Chapter 3: Embracing the Darkness
The morning after the dramatic confrontation at breakfast, Ezekiel sat alone in his new chambers, pondering the weight of what had transpired. The air felt heavier, charged with the energy of change. His hands clenched and unclenched as his fingers traced the cool, smooth surface of the chains wrapped around his wrists. They had been the symbol of Darius's perceived weakness, but now they were the cornerstone of his power.
Ezekiel felt a rush of exhilaration, not only from the chains themselves but from the endless well of mana coursing through his body. The blessing he had received, the infinite mana, gave him an almost god-like edge. It was as if the universe itself had opened up before him, allowing him to shape reality with a thought. His body now held endless potential, far beyond that of a mere human. But even more intriguing was the dark potential that this body could wield. Darius had always been a pawn in the royal family's games, but Ezekiel now realized he had been given an opportunity — no, a gift — to become something far greater.
Today, he would no longer be the weakling, the illegitimate son. Today, he would begin to carve a path that would lead him to the throne.
---
Hours passed, and the sun began its descent toward the horizon. Ezekiel moved quietly through the royal palace, his footsteps echoing in the halls. He had always known these walls — every corner, every shadow — but now they felt different. Now, he was walking them as a conqueror in the making.
His brothers, Elias and Asher, had already begun their plotting. It was inevitable; they had been grooming themselves to take what they believed was rightfully theirs. The throne. They didn't understand what had happened to Darius, but they would soon find out the hard way. For now, though, they were still unaware of the storm that was brewing.
Ezekiel reached the training grounds, where the royal guards were already hard at work. The clang of metal against metal filled the air as they sparred under the watchful eyes of their superiors. He could see the familiar faces of the men who had once looked down on him as nothing more than a nuisance. Their mocking eyes, their sneers — they all belonged to the past. Now, they would be nothing more than stepping stones in his rise to power.
He stepped onto the training field, his presence instantly catching the attention of the guards. They paused, their gazes shifting to him, and then, without a word, they resumed their drills. Ezekiel's sharp grey eyes surveyed them with disinterest. They were nothing compared to the forces he could command.
He raised his hand, and one of his chains snaked forward, wrapping around the neck of a nearby training dummy. The chain pulsed with energy, and within moments, the entire dummy shattered into splinters, its remnants scattered on the ground.
The men watching flinched, some stepping back in surprise. But Ezekiel merely smirked. He could feel their fear, their uncertainty. It was delicious.
"Who dares challenge me?" he called out, his voice carrying across the training ground. His words were calm, but they held an undeniable power, a command that no one could ignore.
One of the older guards, a seasoned veteran with a reputation for being tough, stepped forward. His eyes narrowed in suspicion, but there was a hint of respect beneath it. "You've changed," he said quietly, sizing Ezekiel up.
"Of course I have," Ezekiel replied smoothly, his eyes gleaming. "But that doesn't matter. What matters is that I am here now, and I am not the boy you once knew. Now, if you truly wish to test me, I suggest you come forward. Or do you prefer to remain in the shadows?"
The guard hesitated for only a moment before drawing his sword, a gleam of challenge in his eyes. Without warning, he lunged at Ezekiel, aiming for his chest. But Ezekiel was faster.
The chains responded before the guard even reached him. In an instant, they whipped out, wrapping around the man's arms, halting his movement mid-air. The chains constricted tightly, and the veteran was slammed to the ground with a force that cracked the stone beneath him.
The other guards watched, frozen in place, as Ezekiel stood above the fallen man, his expression cold and unreadable.
"You see," Ezekiel said, his voice like ice, "this is what happens when you underestimate me."
He released the guard from his chains, allowing him to scramble to his feet. There was no anger in Ezekiel's eyes — just a calm, almost detached sense of superiority. "I don't want to kill you. But if you don't understand who I am now, then you'll never survive the coming changes."
The veteran stumbled back, clearly rattled, but he nodded in silent acknowledgment. Ezekiel turned away from him, his eyes scanning the rest of the guards, who were now utterly silent.
"Remember this moment," Ezekiel added, his voice soft but commanding. "The chains are my will. And now, my will is absolute."
---
Later that evening, Ezekiel stood before a large window in his chamber, looking out over the city. The sprawling kingdom stretched out beneath him, a kingdom he would soon control. His thoughts turned to Elias and Asher. They had tried to poison him, to rid themselves of the obstacle they believed he represented. But they had underestimated him. They had underestimated Darius, and now they would pay the price.
In the quiet of the night, Ezekiel let his mana flow freely, feeling the surge of raw energy within him. It was an intoxicating feeling — like a drug, but more powerful, more dangerous. With his newfound strength and infinite mana, he could take down anyone who dared stand in his way.
But his goals were more than just petty revenge. He was no longer playing for the scraps the kingdom offered. He wanted everything. The throne, the kingdom, the world. And he would stop at nothing to achieve it.
Darius had been weak. But Ezekiel was something entirely different.
As he closed his eyes, feeling the darkness within him, he whispered a vow to the night: "I will make them all bow before me. And when I sit on that throne, they will know — I am their king."
The winds outside howled in response. The storm had begun.