I stood there, the silence pressing in as Krux remained on one knee, his head bowed. The thrill of victory pulsed through me, stronger than anything I'd felt before. The dark power still buzzed in my veins, its heat lingering, a steady, insistent hum that seemed to echo the beat of my heart. It was a heady sensation, intoxicating, and I had to remind myself to breathe, to focus, to stay in control.
Izzy's soft, mocking laugh floated from behind me, breaking the silence. "Well done, Jack," she purred, her voice laced with something like admiration, or maybe hunger. She stepped forward, gliding over to me, her eyes glittering as they raked over me, clearly thrilled by what she'd seen. "I knew there was more in you. And now… so does he."
I glanced down at Krux, who slowly raised his head, those hollow blue sockets staring up at me with a respect that made me uncomfortable. This was the same creature who, just moments ago, had looked at me as though I was nothing more than an insect to be crushed. Now, he was bowing.
"Rise," I said, my voice coming out stronger than I felt. The authority in it surprised even me, and I could tell from the flicker in Izzy's eyes that it had the same effect on her. Krux rose, towering over me, but I didn't flinch, forcing myself to meet his gaze head-on.
He nodded, his voice as hollow and cold as ever. "You have proven yourself, my lord. The strength of Caedus runs true within you."
Caedus. My supposed ancestor, the demon king. Just hearing the name brought a strange, twisting sensation in my chest, a mixture of anger and curiosity, fear and something darker that I couldn't quite name. I didn't want to be him, didn't want to carry his legacy, but part of me couldn't deny the allure, the pull of that power, the thrill of having command over creatures like Krux.
Izzy stepped closer, her hand brushing my arm, sending a shock of warmth through me. "Now that you've claimed your place, Jack," she said softly, her voice almost reverent, "it's time to let the rest of the castle know."
I frowned, trying to process what she meant. "The rest of the castle?"
She laughed, the sound soft, dark, and full of promises I wasn't sure I wanted. "This is the seat of your power, Jack. The creatures that remain here are yours to command. But they won't accept you without proof. Not all of them are as… respectful as General Krux."
Krux inclined his head slightly, acknowledging her words. "Indeed. There are those who served your grandfather loyally. But there are many who have… forgotten the true strength of the Cairborne line. They will need to be reminded."
A chill ran through me, the weight of his words settling heavily. This wasn't just a matter of winning a single fight. If I was really supposed to rule this place, I'd have to prove myself, over and over, until every creature in this dark, twisted castle acknowledged me as their lord. I felt the thrill of power waver, giving way to something closer to dread.
"Fine," I said, more to myself than anyone else, as I tried to steady my thoughts. "Then how do I go about doing that?"
Izzy's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "There's a tradition, a way to summon them. It's an old custom, one even they can't ignore." She gestured to the towering stone pillars around us, each one adorned with strange, rune-like symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light. "The beacons."
I glanced around, noticing the ancient carvings, their surfaces weathered but still pulsing faintly, as if waiting for some spark. They seemed almost alive, radiating a dormant power that felt as old as the castle itself.
Izzy stepped forward, her hand resting on the nearest pillar, her fingers trailing over the runes. "Your grandfather used these to call his subjects, to remind them who held power here. All you need to do is ignite them, and every creature in this castle will be drawn to you. They'll feel your strength, your authority… and they'll know the demon king has returned."
Her words sank in, the weight of what she was suggesting settling heavily on my shoulders. I felt a mixture of excitement and dread, a dark thrill at the thought of commanding this place, tempered by the uneasy realization of what I was about to do. But I couldn't back down now. Not with Izzy and Krux watching, waiting to see if I would prove myself or falter.
I took a deep breath, focusing on the energy that still hummed within me, the dark power that felt both foreign and familiar. I placed my hand on the nearest pillar, letting the energy flow through me, feeling it gather, building, pulsing. The runes began to glow, brighter and brighter, until the entire pillar was ablaze with a fiery red light that cast eerie shadows across the hall.
Izzy let out a low, appreciative murmur, her eyes fixed on me with a hunger that made my pulse quicken. "There it is," she whispered, her voice almost reverent. "The power of Caedus."
One by one, I moved to each pillar, repeating the process, letting the power flow through me, igniting each rune until the entire room was filled with a strange, pulsing light that seemed to throb in time with my heartbeat. I could feel the energy radiating outward, spreading through the castle, calling to every dark creature within its walls. The thrill of it was undeniable, a heady rush that made me feel unstoppable.
The silence stretched, thick and expectant, and then I heard it, the soft rustling of footsteps, the faint growls and hisses of creatures stirring, drawn by the summons. Shadows began to shift at the edges of the hall, figures emerging from the darkness, each one more twisted and grotesque than the last. They moved toward me, some with a wary curiosity, others with a barely concealed hunger that made the hair on the back of my neck prickle.
Izzy stepped back, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction as she watched them gather, clearly enjoying the show. Krux stood beside me, his presence solid and imposing, a silent reminder of my newfound authority.
The creatures kept coming, filling the hall, their eyes fixed on me with a mixture of fear, curiosity, and… defiance. I could feel the weight of their stares, the challenge in their gazes, as if they were daring me to prove myself worthy of the title they'd been summoned to acknowledge.
One of them, a massive, hulking creature with leathery wings and a snarl that exposed rows of jagged teeth, stepped forward, his gaze fixed on me with open contempt. He spat on the floor, a dark, viscous substance that sizzled against the stone. "This is the new king?" he sneered, his voice a low, guttural growl. "Pathetic."
A wave of anger surged through me, stronger than anything I'd felt before. I could feel the power inside me reacting, responding to the insult, to the open defiance. Without thinking, I moved, the dark energy flaring in my veins, and in an instant, I was standing right in front of him, close enough to see the shock flicker across his face.
I grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off the ground with a strength I hadn't known I possessed. His wings flared, his claws slashing wildly, but I held firm, feeling the power in my grip, the raw strength that was mine to wield. He struggled, his eyes wide, and I could see the flicker of fear there, the realization that I wasn't as weak as he'd assumed.
"You dare to insult me?" I snarled, my voice cold, dripping with the authority I hadn't realized I'd claimed. The words came from somewhere deeper, somewhere darker, and I could feel the others watching, their eyes fixed on me, waiting to see if I would follow through.
He clawed at my hand, his voice choked, desperate. "Mercy… my lord…"
The words were barely more than a rasp, but they were enough. I felt a strange satisfaction, a dark thrill that made me want to tighten my grip, to show him just how powerful I was, to make them all see that I wasn't someone to challenge. But I forced myself to breathe, to steady the pulse of anger and power that throbbed in my veins.
"Remember this," I said, my voice low, barely more than a whisper. "I am not Caedus. But I am your king. And if any of you dare to challenge me again, I will show you what true power is."
With that, I released him, letting him drop to the floor. He scrambled back, his wings folding against his body as he bowed his head, his gaze fixed on the ground, every trace of defiance gone. The others watched in silence, their gazes wary, uncertain, but none of them moved to speak, none of them dared to defy me.
Izzy's soft laughter drifted from behind me, filled with pride and satisfaction. "Well done, Jack," she whispered, her voice filled with a dark delight that made my pulse race. "They're yours now. All of them."