Annalise swings down her ax with all her might, intending to strike right through the head of the entity.
As soon as the blade connects, a loud thundercrack booms through the air, while the entity disappears.
“Huh? What happened?”
She looked around in her immediate surroundings and found no sign of the entity. She breathed a sigh of relief, but it would be short lived.
“Kufufufu. How very interesting!” croaked a screechy, metallic voice.
She immediately turned around to where the voice was coming from and set her gaze upon the being.
Knowing there was nothing she could do now, Annalise tried to reason with the it.
“W-who are you exactly? Why did you do this?”
She tried to speak her mind as confidently as possible but was having a hard time enunciating her words.
“You have no reason in knowing my intentions. You should know your place, foolish girl. Your life and soul exist in the palm of my hands.”
Annalise’s disposition shifted to a panicked expression. Losing all sense of bravado, she sulked to her knees. Tears started running down her face.
“Da…-Dad..” she sobbed.
“It seems that your existence was protected, as if your parents wanted nobody to know your whereabouts. Especially here of all places. Now, pick up your ax and entertain me!”
The entity started condensing its black smoke-like tendrils into apparent appendages and started forming more human-like features. Eventually, it took form of man.
He was terrifyingly handsome. His jet-black hair was slicked back behind his ears. Strands of crimson intermingled with his hairstyle as if he were a demon appearing in human form. His golden irises danced with wisdom and displayed an indifferent gaze.
Annalise sighed. She got back up on her feet and picked up the ax that had fallen on the ground.
She regained her composure and readied her ax. With no opening, this was her best shot.
Annalise leapt towards the man.
She swung the ax right at the man’s head.
A large shockwave blew back the surroundings of the beach. Sand scattered everywhere and a dust cloud brewed up.
The sound of metal grinding and a clash of sparks erupted in the area like rogue fireworks. The man parried the ax with the end of his black nail of his pinky finger.
“This is it? You lack balance and stability, and your movements are not sharp whatsoever. Well, it can’t be helped.” The man shrugged as if he were disappointed about the outcome of the skirmish.
Annalise’s forehead started to become beady with sweat. She knew she wasn’t strong with the combat arts, but there’s no possible way this entity could withstand an ax blessed by a lesser spirits power. This was her dad’s special ax, and she knew it could not be defended very easily.
“Are we done here?”
Annalise’s eyes widened in fear. He smiled sadistically, as if his complexion was devoid of any empathy.
He pushed the ax back with his pinky, and with a light flick of his wrist, disarmed her ax by striking it out her hand.
Annalise followed the ax with her gaze as it went sailing away in the bush.
She was helpless. Nothing in this moment could be done to overturn the outcome of the altercation---this was quite bad to say the least. The despair and fear of being vulnerable washed over her spirit like a great tidal wave.
With no reply coming from Annalise, the man continued.
“You are weak, and your combat skill is pathetic to say the least. Even if you are a child, I would have expected better from your lineage. Alas, your spirit core is rich of untapped spiritual energy. What powerful Vim you possess. I’m beginning to understand why your family went to great lengths to protect you. Now, know true despair and behold!”
The man outstretched his arm, and a gaseous vortex of the void embalmed his hand. It was a mist of darkness that yield legendary insurmountable power beyond the physical realm.
He blasted Annalise with the intensity of a high-pressurized elemental cannon. The pure black beam penetrated through her chest right to her spirit core, and she felt the most absolute anguish, followed by disorienting icy pain.
She screamed as the chilling pain spread through her entire body like a deadly virus. She dropped to her knees clutching her stomach. Blood leaked out of her mouth like spilled paint.
After a few moments, the pain subsided; however, she felt different somehow. A sinister feeling manifested as the chillness of the void disturbed the tranquility of her inner spirit core.
“Kufufufu!!” The man bellowed a great laugh. “How interesting! You will make a fine vessel for the Blank Dimension. Now we can finally show our supremacy on the mortal plane.”
She said nothing as she crouched on the ground, still disoriented from the intense pain.
“You are now a vessel of our lord, Darkness God. I have etched an ancient Curse of the Void on your soul core. Your life force now exists to serve Them. I have formed a bond between our spirit cores, and now I can directly observe your Vim.”
“W-what does that mean? W-w-why?” Annalise replied quietly.
He smiled deviously.
“Do as thou desire.” A crack in the air ensued, then he phased out of reality.
With a singular blink of both of his eyes, he instantly vanished in thin air. One second, he was there, and in the next it was like no evidence of his presence ever existed.
What a monster. There was an insurmountable gap between herself and the man, like the gap between the Heavens and the Earth.
Annalise stared for a moment at the place where the entity stood, exhibiting a blank face full of raw unperturbed emotion. Her spirit, body and pride were decimated.
Suddenly, her vision became dark as she was beginning to lose consciousness. The exhaustion took over her body and she hit the ground and sprawled on the sand.
***
Annalise awoke to the annoyance of a seagull pecking at her head. It was just after mid-morning, so the sun was rising above the ocean like a majestic deity much to her chagrin.
“H-Huh? Ow, ow!! That hurts, ow quit it!!”
