I sat in the darkness for what felt like an
eternity, my breath slowly returning to normal. The throbbing in my arm persisted, but the pain had receded into the background,
overshadowed by the weight of what had just happened.
I had killed the wolf.
I had never fought anything so vicious in my life, and yet, I had survived. I'd felt the life drain from its body, watched as its form dissolved into shadows. For a moment, I thought I had imagined the whole thing. But no, the blood on my hands-the wolf's, my own-was too real.
"Shadow Sovereign." The words echoed in my mind again. The voice, cold and imperious, filled the void around me. I could still feel it in the pit of my stomach, lingering like an ominous presence.
I shuddered.
I had never believed in divine or evil entities. I had spent my entire life in the shadow of a sect that claimed to embody justice and righteousness, only to realize that power was the only truth they knew. But this-this felt different.
I stood, swaying slightly as I rose to my feet. My body was sore, battered, but the System's energy was coursing through me now, and with each passing moment, I felt stronger. More aware. The air felt charged, as though every breath carried a spark of potential.
I've changed, I realized. But is this really me?
Before I could think further, the ground beneath me shifted. The black rocks cracked, and the stone gate I had seen earlier began to tremble. Slowly, it opened, revealing the path beyond.
The air grew heavier, the weight of it pressing against my chest like an invisible hand. The shadows within the portal stretched and writhed, beckoning me. I felt an inexplicable pull toward it, and despite the fear gnawing at the edges of my mind, I knew there was only one path forward.
I stepped through.
The Abyssal Trials were not what I had expected. The landscape beyond the gate was barren, like a forgotten wasteland. There were no lush fields, no distant mountains-only cracked earth. stretching endlessly toward the horizon. Jagged black cliffs loomed in the distance, and a sky of swirling gray clouds hung low above, suffocating everything beneath it.
As I walked, the air grew colder. The faintest whisper of voices reached my ears, though I could see no one around.
"Test your resolve."
The voice was not the same as before it was colder, deeper, more ancient. It seeped into my very bones.
Suddenly, the ground before me shifted. The earth split apart with a violent crack, and a hulking figure emerged from the depths.
A creature, its body like a grotesque fusion of man and beast, stood towering over me. Its eyes were black pits, voids that threatened to swallow everything in their gaze. Its claws scraped the ground, leaving deep gouges as it slowly advanced.
I didn't flinch
The fight with the wolf had awakened something inside me a hunger I didn't understand. This creature was another obstacle ,another challenge.
"Fight it," the voice urged.
My hand instinctively went to my waist, but I found no weapon. My breath hitched for a moment, but then the sensation of the Shadow Sovereign's power flared within me.
I raised my arm, and the shadows responded. A swirling vortex of black energy coalesced around my palm, solidifying into a thin, dark blade. It felt unnatural in my grasp, but it was mine.
The creature roared, a sound that vibrated through my bones, and charged toward me with terrifying speed.
I moved before I could even think, my feet carrying me forward as the blade in my hand blurred through the air. I struck first, slashing upward with a speed and precision that was unfamiliar to me but felt utterly natural.
The creature's roar turned into a guttural snarl as my blade sliced through its arm. The wound did not bleed; instead, shadowy tendrils leaked from the wound, but it didn't stop its advance.
"Strike again," the voice commanded.
I didn't need any more encouragement. I focused, letting the darkness inside me flow through the blade. This wasn't just a weapon-it was an extension of the power I had absorbed. The blade surged with energy as I struck again and again, each blow more deadly than the last.
But the creature was relentless. It fought back with ferocity, swinging its claws toward me with blinding speed. I dodged, but only just. One swipe caught my shoulder, tearing through my robes and leaving a gash that burned with a sharp sting.
Pain flared, but I pushed it aside. I won't die here.
I pressed forward, my blade singing as it cut through the air. Each strike was guided by the dark power that now flowed through me, the energy feeding my rage and desire to survive.
Finally, with a swift motion, I drove the blade deep into the creature's chest. It howled in agony, but I didn't stop. I twisted the blade, my teeth gritted as the creature writhed beneath me.
With a final, resounding crack, the creature's body collapsed, its form dissipating into swirling shadows.
I fell to my knees, panting heavily. Blood, both my own and the creature's, stained the ground beneath me. My body was aching, every muscle screaming from the exertion. But the voice was silent now.
I looked down at the blade in my hand, its form flickering in and out of existence. The power of the Shadow Sovereign surged within me, but I didn't feel elation.
I just killed something... again.
But this time, the feeling was different. There was no regret, no fear. Only a hollow emptiness, as though the act had cost me something vital, something that could never be returned.
I had won, but the price was steep.
The whispers in the air grew louder, the voices growing clearer as I rose to my feet. I had
passed the trial, but I didn't feel victorious. I felt... lost.
And somewhere deep inside me, I knew this was only the beginning.