Chapter Twenty-Eight: DeathNote
[You have received a DeathNote.]
Upon hearing the words of the Codex, Dusken felt an unfamiliar emotion welling up inside him.
'A DeathNote?' He didn't know what it was, but something deep within him urged him not to take it lightly.
He summoned his scroll script.
[Name: Dusken
Innate Name: -
Rank: Awakened
Level: 1
Abyssal Points: [60/1000]
Spell Cards: 1
Scrolls: 1
Material Cards: 1
DeathNote: 1
Talent: Abyssal Star
Talent Rank: Ultimate
Talent Abilities: [Darkshadow Manipulation]
Side Abilities: [Scion of the Abyss]
Innate Abilities: [Dark Flame]
Legacy: None]
'T-this…' He squinted. Before killing the hairy mind, he had only possessed 30 Abyssal Points, yet now they had doubled.
His eyes gleamed. If he wasn't mistaken, the hairy mind was a race of creatures. Hunting them down would increase his strength rapidly.
While he was disadvantaged by needing these so-called Abyssal Points rather than traditional experience points, his power was far from weak.
These points made his strength extraordinary for a Level 1 Awakened.
'So many things to think about.'
Letting out a silent sigh, his gaze swept across the battlefield. To call it a chaotic mess would be an understatement.
The light of the setting sun bathed the devastated area in a warm glow.
Broken tree trunks littered the ground, the smell of blood coated the dusty air, chaotic winds swept through, and their oppressive weight remained.
Lillian stood nearby, her face expressionless, observing him like he was some kind of forgotten toy.
Dusken didn't mind this; she had looked at him the same way when they'd first met.
Shaking his head slightly, he stretched his right hand forward and willed the DeathNote to manifest.
Dark light emerged from his chest, swirling around his hand like sentient fireflies flickering with purpose. Soon, a small black paper appeared in his grasp, and his soul script popped up again.
[Imbue a name.]
The corner of Dusken's mouth twitched.
'What's the use of a name?' he thought, ignoring the command.
He opened the black paper. Unlike scrolls or cards adorned with intricate designs, this was plain, empty, and entirely black.
He blinked, his eyes glinting as thoughts raced through his mind.
'Don't tell me I need to name it before I can use it.' The notion felt strange, but if naming was the only way to activate the DeathNote, then names were hardly something he lacked.
Using memories from his previous life, he began cycling through options.
While he could've chosen a random name, a part of him selfishly wanted it to be grand.
'John? No, too common and far too human for a paper. James? Same issue. Joel? All thesame.'
Then another idea struck.
'Cow? Ridiculous - it's an animal's name. Blacker? Too bland. Drac? That's for vampires. Ebon? Hmm… interesting. The paper is black, so Ebon fits.'
Dusken let out a satisfied sigh. He knew his naming sense wasn't the best, but it would suffice for now.
"Ebon," he muttered softly.
Instantly, the words on his soul script twisted and changed.
[Death guard has been named.]
The soul script vanished, and red words began appearing on the black paper.
'What the hell is a Death Guard? I thought this was a DeathNote?' Confusion rippled within him, but the only answers lay within the paper.
His gaze fell on the newly formed text, and his eyes flashed with a cold light as he read it. Unable to contain himself, he blurted out loud:
"I, an Abyssal Star, request the authority of an Abyssal Demon."
The world darkened as clouds shrouded the setting sun's radiance.
The wind howled, and the leaves sang a rustling song, echoing Dusken's turbulent thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he continued:
"Ebon, arise from your eternal slumber to fight for your lord."
A strange scene unfolded. The shadow of the creature he had slain began to move, rising as black smoke seeped from its remains clouded the area.
However, the red text on the DeathNote wasn't finished. Clearing his throat, Dusken spoke the final two words:
"Wake up."
Suddenly, a vague phantom appeared behind him, stretching its hands forward.
The creature's shadow, shrouded in smoke, rose to its call.
The DeathNote crumbled to dust, scattering in the cold wind.
"Uraaaaaa~"
A guttural roar, as ancient as death itself, erupted from the shadow. Black flames enveloped it as it began to take shape.
The howling winds grew louder, as if some forbidden ritual was in process.
Dusken's nerves tightened as the icy air sent shivers down his spine. The once-bright landscape now resembled night, the sun completely obscured.
Under Dusken's astonished gaze, the shadow grew arms, legs, and other features.
In moments, it had transformed into a replica of the creature he'd slain, only now it was inky black, there were no wings behind its back and it radiated immense power.
The ghostly figure behind Dusken vanished as the surroundings returned to calm. He stared at the sight with cold determination.
'What was that speech? Who's an Abyssal Demon? Why would I need their authority?' Questions piled up in his mind, unanswered.
He glanced at Lillian, whose calm expression sent the alarm bells in his off. She seemed too unbothered by the display, almost as if she had seen it all before.
'Has she witnessed this before?' he wondered, then shook his head at such ridiculous thoughts.
As his mind raced, a sudden wave of weakness hit him like a breeze.
'Impossible!' Dusken exclaimed inwardly as he suspected what had happened.
Quickly summoning his soul script, he searched for an explanation. His eyes burned with frustration as they landed on the truth:
[Abyssal Points: [40/1000]]
'It was 60. I used twenty points to summon this so-called Death Guard?'
A sombre expression crossed his face.
'Just hope it's worth the cost.'
He shifted his gaze to the creature - Ebon - standing before him. Before he could speak, Ebon dissolved into a shadow and wrapped itself around his body.
Instinct screamed at him to move away, but something told him to stay still. As Ebon enveloped him, a new world unfolded before his eyes, causing him to stagger back in shock.