Chapter 1: The Mark of the Abyss
Rael woke up in a crimson abyss, standing before a being that defied logic—a massive figure with shifting eyes, claws like blackened steel, and a voice that dripped with malice.
"I am Nyxthar, the Abyssal Watcher. In exchange for your soul, I will grant you strength. But beware... power comes at a price."
Rael did not hesitate. His soul was worthless in a world that had already cast him aside.
"Take it."
Pain like molten iron seared through his body as black veins spread across his skin. His frail limbs strengthened, his senses sharpened, and knowledge of a forbidden power—Abyssal Sorcery—poured into his mind.
When he woke up in the alley, his wounds were gone. His body felt different—stronger, faster, filled with a dark energy that pulsed beneath his skin. But his reflection in a puddle showed something terrifying.
His left eye had turned crimson black—a sign of abyssal corruption.
And he was hungry.
Not for food.
For blood.