As the tremors subsided, Aiden stood amidst the aftermath of his transformation, his body trembling with the weight of his choice. His left eye radiated with an intense crimson glow, a testament to the pact he had sealed. The eye that once held his ordinary sight was now a vessel for the very essence of Balor's chaotic might.
The Eye of Discord was no longer an external artifact—it was a part of him, an extension of his being. Its power surged within him, intertwining with his thoughts and emotions, a force that could shape reality itself.
Balor's voice whispered once again in his mind, a sinister undercurrent beneath his words. "You have chosen well, my Scion. The world is now yours to shape, to bend to your will."
Aiden's heart pounded in his chest as he looked around at the underground basement, the aftermath of the cataclysmic event that had just unfolded. He had accepted the power, but the weight of the pact bore down upon him, a constant reminder of the consequences of his choice.
Aiden could feel a connection to the chaos the Eye of Discord represented—an unbreakable bond that would forever shape his destiny. But there was no time for self-pity or doubt.
Balor's voice, a persistent presence in Aiden's mind, urged him forward. "The path you have chosen is not without purpose, Aiden. To dwell in the past is to shackle yourself. Your true potential lies ahead."
Aiden's resolve hardened as he burnt all the lifeless bodies in the underground basement. The ten children, Mrs. Elsworth, and some of Balor's worshippers were turned to ashes along with the orphanage as it crumbled.
Aiden walked through the burning village and surveyed the destruction. Aiden's eyes blazed with an eerie crimson light, pulsed with raw power, fueling his every thought and emotion. The death and destruction around him ignited a rage that surged within his chest, a tempest of anger and sorrow.
Before him, the remaining worshipers of Balor stood, their eyes wide with terror as they faced the wrath of the newly anointed Scion of Discord. Aiden's presence alone was imposing, his aura radiating otherworldly darkness that seemed to swallow the very light.
With a furious cry, Aiden lunged forward, his movements swift and deadly. His hands crackled with chaotic energy, and he unleashed waves of discord that tore through the air, leaving trails of destruction in their wake. The worshipers tried to defend themselves, but their efforts were feeble against the unleashed fury of a Scion.
"Run if you want to live," one of the worshipers shouted, his voice tinged with desperation as he stumbled backward.
Aiden's lips curled into a malicious grin, his voice dripping with venom. "Running won't save you from the chaos you've sown."
He conjured a maelstrom of energy around him, sending shockwaves that shattered the ground beneath the worshipers. They scattered in all directions, their pleas for mercy drowned out by the cacophony of chaos. Aiden moved with unnatural speed, appearing before them in flashes of crimson light, his strikes relentless and merciless.
"Please, have mercy!" another worshiper begged, falling to his knees.
Aiden's laughter echoed in the air, devoid of compassion. "Mercy? Like the mercy you showed to the innocent lives you took? Tell me, where is Lily?"
One worshiper's gaze met Aiden's, a mixture of fear and disdain in his eyes. "I have no knowledge of any Lily. Our goal was to seek the Scion of Discord, to ensure the revival of our savior, Balor."
Aiden's anger surged as he grabbed the worshiper by the collar and roared. "You come here, destroy everything I hold dear! Tell me the truth!"
The worshiper's lips curled into a defiant grin. "Truth is a matter of perspective, Scion of Discord. You have embraced chaos, and chaos seeks no reason."
Aiden's grip tightened, his patience wearing thin. With a swift movement, he ended the worshiper's life, his crimson eye glowing with intensity. As the lifeless body fell, Aiden's breaths came in ragged gasps, his heart heavy with the weight of his actions.
As his fists collided with the worshipers, the very fabric of reality seemed to waver. Each blow was infused with the power of the Eye of Discord, a force that tore at their very existence. With a sweep of his hand, Aiden conjured tendrils of darkness that ensnared his foes, rendering them powerless.
Amidst the chaos, one worshiper managed to find his voice. "Balor! Protect us! Aid your faithful!"
Aiden's gaze burned with fury as he heard the worshiper's plea. "Your cries won't save you. Balor won't hear you anymore."
With a final surge of energy, Aiden unleashed a cataclysmic blast that engulfed the remaining worshipers in a torrent of discordant energy. Their screams were swallowed by the vortex, their forms disintegrating into nothingness. The ground trembled beneath the force of the unleashed power, and the very air crackled with remnants of the chaotic onslaught.
