Chapter 7: Shadows of the Past
Lahsiv returned to the outer edges of the Sombra Forest, his steps slow and deliberate. The girl’s words lingered in his mind, though they held no weight over his decisions. He didn’t regret sparing her; after all, she was of no consequence to his plans. But there was something about her stubborn defiance that made her… notable. He brushed the thought aside. She would either grow strong enough to be of interest or fall like the others. In either case, she wasn’t worth worrying about yet.
His focus shifted back to his immediate goal. The test wasn’t over, and there were still more creatures lurking in the forest. With the Soul Reaper title now enhancing his abilities, each kill would bring him closer to unlocking his first Soul Mandala, a power few in this world even knew existed. Lahsiv planned to unlock it before anyone else realized its importance.
As he pressed deeper into the forest, the darkness seemed to thicken. The trees loomed taller, their twisted branches casting long shadows across the forest floor. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves as small creatures scurried about. But Lahsiv wasn’t fooled. He could sense something in the air—an oppressive weight, a presence that felt far stronger than the beasts he had encountered earlier.
He paused, scanning the area. The forest was vast, and while the creatures here were dangerous, none had truly challenged him yet. But now, something felt different. It was as if the forest itself was watching him, waiting.
Suddenly, a low growl rumbled through the trees, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. Lahsiv’s hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword, his body tense but controlled. Whatever was coming, it was big—and powerful.
From the shadows, a massive creature emerged. Its body was hunched and covered in thick, matted fur, its eyes glowing with an eerie red light. Dark veins pulsed beneath its skin, radiating an energy that Lahsiv immediately recognized as Dark Karma. This was no ordinary beast. It was a Corrupted Alpha, a creature born of the forest’s darkest energies, and far more dangerous than anything he had faced so far.
[Corrupted Alpha – Elite Beast]
[Strength: 50]
[Agility: 40]
[Defense: 45]
[Light Karma: 0]
[Dark Karma: 150]
[Danger Level: High]
Lahsiv smiled coldly as the system registered the creature’s stats. This was exactly what he had been waiting for—a real challenge. He could feel the Dark Karma radiating off the beast, stronger than any he had absorbed so far. If he could kill it, the power boost would be substantial.
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The Alpha snarled, its massive form shaking the ground as it took a step forward, eyeing Lahsiv with predatory intent. It was fast, far faster than it should have been for its size. But Lahsiv wasn’t concerned. He had fought faster enemies before, and he had no intention of letting this thing get close enough to touch him.
With a flick of his wrist, Lahsiv activated Shadow Veil, his form vanishing into the darkness. The Alpha growled in confusion, its head swiveling as it searched for him, but Lahsiv was already moving, circling the creature silently.
‘Big, strong, but predictable,’ he thought as he observed its movements. The Alpha was relying purely on brute strength and instinct, but it lacked intelligence. Lahsiv would use that to his advantage.
He positioned himself behind the beast and raised his sword, channeling Dark Karma into the blade. The air around him crackled with energy as the dark aura coiled around the sword, forming a tangible shroud of corrosive power.
Shadow Blade.
Lahsiv struck, his blade slicing through the Alpha’s back with precision. Dark Karma surged through the wound, corroding the creature’s flesh and soul at the same time. The Alpha roared in pain, whipping around to face him, but Lahsiv was already gone, slipping back into the shadows.
The beast thrashed, its massive claws raking the air as it tried to locate him, but Lahsiv kept his distance, moving like a shadow in the night. He wasn’t in a rush. The Alpha’s wound was already festering, its strength draining with each passing second as the Dark Karma ate away at its body.
He could finish the fight now if he wanted to, but Lahsiv chose to wait. He needed to see what this creature was truly capable of. After all, the stronger it fought, the more Dark Karma it would release, and the more he could absorb.
The Alpha let out a furious snarl and charged forward, crashing through the trees in a blind rage. Its movements were slower now, more erratic, but still powerful. It swung its massive claws, obliterating everything in its path, but Lahsiv remained just out of reach, always a step ahead.
‘Good,’ he thought, watching as the beast began to weaken. ‘Now it’s time.’
With a final surge of Dark Karma, Lahsiv moved in for the kill. He dashed forward, faster than the Alpha could react, and drove his sword deep into the creature’s chest. The blade sank into the beast’s heart, and the Dark Karma exploded from the wound, consuming the creature from the inside out.
The Alpha let out one final, agonized roar before collapsing to the ground, its body disintegrating into ash as the dark energy tore it apart.
[Corrupted Alpha eliminated: +150 Dark Karma]
[Dark Karma: 270]
[Soul Fragment absorbed: 1]
[Soul Fragments: 4]
[Elite Beast slain: Bonus Reward – Blood of the Corrupted]
[Blood of the Corrupted – Special Item: Enhances the strength and speed of Dark Karma users temporarily. Duration: 10 minutes.]
Lahsiv sheathed his sword and stood over the pile of ash that had once been the Alpha. The power of the kill surged through him, the Dark Karma flowing into his body like a tidal wave. He could feel his strength growing, his soul becoming more attuned to the darkness.
But it wasn’t enough. He needed more. More Dark Karma, more souls, more power.
He glanced at the system prompt and noted the new item—Blood of the Corrupted. An interesting reward, but one he would save for a more critical moment. He had no need to rely on temporary boosts right now. There would come a time when that blood could be used to devastating effect, and he would be ready.
For now, he had more pressing concerns. The first Soul Mandala was still out of reach, and he needed to gather six more fragments to unlock it. The Academy was full of students, each one a potential fragment. And while killing the creatures of the forest provided him with power, it was the souls of humans that offered the most potent rewards.
Lahsiv’s gaze shifted toward the Academy’s towers in the distance, barely visible through the thick canopy of the forest. He knew that there were students still fighting for their lives out here, and others watching from the safety of the walls, waiting to see who would survive.
‘Soon,’ he thought, his mind already calculating his next move. ‘Soon, they will all fall.’
With the power of the Soul Reaper title and the growing strength of his Dark Karma abilities, Lahsiv would continue to rise. And when the time came, he would claim not just the Academy, but the entire world as his own.
He turned away from the ashes of the Alpha and disappeared into the darkness once more, a shadow moving silently through the forest, leaving death and destruction in his wake.