Warlock Ch 156. Double Mana And Power
"You don't understand what you're dealing with," the artifact hissed, its voice lower now but no less nacing. "You think you're in control, but you're not. You're just a pawn in a ga far bigger than you."
Damian's grin widened, sharp and defiant. "Really? You're pissed off, so I think that makes this my win. And I think I've figured sothing else out."
The artifact pulsed violently, its glow erratic, like a heart beating too fast. "Oh, do enlighten , genius."
Damian stepped closer, his confidence radiating despite the oppressive energy pressing down on him. "You're upset because it's leeching your power and Mana, not the other way around. Am I right? I have double Mana and power."
The artifact's energy flared, lashing out in a furious burst that hit Damian square in the chest. He stumbled back.
"SHUT UP!" the artifact bellowed, its voice echoing like thunder. Before Damian could regain his footing, the world around him shifted, the black void dissolving into a vivid, chaotic scene.
Damian blinked, disoriented as he found himself standing in a grand, regal courtroom. The walls were lined with glowing runes, their light casting an ominous glow over the vast space. The air buzzed with raw magic, the tension palpable.
He looked down at himself and froze. His hands, his body—they weren't his. Not Damian's. This was Kaelan's form. His hair was longer, styled in a sharp wolf cut that frad his face with a feral elegance. His attire was regal, a black and crimson robe embroidered with intricate golden patterns that scread power and authority. It wasn't just a warlock's outfit—it was proof that he was an SSS-ranked warlock.
'Oh shit…' Damian thought, his heart sinking as he took in the scene around him.
He was standing at the center of the room, behind the suspect's podium. Alone. The courtroom lood around him, packed with figures of power and influence. Senators, mages, warlocks, and representatives from every major magical faction were present. Their faces were a mixture of anger, disappointnt, and fear.
Directly in front of him sat the tribunal—a panel of the strongest warlocks and mages. At their center was Aria, her expression cold and unreadable. But her eyes… her eyes burned with disappointnt, a sharp contrast to the warmth he rembered from his fragnted mories.
"Kaelan Voidweaver," one of the tribunal mbers began, his voice echoing through the hall. "Do you understand why you stand here today?"
Damian, still adjusting to the shock of the vision, instinctively opened his mouth to reply, but it wasn't his voice that ca out. It was Kaelan's—calm, steady, and defiant. "I understand perfectly."
"Then you know the consequences of your actions," another tribunal mber said, his tone sharp and accusing. "You killed the demon king. You disrupted the balance of magic itself. And worse still—"
"You dared to take his power for yourself," Aria interjected, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. Her tone was controlled, but there was an undercurrent of anger that made Damian's—or Kaelan's—spine straighten. "You didn't just kill him, Kaelan. You claid his title."
Murmurs rippled through the room, the gathered mages exchanging uneasy glances. Damian felt their eyes on him.
"Is it true?" another senator demanded, leaning forward in his seat. "Did you proclaim yourself the new Demon King?"
Kaelan—or rather, Damian—gritted his teeth, the words spilling from his mouth before he could stop them. "Yes. I did."
The courtroom erupted into chaos. Voices overlapped, accusations and disbelief echoing off the walls. So mages recoiled in horror, while others stared at him with a mixture of awe and revulsion.
"Order!" Aria's voice rang out, silencing the room with its authority. Her gaze locked onto Damian's, and he felt a pang of guilt that wasn't entirely his own. "Kaelan, do you have any idea what you've done? You've unleashed chaos."
"And for what?" another tribunal mber demanded. "For power? For your own ego?"
Damian smirked, the expression more bitter than triumphant. "For survival," he said, his voice unwavering. "The demon king was a threat to all of us. He was going to destroy everything we've built. I did what had to be done."
"You didn't stop at doing what had to be done," Aria countered, her tone icy. "You absorbed his power. You've beco sothing far worse—a being of unchecked might, with no one to hold you accountable."
"I hold myself accountable," Damian snapped, the fire in his voice surprising even Damian. "And I'll tell you this—I'm not apologizing for what I did. The demon king's power is mine now, and I'll use it to protect what matters. Whether you approve or not."
The room fell into a tense silence. Damian could feel the mix of emotions radiating from the tribunal—fear, anger, disbelief. But beneath it all, there was sothing else. A sliver of respect.
"You've made your choice clear," Aria said finally, her voice softer but no less resolute. "But know this, Kaelan—your actions have consequences. You've set yourself on a path that cannot be undone."
"I know," he replied, his tone quieter now. "And I'll face those consequences. But don't expect to regret what I've done."
Aria's expression didn't soften, but there was a flicker of sothing else in her eyes—sothing that wasn't entirely condemnation. Was it doubt? Or perhaps a sliver of understanding? Damian couldn't tell. Her silence lingered for a mont too long, and the tension in the courtroom was thick enough to choke on.
"You always were reckless, Kaelan," she finally said, her voice softer but no less resolute. "Always pushing boundaries, testing limits. But this ti…" She exhaled slowly, shaking her head. "This ti, you've gone too far."
"Have I?" Damian shot back, his voice steady but carrying an edge of defiance. "Or am I the only one willing to do what needs to be done? You call reckless, but what have you done to stop the chaos? Sat behind your podiums, hiding behind laws and bureaucracy while the world burns?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)