"Falling, you'll always be falling, what a waste of skin you are, Imogen; do well not to forget... hahaha."
Imogen woke up abruptly with a feeling of fear she hadn't felt for quite some time in this new world, it took her a bit to realize that sweat was coating her body in light film, this unnerved her most of all.
Imogen stood up, the sun had still yet to rise and her fellow companions were still sleeping; she grabbed her halberd and left for a nearby sand dune.
"... Do I really know who I am anymore, it seems everyday I'm a completely different person, the only difference is what's wrong with me mentally... what a perverse life, then again; it is my life." Sighed Imogen as she looked up at the sky and watched as the twin suns rose ever higher with each passing second.
"I like watching the sun rise and set, I heard someone say once that simply that tells you what kind of a person you are; I don't think it's that simple though... I know I'm not a very good person."
~~~
Clarence panted as he ran up to the peaceful visage of Imogen sitting atop a sand dune. "Oh there you are, we've been looking for you all morning Imogen, have you seriously just been sitting here this whole time; you don't have that sort of patience!"
"You're right, I don't, I simply came out here to see what game I could hunt, nothing more; it's about time I head back."
"What!" "You caused me all this trouble and you're just going to head back, I'm supposed to drag you back; what has gotten into you this morning Imogen?" Inquired Clarence jokingly as Imogen walked past him like a ghost, without a word of answer.
"Imogen!" "Imogen!!!"
~~~
"Okay, so we're only a couple minutes away from the Ossuary, I want you all on guard, I doubt death will be very forgiving; so give it your all!" Commanded Imogen while gripping tight on her halberd's handle, something about this tomb unsettled her.
"Wow, I didn't think you were one for a speech Imogen, it seems you're just brimming with enthusiasm." Replied Clarence in a snarky tone as Imogen turned around and glared at him.
"You better turn around gracious leader, you wouldn't want to hit that wall behind you; now would you." Smiled Clarence while Imogen grumbled as she turned around and scarcely missed crashing into the wall behind her.
"It seems we're here, draw your weapons and let's find the entrance, it'll probably be easier to get inside; but we should be careful anyways." Grinned Imogen, her voice full of confidence; but she couldn't have been any more wrong.
~~~
"Eat... EAT, EAT, CONSUME! Shouted a beast while shoving a human bone into the mouth of one of his current victims.
"EAT to survive, EAT to make fun, EAT to EAT... kin are meant to be EATEN, just as I shall when I find my dearest sister; ahahahaha!"
"Oh what's wrong, don't you savor the taste of your kin, I know the rest of my brothers were... a shame, there would've been many more if not for that damned worm!" Snarled the creature as he gripped his prey by the neck and smashed her head into the wall.
~~~
"My black hand!" "Step forth from these graves, deal with those meddlesome twits and protect your home!" Barked a ghastly shade as he blocked a powerful halberd attack with surprising ease.
"Darn!" "I'm getting really hungry and I need your fricking soul, surrender it to me!" Screamed Imogen, she could feel her mind somewhat melting already, it was being filled with a dark energy that clouded all else but her primal need to eat... if you were to look at her now; you'd see her skin peeling off like old paint.
"That's it, I need to use it; Undesired Power!" Cried Imogen while somewhat wondering why she shouted her skill's name out.
"Imogen, wait!" "Can't you just morph into your true form, there's no need to use your trump card so soon!" Panicked Clarence as he watched Imogen's human-like form triple in size and have it's skin turn ebony like stone.
"No time, I must, CONSUME!" Howled Imogen while tearing off the black hand's ghastly head and shoving its whole body down her gullet.
"No soul, I've been tricked; I'VE BEEN TRICKED!" Ululated Imogen as she got down on all fours and chased down the summoner with all her might.
Imogen crushed anything that got in her way and the soul brimming with life in front of her, she had to have it, no matter the cost.
"Stay back, stay back, this isn't the way things were supposed to go!" Screeched the shade while a vision of his life flickered before his eyes.
"I must get stronger, no matter the cost, our children should have a life of luxury; not to sleep among the rubble the lords toss out!"
"Well fine!" "If you want to leave us so badly, then get out; I never want to see your face here again!"
"But Marise..."
"I said get out, get out, get out!" Sobbed Marise as she watched her beloved turn and walk away forever.
The shade's head flew across the graveyard as Imogen tore his body apart and hastily crammed his flesh down her throat.
"No, no, no, no!" Shrieked Imogen as for a second she thought she was unable to consume his soul, but after a bit, she felt the warm energy soak into her stomach.
*𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝: Defiler Of The Natural Order - You've broken the most sacred law among all mortals, most paths to godhood are now blocked and as you've had a taste of a souls power, you'll always come back for more - Arts that deal with the soul are easier to grasp for you now, along with the passive skills Soul Addiction and Branded Soul, you deal twice as much damage to all creatures that are considered holy, but also decay in their presence
*𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: If you go to long without eating a soul, you'll go berserk and attack any and all creatures near you, but souls also fuel your power... if you eat enough of them; you'll eventually earn new skills
*𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥: You've consumed another soul and committed the highest treason a mortal can ever achieve, the very world of which you walk upon will try to bar you from reaching godhood and leaving for the stars. This is not the worst of it though, any creature with a semblance of holy blood shall feel your presence along with the rest of the defilers
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: You've eaten your first soul, only being capable of it because of your cursed nature, so I'm feeling generous; do you accept the Soul Affinity?
"So many notifications, you do this every time system, just let me think first you dumb prick; what even if a Soul Affinity?" Questioned Imogen as she held her head to her chest in an attempt to calm the headache she was having from all the recent trauma on her mind.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦'𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: Affinities are all perks, no need to worry, just take my reward; the Soul Affinity is really easy to improve... take my word for it
"For some reason I think you're hiding something, but it can't be all bad; I have decided to take the Soul Affinity!" Announced Imogen while swearing that she could feel the system grinning one massive grin.
*𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦'𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: Great, now let me teach you about affinities and how you just screwed yourself over, don't you just love me?
~~~
"Shit... this isn't looking good for me, who is this guy, it's almost as though he's toying with me, but how is that possible; I'm the second most powerful knight in this kingdom!" Coughed Elora as she got launched into the air by a massive venequake, causing her to cough out some blood.
"I'm Dusk, what's yours, ant?" Mocked The Crimson Of Dusk while the two other Crimson walked up behind her.
"Oh, can't quite answer, can you, my gravitational power almost rivals that of the first tenebrous; that is why I earned the position of Crimson Of Dusk." Cackled Dusk as she slammed Elora into the dirt and began cracking her bones by making an opposing torrent of gravity try to lift Elora up while the other tried to slam her downwards.
"Now you wouldn't happen to know where I could find the newest recruit in your ranks, would ya' now." Laughed Dusk while increasing the potency of her gravitational magic.
"What would you... want with a recruit... I'm sure that I... more than fit whatever purpose... you'd need of a... recruit."
"Aww, how selfless, but I'm sorry to say that you're no bastard chosen one, his body is the only one that can replace The Crimson Majesty's and if he isn't back in commission soon; this world will burn... The Omniscient One will make sure of that." Grumbled Dusk as she walked up to Elora and grabbed her by the face.
"So tell us all you know, NOW!"