I turned from the window.
And froze.
He was sitting on my bed.
The figure in the black cloak. Hood still drawn, red eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. One hand rested on the hilt of a massive black sword propped against the bedframe. The other held a lit cigarette, smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling.
He'd been there the whole time.
"Relax," he said, voice low and bored. "If I wanted you dead, you'd already be dead."
My heart raced. "Who—"
"The name's Creed." He took a slow drag from the cigarette, the tip glowing bright. "I hunt Dark Lords." He exhaled slowly, his gaze locked onto mine. "But honestly, I've lost count at this point."
His words landed like a bucket of ice water over my head.
He flicked some ash onto the floor. "You're weaker than most. Just awakened. Barely managed to corrupt one civilian." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Honestly, I'm offended they sent me for this."
"They? Who—"
"Doesn't matter." He rose smoothly to his feet, sword in hand. "You'll be dead long before you get the chance to find out."
~§~
I didn't think. Just reacted.
[DOMINATE MIND ACTIVATED]
[TARGET: CREED]
[COST: 50 DARK ENERGY]
The magic shot out—invisible threads reaching for his mind, trying to wrap around his consciousness, force obedience—
And shattered.
Like hitting a steel wall.
[DOMINATION FAILED]
[TARGET POSSESSES: DARK AFFINITY (IMMUNE TO MENTAL MANIPULATION)]
[DARK ENERGY: 75 → 25]
Pain lanced through my skull. I gasped, stumbling backward.
Creed raised an eyebrow. "Did you just try to dominate me?" He laughed—cold, humorless. "Kid, I've been killing Dark Lords since before you were born. You think I don't have defenses?"
Fuck.
Twenty-five energy left. Barely enough to maintain Dark Veil for an hour. Not enough to fight. Not enough to run.
Not enough to survive.
Creed took another drag. "Here's how this works. I ask questions. You answer. If I'm satisfied, I make it quick." He stepped closer. "If you lie, I make it slow."
"I'm not—"
"A Dark Lord?" He tilted his head. "Then explain the corruption signature radiating off you. Explain the woman downstairs who reeks of your influence."
Liora.
"She's—"
"Corrupted. Completely. I can smell it from here." He flicked the cigarette aside. "You've already started. One civilian now, a village next month, a city by year's end." His grip tightened on the sword. "That's how it always goes. Which is why I end it early."
"Wait you can read my —"
"Mind. No."
He moved.
~§~
Before I could react, his boot slammed into my chest.
I flew backward, crashing through the window in an explosion of glass. The world spun—sky, ground, pain—then I hit the dirt road hard.
Air exploded from my lungs. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move.
Glass embedded in my arms, my back. Blood ran warm down my skin.
Footsteps. Slow. Deliberate.
Creed stepped through the shattered window frame, landing in the street without a sound. He walked toward me, sword gleaming in the fading sunlight.
I tried to push myself up. My arms gave out.
He crouched beside me, pressing the blade against my throat. The steel was cold. Sharp.
"Any last words?"
Villagers had stopped to stare. The woman with the basket. The old man with the mule. A few others, emerging from houses, drawn by the noise.
None of them moved to help.
I opened my mouth—
"Enough."
~§~
The voice was sharp. Commanding.
Creed's eyes flicked up, but the sword didn't move.
A figure stepped into view—a tall elf with golden hair tied back in a tight braid. He wore white and silver armor that gleamed even in the dying light, polished to perfection. A holy symbol hung at his chest, catching the sun. His hand rested on the hilt of a longsword.
"Aurelius," Creed said flatly. "This doesn't concern you."
"You're executing an unarmed man in the street." Aurelius' voice was cold, clipped. "That violates the Accord."
"He's a Dark Lord."
"Unproven. The Heroes haven't confirmed his presence in this region." Aurelius' hand tightened on his sword. "Lower your blade, or I'll make you lower it."
Creed didn't move for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he pulled the sword back. But he didn't sheath it.
"Fine." He stood, stepping away from me. "Scan him yourself. You'll see I'm right."
Aurelius' gaze shifted to me. His eyes—pale blue, cold as winter—studied me with the detachment of a man examining an insect.
"Stand," he said.
I forced myself up, ribs screaming. Blood dripped from a dozen cuts. My vision swam.
Aurelius' eyes began to glow faintly—white light, soft but intense. I felt it wash over me, like being dipped in ice water.
After a moment, the light faded.
His expression didn't change. "He carries dark energy. But the signature is weak. Newly awakened, as Creed said." He looked at Creed. "Insufficient evidence for summary execution. The Accord requires confirmation from the Heroes or a tribunal."
"He corrupted a civilian," Creed said. "That's evidence enough."
"Is it?" Aurelius' tone was skeptical. "Where's your proof?"
~§~
"Get away from him!"
The shout came from the house.
Liora burst through the door, kitchen knife clutched in both hands. Her eyes were wild, desperate. She ran straight at Creed, swinging the blade.
He caught her wrist without even looking. Twisted.
The knife clattered to the ground. Liora cried out, struggling in his grip.
"Interesting." Creed's eyes flared red, scanning her. The glow intensified, then faded. "Full corruption. One hundred percent. Recent." He looked at me. "You work fast."
Liora kept struggling, trying to pull free. "Let me go! I have to protect—"
"Master," Creed finished for her. He smiled. "She called you master. In front of witnesses."
Shit.
Aurelius' expression darkened. He drew his sword—a gleaming blade etched with holy runes that pulsed with faint light.
"Step aside, hunter," he said quietly.
Creed released Liora. She stumbled, then immediately moved toward me.
Aurelius raised his sword, angling it toward her neck.
"She's lost," he said. "Completely corrupted. There's no saving her." His voice held no emotion. Just cold fact. "I'll make it quick. A mercy."
"No!" The word tore out of me before I could stop it.
Liora looked at me, tears streaming down her face. "Master, please—"
And then the notification appeared.
~§~
[EMERGENCY OPTION DETECTED]
[SACRIFICE CORRUPTED FOLLOWER: LIORA]
[REWARD: +200 DARK ENERGY, POWER LEVEL +2, NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED]
[WARNING: ACTION IS IRREVERSIBLE. FOLLOWER WILL BE PERMANENTLY DESTROYED.]
[ACCEPT SACRIFICE: YES / NO]
I stared at the glowing text.
Only I could see it. Creed, Aurelius, the watching villagers—none of them knew it was there.
Sacrifice her.
All I had to do was nothing. Let Aurelius' blade fall. The system would absorb her corruption, convert it into raw power.
I'd jump from Power Level 2 to 4. Gain two hundred energy. Unlock a new ability.
Enough to survive. Enough to fight back. Maybe even enough to kill Creed.
All it would cost was Liora.
I looked at her. She was on her knees now, hands clasped, begging.
"Please, master," she sobbed. "Don't let them kill me. I'll do anything. I'll be good. Just please—"
My hand twitched.
[SACRIFICE: YES / NO?]
The cursor blinked.
I thought about it. Really thought.
If I let her die, I gain power now. But I lose my only follower.
If I save her... I'm still fucked. But at least I keep an asset. Someone loyal. Someone useful.