The massive gates of solidified shadow pulled apart on their own, granting him free entry as Aiden approached through the bridge of shadows.
The interior of the Shadow Lord's castle was vast. Corridors of black and deep violet stretched ahead of him, with walls that looked like black smoke.
The architecture followed no logic Aiden recognized. There were pillars standing at angles that should have caused them to collapse. Archways connected to nothing on one end and everything on the other.
But he kept walking till he passed dreadful corridors, finally arriving a certain view.
Lord Shadow, sitting on a throne made of white and black miasma, at the center of a chamber.
He had the appearance of a young man, with black hair falling loosing around his pale face. His eyes were half-lidded, and they carried a kind of amusent on them.
The shadows around him moved, so of which took the shape of monster heads with purple glow in their eyes.
Then a slow smile ford on his lips as he said in a voice that quaked the void around him. "False Ruler of the Seventh Universe."
Aiden stared back at him. "Lord Shadow."
For a mont, they both held each other's gaze then sudden Lord Shadow's expression shifted.
His eyes widened and a purple light ignited within them, which instantly caused black bandages to erupt from the floor and the air around Aiden.
They wrapped around him in rapid coils; arms, torso, legs, throat, covering all of Aiden's body into a what looked like a black cocoon.
Lord Shadow was attempting to force Aiden into becoming a Shadow Soldier.
But almost imdiately, the bandages retracted and dissolved back into the dark.
Aiden then said in a calm voice. "I may not be favored by the rules of this universe. But I am not of a status that bends so easily into becoming one of your soldiers."
Lord Shadow let out a short laugh, before rising from the throne. He descended the short steps at its base and began walking forward slowly, only stopping a few steps from Aiden.
"This place you stand in," he began, "is called Tenebrous Haven. In here, I cannot be challenged. Nor will I be t with impossibility."
The purple glow in his eyes deepened slightly.
"And right now," he continued, with the devious smile returning, "I think soone of your status would make a rather fine addition to my legion."
Aiden stared at him directly but said nothing.
The full weight of Lord Shadow's power pressed down over the chamber, and It was frankly the heaviest thing Aiden had ever felt.
However he stood in it without flinching even once.
There was silence for a mont as Lord Shadow studied him.
"That is the longest anyone has ever held my gaze while standing in this place. Even the other rulers avert their eyes when they co here."
He turned and walked back toward the throne, ascending the steps and lowering himself into the seat.
"I know why you're here, False Ruler."
Aiden kept watching without saying anything still.
Lord Shadow continued. "Within my Tenebrous Haven, every mind lies open before . You discovered that already, which is why you've shielded almost everything and left with only one thought."
He tilted his head slightly. "A simple question…Friend or foe?"
That was when Aiden finally responded. "You also haven't tried to break through to the rest of my thoughts. Even with every advantage in this place. So I think that question only got easier…Are you friend?"
Lord Shadow leaned back as a laugh ca out of him.
"O Usurper," he began. "Do you call predictable?"
"I wouldn't dare, Lord Shadow," Aiden replied, with a little grin forming at the corner of his mouth.
Lord Shadow laughed again. "I like you, False Ruler."
But suddenly the smile on his face disappeared as leaned forward and asked,
"But how do we account for my five thousand children?"
"Was half the angel population not sufficient recompense?" Aiden returned.
Lord Shadow's eyes narrowed slightly. "You suggest that lives barely numbering in the hundreds compare to my multitude?"
Aiden didn't answer that directly. He wanted to avoid any sort of squabble with the Lord Of Shadows here.
So instead he asked this, "What would you have done if uninvited guests crossed into the Shadow Universe?" he asked. "Would you not have turned them into shadow soldiers, the sa as you intended with just now?"
Lord Shadow was silent for a mont, simply staring at Aiden before finally saying. "Do you want to know why I sent so of my legion into your world?"
"Is it not the sa as the others?" Aiden asked. "Scout. Learn the hierarchy of power. Report back."
Lord Shadow replied. "There was scouting, yes. But not for the reasons you assu. The hierarchy of Universe Seven holds no interest to ."
He leaned back into the throne.
"The purpose was to locate the agents sent into your world by the other rulers..
And eliminate them."
Aiden's eyes widened hearing that.
——
The day had co.
And everyone gathered in a landmass unlike any other on the face of the world. It was vast enough to hold what stood upon it now without feeling crowded.
The Champions Of Eight continents.
They were arranged as armies are before the order to advance, with each continent claiming its own stretch of ground.
Their champions stood in formation behind a clear boundary, separated from the others by wide, open lanes of space.
Valaross held the front position.
Essor was on the east side of the field, with most of its continent's champions bearing twin weapons. So were short blades. So were long ones, and so were even axes.
Anane held the southern block. Their champions were built differently from the others; many of them were bare from the waist up with markings across their skin in different patterns.
Several had large creatures crouched beside them, thick-bodied animals with armored hides. So of these creatures had never even been recorded of before.
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