Chapter 13: The Unseen Puppeteer
Leon stood before the Forsaken Throne, his heart pounding. The ancient black seat pulsed with power, whispering silent secrets into his mind.
The system's voice echoed.
[Abyssal Sovereignty has been unlocked.]
[The Forsaken Throne recognizes you as its ruler.]
[Blood Domain has been established.]
A wave of energy rippled through the ruined battlefield. The very shadows bent toward Leon, submitting to his presence. The Blood Moon overhead dimmed, its crimson glow bleeding into his form.
Leon clenched his fists. This wasn't just power—it was authority.
Yet, as he basked in his triumph, a cold presence brushed against his mind.
Someone was watching.
Someone had been watching all along.
A Whisper in the Void
Leon's instincts flared. He turned sharply, scanning the ruins. The air was still, but the feeling of being observed grew stronger.
Then, the system's alert flashed.
[Warning: Unknown entity detected.]
[Analyzing…]
[Error. Unable to identify.]
Leon narrowed his eyes. Even the system couldn't track them?
A slow, mocking clap echoed through the ruins.
Leon turned sharply.
A figure emerged from the shadows, draped in a cloak of shifting black mist. Their face remained hidden, obscured by an unnatural distortion—as if reality itself refused to remember them.
"Impressive." The voice was calm, smooth—dangerous.
Leon tightened his grip on Abyssal Fang. Who was this?
"To think that a mere Forsaken could ascend to the throne. You truly are… unexpected."
Leon's gaze sharpened. They know about me.
He kept his stance firm. "Who are you?"
The figure chuckled.
"A question for another time. For now, I simply wished to see you with my own eyes… and you did not disappoint."
Leon's patience thinned. "If you think I'll let you leave after spying on me, you're mistaken."
He stepped forward, Abyssal Fang pulsing with black flames.
The figure didn't move.
"You are bold. I expected nothing less. But tell me, Leon… do you know the truth of your betrayal?"
Leon froze.
A sharp, cold feeling stabbed into his chest.
He had spent every waking moment thinking about revenge—about those who had abandoned him, left him to die. But there was more?
The figure chuckled again, sensing his hesitation.
"You were meant to die, yes… but not because you were weak. Not because you failed. No… someone feared what you would become."
Leon's grip tightened. His mind raced.
"Your fall was planned long before you even knew it."
Leon forced himself to remain calm. This could be a trick. A lie. But his gut told him otherwise.
He took a slow breath. "Who?"
The figure tilted their head.
"I wonder… if you are ready for that answer?"
The air shifted. A sudden pressure descended, suffocating, overwhelming—Leon's entire body tensed on instinct.
Then—
The figure vanished.
Leon's eyes widened. He activated Blood Dominion, stretching his senses across the entire domain—
Nothing.
Whoever they were… they were beyond his reach.
But their words lingered.
"Someone feared what you would become."
Leon exhaled slowly, his fingers trembling with suppressed rage.
The pieces were falling into place. His betrayal wasn't just about eliminating a weak link—it was about preventing a future threat.
His ascension had been feared before it had even begun.
And now, the unseen puppeteer was making their move.
A New Mission
Leon stepped toward the Forsaken Throne and placed his hand upon it. The ancient metal was cold, humming beneath his touch.
"I was never meant to survive."
He tightened his grip.
"But I did."
The system chimed.
[New Quest Generated: Unravel the Puppeteer's Web.]
Leon grinned—but it was not a grin of joy. It was sharp, cruel, hungry.
"You feared me before?"
His aura flared, casting his shadow across the ruined battlefield. The Forsaken Throne pulsed, acknowledging its master.
"Then tremble—because I am coming for you."