Sword of Darkness
The sky burned red.
A full moon, bathed in crimson light, loomed over the land like an omen of death. Raven Varros stood at the edge of a ruined battlefield, his breathing ragged, his fingers trembling as he clutched Nyx, the cursed sword that had bound his soul to the darkness.
Beside him, Selene Evernight and Aria Blackthorn stared at the massacre left in his wake. Broken weapons, shattered armor, and lifeless bodies stretched across the ground. The echoes of the battle still lingered in the air—the screams, the clash of steel, the laughter of something inhuman.
And now, silence.
"Raven..." Selene's voice was barely a whisper, but he heard the fear in it. "Tell me you didn't do this."
He couldn't. Because he had.
His hands were covered in blood.
The Curse Deepens
Nyx chuckled, the voice slithering into Raven's mind like a serpent.
"Oh, but you did, my dear host. And it was beautiful. Did you see the way they ran? The way their hearts burst with fear? Ah, I have missed this!"
Raven clenched his jaw, his body trembling. "Shut up."
Aria stepped forward, her crimson eyes gleaming with curiosity. "You're losing yourself, Raven. And faster than I expected."
Selene shot her a glare. "You're not helping!"
"I never said I would." Aria smirked, tilting her head. "But I must admit, seeing a man battle the monster inside him is... entertaining."
Raven exhaled sharply, trying to steady his mind. But something was different tonight. The blood moon pulsed in the sky, and he could feel it feeding his curse, making Nyx stronger.
"This night belongs to us, Raven." Nyx purred. "You cannot resist forever."
And deep down, Raven knew the sword was right.
The Arrival of the Hunters
A sudden gust of wind carried the scent of something dangerous.
Selene tensed. "We're not alone."
From the shadows, figures emerged—cloaked warriors clad in silver armor, their weapons gleaming under the moonlight. Their eyes burned with hatred as they fixed their gaze on Raven.
The leader stepped forward, his face hidden beneath a hood. "Raven Varros, the cursed. By order of the Holy Dominion, you are sentenced to death."
Raven's grip tightened on Nyx. "Great. Another group trying to kill me."
Aria grinned. "This is getting interesting."
Selene raised her staff. "You don't understand! He's fighting the curse! He's not the enemy!"
The hunter leader ignored her, drawing a glowing silver blade. "We know what you are. A monster. A killer. And we have come to end your existence."
The hunters charged.
The Battle Begins
Raven moved on instinct.
His body blurred as he dodged the first strike, his blade meeting steel in a violent clash. Sparks flew as Nyx howled with laughter.
"Oh, let's see how long you can hold back, my dear host!"
A hunter lunged from behind, but Selene intercepted, her magic flaring. "Stay back!" she shouted, releasing a blast of holy energy that sent the attacker flying.
Aria, meanwhile, simply observed, a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, if this isn't a sight to behold."
Raven twisted mid-air, slashing through an enemy's spear, his movements sharp and precise. He was still in control. For now.
But the hunters were relentless.
A silver arrow whistled through the air, aimed straight for Raven's heart.
Before he could react, Selene threw herself in front of him.
The arrow struck.
A Heartbeat Away from Death
Time slowed.
Raven watched in horror as Selene staggered, blood seeping through her cloak.
"No..." His voice was barely audible.
Nyx whispered in his mind. "She bled for you, Raven. How tragic."
Selene gasped, but even as pain twisted her face, she smiled weakly. "You're... worth saving."
Something inside Raven snapped.
His vision turned red. His heartbeat roared in his ears. The darkness, which he had struggled to suppress, surged forward like an unstoppable wave.
The last thing he heard before losing himself completely—
Was Nyx's delighted laughter.
To Be Continued...
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This chapter raises the stakes dramatically, pushing Raven closer to losing control while introducing powerful enemies and emotional tension. Selene's sacrifice will force Raven to confront his curse in the worst possible way.
To be continued....