An Ant Before the Abyss
Chapter 39
What stood at Eidolon's back was a man-
-or at least, it had the shape of one.
Its body was made entirely of darkness. Not emptiness, not shadow cast by light-but a living flame of black, writhing and burning without heat. The edges of its form flickered like a wildfire that refused to spread, as if reality itself was struggling to contain it.
It stood there, unmoving.
Watching him.
Eidolon couldn't breathe.
What kind of being did I just wish upon...?
His throat tightened.
It wasn't fear alone.
It was absolute inferiority.
Everything about the being screamed finality. As if every word it could speak would become law, every step it took would overwrite existence itself.
Compared to it-
I'm nothing.
Not even dust.
An ant.
How... how am I supposed to answer him...?
I can't even speak...
His lips trembled, but no sound came out.
Then-
"Puaa... pwaaaaaa-"
Laughter burst forth.
Deep.
Mocking.
Dominating.
"Hahahahahaha!"
The sound crushed down on the arena like a physical force, making the frozen air ripple.
"Are you serious right now, kid?" the shadow said, its voice layered-countless tones speaking as one.
"How can you look this pathetic when you already received a little bit of my power the very first time I appeared?"
Its flaming shadow leaned closer.
"Honestly, it's embarrassing."
Eidolon's heart nearly stopped.
The being tilted its head, the darkness that served as its face stretching unnaturally-then it smiled.
A wide smile.
Empty.
Bottomless.
Its eyes were nothing but deep, endless voids, swallowing all meaning behind them.
"Oh-right," it said casually.
"I guess I should apologize."
It lifted one shadowy hand and waved it dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah. I used your body without permission back then."
It leaned closer, voice dropping into a taunting whisper.
"Soooo-"
The smile widened.
"You forgive me, right?"
Eidolon's mind screamed.
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ANSWER THAT?!
His chest burned. His lungs refused to obey. His tongue felt frozen in place, as though speaking itself required permission he didn't possess.
"I-"
Nothing.
No sound.
The shadow's smile slowly faded.
"Oh?"
It straightened.
"You can't speak?"
The atmosphere darkened further.
"...That won't do."
The being raised a single finger.
And just that motion-
Made Eidolon feel like his soul was being peeled open.
"Listen carefully, little human," it said calmly.
"I don't ask questions I don't already know the answer to."
The finger lowered-pointing directly at Eidolon's chest.
"You wished."
The shadows stirred.
"And wishes..."
Its eyes burned brighter.
"...always demand payment."
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