Chapter 375
Phantom nodded, and Ikenga laid a hand on his head. Phantom’s eyes took on a faint purple glow as Ikenga’s voice echoed with authority. "When the seal is broken, the mages will know. They will come for you. This is what you must do to avoid your death."
Ikenga removed his hand, and Phantom stared at him in surprise. "Is that even possible, my lord?"
Ikenga laughed, shaking his head. "You still don’t know enough about yourself or your power—especially how you came to be."
Leaning slightly closer, Ikenga’s tone turned sharp, laced with finality. "You are no longer an ordinary being, child. You are a curse. A higher-tier one. Act like it."
Phantom’s faces flickered rapidly, shifting through a spectrum of emotions—confusion, realization, and then a flicker of pride. The glow in his eyes dimmed slightly as he lowered his head in acknowledgment. "I understand, my lord. I will act as befits my nature."
Ikenga’s smile returned, sharp and satisfied. "Good. Remember, Phantom, you are not bound by mortal limitations. Your existence is shaped by their fears, ambitions, and sins, given form. Use that. Twist their perceptions. Bend their wills. If they hunt you, let them chase shadows and ghosts."
Phantom nodded once more, stepping into the portal as it closed behind him. He emerged in a dimly lit storage room, the air heavy and oppressive as he felt the world’s pressure weigh upon him again, now that he was no longer in his lord’s presence.
In the corner of the room, the marked ratman lay on a pile of hay, fast asleep. Phantom moved with deliberate quiet, each step calculated to avoid waking him. As he approached, he squatted down, placing a hand gently on the ratman’s shoulder. The ratman stirred but did not wake.
Phantom’s expression grew serious as he focused inward, searching for what Ikenga had spoken of. After a few moments, he found it—a small, faintly glowing flame deep within the ratman.