"Ten seconds," Desmond hissed, his eyes flicking to the pulsing cobra staff in Khufu's hand. "You're asking for payment at a time like this?""This is precisely the best time," Hatshepsut stood tall, her back to her mad husband. She stared at Desmond, her eyes burning with ambition. "Once you leave, I'll be alone in this snake pit. I need assurance. I need... *Absolutism*.""You're insane," Laila whispered behind Desmond. "Khufu could blow us up at any moment!""Silence, Servant," Hatshepsut snapped without turning her head. She gripped the collar of Desmond's blood-soaked tunic, pulling him closer. "You promised me, Devil. You said you could manipulate desire into power. Give it to me. Make me feel that I am the only Pharaoh on this earth. Make me fear nothing."Desmond stared into the Queen's eyes. He saw the fear hidden beneath the arrogance. Hatshepsut was afraid of failure. She was afraid of Khufu's shadow."Fine," Desmond grinned wi

A strong wind roared inside the Nexus Chamber. The pillar of golden light spun faster and faster, creating a gravitational vortex that pulled in dust, pebbles, and the fabric of their clothes. Its sound was like the roar of an ancient jet engine.*WUUUNG... WUUUNG...*"Desmond!" Nefertari screamed, her voice nearly swallowed by the storm. She lunged forward, gripping Desmond’s arm with all her strength. Her nails dug into his skin, refusing to let go. "Don't go! Or if you must go... take me with you!"Desmond looked into the Princess’s eyes. They were wet, red, and filled with desperation. The girl who had once been arrogant and wanted to whip him was now pleading like a child afraid of being left alone in the dark."I can't, Nefertari," Desmond shook his head, trying gently to loosen her grip. "Look at that light. It’s not a normal door. It's a meat grinder for ordinary humans. If you step inside, your body will be torn apart atom by atom."<

"Come here, dog!"The Alpha Wolf didn't need a second invitation. It leaped, jaws wide open, aiming for Desmond's throat. The animal's foul breath washed over his face.Desmond didn't dodge. His leg muscles were stiff from the cold; his reflexes were slowed by 30%. If he tried to dance like he did in Egypt, he'd slip and die a ridiculous death.So he used the only advantage he had: *Cruelty*.Just as the wolf's mouth was about to close on his neck, Desmond shoved his linen-wrapped left arm into the animal's maw.*CRUNCH!*The wolf's fangs tore through the linen, ripped the skin, and scraped Desmond's forearm bone. Hot blood spurted out."Got you," Desmond hissed, suppressing a cry of pain.With his left arm locked in the wolf's jaw, Desmond used his right hand. He didn't punch. He drove two stiff fingers straight into the wolf's eye.*SPLAT!*The wolf howled, but the sound was muffled by Desmon

"Watch your step, Rat!"A hard shove slammed into Desmond's back. His feet, tripping over heavy iron chains, sent him tumbling to his knees on the cold stone floor."Could you maybe take it easy?" Desmond spat to the side, red fluid mixing with the floor dust. He looked up, staring at Sir Kian who stood towering over him in silver armor that reflected the dim torchlight. "The guest service in this village is absolutely zero stars. I'm going to write a terrible review in my diary later.""Silence," Kian's voice was calm yet sharp, like a scalpel. He wasn't shouting like the forest bandits earlier, and that made him far more dangerous. "You were arrested in the Monastery's forbidden zone carrying an aura that agitated our horses. Do you think your jokes will save you from the gallows?""I'm just a lost traveler," Desmond tried to stand, but two Monastery guards pressed his shoulders back to the ground. "I'm cold, starving, and just happened to pass