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Prince of The Abyss

Chapter 11: Shadow of Denial · Oct 08, 2026

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Chapter List (512)

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1 Chapter 1: The Story Of A Young Light 2026-10-08
2 Chapter 2: The Shadows Creeping In 2026-10-08
3 Chapter 3: The darkness will come back by devouring a weak light 2026-10-08
4 Chapter 4: A Light Worth Praising 2026-10-08
5 Chapter 5: A World Without Light 2026-10-08
6 Chapter 6: A World Above The Darkness 2026-10-08
7 Chapter 7: The Darkness Hidden Inside The Lights Shadow 2026-10-08
8 Chapter 8: Outgrown by Shadows 2026-10-08
9 Chapter 9: A Shadow Wrapped In Wire 2026-10-08
10 Chapter 10: Of Shadows and Chains 2026-10-08
11 Chapter 11: Shadow of Denial 2026-10-08
12 Chapter 12: Lonely shadow. 2026-10-08
13 Chapter 13: Merciless Shadow 2026-10-08
14 Chapter 14: The Fifth God’s Whisper 2026-10-08
15 Chapter 15: Run, Little Shadow 2026-10-08
16 Chapter 16: The Desperate Shadow 2026-10-08
17 Chapter 17: The Fool and the Unknowning 2026-10-08
18 Chapter 18: Tales of A Frozen World 2026-10-08
19 Chapter 19: The Still River 2026-10-08
20 Chapter 20: A Fool’s Conviction 2026-10-08
21 Chapter 21: Ashen Wing 2026-10-08
22 Chapter 22: The Fool and The Witch 2026-10-08
23 Chapter 23: Nothing But A Fool 2026-10-08
24 Chapter 24: The Start Of The Fantastic Adventure Of A Lonely Fool And His Trusty But Greedy Witch Companion! 2026-10-08
25 Chapter 25: A Fool And The Heist 2026-10-08
26 Chapter 26: Simple Words 2026-10-08
27 Chapter 27: Reflection Of A Fool 2026-10-08
28 Chapter 28: A Path That Leads Only To Rot 2026-10-08
29 Chapter 29: Crawling Chaos 2026-10-08
30 Chapter 30: The Abyss 2026-10-08
31 Chapter 31: The Foul Meets His Match 2026-10-08
32 Chapter 32: The Moving Bridge 2026-10-08
33 Chapter 33: Infinite Spiral 2026-10-08
34 Chapter 34: The Black Sun 2026-10-08
35 Chapter 35: A Letter For The Fool 2026-10-08
36 Chapter 36: Threads Of The Sun 2026-10-08
37 Chapter 37: The Price of Salvation 2026-10-08
38 Chapter 38: Between Honor and Ruin 2026-10-08
39 Chapter 39: No Gods Above 2026-10-08
40 Chapter 40: Outsider 2026-10-08
41 Chapter 41: The Fool’s Descent 2026-10-08
42 Chapter 42: Human Sacrifice 2026-10-08
43 Chapter 43: The Weight Of Worth 2026-10-08
44 Chapter 44: Forged in Honor 2026-10-08
45 Chapter 45: Born to End 2026-10-08
46 Chapter 46: The Jack 2026-10-08
47 Chapter 47: The Fool’s Hand 2026-10-08
48 Chapter 48: Gates of the Outsider 2026-10-08
49 Chapter 49: A Fool 2026-10-08
50 Chapter 50: What Remains 2026-10-08

”Aether... what is it that you desire?”

Aether raised a brow. He tried answering, but nothing quite came to mind.

”I... I’m not sure,” he muttered, burying his face in the ground, almost embarrassed.

Before, he wouldn’t have even hesitated. Back then, his dream had been obvious:

To awaken.

But now...?

He had awakened. And it had turned out to be more of a curse than the blessing he’d imagined.

”I don’t think... there is something I desire,” Aether said quietly.

He looked at the figure in front of him. Its eyes were like a once-gentle sea struck by a storm. Calamity rippled within their depths.

Its hair shimmered like sunlight. That golden hue had to be a gift from a god, there was no other explanation for such beauty.

Pinned within the soft rays was a delicate hairpin, shaped like a moonflower, forged from some rare, expensive metal.

Aether stared deep into the figure’s eyes, ready to ask his own question.

”W... What do you desire?”

The figure tilted its head, smiling brightly.

”What do I want?”

It burst into laughter, hysterical and raw, leaving Aether frozen in confusion.

He hadn’t made a joke.

So what was so funny?

”It’s simple,” the figure said, voice calmer now. ”I want to be free. To escape this district.”

The laughter died, replaced by a sharp, arrogant grin.

”And I’m sure that’s what you want too. After all, who would know better than yourself?”

Aether blinked and looked at the figure,

who indeed... was himself.

An uneasy chill crept up his spine.

Was that really what he wanted? His life wasn’t that bad. Clarisse was a good teacher, stern but kind. She cared for him. He was even beginning to enjoy life a little.

So why would he want to leave?

Well... the answer was obvious. To him, and to the other him.

Clarisse was going to die. And when that time came...

What would he have left?

He clenched his fists and lifted his chin.

”I want to enjoy my life to the fullest... until the day I’m alone again.”

His voice echoed in the silence.

The other him said nothing, only smiled. A knowing smile. A cruel smile.

Then the world shattered. Light pierced through his eyelids.

”Aether. Wake up. Now.”

