With a dim, oppressive aura, her hands moved toward me with an otherworldly grace, touching not just my body, but my very soul. When she pushed back, I saw the black strings unravel from her fingertips, dark and twisted, deeper than the void itself. Her voice echoed like a chorus of forgotten tongues, a haunting chant whose words pierced beyond the physical realm into the recesses of the soul. The strings entwined and morphed into a chain of solid darkness, binding my essence in a way that felt both suffocating and inevitable.
A scream tore from my throat. an agonizing, primal cry that reflected my soul's agony, as if the chains forced into my being had been part of me, torn away against my will. As if my very essence was being ripped apart.
Then, she bit her finger, a crimson drip of gold blood falling onto the dark chain. Her blood its touch burned like fire, writing runes upon my soul that etched into my soul giving me more than pain.
I wanted to resist, to fight back, to demand freedom from this torment, but my voice betrayed me, paralyzed by an unseen force. I was a prisoner in my own mind, trapped under her command.
So, I endured the agony, the burning runes, the weaving strings of golden blood that seared my very essence.
When the torment finally ceased, I lay exhausted, every breath a struggle, as though a whisper of air could snuff my existence. Silence enveloped the place, broken only by my voice, hoarsed and crippled
-Why? Why are you doing this? Why me? Couldn't you let my soul rest in peace like others? Why me?
She smiled with a cruelty that cut deeper than the pain she inflicted.
-Do you believe you deserve peace, cursed one? Do you think your actions went unpunished? When you unleashed that plague, serving your masters' dark designs, you knew the potential cost… destruction. Yet, you chose it.
Her voice was a hammer against my spirit.
-Do you think in the halls of judgment, you can plead ignorance? That your obedience absolves you? You underestimate real power, child. In the face of it, all struggles are meaningless. Your soul lies before me.
A sinister glint shone in her eyes as her smirk widened.
-But be thankful, I just needed a Champion, a obedient one as slave. Your clever, tainted soul is perfect. So be grateful that I allowed you to bear my mark.
Her hand moved again, conjuring five orbs—one red as fresh blood, another green like leaves, a gray one lifeless and cold, a yellow as gold, and finally, a black orb, dark as the chains binding me.
-Choose three wisely, little slave. My champions must face the trials of destiny. Fail, and you'll lose the privilege of bearing my mark.
I wanted to defy her, to reject her offer, but compulsion forced me to look upon the orbs. The red orb blazed before me, its allure undeniable. As I grasped it, it merged with my soul, new red runes forming on my chains, and a description materialized before my eyes:
**Aegis of the Damned – Level 1**
**Progress**: 0/100
**Blood Bank**: 100/100
You draw upon the life essence of your enemies, merging it with your own to sustain your vitality. Your bond with blood grants you immunity to the effects of aging as you siphon the life force from others. Through this dark connection, you can heal wounds using both your own blood and the blood of those you defeat. As you grow in mastery of this Blessing, your control over nearby blood increases, allowing for even greater manipulation and enhancement of your power.
Athena's expression shifted, a mixture of awe and amusement. She read the description aloud with surprise.
-This is new, child. It seems you've managed to corrupt my blessings with your dark karma. The path you walk is yours alone now, tainted though it may be.
Her voice dripped with amusement, a cold mockery.
I glared at her, anger boiling beneath my skin. "This… this bitch," I thought, my frustration mounting. How could a god revel in the suffering of others so openly? How can any being wield such power with such shameless cruelty? Yet, defiance was futile. She controlled my soul.
-Choose the next two, little slave. Time is precious, and your useless thoughts bore me.
With a sigh, I reluctantly reached out again, this time toward the gray orb.
**Cursed Illumination – Level 1**
**Progress**: 0/100
Your mind thrives on the suffering of others, growing sharper and more intelligent as you inflict pain and torment. With each act of cruelty, you gain deeper insights and the ability to siphon knowledge from those who suffer the most. The more you cause others to suffer, the greater your understanding and mental power becomes.
Despair settled in like a crushing weight. "This… is madness," I thought. "I'll never escape this fate." My mind screamed for release, but the chains held tight. With reluctance, I extended my hand once more, this time towards the yellow orb—its golden hue seeming almost divine, a false beacon of salvation.
But fate had other plans. A tormented soul, desperate to escape oblivion, thrust itself from the River of Souls into the abyss. It collided with me, causing my grip to slip onto the black, sinister orb.
"This… shit," I muttered, knowing resistance was futile.