The jungle was still.
The eerie silence that had become a constant companion returned once more, broken only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures hiding in the underbrush. Above, the yellow sun hovered directly over the sky's midpoint, casting its golden rays between the thick canopy. The once-vivid light now filtered dimly through the dense foliage, painting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
Daeshim walked beside Elira, both of them weary, both carrying the weight of a journey that felt endless. His ability to fly had vanished—or perhaps it had only been sealed temporarily. Either way, his body still carried the essence of the countless faceless monsters he had slain the day before. Some had been magical, bestowing him with a flickering taste of a power he had never wielded before: magic.
But now, hunger gnawed at them. Thirst parched their throats. Their bodies ached.
"Elira," Daeshim murmured, halting suddenly. His ears twitched. "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" she asked, turning toward him.
"Running water… there's a waterfall nearby!" His voice was tinged with a mix of desperation and excitement.
Grabbing her hand without waiting for a reply, he darted in the direction of the sound, weaving between trees with newfound energy. Elira followed closely, her eyes scanning the dense foliage.
Moments later, they broke through a wall of thick vines and gasped.
Before them roared a massive waterfall, its silvery stream crashing over a cliff edge, carving into sharp rocks below. Mist swirled in the air like a magical veil, and the sunlight glinted on the falling water like molten glass.
"It's beautiful…" Elira whispered, wide-eyed.
Without hesitation, the two ran to the edge and drank until their thirst was quenched. The water was icy and sweet—more refreshing than anything they had tasted in days.
Nearby, shallow pools teemed with fish. Daeshim and Elira worked together to catch several with sharpened sticks. They built a small fire near the base of the waterfall and roasted their catch, the aroma of cooked fish finally easing the ache in their stomachs.
After the meal, they rested for a while, watching the sun slide slowly westward. Birds chirped high in the trees, and for a fleeting moment, the world seemed… gentle.
But peace never lasted long in the Abyss.
As night approached, they gathered water, packed a few smoked fish, and set off once again. Neither of them knew where the path would lead, but they had learned that standing still was the most dangerous choice of all.
Eventually, under a sky now deep purple, the pair stumbled upon a strange sight—torchlights flickering in the distance, outlining what looked like a small village. But this was no ordinary settlement. The structures were carved from bones, glowing stones, and bark from trees Daeshim had never seen. The people were equally strange—tall, silent, cloaked in dark fabrics, their faces painted in white, their eyes gleaming faintly like stars.
Daeshim squinted. "Do you think they're hostile?"
Elira narrowed her eyes. "We won't know until we step closer."
As they entered the village, no one looked at them. The villagers continued with their strange rituals—some gathered herbs, others chanted near glowing stones, and some simply stared into fires. The indifference was almost unnerving.
But as Daeshim passed one tall figure, he accidentally brushed shoulders with him.
The man fell to the ground with a sharp grunt.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then everything shifted.
The villagers froze mid-task. All eyes turned. Murmurs echoed. Then, as if following a silent command, hundreds—no, thousands—of villagers began drawing weapons.
Not normal weapons. These were jagged, glowing blades pulsing with magical energy. The air itself thickened with pressure.
"Oh no… I think we upset them," Daeshim muttered.
Elira's eyes darted around. "What do we do now?!"
Daeshim's lips curled into a sly, devilish smile. "Just watch."
The enemies surged forward from every side. Without hesitation, Daeshim raised his hand and shouted a word he hadn't spoken since his last true battle:
"Vel'Zar!"
The sky roared. Lightning cracked through the heavens.
A ring of fire erupted around him and Elira, encircling them in dancing flames. The villagers stumbled back momentarily, but then something terrifying happened—they began charging through the flames as if possessed.
Daeshim gritted his teeth. "They don't fear fire?!"
"Elira! Get down!" he shouted.
She ducked just in time as Daeshim extended his hand and summoned a long, blazing chain—its links glowing with molten energy, its edges serrated like a blade. With a swift spin, he lashed out, cleaving through dozens of enemies in a single swing.
But they kept coming.
He breathed slowly. "Alright… let's finish this."
This time, he whispered the word: "Vel'Zar."
Black portals bloomed across the battlefield like spreading ink. His aura darkened, shadows rippling from his feet upward. From the void, monstrous figures emerged—creatures that looked eerily similar to Necravores, but twisted… refined.
They obeyed only him.
Daeshim pointed toward the villagers, and without hesitation, his summoned army charged.
Screams filled the night.
Within seconds, the villagers were overwhelmed—torn down by the relentless assault. Elira stood frozen, eyes wide with awe and horror. She had never seen Daeshim wield this kind of power before.
He turned, calm amidst the chaos.
As the last enemy fell, Daeshim whispered another word—a word that had come to him in a dream, whispered by the same voice that had taught him Vel'Zar.
This word was: "Sel'Varn."
The summoned beasts paused. Then, with a chorus of howls, they dissolved into thin air like smoke caught in the wind.
"What… was that?" Elira asked, standing.
"We're safe now," Daeshim replied, voice quiet.
She stared at him. "That form of yours… those powers… I've never seen you like that."
He smirked slightly. "There's a story behind it."
As they walked away from the battlefield, Daeshim continued, "Last night, just before I fell asleep...I had another vision. The voice came back. It told me I had passed a test. That I had earned back my powers—and more."
He looked up at the moonlit sky.
"I was gifted three things," he continued. "First, the ability to combine my powers and create new ones through fusion. Second, a personal army I can summon with the word Vel'Zar. And third…"
He raised his palm, letting a flicker of magic dance in his hand. "Magic. Real magic. It's not fully awakened yet, but it grows stronger with time."
Elira remained quiet for a moment before whispering, "You're becoming something… beyond human."
He chuckled softly. "Yeah, I'm starting to feel it too."
Later, when Daeshim tried to absorb power from the defeated villagers, he found nothing. Their bodies were too badly damaged—burnt, torn, or already disintegrated. Whatever magic they held had died with them.
As they resumed their path, a question lingered in Daeshim's mind.
"Why did they attack us in the first place?"
"I don't know," Elira said, frowning. "And… there's something else."
"What?"
"That transformation of yours. Your aura. The command you spoke—Sel'Varn. It was like…"
Daeshim nodded slowly. "Yeah. The same voice taught me that too. Vel'Zar calls them to me. Sel'Varn sends them away. It said I would need both commands soon."
Elira stared ahead. "This is getting deeper than I thought."
"Yeah," Daeshim whispered. "And I think we're only just beginning to scratch the surface."