Darkness.
There was nothing but all-enveloping darkness surrounding me.
It was as if I had been swallowed by an abyss, with no sights, sounds, or even a sense of direction.
However, I didn't panic.
This was normal to me, for I had experienced this darkness before.
Way more than I ever wanted to...
"Radiate..."
I whispered a familiar word, my voice echoing softly in the void.
Crackle...
A soft, gentle light began to radiate from the palm of my hand, illuminating the immediate area with a warm glow.
The darkness hissed and recoiled from the light as if it were repelled by its purity, desperately trying to hold its grasp but ultimately failing.
"I was abandoned once again, huh..."
Glancing at my surroundings, I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration.
This was already the third time this week that I was left in this unending darkness by my party.
"I hope they get chewed up by a Skinwalker!"
I muttered under my breath with a bitter tone.
Although I was abandoned by yet another party, I had no right to be angry.
Yes...
It's my own fault for being too weak.
"If only I had a curse..."
If only I had a little bit more power, I wouldn't be in this perpetual cycle of darkness and abandonment.
This world is a cruel place, only the strong and lucky can survive.
I've heard myths that centuries ago, this wasn't the case and people lived in harmony, light had absolute power over darkness.
It was a ridiculous concept, but sometimes I found myself longing for that kind of world.
If only 'The Darkness' didn't exist, maybe humans wouldn't have to struggle in such a harsh and unforgiving reality.
Crack...
Suddenly, the sound of distant rocks crumbling attracted my attention and I instantly clenched my fist, extinguishing the light in my palm.
A few hundred years ago the world as humans knew it changed.
It was an unexpected and unpredictable event that caught everyone off-guard.
This event, known as the Great Disaster, plunged the entire world into eternal darkness.
First, strange Darkness began to seep from the crevices of the earth, slowly engulfing everything in its path.
It was a wave of pure darkness, consuming all light and hope in its wake.
Although the exact cause of the Great Disaster remains unknown, its effects were devastating.
The Darkness itself caused no harm to humans, however, that was only until 'they' appeared.
It turned out that within the Darkness, there existed a variety of dangerous creatures.
They ranged from slightly mutated animals to terrifying humanoid beings with dark powers or even abominations that didn't belong to the Earth's natural order.
All of the modern weapons that humans possessed were useless against these creatures.
Obviously, the Great Disaster took a lot of lives...
85% of the entire human population perished just in a single week!
The entire humanity would've been wiped out if it weren't for the 'First One', a human who awakened the power to combat the Darkness.
Soon, many more people began to awaken their own powers, becoming known as the 'Cursed Ones', however, none of them had the same level of power as the 'First One'.
Everyone has different curses but 'his' curse was the most formidable of them all...
He could create Citadels of Light, strongholds protected by the light that served as sanctuaries for remaining humans.
Unfortunately, the 'First One' or as he came to be known as 'The Saint' was killed by a massive Leviathan creature, which was a massive setback for humanity.
However, humans did not lose hope.
Although there was a limited number of citadels, they could be expanded through the combined efforts of the Cursed ones.
Crack...
My thoughts were interrupted as the sound of debris falling echoed somewhere nearby.
'May the light be with me...'
I prayed, closing my eyes and curling up into a ball.
The only power I had was the ability to create a small orb of light that could illuminate my surroundings, which was an innate ability all people possessed.
I had no way to fight against the creatures of the Dark, except for the enchanted dagger I managed to buy with my meager savings.
Its cold handle was tightly clutched in my trembling hand as I listened for the faint footsteps approaching.
'Don't come my way... Don't come my way...'
I whispered to myself repeatedly, trying to calm my racing heart and steady my breathing.
Tap... Tap...
Unfortunately, the sound of footsteps grew louder and closer, echoing through the silence of the darkness.
The stench of decay and rot filled the air, signaling the presence of a creature from the Dark.
'Shit!'
As soon as the scent reached my nostrils, I cursed.
This was not my first time in the Darkness, I've been exploring it since I was a child.
I could easily recognize the smell that emanated from the malicious creatures that lurked within the shadows.
"Radiate..."
I murmured, summoning a flickering light from my palm.
The soft glow pushed against the encroaching darkness, forcing the thick shadows to recede and reveal the being within them.
'Nightcrawler...'
A silhouette emerged from the darkness, revealing a grotesque creature with elongated limbs and sharp, jagged teeth.
Thick veins were visible beneath its pale, translucent skin, making it look like a walking corpse.
Nightcrawlers were one of the most common creatures found in the Darkness, relentless hunters who used their agility and sharp senses to track down unsuspecting humans.
"I'm in trouble..."
From the countless scars that marked its body, it was clear that this Nightcrawler had tasted the blood of many victims.
It glared at me with its unnerving red eyes, its mouth salivating in anticipation of its next meal.
The creature could smell my fear and it excited it.
Grrr...
A low growl rumbled from deep within the Nightcrawler's throat, sending a shiver down my spine.
I had seen these monsters rip many people apart with their razor-sharp claws and devour them without a second thought.
Their hunger was insatiable, their brutality unmatched.
Within the next few minutes, I would either be brutally mauled by the Nightcrawler or find a way to outsmart and escape its clutches.
I didn't even dream of killing such a monster.
All I needed was to take away its mobility and run as fast as I could.
The Aeria City, the nearest Citadel of Light, should be a few kilometers from here so I needed to create a distraction.
Huff...
Taking in a deep breath, I let out a low whistle, echoing through the darkness.
"Let's do this..."