Dawn broke over the blood-soaked clearing, pale light filtering through the canopy to illuminate the carnage. Wolf corpses lay scattered across the forest floor, their bodies torn apart with surgical precision. In the center of it all, a figure knelt in the crimson mud, head bowed in reverence.
Astaroth studied his work with clinical interest. The transformation had been successful, though the extent of the changes surprised even him. The boy's once-black hair now bore streaks of silver, and his pale skin seemed to absorb the morning light rather than reflect it. Most telling were the eyes - no longer the desperate brown of a dying child, but a luminous blue that held depths of power.
"Who... are you?" The boy whispered, his voice hoarse from screaming.
Astaroth tilted his head, considering the question. In truth, he wasn't entirely certain why he had intervened. The boy's prayer had reached him, yes, but prayers were common. Desperate souls called out to dark powers every day. Yet something about this one had compelled him to act.
"I am Varnok," he said finally. "And you are my first investment in this new world."
The boy's eyes widened in shock "The Primal Fiend!?"
The boy was completely shocked by the revelation. 'It seemed like even when he thought all hope was lost the legendary fiend himself still came to save him...'
"You called to me in your moment of death. I answered. Now you belong to me."
"Your life, your power, your purpose... all belong to me now. In return, I will give you the strength to achieve everything you once dreamed of." Astaroth gestured to the corpses surrounding them. "Stand. Let me see what you've become."
The boy - no, no longer quite a boy - rose unsteadily to his feet. His movements were different now, more fluid, predatory. The mana core that had replaced his heart pulsed with dark energy, visible as a faint glow beneath his skin.
"You feel it, don't you?" Astaroth observed. "The power flowing through you. The way your senses have sharpened. You're no longer entirely human." "Your human body was broken beyond repair. So I replaced it with something better. You are no longer fully human, boy. Do you regret it?"
Volk flexed his fingers, staring at the claws that had replaced his fingernails.
"No I don't!" He screamed. His voice trembling with emotion. Tears trying to spill from his eyes but he held them all back. Trying not to disgrace himself Infront of his savior.
Astaroth began walking toward the edge of the clearing. "Your old name died with your old body. From now on, you will be called Volk.... And you are my first subject "
"Volk," the transformed boy repeated, testing the word. Something in his expression shifted - a desperate gratitude that bordered on worship. "Thank you, Master. For everything."
Astaroth paused, studying that expression. The boy's devotion was genuine, complete. It would make him easier to control, more reliable than fear or coercion alone. "Your gratitude is noted. Now, we have work to do."
He led Volk deeper into the forest, away from the scene of slaughter. As they walked, Astaroth explained the basics of what had occurred. The blood ritual, the transformation, the new abilities that now flowed through Volk's veins.
"You have inherited fragments of my power," he said matter-of-factly. "Shadow manipulation, enhanced physical capabilities, and a diluted version of my power of end. Your version like an aura coating would be able to drain mana from anything it touches."
Volk stopped walking, staring at his hands in wonder. "I can feel it. Like... like darkness moving under my skin."
"Demonstrate."
The command was simple, but Volk hesitated. Astaroth's eyes narrowed slightly. "Did I stutter?"
"No, Master. I just... I don't know how."
"Intent drives power. Will it to manifest."
Volk closed his eyes, concentrating. Shadows began to pool around his feet, spreading outward like spilled ink. The darkness wasn't merely an absence of light - it was substantial, almost liquid in its consistency. Within moments, he had disappeared entirely, his form melding with the shadows cast by the trees.
"Good," Astaroth said, and Volk reappeared, panting slightly from the effort. "Your infiltration capabilities will be useful. Which brings me to your first assignment."
They emerged from the forest onto a hilltop overlooking Beldam Sprawl. The city spread below them like a cancerous growth, smoke rising from countless chimneys and forges. Even from this distance, the sounds of commerce and conflict carried on the morning air.
"You will become my eyes and ears in that city," Astaroth continued. "The guild politics, the power structures, the hidden alliances - I need to understand how this world truly operates. Your transformation gives you certain advantages for such work."
Volk nodded eagerly. "What specifically should I look for?"
"Everything. Who leads the major guilds, what their goals are, where the real power lies. The watch captain as well, find out what she knows and who she reports to. Map the underground networks, identify potential threats and opportunities."
"And if I'm discovered?"
Astaroth's smile was cold. "Then you will learn quickly why remaining hidden is preferable to the alternative. However, I don't expect you to fail. You were chosen for this task because you possess the necessary skills."
The confidence in his master's voice filled Volk with determination. He had been given purpose, direction, a reason to exist beyond mere survival. "I won't disappoint you, Master. I swear!"
"See that you don't. But first, you need practical experience with your new abilities."
As if summoned by his words, a low growl echoed through the trees behind them. Both turned to see a massive bear-like creature emerging from the undergrowth, its fur matted with old blood and its eyes glowing with corrupted mana. A corrupted beast, the first stage of mana corruption.
