I jolted awake, my body drenched in a cold sweat, heart racing. The remnants of a haunting dream clung to my mind, tormenting me with flashes of a past I wished to forget. In my dream, I witnessed the devastation caused by Leviathan, the demon of envy, as it laid waste to my village. The buildings crumbled, consumed by flames, and the anguished cries of my family echoed in my ears. I watched helplessly as they fell, their lives stolen away by the dark force that possessed me.

I saw myself in that dream, my body twisted and distorted by the malevolent energy coursing through me. My family, innocent and unsuspecting, had fallen victim to the chaos. Their faces haunted me, etched in my mind like an indelible mark of grief. I could still see the fear in my mother's eyes, the pain in my father's voice as he tried to protect us. And the fear in the eyes of the village priest, the only one who dared to stand against Leviathan, haunted me. Even his faith faltered, and he abandoned me to bear the weight of the demon's rage alone.

As I sat up in bed, gasping for breath, the weight of guilt and sorrow settled heavy upon me. I knew the truth—I was responsible for the destruction that had befallen my village. I couldn't escape the past, nor could I undo what had been done. But I could control how I faced the future and the darkness within me.

Leviathan's presence still lingered within me, a constant reminder of the demon's hold on my soul. Instead of fighting against it, I made an unexpected choice—I accepted Leviathan as a part of myself. I knew that only by acknowledging the darkness within could I hope to control it, to harness its power without losing myself.

As I stare at the mirror, Leviathan's hissing voice slithered through my mind, a sinister melody designed to tempt and corrupt. "You cannot deny who you truly are, Noctis," it taunted. "Embrace the darkness, and together, we shall conquer all."

I clenched my teeth, my voice firm and unwavering as I faced the malevolent presence within me. "I am not defined by the darkness that dwells within, Leviathan. I choose to harness its power, but I refuse to be consumed by it. My purpose is to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Leviathan responded with a cruel laughter that reverberated within my thoughts, laced with mockery and disdain. "Protect them? How noble of you, little mortal. But mark my words, the darkness will always find a way to break free. It is only a matter of time before you succumb. Do not forget, Nox: I am the embodiment of envy, The darkness that is etched in to your very being, I am your sin."

As laughter echoed through the chamber, a surge of frustration overtook me. I couldn't bear the condescending amusement of Leviathan any longer. In a burst of anger, my fist collided with the mirror, shattering it into countless shards that scattered across the floor.

Gazing at the broken mirror, an unsettling chill crept up my spine. Amidst the shattered fragments, I caught sight of a faint silhouette of a dragon lurking behind me. It was just a shadow, obscure yet hauntingly present.

Fixated on the broken mirror, my eyes narrowed, and a bitter smile formed on my lips. There was no room for hope or optimism within me. The reflection of the dragon, mirroring the eyes of Leviathan, served as a stark reminder of the battles that lay ahead, both external and within myself.

The realization hit me like a crashing wave - I was entangled in a relentless struggle against my own darkness. The presence of Leviathan, the dragon, in the reflection taunted me, a constant reminder of the weight of my destiny. There was no escaping it, no easy way out. The reality of my situation weighed heavily upon my shoulders.

With a silent vow, I made up my mind. I wouldn't allow the haunting reflection or the eyes of Leviathan to sway me. Instead, I would embrace the darkness that resided within me.

Turning away from the broken mirror, I left behind the shattered fragments. The path ahead would be treacherous, filled with uncertainty and sacrifice. But I refused to be consumed by despair. I would face it head-on, unyielding, guided by my own strength and determination.

And so, as the echoes of Leviathan's laughter faded into the distance, I took a resolute step forward. My heart burned with grim determination. The broken mirror and its haunting reflections were left behind, as I embraced my destiny as both the bearer of darkness and the beacon of hope for our world. Yes, for I need to shoulder this, this darkness as an atonement for my past, my sin. I said as I closed my eyes and succumb to sleep.

————

I woke up feeling tired and drained, the remnants of a haunting dream and of what I saw last night lingering in my mind. As I slowly got out of bed, the weight of the world seemed to settle upon my shoulders. Today was another day at Elysium Academy, the prestigious school that should have been filled with opportunities and camaraderie, but for me, it only brought feelings of isolation and rejection.

Elysium Academy was renowned for its academic excellence and strict social hierarchy. It was a place where status and reputation defined one's worth, leaving little room for individuality or acceptance. As an introverted individual with unconventional interests, I found myself constantly outcasted and shunned by my peers.

As I prepared for school, my reflection in the broken mirror seemed to reflect my inner turmoil. My eyes, once filled with spark and curiosity, now held a hollow emptiness. Summoning the motivation to face another day of judgment and exclusion was a struggle.

