The moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the devastated village of Verindale. The soldiers had left, their cruel work done, leaving behind a scene of destruction and despair. Alaric lay unconscious amidst the chaos, his body battered and broken.
As the night wore on and the last echoes of the soldiers' footsteps faded into the distance, something stirred within Alaric. It was as if the very fabric of darkness responded to the injustice and pain that had befallen the village.
Slowly, Alaric's wounds began to mend, the healing process guided by a force beyond mortal understanding. His broken bones realigned, his torn flesh knitted together, and an aura of dark energy enveloped him.
In his unconscious state, Alaric's mind drifted into a realm of dreams and visions. He saw himself standing atop a mountain of corpses, his eyes ablaze with fury and determination. Shadows swirled around him, whispering promises of power and vengeance.
"You have been chosen," a voice echoed in his mind, resonating with ancient authority. "Chosen to wield the darkness that resides within you. Embrace it, and it shall grant you the strength to enact your revenge."
Images flashed before Alaric's closed eyes—memories of his village burning, the faces of his loved ones twisted in agony, and the soldiers' mocking laughter. Hatred burned within him, fueling the awakening power.
As the night stretched on, Alaric's body underwent a transformation. When his eyes finally fluttered open, the moon had begun its descent, painting the sky with hues of predawn gray.
Alaric rose to his feet, feeling a surge of newfound strength coursing through him. His wounds were gone, replaced by an otherworldly vitality. His physique had transformed, muscles honed and senses sharpened.
But it was his eyes that revealed the true change within him. Once filled with despair, they now glinted with a cold determination. Hatred and madness reflected within them, a stark contrast to the innocence they once held.
The village of Verindale lay silent around him, a testament to the tragedy that had unfolded. And in that moment, Alaric knew that his path was now set. Revenge would be his, no matter the cost.