---
The air was thick with tension as Tyranor led the group through the shattered remnants of the gate world, the silent, corrupted beings trailing behind them like shadows. Ferran and Lira kept their distance from Tyranor, their eyes darting between the dark figures that now obeyed his every command.
Varin, always the scholar, walked a few paces behind Tyranor, though even he seemed unnerved by the change. The remnants moved silently, but their presence was a constant reminder of how much had shifted in such a short time. They were no longer just facing the dangers of the gate—they were grappling with the unsettling truth that Tyranor himself was becoming something… different.
"How long do you think he can hold it together?" Lira whispered to Ferran, her tone cautious.
"I don't know," Ferran muttered back, his eyes fixed on Tyranor's back. "But this is going too far. We need to talk to him before it's too late."
"We're already too late," Lira replied grimly.
---
Tyranor's Command
As they approached the edge of the ruins, Tyranor's Gate Sense flared again. He stopped abruptly, his head tilting slightly as if listening to something only he could hear. The remnants halted with him, their glowing eyes watching silently.
"Something's coming," Tyranor said, his voice steady but laced with tension. "Prepare yourselves."
The team immediately fell into formation, weapons drawn. They didn't need to ask what he meant—anything lurking in this world was dangerous, and with the amount of dark energy that pulsed through the area, they knew whatever was coming wasn't friendly.
A deep rumbling echoed from the distance, growing louder with each passing second. The ground beneath them trembled as the source of the sound approached. From behind the distant ruins, a massive, shadowy creature emerged, its hulking form barely visible through the dark haze that clung to the air.
The creature was a grotesque amalgamation of twisted flesh and dark mana, its glowing eyes burning with malevolent energy. It moved with terrifying speed for something so large, charging directly toward them.
"Remnants, hold the line!" Tyranor commanded, his voice ringing out with authority.
The corrupted beings responded instantly, forming a barrier between the creature and Tyranor's team. They didn't flinch or hesitate, moving with the precision of soldiers as they prepared to face the monster.
Ferran watched in silent disbelief. "He's controlling them like puppets."
Before anyone could respond, the shadow creature collided with the remnants. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but the remnants didn't falter. They swarmed the beast, their clawed hands tearing into its flesh, but the creature fought back viciously, slashing through them with ease.
Tyranor watched the battle unfold, his eyes narrowing. The dark mana within him surged, and he activated Dark Binding, sending tendrils of shadow snaking through the air to ensnare the creature. The beast roared in fury as the shadows tightened around its limbs, slowing its movements.
"Strike now!" Tyranor shouted.
Lira and Ferran didn't need to be told twice. They leapt into action, their blades slicing through the air as they attacked the creature with precision and force. Varin raised his staff, sending bolts of energy crashing into the beast's exposed flanks.
The creature howled in pain, but it wasn't enough. Even with the remnants and the team working together, the beast's sheer size and power made it difficult to bring down.
Tyranor's gaze hardened. He could feel the dark mana pulsing within him, begging to be released. The shadows called to him, offering more power, more control. All he had to do was give in—just a little more.
---
The Dark Gamble
Tyranor clenched his fist, his decision made. He called upon the Dark Pact, his connection to the remnants deepening as he poured more of his energy into them. The corrupted beings shuddered as the dark mana within them surged, their forms growing more twisted, more monstrous.
With renewed strength, the remnants tore into the shadow beast, their claws rending flesh from bone with terrifying speed. The creature let out one final, agonized roar before collapsing in a heap of darkness, its body dissolving into the shadows from which it had come.
The battlefield grew silent once more, the only sound being the faint whisper of the wind as it swept through the ruins.
Tyranor lowered his hand, his chest heaving with the effort of controlling so much dark mana at once. The Dark Influence had grown again—he could feel it, deeper than ever before. But he couldn't afford to stop now. Not when there was so much more to gain.
The others gathered around him, their expressions a mixture of relief and unease.
"We won," Ferran said cautiously, wiping the blood from his blade. "But at what cost?"
Lira shot him a sharp look. "You saw what he did. The remnants… they're not even human anymore. He's turning them into monsters."
Tyranor remained silent, his gaze fixed on the shadows that lingered at the edges of the battlefield. He knew what they were thinking—he could feel their doubt, their fear. But they didn't understand. This was the only way. He had to embrace the darkness if they were going to survive.
"We need this power," Tyranor said finally, his voice quiet but firm. "Without it, we're nothing. We'll die here, just like everyone else who's ever entered these gates."
"But what happens when you lose control?" Varin asked, his voice steady but filled with concern. "How long can you keep this up before the darkness takes over completely?"
Tyranor turned to face them, his eyes glowing faintly with dark energy. "I won't lose control."
The others fell silent, but the doubt lingered in their eyes. They had seen what the dark mana could do—how it twisted and corrupted everything it touched. And now, it was twisting Tyranor.
But for now, there was nothing they could do but follow him.
---
Outside Forces Take Notice
Unbeknownst to Tyranor and his team, their actions had not gone unnoticed.
Far away, in the heart of a powerful city untouched by the gate's corruption, a group of powerful individuals gathered in a grand hall. Their faces were hidden in shadow, but their voices carried authority and power.
"The gate's energy is fluctuating," one of them said, their voice low and commanding. "Someone inside has begun to harness it."
"Who?" another voice asked.
The first figure raised their hand, revealing a shimmering orb that pulsed with mana. Within the orb, a faint image of Tyranor could be seen, surrounded by the dark remnants that now obeyed his every command.
"His name is Tyranor Althar, the one they call the Shadow Sovereign. He has embraced the dark mana and is using it to control the gate's remnants."
"Then he is a threat," a third voice interjected. "We cannot allow him to grow any stronger. If he gains complete control of the gate's power, it could upset the balance."
The first figure nodded slowly. "Agreed. We will send an envoy. If he refuses to submit, we will eliminate him."
The orb shimmered once more before fading into darkness, leaving the group in silent contemplation. Tyranor's rise had drawn the attention of forces far more powerful than he realized, and they would not allow him to continue unchecked.
---
Status Screen
Tyranor's status screen flickered into view once again, reflecting the changes from his latest encounter.
---
Name: Tyranor Althar, The Tainted
Title: Shadow Sovereign
Level: 32
Class: Dark Warlord (Evolved)
Mana Type: Tainted (Dark)
Health: 970/970
Mana: 720/720
Dark Influence: 30%
Skills:
Dark Slash (Level 5)
Void Step (Level 4)
Mana Drain (Level 4)
Dark Binding (Level 5)
Nightmare Gaze (Level 3)
Corrupted Aura (Level 4)
Shadow Domination (Level 2)
Gate Sense (Level 4)
Dark Pact (Level 2)
---
Tyranor's power had grown again, but so had the Dark Influence. The shadows were creeping ever closer, but Tyranor pushed the thought aside. He couldn't afford to doubt himself now.
Not when the real fight was just beginning.
---
End of Chapter 21
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Tyranor's growing power is starting to divide his team, while external forces beyond the gate are taking notice of his actions. In the next chapter, would you prefer to explore the envoy sent to confront Tyranor or focus more on the internal conflict within his group?