-----
Her gaze swept across the gathered Lords. Maria's presence pressed down on them like gravity itself, warping the air and distorting the light. Her red eye, still bleeding black tears, narrowed at their sight.
"You can speak? Yes, I'm strong," Maria replied. "But you won't be fighting me. You will fight my champions," she said. "If you survive, you may earn the right to speak with me again."
"...Champions?"
A second Lord spoke. This one was red, with wings, a tail, and a featureless face. Its voice resembled that of a woman, twisted and strangely alien.
"If you can defeat any of them, just one, you will be spared."
Maria decided to play along, offering them a false sense of hope. She intended to force her way through regardless.
However...
"Kill you... instead..."
The shadow entity spoke, its glowing purple eye glaring at Maria with bloodthirsty intent.
