In a hidden corner of the world, a gentle murmur of water could be heard, a soothing melody that beckoned the curious. If one were to follow the sound, one would surely like to discover the Serene River. Its water was as clear as crystal always, dancing over smooth stones in a graceful flow.
Its origins shrouded in mystery, hard to fathom what was its beginning and its ending, just made its way through the landscape, its journey uncharted and untamed.
Attempting to measure its course would be totally folly. It might hold secrets or it might not, one thing was for sure, no mortal could unravel its secrets with their punny attempts.
In the sanctuary of the Serene River. Here, the energy flow was quite dense, colluding through the very stones of the cave.
The river kept flowing, not caring still with a tranquil and the sounds of hum and murmur echoed off the cavern walls, yet the sound did not go through the sanctuary cave, which was muffled by an ancient barrier of formation that protected this sacred place.
Above sanctuary was wide opened for the vast sky, allowing beams of sunlight to pierce through it, illuminating the sanctuary cave with a warm, ethereal glow.
At the heart of this secluded haven, a figure lay motionless on the ground, surrounded by an aura of ominous energy.
The body, though still, was not lifeless; it was in a deep, enchanted slumber. The energy flow here was more palpable, a force that could elevate any Ascendent to unimaginable heights, yet even if they wanted— they couldn't as this place was a forbidden place within the Azura planet—a forgotten sanctuary. If the higher-ups were to discover it, they would surely want to seize it for their own gain.
The place where the light cascaded down, touched the figure, revealing the contours of a woman. Gradually, her body began to stir. Her toes flexed, and her fingers twitched as the rhythm of her breathing began to deepen.
With a gentle flutter, her eyelids lifted, revealing her eyes as blue as the vast ocean, which was shimmering with an otherworldly brilliance, and her hair, flowing like silk, danced in the dense energy that surrounded her and the fabric of her attire was unlike anything common folks might wear—as the attire looked itself an artifact.
The beauty of it was totally matching with her unrivaled appearance, and around the attire was woven with threads of ancient magic.
She gazed upward. her eyes met the expanse of light filtering through the barrier. Then, a sense of longing washed over her heart, and she caressed her face as if she were trying to grasp a fleeting memory.
"Where are you?" she whispered softly, sounding like a melody that resonated with the cave.
The dream she had just escaped now, lingered in her mind—a vision of a man she cherished the most, a man named Lucifer was echoing within her mind.
Seraphina, who used to be the living ideal of an innocent maiden, had transformed into something else. One could see that, she was no longer the helpless girl one used to know in Forgotten Town; she was now a force of nature, a contrast to her former self.
As she began to remember the moment, she had spent with Lucifer, started to spread her arms wide, as if she wanted to hug him. Yet her skin remained untouched by the dust and debris of the ground nor did she care about this little thing. Her mind was just filled with Lucifer—only Lucifer.
Then a mischievous smile began to dance on her lips as she bit the tip of her finger with anticipation, while her eyes sparkled with determination and longing.
"Just wait a little bit, darling… just a little"
"I won't take too much time," she murmured, lacing with promise.
As the word came out of her mouth it felt echoing in the cave as well and even the very stones where she was sitting felt the vibration. As she mistakenly showed her little bit of power.
Yet, the Serene River seemed unaffected as it continued its eternal flow, unaware of the awakening it had just witnessed.
***
Step, Step, Step!
The sound of footsteps echoed through the dense serene forest, broking the tranquil silence of the trees and a figure began to emerge from the shadows as if his presence demanding attention. But the other nearby people did not care.
The clothes on him had been soaked with dry blood, the reddish staining had violence and fighting written all over it as the torn fabric flapped loosely to reveal jagged holes, almost to tell the tale of a fierce encounter.
Yet, his body bore no wound—no gashes, no bruises, no sign of the turmoil he had endured.
What was more, his expression was eerily calm—as placid as a still lake that reflected the sky above. There seemed to be no fear or anxiety etched upon, rather an unsettling calm was exuded, like the calm before the storm.
As he moved, a chill seemed to follow; it wrapped around the trees and lingered in the air, the forest itself seeming to hold its breath in reverence or perhaps in fear.
His gaze was mixed with sharpness and calculation as if he were the sole devil who was surveying his domain, looking down on everyone.
This was Lucifer—calm like water, mad like the devil. His calm expression was telling different things that were ready to wreak havoc, but no one noticed it.
