Legacy

Shadow Kahn had ventured into the place that even he wanted no part of. It was where the souls of the damned were condemned to spend eternity, and a place that he was more familiar with than he ever cared to be.

If not for torches on the walls, visibility would be nonexistent, though there was nothing that anyone should care to see in such a place. The air was also stale, so stale and putrid that one could practically feel it as they passed through narrow corridors. And to add to the bleak atmosphere, screams and moans from the tormented filled the air, as well as the roars and howls of their monstrous tormentors.

As he grew nearer to his destination, Shadow Kahn stopped so that he could watch a most gruesome spectacle. A demon was feeding upon a wayward soul. The man was still as alive as one could be in such a place, as was evident by the screams that burst from him every time the demon bit into him. His misery did nothing to deter the demon, though, as it continued to tear into his tender flesh and feast upon his organs.

Though the demon was consumed with its meal, it still took time to focus its glare on the newcomer. Clearly not wanting an audience, it roared at the unwelcome guest. Taking that as his cue, Shadow Kahn took his leave.

The journey eventually led Shadow Kahn up a precarious set of free floating steps. And at its summit was an enormous circular platform. Upon reaching the top, a tremendous ring of fire that reached as high as the eye could see surrounded it.

As was customary, Shadow Kahn took to a knee before the Great Deceiver. The one that had given Shadow Kahn his power was a small man, no larger than a child. He wore a tattered robe with a hood that concealed his deformed body and most of his face, though no article of clothing could hide how warped his body was.

“Your progression is going well,” said the Great Deceiver, whose standing was so great that he refused to allow any of his subordinates to look him in the eye. His back was turned to Shadow Kahn, but if he were to turn around, his follower was to avert his gaze. “Much faster than I had anticipated.”

“My mission will very soon be complete,” said Shadow Kahn. “Those who have wronged me are quickly falling by the wayside.”

“Then the day draws near when we will meet our true objective.”

“If you would allow me to make a request.”

“You need not waste your breath. You knew from the start what I wanted from you. I humor you by allowing you to satisfy your foolish desire to take revenge on your enemies. But once you finish, you will do exactly as I say.” When the Great Deceiver turned to face him, Shadow Kahn turned his gaze to the floor. “You will bring an end to this world and all of the vermin in it. Nothing could be more satisfying than knowing that the world will soon burn at our hands. What reason could there possibly be to spare it?”

When the Great Deceiver turned his back, Shadow Kahn cast a glare at him that surely would have earned him a severe reprimand had he been seen. To see the way Shadow Kahn was staring at his master would make one assume the two were the most bitter of enemies.

“And what of the boy?” asked the Great Deceiver.

“He has been reluctant to join us. I had hoped to avoid taking drastic measures to persuade him . . . but he left me with no other choice.”

Unbeknownst to Shadow Kahn, something within the flames was watching him, something whose size dwarfed anything the living world had ever before seen, something that, once unleashed, would undoubtedly mean the beginning of the end.