Shadow Over the Heavenly Throne

The mist crept slowly between the shattered columns, as if trying to conceal what had just occurred. Yet, the blood and the twisted remains of the fallen monster were still visible—scattered across the ground, drained of life. Three figures observed the scene from above, standing atop one of the tall, ruined towers.

"I truly thought it would give them more trouble." The man’s voice was calm, almost disappointed. He watched as Kaelrith, Maelthorn, and Deymos gradually left the battlefield. His frame was tall and slender, but despite his elegance, he radiated an aura of danger.

His face bore sharp, almost unnaturally symmetrical features—crafted with such precision that it transcended human notions of beauty. His pale skin was smooth, nearly marble-like, yet it pulsed with an inner glow, as if something more than blood flowed beneath it. His dark green eyes held the gaze of a predator. Long, jet-black hair cascaded over his shoulders, contrasting starkly with the hypnotic hue of his eyes.

"Still, I am yet to create a monster that can rival the best…"

"It’s not that it was too weak." The masked man spoke emotionlessly, as though analyzing the results of an experiment. "Had it fought them one-on-one, only Kaelrith would have survived. The other two wouldn’t have stood a chance."

"And what of it?" The second man, lounging lazily against an old column, chuckled. There was boredom in his voice, but also a subtle note of derision. "The creatures are still too slow. They lack the instinct to adapt and survive."

"Meaning?"

"When it was hit by the weakening spell, it reacted well. It shed part of its body before the curse could spread." He rubbed his chin, a predatory smile forming. "But once it fought Kaelrith, it couldn’t do it again. It was too focused on fighting Kaelrith to consider that someone else might attack in the meantime. That’s a garbage design."

The masked man glanced at him sideways.

"That means under pressure, their response to threats deteriorates. They lack independent thought—but that’s not all." His eyes narrowed, processing the data. "Not only are they incapable of making conscious decisions in combat, but they also lack the instinct to anticipate their opponent’s movements."

"They’re too reactive." Rahn added with a smirk. "They only respond once the threat is already upon them. They don’t read the battlefield, they have no intuition. Even animals can sense approaching danger, but these? They see nothing beyond the present moment."

"And that’s why they lose." The masked man nodded. "It’s not about strength or speed. They need to learn survival instincts and strategic thinking, or they will always be mere cannon fodder."

"Exactly." The lounging man straightened and stepped forward. "We need more than just cannon fodder. We need monsters that fight like true predators—not just mindless killing machines."

A silence followed. Then, from the shadows, the third figure stirred.

"Interesting conclusions."

The voice was deep, resonant, carrying something primal within it. Its owner was no ordinary man.

His posture suggested former strength, but his current body was… different. It was humanoid in shape, yet bore lingering traces of the beast he once was—his skin was slightly too firm, his facial features too sharp, and his golden eyes glowed unnaturally in the darkness.

"How do you like your new form, Vaelin?" the lounging man asked with a mocking smile.

Vaelin slowly raised his hand, turning it in the moonlight. His skin, though human in texture, was tougher, carrying a faint metallic sheen. His nails were slightly longer—sharp like claws, yet not grotesquely so—still retaining a humanoid appearance.

He flexed his fingers, feeling how his muscles and joints responded with unsettling smoothness, as if this body wasn’t his own but rather a tool shaped to his will. When he clenched his fist, he heard the subtle tension of his tendons, yet there was no pain. The power he felt was different from before. Not raw and brutal, but focused, controlled.

He glanced at his forearm, noticing how his veins weren’t dark like a human’s, but faintly illuminated beneath his skin—a subtle glow of Qi circulating through his transformed body.

"It’s… different." His voice was calm, yet beneath it lay something new—curiosity. "My movements are smoother, more precise. This body isn’t a burden anymore, but a tool—its strength isn’t wild but refined, ready to be used at will."

"Well said." The masked man nodded, observing Vaelin with a mix of curiosity and calculated detachment. "Once, your kind was invincible. No one could match the sheer power of your monstrous forms. You were apex predators."

He walked slowly, letting his words settle in the air between them.

"But then, humans learned to wield Qi. They began breaking those limitations. Their bodies were no longer weaker, and their techniques rendered brute strength insufficient."

Vaelin tightened his fingers, feeling how effortlessly his joints adjusted, without resistance.

"Strength without control became a weakness." The masked man halted, his piercing gaze locked onto Vaelin. "The bigger the monster, the easier the target. The armor that once protected became a prison."

Vaelin remained silent for a moment, testing his new body. This was not merely a change in shape—it was a change in essence.

"Rahn’s technique allows for the transformation of one’s very existence." The masked man glanced toward the second figure, who smirked in the shadows. "This isn’t just altering form. It’s rewriting the fundamental structure of being, adapting it to a new purpose. Now, you can fight like a man but retain the strength of a beast."

Rahn burst into laughter.

"Isn’t it marvelous?" His voice dripped with irony. "You’re no longer a mindless brute. Now, you can think, feel, and kill with precision. Like a true hunter."

Vaelin met his gaze coldly.

"I am not your experiment."

Rahn rolled his eyes. "Of course, of course. Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it."

The masked man turned his attention back to the battlefield, which was slowly fading into the mist.

"Today’s test was to gauge the potential of Rahn’s creations. Now, we know what they lack."

Vaelin narrowed his eyes, studying the masked man.

"Why did you have me conceal my aura?" His voice was deep, yet composed. "I could have left a presence strong enough in the labyrinth that, unless someone entered my lair, they wouldn’t know I was gone."

The masked man’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile.

"That was the point." His tone carried quiet satisfaction. "We wanted the world to realize you weren’t there. By doing so, we forced the royal family to make a move while also testing Rahn’s monsters to see what they still lacked."

He turned toward the labyrinth, where Kaelrith and the others had already disappeared from sight.

"Besides…" he added softly, "I’ve heard that Kaelrith has grown much stronger in recent years. I wanted to see him fight with my own eyes, but I must admit, I feel a sense of disappointment. I didn’t push him hard enough to reveal his true capabilities."

Vaelin studied him carefully.

"And? What do you think of him?"

The masked man simply smiled, offering no answer. Vaelin clenched his teeth, visibly irritated by the lack of response, but chose not to press further.

The masked man then turned to Rahn.

"I trust you will continue refining your creations. We will be needing them soon."

Rahn stretched lazily, his smirk filled with self-satisfaction.

"No problem. I already have a pretty good idea of what they’re missing and the direction their evolution should take."

The masked man gazed into the darkness of the night, as if sensing something beyond anyone else’s perception.

"It’s time."

At that moment, the space around them began to tremble, like a fractured mirror, the air filling with a soft, almost melodic crackling. Shadow and light intertwined, forming a tear in reality itself.

Vaelin stared at the swirling void in silence, while Rahn grinned in anticipation.

Without another word, one by one, they stepped into the rift, vanishing into nothingness—as if they had never been there at all.