1300 years ago.
The screams of anguish and agony could be heard throughout the lands. Dark ghost like figures roamed franticly, slithering around in a disrupted and terrified state, almost as if they were trying to hide from something.
The landscape was ravenous and petrifying, corpses laid frozen in time with no sign of decomposition, humans, giants, demons, angels, there was no end to it. It does not take much to conclude that a great battle had occurred in these lands.
For several miles this valley of corpses stand, stretching further than the eye could see. In the midst of this horrific tomb however, laid a city and at the center was a massive fortress. A fortress that shows sign of damage and corrosion. Even in it's now weakened state, the fortress gave off an ominously dangerous aura.
Within this dome, the internal structure contained a series of floors, each holding various types of strange creatures contained in cells. Each floor progressively become more and more secure with more giant ghost like demons guarding them. At the very top floor, the layout of was different from the rest. This floor only had square room containing only one cell. One singular cell. Surrounding this cell were corridors on each side of the room. Two giant ghostly creatures guarded each of these corridor entrances. Similar to knights placed in castles on earth, these creatures stood guard.
Within this cell restrained was Kai. His clothes mostly ripped into rags. His body ravaged with cuts and slashes. His breath weak and hoarse. The restraints seem to be almost possessed, tightening their grip on him every time he tried to move even an inch. The poor boy had not knows how long he had been captured, his mind was in a state of confusion and disarray. All he knew was he was being experimented upon, strange glowing fluid would be forcibly injected into him and he would feel immense pain before blacking out. His appetite had disappeared and so did his desire for most humane things.
One day, he woke up as he sensed something dangerous approaching him, something all too familiar. The room became much darker than it already was, the guards vanished in an instant and within a blink of an eye, IT was in front of him. This was not the first time IT had come to "visit" him over the years. The only thing he knew was that every time it came, he would experience pain worse than what he normally does. He could never look at it's eyes, the only thing that really stood out about it. This thing seemed to be there and also not there at the same time, almost seemingly between a transitional phase and phasing in and out and taking anything that comes in physical contact with it. All he could do was nothing but beg once more. "Kill me, please kill me."
The shadowy figure laughed with willful ignorance. "I see you've gotten use to speaking in Valthrion. Good to know your amusingly puny mind could withhold the information I've given you. Now, it is time for the next phase."
It extended it's hand out, a volatile toxic beam of lightning like energy bursts from his hands and latches onto kai. As it seemingly spreads out and pierces his body all throughout, Kai seemed to have lost consciousness immediately. His eyes lost all color and were a dull grey, whatever the entity was doing, it looked incredibly harrowing and was seemingly killing him. The entity seemed happy. "With this, everything shall soon wither and die."
In the depths of Kai own mind, he laid suspended in a void as he was ready to accept the cold embrace of death that he had been waiting years for. But perhaps that wasn't his fate, for he heard a faint sound increasingly becoming louder and clearer. "ght it.....Fight it.....use it's power.....use it against it!!!"
Kai felt the pressure, like something pushing him to awaken He was getting weaker, but inside him, there was a tiny spark that said no. It was a small bit of rebellion that wouldn't go away. Meanwhile the entity's eyes glistened with malice as the process was going smoothly...however.
Suddenly, the entity's eyes widened as an irregularity occurred. Kai's body began to absorb the oncoming wave of energy, reversing the intended flow to a point where, instead of being bestowed upon him, it was forcibly extracted from the dark creature. The entity, taken aback, hastily halted the energy transfer. This abrupt disruption in the carefully orchestrated flow of energy/corruption led to a catastrophic imbalance. The unleashed energy surged uncontrollably which in turn triggered a massive explosion that not only inflicted severe injuries upon the entity and shattered the living restraints on Kai but also tore open a rift, forcefully ejecting it into an unknown realm while leaving a massive hole on the ground as it closes just as quickly as it had opened. As the chaotic energy subsided, Kai's body ceased its radiant glow, cooling down from the intense absorption.
Kai awoke on the hard rocky floor, his body was different, he felt a new strength inside him but something else was also awakening within him. He did not feel this new presence yet as his thoughts raced in a frenzied whirlwind, a tumultuous blend of survival instincts urging him to flee, yet a lingering fear whispering of the imminent danger that might still lurk in the shadows but he pushes on and heads for the new route created by the rift from earlier. "I'm alive....no...It'll kill me...It's...gone?....I can escape? I...I need to run...Now! The hole!"
-Outside The Castle-
Within the city outskirts, a young child was seen running frantically through the streets. Holding his left arm seemingly tainted with a black liquid, he managed to find and hid in a abandoned shack. Peering through a small hole, multiple creatures of the darkness flew past the shack at a rapid speed, howling, groaning and shrieking as they searched for the child. He held his scream as he gripped his left arm as the liquid seemed to have tightened itself more. He held his breath until the monsters went beyond the range of the boys hearing. Now alone, he looked around to see the shack was in a completely destroyed state. It's a wonder how its still standing, but for now it had served its purpose and the child closed his eyes as exhaustion took it's place.
-Inside The Castle-
Kai was located now at the center level of the dome, busy running through the various a massive room with multiple pillars used to support it being chased by creatures he now knows as Shadow Knights. These ones however seemed to be more aggressive than the ones chasing the child outside. The massive room echoed with haunting screeches, the lich-like creatures closing in on Kai. Panic surged as he sprinted, heart pounding, breaths matching the frenzied rhythm of his footsteps.