Leviathan, the demon residing within me, sensed my vulnerability and seized the opportunity to torment me further. Its voice echoed in my mind, whispering dark thoughts and planting seeds of doubt. "You're worthless. They'll never understand you. You'll always be alone." Each word dripped with malice, amplifying my feelings of despair.

Taking a deep breath, I mustered whatever strength I had left and repeated to myself, "I am more than their judgment. I won't let them define me." It was a small affirmation, a glimmer of defiance against the forces that sought to break me.

Leviathan's voice grew louder, taunting me with its persistent presence. "You cannot escape me. I am a part of you, even until now, I can feel your envy towards everyone else," it sneered. I clenched my fist and I replied, "Maybe you're a part of me, but I am in control. I won't let you consume me."

Sitting on my chair in the very back of the class, I observed the room filled with students engrossed in their cliques and social circles. It was a constant reminder of my outsider status. The teacher's words became background noise as I tried to shield myself from the judgmental gazes and whispers that seemed to follow me wherever I went.

But the end of the class brought a different kind of torment, one that I had become sadly accustomed to. As the final bell rang, a group of my classmates approached me with malicious grins on their faces. They dragged me away, their laughter echoing in my ears, drowning out any semblance of hope.

No words were spoken as I became their unwilling punching bag. The pain was excruciating, both physical and emotional, but I remained silent. Their taunts and jeers were like daggers to my already wounded spirit, but I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me broken.

The sound of their laughter pierced through the haze of pain, a cruel symphony that echoed in the empty corridors. They mocked me for my weakness, for my inability to fight back. Their words were filled with venom, their actions fueled by a twisted desire for power and dominance.

But as they continued their assault, I couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment. Their blows landed, and my body ached, but their cruelty only served to strengthen my resolve. I knew deep down that retaliating with violence would only perpetuate the cycle of darkness. I had to rise above their hate, even if it meant enduring their blows in silence.

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Leviathan, sensing my internal struggle, sneered and laughed at me. Its voice echoed through my mind, taunting me for my perceived weakness. "Look at you, bleeding and broken. You have the power to destroy them, yet you choose to remain passive. How pathetic." Its laughter reverberated, filling me with a bitter mix of shame and defiance.

But I refused to engage with Leviathan's cruel words. I knew that true strength lay not in physical dominance, but in the ability to resist the urge to succumb to darkness. So, I sat against the wall, my back pressed against the cold surface, blood trickling down my face.

I looked up at the ceiling, I could only let out a dry laugh. I stood up, and gathered my things that was scattered around. Some were torn and others were crumpled.

With each labored breath, I made my way through the school gate where everyone only looked at me with pity but never offered help. Even the guards who stood by the entrance, didn’t even bother to look at me.

I strolled down the familiar street, taking in the mundane sights of the houses and trees that I had grown accustomed to. The path ahead was dimly lit, with only a few flickering lights from the lampposts. Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard a cold and amused voice echo in my mind. "It seems like we're being watched," Leviathan remarked. Letting out a sigh, I inquired, "Is it them again?" Leviathan replied, "No, this presence feels different."

Curiosity piqued, I searched the surroundings, but there was no one in sight. The street remained desolate, illuminated by the intermittent glow of the lampposts. Before I could protest, Leviathan's voice urgently warned, "Duck!" Reacting instinctively, I followed his command. Just in time, I narrowly avoided a swinging sickle that had been aimed at me. A man materialized behind me, clad in a white robe adorned with a cross. He coldly declared, "I had thought I erased my presence entirely. You must have a remarkable dweller." Gripping the sickle, he wasted no time in launching another attack towards me.

With a desperate leap backward, I managed to evade the deadly strike, though not without sustaining injuries. My thigh bore a deep gash, and the pain sent a piercing scream through my body. Gasping for breath, I demanded answers, "Who are you? Why are you doing this?!" Striding closer with a sinister smile, the man introduced himself as Victor, a battle priest. He explained his cruel intentions, "I am here to exorcise the entity that dwells within you. And the easiest way to achieve that is by eliminating its vessel, which is you."

Victor's delight was evident as he clutched my hair, dragging me towards an empty space. His sadistic words filled the air, "Now, shall we continue?" With a forceful blow to my stomach, I convulsed in pain, coughing up blood. He then flung me against a wall, causing me to lose consciousness.

Victor let out a relieved breath as he approached the unconscious Noctis. Raising his sickle, he murmured, "Oh divine powers, hear my plea,

In this realm of fantasy.

Grant me strength to face the dark,

And banish evil with a spark.

By the name of ancient lore,

I call upon your sacred core.

With sword in hand and heart ablaze,

I command the demons to disperse and haze.

May your light shine bright and true,

As I fight the battles that ensue.

