Kaiser panted, staring at the woman before him with a dead look. His body was bruised and battered, teetering on collapse. The forest around them was silent, only filled with the sounds of their breathing. Nearby, Elias's body was slumped against a tree, a bloody cut across his throat.
After almost half an hour, Kaiser had killed four Awakened humans possessed by the Voidborne. The last one remained standing, though a small wound was on her left cheek.
Kaiser locked eyes with Kara, his breathing strained. That woman was strong… very strong. He suspected that she was a Rank 3 Awakened, on the cusp of becoming an Evolved.
Opening her mouth, the Voidborne spoke through her, its voice subdued.
"Are… you? Are you really going to kill this girl?"
It asked hesitantly. After four of its vessels had been killed by a mortal, it had to reevaluate Kaiser. Even surviving against five Awakened as a mortal was impossible, talk more of killing them.
"You know it. How much she loved you! She cherished you so much it is twisted. Would you kill someone like that?!"
Kaiser sighed, then pointed the Unremarkable Sword at her.
"I would… even if I don't want to."
The Voidborne fell silent at his words, then grinned wickedly.
"Good, good! Your madness far surpasses my expectations! That is excellent!"
Kara raised her sword, then dashed at him. Kaiser forced his battered body to move, dodging the blow. As if predicting this, the young lady turned, and struck with the pommel of her sword.
The attack hit his chest cleanly, forcing him to the ground. Standing over him triumphantly with the sword raised, the Voidborne prepared to start its villainous speech when its eyes widened.
Kaiser, barely able to move, noticed the anomaly and frowned. The inhuman expression on Kara's face disappeared, replaced by one with sadness. Tears fell from her eyes, falling onto Kaiser's face.
Instantly, Kaiser understood. She had somehow managed to regain control of her body, though temporarily.
She stabbed the sword into the ground beside him, then lowered herself. Straddling him, she gently patted his face.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you well."
At her words, Kaiser's eyes rippled with emotions he couldn't understand. He felt a lump in his throat.
"Use me, Kaiser. Use me to kill this vile creature."
Kaiser closed his eyes, feeling a burst of emotions raging in his heart.
'Why? Why does such false reality sting?' His heart bled, and so did his eyes. Tears of blood dripped from them, dropping onto the ash below.
'Haa… I have actually fallen so low…' A demented smile graced his lips. 'I just want to be free… free from such things that can bind. Things that restrict me…'
His eyes opened, gleaming with a hint of weariness. Seeing that, Kara smiled, though, it was forced. It seemed she couldn't suppress the Voidborne's consciousness for much longer.
Kaiser pulled her close, then stabbed her with the Nameless Fang. Her body jerked slightly, life fading from it. Barely audible, her whisper reached Kaiser.
"Sing… for me. I… want to… hear your voice."
Kaiser's eyes turned blank, but his lips moved in obedience to her request. His hands moved, brushing her hair gently.
"London Bridge is falling down… falling down… falling down…"
"London Bridge is falling down… my fair lady…"
He sang the song slowly, until he felt her body turn cold.
"London Bridge has fallen down… my fair Kara…"
The forest remained silent for a moment, then, his shadow moved. Rising like a tide of furious flames, it latched onto Kara's corpse and devoured it till there was nothing left. The Nirad System's voice explained to Kaiser.
[You have cursed a human, Kara]
[You have created a Shadow]
Kaiser blinked, the dried tears of blood turning his vision red. He still couldn't understand what had transpired, but he vividly remembered seeing his shadow consume Kara. It didn't bring her back to life, but swallowed her. Looking at his own shadow, Kaiser felt a hint of unease.
'Ever since I touched that… Darkness Altar, my shadow has become… strange… almost sentient.'
His eyes drifted back to the system message before him which claimed he had cursed a human.
'Cursed her? What does that mean?'
He wasn't foolish enough to believe that the curse meant a string of foul words. Instead, it had to be related to Cursed Essence. That aside, the system had also claimed that he created a Shadow. He didn't have time to be curious because the Nirad System's feminine voice sounded again.
[You have completed your quest]
[You will be transported for appraisal immediately]
The world around him blurred, and he found himself in a familiar place… space.
Lying his back on nothing, he watched the glowing screens shift.
[Appraisal—]
[Killed nine Awakened Beasts]
[Killed one Awakened Monster]
[Killed one Rank 1 Awakened Human; Sera Lostifer]
[Killed three Rank 2 Awakened Humans; Elias Knoa, Lugh Seph, and Miel Ryker]
[Killed one Rank 3 Awakened Human; Kara Moonveil]
[Consumed seven Seeds of Corruption]
[Killed an Infant Voidborne]
[Received the Primordial Darkness's acknowledgement]
[Your result is 'Appalling']
[Challenger! You are about to Awaken]
Kaiser felt it instantly. A searing heat tore through his body, as if incinerating his organs. He almost screamed in agony, but forced himself to stay silent. He could feel what was going on in his body. His cells were being destroyed and reconstructed… into something stronger, better. The process continued for what felt like hours. Finally, it was completed, leaving his body pristine without scars.
[You have become an Awakened]
[You have received a Trait — [Cursed Voice] ]
[You have unlocked your Soul Trait — [Eyes of Sequence] ]
[Awakening Ability…]
[Ability Awakened — [Freedom] ]
As soon as he saw the ability he had awakened, Kaiser's mind went blank. The name of his ability was a concept he had desired on a whim. Could it be that the Nirad System was a wish-fulfilment system? OR Could this be a joke on his thoughts?
He didn't have time to indulge in sarcastic thoughts before he was transported back to the real world.