Dark Divinity

Anna didn't appear astonished by his inquiry. She took so long to react that when she eventually did, Omen was already planning to disregard her and resume his sombre contemplations.

"I do want revenge," she declared, her tone steady and resolute. "Not for the clan that betrayed me, but for the cursed mage who bound me with this torment. To achieve that, I need strength beyond what you can understand, Omen. The entity is willing to grant me that power. I strive to be like the Catalyst—possessing the Entity's power but still retaining my will."

Omen's eyes narrowed, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "And you think this power will be enough to overcome the curse? The entity you speak of is no simple force. It's dark and unpredictable. You're risking everything by aligning with it."

Anna's gaze was unwavering, her determination clear. "I need strength beyond your comprehension. That's why I will remain loyal to the entity. You're just a weak Darkling, Omen. I want you to join me so we can grow together and—"

"No," Omen declared flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. "I have a different goal. I want to hunt down every celestial for what they did to my realm. I will carry the vengeance of my realm for eternity. I'm going to leave this place... I am going to kill the Entity."

He held Anna's gaze with a fierce intensity, expecting her to react with hostility. Instead, she turned away, her shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of his declaration. Her face was a study in solemnity, her expression one of quiet resignation.

Anna's expression soon hardened, the shadows of the tree playing across her face, giving her an almost spectral appearance. "I'm offering you a chance, Omen. A chance to rise above your limitations and gain power that few could ever dream of. If you refuse, you will remain as yo—"

"I already said no," Omen responded blankly.

Anna's eyes glinted with a mix of anger and cold resolve. "Then we have nothing more to discuss. I will pursue my path with or without you. The entity's strength is my path to vengeance, and nothing will deter me from it."

"I thought we'd be friends, Omen," she said, her voice turning soft but tinged with an undercurrent of disappointment. "You may be useless, but you are a Darkling, nonetheless. I would make some powerful allies if I were you."

Turning back to face him, Anna's countenance hardened, mirroring Omen's emotionless façade. "Because the next time we meet, only one of us will probably leave alive."

…. 

The night enveloped the world in a cloak of deep shadows and a chill that seeped through even the thickest walls. Within the dim confines of the bunker, Omen's restlessness was evident.

He had given Kiba the night off, instructing him to hold off on the ambush until further notice. Kiba had accepted this without question. Omen appreciated the red wolf's faith, even if the growing number of adversaries overshadowed it.

Sitting at the edge of his bed, Omen's thoughts were a tangled mess. His enemies were multiplying faster than his allies could join him. The Entity, its mysterious masters and acolytes, Jacobi, and his loyal henchmen represented a formidable threat. Anna's betrayal had added another layer of complexity, and with the likelihood of Isaac siding with her, the situation seemed dire.

Omen's frown deepened as he considered his scant list of potential allies: the cat girl who had offered him meat and Tame, the gynoid whose intentions remained shrouded in suspicion. The weight of these alliances felt both hopeful and precarious.

"At least I already have a powerful ally," he mused, allowing a fleeting smile to cross his face before it was quickly replaced by the gravity of his circumstances. Omen slumped against the cold metal wall of the dimly lit room, his breath ragged and heavy. "By the gods, I'm finished."

He glanced towards Tame, lying peacefully, and for a moment, Omen considered waking him to share his burden. Before he could decide, a soft, mechanical voice cut through his thoughts.

"So, it's true you're incapable of rest," the gynoid's voice was eerily calm, almost soothing in its robotic monotone. Omen's eyes widened as he turned to face the source. The gynoid sat up, its movements smooth and precise, its blue eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.

Omen was taken aback, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. The gynoid's sudden awakening and unexpected words were yet another surprise in a day filled with them. He let his shock show, too tired to mask his emotions. "You're awake?" he began, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Good... I need your help."

The gynoid tilted its head slightly, its gaze unwavering. "My help?" Tame's voice maintained its calm monotone, but Omen could almost imagine a hint of surprise on the robot's expressionless face. "You never ask for help. Why didn't you use the beacon then?"

Omen froze. The beacon. He had no idea where he had dropped it, but now was not the time to dwell on his oversight. He ignored Tame's question, pressing on with the matter at hand.

"Do you remember Jacobi?" Omen's voice was steady, masking the tumultuous emotions within.

"Your captor?"

"Don't call him that," Omen snapped. "If not for Clay, I would never have been captured. After tomorrow, I might not have the chance to take them out during the next purge. I want to assassinate Clay tonight. Will you help me, Tame?"

Tame's blue eyes flickered as he processed Omen's request. For a moment, there was silence. "I see," Tame finally said, his voice devoid of emotion. "The beacon I gave you requests my help. Call the beacon."

Omen looked at it with a dumbfounded expression. "There's no need for the beacon... You're right in front of me."

"Call the beacon," the gynoid repeated, his tone simple and direct.

"Uh... alright," Omen stammered, confusion etching his features. He turned to the other side of his bed, fumbling through the disarray of belongings—none were his, scattered there. His fingers brushed against the cool, smooth surface of the small metal beacon, and he picked it up, feeling its weight in his hand. He still wanted to ask how the others had received their luggage while he had not received any, but that question seemed insignificant now. Activating the beacon, a faint blue light shone from the device, and a soft chime echoed in the room. He continued looking at the button, expecting something to happen, but apart from a clicking sound, nothing else occurred.

He turned sheepishly to the gynoid, but his heart skipped a beat when he saw the robot's eyes glowing crimson. The same crimson eyes Tame had used to shoot lasers that cut Kan's binding rope. In an instant, Omen threw himself away just in time as a violent beam blasted through, tearing the bed in half.

"What the fuck!" Omen's surprised scream echoed through the room, the sound reverberating off the metal walls. His heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting to Tame.

The bed, now a smoking ruin, lay split in two, charred and smouldering. Omen's pulse raced as he took in the destruction. The sudden attack had been so swift, so unexpected. He glanced around, half expecting another blast, but the room remained eerily silent. Kiba continued sleeping in an uncaring manner, undisturbed by the commotion.

However, the other two were wide awake.

Malek took one glance at them and realised what was going on. With a cold gaze, he turned to Tame and lunged at him. The sudden movement threw the room into chaos, and Omen's heart pounded in his chest.

Isaac, standing amidst the turmoil, locked eyes with Omen. There was a solemnity in his expression that sent a chill down Omen's spine. "I'm sorry, Omen," Isaac said, his voice heavy with regret. "You should never have angered the demoness; this wasn't how the plan went."

'What is this lover boy even saying?' Before Omen could react, Isaac moved towards him with an eerie silence, like a ghost. His movements were swift and precise. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Omen and threw him with inhuman strength. Omen's body rocketed through the air, slamming into the metal door with such force that it broke off its hinges. The impact caused a pulse of pain throughout his body, shattering multiple bones. He yelled a primal, agonised howl that echoed across the entire room.