The Twilight Assassin
The smell of blood still lingered in the air. Lucas’s shadows slowly remerged around his body, sated by the massacre.
Then, he noticed.
A presence.
Cold. Precise. Deadly.
His eyes lifted to a broken rooftop. There, a silhouette shrouded in darkness watched him, motionless.
The wind stirred the figure’s black cloak. The golden flames in its gaze reflected the destruction around.
The figure leapt, landing silently.
Now, Lucas could see it clearly.
Tall and slender, its posture was that of an absolute predator. Pale skin contrasted with its dark, form-fitting garments. A light armor adorned its shoulders and forearms, decorated with demonic patterns. Its long, disheveled black hair partially concealed a sharp face, on which a cold smile played.
Its blade…
A black katana, matte as the night. There was something alive about it, as if it sucked the light from its surroundings.
The shadows around did not belong to Lucas.
They were its own.
"At last, I have found you."
The voice was low, dripping with disdain.
Lucas did not answer, his gaze fixed on the enemy.
The Twilight Assassin twirled the katana between its fingers, appraising Lucas like a wounded animal.
"So, is that how your ascension ends?" its voice oozed scorn. "Massacring insignificant worms to feel powerful?"
Irritation surged within Lucas.
"What do you want?" he demanded.
The Assassin smiled.
"I have come to test the legend. They say a Demon King walks the earth... but all I see is a weak man, squandering power."
Lucas gritted his teeth.
He moved.
Shadows exploded around him as he advanced like a blur. His fist rose, fueled by darkness, delivering a direct blow to the enemy''s skull.
A dull impact.
The black blade intercepted the punch.
The collision cracked the ground.
The Assassin slid back smoothly.
Lucas advanced without hesitation, his attacks becoming a furious whirlwind.
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Fists and shadows sliced through the air.
Yet the Twilight Assassin...
Evaded every strike.
It moved like a specter, disappearing and reappearing, always one step ahead.
"You trust the shadows too much," it mocked, appearing behind Lucas.
Lucas spun and launched a dark slash, an attack that rent everything in its path.
This time, it struck true.
The Assassin’s katana was slightly delayed, and the black blade left a gash on its shoulder.
Dark blood flowed.
The Assassin observed the wound.
"Hah… at last."
Lucas did not hesitate.
He lunged forward...
Then felt.
Pain.
His eyes widened.
Something pierced his abdomen.
He looked down.
The black katana was tearing through his flesh.
And he realized.
The blade was devouring something within him.
Lucas tried to regenerate…
But the wound refused to close.
It was as if his energy was being ripped away.
"Do you understand now?"
A voice came from behind.
The Assassin whispered near his ear.
Lucas tried to move, but his body was heavy.
His muscles felt sluggish, as if his bones were dissolving.
He felt his very essence being sucked away.
"You may be a monster, but even monsters have weaknesses."
Lucas gritted his teeth, summoning every last bit of strength.
He pulled forth his shadow, trying to crush the Assassin.
But before he could react, a black leg flashed before his eyes.
A brutal kick.
His skull was struck.
The impact split through his brain like lightning.
His body was thrown backward, colliding with a stone wall.
Broken ribs.
His vision darkened.
The Assassin slowly approached, crouching to grab Lucas’s hair and lift his bloodied head.
"You are not worthy of facing me. Not yet."
Lucas tried to speak.
The Assassin smiled.
"Survive."
And then, it vanished.
The taste of blood filled Lucas''s mouth; his open wounds throbbed, and the cold seeped into his bones.
While Lucas struggled to move, a figure approached.
A villager—a woman in tattered clothes, eyes hesitant.
She should have run from him.
But she did not.
Beside her, a small child clutched her hand.
The girl''s gaze made something tighten within Lucas.
"He saved us," the woman murmured.
Before Lucas could react, darkness swallowed him.
<hr>
The Awakening and the Call of the Abyss
Lucas awoke to a familiar smell.
Old wood. Rusty iron. The warmth of a distant fire.
He tried to move.
His body did not respond immediately.
The room''s walls creaked with the cold wind.
The pain was unbearable. His muscles protested every attempt to stir.
Beside the bed, a bowl of soup cooled slowly.
The smell evoked memories.
Clara, laughing, holding a spoon.
He had pretended the food was good, just to see her smile.
His chest tightened.
Lucas forced his head aside.
A woman sat next to him, watching in silence.
She was young, but her dark circles betrayed the tragedy.
And behind her... a child.
Lucas felt his body freeze for a second.
The girl''s eyes.
They were the same as Clara''s.
<hr>
The Voice of the Shadows
"You''ve finally woken up."
The Abyss whispered.
"You''re weak."
Lucas closed his eyes.
"Humiliated."
The words were like sharp blades.
"Mendicant for the care of ordinary humans."
Lucas felt his fists clench.
The woman noticed his expression.
"Are you... alright?"
Lucas hesitated.
The Abyss laughed.
"You already know what you must do."
"No," Lucas murmured.
"You know that the only way to grow... is to feed me."
He understood.
Every death. Every soul reaped.
His power grew with suffering.
Lucas looked at the woman.
Looked at the girl.
"Sacrifice them."
His fingers trembled.
The child gripped her mother''s arm.
Lucas hesitated.
Then, the Abyss changed.
The voice speaking to him...
It was no longer the Abyss.
It was Clara.
"Daddy... why didn''t you save me?"
Lucas''s heart froze.
"Clara...?"
The Abyss laughed.
"She no longer needs you. She has moved on. But I... I will always be here."
Lucas left the room.
The village was still trying to recover. Women gathered rubble. Wounded men leaned on each other. Children cried softly.
Then, the little girl took Lucas''s hand.
Her touch was warm.
The same as Clara''s.
Lucas froze.
Darkness trembled around him.
Then, the Abyss whispered:
"Your daughter is lost forever."
Lucas raised his hand.
Shadows spread like famished serpents.