in. The atmosphere was so stifling that it made one unable to breathe. Lest needed to be said to the demons kneeling beside him.
After his contractee, Smauel got killed a few months prior, the Patriarch found himself in a state of weakness.
Forcefully swallowing the iron-like taste that coated the back of his throat, the Patriarch spoke
"...What have you got to say for yourselves?"
"Vorath-khhh"
-Voum!
Vorath's voice cut through the surrounding area, cold and commanding, "It seems like your respect for me has fallen so low that you no longer refer to me by my title, huh?"
His title, the patriarch of the Malic clan, carried with it the weight of authority and lineage. Disrespect towards it was a direct challenge, and Vorath's demeanour hinted at the consequences of such insubordination.
"...as soon as you got wind of my injury you tried to seize your opportunity, how sly"
As he spoke, Vorath's gaze was directed towards the few demons kneeling beside him. The latter's usually imposing and arrogant faces were now listless and filled with powerlessness. It was obvious that they were currently being suppressed by the Patriarch.
"To think that you would be so brave...and naive to think that you could replace me in my weakened state." Vorath's words sliced through the tense air, each syllable dripping with a potent mix of disdain and authority.
The demons exchanged uneasy glances, their feeble attempts at rebellion swiftly quelled by the oppressive force that emanated from Vorath. The wreckage around them served as a stark reminder of the consequences of challenging the might of the Malic clan's patriarch.
"To think that you would be so foolish... to attack me, "Vorath continued, his voice low and menacing. His blood-red eyes bore into each demon, peeling back the layers of deceit and betrayal.
"You thought my injury would be your opportunity, a chance to cast aside loyalty for personal gain," Vorath's words lingered in the heavy silence. The demons, unable to meet his gaze, remained in a state of
submission.
Sable, the leader of the titan shifter demon, faced the wrath of Vorath with an unfazed demeanour. His bat-like wings unfurled, casting a shadow over the wreckage below. The air hung heavy with the impending clash between two formidable demons.
Amidst the silent confrontation, Vorath's voice resonated with a chilling edge, "It seems you have a death wish, Sable."
Sable chuckled a low and ominous sound that echoed through the desolate landscape. "Ah, Vorath, always quick to assume the worst. I'm here not for conflict but for an alliance," he declared, his tone holding a subtle mix of confidence and mockery.
The pressure in the air persisted, and the ground beneath Sable continued to fracture under Vorath's overwhelming power. Yet, Sable remained undeterred, meeting Vorath's intense gaze with an unwavering stare.
"You? A demon forsaken by the demon king himself wants my alliance? Ha, you sure have a nice dream Sable but let me remind you, that you are the last of your kin! All of your members died in the human world and you stand alone, forsaken and desperate," Vorath's voice echoed with a harsh truth as he continued to exert his dominance.
Noticing Vorath expression, Sable covered his mouth. From time to time his body would tremble as he tried his best to hold his laughter...in the end, he failed.
"Kukuku...kukuku...kuku-hahahahahaah"
"What are you laughing at!"
After a couple of seconds of maniacal laughter, wiping the tears that had appeared in the corner of his eyes, Sable couldn't help but say
"...there's no need for you to pretend anymore"
"What are you talking about?"
Leisurely standing in the air, Sable glanced at Vorath with slight contempt in his eyes.
"...That as of right now you are not my match"
As if Sable's words pierced his heart, Vorath couldn't help but grit his teeth in anger. Staring at Sable in the air, with his jaw clenched, Vorath angrily spat
"...so it was you who planned all of this?"
Pausing for a moment, whilst still in the air, Sable shook his hands as he innocently said
"No, no, no, believe me. I'm innocent with regards to this incident."
Vorath's gaze intensified, a mixture of suspicion and frustration etched across his face. "Innocent? You appear conveniently when chaos unfolds, and you claim innocence? Explain yourself, Sable."
Sable descended slowly, his wings folding with a graceful elegance. He chuckled once again, the sound sending shivers through the tense atmosphere. "You see, Vorath, I may not have orchestrated this chaos, but I certainly didn't mind taking advantage of it."
The ground beneath Vorath rumbled as if mirroring the tumult within him. "Advantage? What game are you playing, Sable?"
With a sly grin, Sable responded, "The game of survival, my dear Vorath. I know you're weakened, and these rebels, though feeble, provided a perfect distraction for me to approach you."
Vorath's eyes narrowed, a storm brewing within. "Approach me? For what purpose?"