Page 9 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

As I get to the room, I sneak in among the people at the end of the line and keep my head down.

My brother is at the front of the room, giving a speech about the particularities of this realm. I’m only half listening, though, since I am more concerned with not getting caught.

Only moments later, silence descends in the room.

The crowd parts as a tall figure enters.

Commander Azerius.

He’s dressed in a dark uniform with a purple belt wrapped around his waist that houses a white sword—the famed sword that has the power to kill a deity. Magical runes are etched on half of his face, swirling in different patterns as if they have a life of their own.

A shiver runs down my back. He is scary. But my apprehension is mixed with a sense of awe as he strides to the front of the room to join my brother.

Commander Azerius is a legend in itself.

I’ve only seen him in person a few times, but it never fails to leave me breathless. He exudes so much power, confidence, and discipline that it’s hard not to admire him.

He is feared and hated—with good reason. But he is also a damn good soldier. The very best Aperion has to offer.

No one knows the full extent of his powers, but there are whispers that he is more powerful than all the Supremes combined.

My brother inclines his head at him.

“General Molokai has already briefed you on the particularities of Anthropa,” he starts in an authoritative voice. “It is of utmost importance to ensure that those demons donotconsume souls and ascend.”

Everyone nods.

“But there is something else you need to be aware of.” He pauses. “A few of our scouts have sent word that they have sighted Sons of Tenebreis outside of Tartareia.”

Gasps erupt in the room.

Sons of Tenebreis? In Anthropa? But…

“I have not been able to confirm these accounts, but I would like you to be vigilant. I have already dispatched a small squad in charge of tracking the Sons of Tenebreis. But if that proves to be true, it is even more imperative that you do not allow any demon to ascend to a high level since they will likely feed that power back to the Sons of Tenebreis that control them.”

“But… How can it be?” someone asks. “There has not been a sighting of a Son of Tenebreis in thousands of years.”

Azerius regards the room with a bored expression on his face.

“The Chalice,” Azerius states. “It appears they might be using the Chalice to move between realms.”

My mouth parts in shock. Everyone has the same reaction.

The Sons of Tenebreis have been locked in Tartareia for more than seven thousand years. Although they couldn’t leave their realm, they could remotely control demons. They used those lower-level demons to feed on the souls to increase their power. With every passing millennium, the Sons of Tenebreis became stronger and the barrier in Tartareia weaker. But so far no one has seen an actual Son of Tenebreis break free.

To hear that they might have found a way to get out of Tartareia? That is…

Terrifying.

We have a hard time keeping up with the myriad of lower demons preying on mortal souls as it is. The last thing we need is to have the Sons of Tenebreis out in the open.

If a high-level demon is powerful, then a Son of Tenebreis is infinitely more so. They are the elite warriors of Tartareia, the descendants of the Dark Seven themselves.

Aperion led multiple wars against Tartareia. But they were all before my time. Still, if rumors are to be believed, a Son of Tenebreis is as strong as an Aperite Supreme. And that is…absolutely chilling.

“They have the Chalice?” Someone finally dares to ask.

Azerius nods.

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