NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Awakening the Blackthorn
The moment Aiden's hand touched the black crystal, an explosion of energy surged through his body like a tidal wave, drowning him in unbearable heat and blinding light. He tried to pull away, but his fingers felt fused to the stone, as if it had latched onto his very soul.
His vision blurred. The walls of the chamber melted into darkness. There was no floor beneath him, no ceiling above—just an endless void where time and space unraveled.
[Bloodline Awakening Initiated.]
The system's cold, emotionless voice echoed in his mind, distant and distorted.
[Warning: Dormant Bloodline—Blackthorn—Detected.]
[Stability: 12%]
[Risks: Mental Overload, Identity Dissociation, Magical Feedback Burnout.]
Proceed?
Like I have a choice! Aiden thought, gritting his teeth against the searing pain.
Without waiting for his consent, the crystal pulsed again, and everything went dark.
—Memory Fragment Loading…—
Suddenly, Aiden was somewhere else—not in the castle, but standing in the middle of a vast battlefield. The ground was scorched black, littered with broken wands, shattered relics, and the bodies of fallen witches and wizards. The sky burned crimson, streaked with ash and fire.
In front of him stood a man—tall, clad in dark robes embroidered with silver runes. His face was shadowed by a hood, but Aiden could feel the weight of his gaze, piercing and cold. In the man's hand was a wand unlike any Aiden had ever seen—obsidian black, crackling with raw, chaotic energy.
Then the man spoke, his voice deep and filled with authority.
"Power isn't given. It's taken. Remember that, child."
Before Aiden could react, the figure raised his wand and unleashed a torrent of dark magic. Aiden instinctively raised his hands, but no spell came—just fear.
The blast hit him square in the chest.
—End of Memory Fragment—
Aiden's body jolted as he snapped back to reality, collapsing to his knees in the chamber. His heart raced, sweat drenched his face, and his breath came in ragged gasps.
But something was different.
The room looked sharper, as if he were seeing the world in high definition. He could hear the faint hum of magic in the walls, feel the vibrations of energy beneath the floor. His fingertips tingled with latent power.
[Bloodline: Blackthorn (Partially Activated)]
• Affinity: Shadow Magic, Curse Weaving, Dark Arts Resistance
• New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Veil (Rank D)
• Warning: Bloodline Stability at 28%. Prolonged use may trigger Overload.
Aiden clenched his fists, feeling the raw magic coursing through his veins like liquid fire. Despite the warnings, it felt… exhilarating. Like he'd been blind his entire life and could finally see.
"Welcome back," Thalor's voice broke through the haze. The professor stood nearby, arms crossed, observing him like a scientist studying a specimen. "How do you feel?"
Aiden smirked darkly. "Like I could punch a dragon."
Thalor chuckled. "Confidence is good. You'll need it."
Before Aiden could respond, the room trembled, dust raining down from the ceiling. The stone walls groaned as if the castle itself were alive and afraid.
[System Alert: Dark Entity Approaching. Estimated Arrival: 1 Minute.]
Aiden's grin faded.
"What is that thing?" he asked, scrambling to his feet.
Thalor's expression darkened. "A Wraithborn—a creature forged from corrupted magic, drawn to unstable power like yours. It can't be reasoned with. It only knows one thing: to consume."
Great. A magic-hungry monster. Just what he needed.
Without warning, the chamber doors burst open, and a figure stepped through—not walking, but gliding just above the ground. Its form was draped in tattered black robes that billowed like smoke, and where its face should've been was nothing but a void—two piercing red eyes glowing from the darkness.
The temperature plummeted. Aiden's breath came out in frosty puffs.
[Threat Identified: Wraithborn (Class B Entity)]
[Recommended Action: Run.]
Aiden ignored the advice. He'd had enough of running.
"Stay back," Thalor warned, summoning a barrier of shimmering green light. "Your power is unstable. It'll consume you before the Wraithborn does."
But Aiden wasn't listening.
The thrill of newfound strength roared in his veins. His instincts screamed to fight—to unleash.
He stepped forward, summoning his magic.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Veil]
Dark tendrils erupted from his hands, swirling around him like living shadows. The Wraithborn lunged, faster than any human could react, but Aiden was faster. He sidestepped with inhuman speed, the world blurring around him.
Shadowstep.
Appearing behind the creature, he lashed out, tendrils of darkness wrapping around its form. The Wraithborn shrieked, thrashing violently, its screech piercing Aiden's skull like a dagger.
The strain hit him immediately.
His vision blurred, his heart racing unnaturally fast. The system's warnings flashed again.
[Warning: Bloodline Overload Imminent.]
[Stability: 15%]
[Risk of Identity Dissociation: HIGH]
Damn it, Aiden gritted his teeth. He could feel his consciousness slipping, his mind drowning in chaos.
But he refused to let go.
Roaring with defiance, he channeled everything he had into one final attack. The tendrils constricted, crushing the Wraithborn's form until it imploded in a burst of dark energy.
Silence.
Aiden collapsed, gasping, his body trembling with exhaustion. His vision faded, the system's voice growing distant.
[Quest Complete: Confront the Wraithborn]
• Rewards:
• [Skill: Shadow Veil - Rank Up to C]
• [Bloodline Stability Increased to 35%]
• [New Spell Unlocked: Umbra Blast (Rank D)]
Before he blacked out, he heard Thalor's voice faintly.
"You're more dangerous than I thought, Aiden Thorne. But are you the weapon… or the wielder?"
[End of Chapter 4]