Legacy

As was customary, Shadow Kahn had taken to a knee before his master. Such power did the Great Deceiver have over his subject that he had no fear of turning his back on the man whose mere name could send a chill down the spine of even the most brave of heart.

The news Shadow Kahn had presented was most satisfactory.

“So our time has finally come,” said the Great Deceiver. “With nothing left to stand in our way, we are free to burn this world and everything in it to ash. Quite ironic, is it not? For my punishment was to suffer with the flames. So how fitting it will be that the same punishment be the one that I administer.”

“My lord, I make this request one final time,” said Shadow Kahn, not daring to direct his gaze at the one to which he was speaking. “There is still much this world has to offer. We can still use it to glorify the kingdom. We can create a new God.” Shadow Kahn then raised his head to direct a most sinister glare at the one he was obligated to obey.

“I thought we already put this subject to rest. Here, my word is law. When I give a command, it will be obeyed, and there will be no exceptions. For I am . . .” Before the Great Deceiver could finish, Shadow Kahn thrust his arm through his body.

“How good it was of you to object to my wish every step of the way. Had you not, then this might have been far more difficult for me to do.”

“You fool. How dare you!”

The ring of fire surrounding the platform began to rage. For its master’s fury was its fury as was it the fury of the creature lurking within it.

“After all I did for you. This is how you show your gratitude?”

“You are the only fool here,” said Shadow Kahn. “Did you really not see this coming? To teach someone how to obtain such power and expect them to bow down to you just so that they might have the privilege to call you master. What a ridiculous concept. Whether you agree with me or not, this is the punishment that should have been dealt to you long ago.” Shadow Kahn then hoisted the Great Deceiver’s limp body above his head as if he was presenting a trophy for the entire realm to see.

“I see,” said the Great Deceiver, black blood dripping from his mouth. “Then it would seem that I underestimated your ambition.”

“Your plans were on far too small a scale for my liking. Merely destroying something is so barbaric. After all, why waste such a perfectly good world when you can still put it to good use? What good is power if you have no one to dominate with it?”

The Great Deceiver began laughing. “You of all people should know that there are forces that will not allow you to fulfill your desires.”

“That is only because I have yet to obtain the power that will leave me with no equal,” said Shadow Kahn. “And the only way to do that falls into my plans of a new world. For how can you build without first tearing down what stands in your way?”

“You plan to feed on all of them? What an ambitious fellow you are. That truly will leave you with no equal. But I know that it will all be for naught if you fail to claim that boy as your own. And that shows that you have failed to shed what little humanity you had. Oh, what a glorious fall you will have because of it.”

“He has no one left but me. I saw to that personally. Therefore he will be mine again. Much was learned from the past. Mistakes will not be made again.”

“What a glorious fall it will be, indeed,” whispered the Great Deceiver. When his eyes closed, the creature that had been hiding behind the flames did the same. And the fire that had been so furious just moments before flickered away.

Acting as if it was nothing more than refuse, Shadow Kahn tossed the Great Deceiver’s body to the floor and took his leave.

Coming upon the demon that had hissed at him during his previous visit, Shadow Kahn expected the same defiant reaction. But unlike last time, the demon refrained from hissing at him. Instead, it bowed its head, in a show of respect.

With his new rank secured, Shadow Kahn returned to the world of the living.