Kael walked.
Not because he knew where to go—but because the Abyss demanded movement. Standing still in this place was death. Or worse.
The obsidian floor cracked with every step, whispering voices curling up through the fractures. The sky above was a swirling mass of red mist and void. He saw no stars, no sun—only a crimson glow that pulsed like a heartbeat.
> [Void Essence: 15]
[Next Threshold: 25 for Skill Upgrade]
He clenched his fist. He could still feel the power of the Warden's soul burning in his chest. It had changed him—just enough to know he wasn't human anymore.
But what was he becoming?
A sound echoed from the dark ahead—footsteps.
Kael dropped low, slipping behind a cracked stone pillar. His grip tightened on his shadow-blade, now solid, breathing faintly.
Out of the mist emerged a figure—slender, cloaked, dragging something behind it. It moved like a human... but it smelled wrong. Rotten. Twisted.
> [Entity Detected: Twisted Acolyte – Class: Corrupted Human]
It stopped suddenly. Lifted its head.
Sniffed the air.
> "Fresh soul... I smell it... yours."
It turned sharply, revealing a stitched mouth, lidless eyes glowing violet, and arms longer than they should be.
Kael stepped into view, blade ready.
> "I don't want to fight you," he said.
The Acolyte let out a gargled hiss. "Then die quickly."
It lunged—fast.
Kael's instincts kicked in. He ducked, spun, slashed upward. The blade tore through cloth and flesh, but the creature didn't scream—it laughed.
> [Devour Available]
Kael didn't know how he knew, but he did.
He thrust his hand forward, palm glowing black. The sigils on his forearm lit up as the Devour command echoed in his mind.
> [Devour Activated]
Dark tendrils burst from his palm, wrapping the creature in shadow. It shrieked as its body withered, imploded, and dissolved into smoke and glowing fragments.
Kael collapsed to one knee, gasping.
> [Soul Fragment Absorbed: +12 Void Essence]
[Total: 27]
[Shadow Lash – Upgraded to Rank II]
[New Passive Skill: Hunger of the Abyss]
He felt it again—that pull. The system wanted him to keep feeding. It whispered of power. Of control. Of transformation.
And it felt good.
Kael stood slowly, the tendrils fading back into his skin. His eyes now held a faint glow. The whispers quieted... for now.
> "I didn't come here to become a monster," he muttered.
But the Abyss didn't care what he came to do.
Only what he would become.