Chapter 1: The Awakening
The small village of Blackwood lay nestled between the rolling hills, its streets lined with simple wooden homes, the flickering lights from the evening lamps casting long shadows on the dirt paths. The air smelled of fresh earth and the distant scent of pine from the surrounding forests. To most, it was a place of peace—a place untouched by the turmoil of the world beyond. But to Ethan Blackwood, it had always felt small. There was nothing here for him, no promise of greatness, no glimpse of something more.
Ethan had spent his days working in the fields, helping his father, a respected blacksmith in the village, craft weapons for the local militia. But despite his skill with the forge, his heart longed for something beyond the mundane—a destiny that lay far from these quiet hills.
It had been a hard day at the forge, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of red and orange, Ethan sat alone on the edge of the village, overlooking the valley below. The weight of his thoughts felt heavier than usual, pressing down on his chest like a stone.
What am I even doing here? he wondered. There has to be more than this…
He stared at the old pendant his father had given him as a child, an artifact passed down through the Blackwood family for generations. It was nothing extraordinary to look at—a simple, silver chain with a small, dark gem at its center—but it was the only thing Ethan had that tied him to his past, his lineage. The pendant was supposed to be a symbol of strength, of pride. But to Ethan, it felt more like a weight around his neck, a reminder that he was destined for a life of mediocrity.
Suddenly, the pendant began to glow, faint at first, then brighter, until the light became blinding. Ethan gasped and dropped it in shock. But the pendant didn't fall to the ground. Instead, it hovered just above his hand, glowing fiercely, pulsating with an unnatural energy.
Before he could react, a voice, calm and indifferent, echoed in his mind.
"System initializing. Host confirmed. Legacy of the Fallen Immortal detected. Power awakening."
Ethan's breath caught in his throat. What… what is happening?
The pendant floated higher, and a strange, cold energy surged through his body. His heart raced, and his vision blurred. A flood of memories that weren't his own seemed to cascade into his mind—ancient battles, immortal beings, realms beyond his comprehension. He felt a power unlike anything he had ever known, a power that threatened to overwhelm him.
"Welcome, Host. You have unlocked the legacy of the Fallen Immortal. Your path begins now."
The voice was metallic, yet soothing. But despite the calmness in its tone, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing on the edge of something much larger than himself—a power he wasn't sure he was ready to wield.
He struggled to keep his balance, gripping the ground beneath him. What does this mean?
"This power is yours to command, but it comes with a cost," the system continued, its voice ever-present in his mind. "To master it, you must cultivate your abilities. But be warned, host. Immortality is not without its price."
The energy within him surged again, and his body burned with the force of it. Ethan clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. He had no idea what was happening, but one thing was clear—this was no mere coincidence. The pendant, the voice, the surge of power—it was all connected.
"Host, you are now bound to the Heaven-Devouring Void Art. Your cultivation will increase with each challenge you face. You are no longer a mere mortal."
Ethan's mind raced. Heaven-Devouring Void Art? He had never heard of it before.
As the light from the pendant began to fade, Ethan stumbled to his feet, panting, sweat dripping from his forehead. His senses were heightened—sharper than ever before. He could feel the very vibrations of the air, the pulse of the earth beneath his feet. It was as though his body had become one with the world around him.
Before he could process what had just happened, a voice broke through the silence of the night.
"So, it's begun."
A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and imposing, dressed in a dark cloak. Ethan instinctively reached for the dagger at his waist, but the figure raised a hand, signaling him to stay calm.
The man's face was partially obscured by a hood, but his eyes gleamed with an unnatural light—cold, calculating, and filled with a dangerous wisdom.
"I see you've unlocked the Immortal's legacy. I must say, I didn't expect you to awaken it so soon."
Ethan's heart raced. He could feel the power within him, still unstable, but growing stronger by the second. Who was this man? And how did he know about the pendant?
"Who are you?" Ethan demanded, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him.
The man smiled, though it was more of a grin than a friendly gesture. "The name's Victor Ashford. And I've been waiting a long time for someone like you to arrive. Someone who can wield the power of the Fallen Immortal."
Ethan's mind raced. Victor Ashford? He had never heard of him, but the man's presence alone filled him with unease. There was something dangerous about him—something that felt far beyond anything Ethan had ever encountered.
"What do you want from me?" Ethan asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Victor's smile widened, though it lacked warmth. "Nothing, for now. But you'll come to me eventually. After all, the legacy you've inherited doesn't belong to you alone."
The ground beneath them trembled, and Ethan's heart skipped a beat. Something in Victor's voice—something in his aura—told him that this was only the beginning.
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End of the chapter 1