Trial of death

The swirling energies around Fang coalesced into a vibrant arena, a realm suspended between life and death. Shadows flickered at the edges of his vision, whispering doubts and fears. The god of death stood beside him, a silent sentinel.

"Your trial begins now, Fang," the god announced, his voice echoing through the space. "To harness the power necessary to protect those you cherish, you must confront your biggest fear."

"You will face manifestations of your own fears," the god explained, gesturing toward the shifting shadows. "Only by confronting them can you grasp the true depth of your power."

As the shadows twisted and morphed, figures emerged—specters of those he had lost and those he feared to lose. Faces he recognized, memories woven with pain and love. There stood Gaia, her eyes pleading, surrounded by darkness.

"Fang, you have to save us," she called, her voice a haunting echo. "We are not going to survive much longer, please return!"

"Not you," Fang shouted, stepping forward. "I won't let you suffer again!"

The shadows thickened, coiling around him. "What if saving us means giving up everything?" they whispered. "Are you truly prepared for that?"

With a surge of resolve, Fang clenched his fists. "Yes! I'd give anything to protect you, to keep others safe from this pain!"

The dancing shadows erupted in a mocking laughter:

"HAHAHAHA, to think such a WEAK man will be enough to protect them! The elves march an army towards the cave as we speak. YOU ARE NOT THERE TO PROTECT THEM!"

The shadows were throwing as many accusations at him yet Fang didn't even listen to them at the mention of such danger!

"God of death, get me out of here! I can't let them fight alone! They'll die! Get me out of here now!"

But the only reaction was the ringing laughter of the shadows.

A chilling sound that reverberated through his very being. "Why would you die for a stranger? Would you embrace the void for the sake of the living? We know you're all lies, lies, lies!

Images flashed before him: the faces of Isgram and Gaia, their lives hanging by a thread, their hopes flickering like candles in a storm.

"Every life lost is a story left untold," Fang whispered, the resolve in his heart crystallizing into a fierce flame. "If my life can save even one, then it's worth it."

With that declaration, the shadows converged, swirling into a tempest of despair and hope. Fang felt his essence stretching, reaching toward the heart of the storm. In that moment, he saw it—an abyss filled with potential and sacrifice, a choice that would define him.

"Embrace it, Fang," the god of death urged, his presence a guiding light amidst the chaos. "Face the void, and let it empower you."

In the middle of the void was a dagger, black and sharp enough to frighten Fang.

Fang closed his eyes, surrendering to the swirling mass. He felt a pulse, the rhythm of life beating in time with his heart, and within that beat, he found clarity. The darkness was not just an end; it was a path to something greater.

"I choose to fight," he declared, his voice rising above the tumult. "To protect. To save. Even if it means walking into the darkness."

With a final surge of strength, Fang opened himself to the abyss, allowing the power to wash over him. He felt his life force intertwining with the lives of others, a web of connection binding him to every soul he sought to protect. In that moment, he understood that true strength lay not just in taking life, but in giving his own for the sake of others.

Then, the blade of the dagger seemed to vibrate and shoot itself toward his heart yet Fang has not moved an inch.

'If my death will save them, let that god of death do whatever he wants with my soul. I don't care about living, give me strength just this once to save them! I am sorry Asu, I can't break my promise to you so easily. One promise is broken to keep another!'

The blade pierced his heart, and then it happened. The darkness faded.

"Your sacrifice does not have to be your end, Fang. You have found the power within you to protect and to inspire. Embrace it. Death is the end of life but sometimes, it is also the start."

With renewed determination, Fang opened his eyes, the world around him shimmering with potential. He had faced the darkness and emerged stronger, ready to wield his newfound power for the sake of those he loved.

'I need to get back to help them, I can't let this power go to waste.'

"I wish I could say thank you properly, but I must rush to help them."

Grinning, the god of death sat back on his shadow throne and leaned his head on his palm.

"Save them from what exactly? From the illusions only you saw? I thought you would know better than that, but it is hard to combat my illusions."

Fang's face was both angry yet much calmer.

His mana channels have relaxed and his stiff body now seemed less rigid.

"I know you did it to help me, but I can't help but want to kill you right now."

Laughing loudly, the king of death itself was amused by such sentiments.

'Killing death itself, if there was any doubt he was Asu's child now there isn't. I wish he would tell me his full story, this kid is too in tune with my mana even for someone who got direct assistance from me.'

"As much as I would love to torture you kid, I have other matters to attend to so au revoir!"

'Reminder to myself: Next time I get in bed I should lock my door first.'

And thus, Fang gasped for air in his bed suddenly hoping that death itself would die.

Feeling the powerful mana in his body, Fang has opened his status.

