Chapter 154: Passing On 1
Years had passed since the Albert family had been reunited, and the Primordial Chaos Sect had only grown in power and renown under Adams' unchallenged leadership. But today, sitting alone on his ornate throne in the grand Sect Hall, Adams wore a distant expression, his chin resting thoughtfully on his fist. Though his powers were limitless, his mind yearned for something new, some spark to break the monotony of his current existence.
As he pondered, the doors to the hall quietly opened, and a familiar presence slipped inside, moving with an ethereal grace that was as darkly captivating as it was commanding. Enigma, his second wife, approached him, her steps soft but her gaze sharp and curious. She had changed immensely since the day he had granted her a significant boost in power—her once-hidden potential now unleashed and refined to its peak. Her aura pulsed with a dark, chaotic energy that blended seamlessly with the shadows around her.
Noticing her approach, Adams lifted his gaze, a faint glimmer of intrigue breaking through his expression. There was something deeply magnetic about Enigma now, as if the shadows themselves followed her movements, swirling faintly around her. She arched an eyebrow as she came closer, her dark eyes gleaming with a knowing light.
"What are you thinking about now?" she asked, a subtle smirk playing on her lips. She knew him well enough to sense when his mind was consumed by restless plans and boundless ideas.
Adams allowed himself a slight smile, his gaze softening as he observed her, truly taking in the transformation she had undergone. "Just weighing possibilities," he replied, his tone casual, but his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "But maybe it's time I saw what you're capable of now."
With a casual thought, he pulled up her stats, curious to see the raw power she now held.
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Stats
Race: Chaos Demoness
Divinity: Goddess of Shadows and Chaos
Artifact: Ring of Chaos: Darkness
Core Abilities:
Chaos Manipulation: Mastery over the chaotic forces that ripple through the universe, allowing her to shape reality, disrupt energy, and dismantle order with a mere thought.
Darkness Dominion: Absolute control over shadows and darkness. She can travel instantaneously between shadows, obscure the senses of any being within her sphere, and even manifest darkness into solid constructs.
Soul-Bind Chains: Can summon and control ethereal chains that bind both body and soul, effective even against divine beings and powerful entities.
Deathless Rebirth: When critically wounded or killed, her body can regenerate from pure darkness, allowing her to resurrect with an even greater surge of power.
Divine Wrath: A devastating attack that channels divine chaos energy, consuming entire regions in dark flames and disrupting all forms of order, even nullifying magical defenses or barriers.
Divine Traits:
Unbreakable Will: A mental fortress that shields her from any form of mind control, illusions, or mental tampering.
Empress of Shadows: Her presence in any shadowed area allows her to command, influence, and draw power from all darkness around her.
Chaos Pulse: Releases bursts of chaotic energy that destabilize or disrupt powers of opponents within range, effective even against divine entities.
Divine Presence: Her aura as a goddess exerts a powerful effect on those around her, commanding respect and invoking fear in lesser beings and instilling awe in those with divine sensitivity.
Strength: Boundless within the shadow realm; capable of leveling landscapes with concentrated energy and overwhelming mortal and lesser divine beings.
Defense: Near-impenetrable when surrounded by darkness; resistant to light-based attacks and divine attacks from lower-tier gods.
Speed: Rapid beyond sight within shadows; almost instantaneous movement between shadow realms.
Divine Power: A reservoir of limitless energy derived from her goddess form, capable of divine-level magic and power augmentation, especially in realms of chaos and shadow.
Adams studied Enigma's stats on his system panel, a faint smile of approval playing on his lips as he took in the impressive extent of her power. His gaze lingered on her for a moment, a mix of pride and amusement flickering in his eyes before he finally looked up, meeting her knowing, steady gaze.
"So," he asked, a slight lift to his brow, "what brings you here?"
Enigma's lips curved into a subtle, teasing smile, her dark eyes gleaming with a glint of mischief. "Have you forgotten already?" she replied, tilting her head slightly. "It's the Sect's opening anniversary today. The Sect Master is required to give a speech." Her voice held a playful lilt, as if she enjoyed reminding him of the responsibilities he often neglected.
