Aphemis's hair stood on ends, a cold shiver drilling down her bones. She felt a primal voice within her, warning her...

RUN!

She stomped the ground hard, swiftly dashing away. A lone bead of sweat meandered down her forehead, some drenching her back.

Her eyes froze wide in horror as she stared at the physical manifestation of malice and wrath.

A crimson dark veil shrouded the chamber, wreaking havoc on those near it. Cracks marred the stone walls, stirring the dust in its wake.

Aphemis held her chest, her breathing disheveled. She glanced at her trembling hands. This was...

Fear.

A foreign emotion not even her death battles could invoke. Just what kind of hatred does that weapon hold to emit this much negative energy?

On the other hand, Samael took the brunt of the impact. His body shook, blood oozing from his orifices. His muscles ached as they spasmed under the revolting rampage of the weapon. Yet, he didn't let go. A single panel hovered in front of his bloodshot eyes.

Do you wish to challenge [REDACTED]?

Samael clenched his jaw as he roared deep in his mind.

DO IT!!!

A chaotic surge of wind galloped towards him. It lashed with unfaltering rage, sweeping away the chamber, weapons and Aphemis, akin to dust being blown away.

Before his eyes, the chamber resting underneath the castle was devoured by the engulfing winds, in its stead stood a crimson field. Its vast expanse reaching as far as his gaze could perceive.

Streaks of lightning hid under the blood tainted sky, leaving luminescent gashes across the heavens. That, paired with the foul smell of decay and rot froze Samael's blood cold.

Where the hell am I? Samael looked around. "Aphemis?!" He screamed, his voice leaving a trail of echo.

CAW!

Samael jerked his head upwards, his heart galloping like a stallion.

Ravens flew high in the sky, their scarlet eyes carving a glare at him. They hovered above him, circling him as if he's prey.

It was just birds... Samael wiped the lone bead of sweat on his forehead.

He shifted his gaze ahead— In the corner of his eyes, a dark silhouette darted towards him.

His eyes jolted wide as he ducked, the silhouette grazing his cheek, leaving a shallow cut. Samael winced as he dashed back.

"What—" Samael felt his breath hitch.

His blood went cold as he bore eyes at the beast—no, at that creature. It stood nearly 2 meters tall, its build was slender with elongated tentacles protruding from its body.

Its had no skin, its flesh pulsating under the layers of blood oozing out of its body.

It appeared like a bag of flesh, bones, and nerves slammed together in a foolish attempt to copy human form.

Samael's foot backed away. His breathing, ragged as he watched the creature's faceless head squirm.

As Samael blinked, the creature vanished. Glancing down, a shadow towered over him. Slowly, he cranked his head back, the gut wrenching face of the abomination greeting him.

Samael kicked the ground hard, dashing forward.

A searing pain struck his back. The creature's claw cleaving deep in his flesh.

Samael crashed towards the ground with a booming explosion, carving a spider web of cracks underneath him.

The creature raised its feet, descending with unparalleled ferocity.

Samael raised his arm, forming a makeshift shield. His blood blending with the crimson grass as he's hammered down by the creature.

The abomination grabbed his arm, the tendrils jutting out of its body clawing deep in his skin.

Samael groaned, his jaw clenched tight. A muffled scream escaping his lips.

His breath stagnated as his feet was uprooted from the ground.

The creature's face quivered, its fleshy face morphing to a crooked smile.

It yanked its arm back before hauling him away.

Samael tensed his body as he collided with the earth thrice before halting in a thundering explosion.

Beyond the dust cloud, Samael lay motionless in a crater. He would be labeled a corpse if it weren't for the shallow movement of his chest.

Blood trailed down his lips, his vision gradually fading away. He could feel the cold embrace of death looming close.

Yet, a strange emotion bloomed in his heart.

The ravens in the sky flinched as they released a cry. The fleshy abomination halted its steps a few meters away from Samael. Its crooked smile withering away.

Samael slowly opened his eyes, his gaze fixated at the scarlet sky. The emotion raging in his heart asked a single question.

Why do we fear?

Samael felt confusion shroud him. This whole situation felt...

Wrong.

Why did he fear...? Was it because of death looming near him? But all his life Death was with him, watching over him.

So why?

