"To mortals, we are the creatures of the night, but to ourselves, we are the guardians of eternity."
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'Am I so desperate and overwhelmed that I'm starting to hear impossible things?'
The mere thought sends a shiver down my spine. Yet amidst the uncertainty, a glimmer of hope flickers to life. But what if the voice speaks the truth? Before I can ponder further, the approaching presence of my pursuers jolts me back to reality.
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'They're closing in on me?'
I gasp at the realization that my carelessness allowed my pursuers to close in so quickly. Desperately, I start sprinting more rigorously from one tree to another.
Then.
I hear the voice again.
"Come to me!"
This time, it's stronger, almost hypnotic in its urgency, as if it's trying to ensnare me and compel me to obey.
'This can't be my imagination… can it?'
A large part of me doubts that this is just a figment of my imagination or madness. But there is always a cautious and skeptical part of me that resists to belief in it.
'Is this all happening because I am so desperate for something to change? And am I really that desperate?' I ask myself.
'Yes, you are' I anwered my own question.
I need someone who can grant me the power to defend myself against my attackers and the entire world.
I crave the strength to stop fleeing like a cornered animal with its tail between its legs and to start fighting like a true warrior, like a real shinobi.
'Heh, who would have thought that , the proud daughter of my father, the proud heiress and member of my clan—once feared and respected—would end up hiding like a mouse?'
Nothing seems impossible in this world, does it? I reflect bitterly.
But before I can sink deeper into despair, I pinch my thighs to refocus on the present situation. I push all those negative thoughts to the back of my mind, concentrating solely on the urgent need to evade my pursuers. Confronting them in my current state would be futile.
"As if you could defeat them even in perfect condition," a voice inside me taunts, but I ignore it. How could I possibly face five Jounin, three Chunin, and two Genin simultaneously? It's an impossible task. An impossible task to survive.
I have little chakra left, and my body is covered in wounds—both large and small. I feel dizzy from the loss of blood with every movement, but survival demands that I ignore the pain and push forward, focusing only on becoming faster.
While sprinting from tree to tree, I scan my surroundings in hopes of finding a place to hide.
And then I see it—a waterfall concealing a hidden cave. Its existence almost eluded my notice, but my keen perception caught it just in time. Before I can weigh my options, I hear voices drawing closer.
"Damn," I mutter under my breath, instinctively seeking refuge within the cave. I focus on masking my chakra as thoroughly as I can, even from skilled sensors.
Inside, a faint light emanates from the cave's depths, drawing me closer. As I approach, the voice in my head grows more insistent, almost seductive.
"Come to me."
"Come to me."
"Come to me."
"Come to me."
....
.....
The calls of that voice were… how can I describe it? It was as if it had the power to hypnotize someone, to make them lose their sense of self and obey its commands.
And while I was under its spell, I found myself gravitating toward what appeared to be a dark sarcophagus, though I wasn't entirely sure.
As I stopped before it, the tone of the voice grew desperate. It stopped calling me and began demanding blood—my blood.
Under the influence of the voice, I reached for a kunai from my bag, but a last-minute surge of clarity snapped me back to reality.
"What was I doing?" I whispered, stunned by my own actions.
"Give me blood. I need it!" the voice insisted.
"No, stop!"
I inwardly scream, my head throbbing with pain. As the agony subsides, I take a step back, still gripped by fear and fighting the urge to approach the sarcophagus.
I feel a mix of anger and terror, knowing that it wasn't my true desire but the voice manipulating my feelings, just as it had earlier.
With a trembling voice, I ask the question that has been on my mind: "You want blood?"
'Maybe it's a monster', I think, wondering what lies behind the voice's demands.
"Yes, give me blood, and I will grant you power beyond anything you have ever known in your mortal life," the voice whispered seductively.
I was taken aback by the arrogance of its words. My rational mind struggled to accept what it was claiming.
A deluge of questions surged through my thoughts: How could it possibly give me this power?
What kind of power could it offer? Is this just a scam? Why would it bestow such power upon me if it is truly as incredible as it says? The questions tumbled over each other in my mind.
But the adventurous part of me wants to take the chance. Maybe there is truth in its words.
Maybe this is the opportunity I've been seeking. As my mother once said, Nothing great comes without risk.
So…
I accept the offer, taking this last chance. The ninjas will soon discover this place. I am battered, my chakra nearly depleted. If the voice's words are true, I will not only survive but gain the power I've always dreamed of.
I will have hope.
But if it is false, then…
....I will fall into the abyss from which there is no return.
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AN:
Last Edit: 15.07.24