Shadow Ascendance

Ten years old. Four years of torment had transformed Kriel from a skeletal child into something else entirely. Though still appearing frail, his body had adapted to survive things that would kill most adults. The scars of his past were etched deep within him, both physical and mental.

[Status Update:

Level: 15

Class: Void Initiate

Physical Endurance: B

Mental Fortitude: SS

Void Resonance: 27.8%]

He stalked through Ethren Village's shadowed alleys, his heart racing with a mix of fear and exhilaration as he followed three Veilborn teenagers. Their marks glowed softly in the darkness fire, lightning, and wind like beacons of power that once would have terrified him. Now, they ignited a hunger within him that he could no longer suppress.

"Come out, Markless," Marcus called, his flame mark pulsing like a heartbeat. He was tall for his age, with an air of confidence that Kriel had once envied. "We know you've been watching us."

[Combat Assessment:

Enemies: 3

Marcus: Fire Veil (C+ Rank)

Theron: Lightning Veil (D Rank)

Kain: Wind Veil (D+ Rank)

Threat Level: Moderate

Recommendation: Harvest]

Kriel stepped into their view, his violet-flecked eyes reflecting the moonlight like shards of glass. Four years of observation had taught him their patterns, their weaknesses, their limits. They were strong, but he had learned to be stronger.

"Still alive?" Marcus sneered, creating a ball of celestial fire that danced dangerously in his palm. "Let's fix that."

The first fireball passed through Kriel's body like smoke. His newest ability, Shadow Flesh, allowed him partial intangibility a trick he had perfected after countless nights spent training in solitude. The teenagers' confident smirks faltered as they realized something was wrong.

"What the" Theron exclaimed as his lightning crackled in the air around him.

Kriel's voice carried unnatural echoes as he replied, "Your marks... they're so bright." With a flick of his wrist, he activated his counterattack. Shadow Flesh deactivated as he grabbed Marcus's wrist with surprising speed.

"Let me show you what true darkness feels like."

[Skill Unlocked: Void Grip

Effect: Corrupts and drains magical energy

Success Rate: 97%

Target Mark: Destabilizing...]

Marcus screamed as darkness spread from Kriel's hand, corrupting his flame mark. "No! What are you doing?!" he shouted in horror as the pure celestial energy turned violet, then black, before shattering like glass into countless shards that dissolved into pure void energy absorbed by Kriel's body.

[Critical Achievement!

First Mark Consumption Complete

Void Resonance: 34.2%

Evolution Progress: Accelerated]

Theron and Kain exchanged panicked glances as they saw Marcus falter. "We need to help him!" Theron shouted desperately, summoning a bolt of lightning that arced dangerously toward Kriel.

But Kriel was already moving. "You think you can save him?" he taunted, dodging the strike effortlessly with a fluid grace that belied his small stature. "You're too late."

Their wind and lightning combined into a storm of power aimed at him. Kain shouted over the roar of their combined magic, "We can't let him take us down one by one!"

But Kriel's body had been tempered by years of abuse; physical pain meant nothing now.

[Pain Conversion Active

Damage Absorbed: 82%

Converting to Void Energy...

New Skill Forming...]

Kriel's laughter echoed through the alley as he countered their attacks with merciless precision. "You're all just stepping stones on my path to power."

As he slipped through their defensive wind barrier with Shadow Flesh activated once more, he unleashed Void Grip on Theron next. "Let's see how much lightning you can muster without your mark."

Theron gasped as darkness enveloped him. "No! Stop!" he cried out in panic, but it was too late; Kriel drained his power just as he had done with Marcus.

[Evolution in Progress

Physical Form Adapting

Void Essence Integration: 41%

Warning: Host Body Changing...]

Kain was left trembling as he watched his friends fall one by one. "What are you?!" he shouted in desperation, his voice cracking under the weight of fear.

Kriel smiled coldly, shadows swirling around him like smoke. "I'm what happens when the weak learn to fight back." He relished the moment—the thrill of dominance over those who had once looked down on him.

In a final act of defiance, Kain summoned all his remaining strength to create a gust of wind aimed at Kriel's face. "I won't let you take me!"

But Kriel merely laughed again, stepping through the wind as if it were nothing more than a gentle breeze. "You really think you can stop me? You're all just fuel for my ascent."

With one last Void Grip, Kain's mark shattered under the weight of Kriel's dark energy. The alley fell silent save for the echoing thud of Kain hitting the ground—a final testament to Kriel's power.

When it was over, three of Ethren Village's promising young Veilborn lay broken at his feet, their marks completely consumed. Kriel stood among them, his body wreathed in writhing shadows.

[Status Update:

Level: 21

Class: Void Walker

New Skills Acquired:

Mark Consumption (C Rank)

Shadow Domain (D Rank)

Pain Lord (C+ Rank)]

For the first time in his life, he felt truly powerful—a predator reborn from the ashes of his past tormentors.

"Status," he whispered breathlessly, barely able to contain his exhilaration.

[Current Status:

Health: 1,500/1,500

Void Energy: 3,247/3,500

Special Conditions:

Mark Eater: Gain power from consumed marks

Void Touched: Enhanced recovery

Reality Distortion: Local space instability]

Dawn approached slowly, painting the sky blood-red as if heralding his rise to dominance. In the noble district not far away, stronger Veilborn slept peacefully—blissfully unaware that a predator had just evolved in their midst.

[New Quest Alert!

Title: Ascend Through Darkness

Objective: Challenge B-Rank Veilborn

Reward: Evolution Path Progress; Unique Skill Unlock

Accept? Y/N]

Kriel's lips curved into a cold smile as he accepted the quest without hesitation. The weak child who once cowered in fear was dead; what emerged from that alley was something else—something that would make the world tremble.

"Status," he whispered again with a gleam in his eye.

[System Warning: Anomaly Growing

Void Corruption: Spreading

The Hunt Continues...]