CHAPTER FOURTEEN
In the end, it did not take long for the Prince's transformation to become complete as he reappeared under a new form, his appearance being something more akin to a demon as his full head of hair was replaced with blackened flames, skin completely burnt-looking as large red cosmetic cracks encompassed several areas of his body, with blue glowing eyes and greyish rags replacing the dangling fabrics attached to his armor.
All seemed lost for Babylon, as the corrupted Elder seemed proud with his efforts. At last, there were no major threats left for his master to deal with and he had a brand new lieutenant to add to his ranks as well. Perhaps he might even get a raise and rid himself of these persistent memory fragments that continued to try and fight back against the corruptive influence of the Sands of Time forever.
The Elder did what he could to keep these fleeting parts of his former humanity in check, but it seemed as if the Prince's words of desperation had managed to strengthen these leftovers enough, to gain back control over the physical body for a moment.
It hardly matters now, weaker half. Your pupil is among our ranks and there's nothing you can do about it.
But things aren't always as they seem, as the newly-birthed Dark Prince proceeded to strike back at his 'allies' in a blind rage, managing to get a successful slice at the Elder's body (which took him completely off-guard as he took to the skies once more, in an attempt to escape from the monster he had brought upon this world).
'Why are you running away? Don't you wish to stay and admire your work, old friend?' the Dark Prince mocked, as he proceeded to chase the Elder from the ground below.
The Dark Prince continued to keep up good pace, even dispatching other threats that got in the way of his prey with his newly-enhanced chain, spinning it around expertly whilst dodging counterattacks as if they were nothing.
'This power... is intoxicating!' the Dark Prince commented. 'No more fatigue, no more need to fear for my own mortality, no more human weakness!'
But the Prince's own will fought back against the Sands' corrupting influence. 'No, this is madness! What am I becoming? I... will not... let this contagion... use me for such... inhumane actions!'
Desperately trying to hold onto his humanity, the Dark Prince made a mad dash for the streets (hoping to find some way to reverse the corruption and fast).
He spied innocents being dragged away from their homes, by soldiers that intended to use and twist them into puppets to serve the will of their master. Just like what the Elder had intended to make him into.
'No more suffering! I can stop this!' the Dark Prince shouted, as he threw his chain at a nearby pole, using it to swing across to a closed-in wall that he carefully slid down to the streets below.
Guards obliviously presumed the Dark Prince to be their new general, which greatly proved their undoing as he slew them and ordered the civilians to flee, not even sticking around to hear their feelings of eternal gratitude as he made it his current goal to hunt down and slay the Elder (or whatever monstrosity he had become), for what he had done to him as he rushed down the streets.
More guards and dogs stood in front of them to protect the Elder who fled upon giving them instructions, but the Dark Prince only displayed a satisfied grin as he prepared for combat.