Shnggg!
The air buzzed with an unnatural energy as Luceon stood firm, his posture casual yet commanding. His hand was still in his pocket, his golden eyes glowing like twin suns, casting an almost ethereal light in the darkness of the battlefield.
He wasn't fazed. He wasn't broken. In fact, he was stronger than ever.
The monster's gaze darted between Luceon and the pulsating mark on his face, terror creeping into every fiber of its being.
"WHAT KIND OF CHOSEN ARE YOU?!" the monster roared, its voice trembling as confusion and fear overwhelmed it. The once-confident predator now looked like prey, quivering under Luceon's unwavering stare.
Luceon tilted his head slightly, his cold expression unchanging. "I'm someone who has nothing to lose," he replied, his voice low but sharp, each word slicing through the tension in the air.
The monster flinched at his tone. It wasn't the voice of a man, or even a chosen warrior. It was something far more terrifying.
"Death Eye."
The words left Luceon's mouth like a command etched in stone, undeniable and absolute.
Boosh!
The atmosphere shifted violently, the air thickening like a storm was brewing. The weight of Luceon's aura pressed down on the battlefield, making even the ground beneath their feet groan under the pressure.
The monster stumbled back, its knees buckling under the suffocating force. N-no... This is not possible. Its thoughts raced as panic clawed at its mind. No chosen has ever been more powerful than me!
But there he was. Luceon stood like an unshakable pillar, his glowing mark radiating an energy that felt ancient, primal, and merciless.
The monster attempted to rise, its trembling legs refusing to cooperate. Its claws scraped against the dirt as it tried to push itself up.
"Kneel in front of your god," Luceon commanded, his voice as cold as winter's breath.
Bang!
The monster's body slammed into the ground as if the very air had turned into an invisible hammer.
[Heed My Command activated.]
A violent force rippled outward, bending the monster's will as easily as breaking a twig.
"GAH—!" The monster screamed in agony, the bones in its legs shattering under the pressure. Blood pooled beneath its knees, the once-proud creature now forced to bow.
It raised its trembling gaze, meeting Luceon's piercing eyes for only a moment before looking away, overwhelmed by the suffocating dominance in them.
"Yes, your majesty," the monster said, its voice hollow, trembling as though the words themselves had been ripped from its throat.
Inside, its mind was a chaotic swirl of disbelief and terror. N-no... this isn't possible. He's not a chosen... but a god?!
Luceon crouched before the broken creature, his glowing mark now pulsing like a heartbeat, brighter with each passing second.
"I know the X-X-X-X doesn't choose people with villainous thoughts," Luceon began, his voice laced with quiet authority. "So, tell me... why are you doing this?"
The monster's trembling intensified as it tried to speak but failed.
"Disable Heed My Command," Luceon said suddenly, and the crushing force vanished as if it had never been there.
Pant... Pant...
The monster collapsed further onto the ground, gasping for air like a drowning man pulled from the depths. Its claws dug into the dirt, its shoulders rising and falling with each labored breath.
Silence followed for a moment, broken only by the monster's ragged breathing.
Finally, it mustered the courage to look up at Luceon, but the pressure of his gaze still lingered, forcing its head back down in submission.
Shhh!
The monster's eyes darted to the ground as if looking at Luceon any longer might break what little remained of its spirit.
"I've lost everything," the monster finally said, its voice cracking under the weight of its own despair. "My family, my friends... everyone..."
Everyone.
The word hung in the air like a funeral bell, its echo reaching something deep within Luceon.
For the first time, his expression shifted. The cold sharpness of his gaze softened, replaced by something more human. He let out a quiet breath and extended his right hand—not to cast a spell, not to attack, but as a gesture.
He was helping the monster up.
The creature flinched at first, unsure if this was another cruel trick. Its glowing eyes flickered between Luceon's outstretched hand and his calm expression. Slowly, cautiously, it placed its clawed hand into his.
Clap.
Luceon gripped it firmly, pulling the monster to its feet. The creature stumbled but managed to stand, its broken knees trembling under its weight.
"Monster," Luceon said, his voice steady, "you're just like me."
The words hit the monster like a bolt of lightning, freezing it in place.
"But you've killed countless chosens, prevented humanity from progressing," Luceon continued, his tone carrying both accusation and understanding.
The monster looked away, shame flickering across its features.
"Despite that," Luceon added, his golden eyes locking onto the monster's, "I will have mercy."
The creature's head snapped up, its expression a mix of shock and confusion. "W-what do you mean by that?"
Is he insane? the monster thought, its mind spiraling again. Mercy? For me? I tried to kill him!
Luceon straightened, the calm in his demeanor unnerving in its sincerity.
"I will let you live," he said, pausing for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in.
The monster blinked, its breath hitching as hope dared to spark in its chest.
"But..."
Luceon's voice dropped an octave, his gaze hardening once more.
"In punishment," he said, his tone sharp as a blade, "I. Will. Take. Your. Skills."
The silence that followed was deafening.
The glowing mark on Luceon's face pulsed ominously, his outstretched hand now radiating a faint blue light. The monster's eyes widened in terror, its body frozen as it processed the implications of his words.
