Shadows slipped from my palm, coating the makeshift weapon in my grip. Again. And again. My fingers bled. My shadows stung. But I kept going. I couldn't fail. Not again.
After a day of relentless training, I felt a flicker of confidence. The deadline Sylvia had set was nearing. I hoped with all my heart that I'd reached Twilight rank—but I still had a chance.
Sylvia's gaze hardened as she studied me. "I've given you enough chances. Why do you still want to fight?"
I met her eyes. "Maybe I'm weak. Maybe I want my memories back. But I know one thing for sure... I need to find the truth about my existence."
She looked angry. I thought it was because of my words, but it wasn't. It didn't matter to me. My choice was made.
"Follow me," she commanded, her voice sharp.
"Yes," I said, grinning. I grabbed my makeshift bag, filled with shuriken and other tools, and followed.
As we moved through the forest, Sylvia glanced back at me, avoiding my eyes. It was clear—she thought I was going to die. But I didn't care. I had to master my first Art.
We walked deeper into the woods, the trees thinning. Broken stones, remnants of human creation, appeared more often. Sylvia stopped. A heavy, suffocating presence filled the air, emanating from a temple nearby. Trails of destruction marked by something massive—an abomination large enough to create roads—led toward it.
Sylvia smirked. "Are you scared now?"
I forced my voice steady. "No."
"Then go in," she said, pointing to the temple.
I summoned the Lamenting Edge and stepped onto the temple grounds. The oppressive feeling grew stronger. Suddenly, the temple walls shattered, sending rubble flying. I jumped back, smashing the closest stone before it could hit me.
The guardian emerged. It was unlike any abomination I'd seen before—a massive serpent with six glowing eyes and torn fins on its head.
It lunged at me. I merged with my shadow, throwing a set of shuriken at its eyes and dodging the falling rubble. I leaped onto its tail and tried to stab its tough scales. I was sent flying but managed to land safely.
I focused on its eyes—one was wounded. I pressed on, swinging my blade while narrowly avoiding its strikes.
Dread filled me. Its rank was likely Devil. Its intelligence... too sharp. One strike from its tail could end me.
I grasped the Lamenting Edge, the blade still cutting into my hands. I could barely focus. My chest tightened.
I had to use it.
The guardian's tail swung. The shockwave shattered pillars in the great temple. I called forth the flame, focusing on a memory—one of forgetting everything. But that memory didn't exist. I feared it wouldn't work.
But, to my surprise, it did.
As the tail came crashing toward me, I lunged forward, flame swirling around my sword. I slashed. A small cut appeared on its scale. Before I could react, the guardian hurled me into a wall. I coughed, blood spilling from my mouth.
It advanced, its eyes burning with fury. My legs wouldn't move. I couldn't escape.
I threw a black core at it. The moment it shattered, a storm of black flame erupted. Sylvia's face twisted with surprise.
The guardian was wounded, but not enough. It was enraged.
I was too weak.
I grabbed my sword with what little strength I had left. My shadow slid onto it, turning its blade to shadow before I threw it.
The guardian swung its tail to deflect the sword. Exactly what I wanted.
When it touched the guardian, I reverted it.
The serpent shrieked in pain, but the sword wasn't fully awakened. It shattered into sparks.
I lost the first sword I'd found in this cursed place.
Anger surged within me. But why?
The guardian slithered closer. I was defenseless. Doomed.
Then, it stopped. Something suppressed it.
Sylvia rose, a look of pity on her face. I hated that pity.
"Do you give up?" she asked, her voice dripping with arrogance.
---
Do you give up?" Her voice echoed in my mind. Why should I? After coming this far…
"No. Never. I will never give up. If it's to find the truth, I will keep fighting."
She laughed. "Take this." She tossed her strange long sword to me.
That was when I felt it.
The energy holding the guardian back—it was sorrow. Pure sorrow. I had felt it before.
And I had control over it.
I picked up her sword and summoned the black flame. This time, I cleared my mind.
The guardian's suppression faded—and I had grasped the First Art.
My sorrow was my blade.
I moved forward. With each step, I poured my sorrow into every part of me. Sorrow was the one thing I knew too well.
I stopped. The guardian stood before me.
The dread I once felt was replaced by sadness.
It screeched and lunged. I dodged every strike, embracing the pain in my heart.
For the first time, I wanted more pain. I wanted the sadness to last forever.
Slowly, it felt like I was being consumed. My speed surged. My attacks doubled. But with each move, I sank deeper into an abyss of sorrow.
One thing kept me grounded—the memory of my parents.
Before I knew it, my sadness had faded.
I opened my eyes. I hadn't realized they were closed. I looked at the guardian. It was in a sorry state.
I had to finish it.
I walked closer, sword poised for the final blow—but I couldn't do it.
I wanted to free its sadness.
That gave me hope.
I plunged the sword into its head. Tears flowed like a river.
"I'm sorry…"
I knew I was being too kind.
Sylvia tapped my shoulder. She knew my pain far too well.
---
The hex echoed:
[You have slain a Gloom-Marked Devil, Guardian of the Abyssal Mourner.]
[Absorbing residual energy…]
[Task Completed.]
[Reward: ???]
[You have received a Whisper.]