The blooming emotion in his heart flickered, relentlessly consuming the fear shrouding his soul.

Samael's face warped, his brows furrowed.

His eyes narrowed. Now he understands what this feeling is. It's...

Disgust.

The mere thought of him cowering in fear... It irks him.

From the dust cloud, Samael's silhouette came to view. His visage devoid of emotions.

The creature felt a shiver run down its spine. A heavy weight pinning down its shoulders.

Samael cast a piercing gaze at the creature. "Why don't you let me take over for today?" His chilling tone dancing in the air.

The creature growled in hostility. The presence Samael gave took a massive turn. As though the person standing in front of this beast is entirely different.

The creature flew forward, sending patches of dirt back. It breezed through the wind, claws ready to decapitate Samael— The boy's figure turned to a blur, an ear-shattering explosion echoed as his fist connected into the abomination's face, sending it back a few meters back.

Samael's grip tightened, onyx black smoke seeping out of his fist. "It seems I'm still restricted."

"Hmm?" Samael glanced at his trembling hands, his brows arching upwards.

He sighed. "If only you allowed me to take over faster then you wouldn't have had to endure this much pain." He spoke, shifting his gaze forward.

The abomination rose to its feet in a rather eerie way. Without using its hands, its body hovered back up.

Its body shook and an blood curdling screech thundered in the air. Dark steam billowed out of its face as liquified bits and pieces of its flesh fell off.

Samael sneered. "Disgusting" He exclaimed.

The creature crouched as it raced towards him at an astonishing speed. It brought down its slender arms, claws ready to mutilate him.

BANG!

The creature froze in place as Samael held its two arms in place. Its mouth was sewn shut as it trembled under his grasp.

Samael looked at the beast, his glassy eyes sharp as a finely made blade. He tightened his grip, and cracking sounds left hushed echoes in the air.

The creature roared in agony as it yanked its arm back, yet it felt powerless. The roles have changed now. He's the hunter, and the abomination is the prey.

Samael dragged the creature towards him, his knee lashing forward with a sickening thud.

The abominations face caved in, its blood staining the already crimson earth.

Samael retracted his arm, dark steam enveloping it as it descended mercilessly, tearing a hole in the creature's chest.

"Perish" Samael spoke. Putting pressure on his grasp, the throbbing heart of the abomination blew to pieces.

It was dead.

Congratulations! You have successfully tamed the Crimson Raven.

Leaving domain...

Then everything turned black.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

***

"Sa..."

"..Mael..."

"Sa..El!"

"Samael!"

"Wake up, Samael!"

His eyes twitched as he tried to block the glaring light of the basement. Aphemis blew a sigh of relief. She slumped down and wiped the lone bead of sweat meandering down her forehead.

Samael glanced around, his brows furrowed, a smudge of confusion lingering in his eyes.

Aphemis sighed. "You were unconscious for a short period of time after pulling the weapon out" She explained carefully.

Samael fell deep in thought. Scattered remnants of what transpired in the domain fell like puzzled pieces in his mind.

The blood red expanse of the crimson field, the cry of the ravens and the mysterious monster that ambushed him. He could still vividly remember all of it... Yet, an empty gap remained in his memories.

Before he fell unconscious, he felt an inexplicable emotion rose from his heart. Accompanied by a voice asking him a question.

What was the question...? He couldn't wrap his head around it. But he remembers the last words it uttered deep in his mind before the gentle embrace of the Void took him.

"Sleep, and I'll take it from here."

Who's voice was it? He didn't know. Everything is scattered like broken glass.

A resounding sigh escaped his lips. Codex. He commanded.

The radiant glow of the codex panels morphed in front of him.

Congratulations! You have successfully tamed the Crimson Raven.

Obtained Tempered Weapon [Crimson Raven]

Check [Remnants] for the item description.

I'm getting used to this. He thought. He has experienced the sudden influx of notifications so much that the chiming of the bell is now bearable, to a certain extent.

Summon remnants He ordered.

[Remnants]

✓Crimson Raven [+]

[Crimson Raven]

Rank: Tempered

Type: Weapon [Axe]

Description:

"Slaughter... Slaughter all of them. This hunt... This hunt is mine alone." A weapon previously owned by a hunter who held unmatched malice towards the god

Skills [+]

Huh... I kind of expected that Samael thought.

