The moon hung like a malevolent eye in the bruised twilight sky, casting long, skeletal shadows across the ruins of the Valerius manor.

The air, thick with the metallic tang of blood, vibrated with a silence broken only by the rasp of Alex's ragged breathing leaning on an ominous looking sword.

He stood amidst carnage, a monument to vengeance carved from flesh and bone. His clothes were tattered, his body a roadmap of cuts and bruises, a testament to the brutal battle he'd just fought.

Truth be told He was a ruin himself, mirroring the destruction around him. But that didn't seems to bother him cause there was a deadly look in his eyes

One of out most hatred, Like a fury spawn from the abyss itself and it's been aimed at a figure trembling in from of him

Lord Valerius, the man who had stolen his sister's innocence and her life, lay whimpering at his feet. His fine clothes were torn, his face a mask of terror, his eyes wide with a desperate, futile plea.

"Mercy…" he croaked, the word lost in the chilling silence. "I… I'm… sorry plea.…"

"Did you say Mercy....?" Alex roared, "when she pleaded begging for you to show mercy, did you oblige?

Now you're in a disadvantage you never thought you would find yourself and you are begging for mercy

Ah" he scoff at the pathetic act he was displaying before him, he's only begging now because there is no one here to help him

Just few minutes ago he was proudly declaring he would grudge out his innards and feed it to the dogs of the streets

Now he is playing the victim, what should be expected of this over pompous choosen blessed by the heavens known at Nobles

They feel they have the world in their grasp just because they are blessed with magic and see themselves superior to other who aren't lucky enough.

Alex looked at Elara's lifeless form at the side, a stark contrast to the opulent surroundings. Her gentle face, forever frozen in an expression of unimaginable pain, haunted him.

The image burned into his memory, a constant reminder of the injustice he had sworn to avenge. He spoke no further, He didn't need to.

The scene spoke for itself: the shattered remnants of the once-grand manor, the lifeless bodies of Valerius's family scattered like broken dolls. Each one a testament to the fury that had consumed him.

Rest now, little sister, Alex thought, the words a silent prayer echoing in the desolate space. Your suffering is over. I have kept my promise.

The final act was swift, brutal, and efficient. Valerius didn't even got the chance to see how his life ended or maybe he did watching his endless body a little distance from his head

Alex ended Valerius's life with a chilling finality. The weight of his actions settled on him, heavy and suffocating. He was empty, drained, but a grim satisfaction pulsed beneath the exhaustion. His vengeance was complete.

His tired legs gave in, leaving his exhausted body to collapse on the floor helplessly. If anyone is to meet him here right now

He is as easy as a fly waiting to be squashed and the look on his eyes spoke of his resolve already, he has given up on living anyway.

A sudden chill fill air as a phantom figure suddenly rose from the shadows and hover above his weak figure, her presence a tangible wave of darkness and Her eyes, pools of midnight, held a predatory gleam.

"Excellent," she purred, her voice a seductive caress that belied the icy intent in her gaze. "I've have fulfilled my part of the bargain, Now is your turn."

"It doesn't matter to me, just do what you please" he turn to take one last glimpse of his sister's corpse, "just make sure I don't forget this memory, it's the only thing I have to hold on to right now"

An appealing smile arc on her lips as she raised her hand, a swirling vortex of black energy coalescing in her palm.

"I'll make sure to do more than saving these memories my little one, I'll make sure to argument them" she mutters lowly

The air began to crackled with power as she prepared to brand Alex with her mark, to claim him as her own. After all it's all part of the contract signed, she helps him by lending him power to enate his revenge and his life would be hers to do as she pleases.

As the dark energy touched him, Alex felt his life force drain away, his weak soul could barely withstand any other eternal force

It's miracle he was able to hold up till now an that's just because of the unwavering determination to end Valerius life. Now that the determination isn't there anymore, his soul began falling apart with the touch of the external power

He gasped, his vision fading to black, his body collapsing. Within a blink death claimed him, swift and absolute. Yet, in that same instant of oblivion, something shifted.

He was gone, yet… something remained. Something new, something dark, and undeniably powerful, had been born from the ashes of his vengeance.

.......

"W.....where am I?" Alex voice sound from the dark, he tries to adjust his vision but the harder he tries the more strain he place in his eyes

It took a long while for him to fully adjust to the dimly light room he found himself, it's best more to call it a cave or something because it's really a cave lightening by some sort of crystals he has never seen.

With much difficulty he was able to pick his exhausted painful body from the lying position it was and lean against the wall close by

Confusion evident on his face as he couldn't fathom what the hell is going on around him. First he has no idea where he is and secondly he is currently choking up like this place lacks proper oxygen.

"No this isn't lack of oxygen, I can still breathe properly" he wince within himself feeling his brains were about to explode, his vision steadily going hazy with few hillusination setting in

It's like an external force is influencing his mind, forcing him to go mad or something. He could feel the aggressiveness within himself growing, the need to shred something, the need to go wild.

He clench his head in agony pleading and screaming for the pain and torture to go away until it looks like the heavens heard his voice.

The pain and the feeling slowly resides and with it came a clarity he never for once had, he could feel his sensory are at a totally new level.

The air feels heavy, pressing down on him, creating a tingling discomfort on his skin. Waves of intense heat radiate from the ground, making him sweat and feel a little roasted.

Not to mention the deep sense of dread, as if something malevolent is always lurking nearby.

Cope with the heavy acrid scent like burnt sulfur that clings to his lungs, a nauseating sweetness reminiscent of decaying bodies, making him feel sick.

A sharp, medicinal smell that is both repulsive and intriguing, a tangy scent of iron, like fresh blood, constant and unsettling.

He could also taste the harsh, rusty searing sensation akin to consuming fire or extremely spicy food. A sickly sweet, rancid flavor that lingers unpleasantly on his tongue.

Luckily for him all the negative side of this feelings were slowly dying down till his body seems to have adjusted to them, making it seem natural and usual to him.

Only now that he got time to take a proper breather did foreign information flood his head along a floating screen he was able to see what was written on it or where is it came from before he passed out.

Shortly after he woke up with a groan, his aching body now full of vitality. The pains and fatigue gone with the wind and he is good as new.

The most noticeable features on him is the knowing but thoughtful expression on his face when he woke up.

"So that's how it is ehnn, I finally died after that much pain and suffering only to be reincarnated in this trashy body just like those novel, manga and anime talks about"

His voice held no joy, instead it was lace with deep pain and regrets. "At least I got a second chance to leave the life I never got the chance to'" he sigh, comforting himself before turning his attention to the floating screen in front of him only for his jaw to drop down silly as he couldn't believe his own eyes

(Ding: you're being influenced by the exposure to pure demonic energy

Ding: evolutionary activated.

Ding: evolution process is now complete.

Ding: Your nervous system has evolved to the influence of demonic energy of the demon realm.)

"Impossible!"