Protect me with your heavenly might,

And guide me through the darkest night.

In this realm of magic and might,

I stand against the forces of blight.

For in your name, I shall prevail,

And send the darkness back to its hell.

Amen." As he finished his prayers a smile crept on his face, as he prepared to bring down the sickle upon Noctis' vulnerable throat.

However, before the sickle could make contact, an eerie, sinister laughter emanated from Noctis. The sound sent shivers down Victor's spine, causing even a battle priest like him to tremble. Instinctively, he recoiled, creating distance between himself and Noctis, or rather, the entity now in control of Noctis' body. "Thank you for rendering him unconscious," the being spoke, its voice dripping with malevolence.

Standing up, the being revealed its wounds had mysteriously healed. Not a single trace of the cut on its thigh could be seen. It directed a chilling smile at Victor, intensifying the unease that had settled within him. His body sent warning signals, urging him to recognize the imminent danger.

Victor's heart pounded in his chest as he took in the scene before him. The once defenseless Noctis now stood upright, his wounds miraculously healed, and a haunting smile gracing his face. The air around them seemed to grow heavy with an eerie presence, as if the very essence of darkness had taken hold of Noctis' body.

Fear gripped Victor's every fiber as he struggled to comprehend the situation. How could this be happening? Noctis was just a mere mortal, no match for his battle prowess. Yet here he stood, transformed into a vessel for something far more sinister, something beyond Victor's comprehension.

As he stared into the eyes of the being that now occupied Noctis' body, Victor could feel an overwhelming sense of malevolence emanating from its very core. It was as if he stood in the presence of pure evil itself. The warning signs from his body grew stronger, urging him to flee, to escape this impending danger.

But Victor was no ordinary battle priest. He had faced countless adversaries, both human and supernatural, in his quest to destroy all the vessels. With a deep breath, he summoned his courage and prepared himself for the battle that lay ahead.

Keeping a cautious distance, Victor scanned his surroundings, searching for any advantage he could find. The being, still wearing Noctis' face like a twisted mask, seemed to revel in the fear and uncertainty that plagued Victor's mind. Its laughter echoed through the air, each note sending shivers down his spine.

Drawing on his years of training and experience, Victor began to formulate a plan. He knew that brute force alone would not be enough to defeat such an otherworldly entity.

Victor's mind raced as he tried to process the situation, his heart pounding in his chest. The choice to run had seemed like the best option at the time, but now he found himself back in the very place he had just escaped from. Panic surged through his veins as he struggled to catch his breath.

Suddenly, a voice echoed behind him, sending chills down his spine. He turned, only to find a young man's hand gripping his neck tightly. The grip was suffocating, and Victor felt himself being thrown back, his body crashing onto the hard ground. Gasping for air, he scrambled to get up, his eyes widening in terror as he saw Noctis approaching him with a sinister smile on his face.

"No hard feelings, it's just work," Noctis said, his voice dripping with a twisted amusement. Victor's mind reeled, unable to comprehend the transformation that had taken place. The once familiar face now held an aura of darkness, a malevolence that sent shivers down his spine.

Fear gripped Victor's every fiber as he mustered the courage to speak. "Wh... what are you!?" he stammered, his voice trembling with a mix of confusion and terror. No longer the fearless battle priest, he felt a wave of vulnerability wash over him.

Noctis paused, his eyes narrowing as he stopped just inches away from Victor. A moment of silence hung in the air before he finally spoke, his voice laced with a chilling intensity. "Leviathan," he whispered, his words sending a chill down Victor's spine. Before he could react, Noctis clenched his hand tightly, crushing Victor's heart with a cruel grip.

As darkness closed in around him, Victor's last thoughts were filled with regret and unanswered questions. What had happened to Noctis? How had he become a vessel for such a malevolent force? The answers remained elusive, lost in the void as Victor's life slipped away.

———

In the shadows, a woman clad in attire similar to Victor's observed the intense battle between Victor and Noctis. Her siren brown eyes scanned the scene, unable to hear their words but keenly aware of the gravity of the situation. As her gaze locked with Noctis', she couldn't help but shudder, sensing the immense power of the being that possessed him. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead, she bit her lips before she silently retreated.

Moments later, the woman retrieved her phone and dialed a number. After a few rings, a male voice answered on the other line. "What is it, Deborah?" the voice inquired, a hint of authority in his tone. Deborah took a deep breath, composing herself before responding. "Zemo, Victor is dead, he was killed by a vessel." she revealed, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

There was a brief pause, Zemo processing the information on the other end of the line. Finally, he spoke, his voice filled with a mix of concern and determination. "I see... fall back for now and return to base," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. Deborah acknowledged his orders with a firm "Yes, Zemo," before ending the call.