The battlefield stretched before me like a wound in the world.
The air smelled of iron and rot, and every step sank slightly into mud soaked with blood.
The demigod Ladrius stood across from me, golden armor gleaming despite the dim light. His eyes narrowed, scanning me with a mix of annoyance and disbelief.
— You dare approach me alone? he said, voice echoing across the war-torn field.
— I don't approach, I advance, I whispered, tightening my grip on the spear forged from shadows.
The system chimed softly in my mind:
[DARKNESS AUTHORITY READY — Target Weakness Analysis in Progress]
[Predicted Outcome: 37% — High Risk / High Reward]
A faint glow pulsed along the spear. Shadows writhed as if alive, reacting to my heartbeat. The chains from the void had vanished, but their memory lingered in my veins. Every fiber of my being was alert, hungry for the first kill.
Ladrius raised his spear, a weapon carved from pure light, radiating heat and energy.
— You will fall before you taste victory.
I smirked, feeling no fear. The darkness inside me surged, answering the system's call.
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: Shadow Step — Move through darkness, appear behind target.]
Without a sound, I vanished into the murk between us, my form condensing into pure shadow. Ladrius' head turned instinctively — too slow. My spear struck, the tip grazing his armor, leaving a black scorch mark that sizzled against the golden metal.
— Impressive… mortal, he growled, stepping back and summoning a wall of radiant energy.
The blast slammed into the ground where I had been standing, tearing up mud and corpses, but I had already disappeared. Shadow Step was flawless.
I reappeared above him, the darkness forming tendrils that wrapped around his legs. His eyes widened.
[COMBO UNLOCK: Shadow Bind — Immobilize target using darkness.]
The chains of shadow wrapped tighter, constricting his movement. Ladrius' aura flared, blinding, yet uneven — a subtle crack in the perfection of a god.
[ALERT: First Blood opportunity detected.]
[REWARD POTENTIAL: Soul Synchronization +5%, Darkness Mastery +10%]
I thrust the spear forward with all my focus, aiming for the seam in his armor. Sparks erupted where shadow met light. The demigod roared in fury, swinging his weapon in a wide arc, forcing me to leap backward.
The system whispered, almost smugly:
[Observation: Mortal combat efficiency increasing. Target underestimating your abilities.]
I felt it then: the intoxicating rush of power, the thrill of testing the limits of this cursed gift. My heart hammered, and yet the shadows calmed me, speaking in whispers only I could hear.
— You're stronger than I expected, mortal… but not strong enough, Ladrius hissed.
I crouched, letting the shadows crawl along the ground. My eyes glowed crimson, veins pulsing with black light.
[DARKNESS AUTHORITY — STAGE 2 UNLOCK: Aggressive Mode Activated.]
A wave of shadow burst outward, tearing through mud and light alike, forcing the demigod back. The first strike had been made. The hunt had begun.
And in the distance, I sensed more eyes watching — gods, lesser and greater, noting the rise of something deadly. Something that would not stop until the divine fell.