Chapter 304: Your arrogance will be..

Zyren stood completely still, his long coat brushing slightly against his legs, even as the other vampires around him slowly backed away, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. The air around him seemed heavier, charged with an almost tangible energy that made the hairs on everyone’s arms stand on end.King Jared was clearly pissed off, an anger he was trying to keep within himself, the veins at his temple pulsing visibly as he slowly gestured to Clara to bring out the artifact that had been prepared.

Clara didn’t hesitate, her hands steady even though her heartbeat had quickened, as she instantly did as she was told, bringing out a black artifact that looked like a small lamp, its surface matte and ominous under the dim light of the hall.

Her face was calm in a way that showed she believed there was no way that the artifact wouldn’t work, a slight glint of determination in her eyes reflecting the torchlight. She was about to give it to King Jared like he asked for, only for a deep frown to settle on her face as she watched King Jared directly tell her to toss it at King Zyren.

Her entire body bristled in anger, every muscle tensing, even as she tried not to show just how pissed off she was that King Jared would put her life in danger. The heat in her chest rose sharply, the betrayal cutting deeper than she had expected.

She knew that he had no love for her, but watching him blatantly show it was much worse than what she had previously thought, the disgust in her stomach making her stomach churn.

Unable to help herself, she glanced at Aira with a steady look of determination on her face, her jaw tightening as she swore that she would still kill her even if it was the last thing she ever did, the weight of her resolve palpable in her stance.

Making up her mind, she uncovered the round top of the artifact she held in her hand, the metal cold and rough beneath her fingers, holding her breath as she went ahead and tossed it to the ground right there and then.

Not worried in the slightest, a small smirk tugging at her lips, since it was supposed to only negatively affect vampires, the thought giving her a brief sense of security.

Slowly, she began to chant the words that had been stapled to the artifact, her voice low and steady, echoing slightly against the stone walls:

"...to the walkers of the night...and the drinkers of blood...i bid you die...by the shadowy remains of the pure moon!" she chanted, her heart racing in her chest, the words tasting foreign yet powerful on her tongue.

The artifact was obsolete, something their ancestors had made hundreds of years ago during the war. All that was left were instructions on how to use it, barely readable even with how well it had been preserved, the faded ink a testament to centuries gone by.

But the words had barely left her mouth when she instantly upturned the contents in the artifact to the ground, the black sand spilling like ink across the floor, scattering in irregular patterns.

The black sand fell to the ground, shimmering slightly in the dim light, even as she sliced her wrist open, allowing her blood to drip down with it.

Copious amounts of it pooled and mixed with the dark particles, the metallic scent sharp in the air, even as she raised her still-bloody hand and wrist and pointed it at Zyren, who continued to stand still, almost like someone had not just announced his death.

A cool expression settled on his face, the faintest curl of a smirk at the corner of his lips, even as his red eyes seemed to beam more intensely than usual, glowing softly as he focused them solely on King Jared and Luna Clara.

To everyone’s surprise, he suddenly opened his mouth to speak, his voice low and measured, even as the dark particles Clara had scattered on the ground with her blood slowly began to float in the air, twisting and swirling like shadows alive.

Even Aira, who stood some distance away beside Liora, her sister, couldn’t help but gasp in shock, her eyes widening as she realized the artifact’s power, artifacts being simply things she had heard of but never actually seen in action.

"That’s a werewolf artifact!" he said in a purely conversational tone that didn’t show the slightest hint of annoyance, almost like whatever was being done clearly didn’t involve him, his words calm yet filled with underlying authority.

"I didn’t know you had that many..." Zyren continued to speak, his crimson eyes glinting as he slightly shook his head, the movement deliberate and slow, as if savoring the moment.

"...what do you think would happen if I survive and that doesn’t kill me?" Zyren asked, his red eyes slowly darkened, glowing ominously as he fixed them on King Jared, who for the briefest of moments felt his resolve shake, a flicker of fear crossing his usually confident face.

"...I agree to help you and this is what I get in return?" Zyren said, his gaze sweeping across everyone present, as if imprinting each face into his memory, the aura of dominance around him almost tangible.

An aura slowly released from him, one of complete dominance that made everyone there, including the werewolves, realize just how strong Zyren was, the very air seeming heavier, vibrating with his power.

Mostly even stronger than they expected, as the four lords behind him took even more steps back, their eyes wide, glad that whatever the result of the assassination attempt was, they would not be affected, though their tension remained high.

But even then, they still had their guards up, every muscle tense, the last thing any of them wanted being taken down by werewolves, the sworn enemy of their species, whose power was legendary.

"Your arrogance will be the death of you," King Jared responded, his gold eyes glowing ever so softly, the heat of his gaze accompanied by a subtle maliciousness as he spoke, lips pressed tight in warning.

Zyren’s smile only widened, his teeth catching the flickering light, even as the black sand mixed with Clara’s blood began to swirl upwards, twisting in midair like living shadows.

It was at this exact moment that he finally decided to move. But barely had he stepped to the side, almost like to avoid it, when, like magic, the black sand instantly followed him, drifting and circling around his feet to the surprise of everyone there.

Annoyed, Zyren spoke again, his voice now carrying a more annoyed tone than before, each word sharp and cutting, filled with authority.

"I have humored you enough!" he let out in a more booming voice than before, reverberating off the walls even as he raised his hands into the air.