The Wish
Chapter 30
Eidolon's teeth sank into his own lip.
Hard.
The taste of iron filled his mouth as blood slowly ran down his chin.
His eyes burned with something far deeper than fear.
Anger.
Then-
"Ha..."
A faint laugh slipped from his throat.
"Ha... hahaha..."
The sound echoed weakly across the silent arena.
The shadow entity tilted its head slightly, the flames of darkness that formed its body flickering with mild curiosity.
Eidolon's laughter grew louder.
"Hahahaha...!"
The laughter was wrong.
Broken.
Unstable.
"What's so funny, kid?" the entity asked calmly.
Eidolon slowly raised his head.
Blood trailed from the corner of his mouth, but his lips were stretched into a twisted smile.
"Hold on..." he said quietly.
His voice trembled-but not with fear.
"With what you just said..."
His eyes locked onto the creature.
"...if I understand correctly..."
The smile deepened.
"You'll grant one of my wishes, right?"
For a moment-
The entity did not answer.
Then its head tilted back slightly in surprise.
"Oh?"
The flames of darkness rippled.
"Well... well..."
Slowly, the being lowered its head again until its face hovered directly in front of Eidolon's.
Too close.
Unnaturally close.
Eidolon felt the pressure of its presence crushing against his very soul.
And yet-
Even now-
He couldn't see its face.
There was nothing there.
No skin.
No eyes.
No features.
Just a hollow darkness that swallowed all meaning.
Does it even... have a face? Eidolon wondered.
The entity chuckled.
"Anything, kid."
Those two words fell into the arena like a death sentence.
"Anything you wish for."
Eidolon's eyes widened.
The smile on his face slowly twisted into something darker.
Something almost inhuman.
Blood dripped from his lips as his voice trembled with excitement.
"Then..."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I wish for-"
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