Desperation ignited a spark within him. Glancing over his shoulder, Kai spotted cover and darted behind it. Breathing heavily, he summoned latent powers, hands ablaze with vibrant green flames. The flames flickered uncertainly, and Kai stared wide-eyed at his fiery fists. "OH WHAT THE FUCK!?
Before Kai could continue his panic attack, more shadow guards swooped down on him. He swung his fiery fists in a wild arc. Green flames erupted, engulfing the creature in an ethereal blaze. Its screech echoed as it disintegrated into smoky wisps. The remaining guards, undeterred, closed in aggressively.
Kai's untrained movements belied an instinctual resilience. His fists became a symphony of emerald destruction, each strike gaining control. Yet, the creatures' relentless onslaught threatened to overwhelm him.
Despite this, his mind was having an internal conflict. "W-what am I now? Why does this feel normal yet so foreign? I-It doesn't feel right. Desaroth what did you do to me!? Desaroth....that THINGS name.." He could only swallow his own saliva as he realized he knew the entity's name despite not recalling it ever telling him it.
This train of thought was interrupted however as the Shadow Guards caught up to him, surprised, he accidentally unknowingly channeled this mysterious power once more. Hands on fire once more, he created a wave of searing fire while roaring with fear and rage. "Get away from me!"
The fear in his words lingered, a silent acknowledgment of the unknown, as the green flames flickered uncertainly, reflecting the internal struggle Kai faced. The flames had given him a gap to make a break to the exit out of this hallway. Advantage seized, he sprinted towards a magical barrier. Creatures, recovering, pursued with renewed vigor. With a surge of adrenaline, he summoned every bit of strength he had.
He crashed into the magical barrier, the impact resonating with a powerful shockwave. It trembled but held, creatures closing in. "A high tier barrier? wait, how do I know that???"
The creatures roar in the distance as they begin to cross over the wall of flames now weakening. Realizing that his flames covering his arms are slowly diminishing, he spent no time and gathered the remaining embers, focusing into a final, desperate punch to break the barrier. His mind had vivid flashbacks, visions of being in a room, an Elder Lich seemingly casting a similar ray of energy directly into Kai's mind, it croaked with a dry voice. "The knowledge passed onto you shall allow the vessel to conjure and destroy spells."
Kai snaps back to reality as the barrier shattered like glass, fragments scattering and a massive force of energy dispersing from the point of Collison effectively damaging part of the prison as well as killing the remaining few creatures that were rushing at kai. He burst through, breathless and battered.
Kai stood in a momentary respite, remnants of green flames flickering until they gave out. Unknown powers had surfaced, leaving destruction. The fight, brutal and unrefined, ended with Kai escaping the haunting pursuit. "I don't know what I am now, but I won't let them control me. I won't be a prisoner anymore but IT messed up my brain. I need to escape first, then figure out what's happened to me."
As Kai emerged from the misty prison, the air outside tasted of newfound freedom. The abandoned village stood in eerie silence, its dilapidated structures whispering tales of a forgotten past. Yet, as Kai cautiously navigated through the desolation, his senses tingled with an unsettling awareness.
Suddenly, he spotted movement—Shadows, much like the ones he encountered in Desaroth's dome. Seeking refuge behind a crumbling wall, he observed them. The ghouls moved with a predatory grace, their twisted forms hinting at the malevolence that lurked within.
Kai's eyes narrowed, an unexpected surge of knowledge flooding his mind. "Shadow Reapers". The term echoed within him, accompanied by details about their nature, their insatiable hunger, and the darkness that bound them to obey the will of Desaroth. The man winced, grappling with the question of how he possessed such information. "Shadow Reapers? Desaroth! How many things did it put in my head, it hurts..."
His head throbbed, a pulsating reminder of mysteries veiled in pain. Suddenly, Shadow Reapers attention shifted. They rushed towards an old shack, and amid the chaos, a small figure emerged. The air resonated with the desperate cries of a child as the ghouls closed in, their intentions unmistakable. Without a second thought, Kai sprinted towards the unfolding horror. The ghouls, sensing an unexpected presence, turned their attention to him.
Kai positioned himself between the ghouls and the child, his green-flamed fists ready. The =kids eyes widened in a mix of fear and hope. "You... you're not one of them."
The dark cloaked monsters frenzied and hungry, lunged at Kai. His every move reflected a newfound understanding of combat, yet the twisted claws of the ghouls grazed him, leaving searing trails across his skin. One of the reapers, with unnatural speed, managed to sink its claws deep into Kai's side. A sharp intake of breath betrayed the pain, but Kai's resolve held firm.
The green flames intensified as Kai unleashed a whirlwind of strikes, leaving scorched remnants of the reaper in his wake. Blood dripped from his wounds, mixing with the ethereal flames. The fight became a dance of desperation and determination, the reapers relentless in their pursuit, Kai pushing his limits to protect the entity.
Despite the injuries, Kai fought with a primal intensity. The child, now behind a discarded barrel, watched in awe and fear as Kai continued to defend against the relentless reapers. The air was charged with tension, the clash of fire and twisted forms creating a macabre symphony.
As the Shadow Reapers recoiled, Kai staggered, exhaustion etched on his face but he had won. Seizing the opportunity, the child wearily asked. "What are you?"
Kai, still processing the chaos, managed a faint smile. "Just a dead man walking."