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CHAPTER 27 – THE SILHOUETTE OF THE VOID

Darkness was like the sigh of a thought too vast to be seen — silent, indescribable, a low moan that reverberated through the very fabric of the universe. V’s throne rose at the heart of his shadow-forged dominion, perched on that razor-thin edge between existence and oblivion. The Shadow Dimension was no longer merely his domain; it had become a reflection of his mind — inconsistent, distorted, and poisoned by power.

But today, there was something even that power did not recognize.

V sat in the silence, eyes closed, hands resting on his knees, his breath barely perceptible. As he listened to the inner quiet, dark thoughts, suspicions, and boundless arrogance intertwined in his mind, echoing as whispers. These whispers, which had grown louder of late, were no longer merely his inner voice — something was speaking from within him, taking shape, emerging from beyond the darkness.

And then… it was felt.

A vibration, deep in the center of his chest, where his heart had long since been replaced by that abyssal void. V opened his eyes. The shadows around him stirred, as if possessing a will of their own. Silence paused for a heartbeat. V bowed his head slightly toward his chest. The void… it had always been there. But now… now there was something within it.

A silhouette.

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At first, the silhouette was like a ghost — vague, wavering, shapeless. But then the shadows receded, the lights dimmed, and existence allowed it to coalesce. V stood, eyes locked onto the void. His hand moved instinctively to his chest.

And in that moment, darkness folded in on itself. The geometry of space fractured. Time wavered, lurching forward and backward. As V’s body trembled, a figure emerged, flowing out from the void.

The silhouette… had become a being.

A frail form… so thin it seemed a mere breath of wind could shatter it. Yet this fragility bore a dreadful majesty. From its shoulders unfurled colossal wings woven from darkness — vast enough to blot out entire skies. As the wings moved, the surface of the universe rippled, and an unnamed terror seeped into the souls of all beings.

It had no eyes. Its face — or what might be called a face — was a mask of void. And yet everything felt seen. Everything felt watched. When it spoke, there was no sound, only thoughts echoing in V’s mind:

“I was summoned… and I have come.”

V did not step back. His gaze remained locked onto the entity. Power surged from his body, merging with the void within him, casting darkness around.

“You…” V said, voice frail, but his awe barely restrained. “Who are you?”

The entity moved forward, changing position without stepping. The Shadow Dimension crumpled beneath its feet, and the shadows quivered uneasily.

“I am… the echo of Oblivion. The breath of the Forgotten… the tongue of Nothingness. And now, through your call, I have taken form. You must give me a name.”

V remained silent for several seconds. His mind trembled under the rise of twisted voices within.

— It must have a name…

— You must name it…

— Darkness will not tell it who it is. You must.

V closed his eyes. The words that rose from within him spilled from his lips like a prayer:

“Nihreth.”

And suddenly, the sky shattered. The boundaries of the Shadow Dimension receded, as though existence itself recognized the name. Nihreth inclined its head slightly — whether in salute or reverence, it was unclear — but with that gesture, a hum resonated throughout the entire realm.

“You have given me a name. Now I am yours.”

V was filled with power. Yet next to Nihreth, he felt like an apprentice gazing upon the stars for the first time — awestruck and inadequate. The presence of Nihreth redefined everything he knew about dark magic, rendering all he had learned over the years insignificant.

“You… will be my call. But why now?”

“Because you are growing. And as you grow, you draw closer to Oblivion. You are part of Him. And now… the gods are watching.”

V flinched at that. The sky trembled. In the distance, unseen hands were pressing against the walls of the Shadow Dimension. The gods… were awakening.

And Nihreth lifted its head, turning its eyeless face to the heavens.

“They know. My presence has disturbed their peace.”

With a voice caught between fury and satisfaction, V asked:

“What will they do?”

“They will judge you.”

At that moment, the sky split with a violet rift. A distant tremor shook the realm. The eyes of the gods were now fully open.

But V smiled.

“They cannot judge me.”

And in his mind, two voices spoke as one.

— Judge me? While they tremble in fear of the forgotten…

— …we shall rise anew from the darkness.

Nihreth took a step back. The shadows around him bowed in submission.

“My presence will not only empower you… It will shatter you. It will rot you. It will return you to truth.”

“Truth?” V laughed with mockery. “My truth is that which even the gods fear to comprehend.”

And at that moment, the Shadow Dimension reshaped itself. Nihreth stood by V’s side. The shadows recognized their new masters. Darkness was born once more.

But far away… so very far away… Rhaem’thar lifted his eyeless face to the heavens, sensing the presence of Nihreth.

“The echo of Oblivion…” he whispered to himself. “The time has come.”

The gods would gather.

And the judge would come.

But he did not yet know.

V was no longer alone.

And the Lord of Shadows had begun to converse with his own shadow.