The Siren's Call of Darkness: Grim's Inner Struggle

Grim gingerly picked up the ethereal bow, marveling at its feather-like weight, and inquired, "How do I use this?"

Evangeline motioned for Grim to approach, as she was unable to leave her spot. She positioned his body to hold the bow correctly, then explained, "Hold the bow like this, and you can conjure arrows using your mana, at the cost of 1 mana each. Let's try a practice shot on that elderly gentleman over there," Elysia suggested in her mellifluous voice.

"This won't harm the old man, will it?" Grim asked, his concern evident.

"Absolutely not. Just aim the arrow at his shadow, and it will temporarily incapacitate his soul for a couple of hours. He'll become an empty vessel, devoid of thoughts or desires," Elysia clarified.

"Well, in that case, let's give it a try," Grim replied, his confidence surging. Elysia guided Grim's arm, adjusting his elbow to target the old man's shadow. With a deep breath, Grim manifested an arrow and fired with astonishing precision, striking the shadow's head.

-1 Mana

Mana: 111/160

MRP: 3

The shadow contorted in apparent agony before collapsing and dissipating into the ether. The elderly man, meanwhile, ceased his actions and stood motionless, his eyes glazed over with a vacant stare.

"Great! I'd prefer to avoid causing harm when possible, so this is perfect!" Grim exclaimed, wrapping Evangeline in an enthusiastic hug that made her cheeks flush pink.

"No worries, Master. Before I go, let me share one more tidbit with you. If you ever find yourself in a dicey situation, just call my name. Since you've already expended mana to summon me, I can swiftly whisk you away to the shadow world. As long as no one floods the area with blinding light, you'll be safe and sound," Elysia elucidated.

Grim furrowed his brow, "Hold on, why must you leave in the first place? I'd rather have you by my side to help, and is that all there is to know about the shadow world?"

Elysia crouched down to meet Grim's gaze, tenderly patting his head, "I'm currently weak due to my low mana. However, as you level up, not only will you grow stronger, wiser, and older, but I too will gain power. Eventually, you'll transform into a dashing young man, and I eagerly await that day. Just bear in mind that if our enemies discover the shadow world's vulnerability, you'll be expelled and I'll suffer a temporary demise. Don't fret, though, as you can always resummon me. Good luck on your quest, Master." With that, Elysia opened a portal for Grim to step back into the real world.

Grim cast a final glance at Evangeline, searching for the right words, but came up empty-handed. He leaped into the portal, reemerging in the real world. It was then that he remembered his abandoned minion at the church. Panic-stricken, Grim inquired, "Elysia, what will become of my minion left all alone?"

"I assumed you'd left him there intentionally. You commanded your minion to wait for you at the church, and now that you're gone, I'm uncertain whether he'll remain there or wander off," Elysia replied, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Damn, just another thing on my plate," Grim grumbled, reluctant to trouble Evangeline any further after all her assistance. He approached the old man, who seemed oblivious to Grim's existence even as he waved a hand before the man's eyes. "Well, this is working, at least," Grim mumbled, pondering his next course of action.

Scaling a tree, Grim reached a strategic vantage point and spied the two guards stationed at the entrance. Concealed by foliage, he drew back Oblivion's bowstring and conjured an arrow forged of shadows.

Releasing the bowstring, the arrow streaked through the air and pierced the guard's shadow, knocking it to the ground as if it had been slain. The physical guard, however, remained entirely unscathed and standing.

-1 Mana

Mana: 110/160

MRP - 3

Astonished, Grim repeated the process on the other guard, achieving the same result.

-1 Mana

Mana: 109/160

MRP - 3

Several more guards patrolled the entrance, their attention focused on their duties. Grim didn't hesitate to shoot at them, immobilizing them as well.

Slipping to the side of the roof, Grim spotted a lone guard on watch. Drawing Oblivion once more, he unleashed another shadowy arrow.

(Three Guards taken down) -3 Mana

Mana: 106/160

MRP: 3

"Perfect," Grim whispered, leaping down and hugging the walls. He stealthily approached the blank-faced guard and swiped the keys from him. Nervous, Grim fumbled with the key before finally unlocking the heavily fortified door.

Grim stepped into an opulent, sprawling home adorned with fine art, precious treasures, and an array of luxurious trinkets. He treaded lightly, careful not to make a sound, pausing to soak in the grandeur he'd never before witnessed. Suddenly, he heard footsteps and hastily hid behind a towering bookshelf crammed with rare tomes.

"I've detected a book here that, once its information is extracted, can grant you a new skill," Elysia informed Grim as he pressed himself against the bookshelf.

Grim observed the guards patrolling the vast manor, taking care to stay hidden, his breath held in anticipation of trouble. Once he was sure the guards had moved on, he darted from behind the bookcase and snatched the glowing book.

As he flipped through the pages, their mysterious symbols morphed into words he could understand, despite his illiteracy.

Congratulations! You have learned to read English and acquired a new basic spell.

(Common) (Barrier) - Create a magical bubble surrounding you that acts as a shield to absorb damage from any type up to a maximum of 30 damage. You are immobile while this shield is active (Cost to cast - 5 Mana), (Can be upgraded from Bloodcrests)

"How exactly does this work?" Grim mused, focusing his mana on a central point within his body and concentrating on the concept of the barrier. A protective bubble materialized around him.

-5 Mana

Mana: 101/160

MRP: 3

"I can't move while maintaining this barrier," Grim noted. Releasing his concentration, the bubble silently shattered into countless glass-like shards that vaporized upon touching the ground.

