The emperor carried leth while xyril dringked the fire that burned the Ashengil Castle, when suddenly a creature appeared stood tall and unnervingly lean, his pale, corpse-like skin skeletal frame.
56Please respect copyright.PENANA6SAzBhxGLA
56Please respect copyright.PENANAiDxYrpG103
His eyes, a sickly yellow, gleamed with a predatory hunger, glowing against the shadows of his wild, tangled black hair that draped messily over his shoulders.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAIMvVVgMWkh
Clad in tattered, dark robes that clung to his figure like decaying shrouds, he exuded an aura of deadly cold. His elongated hands ended in claw-like nails, perfect for tearing through flesh, and when he moved, it was with a silent, gliding grace that made him unseen almost weightless, a specter from the darkness of nightmares.
56Please respect copyright.PENANATQpkUYbWX4
And a tall, thin, skeletal figure dressed in a sharp black tuxedo with a long tailcoat and black trousers. He wears a black top hat and dark sunglasses, often with one lens removed.
56Please respect copyright.PENANA4UCCChy2RF
His face resembles a skull, either painted or naturally bone-like, with deep, dark eye sockets that give him an intense, haunting stare.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAfDhFvuRwRA
He sometimes has a cigar in his mouth or carries a cane, adding to his commanding and eerie presence.
56Please respect copyright.PENANATvjDqMGUqt
A purple or black scarf or sash may also be part of his attire, enhancing his mysterious, otherworldly look. And a massive, spectral dog with a shaggy black coat that appears rough and unkempt.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAM7byn7XSzS
Its eyes glow with an otherworldly light, typically yellow or red, piercing through the darkness with an unsettling intensity. horns adding to its ominous and menacing presence.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAKNvr5k4gwc
Its size is imposing, like a bear, casting a formidable shadow across the landscape.
56Please respect copyright.PENANA7NW3y6p6Lw
The creature just stared at Leth as if it were waiting. Suddenly, the dog-like creature lunged at them, and a tall, thin, skeletal figure transformed into fog, causing Caelum and the emperor's vision to blur. Elongated hands, ending in claw-like nails, crawled toward Leth's face.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAQqaVHX8Po7
A flash of shadows sliced through the claws as Aeron, wielding his sword, struck them just as the emperor was about to fight the creatures. At that moment, his three sons appeared, their faces void of emotion. Caelum had awakened his abilities at the same time as Aeron and Valen.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAIC4R4pdo9m
Valen was surrounded by his shadows, while Aeron’s sword glowed like the sun.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAElnQ0lJw7D
"Master, be careful with the man wearing a tuxedo, he's Baron Samedi," the moth said.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAfvOdzSZqYk
"Baron Samedi?" Valen asked, raising an eyebrow in skepticism.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAh9FDXayZVr
"I thought that creature was just a mere myth," Caelum said, glancing at the moth with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAIvgBpf0gz2
The moth fluttered its wings anxiously. "He's no myth, I assure you. The stories are true. He is the master of the dead, a trickster who revels in chaos and manipulation. He can summon spirits and twist reality to his will."
56Please respect copyright.PENANAQob9cOBpQ2
Valen frowned, remembering the tales whispered among the villagers of a dapper figure appearing at the edge of the graveyard, always accompanied by a sense of foreboding. "What does he want."
56Please respect copyright.PENANA930dhEXZIf
The moth hesitated, its delicate wings shimmering in the dim light. "He seeks to entertain himself. His presence often brings misfortune, and he delights in toying with the living. If we’re not careful, he might turn our very fears against us."
56Please respect copyright.PENANAPB2suToIII
"Great," Caelum muttered, crossing his arms. "Just what we need a villain with a penchant for theatrics. How do we deal with him?"
56Please respect copyright.PENANAlyJ0njjig7
The moth hovered closer, its voice dropping to a whisper. "Avoid his gaze. He has a way of bending the will of those who meet his eyes. And whatever you do, don’t take his jokes lightly they carry a heavy price."
56Please respect copyright.PENANA0YlWQO1dhL
As they exchanged wary glances, a soft chuckle echoed through the shadows, rich and inviting, yet laced with danger. The figure in the tuxedo stepped forward, a grin stretching across his skeletal face.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAVnYyRjsJPR
“Ah, what delightful company!” Baron Samedi said, his voice smooth as silk. “I do love when the living gather at the edge of the abyss. Tell me, my dear old friend, what brings you to my domain? A dance with death, perhaps? Or shall we play a game?”
