She emerged from the swirling darkness—a woman of unnatural allure and terrifying presence. Her features were sharp and angular, cheekbones high and severe, lips thin and curved into a predatory smile. Her nose was almost beak-like, lending her an avian elegance that was both captivating and unsettling. But it was her hair that drew my gaze—a cascade of midnight black, so dark it seemed to drink in the light. It fell in waves, each strand wavy to such a degree that it resembled feathers, rustling softly around her as if stirred by an unfelt breeze.

Her eyes were twin abysses of hunger, glowing faintly with a sickly, golden light that flickered like distant flames. Clad in robes that seemed woven from shadows and whispers, she exuded an aura of ancient power and insatiable desire.

And then, she moved—quicker than I could track, suddenly right in front of me. My breath caught in my throat. Her hand—cold, colder than anything I’d ever felt—traced a single finger down my chin, her touch sending a shiver through my entire body.

“My, my, my. So lovely.” Her voice was a velvet whisper, dripping with honey and poison alike, wrapping around me like a silken noose. Beneath the sweetness lurked decay—a sinister undertone that crawled beneath my skin. I tried to step back, but my feet felt fused to the ground, as if roots had sprouted from my soles and burrowed deep into the earth. A cold sweat trickled down my spine, and I swallowed hard, my throat as dry as desert sand.

This is bad. This is really, really bad.

“No, no, no. Shhh... Don’t be afraid, my sweet. I mean you no harm,” she crooned, her laughter echoing like the rustling of dead leaves in a haunted forest. Her eyes—those ravenous pits—bored into mine, and I was a moth drawn helplessly to the flame. They pierced me, unspooling my thoughts like thread from a fraying tapestry, leaving me naked under her gaze.

Move. Do something. Anything.

But I couldn’t. I was ensnared, caught in an invisible web spun from shadows and whispers.

“I owe you so much for my freedom.” Her voice slithered through the air, serpentine and cold, wrapping around me from every direction. She tilted her head, the motion bird-like, her beak-like nose casting a sharp silhouette against the darkening sky. She vanished like smoke dissolving into the night, yet her presence hung heavy—a storm cloud pregnant with thunder. My eyes remained fixed on where she had stood, terror squeezing my chest like a vise.

“So many secrets this dungeon holds... I wonder,” her voice murmured, drifting like a phantom breeze, “what Malikap would say if I gave you some of my power?”

Power?

Without warning, a jolt of electricity ripped through me, sharp as lightning splitting an ancient oak. I crumpled to the ground, the world shattering into shards of blinding light and searing pain. My muscles convulsed, tendons straining as if pulled taut by unseen hands, nerves ablaze with fiery agony.

This isn’t power—it’s punishment!

I writhed and gasped, each breath a jagged knife slicing my lungs. The pain was an ocean, vast and unending, waves of torment crashing over me, pulling me into its dark depths. Why? Why would she do this? She promised power, not—

Then, as quickly as it began, the tempest subsided. The pain receded like a tide, leaving me washed ashore, battered but alive. Slowly, shakily, I pushed myself up, my limbs quivering—not from weakness, but from something else. Something... potent.

Like a second heartbeat, a drumbeat in the depths of a dark forest, I felt it—a wellspring of strength bubbling up inside me. With each pulse, raw energy surged through my veins, filling me, stretching me, until I thought I might burst.

What is this?

I inhaled deeply, the air crisp and sharp, tinged with the scent of damp earth and distant rain. Clarity flooded my mind, sharp as a blade honed to perfection. My earlier fatigue—the weariness from endless running and hiding—was gone, replaced by a relentless vigor that set my nerves humming.

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But beneath the exhilaration lurked another sensation. A hollow ache gnawing at my core, a hunger insatiable and growing, spreading its tendrils through me with each relentless beat of that new heart within.

[Boon of the God: [God Name]. Never tire. Endless stamina flows through you. Penalty: An eternal hunger that can never be quelled.]

Never satisfied? What does that even mean?

Already, a ravenous emptiness twisted within me, a black hole devouring any remnants of comfort. My stomach growled, a beast awakening, its demands echoing louder than before.