Hah... I'd rather accept the proposal. Killing chosens isn't worth it anymore... The monster's thoughts ran wild, but its resolve was solidifying. The weight of everything it had done, every choice it had made, now seemed inconsequential compared to survival.
"So," Luceon began, his voice calm but sharp enough to slice through the tension like a blade. "What is your answer?"
The monster hesitated, its gaze fixed on the ground. Every fiber of its being told it to resist, to fight back against the chosen before it. Yet, standing in Luceon's presence—a being who radiated power unlike anything it had ever encountered—it felt nothing but submission.
Finally, it spoke, its voice trembling. "Your Majesty, I accept your proposal... in exchange for my skills."
Luceon's eyes narrowed, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Huh, even after I disabled Heed My Command, he's still groveling. Must know I don't need the skill to crush him.
"Very well," he said, his voice cold and deliberate.
Luceon extended his left hand, and the air around him grew heavy. A faint hum filled the space as a bright yellow light began to form in his palm. It started as a small spark but quickly grew, pulsating with a life of its own. The energy crackled, its golden hue illuminating the monster's trembling form.
[New skill acquired: Contracted Steal.]
A notification rang in Luceon's mind, clear and definitive, but there was no time to savor it.
..!
The world around him shifted in an instant. The battlefield, the monster, even the faint sound of his own breath—all of it vanished.
Luceon blinked, his senses reeling. He stood now in an endless void, a place that defied all reason. The ground beneath him felt solid yet intangible, as if it existed only because he believed it did. Stars glittered in the vast darkness, their light soft and distant, like whispers of forgotten worlds. Massive planets hung motionless in the distance, their surfaces swirling with colors that seemed too vibrant to be real.
"What the..." Luceon muttered, his voice barely a whisper as he turned to take in his surroundings.
"You have passed the trial, my child."
The voice was deep, resonant, and filled with an authority that sent a chill down Luceon's spine. It wasn't just a sound—it was a presence, one that seemed to envelop him completely.
..!
Luceon spun around, his heart pounding in his chest. "You're—!"
He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he came face-to-face with the figure standing before him.
The X-X-X-X.
It was him.
"You have done well, my child," the father said, his voice calm and steady, carrying a warmth that contrasted sharply with the cold vastness of the void. "You have completed the trial."
Luceon stared at him for a moment, his mind racing. He hadn't expected this. He had met him once, but meeting the father here, in this way, wasn't one of them. Still, he straightened his posture and steadied his breathing.
"Thank you," he said simply, his tone respectful but cautious. "Now, tell me what you really want. I doubt this is just a casual visit."
The father smiled faintly, his expression one of both pride and weariness. "It seems you've seen right through me."
Luceon's lips curled into a smirk. "You don't survive in this world by being naive. So, out with it. What do you want from me? Other than having me to take your position?"
The father's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Aside from wanting you to take my position as a god, I also want you to absorb my Krashmiln."
Luceon's brow furrowed. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out at first. Finally, he managed, "Krashmiln? What's that supposed to mean?"
The father's gaze grew heavier, as if he were about to share a burden he had carried for an eternity. "Krashmiln is a curse," he began, his voice low and deliberate. "A curse that has plagued demons for millennia."
Luceon's fists clenched at his sides. "And you want me to take it? Why would I—"
"You've already acquired Krashmiln in a short time," the father interrupted, his tone unwavering. "It's part of why you've come this far. But for other chosens, they don't call it Krashmiln. They call it... Ascension."
"Ascension?" Luceon repeated, his voice tinged with skepticism.
"Yes," the father confirmed. "Though its origins are the same, its true nature depends on how it is wielded."
The void seemed to tremble slightly, the stars dimming as the father continued. "I am both a demon and a god, Luceon. That duality is what gave birth to Krashmiln. It is a gift... and a curse."
Luceon took a step back, his mind racing. "So, you're saying that if I take this curse, I'll become like you? A god and a demon?"
The father nodded solemnly, his expression unreadable.
This could change everything. Doubts clawed at the edges of Luceon's mind. What if this curse makes my new life worse? What if it destroys everything I've worked for?
But then he thought of everything the X-X-X-X had done for him—guiding him, protecting him, giving him the strength to survive. Could he really refuse now?
Luceon let out a slow breath, his gaze hardening. "I'll accept," he said finally, his voice steady despite the storm raging within him.
The father's expression softened, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "Very well. But before you do, there are some warnings you must heed."
Luceon raised an eyebrow. "Warnings?"
"Krashmiln is a powerful transformation," the father explained. "But it is not without cost. Using it will drain all of your life energy when you return to your normal form. It is not something to be taken lightly."
Luceon's jaw tightened, his fists clenching. "And if I can master it?"
The father's gaze met his, unwavering. "Then you will ascend to a level beyond any chosen before you. But mastery will not come easily."
Luceon nodded slowly, his resolve unshaken. "I appreciate the warning."
The father smiled faintly, a mix of pride and sadness flickering across his face. "Very well, my child—no, Your Majesty."
With those final words, the void around them began to shift. The stars dimmed, the planets faded, and the very fabric of the space they occupied seemed to unravel.
Thump.
Luceon's heart pounded in his chest, the sound echoing louder and louder.
Thump.
The father's words lingered in his mind, like whispers etched into his soul.
Thump.