Emboldened by his newfound defensive ability, Grim brazenly rounded the corner of the hallway, revealing himself to a guard.

The guard's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, Grim fired an arrow at the guard's shadow, rendering him immobile. The guard's expression went blank, his sword forgotten in its sheath.

-1 Mana

Mana: 100/160

MRP: 3

Grim sauntered past the stunned guard, navigating a hallway adorned with family photos. He found a door, turned the knob, and slipped into what appeared to be a guest bedroom.

Mana Regeneration Complete! ~ (1 Hour Transpired) +3 Mana

Mana: 103/160

MRP: 3

More guards descended the stairs, prompting Grim to hide beneath the bed. They walked past the immobilized guard, initially paying him no mind.

As the guards strolled past the immobilized comrade, they sensed something amiss.

"Hey, are you alright?" one guard inquired, waving his hand in front of the unresponsive man's face.

"We need to get him medical attention!" another guard exclaimed, searching for visible injuries.

A third guard burst into the manor, panting. "Guys, something's off with the guards outside too! They're just standing there, unresponsive. We're under attack by a mage! We need to go on high alert!"

From his hiding place, Grim overheard their conversation, feeling the weight of his decisions. "Trying to spare innocents while eliminating the wicked is harder than I thought," he muttered to himself.

Elysia chimed in, "You could've completed your assassination quest ages ago if you'd simply turned all the guards into minions outside the manor."

"No! I don't want to become like that lord who forced me to kill my family," Grim retorted, his fists clenched in anger.

"It's not the same, and your path of bloodshed has already begun. There's no stopping the prophesied carnage that will engulf this world," Elysia declared dramatically.

"What do you mean?" Grim asked, more puzzled than ever.

"Search every inch of this manor!" a guard ordered.

The guards responded in unison, "Yes, commander!"

The guards dispersed in various directions, their frantic footsteps echoing throughout the vast manor. The sheer force of their movement caused the opulent chandeliers to sway gently, and the wooden floors to creak under their synchronized marching. Grim could feel the vibrations trembling through the walls, a tangible reminder of the imminent danger he faced - or rather, the doom that awaited the unsuspecting guards.

Every guard's determined expression, the glint of their polished armor, and the occasional ruffle of their uniforms as they charged down the lavishly decorated hallways, hunting for the mysterious intruder, only heightened the tense atmosphere that enveloped the manor. The air was thick with anticipation, as both Grim and the guards braced themselves for a confrontation that would undoubtedly change the course of their lives.

Grim's heart hammered in his chest as he heard footsteps approaching.

A man clad in golden armor adorned with gems and other precious metals strode into the guest room where Grim hid. "This must be the commander. Guess I'll have to take him out too," Grim muttered, nocking an arrow and firing at the commander's shadow. The commander's sword clattered to the floor with a loud clang.

-1 Mana

Mana: 102/160

MRP - 3

"Everyone! Get in here! I saw the commander go into this room!" a guard shouted.

"Fuck!" Grim cursed, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"My, my, such a naughty boy we have here," Elysia teased, unfazed by the impending chaos.

"I hate you!" Grim snapped, a mix of anger and despair washing over him as he braced for the battle ahead.

The guards stormed into the room, their faces a mix of confusion and determination as they found their commander staring blankly at the wall, utterly unresponsive to the chaos around him.

"The intruder is in this room! Brace yourselves, men!" A guard bellowed, unsheathing his sword, prompting the others to follow suit. Grim sighed, resigning himself to the inevitable confrontation.

Chanting "Vitality Reap," Grim cast his spell, causing the commander to collapse. The guards froze, momentarily distracted from their search.

-10 Mana

Mana: 92/160

MRP: 3

"What the hell? Someone check on the commander," a guard stammered, his voice trembling. As one guard moved to inspect the fallen commander, Grim muttered, "Rise."

-5 Mana

Mana: 87/160

MRP: 3

Minions: 2/5

The commander abruptly sprang to his feet, smashing his head into the unsuspecting guard who crumpled to the ground, clutching his bleeding mouth in pain. The remaining guards gaped at the spectacle, uncertain of what to do next.

"Come on! Just run away already!" Grim snapped, his frustration growing. The guards, however, charged towards the bed, swords at the ready to dispatch the intruder. The commander deftly drew his sword and decapitated one of the advancing guards with a single, fluid stroke.

Grim's initial pity swiftly evaporated, replaced by an exhilarating surge of pleasure as he absorbed the dark essence generated by his undead minion's deadly handiwork. Each life his minion claimed further fueled Grim's intoxicating sensation, binding him to the power he wielded.

Level up!

Level up!

4 People Slain

Generating skills…

*OVERSIGHT*

*Skill learning blocked!*

Bloodcrests Accumulated: 590

Progress to level 14: 71,810/409,600 Dark Essence

Stat points (20) have been allocated where deemed necessary.

Current Stats:

STR: 13

DEX: 47

VIT: 35 ~ (+0 health) ~ Current Health: (70/70)

VRP: 3

Mana: 32 + 10 = (42) ~ (+50 mana) ~ Current Mana: (137/210)

MRP: 3

Mystical Power: 30 + 10 = (40)

Three guards, fueled by terror and a primal need for survival, narrowly escaped the macabre tableau unraveling before their eyes. Their hearts racing, they dashed through the winding corridors of the grand manor, desperate to find sanctuary and an opportunity to regroup in the face of the blood-soaked carnage wrought by the very hands of their own commander.