Ciaran started to walk inside the hole his shadows have dug in the borders of the Yuko Boundary.
It was dark and unsettling. The vampire prince wasn't even sure that he would be able to enter the forbidden region without his body turning into dust the moment he enters its premises.
Slowly, he inched his way further inside the humungous cave-like hole dug.
He kept on sighing. Nervousness creeping up his spine.
He wouldn't have to go through so much danger especially if the risk is too high just for a single shadow soldier.
But he needed this. He needed this shadow soldier in order to achieve a step higher than the other candidates to be the sovereign of darkness.
"Master... kurkh..." the dead sword master called beside him and Ciaran turned his head to look at the undead.
"Wait for me at the boundary's borders. I will immediately transfer when I finish the job." After instructing the dead sword master, the vampire prince immediately started to trudge again in the hole underground.
Step
Step
He breathed hard when he knew he was now underground of the forbidden region.
It was too quick for him to notice but Ciaran's own magic power was getting depleted at a minimal level.
He wasn't casting any extravagant spells nor was he summoning all of his shadows for his magic to start dropping but it was being consumed by the forbidden region.
"Fuck." He cursed and pushed his hair back. The temperature kept on getting warmer as he headed inside.
He was now at a considerable distance from the boundary and as he went inside, his magic continued to get depleted.
But no, he cannot go back now nor does he plan on doing so anytime soon.
Dark magic started to surround his body and the prince's eyes glowed red. He felt his feet get lighter and his movements were faster.
"I won't be able to reach the center if I simply walk." He continued to manifest his magic in order to enhance his body.
He'd rather consume his magic faster and reach the region's center quicker than it being consumed by the forbidden region without actually being utilized into something useful.
"Haste."
In the blink of an eye, the vampire prince sprinted extremely fast. Almost like the wind, Ciaran's shadow even lagged behind him.
"Who dares to go inside?"
He abruptly paused when he heard something speak.
"Respond or I will end your life immediately."
His breath was caught in his throat when Ciaran felt his heart pound faster.
"I came here to offer you a proposal." He spoke despite his lungs running out of air.
The voice did not speak anymore and Ciaran continued to head further.
'That's the creature.'
He thought and started to head deeper.
It was too powerful that he wasn't at the center yet, the creature was already able to restrict his breathing at an alarming rate.
'Even in the afterlife, it still is able to act on the living world.' He gritted his teeth and his jaw tightened.
It was too dangerous.
Stepping inside the hole a few minutes further, Ciaran heard the hollow voice speak once more.
"Offer?"
He nodded his head and clenched his hands.
"Yes."
"What can a measly creature of the darkness like you do?"
Sensing the creature's distaste in his presence, Ciaran tried to speak again but he felt the creature's presence disappear again.
His magic was now missing a quarter of its full capacity and he wasn't even in the middle of the distance between him and the creature.
Clicking his tongue, the vampire prince continued to head further inside while sprinting extremely fast.
'This is going to take me so long.' He decided to postpone any unnecessary thoughts for now and just continue on his journey towards the center of the forbidden region.
"Do not take a step further or I will bury you under the forbidden region."
He quickly stopped in his way after hearing the voice speak.
Ciaran paused. Not a single step was taken nor did he even try to turn his head around. He simply stared ahead at the tunnel of darkness created by his shadows a few days ago.
"Tell me, vampire. What do you propose?" The creature inquired and Ciaran had to take a few deep breaths since the temperature started becoming extremely uncomfortable.
It was too hot to properly focus but he needed to do this.
"I... I am Ciaran Fenrir Aegenwulf, a vampire prince and a lycanthrope-."
But he wasn't even able to finish his sentence when the creature laughed so loud that the tunnel he created was shaking as if it was about to collapse.
"A mixture of a dog and a blood sucking insect! You dare offer a proposal to the king of serpents!" It mocked him but Ciaran remained unfazed.
No, he already had enough of all the mockery due to his origin and composition.
"Life. I will offer you eternal life in the realms of my void." He spoke and the shaking tunnel became quiet in an instant. The voice became silent and Ciaran took the sign for him to continue heading inside.
A second, a minute, an hour had passed and Ciaran did not hear the voice again.
His sprinting was starting to slow down as his magic was now at half.
If he was walking through the desert of the forbidden region, he would have disintegrated into dust the moment he entered the premise, but he was underground right now. The effects were at the minimal level so he was able to sustain himself.
Ciaran also felt the link between him and his shadows start to thin.
It was until he reached the end of the tunnel that his shadows have created.
There was no longer any way to go further and Ciaran had reached a dead end.
"Is this the end?" He inquired and touched the wall that signified the tunnel's ending.
"Vampire, tell me."
He heard the voice again making Ciaran roam his eyes in the surroundings.
It was dark and creatures who don't have enhanced vision won't be able to see a single thing inside.
But Ciaran can still observe the clean walls his shadows have made.
'That's why they kept on disappearing. They reached the corpse.' He concluded and stared back at the wall blocking his way.
"I am a candidate to be the sovereign of darkness. I need you to become my ally in order for me to achieve my goal." He spoke truthfully and it seemed like the creature was considering his proposition.
"Candidate...?"
"Yes. I was supposed to be one of your competitors right now but the other candidates have already killed you." He spoke and the voice, surprised by the prince's words suddenly started laughing.
'HAHAH! Clever! Clever insect!' It taunted.
'That is correct! I am one of the candidates to be the sovereign of darkness but the others had ganged up on me. Cowards!' It raged but Ciaran continued to keep quiet.
'Those Nagas and Sirens! The putrid smell of their scales are still lingering in my nose! Disgusting!' It was starting to reveal its hidden memories and Ciaran was now starting to get more and more confident.
