Chapter 6: The Weight of Darkness

Lahsiv walked deeper into the Sombra Forest, the silence of the night enveloping him as he left behind the carnage. The blood on his sword had already evaporated, consumed by the dark energy that had become an extension of his very being. He moved with purpose, his mind clear and focused on what lay ahead. The test had been easy—too easy. Killing those students had been as effortless as cutting through the corrupted beasts that roamed the forest. The weak had no place in his world.

But something was different now. The moment he had plunged his Sword of Ruin into the students, he had felt a shift within himself. It wasn’t guilt, or hesitation—Lahsiv had long since abandoned such trivial emotions—but a new kind of power surging through him. The system had reacted immediately after their deaths, rewarding him with the Soul Reaper title.

[Title Unlocked: Soul Reaper]

[Effect: Each human soul absorbed increases strength and soul power by 1%. Current Buff: +3%]

His body thrummed with energy, stronger than before. He could feel it in his bones, in his very soul. Each soul he had taken was now part of him, enhancing his abilities. The potential of this new title was immense, and Lahsiv’s mind raced with the possibilities. With each kill, he would become more powerful, and there would be no limit to how far he could ascend.

But there was more. The souls he absorbed were not just enhancing his strength—they were feeding something deeper, something darker. His Soul Rank was still listed as “Mortal” in the system, but now, with every soul he collected, that rank seemed less significant. Lahsiv knew that soon, he would need to begin exploring the Soul Mandalas—the hidden power that few in this world even knew existed.

He paused in a small clearing, the moonlight filtering through the trees. His breath was steady, controlled. He opened the system to review his progress.

[Name: Lahsiv]

[HP: 140/140]

[Strength: 8] (+3%)

[Agility: 6] (+3%)

[Defense: 7] (+3%)

[Body Rank: Mortal (0 Mandala Points unlocked)]

[Soul Rank: Mortal]

[Light Karma: 0]

[Dark Karma: 120]

[Skills: Shadow Blade (Rank 1), Karma Slash (Rank 1), Shadow Veil (Rank 1)]

[Title: Soul Reaper]

[Soul Fragments: 3]

[Next Mandala Awakening: Requires 10 Soul Fragments]

‘Ten soul fragments to unlock the first Soul Mandala,’ Lahsiv thought. The system had been silent about the deeper mechanics of the soul until now. But it was clear that his recent kills had opened the path to something far more dangerous. He needed more souls to unlock the first Mandala, and he knew that the Academy would provide plenty of opportunities to harvest them.

A rustle in the bushes snapped Lahsiv out of his thoughts. He turned, his senses sharp, but he did not reach for his sword. The movement was too subtle for a beast, too cautious. Someone was following him.

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With a flick of his wrist, he activated Shadow Veil, his form fading into the darkness of the trees. The rustling grew louder, and soon, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a girl—one of the other students from the Elite class. She moved with purpose, her eyes scanning the area where Lahsiv had stood only moments ago.

Lahsiv watched her carefully. Her body language was tense, her movements cautious but deliberate. She wasn’t just wandering through the forest—she was looking for him.

‘So, one of them survived,’ Lahsiv thought, his eyes narrowing. He recognized her now. She had been with the group of students he had slaughtered. He hadn’t noticed her before, but she had clearly been watching from a distance, hiding while he killed the others.

The girl stopped in the clearing, her hand resting on the hilt of her weapon—a sleek, silver dagger that shimmered faintly with Light Karma. She stood completely still, her eyes scanning the trees, as if she could sense his presence despite the veil of darkness that cloaked him.

“I know you’re here,” she called out, her voice steady but low. “I saw what you did to them.”

Lahsiv didn’t respond. He had no reason to. If she thought confronting him would make any difference, she was mistaken.

“You killed them. Your own classmates,” she continued, her voice wavering now, as if she was trying to convince herself of something. “But I won’t let you get away with it.”

Lahsiv watched her for a moment, considering his options. She was brave, he’d give her that. Stupid, but brave. It would be easy to kill her—she wasn’t a threat, not really. But something held him back. Perhaps it was the way she carried herself, or the faint glow of Light Karma that surrounded her. She wasn’t like the others. There was something… different.

He deactivated Shadow Veil, his form slowly reappearing in the moonlight. The girl stiffened, her grip tightening on the dagger as she spotted him. Her eyes were wide, a mixture of fear and resolve burning behind them.

Lahsiv tilted his head slightly, studying her. “You think you can stop me?”

The girl didn’t answer immediately. She took a step forward, her stance shifting into a combat-ready position. “I’ll try,” she said, her voice firmer now.

Lahsiv almost laughed. “Brave. But foolish.”

In an instant, he drew his Sword of Ruin, its dark blade glinting in the dim light. The girl flinched, but she didn’t back down. Lahsiv could see her resolve hardening, even as fear lingered in her eyes.

“Why?” she asked suddenly, her voice softer now, almost pleading. “Why did you kill them? They were just trying to survive, like the rest of us.”

Lahsiv stared at her, his expression cold. “Because they were weak.”

The girl’s jaw tightened. “Weak? They didn’t even get a chance to fight back.”

“Exactly,” Lahsiv replied, his voice like ice. “They were weak, and in this world, the weak die. That’s how it works.”

She shook her head, her grip on the dagger trembling slightly. “You’re wrong. Power isn’t everything. We’re supposed to be learning, growing together—”

“You’re delusional,” Lahsiv interrupted, stepping forward. “This isn’t a game. It’s survival. The only thing that matters is power, and I’ll do whatever it takes to claim it.”

The girl’s eyes flared with anger, and in a flash, she lunged at him, her dagger slashing through the air. Lahsiv sidestepped easily, his movements fluid and precise. She struck again, her attacks faster this time, but each one met only empty air as Lahsiv dodged effortlessly.

For a brief moment, Lahsiv considered ending the fight right then and there. It would be easy—one swing of his sword, one burst of Dark Karma, and she’d be dead. But something about her intrigued him. She wasn’t like the others he had killed. She was stronger, more determined. And that made her… interesting.

As she lunged at him again, Lahsiv moved to the side, twisting his body to avoid the blow. In one smooth motion, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward, pulling her off balance. She gasped in surprise as he spun her around, slamming her into a tree, pinning her against the trunk with his sword at her throat.

Her breathing was ragged, her eyes wide with fear and frustration. But still, she didn’t back down.

“You’re wasting your time,” Lahsiv said quietly, his voice cold but calm. “You’re no match for me.”

For a moment, the girl said nothing, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to catch her breath. Then, slowly, her expression shifted. The fear was still there, but something else had taken its place—something stronger.

“I won’t let you win,” she whispered, her voice trembling but defiant.

Lahsiv stared at her for a moment, then slowly stepped back, lowering his sword. The girl blinked, clearly confused by his sudden change in demeanor.

“You’re not worth killing,” Lahsiv said, his voice flat. “Not yet.”

Before she could respond, Lahsiv turned and began walking away, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

“Wait!” the girl called after him, but Lahsiv didn’t stop.

He had learned what he needed to know. She wasn’t a threat now, but that could change. And when it did, he would be ready.

As he vanished into the darkness, Lahsiv felt the weight of the souls he had taken pressing against his own. But instead of burdening him, they empowered him. With each step he took, he grew stronger, the darkness within him swelling.

This was just the beginning. Soon, everyone would see what true power looked like.