Chapter 17 - Into the Serpent’s Lair
Under the cover of a freezing blizzard, a small stealth vessel slipped through the stormy waters toward the fallen capital.
Adrian, clad in dark armor with his cloak pulled tight, stepped onto the docks of Veyne City. The once-bustling metropolis was now a ghost town. Black tendrils crawled over the skyscrapers, and shadow-monsters roamed the desolate streets.
He moved silently toward the palace, his heart pounding in his chest. Over his heart, his crest burned with a quiet, steady golden warmth—his mother’s magic protecting his mind from the Void's whispers.
He reached the ruined throne room. The Void Matriarch was seated upon the throne, her shadow tendrils wrapped around the pillars of the hall, absorbing the remaining celestial energy of the palace.
"You return to me, little king," she purred, her voice echoing in his head. "Did you come to surrender your soul?"
Adrian stood tall, drawing his blade. "I came to reclaim my home."
"Foolish boy," she laughed, rising from the throne. A wave of dark energy rushed toward Adrian, crushing him against the stone floor.
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Pain shot through his body, but Adrian gritted his teeth. He pressed his hand against the floor beneath him, allowing his blood from his wounds to spill directly into the hidden runes of the marble floor.
"I am Adrian Veyne," he roared, his voice echoing across the city. "And the gate is OPEN!"
