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Chapter 16 – An Offer Born of Shadows

The darkness of night had been pierced by the cold light of stars scattered across the sky. The wind howled through the barren hills, carrying with it a strange unease that clung to the edges of the Eternals’ encampment. The eyes of the sentries narrowed slightly when they spotted the silhouette moving in the distance. Though the figure resembled a man, the aura he carried was far too dense and dark to belong to a mere mortal.

V was gliding through the shadows. With every step, the ground cracked beneath him, and the air grew heavier. His dark cloak, caught in the wind, flowed behind him like a trail of black smoke. In his hand, the new staff of darkness shimmered like a bolt of lightning forged from the night itself. His eyes were vacant, yet resolute — tonight, either a pact would be forged or another war would erupt.

As he neared the entrance of the camp, lights flared to life ahead of him. A dozen Eternal warriors blocked the path, armed with spears and shields woven from energy. One of them stepped forward — a woman whose voice was laced with command: Thena.

“We know who you are,” she said. “But don’t think you’ll be welcomed here.”

V inclined his head slightly. “I didn’t come to be welcomed. I only came to speak.”

“Speaking with you is as dangerous as war itself,” added Ikaris, descending from the air like a silent blade. “You’ve been gone for years. And now you return, suddenly, bearing what? Another cursed shadow?”

V’s eyes didn’t flicker. “What I bring is a final chance… a solution born from darkness.”

After a brief silence, he was escorted to the center of the camp — to the round fire circle. All of the Eternals were present: Ikaris, who had taken leadership in Ajak’s absence; Sersi, whose gaze held wisdom; Makkari, whose silence carried a thunderous weight; Druig, overflowing with inner fury; and the others… all watching V with a mix of curiosity and caution.

It was Sersi who spoke first. “We tried to help you once. But you chose the shadows.”

“The shadows chose me,” V answered. “And I learned to live with them. Now… I’ve learned to command them.”

Druig let out a sharp laugh. “Command? The darkness that writhes around you is far from under control. Don’t lie to us.”

V gently tapped his staff against the ground. Thin black cracks spread across the soil, but the darkness immediately receded. “What you see is just the surface. I rule them now. And I’ve come to wield that power against the Deviants.”

Ikaris frowned. “Why now? Why return after all this time?”

V’s voice spread like a whispering shadow. “Because we’ve lost enough people. The lands I’ve walked are drenched in the blood of thousands of Deviants. But their numbers are rising. Their leader — Lord Phoros — is nearing his final transformation. Without uniting with you, we cannot stop him.”

Thena stepped forward. “And what do you want in return?”

V turned his gaze toward her. “Freedom. The protection of my territory. No Eternal will set foot there again. My people belong to me — and I will continue to protect them.”

Druig leaned forward. “So you help us, but then demand we stay away? That sounds more like a threat.”

“No,” said V. “It’s a balance. You’ve created your own order. And I’ve carved one from the dark. But we share a common enemy. If we don’t fight together now, there will be no tomorrow for any of us.”

Makkari signed something swiftly. Sersi translated her message aloud. “Can we trust you? How do we know you won’t lose control?”

V raised his head slightly. His eyes glinted with a flicker of black light. “The only thing that can stop me is my own will. And I swear… that will shall not fade until Lord Phoros is destroyed.”

The camp fell silent. But just then, a crack resounded across the sky. On the horizon, a Deviant patrol had spotted the camp. The warriors sprang into action.

Ikaris turned to V. “This will be your test. If you truly stand with us… prove it now.”

V silently lifted his staff. A black circle opened in the sky above. From it, Shadow’s dark form descended in complete silence. Then Griffon landed beside him, feathers crackling with storm-forged lightning. Both stood at V’s back like silent sentinels.

“I’m ready,” said V. “I will destroy the darkness… with darkness.”

The battle was short but devastating. V pulled the Deviants into the shadows, bound them in chains, and rotted them with ancient spells. The Eternals fought beside him, shoulder to shoulder. Especially between Thena and V, a flawless synchronicity was born. Makkari discovered she could dash through his shadow magic without being harmed. Even Ikaris, witnessing V fight in harmony with his darkness, momentarily set aside his doubts.

When the fighting ceased, silence fell over the corpses. V planted his staff gently into the earth and turned his gaze toward the campfire.

“Make your decision,” he said. “Time is running out.”

Ikaris looked at the other Eternals. Sersi nodded. Thena closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Even Druig sighed softly in reluctant approval.

At last, Ikaris spoke. “We accept your offer. But under one condition… After every battle, you’ll return here. We need to watch you. Trust takes time.”

V lowered his head. “Time is something we have very little of… but your terms are acceptable.”

That night, a new fire was lit in the heart of the camp. The sky remained dark, but on the horizon, a flicker of hope emerged. As the flames danced and vanished into the shadows, V felt — for the first time — the reality of an alliance. They did not fully trust him yet. But he was no longer alone.

And with the rise of Lord Phoros drawing near, this unity might be the only force capable of reshaping the world.