Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

Lucius was bathed in a familiar energy, one that he felt several times in the past when conversing with Luz and Grimm in their strange, liminal space. This same energy empowered the Mark of Celestia whenever Lucius used it, not that he had in quite some time.

It was within that same moment, he remembered Yue. Having witnessed her light to soothe Snow a few times in the past, Lucius found himself intrigued by her ability. Her light, however, was weak. It was not until this moment, when the elf activated this ability and flooded the room with Luz's familiar energy that he realized what it was like to sense it from a source other than himself. Yue gave off the same feeling. Now that he thought about it, Snow reminded him of Grimm…

Lucius suddenly vomited, as what felt like a mountain slammed into his gut. His limp body flew through the wall of the ballroom and the hall behind, landing in the rear garden. Dirt and blood sprayed into the air. Shadows condensed as armor took a brunt of the impact, but were unable to fully disperse the force behind the blow. The elf warrior jumped to the ground from the second floor, landing with a dull thud. He easily absorbed the shock with his massive knees.

Three. Lucius gripped his chest. Three of his ribs were broken. Thankfully, even through the searing pain, his concentration on his Abyssal abilities remained. Lucius willed a small portion of the shadow armor to enter his body and stitch his ribs back in place. The intense sensation nearly made him black out. While not the same as healing, it would at least temporarily reinforce his bones.

"That's a few down already." The elf sneered, rapidly shifting into a sprint from his casual walk. "I will break you, Lucius Kane!"

Dark energy coalesced around Lucius's sword. The Fragment of the Abyss he had already bonded to appeared on his finger once more, adding to the energy and increasing the concentration of the [Touch of Corruption]. The serrated edges on his weapon grew sharper and the shadowy armor around his body thickened.

Their weapons clashed as the elf blocked Lucius's blade with his own. The dark liquid dripped onto the elf's forearms, sizzling with each impact. Unlike when it was used at the academy, the corruption did not spread. Luz's light purifying the spread before it got too far, but it was still unable to prevent the initial damage. Still workable.

Lucius roared in defiance, bringing his weapon back and filling the enchantments on his blade. It grew in length to match that of a greatsword, its weight increasing to match. With the increased heft, he felt the additional strain on his broken ribs, but gritted his teeth in defiance. His opponent grunted beneath the more powerful blows as he now had to reinforce his blocks with both hands.

Even with his increased strength from the strange Mark brand in his eyes, Lucius pushed him back. It was a temporary buff. Lucius could feel his stamina draining rapidly, his body unfamiliar with drawing on his Mark for such prolonged periods. His mind was filled with worry and panic. Would he survive this? Would he see his wives again? The elf promised not to kill him, but would he still be the same after this? After all, this elf was a Master Ranker. Two leagues above his own.

A long-forgotten chill settled in the base of his skull. The negative feelings and emotions filling him disappearing, being replaced by a numbness. It had been years since this sensation started. It became a crutch. Something that removed Lucius's guilt, fear, trepidation… anything that could prevent him from fighting to his fullest.

You must take the Fragment from him, Lucius Grimm whispered seductively, I can help. I can grant you power. Power has a price, of course. But I'm sure you won't mind.

"It speaks. I can see it in your eyes, Lucius Kane. The Abyss calls to you. Your soul wavers in its convictions and the Darkness feeds upon it. It offers to strengthen and support it by filling the cracks. How long before it consumes you in its entirety?" The elf shouted under the effort of throwing Lucius's strike back. He stepped back, creating space for breathing.

Take the deal, Lucius. I will help you. I will make you strong. I won't harm your family. They are needed. I promise. Grimm's whispers sounded even sweeter, despite the venom dripping from them. Just let me help you…

Lucius felt his hand begin to burn, just like when it erupted on its own and killed the elves back in the alleyway. At the same time, the ring on his hand began to emit a pitch-black smoke. Every beat of his heart pounded in his ears, his lungs felt like they could not get enough oxygen no matter how much he breathed. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

Let go, Lucius…

The elf warrior's expression changed. It went from vengeful to something more calculating. "It seems we are at a crossroads. I will take my penance from you once we have balanced your soul. I had hoped to break you first…well no matter."

Pain and anguish encompassed Lucius's being. Every inch of his body inside and out felt as if it had been set aflame. He found himself unable to feel anything. He should be afraid of what was happening to his body, but the only emotion he found within himself was a calm acceptance. This was meant to be. This was the only path forward.

The elf shook his head as he once again produced the pale-blue ring. It seemed to absorb some of the energy from his ethereal armor. Not greedily, but more like a gentle sip, as if the elf was feeding it too the ring willingly. Lucius attempted to jump away, his body reflexively avoiding the energy from the ring.

No! Grimm hissed from within. Don't touch it! Keep it away!

Lucius lashed out with a ferocious growl, blade and shadow simultaneously slashing at his opponent. The elf grimaced as one of the tendrils found purchase in his shoulder. Instead of dodging or finding a new angle of attack, the elf grabbed the shadow tendril with his bare hands, pulling it and Lucius closer to him. Lucius tried to resist, but his strength was rapidly draining.

Not enough time. Not enough! Lucius! Take the deal. I will give you…

Grimm's voice was silenced. The cold sensation in the base of his skull preventing him from feeling anything vanished, allowing his negative emotions to burst forth once more. How close was he to disappearing? What would Grimm have done? More immediately, how would he escape from this?

The elf's hand once more closed around his neck. He had once again locked his sword to his hip with a simple cord. His free hand was placed on Lucius's chest. A strange warmth emanated from his palm and tore through the shadowy armor. For a moment, they stood like that, Lucius struggling in vain against the elf's grip. With his strange weapon no longer in his hand, Mana was once again in play.@@novelbin@@

Lucius tried calling it to him to form a spell, but the moment he did, the elf's grip tightened. He could feel the bones in his neck creak.

"Do not move. Once you have absorbed the Fragment of Celestia, I will finish beating you into submission. As loathe as I am to keep you breathing after insulting and threatening Lady Shiyani, future queen of my country, the world still has need of you. To allow you to vanish in darkness would ruin his majesty's plans."

A sound, like the shattering of glass, filled the air. The armor protecting his body vanished in an instant, his Abyssal abilities vanishing in a blink of an eye. Exhaustion overwhelmed him, but soon another energy filled him. Grimm screamed in anger, raging against the binds that kept him sealed. Those binds had been weakening, but Lucius noticed as they strengthened once more. A bright, blue light gleamed from within his chest as he crumped to the ground, now free of the elf's hold

The elf drew his sword once more standing over Lucius. The sounds of the Resistance battling at the front gates felt muted to Lucius. His senses dulled; his body unable to move. "Now. Lie there like a dog and take the beating you so rightfully deserve."