Skills [Crimson Raven]

•Nurture [passive] [+]

•Feeder [Passive] [+]

[Nurture]

Description: Allows the weapon to improve along with its user by feeding on the fear of its victims.

Tier 0 Mark 0

Marker: 0/50

Codex, can you elaborate how this function works? Samael asked, his forehead narrowed down.

The skill "nurture" of the Crimson Raven allows the weapon to increase in rank and gain skills when a creature is killed using its blade.

I see... Neat, a weapon that can grow with you? Sign me in. He can deduce that such an aspect is probably rare in items. After all, he hasn't heard much about objects that have the capacity to improve like humans.

[Feeder]

Description:

First effect:The more fear the enemy feels, the stronger the weapon becomes.

Second effect: induces fear in your enemy.

His lips curled to a grin as he closed the blue panels. This was a bountiful encounter. Although it was dangerous, it did yield great rewards.

The ability to grow? That meant that he wouldn't need to replace his weapon every time he grew stronger. Not to mention, having the capability to influence how your enemy thinks could change the outcome of a battle.

Overall, he is pleased. And now that all that's gone, it's time to see what the weapon looks like. But before that...

"Aphemis, did you notice anything change while I was unconscious?" Samael inquired.

Aphemis's brows quivered for a moment. She shook her head and replied. "No, I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary."

But there was in fact something else. However, her evidence is too lacking to form a coherent conclusion.

The moment Samael yanked the weapon from its slumber, a malevolent energy encased the chamber. But it didn't just end there. For a brief moment, Samael's atmosphere took a dip. The very aura he released shifted to something completely foreign to Aphemis.

Whoever or whatever that was gave her a slight sense of danger.

"I see, thanks for watching over me." Samael said.

Lets get this over with. Codex, show me the weapon. Samael commanded.

Wisps of light snapped in the air, distorting the space in front of Samael and Aphemis.

The demonesses brows arched upwards. Her interest piqued by the sudden distortion in space. Is it a space ring?

A small rift morphed in front of Samael, a black handle jutting out. He reached out to it, its dark surface fitting perfectly under his grasp. Gently, he withdrew the weapon out and marveled in its glory.

The weapon was the right length for him. It wasn't heavy or light, just enough. It had an onyx black handle that was strapped with a bandage-like grip. It had one black blade in front and a sharp tail in the back that mimicked the face of a raven. The beak serving as the pike. Its eyes gleamed red and released some form of miasma.

Aphemis' eyes squinted. Odd... She thought. A weird emotion blossomed on her chest. The longer she was in the presence of Samael—or rather, the weapon, the stronger that feeling pestered her. Does it have some form of fear inducement? She wondered.

"That's a tactical tomahawk axe, if you're wondering." She broke the boy from his stupor.

Samael nodded, his gaze fixated at the weapon. With delicacy, he caressed the smooth surface of the axe and waved it a couple times.

His brows furrowed.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Aphemis asked as she noticed the deep frown on his face.

"I... the weapon feels weird. Almost like I'm just swinging my arm." He swung it a few more times, and it felt as he described.

Aphemis' mouth opened a little. "I suppose you're extremely lucky." She stopped, observing the way the boy's brows raised to an arch.

"That is called weapon familiarity. It's when the person in question found the perfect weapon for them. And trust me, it's not a quick process. Usually, there are many things to consider such as their personality, goals, physique, and many more. If you're not lucky, then I don't know what is." She followed.

Samael glanced at the onyx axe, a small, imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It's truly a bountiful day.

In the end, Samael finished his small sightseeing tour with the help of Aphemis. The last two items he chose were greatly influenced by the instructions of the demoness.

The second item was a utility remnant. It was a container that allowed him to store and purify huge amounts of water. The third remnant is also a utility type. It's named Dragon's Horde, which allows him to store mundane items and preserve their condition.

Aphemis also gave him a change of clothes and some spare one's incase he rips them again.

***

"Thank you, Aphemis," Samael said. The two walked side by side. The demon was leading him to a chamber deeper than the basement itself.

Apparently, she installed a teleportation rune below the castle. Unfortunately, the cost of using it is by no means cheap. The fact that it also scales with the distance troubles him, as the woman was thinking of sending him to a mundane town hundreds of miles away from here. He could only grimace at the sheer amount of resources the demoness will probably burn for this "short" trip.

