A Presence That Freezes the Soul
The air turned thick with malice.
Priyam felt it deep in his bones—a suffocating pressure, ancient and overwhelming. His instincts screamed at him to run.
But I’m not some weakling.
So he grinned instead.
Draven, the Abyss King, stepped forward, his obsidian-black armor glistening under the moonlight. His silver hair flowed like smoke, and his crimson eyes burned with an eerie glow.
Power radiated off him in waves.
Even Kaela—the war queen herself—had gone rigid, her claws twitching.
Lyria swallowed. “This is bad.”
Kaela’s voice was sharper than steel. “What the hell do you want, Abyss King?”
Draven smirked, his voice smooth yet deadly. “I was merely passing through. But then… I sensed something interesting.”
His crimson gaze locked onto Priyam.
Priyam raised an eyebrow. “Lemme guess. Me?”
Draven chuckled. “You catch on quickly.”
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Kaela stepped between them. “You’re not touching him.”
Priyam turned to the readers. Damn, even the warlord is being protective? I must be pretty damn special.
Draven ignored her. “Human.”
Priyam sighed. “Priyam.”
Draven smirked. “Fine. Priyam. You are… unusual.”
Priyam shrugged. “I get that a lot.”
Draven took another step forward. The ground cracked beneath his feet just from the weight of his presence.
“You’re untrained. Weak. Yet, you stand before me unfazed.”
Priyam rolled his shoulders. “I don’t scare easy.”
Draven chuckled. “Good. Then come with me.”
Lyria froze. “What?!”
Kaela’s golden eyes flared. “Not happening.”
Priyam blinked. “Wait, what?”
Draven smirked. “I have… an offer.”
Priyam tilted his head. “Yeah? And what do I get out of it?”
Draven’s crimson eyes glowed. “Power.”
Silence.
Then Priyam turned to the readers. Well, shit. That’s tempting.
A Dangerous Proposal
Kaela growled. “He’s not going anywhere with you.”
Draven’s smile didn’t fade. “It’s not your decision, Warlord.”
Lyria clutched Priyam’s sleeve. “Don’t listen to him! He’s the Abyss King! His power comes at a cost!”
Priyam scratched his chin. “Yeah, yeah. But what kind of power are we talking about?”
Draven’s smirk widened. “The kind that would let you crush anyone who stands in your way.”
Kaela stepped forward, her claws glinting. “I’m standing in your way right now.”
Draven chuckled. “For now.”
The air grew colder. Shadows swirled around Draven’s feet.
Lyria whispered, “This mana… it’s—”
Draven’s hand rose.
Dark energy coiled around his fingers like living snakes.
Priyam felt a pull—something deep inside him reacting.
Something unknown.
Draven smiled. “You feel it, don’t you?”
Priyam clenched his fists. Yeah… I do.
Kaela’s golden eyes narrowed. “Enough talk.”
She lunged.
Draven sighed. He raised one hand.
And then—
BOOM!
A shockwave of dark energy erupted, blasting everyone back.
Lyria screamed. Kaela skid across the ground. The elven guards collapsed.
Priyam stood firm.
Draven’s gaze met his.
“You’re wasted here,” he murmured. “When you’re ready to embrace real power… come find me.”
Then—he vanished.
The pressure disappeared.
Silence.
Priyam turned to the readers. Well. That was something.
Kaela cursed. “Damn Abyss King.”
Lyria’s hands shook. “Priyam… he was serious.”
Priyam smirked. “I know.”
Lyria’s eyes widened. “You’re not… actually considering it, are you?!”
Priyam stretched. “Who knows?”
He turned, his grin sharp.
“But I do know one thing.”
Kaela raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
Priyam cracked his knuckles.
“I need to get a lot stronger.”
To Be Continued…