---- When Ss was thrown onto the floor of a hidden chamber, he ---- calmly rose, examining his surroundings.


    Mirrors.


    Mirrors surrounded him on all sides.


    Every wall, the ceiling, the flooreverything.


    In the midst of this suffocating, enclosed space, a massive serpent hissed before him, and at its side, stroking it, stood Lucrecia Silver.


    I now exactly who you are.


    It doesnt matter what disguise you wear or what tricks you try.


    You belong to me, and my mark is on your soul!" Her vicious voice coiled around his mind like a greedy embrace.


    Ss remained silent, staring at the terrifying reptile before him.


    Those yellow pupils fixated on him obsessively just like their owner.


    Then, he lowered his gaze to the ground, and Lucrecia assumed he was afraid of her sorcery.


    "Gray, that woman is going to die anyway, and to save her, you walked straight into my trap.


    Stop pretending and take off that disgusting disguise!" She hissed menacingly.


    The serpents coiled scales slid over the mirrored floor, ready to encircle him at their mistress''smand, to break him once more.


    Lucrecia expected to see terror in his eyesthe same terror from when she kidnapped and vited that boy all those years ago.


    But when Ss lifted his head again, even Lucrecia took a step back.


    Those eyespitch-ck voids, bottomless chasmsgreeted her.


    ---- Overwhelming power surged from his masculine frame.


    His hair shifted to a tinum hue, his features breathtakingly beautiful.


    He was himself who he had been before she defiled him with her filth.


    Yet, at the same time, everything was different.


    "T think you made a mistake this time, you damned witch.


    I didn''t fall into your trapyou fell into mine." Ss smirked, a twisted, deranged grin.


    "And dont ever call me that filthy name again.


    My name is Ss!" Lucrecia shuddered, watching that crushing, suffocating darkness radiate from him.


    It couldnt be what she was imagining an elemental couldnt achieve what she had sought for so long! IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE! The mirrors began to tremble violently, darkening, bubbling.


    silhouetteshands, legs, headspushed against the reflective surfaces, vibrating faster and faster.


    CRACK! CRACK! Fissures echoed from every direction, danger howling to be set free.


    Voices of ghosts, nightmares, pure malevolence wed at reality.


    And Ss was the darkest of them allthe King of Specters.


    As all the shadows erupted from the shattered mirrors, the serpent ---- lunged at Ss, jaws wide open, venom-dripping fangs ready to strike.