"Perfect timing," Astaroth said, settling onto a fallen log as if preparing to watch a performance. "Kill it."
Volk's eyes widened. "Master, I..."
"You have the tools. Use them."
The corrupted bear charged, its massive form moving with surprising speed. Volk barely managed to dodge the initial swipe, claws whistling past his face. His enhanced reflexes saved him from disembowelment, but the beast's momentum carried it past him, giving him a moment to recover.
Instinct took over. Volk's hands became wreathed in shadow, and he struck out at the creature's flank as it turned. His claws, now coated with the diluted ender flame, raked across the bear's hide. The beast roared in pain and rage, but something else happened... its movements became sluggish, its corrupted mana visibly dimming.
"Good," Astaroth observed. "The mana drain is working. Continue."
The bear lunged again, but Volk was ready. He melted into the shadows, reappearing behind the creature. His fist, wreathed in dark energy, struck the base of the beast's skull. The impact sent tremors through the corrupted mana in its body, disrupting its enhanced strength.
The fight continued for several minutes, Volk learning to use his new abilities through trial and error. The bear was powerful, but each strike from Volk's aura coated attacks weakened it further. Eventually, the creature's movements became so sluggish that Volk was able to deliver a killing blow, his claws piercing through the weakened hide to reach the corrupted mana core within.
As the bear collapsed, Volk felt the familiar flow of essence entering his body. But this time, it was different - stronger, more substantial. The corrupted mana was purified as it merged with his own power, adding to his strength rather than tainting it.
"Interesting," Astaroth mused. "Your power of end doesn't seem to make you limited to absorbing pure mana alone - it purifies corruption too. That will be useful in the times to come."
Volk straightened, breathing hard but exhilarated. "What do you mean, Master?"
"This world is more dangerous than it appears. The guild system maintains a veneer of order, but underneath, corruption spreads. Demons, fiends, and worse things lurk in the shadows. Your ability to cleanse such taint will make you survive long in this world."
Over the next hour, they encountered three more corrupted beasts. Each battle was easier than the last as Volk grew more comfortable with his abilities. A pack of corrupted wolves fell to his shadow manipulation, their alpha succumbing to repeated mana drain attacks. A massive corrupted spider found itself outmaneuvered by Volk's enhanced speed and agility.
With each victory, Volk's confidence grew. More importantly, his power increased. The purified essence from the corrupted beasts was making him stronger, faster, more attuned to the darkness that now flowed through his veins.
"Sufficient," Astaroth said finally, as Volk finished absorbing the essence from the spider. "You have the basics. Now, your real training begins."
They made their way back toward the city, Volk's mind already racing with plans for infiltration and information gathering. His master had given him purpose, power, and most importantly, a chance to prove himself worthy of the gift he had received.
As they walked, Astaroth found himself observing his new creation with something approaching satisfaction. The boy showed promise - not just as a tool, but as something more. The thought was curious, and he filed it away for later consideration.
"Remember," he told Volk as the city walls came into view, "you are my shadow in this world. See everything, report everything, but remain unseen. The strong make the rules, and information is the foundation of all true power."
"Yes, Master." Volk's voice held the fervor of absolute devotion. "I will not fail you."
Astaroth nodded, already planning the next phase of his return to power. One follower was a beginning, but he would need many more before he could truly challenge the forces that had risen in his absence. Still, every empire began with a single step, and this step felt... significant.
They parted ways at the city gates, Volk melting into the shadows between buildings while Astaroth made his way toward the Adventurers' Guild. There was still the matter of his ranking test, and he was curious to see how this new world measured power.
Behind him, unseen and unheard, his first apostle began his work.
---
Meanwhile, in a realm far from the mortal world...
Aetherion sat in contemplation within his sanctum, a space that existed between dimensions where light and shadow danced in perfect harmony. His form was the antithesis of his brother's - where Varnok embodied destruction, Aetherion represented creation. His gold colored hair caught the ethereal light, with black stripes running along the length, and his golden eyes held the wisdom of eons.
The meditation was interrupted by a subtle disturbance in the fabric of reality. A presence that had been absent for millennia was stirring, leaving ripples in the cosmic order that only he could perceive.
His hand moved to the black coin hanging by a chain on his neck, twin to the one his brother carried. The metal was warm to the touch, pulsing with a rhythm that matched his heartbeat. For the first time in centuries, the connection between them was active.
"So," he murmured, his voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge, "you've finally awakened, brother."
There was no surprise in his tone, only acknowledgment. He had known this day would come. Death had never been permanent for beings of their caliber - it was merely a temporary inconvenience, a forced slumber until the cosmos aligned properly for their return.
Aetherion rose from his meditation, his form shifting and solidifying as he prepared to act. The game was beginning anew, and this time, he would be ready. The last confrontation between them had been... brutal. But he had learned from those mistakes, just as he was certain Varnok had learned from his.
The question now was whether his brother would walk the same path of destruction, or if his time in the void had taught him something new.
Only time would tell.
The cosmic balance was about to shift, and Aetherion intended to be ready for whatever his brother had become.