Sam coughed as he slowly pushed himself off the ground. His ears rang violently, and for a moment the world around him was nothing but blurred shapes and burning light.
Then his vision cleared.
And his heart stopped.
Ashen Village… was gone.
The homes he had known since childhood were now nothing but broken skeletons of wood and stone. Flames devoured what little remained, painting the night sky in cruel shades of orange and black.
…No.
His voice trembled.
Bodies lay scattered across the streets. Villagers who had laughed and lived only hours ago now lay silent beneath the smoke.
Sam staggered forward, his legs shaking.
Mother…?
No answer.
Father?!
Only the crackling of fire replied.
A cold dread spread through his chest like poison.
Then
A hand grabbed his arm.
Sam!
He spun around.
Jana stood behind him, breathing heavily, soot covering her face but her fiery eyes still burning with determination.
You're alive… thank God, she whispered.
Sam stared at her, unable to process anything.
They're gone… he said quietly. Everyone…
Jana didn't answer.
Because they both knew it was true.
The Power Awakens
Suddenly
Sam felt it again.
That strange energy.
It pulsed inside his chest like a second heartbeat.
Warm… hungry.
His eyes slowly turned toward one of the cloaked attackers lying nearby.
Dead.
But something was rising from the body.
A thin, dark mist.
Floating toward him.
"What… is that?" Jana asked cautiously.
Sam didn't answer.
Because the mist was already moving.
Straight toward him.
Before he could react—
The shadow-like energy rushed into his body.
Sam gasped violently.
Pain exploded through every nerve in his body.
His muscles tightened.
His veins burned.
Then
Silence.
The pain vanished.
But something inside him had changed.
Sam clenched his fist slowly.
Power surged through his arm like lightning.
Jana's eyes widened.
Sam… what did you just do?
He stared at his hand in disbelief.
I… absorbed it.
Hunters in the Dark
A sudden laugh echoed through the ruined village.
Cold.
Cruel.
Both Sam and Jana froze.
From the shadows between the burning houses, three cloaked figures stepped forward.
More attackers.
You see? one of them said with amusement.
"The master was right.
Another tilted his head, studying Sam like a curious animal.
The boy really can absorb power.
Jana stepped in front of Sam immediately, flames flickering around her hands.
You'll have to go through me.
The attackers laughed.
How brave.
One of them drew a blade made of pure black energy.
"But bravery doesn't save prey."
Then
They attacked.
The First Kill
The fastest attacker appeared in front of Sam in a blink.
Too fast.
Sam barely raised his arm before the blade slashed across his chest
But suddenly
Time seemed to slow.
Sam felt the same strange pull from earlier.
The attacker's energy.
It called to him.
No…
It begged to be taken.
Without thinking, Sam grabbed the attacker's arm.
The moment their skin touched—
The power surged.
A violent torrent of energy rushed from the attacker into Sam's body.
The man's eyes widened in terror.
W-What are you ?!
His body began to shrivel.
His strength draining.
His life force being devoured.
Sam felt the power flooding his veins.
Stronger.
Hotter.
Addictive.
Then
The attacker collapsed to the ground.
Dead.
Silence filled the ruined village.
The two remaining attackers stared in shock.
Jana stared at Sam.
Sam stared at his own hands.
He was shaking.
Not from fear.
From excitement.
I… killed him.
The Shadow Watches
High above the burning ruins…
A pair of crimson eyes opened in the darkness.
The mysterious shadow figure watched everything.
And slowly smiled.
Interesting…
The voice whispered through the night.
"The boy grows faster than expected."
Below, Sam slowly lifted his head.
His eyes had changed.
Something darker had awakened within them.
Something dangerous.
The surviving attackers stepped back nervously.
One of them whispered:
He's… becoming a monster.
Sam took a step forward.
The ground cracked beneath his foot.
And a strange smile appeared on his face.
If power is what this world respects…
Dark energy swirled around his body.
...then I'll take all of it.
The attackers suddenly realized something terrifying.
They were no longer hunting him.
They had become the prey.
Cliffhanger
The air trembled as Sam's power surged violently.
Jana whispered in shock:
Sam… what are you becoming?
In the darkness above, the shadow figure chuckled.
And whispered a name the world had long feared.
The Devourer of Shadows… has finally awakened.