"Why can't I just travel by foot or by horse?" he couldn't help but ask. He already owes her too much.

Aphemis didn't entertain his question and immediately shot him down.

"No, traveling by foot is already out of the question as the monsters that lurk farther from this place are stronger and more cunning. Also, the horses we have on this place are all... rare by mundane standards. You'll get robbed the moment some unkind soul sees you riding such a horse."

Samael just sighed, unable to rebuke the woman. If Aphemis said so, then there's no point trying to make it work. I'll pay her back one day. Yeah, one day... Maybe

After some walking, they eventually reached a grand door, littered with runes etched deep in its pristine walls. When he tried to touch it, he was sent flying by his stupidity.

When they got in, there was a circle lying in the middle of the room. On the edge are more runes, except they held a soft, luminous glow that filled the room with mysticism.

The demoness ordered him to stay in the middle as she put in the coordinates. She also gave some heads up.

"You might experience mild nausea and confusion after you land, so watch out for that. Also, good luck." These were her last words before Samael got flashed by a blinding light. Then everything felt like it was inside a wheel rolling at an alarming pace.

When he opened his eyes, Samael had to run and vomit all the contents of his stomach. His face contorted as he wiped his mouth dry. Mild nausea, my ass!

Samael vowed to never trust the demoness again.

***

Aphemis remained hidden as she observed two silhouettes slowly make their way to the simple cabin.

Her gaze were gentle and heavy as she observed the Lilith's dull eyes, staring off into the distance. As if looking at what's beyond.

Perona held no emotion whatsoever, but her every move displayed great care for the small girl.

Aphemis sighed. She could only wish for the best results.

Perona and Lilith eventually made it back to their cabin, where she carefully led the girl to her room.

Lilith remained motionless. The only thing signifying she was still alive was her hand tightly grasping her necklace, unwilling to let go no matter what.

When they tried interfering, Lilith released the most gut-wrenching cry they'd ever heard. Ever since then, they've abstained from taking anything relating to what occured months ago.

Once the girl had settled in her room, Perona did her usual routine of checking the room, except a voice intercepted her.

Perona. A whisper licked her ears. She flinched and stood still, waiting for orders. Do not touch the room and leave at once. The dutiful maid gave a small nod and elegantly made her way out. Carefully avoiding touching anything. As per the instructions of the madam.

The moment she closed the doors, silence veiled the whole room. The distant howling of the winds was the only thing accompanying the lifeless demeanour of the girl.

Aphemis' shoulders slumped. It failed... She thought. She turned around, intending to leave, when she sensed a subtle movement from her granddaughter. She hurriedly looked over, and her eyes widened in shock.

Lilith's usual dead eyes held a small glint. One that she had lost far too long ago. Her nose twitched as she weakly opened her mouth. Her voice barely audible. "...Sam...ael...?"

Aphemis held her mouth in a futile attempt to stop herself from alarming the girl. Tears threatened to come out of her eyes.

Lilith's grip tightened on her necklace as she slowly glanced at her desk. With her shaking arms, she made her way towards it.

Trembling, she picked up the hairpin on her table and caressed it before bringing it close to her chest. She then took the letter and unfolded it with great care.

Dear Lilith

If you're reading this, I'm gone. Not dead, just gone. Sorry if that scared you. I just wanted to cheer you on even if I'm not there. So if you're indeed reading this, that means I'm well and on my way to an adventure. I'm sorry for leaving your side twice. This journey is one filled with danger, and I do not wish to put you in its way. Almost losing you once is already painful, so spare me the pain. If you wish to ever come with me. Train, train until you're strong enough. The next time we meet, we'll take on this world together. Then, I will take you on a journey of our own. And remember our promise. If you're ever sad, look at the stars and remember all the good times we had. That's all.

From yours truly. Samael.

Droplets fell on the smooth surface of the paper. While the hands that held it trembled, not in anger or fear but in relief.

Lilith sobbed silently as she felt the burdens pinning her shoulders lift. Her cries left echoes in the room. However, Aphemis answered her call and enveloped her in her protective embrace.

Together, they let out the pain and suffering they had gone through in the past few months.