She swiped at the seagull who flew away briefly after she came to her senses.
Annalise panicked as she realizes the events that transpired last night. Her father’s body was laying on the sand last time she remembered. She jolted up to her feet and began walking around.
She looked all over the cove and couldn’t find any trace of his corpse. It’s not even like his body had been buried or decayed. It just disappeared from the area.
Dad!! What happened? Where are you? Why did you die and leave me? Please give me guidance.
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Her thoughts raced in her head.
She began to sob quietly. Her father was taken from her, just as her mother left her when she was a child. It was a selfish desire and a naïve thought, but she yearned to be protected by him like when she was little.
No. Now was not the time to be crying. She swore on her very soul core that she would escape this wretched, vile island at any cost. Annalise must become stronger. The man-like entity had proved it to her that she was nothing and weak.
“AUGHH!!” Annalise screamed into the air. “DAMNN IT!!” She picked up a stone and threw it angrily into the ocean.
Annalise took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She gathered her composure, wiped the tears from her eyes, and headed back to the cottage.
***
While walking back to the cottage, she spotted some low hanging fruit in the forest and eyed it like a ravenous dog. She plucked it off the vine aggressively and sunk her teeth into it like she hadn’t eaten a meal in a month.
Why was she so hungry? Normally, her dad’s homecooked stew would fill her completely for 3 days. It was a special dish that was infused with spiritual fragments of gathered lesser spirits from her father’s past adventures. The magical properties of dish ensured that she would be satiated for longer than normal.
Yet she was starving---this was unusual.
Paying it no mind for the time being, she followed the dirt path, opened the door and entered the abode.
The house was in the same condition as it was last night; however, only Annalise’s bed was unkempt from where she left it. The ambers of the charred fireplace glowed like hot coals. The house was surprisingly warm considering the door was left cracked open.
With no other choice in the matter in how to escape her predicament, she sat on the ground of the floor and sat cross-legged. She focused her energy and closed her eyes.
I can do this, she thought to herself. Relax.
Annalise began to harmonize her spiritual energy and meditate on her spirit core.
While deep in meditation, she reflected on her powerlessness and inability to fight. Suddenly, Annalise blacked out.
She came to a blank abyss. It was devoid of all complex shapes and natural patterns; only amorphous shapes of matter and energy were swirling around like a canvas full of color.
Annalise viewed into the abyss, and a screen of black and white appeared in front of her.
[Spiritual Core Age]: 11 Years
[Individual]: Annalise C. Stormhaven
[Race]: High Human [LV. 1]
{Modifiers} - +2 Ability Tokens per Racial Level
[Elemental Power]:
(Water Style) – Novice
(Darkness Style) – Novice
[Combat Art]:
(Serpent Lord Style) – Novice
[Skills]:
(Common)
Elemental Water Resistance
(Rare)
Elemental Darkness Resistance
(Special)
Spiritual Assimilation
[Afflictions]:
(~Legendary~)
Curse of the Void– Hunger Rate x250%, Affinity – Darkness Style, Vulnerable – Light Style, Call of the Void, All of Destruction, Call Lesser Elemental
Use ability tokens to evolve? [Y/N]
Annalise stared in amazement. Her skills were quite underwhelming not to her surprise, but her affliction caught her attention.
Call Lesser Elemental. All of Destruction. Call of the Void. Why would the man give me such incredible power? There must be a catch, right?! Right?!
She calmed herself. This was just something that she had to worry about later.
Peering at the screen, she contemplated on the message at the very bottom
Use ability tokens to evolve? [Y/N]
Ahh... what the hell? Why not? Annalise selected Yes.
Confirming action… [Yes]. Distributing [2] Ability Tokens to [Skills] and [Elemental Power].
Success.
[Skill] (Common) – Elemental Water Resistance has evolved into
(Uncommon) – Elemental Water Resistance [ +1% Water Damage]
---
[Elemental Power] (Water Style) – Novice has Evolved into
(Water Style) – Apprentice
Remaining Ability Tokens: 0
Let’s go! —Annalise exclaimed to herself. She had finally started her path of becoming stronger and venturing out in the world.
This was a new chapter. A fresh start, free from the burdens of her tiny island. It had been her home for her entire life, but she viewed with nothing but contempt and disgust. It was time.
***
As she silently sat cross-legged, and balanced the energy of her spirit core, she now understood why she felt off. She was no longer a regular Human.
What exactly happened when she hit the ground?
The existence of the Ability Tokens from the subskill of her Race means that she gained some sort of new power. Her evolved skills are a testament to this.
What does all this mean? She was never able to reach this level of knowledge and ability through her regular meditation practice. Even the ability screen was new to her.
Does this have to do with my curse? She contemplated–carefully. It turns out that negative experience with the wisp man gave her more refined control over her Skills and her spirit core then she previous thought.
She walked out of her cottage, strolled down the familiar dirt path, and made her way to the beach.
***
Annalise stood on a nearby boulder of her sanctuary cove. The sun shone freely over the beach, enrichening the natural beauty of the sand.
