Several hours had passed. Now, within the heart of the school's library, sunlight streamed through the stained glass, casting colorful reflections on the wooden walls and filling the air with the scent of books. The room, usually a sanctuary of knowledge, had become the stage for a sinister act.
"Banggg!!"
A loud gunshot echoed throughout the room. The sound seemed to awaken the boy. Slowly, he opened his eyes, only to be greeted by increasing pain. The potent drug still lingered in his system, rendering him weak and barely conscious. His vision, clouded by the drug's effects, struggled to focus on the figures around him.
He first noticed that both of his hands were tied with rope to the armchair. As his gaze followed the sounds of someone weeping, his vision finally cleared. He saw his mother kneeling on the floor, a short distance away, holding his father in her arms.
"Stop! He's just a kid!" Rin pleaded, crying as she held Tony, wounded by the recent gunshot.
The boy's face showed clear signs of suffering: a deep cut on his forehead oozed blood, blending with bruises that painted his cheeks, revealing the harsh treatment he endured while unconscious.
In one corner, a soldier stood guard, his gun silently witnessing the violence that had taken place. He maintained a vigilant posture, observing the scene with detached wariness.
Next to him, a student in a black cape watched with a smirk, his expression reflecting morbid fascination with the cruelty unfolding before him.
"Kid? HAHAHAHA!!!" Rey sneered, his voice dripping with disdain as he erupted into maniacal laughter. The chilling sound echoed through the library, seeming out of place amidst its solemnity.
Standing in the center of the office walls, before the boy's chair, Rey was now clad in a black hooded cape that shrouded half of his figure, as if to conceal his true intentions and the darkness within.
"Woman, you can't fool us anymore," Rey spat, his hand gripping the boy's hair with ruthless force. "We knew it all along. This kid is a
"AAHHH!!" The boy screamed in agony, his cry echoing off the walls.
Rey followed it with a mad cackle, reveling in the moment. "With his guidance and power, we will definitely win the upcoming
"He is the rarest catch among all the vessels. No wonder the Maginoos have been so eager to find this boy," he added.
The boy, mustering the strength to speak through his weakness and pain, managed a faint, "M-Mom… I'm sorry." Tears streamed down his face, not just from the physical pain but from the emotional turmoil as well. "I'd rather stay here with them if it means they'll let you go. Dad needs your help, please take him to safety right away."
Rin, her voice breaking with emotion, responded, "I can't, baby! I promised them I'd never leave you alone," as she continued to cry.
The boy, showing resilience for someone so young, insisted, 'I'm not your biological son, Mom. You've got a real one outside waiting for both of you. For Tedd's sake, just go.' " Despite the pain, he managed a brave smile. "I'll be fine here."
Rey's laughter intensified, cruel and unfeeling. "Hahahaha!! Wise choice, kid!" he exclaimed, grinning maniacally at Rin. "Did you hear that, lady? He's willing to stay here with us!" He pointed at Rin while laughing, then his expression turned dark, his eyes sharp with a menacing glint. "So why don't you carry your husband already? Run away with your tails between your legs," he taunted. "Do it now, while I'm still in a good mood."
Tony coughed, clearing the blood from his throat, and finally managed to respond.
"Rey, you have to stop now. The god of death is the embodiment of hatred and despair. Humans like us will never be able to control him. He will control us instead and reign over this world with terror once more," Tony said, his voice urgent yet weak.
The man belittled his words with a dismissive sneer. 'No one listens to you anymore, Mr. Oracle. All of your childish fairy tales are yours to keep.' He opened his palms and displayed them to the room. 'Whether I control him or not, this is still a fun thing to see, don't you think?'"
Kzzzzzzzzt!!
Suddenly, a whitish spark of electric current ran through Rey's hand, revealing his true nature and elemental power.
With electricity surrounding his hand, Rey declared, "This is going to be in our history. The awakening of that evil god in the 22nd century was made possible by me!" He exclaimed triumphantly. "After all, I'm not afraid of him." He lifted his arm, displaying his power. "I was born and blessed with the power of light, the elemental weakness of the god of death and darkness. Hahahaha! He is no match for me!"
The boy gasped in pain, his voice strained but urgent. "Mom… Dad… please run, or you'll all die here."
Rey's hysterical laughter filled the room. "Hahahahaha! What did you just say?!" He seized a nearby wooden bucket filled with water, revealing it as part of his scheme. "Me, die? Are you threatening me, kid?! Don't you realize you're the one being tortured here? You'll die first unless you give us what we want!"
Splassssh!
Rey poured the pail of water over the boy's head, drenching him. Water and blood mixed, painting the floor below his chair. The pail bounced on the floor with a hollow sound as Rey discarded it.
With both hands, Rey conjured a crackling ball of electric current. Kzzzt. Kzzzt….
He smirked devilishly. "Show yourself, Lord Aphotic!"
Rey directed the electricity toward the boy's head. Immune to his own power, he let the current surge through the boy and the wet floor beneath him.
"AAAAHHH!!!" The boy's scream echoed in the room, punctuated by the agony of electrocution.
Blinded by the intense light and tormented by her son's cries, Rin pleaded desperately, "Please stop!!!!"
Pain radiated through the boy's entire body until he couldn't feel anything—just numbness. Perhaps he was slowly losing consciousness. His eyesight, once blinded by the bright light of the current, now dimmed as the light seemed to fade.
Dub…
Dub… Dub…
Dub…
All he could hear was his heartbeat. And with each beat, he felt something—an ominous presence—awaken within him. Darkness crept into his vision, his thoughts. Everything suddenly became dark, empty, and quiet.
Where am I? he wondered silently. He couldn't see, hear, or feel anything. Why is it so dark? He even questioned if he was currently speaking, as he couldn't hear his own voice. Perhaps he only had his thoughts remained. Am I already dead?
