The temple loomed ahead, but the path was barred. Standing amidst the ruins of twisted trees and shattered stone was a chimera unlike any other I had ever seen.
It stood thrice the height of a man, its body a grotesque fusion of muscle and bone, with spiked appendages and glowing, deep-set eyes that radiated with malice. Its voice was a guttural growl, yet chillingly articulate.
"So this is the rebellion", the beast said, stepping forward with deliberate ease. "Your kind's feeble attempt to defy the pantheon. How revolting".
My body moved instinctively, blade drawn, as the fire in my chest roared to life.
The chimera's eyes locked onto me, and it grinned, its fanged maw dripping black ichor. "And you...… I can taste your hatred from here, how does it feel to be pathetic".
I froze, my grip on my sword tightening.
The creature continued, its voice mocking. "Tell me do you think your hatred will save anyone? The pantheon owns this world. Your kind are nothing but pawns".
The fire inside me exploded. My vision blurred, consumed by crimson light as a fury I couldn't contain surged through my veins. The beast's laughter echoed in my ears as my body moved. Dark mana coiled around me, pulling at my limbs as if answering an ancient call. My heartbeat thundered, and my skin burned as power clawed its way to the surface.
"You think the gods enslave us?" I hissed, my voice darker and deeper. "No…. they've already lost. I'm the blade that will sever their chains."
My body shifted. My skin became slightly pale, and jagged, shadow-like markings spread across my face. My eyes burned brighter, their crimson glow consuming the darkness, I felt no hesitation, no mercy- only the cold clarity of destruction.
The chimera roared, lunging at me with a speed that belied its size. Its clawed hand swept toward me, but I was already gone, moving faster than it could track.
I reappeared at its side, my blade slicing through its flesh with ruthless precision. Black ichor sprayed across the ground as the creature howled in pain.
"You talk too much," I said coldly, my tone devoid of emotion.
It retailed, swinging its spiked tail, but I caught it with one hand, the impact cracking the ground beneath me. With a flick of my wrist, I shattered the appendage, the jagged bone snapping like brittle wood.
The chimera staggered back, its monstrous eyes wide with something I hadn't expected…fear.
"This…. This is impossible!" it snarled.
I advanced, my movements fluid and deliberate. Each step radiated death, my glinting in the dim light.
"You speak of gods," I said, my voice like ice. "But where are they now? Watching? Laughing?"
In a single, blinding motion, I slashed upward. The creature's arm fell to the ground with a sickening thud. It roared, stumbling, but I didn't give it a chance to recover.
I vanished again, reappearing behind it. With another precise strike, I severed its legs forcing it to collapse onto the ground, its massive body writhing helplessly.
"P-please…." It rasped its voice trembling.
I paused, tilting my head slightly. "Please?"
The word echoed in my mind and something inside me twisted. Was this what the gods begged for when they let my grandfather die? Did they show mercy when they slaughtered mankind with their monsters?
"Plead all you like," I said, my voice colder than death. "No one is listening."
I slashed it with mana in a final sickening move, the beast was reduced to ash.
As I turned, my blade still dripping with black ichor, I felt the fire inside me burning hotter. My vision blurred again, and I realized the dark power was spreading, consuming the ground beneath me.
"Modred!" Bran's voice cut through the haze, his presence suddenly overwhelming.
His aura crashed into me like a tidal wave and for the first time, I hesitated. The darkness around me stilled, retreating slightly as I turned to face him.
"That's enough," he said, his voice firm but calm. "You've made your point."
For a moment, I considered ignoring him. The fire inside me demanded more and wanted to consume everything. But Bran's eyes met mine, and his aura pressed hard, anchoring me back to reality.
With a deep breath, I lowered my blade. The dark mana receded completely, leaving only the faint glow of my crimson eyes. I said nothing, sheathing my blade as I turned away.
The pantheon thought they had enslaved mankind. They thought their creations could stop me.
They were wrong.
This was only the beginning