Adams let out a long, reluctant sigh, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck. The idea of giving a formal speech and standing before the entire Sect wasn't exactly his idea of entertainment. He leaned back in his throne, casting a half-exasperated, half-amused look toward the grand hall's towering ceiling.
"Maybe it's high time I step down as Sect Master," he muttered with a hint of a grin, though there was a glimmer of sincerity in his tone. "Let someone else deal with these endless ceremonies. I could just be one of those mysterious ancestors everyone talks about." His hand gestured vaguely, as if imagining himself watching over the Sect from the shadows, free from all obligations.
Enigma folded her arms, a soft laugh escaping her as she watched him. "Oh, and I'm sure you'd be perfectly content with that," she teased, arching a brow. "The great Adams, forever in the background, meddling only when he pleases?"
He chuckled, shaking his head. "It has its appeal, doesn't it?"
Her gaze softened, and she stepped closer, resting a hand on his shoulder, her touch both grounding and reassuring. "Perhaps," she murmured, her voice gentler now, "but the Sect wouldn't be what it is without you leading it." There was a warmth in her eyes that spoke of her pride in him, a quiet understanding that she, better than anyone, knew the weight of his role.
For a moment, they stood in a companionable silence, her hand lingering on his shoulder, his gaze drifting thoughtfully to the grand hall where his presence was soon to be required. Experience new tales on m v|l e'm,p| y- r
Adams pushed himself up from his throne, stretching his arms as he looked down at Enigma with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Well," he began, his voice laced with dry humor, "maybe it's time I start looking for a successor, don't you think?"
Enigma folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, an amused smile dancing at the corners of her lips. "And who exactly do you have in mind?" she asked, watching him with a hint of skepticism. "Just so you know, nobody's exactly lining up for that position. Everyone's too busy with their own domains or projects to take on something as daunting as running the entire Sect."
Adams gave her a playful grin, his gaze shifting to meet hers with a spark of mischief. "What about one of you, then? My beloved wives? Surely, one of you must be itching to do something grand within the Sect," he teased, crossing his arms as he leaned in slightly, gauging her reaction.
Enigma threw her head back with a laugh, her dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, I think not," she replied, her tone dripping with humor. "You know as well as I do that none of us want anything to do with running the Sect. We're more than content in our own roles." She stepped closer to him, looking up with a smirk that softened as her hand reached to touch his arm. "Besides," she added, her voice lowering to a gentle murmur, "being the wife of the most powerful individual in existence… that's already quite the responsibility."
Her gaze held his, and for a moment, they shared a quiet smile. He let out a resigned chuckle, shaking his head. "I suppose you have a point there," he admitted, his expression softening as he looked at her.
"Well," she said, a glint of humor in her eye, "perhaps you're just too good at being Sect Master, and that's the real reason no one wants to replace you."
Adams laughed, shaking his head, though he couldn't help but feel the weight of her words.
Adams straightened, casting a long look at the grand hall before turning toward the door. "Well, I suppose I should go address the young ones—and maybe let them know it's time I step aside," he said with a hint of finality in his tone, striding toward the exit with an easy confidence.
Enigma's eyes narrowed with a mix of curiosity and surprise as she followed him. "You're actually serious about this, aren't you?" she asked, her voice tinged with intrigue.
Adams glanced over his shoulder at her, a small smirk playing at his lips. "Not quite handing over the full mantle," he clarified, his tone light but thoughtful. "Think of it more like… appointing someone to hold the fort for a while. I'd still be pulling the strings in the background, of course. Just without the spotlight." He chuckled, looking forward with a wistful gleam in his eyes. "I can't be Sect Master forever, can I?"
Enigma watched him closely, her gaze softening. She knew he'd been feeling the weight of it all for some time. "Better now than waiting until it feels too late," he added, his voice quieter, almost as if he were convincing himself as much as her.
A small smile crept onto Enigma's face as she walked beside him, sensing both his resolve and his desire to finally step into a different role. "Then let's make sure they understand what kind of legacy they're inheriting," she said, her tone warm yet filled with a quiet pride.