Ningyan stood still, his eyes wide, watching the haunting image before him.
The image of himself.
He could see his wings, fully spread, glowing with ominous purple energy. Unconscious Su Nianci, cradled in his arms as he struck down assassin after assassin, each one wielding demon tools, helpless before him.
He had been a force of nature. Formidable. Wrathful.
And now.... now, he was alone in this vast void, the crystal suspended before him. Its once serene blue was gone, replaced by a vivid, pulsating purple. It burned with a sickening intensity, and Ningyan couldn't shake the rising sense of dread in his chest.
The crystal was alive. Hungry.
Out of nowhere, a dozen demon tools appeared, hovering in front of him floating and waiting.
Ningyan's breath hitched.
"No. No!"
His hands shot out, grabbing two of the tools with trembling fingers. But before he could even process what was happening, the crystal pulled.