“Send my regards next time you see ol' Mal.” Her voice drifted back, a fading echo laced with cruel amusement. “I owe him something for sending one of his my way.”

And then she was gone—a whirlwind of ravens erupting into the sky, their wings beating like a thousand whispered secrets. Feathers rained down, obsidian flakes against the twilight, leaving me alone in the silence that followed.

I stood there, the forest around me suddenly vast and alien, shadows stretching like claws. The wind sighed through the trees, carrying the scent of moss and distant fires, but all I could focus on was the hunger—a deep, yawning chasm that threatened to consume me from within.

The moon peeked through the canopy, its pale light casting silvered patterns on the forest floor. I clenched my fists, feeling the newfound strength coiled within my muscles—a double-edged sword glinting in the darkness.

What have I become?

In the distance, a wolf howled, its mournful cry resonating with the hollow space inside me. I took a tentative step, then another, the ground firm beneath my feet yet the world shifted, every sound sharper, every scent more vivid. The leaves whispered secrets as the night enveloped me.

But then, a rustling in the underbrush snapped my attention. Eyes—dozens of them—glinted from the shadows, reflecting the moon's glow. Shapes emerged between the trees: wolves, their silhouettes sleek and predatory, drawn to me like moths to flame.

Their leader stepped forward, lips curled back to reveal gleaming fangs. But instead of attacking, it tilted its head, studying me with an intelligence that sent a fresh wave of unease through my veins.

The hunger inside me roared, a savage urge that blurred the lines between man and beast. My heart raced as I realized with dawning horror what it craved.

No... I wouldn't... I can't...

The wolves began to circle, their eyes never leaving me. Moonlight glinted off their sleek coats, muscles rippling beneath fur as dark as the shadows they emerged from. The leader let out a low growl, a rumble that resonated deep within my chest—a primal call that stirred the hunger coiled inside me.

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling. The axe felt heavy in my grip, yet the power coursing through me begged for release. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the musky aroma of the pack. Each breath fanned the flames of my ravenous appetite, the hunger—oh, the hunger—it was all-consuming.

The night closed in, the wolves drawing nearer, their teeth bared in silent snarls. Their eyes glowed with a feral intelligence, assessing, challenging. The leader snapped its jaws, a sharp crack that echoed through the stillness.

And then, an idea came to me—a dark whisper from the depths of my newfound power. Maybe they can sate this emptiness.

Before doubt could take root, I surged forward, axe raised. A guttural roar tore from my throat, one that barely sounded human. The world narrowed to the immediate—the swing of my weapon, the positioning of the wolves, the intoxicating scent of prey.

The first wolf lunged, aiming for my throat. Time seemed to slow as I sidestepped, bringing the axe down in a swift arc. The blade connected with a thud, and warmth splattered across my skin. Another wolf leapt from behind, but I spun, catching it mid-air with an elbow that sent it crashing into the underbrush.

They attacked in unison—a flurry of fangs and claws. But I was faster, stronger. I weaved between them, the axe an extension of my will. The hunger guided me, each movement precise, brutal.

A wolf sank its teeth into my arm, pain flashing white-hot. Instead of recoiling, I grabbed it by the scruff, lifting it effortlessly before hurling it against a tree. Bones cracked upon impact. The scent of blood—rich and metallic—filled the air, and my senses sharpened further.

One by one, they fell. The clearing became a blur of shadows and crimson. My breaths came heavy, but not from exhaustion—from exhilaration. The last wolf stood its ground, hackles raised, a deep growl vibrating in its chest. We locked eyes—a silent understanding passing between us.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, though I wasn't sure who I was apologizing to.

It charged, and I met it head-on. The clash was swift. In moments, it was over.

Silence settled over the forest, broken only by the ragged sound of my breathing. I stood amidst the aftermath, surrounded by the still forms of the wolves. The hunger clawed at me, more relentless than ever.

Without thinking, I knelt beside the leader's body. The smell was irresistible. My vision blurred as instinct took over. I consumed—flesh, blood, everything. The world faded until there was nothing but the satiation of the void within me.