First Stygian Diviner:Apocalypse

As Isiah surveyed the modernity surrounding him, it brought back memories of his first life. While technology had the potential to make life easier than it was in Delwias Island and Emperium, he couldn't shake off the unease he felt.

  Meanwhile, Ciel, who had been traumatized by the experiments he had undergone, clung to Isiah's pants as if he were afraid. It seemed as if he had forgotten all about their previous disagreements in Emperium.

Taking a step towards Ciel, Isiah gently placed Eijar next to him on the couch. The familiar weight of the snake around his neck was a small comfort in this foreign environment. 

He knelt down beside Ciel and put a hand on his shoulder, looking into his eyes. "It's okay, kid. We're safe now," Isiah reassured him softly.

Ciel nodded slightly, his grip on Isiah's pants loosening a bit. Isiah smiled at him, hoping to ease the boy's anxiety.

As Ciel's eyes met Eijars large and impressive form, his face lit up with awe and amazement. The once small and delicate creature had now grown into a magnificent snake, her scales shimmering in the artificial light of the apartment.

  Ciel reached out his hand and gently patted her head, eliciting a low rumble of contentment from Eijar.

  It was hard to believe that this was the same creature that once hung from his neck like a simple piece of jewelry.

  Now, she commanded respect and admiration with her sheer size and power. Isiah watched as Ciel continued to stroke her scales, a small smile of amusement playing on his lips. 

Despite the terror and pain they had both endured, it was moments like this that reminded them of the magic and wonder that still existed in the world.

As the man followed Isiah around his own apartment, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. Isiah seemed to be scrutinizing everything in the room with an intensity that made him nervous. Suddenly, Isiah turned to him and asked if he lived alone in the apartment.

The man hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether he should answer truthfully. But he knew that Isiah would find out eventually, so he reluctantly replied that yes, he lived alone.

Isiah's next request caught the man off guard. "Give me all of your identifications," Isiah said firmly.

The man's heart sank as he realized what Isiah was planning. He had been working with Isiah out of fear for his own life, but now it seemed that Isiah was going to leave him with nothing.

Lexie was keeping her distance from the man, eyeing him warily as he followed Isiah around. She couldn't help but feel uneasy around him, especially after the way he had reacted when Isiah had asked for his identifications.

Lexie stood guard by the door, watching for any signs of danger. She couldn't let her guard down, not even for a second.

As soon as the man tried to escape, Isiah quickly reacted and cast a spell to freeze his body in place. 

The man's face contorted in fear as Isiah approached him slowly, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the room. He then grabbed the man's cheeks with his sharp nails and squeezed them tightly, making him wince in pain.

Lexie couldn't bear to watch as Isiah confronted the man. She turned away, unable to face the reality of what was happening. 

Even Ciel, who was traumatized by the experiments they had done on him, seemed too tired to react. Isiah's presence was overwhelming, and his power was unmistakable.

Lexie had endured unimaginable horrors within the confines of the factory. The guards and experimenters had subjected her to countless attempts to sever her arm from her body, all in the pursuit of understanding the mysterious energy source that flowed within it.

But every cut they made brought her nothing but excruciating pain, and despite their efforts, they could never fully sever the limb. 

And with every failed attempt, the agony only intensified as her body worked tirelessly to regenerate the damaged tissue.

As she made her way through the unfamiliar surroundings, Lexie's mind was consumed by memories of the torturous experiments she had endured. The thirst that burned in her throat was nothing compared to the searing pain that wracked her body.

And yet, she soldiered on, driven by a fierce determination to survive and to escape the clutches of those who sought to use her as nothing more than a means to an end.

Isiah was determined to get the information he needed from the man about this new region. He grabbed him by the collar and pulled him towards his bedroom, throwing him to the floor as soon as they got there.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Isiah stared intensely at the man, making his intentions clear. 

"Let's not beat around the bush here. You are going to die," he said coldly. "Don't think for a second that you're special, because you're not. Once I'm finished with you, you will meet your fate. I'm not foolish enough to let you go free."

Isiah's gaze then shifted to a picture on the man's desk, and he knew exactly what to do to strike fear into the man's heart. "Now, you have to convince me not to hurt the ones closest to your heart," he said, his voice filled with malice.

The man started to panic, tears streaming down his face as he begged and pleaded with Isiah. He revealed that his parents were very old and that they couldn't handle the news of his death or this situation. 

Isiah listened to him but remained unfazed, knowing exactly how to manipulate the situation to his advantage.

"Let's start with the identifications," Isiah demanded.

The man hesitated, his eyes darting around the room. "They are no use for you," he finally said. "Everywhere there is a retinal scan, and you just can't use the identifications like that."

Isiah listened intently as the man spoke, his eyes fixed on him. The mention of the fifth king caught his attention, and he leaned in, his interest piqued.

"Go on," Isiah said, his voice low and dangerous.

The man shifted uncomfortably on the floor, clearly intimidated by Isiah's demeanor. "Afan is nothing like the lower regions," he continued. "Here, everything is controlled and watched by the authorities. You won't survive here doing what you did in the factory."

Isiah leaned back on the bed, his arms crossed. "And what did I do in the factory?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

The man hesitated, then spoke again. "You were seen using your powers. That alone is enough to get you in trouble with the authorities here. And the fifth king is a very meticulous man. He has given orders to keep this place safe from the lower mages from your region."

Isiah raised an eyebrow. "Lower mages?"

Isiah's eyes narrowed as he leaned in towards the man. "Back in Emperium, they used to take the divine energy of those who level up," he said in a low voice. "What is the case here?"

The man, who had been trembling with fear since the moment Isiah entered his home, looked up at him with a defeated expression. "The same," he said, resigned to his fate.

Isiah's fists clenched at his sides. "And for what reason?" he demanded, his voice laced with anger.

The man hesitated, weighing his options carefully before answering. "It's not like we need that power," he said finally. "But it's for a reason that even those of us who work in the domain don't know about."

Isiah's expression darkened at the man's words. It was clear that there was something deeper at play here, something that went beyond just the acquisition of power.

The man's body trembled as he answered Isiah's questions, tears streaming down his face. Isiah's patience was wearing thin with each passing moment, and he couldn't understand why this man was so afraid to speak. Isiah's final question was directed at the one person he cared about most, Ciel.

The man hesitated before answering, seemingly unsure of what he should say. "I'm sorry, sir. It's not in his file, but he's important to them," he said, his voice cracking.

Isiah's eyes narrowed as he took in the man's response. He didn't like being kept in the dark, especially when it came to Ciel. He could feel his anger boiling inside him, threatening to spill over at any moment.

With a final glance at the trembling man on the floor, Isiah rose to his feet and stormed out of the room. 

He needed some fresh air, and he needed to clear his head. As he entered the living room, he saw Ciel and Eijar sleeping soundly on the couch. Isiah's heart softened as he watched them, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards them.

Isiah strode into the kitchen, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Lexie, who stood next to the counter with a look of despair etched on her face. She was staring at an empty glass, her throat parched and aching for a drink.

"What are you doing here?" Isiah asked, his voice low and gruff.

"I'm thirsty," Lexie replied, gesturing towards the glass. "I couldn't find any water. Why is everything so complicated here?"

Isiah approached the sink, his movements fluid and confident. He grabbed a glass and filled it with water, then handed it to Lexie without saying a word.

Lexie took a long gulp of water, her eyes closing in relief as the cool liquid flowed down her throat. When she opened her eyes again, she looked up at Isiah and asked, "Why aren't you surprised by all of this ?"