She outstretched her arms towards the sky, closed her eyes and focused internally on her newfound power.
Black wisps of tendrils were forming inside her body. The black smoke started forming.
Both of her hands started gathering a mystical, black energy. The darkness started pulsating like a heartbeat, with an ominous sound of a nefarious dimension cascading in the air.
“Call Lesser Elemental!” she chanted. She felt her spiritual core strain every pore in her body. It enveloped her in a thin veil of aura, jet-black in color with silver accents.
She winced. This power was rather uncomfortable to wield.
She raised her hands open palmed to the sky and directed smoke into the sky.
The energy of her darkness propagated up into the atmosphere like a condensed particle cannon made of the void.
The exploding energy formed a cocoon made up darkness over an area of the sky. The pulsating energy obscured the light of day.
After a few moments, the cocoon smoldered and withered away. Annalise could feel an intense spiritual presence in the area. It reeked of vile poison and stank of death.
A small glowing orb of darkness aura was floating in the sky.
“Ahhhh!! What a great nap! It’s been so long since I’ve been summoned!!! This is a wonderful day.”
Annalise turned to look at the shrill voice in the sky. It was rather cute, but quite annoying to at the same time.
The orb was undeniably a dark spirit, and it looked very similar to a fairy. The spirit appeared to be a young woman with sharp, pointed ears.
After her darkness aura retreated from her body, Annalise could look clearly at the small woman.
She was dressed in a white and black striped long-shirt, with a black mini skirt and fishnets. She wore buckled black boots with large heels.
Her entire skin was pasty white, like freshly fallen snow. She was very beautiful, with a delicate face. Her lips and fingernails were stained black. Her jet-black hair reached down her back, and it was complimented by space buns on either side of her head.
“What are you?” Annalise finally managed to say. “Did I summon you?”
“Bwahahahaha! It’s quite impressive that you managed to summon me! It’s been 500 years since I have been called upon this land.” The spirit exhales a sigh. “I miss the world!!”
Annalise stared at the spirit unconvinced. Yeah, right, she exclaimed silently.
The spirit clears her throat.
“Ahem! Listen up and listen well. I am Corrigan, the Vile Princess. I come from the Blank Dimension, where our master, Chasm Destroyer Darkness God, reigns supreme as the Elemental Blade.”
Darkness God? --Annalise thought to herself. That’s the same name that man gave me. He said that I needed to serve him, so he afflicted me with this Curse. This is what this is about.
“Elemental Blade? I’ve heard of that before. Aren’t they heroes chosen from the God of Creation that are bestowed the title, Supreme Ruler of the Elements?”
“You are well versed.” Corrigan happily retorted “Master Darkness God is one of the Elemental Blades. He is the Elemental Blade of Dark.”
Wow. Annalise was shocked. Her movements became small, and she spoke quietly.
“Well, uh, mhm, I have some questions if you don’t mind.”
“What?”
“Well, Corrigan, I was afflicted by some sort of Curse. This man... or wraith... or whatever he is gave it to me. He had black and crimson slicked hair and golden eyes. Do you know who that is?”
Corrigan’s eyes went wide. She looked troubled.
“W-w-what??! You met with HIM!?”
Corrigan clears her throat before proceeding.
“Well, ahem, Lord Iridis is one of the three Void Lords who serve under Darkness God. I try to avoid him at all costs, but he always finds me!! He’s annoying that guy...”
“Why do you avoid him?”
“We’ve had some… incidents happen in the last millennium that I have sour memories from.”
Lord Iridis? If Corrigan is this frazzled about mentioning him, then he must be the real deal. Why would he come here out of all places? Something didn’t add up. He had intent to target me from the start.
“Corrigan, he attacked me last night. He killed my dad and took his body. I am not even sure why he would even come to some backwater island like this.
“Island?” Corrigan cheerfully replied. “Wait.. you’re right. This looks familiar…”
She started buzzing around the cove and started to observe her surroundings a little bit more astutely.
“HUH??!!” she exclaimed. “This isn’t just any island. You’re kidding me. You’re from Dioaysus Island?! This is your home?!!”
Annalise looked puzzled. Was her crappy island really that special? There’s no way.
“Wait... What’s your name?” Corrigan asked seriously.
“My name is Annalise. Annalise Stormhaven.”
Corrigan looked at her with an intense disposition.
“A Stormhaven huh? I thought they died out six centuries ago in the Great Titan War.”
“Uhh… Corrigan.” Annalise muttered. “What is the Great Titan War?”
“Never mind that.” she snapped. “We have little time to discuss that. I will accompany you as your guide and teach you as much as I can in the Darkness Style.”
“It’s not safe for you here. If Lord Iridis plagued your soul core with the Curse of the Void, then we must escape. There is no other choice.”
This doesn’t bode well. A shiver went down Annalise’s spine. She knew there were downsides of the Affliction. She was being directly influenced by the Blank Dimension, and Iridis was practically breathing down her neck.
“Come!” yelled Corrigan. “We’ll start right away.”
She started buzzing all over the immediate vicinity, and then made her way back towards the cottage.
Annalise followed suit and sprinted behind her.