Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Third Person's POV

Ethan moved deeper into the valley as his figure blended seamlessly with the shadows.

The slope was gentle but the air grew heavier with each step and was thick with the stench of decay and the faint hum of dark energy.

His senses honed from years of survival in his previous life were on high alert.

The valley wasn't too steep but his movements were precise and he went into full-on hunting mode.

The only difference was that at this moment, he no longer had the advanced technology of night vision goggles.

Yet, despite the thick shadows that blanketed the valley, he could see clearly in the darkness with his dark vision.

His body adjusted naturally to the darkness and his senses sharpened beyond human limits.

Suppressing his breathing to the bare minimum, he moved without a sound as his Shadow Spectre Movement technique allowed him to glide across the uneven ground like a phantom.

He left no trace and no sound and only the faintest ripple in the shadows marked his passage.

Above him, the massive skull-like projection remained eerily motionless though a single dark point glowed in the red crack along its forehead.

A third eye, perhaps? Yet, it didn't shift and didn't move.

It was stationary and remained unblinking as if something had broken its evil flow which had looked too dreadful just moments before.

A quiet sigh escaped his lips.

Whatever entity this ominous skull represented, it had not fully descended into this world. Most likely, it was merely a projection and lacked true consciousness.

But I could be wrong.

The thought kept him wary. Recklessness could get him killed or worse captured.

Suppressing all distractions, he tightened his grip around his broken saber as he held its worn handle firm beneath his fingers. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

He had to be prepared for whatever dangers lurked ahead.

The valley was thick with towering trees and their dark trunks rose like dark sentinels around him.

The trees were twisted and gnarled and they leaned inward as if bowing to some unseen force.

Their branches intertwined and formed a canopy so thick that even the Blood Moon's crimson moon light struggled to penetrate.

The dense canopy made it impossible to see far ahead and only added to the suffocating air of secrecy that hung over the place.

He avoided using his soul sense as he was wary of alerting any hidden threats in the valley.

The last thing he needed was to draw the attention of whatever lurked in this cursed place.

Instead, he relied on his natural senses and allowed his instincts to guide him.

Unlike this world's beings, he was not uncomfortable in keeping his soul sense restricted to himself for some time.

Then, something caught his eye.

It was a settlement. It was small, hidden, and unnatural in its eerie stillness.

The dwellings weren't built but were carved from the natural caves dotting the valley floor and they formed what looked like primitive houses.

Ethan halted as he melted into the shadows behind a thick tree trunk. Concealing himself amid the shrubs, he focused on the strange village.@@novelbin@@

And then, he saw it.

The ominous dark smoke that had tainted the sky wasn't rising from some distant abyss but it was seeping from each individual cave as they curled upwards like ghostly tendrils.

The black haze from every dwelling drifted toward the village's center and seemed to be converging around a singular structure.

A large, ominous cave stood at the heart of the settlement and it was taller and more imposing than the others.

It resembled a pyramid but its peak had been cut flat as it formed a platform where something had been constructed.

It was an altar.

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he climbed up the nearest tree for a better vantage point. From his perch, the scene became clear.

At its center sat a crimson skull and its surface gleamed as if polished by blood.

Rib bones of various creatures surrounded it and were arranged around it like the legs of a grotesque spider.

The skull itself bore three eyes with two in their natural positions and a third on its forehead as it mirrored the projection in the sky.

Three blackish-red horns jutted from its crown and its lower face was shrouded in darkness.

The dark smoke from the surrounding caves flowed into the skull and was absorbed through its eyes and the hollow space where its nose should have been.

The energy seemed to feed the projection in the sky and strengthen the connection between the skull and the Blood Moon.

Before the ominous skull, a shadowy figure knelt with its form obscured by the swirling smoke.

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he recognized the silhouette.

The figure was unmistakable with its broad shoulders, and a bronze halberd resting against its back.

It was the goblin commander.

Whatever ritual was taking place, its energy was feeding the entity in the sky.

A violent pulse raced through Ethan's body as his blood roared in response to witnessing this phenomenon.

A deep, primal desire surged within him. It was a need to consume whatever power resided in that skull. It was intoxicating and overwhelming.

His hands clenched as he fought against the foreign hunger clawing at his mind.

What the hell is this?

He cringed at his own thoughts and was disturbed by the raw urge rising within him.

Yet, deep down, he knew that if he seized whatever force lay within that skull, it would grant him something unimaginable.

A sudden sound broke the silence, It was a guttural groan of pain which was followed by a voice filled with zealous fervor.

Ethan's ears twitched as he focused on the source.

The goblin commander was speaking and his voice trembled continuously with a mix of fear and fanaticism.

"Ohh, great god! This servant bows to your grandeur! I sacrifice my pitiful life so that you may welcome me into your kingdom and grant me immortality."