As Zephyrion drew his final breath.
Inside the headquarters of the Shadow Syndicate Clan, a concealed chamber, veiled in secrecy, with a row of life light giving orbs illuminating the room and its surroundings.
In this mysterious chamber, where each orb bore the fate of a vital clan member, a vigilant guardian stood watch within.
This chamber served as the sacred haven for the life essences of the most crucial members of the Shadow Syndicate Clan.
Each of these glowing light orbs held the power to determine the life or death situation of the individual who owns them, or the individual it represented.
Should one of the light orbs in the room falter and dim, it would signify the passing of the individual it represents – an undeniable death, no doubt about it
The assassin on duty wouldn't help but be overwhelmed with various concerns and complaints, his mind plagued by a sense of desolation and perplexity, as he gazed upon the fifty rows of these life light orbs, each inscribed with the name of its rightful owner.
"Why am I stationed here, tasked with this meaningless duty of observing these glowing orbs day in and day out?"
"It's not as if these individuals, the owner of these life lights lack strength, they are formidable beyond doubt. I find it unbelievable that anyone could dare seek death and attack any of them, not alone manage to kill them."
"Throughout the annals of history, no light has ever extinguished abruptly, except for those who met their natural end from the passage of time. And yet, here I stand, guarding what appears to be nothing at all. He pondered in silent contemplation."
Then out of the blue, an orb in the far corner of the chamber extinguished its light."
"Oh my, another orb has dimmed. Which old man could it be this time?" The guard pondered aloud, perplexed by the unexpected darkness. He couldn't recall any forewarning or news of someone old dying soon in the clan.
While he strolled towards the extinguished orb, its former brilliance now swallowed by darkness, his curiosity deepened.
His hand reached for a delicate jade scroll, intending to report the peculiar situation. Yet, an inexplicable shiver coursed through his entire being, rendering him motionless.
His eyes widened as if struck by lightning when he gazed upon the name symbolized by the orb.
"This... this can't be real, can it?" The guard's voice trembled with disbelief, his legs quaking beneath him, and the jade slip slipping from his grasp. "Lack of sleep must be playing tricks on me, making me hallucinate right?"
"Zephyrion, the young assassin, gone?" Disbelief surged within him, he hesitated to accept the orb's verdict.
With trembling hands, he picked up the orb, though he knew deep down that its accuracy was unwavering.
After a few heartbeat, he slumped to the ground on his buttocks, his legs giving way, he grappled with a dilemma.
He couldn't fathom the idea of reporting this sorrowful news directly to the clan leader, terrified of being shoot to death by the angry clan head.
Five minutes drifted by like a gentle breeze, and at last, the guard finally summoned his inner resolve, hands trembling as he scooped up the precious jade slip from the ground.
With a deep breath, he unsealed it and whispered a few urgent words into its gleaming surface. "Reporting to the esteemed Clan Master."
After a brief silence, the gravelly voice of an elderly man resonated from within the jade slip. "Speak! What is the matter?"
"C-Clan m-m-master, th-the l-life l-light orb of y-young a-assassin Z-Zephyrion j-just w-went out r-right n-now." The guard stammered, his nerves on the edge.
Silence hung in the air for a few seconds as the clan master absorbed the shocking news. Then suddenly, his voice thundered with anger.
"Do you wish for your own demise? How dare you play with me and disrupt my meditation!"
Tears welled up in the guard's eyes in an instant, he knew no one would believe him, especially not the Clan Master.
"No, Clan Master, please reconsider. I would never dare to toy with you, the esteemed guardian of our clan," he hurriedly clarified.
The Clan Master was taken aback. Yes! This was true. How could a mere guard possess the audacity to play with him? And then, with lightning swiftness, he move and materialized beside the guard in an instant.
His entire being trembled, his gaze fixed on the fade orb clutched in the guard's tremble hands.
Zephyrion, dead? The impossibility of it all weighed heavily on him, he vividly recalled dispatching Zephyrion and Varian on a seemingly straightforward mission - to silence a haughty businessman who scoffed at the very idea of death.
Yet, he knew, without a shadow of doubt, that the orb never faltered, not even once. This was a truth engraved deeper in his heart than anyone could fathom.
Zephyrion had been his favored pupil, the most exceptional assassin to ever emerge from the clan since its creation.
Had it not been for Zephyrion's plea to grant Varian the throne, he would have unhesitatingly declared Zephyrion as the next clan's leader, despite his idleness and how unfit he is for such an important role.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
A deafening, primal roar erupted from the clan master's lips, a surge of anger he had never experienced before.
"I swear by the heavens, I'll not only seek vengeance for Zephyrion's death but will wipe out those responsible, their entire bloodlines stretching through generations and their nine clans, along with anyone who stands with them."
The resounding thunder of his roar sent shockwaves through the entire headquarter of the Shadow Syndicate Clan, creating a momentary illusion that an earthquake was happening.
Fueled by an overwhelming surge of anger, the clan leader remained blissfully unaware that his internal energy merged seamlessly with his earlier deafening roar, making the ground of the headquarter tremble.
Meanwhile, the guard found himself catapulted through the air, colliding with a wall, and crimson blood flowed from his seven orifices.
Luck was on his side this time around, for he narrowly escaped the grasp of death. His vigilance was always high against the clan leader, in case he suddenly have an outburst.
Now, his vigilance surely paid off, saving him from possible death.
With the earlier roar, the Shadow Syndicate Clan was stirred to its core, with potent assassins and crucial figures hastening toward the mysterious sound's origin.
After a few minutes, in the heart of the Shadow Syndicate Clan, chaos reigned supreme as word of Zephyrion's demise, one of the heir to the throne, spread like wildfire.
"Who possesses such daring audacity to provoke the wrath of their clan? Do they not fear the impending vengeance of the Shadow Syndicate Clan once the murderer's identity was unveiled?" Such thoughts plagued the minds of every member.
Every member within the Shadow Syndicate Clan senses the impending war, an inevitable clash destined to take lives and unleash a river of blood.
Any entities or groups bold enough to slay Zephyrion no longer tremble in fear of their organization and must rely on something or someone powerful, compelling them to act arrogantly.
Consequently, every Shadow Syndicate Clan members stands poised, ever ready for the impending battle.
As the hours pass, whispers of the terrifying Venomblade's demise will soon echoed through the very heart of the criminal underworld.