Acedia's soul drifted through the void, the darkness around him so complete it felt as though it was devouring all light, all hope. His intangible form glowed faintly, a sickly green that pulsed like a dying ember in the vast emptiness. He had failed.
The thought weighed on him, gnawing at the edges of his mind. He had allowed King Alaric's last vestiges of humanity to break free, and worse, Elias had severed his connection before he could bring Eldoria to ruin.
Ahead of him, the shadows began to shift, coiling and writhing as though they had a life of their own. From the swirling darkness emerged a massive figure, a towering presence that loomed over Acedia like a mountain of shadow.
Its form was indistinct, shifting and shuddering as though it could not be confined to any singular shape. The only constant were its eyes—blazing orbs of fiery crimson that pierced through the darkness, radiating an aura of death and decay so palpable it made Acedia's soul tremble.
Acedia bowed low, his pride swallowed by the fear that surged within him. He could feel the crushing weight of the figure's gaze, the sheer force of its presence threatening to snuff out his existence entirely. He dared not look up, not even for a moment. "My liege," Acedia said, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to steady it. "I have returned, though I regret to inform you of my failure.
I was unable to fulfill your command."
The massive figure remained silent for a long, agonizing moment. The air itself seemed to thicken, pressing down on Acedia with a force that made his very essence quake. Acedia's mind raced, searching for any words that might appease the wrath he knew was coming. "My liege, I would have succeeded if only you had allowed me to kill the boy.
Elias Ashdown should not have been spared—he is a threat to our plans."
The figure's eyes blazed even brighter, casting an ominous red glow that illuminated Acedia's quivering form. "See that you do not," it said, its voice carrying a finality that left no room for argument. With that, the shadowy figure began to dissipate, its presence retreating back into the void, leaving behind an oppressive silence that echoed with unspoken threats.
As the last remnants of the figure's presence vanished, Acedia allowed himself a moment of unrestrained rage. He bit his lip until the spectral blood oozed from the wound, his form shuddering with the effort to contain the fury that threatened to consume him.
The humiliation of being chastised, of having his power belittled in the presence of the King of Hell, was a wound that cut deeper than any blade.
"Elias Ashdown," Acedia spat, his voice seething with hatred. The name was like poison on his lips, a reminder of his failure and his disgrace. "You have embarrassed me in front of my lord, and for that, you will pay dearly. I swear on all the fires of Hell, you will die by my hands."
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Acedia's form flickered violently, his essence writhing with barely contained fury. He would bide his time, as he had always done. The King of Hell had a plan, and Acedia knew better than to act without orders. But the moment he was unleashed, the moment he was given the chance, he would make Elias Ashdown suffer in ways the young savior could not even begin to imagine.
With a final, furious glare into the empty void, Acedia turned and vanished, his soul retreating to the depths of his circle to await his next command. The darkness closed in behind him, swallowing the lingering echoes of his wrath.
The void grew still once more, silent and in the depths of the abyss, the King of Hell's gaze remained ever watchful, plotting the next move in a game that was only just beginning.