Though he was still very much wary.
What he was facing right now is another candidate to be the sovereign of darkness.
Someone who is more powerful than him. His shadows could not even touch the dead body buried in the center of the forbidden region nor could he also pass through without gaining the creature's favor.
"I will help you."
'Ha! And will you be able to kill the candidates that resides on the northern ocean?!' It inquired him and Ciaran paused for a moment.
This was it.
The condition the dead candidate was offering him.
It was the reality when someone becomes a candidate. In order to become the sovereign, they needed to eliminate other candidates.
Ciaran was a gravedigger. He searches through the graves of those who died and still has unfinished businesses in the world.
"I will kill them for you. If you become my ally, I will do the job and finish the other candidates." His magic was now close to a quarter portion left and if Ciaran does not get out of the underground tunnel anytime soon, he would turn into dust and die.
The voice scoffed before it started speaking again.
'You desire to become the sovereign of darkness.' It stated and Ciaran nodded his head.
He needed this creature to become his shadow and in order to gain its trust, he needed to be truthful with his words.
'Tell me why you desire to become the sovereign, vampire. You will die against the class of the other candidates.' It spoke and Ciaran knew that well too.
"I need to protect someone." He admitted again.
'Protect someone?! Preposterous! Such goals could never be the reason why one becomes the sovereign!" It raged in the tunnel and Ciaran had to maintain his balance.
He was already losing so much magic power and if it drops to the most dangerous levels, he could either transfer to his dead sword master and escape the forbidden region.
But that would also mean the fruits of his labor would get into waste.
'I am the King of Serpents and I bow down to no one else!' It screeched angrily and the tunnel started to shake violently again.
"But you will never get the revenge you want if you do not come to live once more." He countered.
If only Ciaran's magic leaned more into the authoritative type, he would've grabbed this creature and turn it into one of his shadows immediately. Yet it wasn't.
It was the flaw of Ciaran's magic.
He can absorb the souls of the dead and turn them into his army only if they consent it.
If the creature does not desire to become Ciaran's ally, he could not do anything about it.
That's why his void was filled with the most violent and dangerous creatures who cannot accept their death and wished to continue living in the world even though it would mean they'd become his soldiers.
"The person I am trying to protect is currently one of the most powerful humans." It may sound absurd but that's what Ciaran thinks Pier is right now.
"Ha! Humans! One of the most disgusting creatures to ever live in the world!" It was still far from being persuaded and Ciaran's magic was starting to reach the dangerous levels.
Of course, it was natural for this creature to despise humans.
"I will avenge you and kill the other candidates on the northern oceans. Ignore my purpose and see my proposal. I may be weaker when you are still alive but I am your final hope in getting vengeance." Ciaran was frustrated with how tough the dead creature's soul was.
"Live the life and rule the void I own. Become my captain and you will find eternal life in the realms of the dead." His eyes started to glow red and dark magic intensified around him.
"King of the Serpents and a candidate of the darkness, what do you say?" Sweat dripped down his forehead and his entire body was soaked.
"I am intrigued of the human you speak. Fulfil my conditions and you will absorb my power once I depart from the world after completing my vengeance."
"Understood."
"Very well, then take my soul and raise me from the afterlife, vampire!" It spoke with its mighty voice that had the vampire prince's body acquire shiver from the force and authority.
It wasn't indeed a normal creature that one could see.
The creature he was facing right now was one of the most prominent candidates to be the sovereign of darkness but died due to the other candidates killing it.
It was one of the mythical creatures that resides at the top along with dragons and phoenixes.
"Rise from the depths of the underworld and lend me your strength. As a candidate to be the sovereign of darkness, I request your agreement to become my ally." He chanted and his magnificent dark magic erupted inside the tunnel.
It filled every corner like a flowing river of dead souls.
"I agree."
That was what all it needed for him.
The confirmation that the candidate agreed to become his shadow.
The almighty creature that stands on par with dragons and phoenixes, the candidate that can kill its enemies with a single glance.
Slowly, he saw an outline of a giant creature that was crawling inside the tunnel he created.
Standing still in his spot, Ciaran waited for a few moments until the outline of the giant and terrifying creature stood in front of him.
"Take my soul and fulfil my revenge, vampire. If you fail, I will consume your entire body and throw you in the depths of hell." It gave its warnings but Ciaran already had the plan it spoke.
He was already aiming to kill the other candidates to be the sovereign of darkness.
Reaching his hand out, Ciaran's chest started to pound extremely fast.
Flashes of memories came running through his mind and every single one was focused on the most recent events of his life.
His home.
The kingdom he's currently building.
The people and the vampires that he needed to take care off.
'Pier.'
When he thought of the name that made his purpose and goals known, his eyes turned into crescent shapes as a smile made its way on his face.
His red glowing eyes turned gold.
All for Pier he would become darkness itself.
When Ciaran touched the outline of the monstrous creature in his ocean of darkness, he closed his eyes.
A gush of the other candidate's power forcefully made its way in his body and Ciaran felt the overwhelming difference between him and the dead candidate.
It was too powerful but he will persist.
No light could be seen as the entire forbidden region turned dark. The sands turned black and the Yuko Boundary witnessed the horrifying sight.
It was then, the creature of the myths and legends, the basilisk became one of his shadows.
"...."
There goes a saying that "When the night finds its crib, darkness shall consume the world for three days straight." Many are still looking for the crib spoken by the old tale yet until now, no one was able to find it.
But as a candidate turns the power of another into his own, it became the onset of the saying.
An inception worthy of trembling souls and the entire world; The eastern continent was engulfed in darkness for a single day.