Gloomwrath

I woke to the faint metallic scent of blood still clinging to the air. My body ached, every muscle protesting as I pushed myself upright. The room was silent except for the faint creak of wood beneath me. It was no dream. The events of last night played over in my mind the blood, the betrayal, the power.

The library stood as I had left it, books scattered across the floor. But there, slumped against the far wall, was the lifeless body of Diesta. Her face was frozen in a grimace, her chest unnaturally still, the faint scorch marks of Zen etched across her skin.

I rose slowly, my footsteps deliberate as I approached her. Her once sharp eyes now stared into nothingness, devoid of the cunning spark they had always held.

I crouched beside her and examined her face. Cold. Empty. Weak.

"Pathetic," I murmured, my voice devoid of emotion.

There was no anger, no sadness. Only a grim understanding. She had been a stepping stone, nothing more, nothing less. A means to an end.

"You called me special," I said softly, almost mockingly, as if speaking to her corpse. "But you were blind to the truth. You thought you controlled me, that I was your pawn. In the end, you overestimated yourself and underestimated me."

I straightened, brushing the dust from my clothes. Diesta's body was no longer important. She had outlived her usefulness, and now her existence was irrelevant.

Turning back to the books, I scanned the titles with a sharp eye. One caught my attention almost immediately - a large tome, its spine cracked and worn, with the words embossed faintly on its cover.

I picked it up, thumbing through the brittle pages. Diesta's notes were scrawled in the margins, her meticulous handwriting explaining rituals, techniques, and the principles of dark magic. She had spent years compiling this knowledge. A shame it had done nothing to save her.

"Five hours," I said to myself. "That's all I'll give this."

Dark magic was power, and power was survival. But I knew better than to drown myself in it entirely. There was another book, smaller and more mysterious, lying on the desk, its black leather cover marked with an emblem of a twisted, glowing tree. I could feel it watching me, beckoning.

I set the dark magic tome aside and reached for the smaller book. The moment I touched it, a pulse of energy radiated through my hand. The room seemed to grow colder, the air thick with an oppressive weight.

Opening it was like peeling back the layers of reality itself. The pages shimmered faintly, the symbols dancing in and out of focus as though alive. My breath caught in my throat.

"This is-"

The words hung there, unfinished, as the book's secrets began to unfold before me.

"Later.." I have no time to waste.

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The sound of scuffling feet outside drew my attention. The faint cries of a child echoed down the alley behind the orphanage. I set the book aside and walked out into the biting morning air.

Three lower-class kids, barely older than me, had cornered a smaller boy. He cowered against the wall, his clothes torn and his face streaked with dirt and tears.

"Please," the boy begged, clutching a small loaf of bread. "It's all I have."

The leader of the group smirked, his hands already reaching for the bread. "Not anymore."

I watched in silence for a moment, my mind cold and detached. Once, I might have hesitated. I might have pitied the victim or tried to reason with the bullies.

But not anymore.

I stepped forward, my shadow falling over them. The leader turned to me, his expression shifting to one of annoyance. "What do you want?"

I didn't respond. Instead, I moved faster than any of them could react. My hand struck his throat, and he crumpled to the ground, choking. The other two froze in fear, their bravado replaced by panic.

"Run," I said, my voice low and deadly.

But they didn't. They lunged at me instead, fists flailing. It was pathetic. I sidestepped one, twisting his arm until I heard a satisfying crack. The other managed to land a punch on my shoulder, but it didn't matter. I grabbed a rock from the ground and slammed it into his temple.

They were all dead within minutes. The first boy gasped for air, his throat crushed. The second writhed on the ground, blood pooling beneath his head. The last tried to crawl away, but I ended it quickly with a sharp kick to his neck.

I didn't feel guilt. Only a cold sense of justification.

Turning back to the victim, I saw him staring at me with wide, terrified eyes. He dropped the bread and ran without a word.

"Weakness has no place in this world," I muttered to myself, wiping the blood from my hands.

The scattered corpses of the bullies lay sprawled across the dirt road, their lifeless faces twisted in terror and agony. Blood pooled around them, seeping into the ground like a silent witness to my actions. I stood over the last of them - the leader.

