Crimson Citadel
The ritual had finally begun.
Within the Crimson Citadel, the matriarch's children—Ryvex, Rin, and Elara—had been summoned to determine who among them was worthy of wielding the two Curse Blades: the Dark Cursed Blade and the Red Cursed Blade.
Xyne, Skye, Xyke, and Draven had gone upstairs to the hall, where they waited for the matriarch and the others to arrive. Skye looked around the room, her curiosity becoming impossible to hide.
"So, what exactly is this?" she asked.
Xyne glanced at her, but before she could answer, Xyke leaned forward.
"Come on. I'm curious too."
Xyne folded her arms. "It's an inheritance ritual. They perform it to determine who is worthy of wielding one of the Curse Blades."
Xyke's expression changed. "Wait—the Curse Blades? You mean the ancient blades capable of destroying an Origin?"
Xyne nodded.
The doors opened, and the matriarch entered the hall in a long dress that trailed behind her. Ryvex, Rin, and Elara followed her into the room. Rin had already mastered the ability to walk, allowing her to move without assistance.
The three children sat in front of a low table positioned on the floor, while Xyne and the others sat behind them. At the front of the room stood an idol. The matriarch approached it, bowed her head, and then returned to her place before the table.
Rin looked around in confusion. She turned toward Elara and spoke in a small voice.
"What are we doing?"
Elara smiled faintly. "Just watch."
Then she turned her attention forward again.
Ryvex stared at her. "You told me you didn't want to wield a blade."
Elara kept her face turned toward the front of the room. Her expression was calm, but the hatred beneath it had not disappeared.
"That was before Rhyzok was killed," she replied. "Aren't you happy?"
She turned slightly toward Ryvex and gave him a cold smile before mimicking his voice.
"Demons must not be with spiritual beings. Leave Rhyzok alone. I'm glad he's dead."
Her expression returned to normal, but her eyes remained fixed on him.
"And I'm going to kill you," she continued. "I swear it with my life. I'll make you beg for mercy."
Skye's expression tightened with fear. Xyne lowered her gaze, pain passing across her face as Elara's words struck her.
Elara noticed.
"Baby girl."
Xyne slowly raised her head.
Elara's voice softened into something almost gentle. "Oh, don't feel bad. Feel good."
Then her tone deepened, and the warmth vanished from her expression.
"And you, too. I will destroy every single being involved in Rhyzok's death. I'll kill Elarion as well."
A dark demonic aura began to gather around Skye. The pressure in the room shifted as her energy rose, but Elara only smiled.
"You'd better kill me now," Elara said, turning her attention toward the front again. "Because if you don't, you're going to regret it."
Before Skye could respond, the matriarch returned carrying four blades.
The Dark Cursed Blade consisted of two connected katana-like blades. The Red Cursed Blade was constructed in the same dual-blade form. The moment the matriarch entered with them, the energy radiating from the weapons filled the hall.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Draven's body began to crack under the pressure. Xyke's body reacted the same way, his form struggling against the overwhelming force released by the blades.
The matriarch placed the two dark blades on the table, then placed the two red blades beside them, leaving a small space between the two sets.
"Leave before you die," she said.
Draven and Xyke did not argue. They immediately ran outside.
The matriarch turned toward Xyne and Skye. "You are fortunate. Both of you already wield dark energy. That is probably why your bodies are not peeling apart under the pressure."
She then sat in front of the table, facing her children.
Her gaze settled on Elara.
"You do not deserve to be here."
Elara said nothing.
The matriarch continued, her voice cold. "You will not touch either of these blades. You chose a spiritual being over your own lineage. How devastating."
Elara finally looked at her.
"Well, he's dead now," she said. "Isn't that what all of you wanted?"
The matriarch's expression changed slightly. "Dead?"
Elara smiled without joy.
"Oh, you don't know yet?" she asked. "Well, he's dead. Your son's friends killed him."
Her eyes hardened as she looked directly at the matriarch.
"I hope you're happy."
Then she added, with quiet bitterness, "Mom."
The matriarch remained silent for a moment. She did not appear prepared for the news, but she did not allow the emotion to remain on her face for long. She released a slow sigh and turned her attention back to the blades.
"May the ritual begin."
She looked toward Ryvex.
"Ryvex, stand."
Ryvex rose.
"Pick up the Dark Cursed Blade. That is your first test. We will see whether you are strong enough to unsheathe it."