56Please respect copyright.PENANAeNnSFytyND
Valen straightened, adrenaline surging. “We’re not here for games, Baron. We know your reputation.”
56Please respect copyright.PENANAFwWcp2ImU8
“Reputation? How delightfully mundane!” he replied, his laughter ringing out like chimes in the wind. “But I assure you, I only wish to have a bit of fun. Life is too serious, don’t you think? Let’s add a sprinkle of chaos to your little adventure.”
56Please respect copyright.PENANACSZWQJUCps
Caelum took a step back, instinctively reaching for his weapon. “We’re not interested in your chaos. We came for answers, not to be your entertainment.”
56Please respect copyright.PENANAzERGKVa5te
“Oh, but that’s where you’re mistaken!” Baron Samedi exclaimed, twirling elegantly. “In this world, every question carries a price, and I have all the time in the universe to collect. So, what shall it be? A riddle, a curse, or perhaps Death?”
56Please respect copyright.PENANAYQTyQIRp9Z
He smiled as he pointed his staff first at Leth, then at the emperor. "Long. Time. No. See. Old. Friend." His grin stretched unnaturally wide, revealing teeth that glimmered in the dim light, sending shivers down the spines of Valen, Caelum, and Aeron.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAuvIBdslvVU
"Samedi!" Eryndor said, struggling to maintain his composure while carrying Leth, whose unconscious form was slung over his shoulder.
56Please respect copyright.PENANA9fEdyR7utL
"You have something that I wanted." The baron's creepy smile only deepened, and an unsettling chill filled the air.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAwWPSh4UT5u
Suddenly, the ground shook violently beneath them, rattling stones and sending dust swirling into the air. As the tremors subsided, Samedi chuckled, his voice smooth yet eerie. “That's our cue. See you next time... Oh, and here’s a piece of advice: find her—the real one.” His gaze turned cold and emotionless as he looked at Leth.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAyO1rQcGa32
Eryndor's grip tightened on Leth, his heart racing. “What do you mean?” he demanded, feeling a surge of dread.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAay1KaWehUE
“Till next time, Eryndor.” Baron Samedi turned, his companions fading into the shadows behind him. “Or should I call you, Rune?”
56Please respect copyright.PENANA0UPIDYxISr
Eryndor's eyes widened in disbelief, the world around him seeming to blur as the weight of the name crashed down on him. “No… it can’t be.” The very fabric of his reality unraveled, the revelation echoing in his mind like a haunting refrain. Baron Samedi had not only acknowledged his past but had also dragged it back into the light a past he thought he had buried long ago.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAtbrtGrWGzu
Valen, still processing the encounter, stepped closer to Eryndor. “What did he mean by that? Who is Rune?”
56Please respect copyright.PENANA1p7XfAhkhA
Xyril who was just observing everything that had happened he saw the emperor's almost loosing his composter he then slowly went to him and carried leth.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAFKUffQ8MHt
Meanwhile, at the Asterial Records—the underground library and heart of the empire—Muerte was searching for the mysterious individual trespassing in the forbidden section. Suddenly, he spotted a small figure in a robe, staring at him while holding a magical book. The book shimmered with iridescent colors, its pages occasionally turning on their own, revealing intricate illustrations of mythical creatures and enchanted landscapes.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAqrLyqVdpae
“Wh-who are you, and how did you get in here?” Muerte asked calmly.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAUbexMoDzD4
The figure remained silent, gripping the book tightly. Muerte felt an unfamiliar tremor coursing through him for the first time in his life.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAd8evQyudim
(What is this feeling... How?) he thought. (Who is this...?)
56Please respect copyright.PENANAgtPDwKA9Wl
“"Please Hurry", tell him that,” a soft voice urged.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAMmJcswesFW
Muerte's vision suddenly blurred, and he saw another figure: a tall man in a flowing white hanfu. The soft silk fabric draped elegantly around him, accentuating his stature and grace. His long, wide sleeves fluttered gently with his movements, and the cross-collar design added an air of sophistication. A pale blue sash cinched at his waist, highlighting his figure and introducing a subtle touch of color. His long silver hair was secured with an ornate jade hairpin that glimmered in the light. As he walked, his soft cloth shoes made barely a sound, and a delicate silk fan rested in his hand.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAqIf95DdV5I
The man carried the strange person, and as he did, the hood suddenly fell back. Muerte could barely see the child’s face, but he noticed that the one responsible for the disturbance in the forbidden library had soft, silver-pink hair.
56Please respect copyright.PENANA8gRGxFDv8v