The Price Of Power

Chapter 16: The Price of Power

Riven stood alone in the dark chamber of the Catacombs of the Lost, the echoes of his battle with the assassin fading into the oppressive silence. The altar was now empty, but the power he had claimed was still pulsing through his veins, an ancient force that had awakened within him. The stone on the altar lay dormant, but its influence lingered, filling the air with an unnatural tension.

His hands still trembled from the battle, but he could feel it—the power surging beneath his skin, begging to be unleashed. Riven could no longer ignore the whispers of the shadows. They were alive, calling to him, and with them, a new strength, a new ability he hadn't fully realized until now.

Riven closed his eyes, focusing on the pulse of power within him. He had felt it before—the connection to the shadows. But now, it was something more. His Shadowborn abilities had grown, evolving into something far beyond what he could control. He could feel the shadows moving at his command, swirling around him like a protective cloak.

As he extended his hand toward the empty space in front of him, a tunnel of shadows began to open. The very air seemed to warp, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to bend. Riven's breath caught as he realized what was happening.

He wasn't just manipulating the shadows anymore.

He was becoming them.

A figure appeared, a shadow of his own—a perfect copy of Riven, its features distorted and shifting like smoke. It looked at him with the same cold eyes, as if mirroring his every movement.

Riven felt his heart race as he tested the limits of his new power. The shadow clone mimicked his movements, following his commands like a part of him. He could split his consciousness, become multiple, and overwhelm his enemies with the sheer weight of his abilities.

But as he pushed the clone further into the room, the strain hit him like a wave. The pain was sudden and sharp—a burning sensation that radiated through his chest, threatening to tear him apart.

He staggered back, collapsing to his knees. The shadow clone flickered, its form unstable as Riven struggled to maintain control.

The power was too much.

A low, grinding sound filled the air, and Riven's vision blurred. He gasped for air as the shadows around him seemed to close in, constricting, suffocating him. His chest burned, and his head spun, as though the power he had just claimed was trying to tear him apart from the inside.

He forced himself to his feet, willing the shadows to retreat, but the cost of using this ability had become clear. The more he called on the darkness, the more it demanded in return.

Riven gritted his teeth, trying to steady himself. The clone vanished, leaving behind only the echoes of the strain it had caused. Sweat dripped down his brow as he pushed himself back to his feet, his body trembling from the effort.

This power came at a cost—a price he wasn't sure he could keep paying.

As Riven stumbled toward the exit of the catacombs, he could feel the presence of something watching him. It wasn't just the shadows—it was something else, something far more tangible. He hadn't noticed before, but now the air was thick with the weight of danger, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

He turned a corner, only to be met by a familiar figure stepping from the shadows—a Sable Knives assassin, cloaked in black leather, with a mask hiding their face. Two more appeared behind them, flanking him on either side.

"You should have stayed in the dark," the lead assassin said, their voice muffled by the mask. "But now, we'll take you down before you can grow too strong."

Riven didn't answer. His heart raced as the shadows around him flickered, responding to the tension in the air. He could feel the power surging within him again, but he wasn't sure he had the strength to fight back. His body was still weak from the toll of using his new power, but he didn't have a choice.

The first assassin lunged, a gleaming dagger raised high. But Riven was quicker. The shadows answered his call, swirling around his arm and solidifying into a shadow blade, its edge glowing with an eerie light. He deflected the assassin's strike effortlessly, feeling the sharpness of the blade as it connected with the dagger, sending it spinning from their hand.

Without hesitation, Riven raised his free hand, summoning tendrils of shadow that lashed out, binding the assassin's arms. The other two assassins hesitated, watching the scene unfold before them.

But Riven was already moving, his shadow tendrils pulling the first assassin toward him. The assassin struggled, but it was no use. With a swift motion, Riven drove his shadow blade into the assassin's side, silencing them instantly. The body crumpled to the ground with a soft thud.

The remaining two assassins lunged at him in unison, but Riven was ready. He could feel the power of the shadow within him, swirling and shifting, as if the darkness had a life of its own.

He raised his hand, and the shadows responded, coiling around his body like a protective barrier. Tendrils shot out from his fingers, catching the second assassin by the throat, lifting them off the ground. Their eyes widened in panic as the shadows tightened, but Riven held them in place, controlling the very air around them.

With a flick of his wrist, the assassin was thrown against the stone wall, their body crumpling to the ground.

The final assassin turned to flee, but Riven's power was already in motion. He summoned multiple shadow clones, each one moving with lethal precision, surrounding the last assassin in seconds. The assassin fought back, but they were overwhelmed, and within moments, they too were bound by Riven's shadows.

The fight was over.

Riven stood in the middle of the room, panting, his body drenched in sweat. The pain from using his abilities was intense, but the satisfaction of victory lingered in the air.

But as the adrenaline faded, so did the exhilaration. The toll of the shadow power he had just unleashed hit him hard. His legs buckled beneath him as the world spun, the shadows around him flickering uncontrollably.

Riven stumbled to the ground, gasping for breath. He could feel his body betraying him, the strain of using his new abilities leaving him weak and vulnerable. The shadows whispered in his mind, urging him to rest, to give in to the darkness.

But he couldn't. Not now.

The power he had just wielded was unstoppable, but it was also dangerous. And the price he paid for every use would only grow heavier with time.

Riven forced himself to stand, his vision swimming. He had claimed the power of the Black Dawn, but it was clear now that it came with a cost. Each time he used it, a little more of him would be lost—consumed by the very darkness he wielded.

The path ahead was uncertain, but Riven knew one thing for sure: there would be no turning back.

End of Chapter 16