The towering stone pillars at each corner of the dueling ground still buzzed faintly with leftover mana, like echoes from the battle just fought. Above them, the red sky of the Abyss shimred as black lightning flashed in the distance, jagged like cracks tearing through the clouds.
Then, cutting through the wind with a loud screech, a Stormclaw demon suddenly landed hard on the blackstone floor. His wide eagle-like wings folded behind his tall body, feathers glossy with magic, and as he landed, he dropped to one knee before Malara, his head slightly bowed.
Malara stepped forward, serious, her long black wings rustling softly. "Stand up," she commanded with calm strength, "What’s the cause?"
The Stormclaw stood and raised his sharp golden eyes, his voice rough like scraping tal. "Malara," he began, "this is urgent. News ca from the Shadow Basin and three other outer zones. Several Calamities... were found dead."
The words dropped like a rock in still water. Gasps ca from the crowd around the arena. So demons even stopped mid-flight, their expressions frozen in disbelief.
The Stormclaw continued, "They weren’t weakened. Not corrupted. They were killed. Broken. Their mana cores shattered, their bodies crushed into the ground. There are marks... signs of sothing powerful. Pure force. They were beaten... to death."
Beside Malara, the Drakonid’s eyes widened in shock, and he stumbled back a step.
"Dead?!" he shouted loudly, voice shaking. "No, that’s impossible! A Calamity can’t be killed like that! And not several of them!"
Calamities were feared as so of the Abyss’s deadliest creatures. They were huge, their soft, jelly-like bodies walking with twisting tentacles. One could destroy a fortress. So carried cursed breath that could lt stone or rot demons alive. Even clan lords avoided them unless they had no choice.
Now, they were being killed—easily.
Malara stayed still, wings trembling just slightly behind her. Then she raised one hand, and the crowd fell silent at once.
"...It’s him," she said.
Whispers spread quickly. "Him?" "Who is she talking about?"
The Drakonid asked the question aloud, "Who do you an?"
Malara stepped toward the edge of the dueling circle. She didn’t answer the question directly. Her voice rose instead.
"EVERYONE, PREPARE!" she shouted, voice echoing with command. "SPREAD THE WORD TO EVERY CLAN, EVERY TEMPLE—"
She took a deep breath. "THE ABYSS LORD IS HERE."
And then, she added, her voice quieter but sharper, "And he’s angry."
Everything stopped. The guards, the demons, even the wind seed to hold its breath.
The Bino Clan moved fast. Malara pointed and called orders without pause.
"You, clean the upper halls! Hang the banners! Light the fire paths and polish the blackstone roads!"
"Bring offerings! Sweet mana fruits, beast at roasted in shadowfla, and the old bloodwine! Even if he refuses to eat, we must follow tradition!"
Demons moved in a blur, wings flapping, shadows stretching, and chants beginning as the preparations took shape.
Malara turned to the Stormclaws again. "Fly to the other clans. Inform their lords. Tell them to prepare tribute. We will greet Lord Seojun properly."
The Stormclaw demons bowed, then shot into the sky like thunder, splitting the air in every direction.
Just then, a calm scent filled the air — flowers, old incense, and duskwind perfu.
From above, a graceful figure descended with flowing red hair and mist trailing behind her. Her body shimred like moonlight wrapped in silk. She landed softly and looked at Malara.
"I heard the news," she said. "Is it true, Malara? He’s here?"
Malara quickly bowed. "Yes, Lady Sirenith. It’s true. He has returned. I’ve started the preparations. He hasn’t returned like this in fifty years, not once. I think... he’s angry."
Sirenith — once a goddess of lust, now a fallen beauty of power — nodded slowly. "You did the right thing, Malara. It’s been so long... I missed my boy. I wonder what happened to stir him."
Before Malara could answer, another voice spoke above them, casual and teasing.
Floating in the sky, a young-looking boy sat cross-legged in mid-air, his silver-gray hair flowing, golden eyes sharp with mischief despite the yawn he let out.
"I wonder too," he said, resting his chin on one hand. "What made Seojun so angry he’s shaking the whole Abyss?"
Malara looked up. "Lord Grimzark. We welco you."
The boy — once the Abyss Lord before Seojun — smiled.
"This should be interesting," Grimzark said. "Let’s just hope none of us give him more reasons to stay angry."
Below them, the clans moved faster than ever.
Fires were lit, floors were scrubbed, weapons sharpened, and every entrance was guarded. Tribute was gathered. Ceremonies were prepared.
Sirenith slowly sat down on a big flat stone near the circle, crossing her arms and puffing her cheeks like she was upset.
"Hmph," she said, looking at the sky. "He’s out there, training his students sowhere in the Abyss, right? That’s why he hasn’t visited. Still... not even once?"
She looked at Malara with a small frown.
Malara was standing near the center, giving orders to prepare for Lord Seojun’s arrival, but when she heard Sirenith’s words, she turned around and answered calmly, "My lady, I’m sure Lord Seojun has a reason. He always thinks carefully."
Sirenith gave her a sharp look. "A reason, huh? Always a reason. Like protecting soone. Or saving the world. Or teaching so new humans. But Malara," she leaned forward, eyes curious, "he always calls you, doesn’t he?"
Malara blinked and froze for a second.
Sirenith smiled slyly. "Tell the truth. Are you that good in your duties? Good enough that he doesn’t even check on ?"
Malara’s face turned red, and she waved her hands quickly. "No! It’s not like that at all! He just calls when it’s about the clans or missions. That’s all! Nothing personal!"
"Mm-hmm," Sirenith humd, clearly not convinced.
"It’s true!" Malara said, flustered.
Sirenith sighed and leaned back on the stone. "Okay, okay. I’ll believe you... for now. But if he cos here and says your na first again," she gave Malara a look.
Malara tilted her head. "You’ll... what?"
"I’ll throw you into the ceremonial lake," Sirenith said with a teasing grin. "With your clothes on."
Malara blinked, then laughed a little. "That’s not fair!"
Sirenith laughed too, her voice echoing in the air. "You’re just too close to him."
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