He was trembling, his knees buckling under him as he stared up at me. Tears streaked his face, his bravado crumbling in the presence of death. His breathing was ragged, uneven, as if the very act of staying alive was a punishment in itself.

I crouched down to meet his gaze, my eyes cold and unreadable. My hands, still slick with blood, hung loosely at my sides. "Do you want to live?" I asked softly, my voice calm and measured, almost kind.

The boy nodded frantically, his lips quivering as he tried to speak. "P-please… I'll do anything. Don't kill me."

I tilted my head, studying him. "Anything? That's a dangerous promise. Are you sure you're ready to make it?"

He gulped, his eyes darting to the lifeless bodies of his former friends. "Y-yes… I'll do whatever you say."

I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a near whisper. "Good. Because I see potential in you. You're not like the others, mindless, weak. You're a leader, aren't you? A boy who knows how to take charge."

He blinked, confused, but the faintest flicker of hope sparked in his eyes. "I-I… I guess so?"

"Guessing won't do," I said, standing up and pacing around him. "You want to live. You want to survive in this cruel world, don't you?"

He nodded again, this time more vigorously.

I smiled faintly, though it never reached my eyes. "Then let me help you. You and I, we're not so different. We both know what it's like to fight for what we want. To claw our way out of nothing."

The boy's trembling lessened slightly, his fear giving way to confusion. "Y-you mean… you'll let me go?"

"Let you go?" I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "No, no. I'm offering you something far better. A chance to be part of something greater. You see, I'm looking for allies. People I can trust. People who understand the value of loyalty."

His eyes widened, his tears slowing as he processed my words. "Allies?"

"Yes," I said, stepping closer and placing a blood-streaked hand on his shoulder. He flinched but didn't pull away. "I can give you safety. Shelter. Money, if that's what you want. You'll never have to worry about being weak again."

He hesitated, glancing at the bodies around us. "But… Why me? After what I did?"

I leaned in, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Because I see potential in you. You're a survivor. You're smart enough to know when to bow and when to fight. That's rare."

The boy swallowed hard, his breathing steadying as he clung to the hope I dangled before him. "What… what do you want me to do?"

I straightened, brushing the dirt from my clothes. "For now? I want you to come with me. But understand this: I don't tolerate betrayal. If you cross me, your fate will be worse than theirs." I gestured to the bodies without looking.

He nodded quickly, fear flashing across his face again. "I-I won't betray you. I swear."

"Good." I turned and began walking toward the forest, motioning for him to follow. He stumbled to his feet, trailing behind me like a lost dog.

As we reached the edge of the forest, I stopped and turned to him. "Wait here," I said firmly.

He blinked, startled. "W-wait? Why?"

"Because you're not ready for what's in there," I replied, my tone cold and final. "You'll only slow me down. But don't worry, I'll be back. Stay here, and you'll get your reward, shelter, money, maybe even more."

He hesitated, his gaze flickering between me and the dark forest. "You're coming back… right?"

I stepped closer, my expression softening just enough to disarm him. "Of course. You're important to me now. I wouldn't waste my time if I didn't think you were worth it."

His shoulders relaxed slightly, and he nodded. "O-okay. I'll wait here."

"Good boy," I said with a faint smirk, turning and disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

As the darkness enveloped me, my expression hardened once more. Manipulating him had been simple; his desperation had made him easy to mold. He was nothing more than a pawn, a tool to be used and discarded when the time came.

But for now, he would wait. And I had work to do.

The forest loomed before me, dark and unwelcoming. Its shadows seemed alive, shifting unnaturally with each gust of wind. But I didn't hesitate. I had read enough in Diesta's notes to know what Zen demanded souls. The stronger the soul, the greater the power it could grant. And I had no intention of remaining weak.

The first signs of life were faint a rhythmic rustling in the underbrush, followed by the low, chittering sounds of creatures moving just out of sight. My hand tightened around the jagged branch I had picked up earlier. It wasn't much of a weapon, but it would have to do.

The first spider came into view. Its body was massive, easily the size of a horse, with long, segmented legs that ended in razor-sharp points. Its eight glimmering eyes reflected the faint moonlight, locking onto me with predatory intent.

