Shadows dance around me, moving at my will, like extensions of my own soul. The air here is heavy, thick with the smell of blood and ash, marks of the destruction I left behind. The distant screams of condemned souls echo, but I no longer hear them. They are part of the environment, like the wind or the sea. This place, between the surface and the abyss, is where I have always been.

I'm alone. Again.

The hot scar on my arm, where the pulsing tattoos intertwine with my skin, throbs like a living snake. The power of the underworld tries to break free, calling for more chaos, more destruction. It's tempting... but not now. Not yet. There is something or someone nearby. I feel.

My golden eyes cut through the darkness in front of me, locking onto the approaching figure. Whether it is an enemy or a fool who has taken a wrong turn, it makes no difference. It won't last long.

Without moving, I let my low, cutting voice escape, reverberating in the air.

“If you intend to die today, you took the right step. But if you’re looking for something… get out of my way while you still can.”

I give them the chance to leave, even though I already know the answer.

The darkness around me begins to slowly spin, ready to respond to the slightest of commands. I'm ready, as always.