The first light of dawn crept through the narrow windows of Xander's academy dorm room. He stared at the ceiling, mind adrift in the remnants of a dream. Zara's voice still echoed in his thoughts, soft but urgent. Her face was a blur now, but the emotions her presence stirred in him lingered—fear, curiosity, something deeper. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog. Today wasn't a day for distractions.
Xander rose from the bed, his limbs still aching from the previous night's training. His ability to devour and reflect the skills of others was growing stronger, but so was the hunger. He could feel it gnawing at him—a constant reminder of the price he paid for power. His victories in the academy duels were becoming more frequent, but each one felt hollow. The more he devoured, the more the Abyss whispered in his mind.
He dressed quickly, his mind already on the day ahead. The academy had scheduled a test—one that would pit students against magical creatures in a simulated battlefield. It was an opportunity for him to prove once again that he was beyond anyone else here, that no one could challenge him. But something Zara had said kept pulling at him. She had warned him about the Abyss, about the dangers of losing himself in the power he was chasing. Xander scoffed at the memory. He wasn't weak. He wouldn't be consumed.
By the time he reached the academy's training grounds, the sun was high in the sky. The courtyard buzzed with energy, students gathering in groups, preparing for the upcoming trials. Xander walked alone, his presence commanding attention. Whispers followed him—some in awe, others in fear. It didn't matter. Their opinions meant nothing. Only power mattered.
"Xander!" A familiar voice called from behind.
He turned to see Melina approaching, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight. She was one of the few people in the academy who spoke to him without fear. A skilled mage in her own right, Melina had always been more curious than intimidated by Xander's abilities.
"You ready for today's trial?" she asked, a smile playing on her lips.
"I'm always ready," he replied, his voice steady, confident.
She raised an eyebrow, sensing the usual arrogance in his tone. "You know, it's not just about raw power. These trials are designed to test strategy, teamwork—"
"I don't need a team," Xander interrupted, his eyes narrowing. "I don't rely on others."
Melina sighed but didn't argue. "Just don't underestimate the creatures we'll be facing. They're not like the ones we've fought before."
Xander didn't respond. He had no intention of underestimating anything, but he also wasn't going to waste time worrying about monsters. If anything, they were just more fuel for his power.
The trials began shortly after, each student assigned to a different zone within the academy's enchanted forest. The creatures they would face were brought in from the wilderness—some magical, some monstrous, all dangerous. Xander's zone was deeper in the forest, away from the other students. It was better this way. He didn't want anyone slowing him down.
The trees around him rustled with unseen movement as he walked deeper into the forest. The air was thick with tension, the kind that signaled something dangerous was near. Xander's senses were sharp, his body ready for battle. He welcomed the challenge.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath his feet. A low growl rumbled through the forest, followed by the sound of branches snapping. Xander's eyes darted toward the noise just as a massive creature emerged from the shadows—a hulking beast with scales as black as night, its eyes glowing with a predatory hunger.
A grin spread across Xander's face. "Finally," he muttered. "Something worth my time."
The creature lunged at him, its claws tearing through the air with deadly precision. Xander reacted instantly, summoning a barrier of dark energy to shield himself. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, but Xander remained steady. He could feel the power surging through him, the Abyss stirring in response to the danger.
With a swift motion, he released a torrent of dark magic, the energy wrapping around the creature like a vice. The beast roared in defiance, thrashing against the binds, but Xander's control was absolute. He moved closer, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. This was it—the moment when he would devour the beast's power, add its strength to his own.
But as he prepared to strike, something unexpected happened. The creature's glowing eyes locked onto his, and for a split second, Xander felt something—fear, desperation. It wasn't just a mindless beast. There was something more, something intelligent, almost human, behind those eyes.
He hesitated.
The Abyss surged within him, pushing him to finish it, to take what was rightfully his. But Xander couldn't move. The creature's eyes bore into him, and in that moment, he saw himself reflected in them. Not as the powerful mage he believed himself to be, but as something darker, something monstrous.
A wave of nausea hit him, and Xander staggered back, breaking his hold on the creature. It took the opportunity to flee, disappearing into the forest with a final, echoing growl. Xander stood there, breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest. What had just happened? Why had he hesitated?
He clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. This wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to be in control, supposed to be the one devouring others, not the other way around. And yet, in that moment, he had felt… vulnerable.
Before he could process it further, a voice cut through the silence.
"You hesitated."
Xander whipped around, his senses on high alert. A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in dark robes, their face obscured by a hood. But the voice was unmistakable.
"Zara?" Xander's voice was laced with confusion and anger. "What are you doing here?"
She stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "I warned you, Xander. The Abyss isn't something you can control. It will consume you if you let it."
"I'm not weak," he snapped, his frustration spilling over. "I don't need your warnings."
Zara's eyes softened, but her voice remained firm. "It's not about being weak. It's about understanding the cost. Every time you use that power, it takes a piece of you. And eventually, there will be nothing left."
Xander turned away, his mind racing. He didn't want to hear this. He didn't want to acknowledge the doubt creeping into his thoughts. But Zara's words echoed in his mind, louder than the Abyss.
"You think you can handle it," she continued, "but I saw what happened just now. You hesitated because you saw the truth. The more you devour, the more you become like them."
"Shut up!" Xander's voice cracked with fury as he whirled around, dark energy crackling around him. "You don't know anything! I control my power. It doesn't control me!"
Zara didn't flinch, her gaze unwavering. "Then prove it."
Before Xander could respond, the ground beneath them began to shake again, this time more violently. A deep, guttural roar echoed through the forest, far more powerful than the beast Xander had faced before. The trees trembled, and the air grew thick with the stench of death.
Zara's eyes widened. "We need to go. Now."
But Xander stood frozen, his mind torn between the power he craved and the warning Zara had given him. The Abyss was calling, louder than ever, but for the first time, Xander wasn't sure if he wanted to answer.
Just as Xander made his decision, a massive shadow loomed over them, its presence suffocating. The ground beneath them cracked, and an enormous creature—one unlike anything Xander had ever seen—emerged from the darkness, its eyes locked onto him.
"Run," Zara whispered, her voice trembling.
But Xander stood his ground, the Abyss within him roaring to life.