It lunged without warning, its speed far greater than I had anticipated. I barely managed to dodge, throwing myself to the side as its legs slammed into the ground where I had stood, leaving deep gouges in the earth.

Rolling to my feet, I swung the branch with all my strength, aiming for its head. The wood struck with a sickening crunch, cracking one of its eyes and sending black ichor spilling down its face. The spider screeched, a high-pitched, grating sound that echoed through the forest.

It reared back, swiping at me with one of its legs. The jagged point tore through my side, ripping a shallow but painful gash in my flesh. I gritted my teeth, refusing to cry out. Pain was a part of this now an unavoidable consequence of the path I had chosen.

Before it could strike again, I surged forward, slamming the branch into its mouth with enough force to wedge it between its fangs. The spider thrashed wildly, its screeches growing more frantic as it tried to dislodge the weapon.

Taking advantage of its momentary distraction, I grabbed a rock from the ground and leapt onto its back. The spider bucked and writhed beneath me, but I held on, raising the rock high before slamming it down onto its head. Once. Twice. Again and again, until its movements slowed, its body convulsing one final time before going still.

Black ichor coated my hands and arms, its sickly, acrid stench burning my nose. I climbed off the corpse, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

But there was no time to rest. The chattering sounds had grown louder, and I realized with a sinking feeling that I wasn't alone.

Two more spiders emerged from the shadows, their bodies glistening in the faint light. They moved with terrifying coordination, circling me like wolves stalking prey.

I picked up the branch from the first spider's corpse, now slick with its blood, and braced myself. "Come on," I muttered, glaring at them. "Let's see what you've got."

The first one lunged, its legs striking out with deadly precision. I ducked beneath the attack, slamming the branch into its underbelly. The spider hissed in pain, its ichor spraying across the ground. But before I could finish it off, the second spider attacked from behind, its leg slicing across my back.

I stumbled, biting back a scream as blood soaked through my shirt. The spiders closed in, their movements quick and relentless. My vision blurred, but I refused to back down.

When the first spider lunged again, I dropped to the ground, rolling beneath its body and driving the branch upward into its abdomen. The force of the blow sent the creature into a frenzy, its legs flailing wildly as it thrashed in its death throes.

The second spider didn't hesitate. It pounced, pinning me to the ground with its massive legs. I felt its fangs graze my shoulder, the sharp tips piercing my skin as it tried to sink them deeper. Desperation fueled me. I grabbed a shard of jagged rock and drove it into one of its eyes, twisting it until I heard the sickening pop of the orb bursting.

The spider recoiled, shrieking in agony. I scrambled to my feet, ignoring the burning pain in my body, and grabbed the branch once more. With a roar, I swung it with every ounce of strength I had, crushing the spider's head in a single, brutal strike.

The forest fell silent. My body trembled, every muscle screaming in protest as I stood among the carnage. The two spiders lay motionless at my feet, their black ichor pooling around their broken bodies.

I staggered back, leaning against a tree to catch my breath. Each wound burned, the pain threatening to overwhelm me. But I couldn't stop. Not yet.

Their souls drifted toward me, faint, glowing wisps that seemed to hum with energy. I reached out, feeling the Zen within me stir as the souls were absorbed. The power coursing through me was faint but undeniable. I needed more.

I continued deeper into the forest, my senses on high alert. The spiders I encountered became more aggressive, their attacks more coordinated. Each fight left me bloodier and more battered, but with every soul I claimed, I felt the power of Zen growing stronger.

Finally, I emerged into a small clearing, the moonlight illuminating the carnage I had left behind. Spider corpses littered the ground, their bodies broken and oozing ichor. I leaned against a tree, exhausted but victorious.

But then I felt it.

The ground trembled beneath me, a deep, rhythmic vibration that sent a chill down my spine. I turned slowly, my heart pounding as I saw the silhouette of something massive approaching.

The mother spider.

It was unlike anything I had faced before, its body towering over the trees, its legs long and jagged like spears. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and its mandibles clicked rhythmically, the sound echoing through the forest like a death knell.

I clenched my fists, feeling the faint pulse of Zen within me. My body screamed for rest, but there was no turning back now. The creature moved closer, its massive form casting a shadow over me as it loomed above.

And then it struck.