Kai’s weightless soul sank deeper into a dark abyss.

  This abyss was familiar - comforting. His soul palace.

  He was calmer than his first time here - as calm as one could be while falling into nothingness.

  The falling halted. The coiling darkness ordered itself. Pale light flared overhead.

  A black castle rose before him. Beside its gates, a handsome onyx statue waited - Kharon’s smile cut through the dim surroundings.

  “Little brother. That suit looks good on you.”

  Kai glanced down at the bloodthirsty suit clinging to him, then stumbled toward his Demonic brother before steadying. He needed answers.

  Kharon advanced, arms open, onyx feet clacking against the black floor. The shining orb tracked him like a spotlight.

  “I cannot imagine how difficult your First Trial was. I was born strong, you see - never had the chance to be humble like you.” He closed the distance, wrapping his large onyx arms around Kai. Kharon’s skin was cold, hard as stone - yet warmth spread through Kai.

  Kharon loosened his hug and held Kai’s shoulders at arm’s length. He gazed at Kai with his chin held high, a smile on his lips. “Congratulations, Kai - you passed!”

  He met Kai’s eyes. “You are our Father’s heir. You’ve proven yourself ready for the next step.”

  The next step? Kai had to return to Earth and give Renzo what he deserved. Demon politics was last on his list.

  “Thank you for your help, but…I have business to settle back—” Could he even call it his ‘home’ anymore? “—on Earth.”

  Kharon released Kai’s shoulders, but his smile remained. He gave a slow shake of his head.

  “Back to Earth? How do you expect to do that without taking the next step?”

  Kai’s eyes widened. Did this mean Kharon would help him return? No - more hoops to jump through. Nothing was ever easy.

  “Well, there’s good news and bad news, brother.” Kharon walked into the dark castle; Kai followed. “The good news is - the next step will make you more powerful than any other Marked.”

  Kai didn’t let Kharon’s sweet smile and sweeter words lull him. He knew better. “And the bad news is?”

  “The bad news is - you will die within seconds if you go back to Earth.”

  Kai spoke before his brain caught up. “So, I’m stuck here?” His own whine echoed through the dim corridor - he winced at his weakness.

  “Well, you can go back - but you’ll crumble into dust in moments.” Kharon halted, turning to lay a pitying hand on Kai’s shoulder. “Becoming Marked will let you slip back into your body. But you’re too weak to fully revive.”

  “How do I get strong enough to revive then?”

  “That’s not the important part. What you need to understand is this - you’re undead. Undead can’t survive on Earth.” He tilted his head. “Well, most can’t, and you’re not one of the exceptions.”

  Undead were unheard of on Earth - was this why? Who or what were the exceptions?

  “So, I’m forced to rot in the Darklands.” Would he ever get his revenge? Would Renzo get away with everything?

  “No, no. Who said that? Are you listening?” His big brother gave his cheek two light slaps before turning and striding deeper into the castle. Kai had no choice but to follow.

  “There’s an artifact that’ll freeze your rot for now. But you’ll need to become Darkbound to truly revive.”

  Hope. Detestable, debilitating, deceptive. Kai clutched at the brittle straw anyway.

  “How do I get the artifact?”

  Kharon sighed. “That’s not the next step.” He glanced at Kai. “The artifact belongs to a noble family. You’ll have to ask them for it.”

  A noble family handing their precious artifact to an unknown orphan? They’d sooner let him marry their daughter.

  “Ask them? You’re overestimating my persuasiveness, brother.”

  Kharon raised an eyebrow. “Ah, I forgot about your humble strength. Indeed, your requests may carry less weight than mine.”

  This strong-for-nothing bastard. That’s not ‘asking’ - that’s blatant extortion.

  Kharon’s sweet smile didn’t falter. “No need to worry. You know a member of the family already. She may be more receptive to your request.”

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Kai flinched. He had overlooked it before, but the uneasy truth hit him - Kharon knew everything. He monitored it all while he lurked within Kai’s soul palace.

  Two candidates, but the answer was clear. The Ice Maiden.

  “The Nivisaras have what I need?”

  How much deeper could this pit get? He already owed her his darkest secrets. What price would she demand for this?

  He had assumed he could dodge Alira forever. Now he had to beg her for help and sink deeper into her debt.

  “Yes, exactly. The easiest way with your current strength.”

  Easiest way? Alira wouldn’t make anything easy for him.

  They entered a vast chamber. Enormous windows lined opposite walls. Stone steps, black as charred steel, led to a platform with an altar. The dark altar had strange symbols etched into it - glancing at the markings made his head thrum.

  Kai averted his gaze.

  This altar was less bloody than the last one he’d had the displeasure of seeing, but no less ominous. Pale light bled through the windows to illuminate the sparse chamber.

  Kharon halted before the steps and studied Kai.

  Kai buried his unease and stroked his chin. “I could always steal the artifact instead.”

  Kharon chuckled. “Father’s heir indeed! Go ahead, steal it. But tell me - how will you find it? How will you sneak in?”

  He had a point.

  The lecture continued. “How will you navigate the Darklands alone? How will you survive in this harsh new land?”

  Kai frowned. “Alone? You’re my guardian - no protection, no guidance. What exactly do you do?”

  “What do you think I’m doing? I’m guiding you to the smartest play - the Nivisara woman.”

