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All Returns to Darkness

šŸ‡§šŸ‡·Sam_Artenon
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Synopsis
A prophecy foretells the arrival of a child destined to plunge the world into darkness. Reincarnated in a realm bathed in light, Emani Heolstor embraces her role as the bearer of darkness. However, before fulfilling her mission, she chooses to explore this radiant world, seeking to understand its beauty and find a worthy opponent for her power.

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Chapter 1 - Forbidden Birth

Part 1 - The Cry of the Prophecy

[Third Person ā€“ Narrator]

The sound of an anguished cry echoed through the Cursed Forest, a place feared and avoided for generations. In an abandoned cabin, hidden by twisted, dense trees and shrouded in a black mist, a birth had taken place. However, instead of bringing joy, the event awakened the world's dread.

An ancient prophecy spoke of the birth of a child in the Cursed Forest, conceived by a barren woman. This event would mark the beginning of a global calamity. At first, few paid heed to the prophecy, but the truth revealed itself in that instant when the child's cry resounded, causing tremors that were felt in every corner of the earth.

In the Meeting Hall of the Kingdom of Rizoris, members of the world elite were engaged in intense discussion. The hall was an architectural marvel, with enormous crystal windows overlooking the Cursed Forest. Now, the dense black smoke emerging from the site only confirmed everyone's fears.

"He was born..." murmured one of the councilors, pale.

"I can't believe it..." replied another, trembling.

"So, the prophecy was truly real?!"

[First Person ā€“ Sayuri]

At that moment, I knew there was no room for hesitation. As a member of the world elite, it was my duty to act, but a sense of unease gnawed at me. It wasn't just fear. It was the certainty that we were dealing with something beyond our control.

"We must contact the world leader, Rizoris," I suggested, trying to sound more confident than I truly felt.

Hiruto, my companion from Class Y, rolled his eyes.

"Rizoris is far too busy for this, Sayuri. You should take the lead."

I wanted to protest, but before I could respond, Nishiro, another member of the elite, intervened with his usual sarcastic tone:

"Oh, of course. Class Z and Class Y are the strongest. Aren't the two of you enough?"

"We've received the signs," declared the council leader, a man with graying hair and a rigid posture. "The prophecy is in motion."

"It's too early to draw conclusions," I said, trying to contain the rising panic. "What exactly do we know?"

Nishiro, a young councilor, slammed the table impatiently.

"We know that if the baby was born in the Cursed Forest, it is the Harbinger of the End."

"Beautiful words to inspire fear, Nishiro, but no evidence," Hiruto countered, his tone cold and calculating. "For now, it's just a baby."

I couldn't hold back a dry laugh.

"A baby that makes the ground tremble for miles? That doesn't exactly seem 'normal,'" I retorted.

The council leader silenced the discussion with an authoritative gesture.

"Sayuri, Hiruto, Nishiro... You are the best. We will investigate the situation, and if necessary, eliminate the threat."

The trio immediately departed to arm themselves in the Infinite Dark, the domain of Lian, a legendary blacksmith whose creations defied the laws of nature. The entrance was a black steel gate, seemingly floating in a horizonless void.

Lian emerged like a living shadow, his eyes glowing with an unsettling light.

"You know the rules," he said. "No weapon is given without a legitimate reason."

Nishiro, ever impulsive, exploded.

"The end of the world isn't enough for you?"

Lian merely raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the young man's outburst.

"The end is a matter of perspective."

Hiruto stepped in, his voice as calm as the wind before a storm.

"We need your weapons, Lian. We don't have time for riddles."

After a long pause, Lian relented, handing over his creations. Sayuri received a prismatic blade that shimmered with shifting colors; Hiruto, a bow that froze the air around it; and Nishiro, a spear crackling with lightning.

Armed, the three headed toward the Cursed Forest, where destiny awaited.

During the journey, Nishiro broke the silence.

"Why us? There are so many other warriors in the kingdom."

Sayuri responded without hesitation, her gaze cold.

"Because we're the only ones who would face the unknown without faltering."

Hiruto, ever distant, remained silent, his eyes fixed on the dark horizon.

Upon reaching the Cursed Forest, they were met by a suffocating air, as though the very atmosphere was against them.

Sayuri led the group, moving confidently despite the hostile environment.

"We're close," she said, pointing toward a cabin ahead.

The place was small but radiated an unsettling energy. Nishiro stopped abruptly.

"This is madness."

"You always say that," Hiruto retorted, inspecting the structure.

Before Nishiro could reply, Sayuri kicked the door forcefully, clearing the way.

[First Person ā€“ Sayuri]

I entered without hesitation, but the scene awaiting me made my blood run cold. Two bodies floated in the center of the cabin, shrouded in a dark aura. They hung motionless, like lifeless dolls.

"Are they... the parents?" I asked softly, not really expecting an answer.

Hiruto stepped closer, examining the scene.

"They're... trapped in some kind of spell."

Suddenly, a low, chilling laugh filled the room.

"You came... too late."

I turned toward the source of the voice and saw something beyond comprehension. A baby, small and seemingly defenseless, floated in the center of the chaos. Its eyes glowed with a dark light, and a cruel smile curved its lips.

