Chapter 6: Terrifying

Commoner, Zed, Human

Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 2, Day ???

Dark Forest, north of the Imperial Territory, Depths of the temple

I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, no I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die.

The blood drained from his body, the light of his life fading like the torch beside him. With all his strength, he placed the flame beside him; a small warmth filled his chest. In his mind, he kept repeating the same words.

I don't want to die...

...

..

.

The darkness of the room deepened, multiple shadows danced around her, as if they were performing in the grand hall. In the deepest part of the hall stood a throne, its matte black obsidian subtly glowing. In it, there was an armor, seated in an eternal slumber. There was no flesh, no bones; the only thing visible through the eye slits was darkness. In its hands, there was a sword, as large as the armor itself.

Zed's blood spread throughout the place, following a pattern engraved on the floor. Flowing, the blood sank deeper into the ground.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The floor beneath him began to rise, forming a circle that ascended to the sky. Out of nowhere, many, no, thousands of them appeared—the same creatures that killed Zed. They all bowed their heads and gathered around what seemed to be an altar. The shadows of the place became thicker, almost as if they were becoming tangible, rushing towards Zed's body.

******

God of Shadows.

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The darkness of the place was terrible, horrible, in total silence. There wasn't a hint of light. The oldest shadows, hidden for thousands of years in true darkness, felt a call—a desperate and lamentable call. Such an insignificant being was calling them. They stirred, unsure what to do, with no orders to follow, no reason to accept the call.

In the deepest part, a great shadow stirred. Its eternal sleep was disrupted. The shadows of the place, sensing their master's agitation, also stirred... Millions of shadows that had remained still for countless years began to move, wanting to leave the place.

The largest shadow of all raised a hand, then returned to its eternal sleep...

The shadows became still again, and the shadows disappeared...

******

In the darkest part of the temple, under the deepest darkness, the shadows crazily entered Zed's body. The creatures around the altar closed their eyes, their bodies transforming into small shadows that also entered Zed's body.

A portal opened, the space cracked. Thousands of murmurs hiding secrets, thousands of shadows emerged from the crack, all moving towards the armor on the throne. A large shadow, greater in size, also emerged from the crack before it closed completely.

All of them moved towards the armor on the throne. Gathering at a point, the shadows stirred again and took form, merging into the exact image of the armor, then becoming one.

The armor in the place began to twist violently, dark mist seeping from the eye slits. With unsteady steps, it began to walk, dragging the enormous sword behind it, heading towards Zed's body.

Standing beside him, it raised the enormous sword. With a great movement, it struck right into the gap where his heart should be.

The sword began to disintegrate, along with the entire armor. The enormous shadow knight also entered Zed's body.

The gap was completely filled with darkness. A small pulse began to sound in the tranquility of the place.

Thump... Thump... Thump... Thump... Thump... Thump... Thump...

Faster and faster, Zed's completely pale complexion began to regain color.

(Heart of Shadows)

******

University Student, Zed, Shadow

Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 3, Day ???

Dark Forest, north of the Imperial Territory, Depths of the temple

This pain spreading through my body... is very uncomfortable. I feel like I've been run over by a truck... I can't see anything. Am I blind? I shouldn't be blind; I should be dead, yes, but for some reason I can breathe, even feel pain. My father always told me that if you feel pain, you're more alive than ever...

-Ugh!

My body really hurts. What's happening? Where am I? I try to distinguish something that allows me to identify where I am, trying to see my own body. I can't see anything....

Sitting, I breathe deeply, breathe... breathe... breathe...

I feel hatred, a terrible hatred... so much hatred... it's new to me.... I've never felt like this before... resentment and sadness, without a doubt a very curious amalgam of emotions. I feel a bit excited... Excited? What is that... it's when a person is happy, right? I feel happy, I can feel emotions....

A bitter taste in my mouth, it's horrible, blood... it's blood... Why? Why am I still alive? Where am I? Who am I...?

I can say for sure that I'm not myself. I feel very strange, like I'm someone else... very different... very normal... yes, that's what I'm feeling right now... I feel alive...

I try to stand up, keeping calm. It's always important to keep feelings under control, or so my father taught me...

I have to say that just standing up, a searing pain tore through my flesh and bones.

Ignoring the pain, I look around. It's no longer as dark as before; there's a slight illumination. I'm in a room, a very large one... dark walls, too big to be a simple house or mansion... in fact, it's in ruins... an abandoned place? Yes, that seems to be the case. It's really cold.

To my left, there's a corridor, the only path in this place...

Walking through it, unaware that his shadow is connected to the shadows of the place... It's immensely large... It's too vast... It's not human...

...

..

.

It's simply terrifying.