  Kai grimaced. His Guardian was combat-useless and navigationally challenged. Barely better than having no Guardian at all. But without alternatives, he had no choice. Whining wouldn’t change the facts.

  “I get it. What’s the artifact called?”

  Kharon gestured to the altar. “Aren’t you forgetting the next step?”

  “What now?” Was he getting sacrificed again?

  Kharon shook his head. “Where’s your excitement? You’re about to surpass every Marked in history!”

  Kai narrowed his eyes. “Everything has a price.”

  Approval flickered across Kharon’s features - a knowing smirk. “Worth the cost.”

  The stolen silver ring spun under Kai’s thumb. “Stop dancing around it - what do I lose?”

  “You don’t trust your big brother?”

  Kai scoffed. “I trust the words you’re not saying would worry me.”

  Kharon shrugged. “Blame Barab. He’s restricted what I can reveal.”

  Barab - Kharon had dropped that name before, the first time they met.

  “And Barab is?”

  “After the ritual. You’re not strong enough for that knowledge yet.”

  Kai knew a scam when he heard one. Not strong enough for knowledge? Knowledge was the most powerful weapon of the weak. But Barab could wait. His next question demanded immediate answers.

  “What’s the next step?”

  Kharon’s grin widened. “Fully inheriting Space God’s lineage.”

  ‘Inherit’ Space God’s lineage - a pretty way to say ‘steal’.

  Wouldn’t that make me an enemy of a god? Another target on my back? Demon, heir to Death God, thief of Space God’s lineage - isn’t that too much?

  Humans, Demons and gods will hunt me down.

  He had to refuse. “I won’t—“

  Kharon seized Kai’s right hand. He tried to resist, but to his horror, he couldn’t move a muscle. A split second later, they were before the obsidian altar. Kharon pressed Kai’s palm flat against the dark stone.

  A buzzing sensation coursed through his fingers. It spread up his arm and expanded through his body.

  No, not his body - his soul.

  The buzzing was warm. Comfortable. It felt…right.

  Like a piece of the puzzle he didn’t know was missing slotted into place. The sensation soon faded. The entire ordeal took only moments.

  Kharon released his grip. “How does it feel?”

  Kai tentatively moved his fingers. He was in control again, for now. The violation, the unwanted gift, the powerlessness.

  His limbs shook, his heart raced.

  It was clear now.

  He couldn’t have the luxury of choice until he was powerful enough to take it.

  Newfound strength surged through his soul. But that did little to calm his mind.

  “H—how did you…why couldn’t I move?”

  Kharon waved his hand as though it were a minor issue. “Oh that? I took control. No need to worry about it.”

  Took control? No need to worry? Was this bastard insane?

  A rising heat blanketed Kai’s soul.

  Kharon’s eyebrows rose. “As a Guardian, and a resident of your soul palace, I can…commandeer your body and soul from time to time.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t worry! I won’t do anything nefarious. I’m your big brother, aren’t I? I want the best for you. It’s only for emergencies and things of that nature.”

  Bile burned the back of Kai’s throat. Sweat lined his back, and a falling sensation gripped his stomach.

  He was trapped. He had no way out. Would he even know if he was being influenced?

  He shivered.

  “Have you…taken control before?”

  “Of course. How do you think I stopped Barab from purging you?”

  “Am I strong enough to know who Barab is now?”

  Kharon nodded. “That stubborn old fellow hates unbalanced things - you are the most unbalanced of all. Carrying the lineage of two fundamental gods is no small feat. I’d be jealous if you weren’t so pitiful.”

  Kai fantasised about crushing Kharon’s smug face. To seize control of his future, to never submit again. But Kharon would only laugh and insult him for being weak.

  He was right - Kai was pitiful.

  “Who is Barab? Why does he care about me?”

  “Why are you so hung up on that fossil? You’ve just graduated to the most powerful Marked in existence. You’ve the potential to become the most powerful demon ever. Father already convinced Balance God to let you be.”

  Balance God?

  A memory surfaced in his mind - the golden scales as large as buildings. The dark eyes behind them. That was Balance God? What did he have to do with this?

  Wait - there was a balancing error when he first arrived here.

  “Does Balance God control the system?”

  “No, brother. Balance God is the system.”

  Kai was full of questions; his mind spun.

  Kharon placed a cold hand on Kai’s shoulder. Kai recoiled, stumbling backward down the stone steps.

  Kharon let out a breath. “Barab’s not important right now. How do you feel?”

  “I’d feel better if you couldn’t take control of my soul at your leisure.”

  Kharon chuckled. “Still sore about that? I want you to survive and become strong. Don’t you want the same?”

  Kai had no desire to stay weak and die. But that didn’t mean he wanted to be controlled and violated.

  “That’s not the issue—”

  “You’re afraid of me controlling you? Well, I won’t. Unless it’s an emergency. But we want the same things, so I won’t need to. You’ll come around soon enough.”

  Kai gritted his teeth. “You just controlled me against my will.”

  “An emergency. We had little time before Barab—“

  Messages burned themselves into Kai’s mind.

  [Calculating Rewards…]

  [ERROR…]

  [2 DIVINE LINEAGES DETECTED.]

  [ADDING A NEW CURSE.]

  The stabbing pain of countless blades assaulted Kai’s soul.

  Is Kharon a friend or foe?

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