Chapter 3: The First Test
Ethan's heart hammered in his chest as the man before him, Victor Ashford, stepped closer. The dark energy surrounding him was almost palpable, like a storm just before it unleashed its fury. The air seemed to crackle with tension as Victor's gaze fixed on Ethan, his eyes glowing with an unsettling light.
"You've awakened the immortal's legacy, haven't you?" Victor's voice was smooth, each word dripping with an unsettling confidence. "Such power... it will be wasted on someone like you."
Ethan stood his ground, though his body trembled with both fear and excitement. The power surging through him was still new, unfamiliar. He could feel it—raw and untamed—but he had no idea how to control it. Every instinct in his body screamed to run, to flee from the overwhelming aura of the man before him, but he couldn't. Something inside him held him there, a strange force he couldn't explain.
"I don't know what you want from me," Ethan said, trying to steady his breath, "but I'm not going to let you take it."
Victor's lips curled into a smirk, a look of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Take it? No. I'm not here to take your power. I'm here to test it."
Before Ethan could react, Victor raised his hand, and in the blink of an eye, a shadowy figure materialized from the darkness—an ethereal being of pure black energy. It was humanoid in shape but lacked any discernible features, only a swirling mass of darkness that seemed to consume the very light around it.
Ethan's breath caught in his throat. "What is that?" he whispered, his eyes wide with fear.
"A shadow construct," Victor explained, his tone casual, as if this was a normal occurrence. "I created it to test your potential. If you're truly worthy of the legacy, you must prove it."
The shadow creature moved toward Ethan, its form shifting with every step, like a living nightmare. Ethan instinctively stepped back, but his mind was racing. The power inside him—it wanted to break free, to fight. He could feel the raw energy surge within him, but he had no idea how to control it.
The shadow lunged, its clawed hand reaching for Ethan. He barely had time to react, raising his arms instinctively to defend himself. To his surprise, a surge of energy blasted from his hands, pushing the shadow creature back.
For a moment, Ethan stood stunned, staring at his palms. The power was there, but it was chaotic—uncontrolled. He didn't understand it.
"Good," Victor said, his voice cold, as he watched the exchange. "You have potential. But potential is meaningless without control."
Ethan clenched his fists, focusing on the power inside him. "I'll control it," he muttered, determination flashing in his eyes. "I won't let it control me."
With a deep breath, he focused on the energy swirling inside him, willing it to calm. The system's voice echoed in his mind.
**"Host has unlocked the first levelof the Heaven-Devouring Void Art. You now have access to the first ability: Void Strike. A concentrated burst of energy capable of damaging both physical and spiritual entities."
Ethan's heart skipped a beat. He knew he had to act fast. The shadow creature was closing in again, its dark form stretching as it lunged at him once more.
He focused, drawing on the energy within, and thrust his palm forward with all his might.
A beam of dark energy shot from his hand, hitting the shadow square in the chest. It screamed as the energy pierced through it, its form beginning to dissipate. For a brief moment, Ethan could see the creature's essence fading into nothingness, and then it was gone—vanished, as though it had never existed.
Ethan stood panting, his chest heaving with exertion. The raw power still flowed through him, but now it was more contained, more focused.
"Impressive," Victor said, his voice cold and indifferent. "You've passed the first test. But this is only the beginning. The true challenge is learning to master your power before it consumes you."
Ethan turned to face Victor, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?"
Victor's smile was sharp, cruel. "The legacy of the Fallen Immortal is a rare and dangerous thing. There are many who would seek to control it, and I am no different. But unlike them, I'm willing to help you, Ethan. If you prove yourself worthy."
Ethan felt a wave of anger rise within him. "I don't need your help."
Victor chuckled darkly. "We'll see. You'll come to me eventually, whether you like it or not. Power like yours is never something you can control alone."
With a swift motion, Victor turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Ethan standing alone in the moonlight, his heart racing. He didn't fully understand what had just happened, but one thing was certain—his life would never be the same again.
As the night fell silent, Ethan looked down at his hands, still trembling from the surge of power. The legacy of the Fallen Immortal was real, and now, it was his to control—or be consumed by.
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End of Chapter 3