As the dust settled, Aiden stood alone amidst the devastation. The once-thriving village had been reduced to ruins, the remnants of Balor's influence erased by his own hand. Breathing heavily, Aiden felt a mix of satisfaction and emptiness. The vengeance he had sought was now exacted, but at a heavy cost.
Balor's voice whispered in his mind, a chilling reminder of his pact. "Impressive, my Scion. You have proven your loyalty to the chaos within."
Aiden's grip tightened into fists as he replied, his voice laced with anger. "Is this what you wanted, Balor? Is this the power you bestowed upon me?"
"Indeed," Balor replied, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "You are now the harbinger of my will, the embodiment of the discord that will reshape this world."
Aiden's eyes narrowed, the reality of his choice sinking in. "What is it that you need for your revival?"
"Patience, my Scion," Balor's voice echoed. "First, we have much to accomplish. Your journey begins now."
With a heavy sigh, Aiden clenched his jaw. He had chosen this path, and now he must walk it, no matter the price. As he took his first step into the unknown, the Eye of Discord pulsed within him, a constant reminder of the power and darkness he had embraced.
Aiden turned away from the scene, his gaze falling upon the village once more. The flames danced in the night, a grim reminder of the past he could never reclaim. Balor's voice once again echoed in his mind, offering a way forward amidst the destruction.
"Your actions were necessary, Aiden. But dwelling on them will only bind you further. Embrace the power within you. Embrace the destiny that awaits."
There was a mixture of anger and guilt gnawing at Aiden's heart. He clenched his fists, feeling the Eye of Discord's energy respond to his emotions, pulsating with a red glow.
As Aiden stood amidst the ruins of his village, his heart heavy with grief and fury, he felt a solitary tear escape his crimson eyes. It rolled down his cheek, a testament to the pain that gnawed at his soul. The devastation before him was a reflection of the turmoil within, a whirlwind of emotions that threatened to consume him whole.
The images of his childhood, the laughter of the children at the orphanage, the warmth of Mrs. Elsworth's smile—these memories were now tainted by the bloodshed and destruction that had befallen the village. Aiden's shoulders trembled as he fought to contain his anguish, to hold onto the fragments of happiness that remained.
With a shuddering breath, he closed his eyes, his fingers clenching into fists. The tear that had escaped was soon followed by others, and he let them fall without restraint. The tears were not only for the lives lost but for the innocence that had been shattered, for the choices he had made that had led to this very moment.
As the tears mingled with the ash and dust, Aiden made a silent vow. He would forgo his past, his happy memories, and the life he had once known. He would sever the ties that bound him to the village, to the laughter and love that had been his sanctuary. In this moment of agony, he sought to detach himself from the pain, to steel his heart against the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.
"I forsake these memories," Aiden whispered through clenched teeth, his voice barely audible amidst the destruction. "I cast them aside, that I may walk this path without hesitation."
With each word, he felt a piece of himself crumble away, a sacrifice to the darkness he had embraced. The weight of his decision pressed down upon him, and he struggled to keep his resolve intact. The tears continued to fall, a final lament for the innocence he had lost.
Balor's voice echoed in his mind, a haunting presence that lingered amidst the chaos. "A wise choice, my Scion. Shed your past and embrace your destiny."
Aiden's breath hitched as he opened his eyes, the crimson glow of his left eye reflecting the turmoil within. With a final glance at the ruined village, Aiden felt a surge of determination. He knew that the only way to undo the devastation he had witnessed was to follow the path he had set in motion.
A portal of darkness materialized before Aiden, a doorway to a realm beyond. Balor's voice whispered in his mind, a chilling reminder that the true purpose of his pact had yet to be fulfilled.
"Step into the portal, Aiden. Your journey has only just begun."
With one last glance back, Aiden whispered, "Goodbye, all that I once held dear."
He took a hesitant step forward, his heart heavy with the weight of his sacrifice. The portal's pull grew stronger, tugging at his very essence, threatening to engulf him in its depths. As he stood on the precipice of his new path, he let go of his past, his memories, and his innocence.
And with that final act of letting go, Aiden stepped into the portal, the world around him fading into darkness as he embarked on a journey that would forever shape the fate of the realm.
"Welcome to my void, Scion of Discord. Now, let's get down to business, shall we?"