Ryvex stared at the dark dual-blade katana. He gathered himself, then reached toward it. The instant his hand moved close to the weapon, his hand shattered beneath the pressure.
His eyes widened.
He immediately regenerated it. This time, he infused his hand with red demonic energy before reaching for the blade again. When his fingers touched the handle, nothing happened.
Hope returned to his face.
Ryvex tightened his grip and tried to lift the weapon. His muscles strained. His demonic energy surged through his body. He pulled harder and shouted, but the blade did not move—not even slightly.
The hope in his expression faded.
He looked toward his mother.
The matriarch turned toward Rin. "Rin, your turn."
Rin stood. She was still only as tall as the low table in front of them, but she walked toward the blade without hesitation. She reached for the Dark Cursed Blade and lifted it with ease.
The room went silent.
Rin looked at her mother and smiled.
Ryvex stared at her in disbelief. "No. No, no, no. That isn't possible!"
The matriarch looked at him sharply. "No shouting, Ryvex."
She then turned toward the blades before looking back at him.
"Carry the Red Cursed Blade."
Ryvex stared at the red dual-blade katana with uncertainty. He reached toward it and touched the handle.
Nothing happened.
He cautiously lifted the weapon. To his surprise, it rose easily from the table.
The matriarch smiled.
"Rin will now be the original holder and wielder of the Dark Cursed Blade—the dual katana."
Ryvex's expression tightened.
The matriarch stood and looked at him. "This is your last test."
Then she turned toward Xyne and Skye.
"Everyone, step outside. This final test will be dangerous."
Xyne and Skye immediately left the room, but they remained outside the doorway, watching through the opening.
The matriarch looked at Elara. "You too. Leave."
Elara did not move.
The matriarch raised one hand and created a transparent red barrier across the doorway. It allowed Xyne and Skye to see inside while protecting them from the energy that would soon be released.
Then she looked back at Ryvex.
"Now unsheathe the blade."
Ryvex stared at the Red Cursed Blade. He wrapped his hand around the handle and tried to steady himself.
I can do this.
He pulled.
The blade opened only slightly—just enough for a narrow gap to appear.
A massive wave of energy burst from the opening. The building shook violently. Cracks spread across the walls, and even the transparent red barrier began to fracture.
The matriarch smiled as the force sent her hair flying behind her.
Rin immediately ran toward her. The matriarch caught her and held her securely against her body while the energy continued tearing through the room.
Elara remained seated, watching Ryvex in silence.
Ryvex's expression twisted with panic. He immediately forced the blade closed.
The instant it shut, the barrier shattered. The walls surrounding the room broke apart, and the entire chamber was left in ruins.
The matriarch looked around at the destruction. She infused her hand with red demonic energy and swept it across the damaged structure. The energy spread through the broken walls, rebuilding the room and restoring the construction around them.
When everything had returned to its original form, she looked at the children.
"Well done."
Ryvex immediately turned toward her.
"Why didn't you make Rin open the blade?"
The matriarch looked down at Rin, who was still holding the Dark Cursed Blade.
"She is still young. She would not be able to open it safely. Even if she managed to, she could die."
Elara finally stood.
"Can I try now?"
The matriarch's eyes moved toward her. "You have no blade to wield, my dear."
Elara closed her eyes and stretched out both hands.
Ryvex immediately turned toward her. "Hey! Don't do anything crazy!"
Elara opened her eyes.
They were completely red, burning with a dangerous intensity. Red demonic flames began to surround her body, rising from her form and twisting through the air.
Then the building began to shake.
A deep rumble moved through the Crimson Citadel as though something beneath the structure had awakened. The walls trembled. The floor vibrated. Cracks formed around the room.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
The Crimson Blade had begun searching for its master.
The weapon moved on its own, tearing through the structure as it crossed the citadel. The moment it reached Elara, it flew directly into her hand.
Elara caught it.
Her red demonic flames surged higher, and an immense shockwave exploded outward from her body. The entire building shattered around them. For a moment, time itself seemed to slow as the force of the blade and Elara's energy overwhelmed the room.
The matriarch sighed.
Then she snapped her fingers.
The shattered building immediately returned to its original shape, the broken structure reconstructing itself around them as if the destruction had never happened.
Elara looked down at the blade in her hand. A small smile appeared on her face.
"Looks like I've gotten my blade."
Her flames slowly faded, and she turned away from the others.
Then Elara left.
To be continued...