Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 221: Domination

Smoke filled the surroundings, as the colour red enveloped the sky. The sound of falling debris could be heard everywhere as torn buildings and infrastructures appeared everywhere.

Obvious signs of skirmishes appeared everywhere as craters and gashes appeared on the empty streets of the current undisclosed location…

"Khhhh…"

With some difficulty, a handsome man got to his feet. His skin was white as jade, and he had short black hair that was in a mess at this moment. The man looked handsome…however, there was something different about him.

…He had two long black horns on the top of his head.

Standing up straight, the Patriarch's elegant clothes were now tattered.

He stood expressionlessly in the centre of the wreckage and surveyed the surrounding destruction, as well as the massive crater around him.

Silence covered the area he was in. The atmosphere was so stifling that it made one unable to breathe. Lest needed to be said to the demons kneeling beside him.

After his contractee, Smauel got killed a few months prior, the Patriarch found himself in a state of weakness.

Forcefully swallowing the iron-like taste that coated the back of his throat, the Patriarch spoke

"…What have you got to say for yourselves?"

"Vorath-khhh"

-Voum!

Vorath's voice cut through the surrounding area, cold and commanding, "It seems like your respect for me has fallen so low that you no longer refer to me by my title, huh?"

His title, the patriarch of the Malic clan, carried with it the weight of authority and lineage. Disrespect towards it was a direct challenge, and Vorath's demeanour hinted at the consequences of such insubordination.

"…as soon as you got wind of my injury you tried to seize your opportunity, how sly"

As he spoke, Vorath's gaze was directed towards the few demons kneeling beside him. The latter's usually imposing and arrogant faces were now listless and filled with powerlessness. It was obvious that they were currently being suppressed by the Patriarch.

"To think that you would be so brave…and naive to think that you could replace me in my weakened state." Vorath's words sliced through the tense air, each syllable dripping with a potent mix of disdain and authority.

The demons exchanged uneasy glances, their feeble attempts at rebellion swiftly quelled by the oppressive force that emanated from Vorath. The wreckage around them served as a stark reminder of the consequences of challenging the might of the Malic clan's patriarch.

"To think that you would be so foolish... to attack me, "Vorath continued, his voice low and menacing. His blood-red eyes bore into each demon, peeling back the layers of deceit and betrayal.

"You thought my injury would be your opportunity, a chance to cast aside loyalty for personal gain," Vorath's words lingered in the heavy silence. The demons, unable to meet his gaze, remained in a state of

submission.

"…how disappointing"

Though he tried to hide the news about his injury from his fellow tribesmen, he couldn't hide it for long.

They eventually found out. Thus they schemed behind his back so that they could take this opportunity to rise in the ranks…

Unfortunately, they had miscalculated. Although Votath had been wakened by Samuel's death, he was still, after all, a [A+] ranked borderline [ S-] ranked demon.

…They never stood a chance against him, to begin with.

The Patriarch, though weakened, radiated a commanding presence that overshadowed the feeble rebellion. The winds of change swept through the destroyed landscape as Vorath prepared to mete out consequences for those who dared challenge his authority in his moment of vulnerability.

The air crackled with the dark energy as Vorath, the Patriarch of the Malic clan, unleashed the full extent of his formidable ability, 'Domination.' The demons, now exposed to their treacherous intentions, felt an invisible force tightening around their minds.

Vorath's blood-red eyes glowed with an unsettling intensity as he delved into the depths of their consciousness. With a mere glance, he wielded the power of 'Domination,' manipulating their thoughts and emotions like a master orchestrating a malevolent symphony.

Whispers of discord echoed in the minds of the rebellious demons as Vorath exploited their fears and uncertainties. The once-confident demons found themselves consumed by paranoia and distrust, their loyalty to the rebellion unravelling under the weight of Vorath's psychic dominance.

The atmosphere shifted, becoming a battleground of mental manipulation. Vorath revelled in psychological warfare, amplifying the pre-existing doubts within the rebels' hearts. Fear danced in their eyes as they struggled against the insidious control that tightened its grip on their very essence.

As the Patriarch continued his silent assault, he sowed seeds of internal strife, making them question their allegiance and motives. The demons once united against him, now turned against each other in a chaotic frenzy induced by Vorath's relentless 'Domination.'

