Part 20: The Return of Allister

Part 20: The Return of Allister

Adrian's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, his muscles tensing as he sized up Allister. Ezra stood beside him, equally alert, his eyes scanning the mysterious figure. The silence between them stretched, heavy with anticipation.

"Allister," Adrian repeated, his voice low. "I remember you. You were one of Renwick’s allies, weren't you?"

Allister’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “So you do remember me. I must say, I’m impressed that you’ve come this far. I had expected Renwick’s failure to draw more attention to your abilities, but you’ve proven far more resilient than I anticipated.”

Ezra’s gaze flickered between Adrian and Allister. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice steady but edged with suspicion. "If you’re here to cause trouble—"

“All in good time,” Allister interrupted, raising a hand to calm them. “I didn’t come to fight, at least not yet. There’s something you both should know.”

Adrian took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. "I’m listening."

Allister’s expression grew more serious. “You thought you had defeated the Veiled One. You think you’ve put an end to the threat, but you couldn’t be more wrong.” He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. “The Veiled One was only one fragment of a much larger force. There are others—forces older than you can imagine—who are now aware of what you’ve done.”

Adrian’s heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean, others? Who are they?"

Allister’s lips twisted into a grim smile. “You’ve disturbed something far more ancient than you realize. The Veiled One may have been sealed away, but it was never alone. There are others like it—other gods, other beings, and each of them waits for the right moment to strike. Your actions have triggered something far worse than you could have prepared for.”

Ezra stepped closer to Adrian, his voice calm but sharp. “You’re telling us that what we’ve done... made things worse?”

“I’m afraid so,” Allister said, his tone almost regretful. “But it’s not just you. The entire world is at risk. The balance has been shattered. And now, we must all face the consequences.”

Adrian took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. “And what exactly do you want from us, Allister? If you’re not here to fight, then why show up now? Why tell us all this?”

The man’s eyes gleamed with something dangerous, something unreadable. “Because,” he said slowly, “there is a way to stop the chain of events that you’ve set into motion. But it’s not something you can do alone.”

Adrian’s mind raced, trying to grasp the meaning of Allister’s words. “What are you proposing?”

Allister’s smile widened, but it was devoid of warmth. “I’m offering you an alliance. A chance to work together to prevent the end of everything you know. If you refuse, you’ll face what’s coming next—alone.”

Ezra raised an eyebrow. “An alliance? With you?”

Allister’s eyes softened just slightly, as if he understood the doubt that lingered in Ezra’s voice. “You don’t have to trust me. Trust the truth. The Veiled One was just the beginning. There’s a far darker force behind it all. If you think you’ve faced the worst, you’re sorely mistaken.”

Adrian exchanged a glance with Ezra. Their bond had always been built on trust, but this—this was different. They had fought together against overwhelming odds, and they had faced death itself. But aligning themselves with someone like Allister? It felt wrong. He was part of the very darkness they had fought against.

But his words haunted Adrian. The idea that they hadn’t truly defeated the darkness—that the danger was far greater than they knew—kept gnawing at him. What if Allister was telling the truth? What if they were unprepared for what was to come?

“What’s your plan, then?” Ezra asked, his tone skeptical but curious. “What do you want us to do?”

Allister’s eyes flickered with something like approval, and he stepped closer. “First, you need to understand the nature of the force that’s coming. There is an ancient entity known as the Hollow King—an ancient god of entropy and ruin. It is the true source of the darkness, the one who manipulates the Veiled One and the others like it. All of this—the cults, the rituals, the power you’ve faced—it’s part of the Hollow King’s grand design to break the seals that bind it.”

Adrian’s stomach churned at the mention of the Hollow King. It sounded like a name whispered only in nightmares.

“The Hollow King?” Adrian echoed. “Is it… is it awake?”

Allister nodded gravely. “The Hollow King has been awakening for centuries, and your actions have hastened its arrival. It seeks to consume the world, to unravel everything. It is power beyond imagination, and it will not be stopped easily. But there is a way—a way to seal it back in the depths where it belongs. But only if we act quickly, and only if we are united.”

Ezra’s voice was cold, his doubt evident. “You expect us to trust you to stop this? After everything?”

Allister looked at him with an unreadable expression. “You have no choice but to trust me. The Hollow King cannot be stopped by simple spells or swordplay. You’ll need more than just your strength. You’ll need knowledge, alliances, and sacrifices. We’ll have to move beyond what you know, beyond your simple concept of good and evil. In order to win this war, you must understand what lies between.”

Adrian turned away, his thoughts swirling. This was everything they feared—the threat they thought they had vanquished was only a small part of something far worse. And Allister, despite being one of the enemies they’d fought, seemed to be their only lead.

Finally, Adrian turned back to him. “We don’t trust you, Allister. Not yet. But we won’t ignore what you’ve said. We’ll find our own answers, and if you truly want to help, then we’ll consider your alliance. But don’t make the mistake of thinking we’ll fall for your games.”

Allister’s lips twisted into a knowing smile. “Wise decision. We’ll see if you change your mind when the time comes.” He turned away, but not before adding one last thing. “Be prepared. The Hollow King’s agents are already among you. It will be too late to stop them once they’ve taken root.”

With that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Adrian and Ezra standing in silence, the weight of his words settling over them like a dark cloud.

Adrian gripped Ezra’s shoulder, his mind racing. “We’ve got to stop this. We can’t let the Hollow King rise. Not after everything we’ve sacrificed.”

Ezra nodded, his gaze determined. “We’ll stop it. Together.”

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