27 Chapter 26:Sen-sa-La..

First, it was a twich, and then it was a flicker.

The hall was silent, but the shadows, the shadows were now on the hunt.

Underneath Grim's body, pitch-black darkness slowly crept from the floor and spread throughout the hall, searching for something...for nourishment, for its Alpha, for its Father.

The shadows danced before catching a whiff of something, it was food. The 30-odd men who were unconscious or dead up on the balcony had no say in whether or not they were allowed to live.

Because they had no say, either way.

Slowly the shadows devoured the bodies of the men, they left nothing behind, skin, meat, bones, and organs.

They were all nourishing for Grim.

In less than 10 seconds the shadows returned under Grim...except one that was observing the the body of the recently deceased boy.

It pondered for a moment before also devouring the boy and returning to Grim's shadow.

Grim who had been dead for exactly 3 Minutes and 54 seconds...breathed.

Gasp!!!

He took in a deep gulp of oxygen, his wounds, not so much healing, and more so the shadows wrapping around his body, temporarily replacing his damaged organs.

"Haaaa!...I never thought I'd say this, but it's good to be alive..." Grim said as he slowly stood back up, he looked over the devastation and sighed.

Grim, like an old cat stretched his back, he heard four satisfying pops before relaxing his back and shoulders.

'Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!'

As Grim was finished stretching, he suddenly heard a low growl inside his head.' Yes, we're quite lucky aren't we...it's a good thing our prey is stupid.'

"You've been shackled, for far too long, how about you stretch those legs of yours..." In response Grim received an excited growl, he could already imagine Cubby on all fours, ready to go...

"Σκιά. - κυνήγι"

Grim chanted In Greek, and soon after ten shadows leapt out of his own and ran down the corridor Hades had left.

"Oh, I almost forgot..." Grim exclaimed, turning around to find his clothes, and soon he found them under some splintered wood, he dusted them off before putting them on.

His trench coat fluttered behind him, before gracefully falling back down. He hummed in contentment before leisurely walking in the direction Σκιά had run off to.

Whistle!!!

Grim sighed one time, he then started whistling, creating a sombre mood.

His steps were different, if before they were lazy and dreary, now they held a slight confidence.

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Hades smiled, Zhan Lu's sword in tow, it had only been around one minute since he had killed Grim.

"First, I need subordinates, some mutants would do nicely, their powers would be useful for future endeavours." Hades said as he pondered his plan for the present and the future.

As he was thinking he had no idea of the multiple eyes that were watching him, they growled and salivated but kept their hunger in.

This prey was for their father. But maybe their father wouldn't mind if they took just a little bite. A leg, or an eye would do just fine.

Suddenly as Hades was finished formulating his plan, the sword on his shoulder vibrated, Hades immediately felt the sense of danger and looked around but saw nothing.

Grrrrrrrrrrr!!....grrrr!!...grrrrrrrr!!

Suddenly blindsided, something leapt out of his shadow, scaring Hades. The creature of darkness bared its teeth ready to bite into his shoulder, but being warned he swung his sword, generating a powerful gust that destroyed a lot of the flowers in his vicinity.

But to his shock, the shadow didn't die, but instead split and disappeared into the shadow of a flower pot.

'What the hell was that, what's going on? Zhan Lu, do you know where that thing came from.' Hades asked expecting an answer like he always did...but all he received was silence.

"Huh, what's wrong Zhan Lu, why aren't you responding? HEY!!!" He shouted at the weapon but still he received no answer.

Grrrrrrrr!!!

Hades tensed up, and before he even noticed he was surrounded by nine shadows, they were shaped like wolves, but had eyes the shade of crimson blood.

They glared at Hades in glee and Hunger, their mouths watering as tar-like saliva dripped from their mouths.

It dripped onto the floor, making a distinct hissing sound, their saliva was so corrosive that the pavement started to decay in seconds.

"Who are you, what sort of sorcery is this." Hades said in slight worry, the sword wasn't responding to him and these creatures, he didn't know why but his body...no his very soul was shaken by these creatures' presence.

"No, you must be the underlings, who is it, where are you...are you such a coward that you would send vermin after me?"

