I stand amidst nothingness, my body feeling weaker than I ever imagined. The blackened sky looms over me, the single blue orb casting a pale, haunting light on this barren world. Every sound is muffled, as if the void itself is holding its breath.
The voice of the Void Demon echoes in my mind, *"You must grow stronger, Ash Xyren. Only by consuming the fragments of this world will you survive. Hunt, devour, and rise."*
I grip my trembling hands, forcing myself to move forward. The ground beneath me shifts unnaturally, each step met with a faint resistance, as if the void doesn't want me here. In the distance, I see something—a faint shimmer, like eyes reflecting light.
The first creature.
It's small, hunched, and gaunt. Its skeletal frame barely holds together, black sinew stretched taut over a translucent body. Its eyes glow faintly blue, and its sharp claws scrape against the shifting ground. It looks fragile, but the aura it gives off is suffocating.
I hesitate, but the hunger gnawing at me drives me forward. My body acts before my mind can catch up, fists flying toward the creature. It screeches, its claws raking across my arm. The pain is sharp, but I don't stop. A burst of adrenaline surges through me as I grab its spindly neck and crush it underfoot.
As the life fades from its glowing eyes, its body begins to dissolve into a swirling black mist. The mist hangs in the air for a moment before shooting into my chest. My vision blurs, and heat floods my veins. It feels... empowering.
The voice returns, *"This is the first step, Ash. Feed on them. Grow stronger. The void will not spare the weak."*
The taste of power fuels me. My weak, void-formed body starts to feel sturdier, though I'm still far from my real strength. I wander this eerie land, my senses sharper than before.
I find more of the weak ones—Voidlings, as the voice calls them. They skitter in packs, attacking anything that moves. But I'm faster now, stronger. I smash one into the ground with my bare hands, dodge the swipe of another's claws, and rip it apart with sheer force.
Each kill sends that same black mist into me, and every time, the feeling of growth returns. My punches hit harder. My movements grow quicker.
The blue orb above me seems brighter now, as if watching my progress. The more I consume, the more connected I feel to this world, and that thought terrifies me.
The Voidlings grow more aggressive. I've noticed some of them watching from the shadows, their glowing eyes betraying their intent.
One lunges at me, faster than the others, its claws tearing through the air. I sidestep, driving my fist into its chest, but this one doesn't dissolve immediately. It fights harder, its claws nicking my shoulder, drawing a streak of black fluid that feels like burning ice.
I roar in frustration, grabbing its head and slamming it into the ground repeatedly until it finally breaks apart. The mist it leaves behind is heavier, richer. The rush of energy it provides is stronger than anything I've felt so far.
I collapse to one knee, gasping for air. My vision swims, but I can feel the power coursing through me.
*"The void adapts as you do, Ash. The more you take, the more it will challenge you. Remember, only the strong can survive here."*
I've lost track of time. Days and nights don't seem to exist here, but my body tells me I've been moving for days without rest. The void isn't kind—there's no reprieve, no safe place.
I encounter a cluster of Voidlings. They seem to sense my growing strength, hesitating before attacking. I use this to my advantage, leaping into their midst with a feral grin. My fists are like hammers now, smashing through their fragile bodies with ease.
But as I take down the last one, something changes. A shadow larger than the others looms behind me.
Turning, I see it—another Void creature, but bigger, stronger. Its body is sleek and muscular, its claws longer, its eyes blazing blue. A Void Stalker.
It snarls, the sound echoing like a distorted scream. This is no easy prey.
The Void Stalker is faster than anything I've faced so far. It leaps at me, claws aiming for my throat. I barely dodge, the wind from its attack brushing against my neck.
My strikes land, but its tough hide absorbs the blows, and it retaliates with ferocity. I'm forced to rely on every bit of training Pyre drilled into me—dodging, countering, exploiting weaknesses.
The fight feels endless, every move pushing me to my limits. But I refuse to back down. This world won't break me.
Finally, I see an opening. I dodge under one of its swipes, grabbing its arm and twisting it with all my strength. There's a sickening crack as its limb breaks, and it lets out a guttural howl. I don't hesitate—I leap onto its back, driving my fist into the base of its skull until it collapses.
The black mist that pours from it is overwhelming. As it seeps into me, I feel a surge of power so intense it nearly knocks me unconscious. My body grows sturdier, my senses sharper.
I collapse to the ground, gasping for breath, but a smile spreads across my face. I'm stronger now. Not enough, but stronger.
The Void is relentless. Five days of constant fighting and consuming have left me exhausted, but I can feel the difference. My punches are heavier, my movements faster, and my instincts sharper.
But I know this is only the beginning. If the Void Stalker was just a taste of what's to come, then I'll need far more strength to survive this place.
The blue orb in the sky seems to glow brighter, as if watching over me. Or perhaps it's mocking me.
I glance at my hands, now steadier, more powerful. Whatever this world throws at me next, I'll be ready. I have to be.
I take a step forward, deeper into the darkness, ready for whatever comes next.