Tower of Druaga: The Shadow Emperor's Abyss
The air above the colossal Tower of Druaga shifted, turning from cold mountain breeze to a shimmering, iridescent violet mist.
It was the Enchanted Season—an elusive celestial event that occurred only once every few years. As the radiant mist washed over the ancient stone, a mysterious spell enveloped the labyrinthine floors, suppressing the dark magic within and weakening the vicious demons that usually made ascending the tower a suicide mission.
With the monsters subdued and the tower’s legendary, hidden treasures left unprotected, swarms of ambitious warriors rushed the gates. They marched in the long-forgotten footsteps of King Gilgamesh, claiming a noble quest: to climb the spire, defeat the Dark Emperor, and restore a land tainted by corruption.
At least... that was what Prince Phobos had been led to believe.
The Heart of Meridian
"They don't seem to have any real security here," Phobos remarked, his cold eyes sweeping over the vast, echoing halls of the lower sanctuary. A smirk played on his lips. "Though I suppose when you control the greatest power in the universe, armed guards are merely decorative."
Behind him, Cedric nodded slyly, his long tail sweeping the dust. Phobos truly believed himself the center of the cosmos—convinced that the power of Meridian was rightfully his to claim, and that the previous emperors had only ruled because they were shielded by the legendary Knights of Kandrakar.
"Wait..." Phobos paused, glancing back at Cedric, a sudden flicker of suspicion in his eyes. "The Knights of Kandrakar... aren't they supposed to be on our side?"
Cedric didn't answer with words.
Instead, a brutal, monstrous grin spread across his face. In one swift, blinding motion, Cedric struck. He seized Phobos by the neck, driving the arrogant prince backward toward the edge of a jagged, bottomless rift tearing through the center of the chamber—the gateway to the cosmic void.
"You were always a fool, my Prince," Cedric hissed, his voice echoing off the ancient stone.
Shadows and Secrets
Not far away, hidden behind the ruins of a massive stone pillar, two figures watched the betrayal unfold in horror.
Raythor grabbed Will Vandom’s shoulder, pulling the young Guardian deeper into the shadows. "Look! Cedric is about to throw your brother, Prince Phobos, into the Abyss of Shadows!" Raythor whispered urgently, his hand tightening around the hilt of his blade.
Will’s eyes widened, the Heart of Kandrakar glowing faintly beneath her cloak. "We have to stop him!"
"No, Cedric knows the main halls are compromised—he's clearing the board," Raythor warned, his voice grim as he pointed toward a narrow, crackling archway concealed beneath the roots of the tower. "Listen to me, Will. I know an escape route. But if we move now, we have to move fast before the Enchanted Season fades—and Druaga wakes up!"
Comments
Post a Comment