With a calculated finesse, Vorath exploited their vulnerabilities, leaving them paralyzed by their internal conflicts. The rebels, driven to the brink of madness, collapsed to the ground, their once-ambitious rebellion crumbling under the weight of Vorath's psychic mastery.

In the aftermath of the mental onslaught, Vorath stood amidst the defeated, his expression unchanged. The silence that followed was broken only by the agonized whispers of the fallen demons, now ensnared in the web of their shattered minds.

"Huuuu…"

Taking a deep breath, Vorath closed his eyes. Seemingly trying his best to recover his energy. A minute after closing his eyes, as if sensing something, Vorath's eyes slightly opened as he looked towards the distance

"What brings you here…Leader of titan shifter demon, Sable?"

-Fwap!

Appearing from the other side of a tall building, standing in the air, a two-meter-tall demon with two large bat-like wings covered the sun. Staring at Angelica from above, Everblood slightly laughed

"Kukuku, it seems like nothing escapes your perception, Sir Patrich, or would you prefer it if I called you Vorath?"

-Vooom!

As soon as those words escaped from Sable mouth as if he had triggered Vorath's reverse scale, an overwhelming pressure bore down on everything that was around him. Everything that was around him blew away as fine miniature crevices appeared beneath the ground where he was standing.

The atmosphere crackled with tension as Vorath's aura intensified, the very ground beneath him trembling with the weight of his power. The fallen debris danced in the air, caught in the maelstrom of energy surrounding the patriarch.

Sable, the leader of the titan shifter demon, faced the wrath of Vorath with an unfazed demeanour. His bat-like wings unfurled, casting a shadow over the wreckage below. The air hung heavy with the impending clash between two formidable demons.

Amidst the silent confrontation, Vorath's voice resonated with a chilling edge, "It seems you have a death wish, Sable."

Sable chuckled a low and ominous sound that echoed through the desolate landscape. "Ah, Vorath, always quick to assume the worst. I'm here not for conflict but for an alliance," he declared, his tone holding a subtle mix of confidence and mockery.

The pressure in the air persisted, and the ground beneath Sable continued to fracture under Vorath's overwhelming power. Yet, Sable remained undeterred, meeting Vorath's intense gaze with an unwavering stare.

"You? A demon forsaken by the demon king himself wants my alliance? Ha, you sure have a nice dream Sable but let me remind you, that you are the last of your kin! All of your members died in the human world and you stand alone, forsaken and desperate," Vorath's voice echoed with a harsh truth as he continued to exert his dominance.

Noticing Vorath expression, Sable covered his mouth. From time to time his body would tremble as he tried his best to hold his laughter…in the end, he failed.

"Kukuku…kukuku…kuku-hahahahahaah"

"What are you laughing at!"

After a couple of seconds of maniacal laughter, wiping the tears that had appeared in the corner of his eyes, Sable couldn't help but say

"…there's no need for you to pretend anymore"

"What are you talking about?"

Leisurely standing in the air, Sable glanced at Vorath with slight contempt in his eyes.

"…That as of right now you are not my match"

As if Sable's words pierced his heart, Vorath couldn't help but grit his teeth in anger. Staring at Sable in the air, with his jaw clenched, Vorath angrily spat

"…so it was you who planned all of this?"

Pausing for a moment, whilst still in the air, Sable shook his hands as he innocently said

"No, no, no, believe me. I'm innocent with regards to this incident."

Vorath's gaze intensified, a mixture of suspicion and frustration etched across his face. "Innocent? You appear conveniently when chaos unfolds, and you claim innocence? Explain yourself, Sable."

Sable descended slowly, his wings folding with a graceful elegance. He chuckled once again, the sound sending shivers through the tense atmosphere. "You see, Vorath, I may not have orchestrated this chaos, but I certainly didn't mind taking advantage of it."

The ground beneath Vorath rumbled as if mirroring the tumult within him. "Advantage? What game are you playing, Sable?"

With a sly grin, Sable responded, "The game of survival, my dear Vorath. I know you're weakened, and these rebels, though feeble, provided a perfect distraction for me to approach you."

Vorath's eyes narrowed, a storm brewing within. "Approach me? For what purpose?"