He blinked, dazed. The dream slipped through his fingers like mist.

Clarisse stood over him, arms crossed, impatience written across her face.

”Get your sorry ass up. We’ve got company.”

Still groggy, Aether sat up. ”Who... what?”

”A Blue Rose noble,” she snapped, her tone dipped in venom. ”Highblood. Too polished for this district. Which means...”

Aether’s eyes sharpened.

”A target.”

Clarisse gave a sharp nod. ”A big one. So don’t screw it up. This isn’t some street drunk we’re scamming. This one could have us gutted if we mess up.”

She turned, cloak trailing behind her. ”Get cleaned up. You’ve got ten minutes.”

Aether rubbed his eyes, frowning. ”Why should I? I’m just staying in the shadows. Shouldn’t you be the one getting ready?”

Clarisse paused and turned with a look that made his soul tremble.

Whatever she had planned, it wasn’t good.

Aether briefly considered running. But he wasn’t faster than Clarisse.

She was a Seeker.

He was just a Reader.

She glanced back at him and smirked.

He looked so flustered, so adorably helpless.

In her mind, the kid was going to be a heartbreaker one day.

Well, today... he’d have to be a man-killer too.

[...]

’Curses, how did I get into this situation?’

Aether moved through the Withered Sector like a feather, his steps elegant, practiced, graceful.

’Curse you, Clarisse. Curse you!’

His face burned red with humiliation.

He pulled the oversized shawl tighter, trying not to shiver in the wind. His blonde hair now reached the small of his back. The shimmer of the relic hidden under his collar glimmered faintly.

”Relic only works for a few hours,” she’d said. ”So don’t get dramatic and blow your cover.”

He tugged at the skirt, if you could call it that, made of layered linen stained with soot and mud. His hands itched to rip it all off and run.

He didn’t look like a boy from the Withered.

He looked like what Clarisse had made him: a street girl with enough charm, enough dirt, and enough deadness in her eyes to seem real.

His voice would hide.

His body would speak.

It had to.

Then he heard it, wheels grinding across cracked roads.

The noble’s caravan.

This was the sign.

As you might’ve guessed by now, Clarisse’s evil plan was to use Aether, dressed as a girl, to get close to the noble and locate his wealth. Then steal it all.

Aether could rely on the shadows to find out where the goods were hidden.

From Clarisse’s perspective, it was genius.

Aether, though, was ready to strangle her.

She’d always said he had a natural beauty. Maybe even noble blood. But little did she know, he had more than noble blood.

He was the heir to Caelurea’s throne.

...Or at least, he had been.

And even she hadn’t expected him to look this good as a girl.

The plan was foolproof.

What bastard wouldn’t be charmed?

Of course, if things went too far, she’d jump in and save him.

He was a child, after all.

Then came the moment, the wheels stopped.

Aether’s heart thundered.

It was time.

One of the shadows shifted, waving its hand.

Run away, it warned.

’Why?’

He looked around, confused, until it was too late.

”Hello there, princess.”

Aether’s heart dropped. This wasn’t how the plan was supposed to go.

He was supposed to approach him, not the other way around.

He froze.

Maybe he could run....

No. Clarisse would skin him alive if he came back empty-handed.

So he turned to face the man.

And froze.

Staring at his golden eyes, he felt his heart filled with regret. As his snow-like hair was being gently played by the wind.

Aether remembered.

This man had been there when everything was taken from him.

The prince of this kingdom.

His mouth went dry. His skin turned cold. The shadows had vanished. None dared linger near him now.

The man stared at Aether.

Then grinned. Like a wolf.

”How interesting...”

Seconds later, a blade pressed against Aether’s throat.

Time slowed.

Was this how it ended?

After everything?

He hadn’t even ascended yet.

He hadn’t seen his family again.

No.

No, he wouldn’t die here.

Fire roared inside him.

He would kill this bastard.

Even if it killed him, too.

Then, arms wrapped around him, his own arms.

Aether looked behind him.

And saw himself.

The one whispering violent thoughts into his mind.

If it was him, then...

Wasn’t it always just him all along?

He stared at the ground as time crawled forward.

A grotesque smile twisted his lips.

> Override request pending...> Request grant—

But then time resumed.

He blinked and was back.

Clarisse stood in front of him.

His hands, dripping with blood. Not his own.

Clarisse turned her head.

Blood spilled from her mouth, but she still smiled.

”Hey there, kid... You should probably run.”

Aether shook his head. His eyes dropped to the sword in her side.

Blood poured like a river.

”Oh, you’re not worrying about me, are you? Do you think your teacher would die this easily? That’s disrespectful, you know?”

Her skin paled. She was fading. He couldn’t let this happen.

But he was too weak.

He couldn’t even move.

The royal drew his sword from her.

She staggered, but was still ready to protect Aether, who was still frozen behind her.

”Listen to me, Aether. I don’t know if I’ll survive... but I’ll hold him off. So please. Grant this old woman her dying wish.”

”Run.”

Tears spilled from Aether’s eyes.

”Oh, and once you get back,” she added, her voice breaking. ”Check my room. I left something there for you.”

Seeing Aethers’ confused face, filled with tears, and pale. She couldn’t help but laugh.

”What? Thought I wouldn’t remember? ”It’s your birthday today, isn’t it?”

”So... happy birthday, you rat.”

Aether couldn’t speak.

He nodded.

Then turned

and ran.

Like the coward he was

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