Though they couldn't physically speak, the shadow wolves, perfectly understood what Hades was saying, as they received the memories of their father.

And if before they were pissed, now they were downright incessed. They growled louder before one of them howled.

Then they all began to howl, before running after Hades.

One by one, the wolves attacked. Disappearing and reappearing with unnerving unpredictability.

Hades swung his sword in wide arcs, but each strike met only air as the wolves merged with the shadows, unharmed.

"Fuck, come out you little cowards, face me!!!" Hades growled at them, but all he got back were high-pitched giggles, they were mocking him.

As he fought, Hades realized something was amiss.

The regeneration power he had stolen from Grim was failing him. Each wound inflicted by the wolves' corrosive saliva burned fiercely, and his flesh did not mend.

The realization dawned upon him - he was vulnerable, his stolen power nullified.

The wolves' attacks became more coordinated, each bite and scratch not just physically painful but also psychically tormenting.

Their presence alone seemed to drain Hades' will, clouding his judgment with fear. He swung wildly, panic setting in, as each strike failed to connect.

Suddenly, he was overwhelmed. The wolves pounced, their weight pinning him to the ground.

"Gahhhhh....let go of me you beasts, do you, ghahh...no who I am, I...Fuuuuck!!!!!"

Their saliva sizzled on his skin, each drop like acid, eating away at flesh and stone alike. Hades screamed, the sound echoing through the garden.

In his agony, he heard footsteps - slow, deliberate.

A whistle cut through the air, sending an unknown shiver down Hade's mind. From the shadows of the gigantic double doors emerged a man in a black trench coat.

Beside the man trotted a skeletal wolf, immense in stature, with patches of fur clinging to its bony frame.

A flickering flame hovered above its skull, casting an otherworldly glow. The man's eyes met Hades', and in them, he saw his doom.

The shadow wolves ceased their attack, stepping back as the man approached.

Hades, battered and broken, looked up in horror and bewilderment. The skeletal wolf growled softly, its flame casting light across the man's face.

"H-how?" Hades gasped, his voice a hoarse whisper.

Grim, knelt beside him, his voice cold as death."I guess I'm just more loved than you. Honestly, though, I should be thanking you...Michelle, you really opened my eyes."

"..."

Hades couldn't understand...his plan, his powers, everything...how did it come to this, why was he already down before he even got to start?

Why why why why Why why why why Why why why why Why why why why Why why why why Why why why why Why why why why Why why why why Why why why why Why why why why...

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Oh...he knew why...it was because he was never the honoured one from the beginning. Hades' eyes widened from this realization.

"Σκιά. - καταβροχθίζω"

As Grim stood, the skeletal wolf leaned close, its breath like the chill of the grave. Hades' screams filled the garden once more.

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Grim finally breathed out and let out a sigh as he watched Σκιά. lick the blood from his bony teeth with his shadowy tongue.

Just as Grim, was about to summon, Σκιά. back into his shadow, he approached all the Shadow wolves one by one, giving them praises.

They wagged their tails and licked his face, causing Grim to let out a slow and deep chuckle.

"Σκιά..." Grim called out, the wolf that had now finished her meal barked in response.' Wait, can wolves even bark'

"I need you to take that sword with you before entering back into my shadow...and thank you."

"Awoooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"

The big adorable killer wolf howled and soon the smaller shadows followed in his lead.

Σκιά then picked up the sword from the floor with her mouth and then, jumped into Grim's shadow, disappearing like he was never even there.

And the shadow wolves quickly followed suit before the only one in the garden was Grim.' It's finally over, isn't it...'

Bmmmmmmmm!!!

Just as Grim was thinking of heading out, his mind suddenly felt dizzy, and a bunch of information was forcefully crammed into his mind.

"..."

Suddenly, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as if remembering a sweet memory...

Grim walked along the path before making it to the empty gates. He strolled out of the mansion but halted after a few metres...he then looked up at the sky.

"Even in their end, stars leave something beautiful behind..."

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"Here is my Gift...to you, I hope you like it."

Grim lifted his hand, moving on pure instinct.

"Sen-sa-La..." he whispered... there was silence...

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Then there was light...

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Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

(...Reference Image...)