The alley's dim illumination, bathed in the pale glow of the moon, became the theater for a spectacle between the city's guards and Lucius, the once mighty Demon God now confined to a vulnerable human form.
"Why's he so still? Drunk on memories perhaps?" one guard jested, clearly underestimating the weight of the situation.
The tall guard, with a flourish of his baton, declared, "Seems like another lost soul in our city's alleys. Maybe he needs a reminder to respect the guards of Clavis."
Unbeknownst to them, Lucius was anything but defenseless. With silent derision, he assessed, "Insignificant ants of this realm, daring to stand before a god."
Channeling the remnants of his power, Lucius sacrificed a droplet of his current body's blood essence. In an instant, the energy that burst forth was palpable, causing the very stones beneath to crack and shift.
Feeling the change in the atmosphere, the guards were gripped with unease. The tallest guard, once confident, hesitated. "What is this...power?"
Trying to regain control, another guard lunged forward, attempting to subdue Lucius with chains. But Lucius responded swiftly, sending a gust of dark energy that lifted the attacker off his feet and into the adjacent wall with a sickening crunch.
"Circle him!" cried another, urging his comrades into formation. But their attempts were futile. Lucius was a vortex of motion. Drawing forth tendrils of shadow, he ensnared another guard, squeezing tightly until muffled screams went silent.
Terrified, the remaining guards drew their blades, charging in a desperate attempt to overwhelm him. But Lucius evoked another surge of his power, creating an impenetrable barrier that sent the guards ricocheting backward, their weapons clattering uselessly on the cobblestones.
As the fallen began to whimper and beg, Lucius showed no mercy. With a cruel precision, he began the process of extraction. Drawing forth their souls, a torrent of spectral light poured into him, strengthening his supernatural powers. Simultaneously, a crimson essence seeped from their wounds, rejuvenating and fortifying his human vessel.
One guard, eyes wide in horror, managed to gasp, "Who...what are you?"
"A nightmare you'll never awaken from," Lucius replied coldly.
When the last wail had died down, and the alley was littered with lifeless forms, Lucius sifted through the memories and knowledge he had consumed. The human power dynamics became clear. "By their measly standards, I am merely an Initiate," Lucius thought disdainfully. He also discerned his location: Clavis, city in the Lysandria Empire.