I didn't know what to say. My instincts screamed to attack, but my hands were frozen in place. The baby looked directly at me, as if it could read my mind.

"Do you think you can stop me?" the baby asked, its tone both childish and monstrous.

"We're not as weak as you think," Nishiro said, charging forward with his spear in hand.

Before he could strike, an invisible force slammed him against the wall. Hiruto tried to fire an arrow, but it disintegrated before reaching the target.

The baby laughed again.

"You're interesting. Perhaps I'll keep you around... as toys."

My anger finally overcame my fear. I gripped my blade and charged, shouting:

"Don't underestimate humanity!"

[Third Person ā€“ Narrator]

Sayuri's blade shone with an intense light, but before it could reach the baby, it was stopped. An invisible barrier surrounded the creature, impenetrable.

"Interesting," the baby said, watching her with curiosity. "Perhaps you're the most amusing of them all."

With a small wave of its hand, the entire cabin was consumed in a surge of black energy, throwing the trio outside.

As they struggled to recover, the baby emerged from the wreckage, now larger, its eyes holding the depth of infinity.

In seconds, the baby transformed into a young woman with a terrifying presence. Her crimson eyes burned like embers, and an overwhelming force emanated from her very being.

Sayuri struck again, her blade vibrating with energy, but she blocked the blow with a single finger. The impact of the collision obliterated the surrounding forest, reducing it to ruins.

Hiruto attempted to attack her from behind, but was intercepted by a shadowy figureā€”a man possessed by the same dark energy that surrounded her. Nishiro, meanwhile, fell unconscious after being hit by an energy blast from the dark-eyed woman confronting them.

Unshaken, Emani turned her gaze directly to Sayuri.

"You're interesting. Perhaps I'll keep you as toys."

With a mere gesture, the battle came to an abrupt halt. All three were immobilized by an invisible force.

"You're quite brave, aren't you?" The entity's voice was soft, almost seductive, slicing through the silence. "But courage in the face of the wrong person can be your downfall."

She raised her hand, lightly touching Sayuri's face with her fingertips, as though curiosity outweighed any sense of respect. Her cold gaze seemed to dissect every detail, every flaw on Sayuri's skin.

Sayuri, however, responded like a thunderclap. Her eyes narrowed, her breathing grew heavy, and she tried to attack with all the strength she could muster. She tried ā€” but failed. Her body remained motionless, bound by invisible chains.

"Well, I suppose I don't need formal introductions," the entity said with a crooked smile, her suffocating presence filling the air like a living shadow. "But for the uninformed... I am the darkness that will bring your world to its end. My name is Emani Heolstor. And you, little girl... what's your name?"

Sayuri hesitated, but before she could answer, Hiruto interrupted, his face etched with a desperation that bordered on fury.

"If you're going to kill us, just get it over with, you cursed freak! Stop toying with us!" he shouted, his voice echoing like a battle cry.

Emani shifted her gaze from Sayuri to Hiruto, raising an eyebrow in apparent boredom.

"I don't recall giving you permission to speak."

Her words were delivered with the ease of someone who feared nothingā€”and in the next instant, Hiruto's mouth sealed shut. His lips became a prison, and he struggled in vain, trying to say something. It was futile. Emani's words were law, and reality bent to them like a loyal subject.

"What do you want with all this?!" Sayuri shouted, her gaze locked on the entity. "To humiliate us before killing us?"

"Hm." Emani let out a sound of pure disdain, as though the question were almost amusing. "Humiliate? No, that would be so... banal. I am no destroyer, my dear. There's no fun in destruction. I am a conqueror. And domination... is far more delicious."

Sayuri gritted her teeth. "So that's it? You're just another monster who wants to conquer everything and everyone? I don't believe it! Weā€¦ we must have done something to you, didn't we? Whatever it is, we can fix it! Just tell us what you want!"

Emani tilted her head, her shadowy eyes gleaming with something close to amusement. "Fix it, you say? What a delightful word."

"Yes!" Sayuri shouted, her voice charged with conviction. "Tell us how we can fix this!"

Emani's smile turned dangerous. "You really want to fix things?"

"I do."

"Thenā€¦ vanish from existence. And take all of creation with you."

The words fell like thunder. Sayuri froze, her eyes locked on the entity before her. Emani stepped closer, her suffocating presence growing heavier.

"Do you think I'm joking when I say I am the darkness itself?"

Before Sayuri could reply, the sky above erupted with an ear-splitting roar. Black clouds gathered in seconds, swirling into an apocalyptic vortex. A golden lightning bolt pierced the heavens, descending like the spear of an enraged god, striking Emani directly.

The impact was catastrophic, shaking the ground with its force. But Emani didn't budge.

"Do not touch them!"

The voice echoed, and from within the light emerged Lian, the legendary blacksmith. But he was not alone. By his side stood the Gods of Fate, mythical figures who had long abandoned the mortal realm.

Emani smiled, never taking her eyes off Sayuri.

"Finally. I was getting bored."

Lian raised his weapon, a blade pulsing with the force of the universe itself.

"If you are the darkness, then we are the light that will consume you."

Emani laughed loudly.

"Then come, 'heroes.' Show me what creation has to offer."

With a gesture, the darkness around her expanded, engulfing the sky and igniting a clash that would determine the fate of the world.