Just hours before, he had awakened on the shore of the Serene River, the gentle lapping of water soothing yet foreign. When he opened his eyes, a shock ran through his core. He was not dead, was he? What was happening? Inside him surged confusion—a maelstrom of chaos, of questions he couldn't grasp.
Before he could think what was going on, a wild beast leaped towards him from the underbrush with a thirst-driven and fearsome. Seeing this his instinct kicked in and he fought back with such primal cruelty that one might pardonably have been startled by it.
When the last beast fell, he found a strange solace in the hunt, feasting on his adversaries as if the act could somehow anchor him to reality.
***
After what felt like a relentless journey, he finally stood at the foot of Silver Sparrow Mountain. The path was alive with movement of people bustling around, oblivious to the whirlwind of thoughts consuming him.
He offered them no attention; his only desire was to find a quiet place to sit and unravel the tangled threads of his mind.
Questions swirled like leaves caught in a breeze. If this was merely an illusion, why was he a Low-Level Earthbringer instead of a high-level Dawnbringer? The very fabric of reality seemed unreliable, growing more mysterious with each fleeting moment.
'Was Seraphina part of this illusion too?' The thought stabbed at his heart, dredging up memories that twisted like knives.
If this was all a mirage, why did his feelings for her feel so real? Why did they linger, unyielding and poignant? He had no answers, only the weight of uncertainty that pressed against his chest.
With deep contemplation, he settled onto the grass near the walkway, allowing the serene beauty of Silver Sparrow Mountain to envelop him.
The landscape unfolded in vibrant hues—trees bursting with various blossoms framed the horizon, their sweet scents wafting through the air.
Silver sparrows darted around, their cheerful chirps creating a soothing melody that mingled with the breeze, crafting an ambiance of tranquility.
'Ego, show me status,' he commanded inwardly, seeking clarity in the chaos that surrounded him.
[Hatred System Level: 1 (upgradable at 1000 Hatred Points)]
[Name: Lucifer]
[Physique: Dark Overlord Body]
[Talent: Slave of Darkness (White Grade) (upgradable at 50 Hatred Points)]
Umbral Infusion (Blue Grade) (upgradable at 300 Hatred Points)]
[Main Power Rank: Low-Level Earthbringer Rank]
[Core: Core of Abyssal Night (Initial-Sprout Core)]
[Skills Learned: (See More)]
[Hatred Points: 45.3]
"Hmm? My hatred points haven't accumulated much, well still, I feel a significant surge in power. Now I can harness my raw energy,"
Lucifer mused, setting aside other distractions for the moment, he began to play with his raw dark energy, but he felt he was an inexperience noob, if he began to play more he felt he would regret it later, so he also dismissed it.
Reaching the next level as an Earthbringer was far more arduous than as a Dawnbringer, a fact he acknowledged. He knew there was a hierarchy that awaited him, but the specifics were still shrouded in uncertainty.
The journey ahead was just beginning, with its inevitable ups and downs, much like the agony of Seraphina's death.
Yet compared to his past losses, the pain now felt muted, though still present in his heart. The lingering sensation that something was amiss had dulled as well. When had he emerged from that illusion? Whatever it was, he wouldn't dwell on it.
"Interesting—my other talents have awakened as well? It seems both good and bad come hand in hand," he said to himself, amusement flickering across his face as he noted the recent unlocking of his latent abilities, which saved his 100 hatred points at least.
His core had also progressed into the sprout stage. Transitioning from Dawnbringer to Earthbringer and from Seed to Sprout was widely understood in this world, yet the complexities beyond that level escaped him.
He felt like a stray dog, navigating the streets with little knowledge of the broader world around him.
Besides the three stages of the Dawnbringer—Low, Mid, and High—he understood that an Earthbringer had four stages, including Peak.
As for core stages? The path unfolded from the Initial Sprout Core to Nascent, then to Mature, and finally, Peak Sprout Core. To enhance one's core, careful cultivation was essential; the purer the core, the faster it would grow.
"Huh? Did my core name change? What the hell? When did that happen? It seems this unexpected encounter was not just a curse, but also a gift. I can only hope it happens again—No, no! Shut up, Lucifer," he muttered to himself, caught in a mix of wonder and disbelief.
To the passersby, he must have seemed like a fool, speaking to himself with fervor. However, in this chaotic world, such behavior was hardly unusual. They brushed past him without a second glance.
[Core of Abyssal Night]: …..