Lucien expanded his domain again.
Space peeled open and the interior of his Divine Energy Core answered him at once. The field where the cages of the ancient beings stood revealed itself.
The moment Lucien's borrowed gargoyle emperor form stepped into view, the field erupted.
Eyes snapped toward him. Rage flared. Pride remembered itself. Hatred surged like an old poison finally given air.
"Stone-born abomination," a voice thundered.
"May your name be ground into ash and scattered across void," another hissed. "May every law you touch reject you like rot."
A third roared, "Oathbreaker. Little worm in a crown of lies. I will drink your marrow when your tricks fail."
More voices layered over it, old and vicious.
Lucien's blood-red eyes flared.
The gargoyle instincts surged. A predatory instint rose through his borrowed veins like magma.
His aura burst outward.
