Chapter 17: The Heart of Darkness
Darius stood atop the towering balcony of the Lionhart Palace, his hands resting against the cold stone railing. The wind whipped through his now longer, unruly black hair, the strands catching the light of the setting sun. His cold grey eyes scanned the horizon, where dark clouds seemed to gather unnaturally, a reflection of the storm brewing within him.
It had been weeks since the massacre in the Orval Kingdom—a bloody, chaotic spree that left millions dead in its wake. News of his devastating destruction had spread far and wide, with whispers of his power reaching even the furthest corners of the continent. Darius's name was becoming synonymous with terror.
"Is this what I've become?" Ezekiel's voice echoed in his mind, the remnants of his former self still clinging to the edges of his soul. He had hoped for a second chance, a new life free of the mistakes of his past, but what he had become now was far from the redemption he had envisioned.
Behind him, footsteps approached—soft, but steady. It was Seraphina. She had been there when he awoke in the aftermath of the battle, her gentle touch on his forehead, her concerned eyes watching over him as he passed out from the backlash of his powers.
"You're becoming a monster, Darius," she said softly, her voice carrying a weight of emotion. She had always been the more compassionate one, the one who cared even when no one else did. "I… I don't want to lose you."
Darius didn't turn around. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, his jaw tightening.
"Do you think I want this?" he replied coldly, his voice filled with an underlying bitterness. "I didn't ask for this power. I didn't ask for any of it. But now… it's who I am."
Seraphina's heart tightened at his words, and she stepped closer, her silver-white hair catching the wind. "Darius…" she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "this isn't you. The person I knew… the person we both knew—he would never have done what you did. But now… you're changing. And I can't help you if you don't want to help yourself."
He finally turned to face her, his grey eyes hard and unyielding. "Help myself?" he echoed, the corners of his lips curving into a sadistic smirk. "What if this is the only way to survive, Seraphina? The world isn't kind to the weak. I learned that the hard way."
His gaze softened, just for a moment, as his thoughts drifted to the siblings who had conspired against him—the two brothers who poisoned him. Elias, Asher—traitors. They had tried to destroy him, and yet, here he was, more powerful than ever.
"You don't understand," Darius continued, his voice softer now, though still carrying an edge. "This power… it's like a drug. I crave more of it. And with it, I can crush anyone who stands in my way."
Seraphina's eyes welled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. "You don't have to do this. You don't have to be consumed by it."
Darius's face twisted into a cruel smile. "I already am."
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As night fell, Darius found himself standing alone in the vast training grounds beneath the palace. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the eerie silence, his body tense as if anticipating something. He could feel the power coursing through him, the godly mana that surged from his very core, threatening to tear him apart if he didn't release it.
His chains, now vastly more powerful and darker in appearance, wrapped around his arms like serpents, responding to his will. Darius had learned to wield them with terrifying precision, manipulating them to do his bidding with a mere thought.
Tonight, he would test his limits.
With a slow breath, he summoned the power of his chains, feeling the energy ripple outward, rippling through the very air around him. The chains stretched and writhed, becoming extensions of himself, as his mana began to spiral wildly. He could feel the urge to destroy—to let loose everything he had held back for so long.
"Rupture," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous.
The chains pulsed with dark energy, and in an instant, a violent explosion of energy erupted from him, sending shockwaves through the grounds. The earth trembled, and the sky seemed to crackle with raw power. Trees were uprooted, rocks shattered, and the air was thick with the scent of burning earth.
Darius stood at the epicenter, his body glowing with a dark, almost otherworldly light. His heart pounded, his mind consumed with a feeling of euphoria as the power surged within him. He had become something far greater than anyone could comprehend. He was no longer just a prince—he was a god, and his power would reshape the world.
But as the adrenaline began to fade, a sharp pain shot through his chest. His body trembled as the backlash from using his powers so recklessly began to take its toll. He collapsed to his knees, gasping for air, the chains falling limp around him.
"Enough..." he muttered to himself, clutching his chest in agony. He could feel his body betraying him, the energy he had unleashed draining him.
In the distance, Seraphina had been watching from the shadows, her heart sinking as she saw her brother in such a state. She wanted to rush to him, to help him, but she knew he was too far gone. He had crossed a line that could never be undone.
"Darius..." she whispered, tears finally spilling from her eyes. "Please, come back to us."
But it was too late.
---
Darius collapsed to the ground, his mind blacking out as the consequences of his power became all too clear. When he woke, he found himself back in the palace, his body weak and his strength fading. Seraphina was at his side, her hand gently holding his.
"You're a danger to everyone, including yourself," she said softly, her voice filled with sorrow. "But you're still my brother… and I'll never give up on you."
Darius said nothing, his eyes distant, as the darkness that had consumed him continued to grow.
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End of Chapter 17 The Heart of Darkness