Eventually, the rhythmic sound of metal reached his ears. Growing louder and closer, it became unmistakably the sound of footsteps. Despite the darkness, he finally saw a figure emerging from the shadows. Kneeling on an ethereal floor, he found himself staring at the feet of someone standing before him. Compelled by a force beyond fear, he instinctively lifted his eyes to meet the figure's face.
"Are you really my vessel?" a voice asked, dark and scornful. "Why do you look like a girl? You look disgustingly weak and pathetic."
Before the boy stood a man with brown hair and gleaming red eyes that pierced the gloom. His pointed ears and fanged teeth spoke of a creature not wholly human—a demihuman. His bare chest was exposed, yet adorned with bones around his neck, shoulders, and hips, with a large red crystal embedded in the center. The man's limbs and arms were clad in tight purple fabric that cascaded down like a coat, its edges tattered and trailing to the ground. As the boy stared, he realized the identity of the man standing before him—his garments screamed evil and death.
"G-God of Death?" the boy stammered, shocked and scared, seeking confirmation of his dire suspicion.
"Can't you protect yourself? You almost died there, you know," the god chided, his voice cold as a blade. He raised a hand armored with metal claws sharp as death's scythe, pointing at the trembling boy.
"Listen, puny human. I will never let you die, not until I have enough strength to control your body and claim it as mine. So whoever dares to harm you—my vessel—will be punished and sent straight to hell," the god declared, his voice echoing in the void.
With a firm grip, the god placed his hand upon the boy's head, his touch searing with otherworldly heat. The boy flinched, closing his eyes against the impending doom.
"Remember this… your body is my body. And I won't let any inferior creatures ridicule it," he proclaimed.
The god's hand then glowed ominously, signaling the onset of a terrifying transformation.
"If you are too cowardly to defend yourself, then I shall do it on your behalf. But don't expect mercy. I am the God of Death and Darkness, after all… With the little power left in me, I will cleanse and eradicate all threats to your existence," the god intoned, his voice a promise of dark deeds to come.
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Back in the office library, the wind blew eerily, carrying a scent of death. The once bright skies darkened as clouds gathered with unnatural speed, as if night had decided to claim the afternoon for itself. In response to the absence of daylight, the automatic lights within the room flickered on, their bright beams cutting through the gloom that now enveloped the area.
Rin's eyes widened as she glanced at the stained glass windows that had once painted the room with colorful sunlight. Now, they were a canvas for the encroaching darkness. "What's happening?" she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
Tony, still weak, clenched his fist over the gunshot wound on his right shoulder, ignoring the pain. "Tch! We failed, Rin," he said, a note of despair in his voice. "Day just turned into night. That's the omen of his arrival. He's awakened already."
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Meanwhile, in a classroom at Surge University, caster students crowded around the windows, their faces pressed against the glass as they gazed at the darkened skies. Fascination painted their features, oblivious to the gravity of what was unfolding.
"Look at the skies! Is someone casting a forbidden spell again?" one student exclaimed, excitement tingling in his voice rather than concern.
"Cool! This is my first night class," another student said, hurrying from his seat to join the others at the window.
In the corner of the room, a solitary figure remained seated, his accusing eyes fixed on a fellow student. "Could be necromancers," he suggested darkly.
The accused girl, a necromancer student, bristled at the insinuation. "Hey! Why do you always blame us?" she retorted, annoyance evident in her voice.
"Well, it's the element of darkness. You people love summoning weird shits using the darkness element," the accuser shot back, unapologetic.
Amidst the commotion, an old professor stood steadfast at the front of the classroom, trying to restore order. "Settle down, class," he instructed, his voice a gentle command. "That's enough. Whatever is happening, we will hear from our head principal soon."
Another student raised his hand, drawing the professor's attention.
"Yes, Tedd?" the professor acknowledged.
Tedd, with his emerald hair, didn't respond verbally but stood from his seat. His body glowing with a green-tinted aura while his intense gaze conveyed a message silently. The professor understood immediately, a hint of fear crossing his face.
The professor's gaze shifted to another student, Glenn, who had ashen gray hair streaked with blue highlights. Glenn sat silently, adorned with twin earrings at his left ear, seemingly indifferent to the unfolding situation. "And Glenn, you're coming with him," the professor instructed, his tone firm yet uneasy.
Glenn, snapped out of his thoughts, could only blurt out, "HUH?!!" The peace he had enjoyed moments ago was shattered, leaving him visibly bothered.
Outside the classroom, in the quiet hallway of the school, the two students walked together, their footsteps echoing in the sudden silence.
"What was that all about?" Glenn asked, clearly irritated. "You didn't have to intimidate our guro just to skip class, Tedd. Being the head principal's son doesn't make you look cool," he scolded his friend, his eyebrows furrowing in displeasure. "Your aura was all over the place in there. It freaked everyone out!"
Tedd replied calmly, despite Glenn's frantic tone, "I don't feel good about this sudden nighttime. It's so bad that I almost threw up earlier, Glenn. I need to talk to Dad about this."
Glenn placed both arms behind his head, stretching lazily and appearing unconvinced. "Sure, but do I really have to go with you? I'd rather stay in class until this is over."
"Glenn, could you please look for my brother? He hasn't come back since second period," Tedd requested.
"What?!" The outburst from Glenn was immediate and loud. "You brought me here just to run an errand for you again?! You know that moron likes to skip class. Why do I always have to look for him?"
"Please, Glenn. He doesn't like answering my telepathic calls. You're the only one who knows where to find him around this campus. I just want to make sure he's safe," Tedd pleaded.
"Ugh… fine, fine," Glenn relented, albeit grudgingly.
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