Shadow Slave

Suddenly, Noctis seemed… different.

He was still beaten, mangled, and covered in blood, but the sorcerer's presence subtly changed. If before it was faint and weakening, now, it became brimming with power, potency, and free-flowing energy.

Vast, furious… unrestrained.

And suffused with madness.

Despite the fact that Noctis was on his knees and crippled, he suddenly seemed terrifying. The morbid grin on his torn and disfigured face seemed more menacing than pitiful now. His one remaining eye glistened, reflecting the distant light of the crimson moon.

It was as though something that had been suppressing the sorcerer's true power all this time finally set him free.

Noctis inhaled deeply, and at the same, Solvane suddenly swayed. The hand she had used to crush his ribcage was still pressed against her body, blood streaming down on the red tunic.

Her beautiful eyes widened.

And then…

Something moved under her skin, making the War Maiden let out a pained scream.

She staggered back and looked at the kneeling sorcerer with a pale face.

"What… what have you done to me?"

Noctis smiled. His voice sounded hoarse and full of unfathomable emotion when he spoke:

"What else? I have fulfilled your most ardent wish, Solvane. I… have defeated you."

She stared at him in shock, then suddenly shuddered and let out another tortured scream. As drops of blood flew out of her mouth, the beautiful Transcendent stumbled and fell to her knees. Her sublime face was deathly pale and contorted by a grimace of terrible pain.

that, their roles were reversed. The War

the patch of shadows where Sunny was hiding, his mind full

can come out,

'What the hell...'

then assumed his corporeal form and glanced at Solvane, his

things were clicking in place and starting to make sense. The magical circle in the sorcerer's residence, the river of blood that Noctis had fed to the soil

scream that had awoken Sunny

at the sorcerer, a harrowing

however, was still in the dark. As the ghastly movement under her skin grew stronger

is… this… thing?

Noctis smiled.

trying to summon your Abilities. My little pet is a bit hungry for soul essence, you see. I've

an incredible pace. As Sunny

empty eye socket, slowly turning

leaned forward,

creature… it is a vine that feeds on powerful souls. The profane seed that eventually birthed it was created

with

then glanced at the sorcerer with

devouring Saints, from the ashes of the Sacred Grove and Aidre's blood. He had kept it in the ground beneath his residence for hundreds of

Lady. All this time, the sorcerer was restrained by having to suppress the creature and prevent it from devouring him from

appeared

ruthless

thing or two from the

shriek. The skin on her face broke, and a thin,

groaned, then let

time… I am defeated… by

teeth, and then suddenly smiled through the