Legacy
Chapter 16

As wascustomary, Shadow Kahn had taken to a knee before his master. Such power did the Great Deceiver have over his subject that he had nofear of turning his back on the man whose mere name could send achill down the spine of even the most brave of heart.

The newsShadow Kahn had presented was most satisfactory.

“So ourtime has finally come,” said the Great Deceiver. “With nothingleft to stand in our way, we are free to burn this world andeverything in it to ash. Quite ironic, is it not? For my punishmentwas to suffer with the flames. So how fitting it will be that thesame punishment be the one that I administer.”

“My lord,I make this request one final time,” said Shadow Kahn, not daringto direct his gaze at the one to which he was speaking. “There isstill much this world has to offer. We can still use it to glorifythe kingdom. We can create a new God.” Shadow Kahn then raisedhis head to direct a most sinister glare at the one he was obligatedto obey.

“Ithought we already put this subject to rest. Here, my word is law. When I give a command, it will be obeyed, and there will be noexceptions. For I am . . .” Before the Great Deceiver couldfinish, Shadow Kahn thrust his arm through his body.

“How goodit was of you to object to my wish every step of the way. Had younot, then this might have been far more difficult for me to do.”

“Youfool. How dare you!”

The ring offire surrounding the platform began to rage. For its master’s furywas its fury as was it the fury of the creature lurking within it.

“Afterall I did for you. This is how you show your gratitude?”

“You arethe only fool here,” said Shadow Kahn. “Did you really not seethis coming? To teach someone how to obtain such power and expectthem to bow down to you just so that they might have the privilege tocall you master. What a ridiculous concept. Whether you agree withme or not, this is the punishment that should have been dealt to youlong ago.” Shadow Kahn then hoisted the Great Deceiver’s limpbody above his head as if he was presenting a trophy for the entirerealm to see.

“I see,”said the Great Deceiver, black blood dripping from his mouth. “Thenit would seem that I underestimated your ambition.”

“Yourplans were on far too small a scale for my liking. Merely destroyingsomething is so barbaric. After all, why waste such a perfectly goodworld when you can still put it to good use? What good is power ifyou have no one to dominate with it?”

The GreatDeceiver began laughing. “You of all people should know that thereare forces that will not allow you to fulfill your desires.”

“That isonly because I have yet to obtain the power that will leave me withno equal,” said Shadow Kahn. “And the only way to do that fallsinto my plans of a new world. For how can you build without firsttearing down what stands in your way?”

“You planto feed on all of them? What an ambitious fellow you are. Thattruly will leave you with no equal. But I know that it will all befor naught if you fail to claim that boy as your own. And that showsthat you have failed to shed what little humanity you had. Oh, whata glorious fall you will have because of it.”

“He hasno one left but me. I saw to that personally. Therefore he will bemine again. Much was learned from the past. Mistakes will not bemade again.”

“What aglorious fall it will be, indeed,” whispered the Great Deceiver. When his eyes closed, the creature that had been hiding behind theflames did the same. And the fire that had been so furious justmoments before flickered away.

Acting asif it was nothing more than refuse, Shadow Kahn tossed the GreatDeceiver’s body to the floor and took his leave.

Coming uponthe demon that had hissed at him during his previous visit, ShadowKahn expected the same defiant reaction. But unlike last time, thedemon refrained from hissing at him. Instead, it bowed its head, ina show of respect.

With hisnew rank secured, Shadow Kahn returned to the world of the living.