Name: Fang

class: Mage level 2, necromancer level 2

Race: elf

age: 16

level: 5

HP: 60

MP: 2400

STR: 9

INT: 38

AGI: 8

WIS: 10

VIT: 4

LUC: 4

Passive abilities:

Passive MP regeneration level 6

resistance to magic level 1

swift feet level 4

butchering level 2

swordsmanship level 5

Death trial level 1

Active abilities:

Soul hunt level 3:

Mana cost: 40 MP minimum.

Scout Ghost Summon level 2:

Mana cost: 4.8 MP per meter.

Magic transfer: transfers MP between creatures.

Meditation level 5: Raises intelligence and restores MP: 14 MP per hour.

Double slash: One move, Two hits. 5 MP}

Consumer of Souls level 2: by raising the spirit of the dead, the user can absorb mana and experience

Mana cost: 0 MP.}

Resurrection: by using the inner mana circles of the target, the user can reinvoke life Energy into the target.

The amount of mana used will decide the stats of the resurrected target.

Target Must have mana circles}

Fang saw the amount of mana he had now and he was dumbfounded. He felt that mana was light and his body just attracted all the death mana he could sense in the forest.

He could feel old souls fragmented remains in the ground, and he could sense a way to gather their power.

'This... is a game changer. For sure. I can sense so much mana and If my senses are correct I can absorb that mana from my bed.'

Fang closed his eyes and let his mana spread evenly in the air, pulling soul fragments towards the cave.

The other two mages in the cave were suddenly awake as they felt an enormous amount of mana approaching the cave.

They both jumped tiredly out of their bed only to see a swarm of purple mana entering Fang's room through the slightly ajar door.

The air was dense with the scent of death and Isgram and Gais knew that Fang never exhibited such power in front of them.

Knowing it was Fang, they went to the main hall and sat there guarding the entrance in case anyone would be drawn here by the mana gathering.

As the minutes passed, Isgram was the first to notice Gaia's uncomfortable look. It was like her senses were itching and she didn't have a way to scratch that itch.

"You're ok, lass?" Asked the Dwarf with a small frown on his face.

The now-resolved woman was stone-faced as she answered: 

"Ever since I witnessed the first death in this world I felt it echo in my mana. My mana nature doesn't conflict with Fang's yet I feel uncomfortable with this amount of death mana.

I just don't like necromancy, But I NEED to get used to feeling Fang's magic or I'll never be able to step on the battlefield with you guys.

It is a worrying issue but I will tackle it with practice."

As the mana dissipated, Fang could feel even more powerful than before:

"This is true power. Now I should be closer to Gaia and Isgram in my power levels."

{Mana + 600}

'600 MORE MANA?! PERMANENTLY TOO! This is insane, utterly insane.'

Fang's eyes now had purple irises and golden pupils, and wide in realization of the newfound powers he acquired.

"Such clarity in mind... Like breathing in cool air for the first time after a long summer. Nothing can describe it better than this."

The door creaked open and Fang stepped out to the short rocky corridor in the cave. He stepped a couple of meters and entered the Door to the main hall of the cave.

The first thing to greet him was the sight of his two friends, and a smile spread on his face immediately.

Yet their faces were wary of him and concerned. Isgram in particular was pretty eager to get answers and motioned Fang to sit with them near the fire which he complied to his gesture.

Sitting down with them, Fang sighed and shot a long look at Gaia and then looked up.

"I guess I owe you guys some explanations. Let's start at the very beginning.

After I fell asleep, I suddenly found myself standing in a gray world, surrounded by tombstones."

"Like a cemetery?" Asked Isgram.

"Exactly that. I met someone there that I wish we wouldn't have to deal with in our lifetime. or after our lifetime. He calls himself Osborne and apparently, he is the god of death. Like THE god of death.

I was sure I was returning my soul at first but he started telling me a story, one I never thought I'd hear from anyone else but Gaia."

The connection he weaved between Gaia's name and the god of death chilled her spine and made Isgram tense visibly.

Seeing the duo look at him quietly Fang continued:

"He told me that he is the one who summoned Gaia to this world. Gaia your god is the god of death."

Her head was boiling and her anger was building up. Her fists were clenched and she just exploded with tears on her face: "BUT WHY YOU!? How does it make any sense that he never said anything? You both have had contact with your gods! hell, you both kept some memories of your past life!" She gritted her teeth, knowing full well she was owed some answers.

"He told me about your past life, maybe feeling guilty that he didn't save you from him."

Then Fang told them the whole story, from her life in Germany to the occupation she had and the countless lives she saw fade away and finally to the reason Osborne gave her a new life. Her attunement to death magic and her ability to contain it without growing deranged.

With each passing moment.

With every part of the story her heart calmed, stalling her rhythmic beating knowing she was once a woman of life instead of a death bringer. Ever since she came to this world she was focused on survival and resorted to extreme violence to protect herself.

The tears left her cheeks red, and the chair arms were deformed from her strong grip.

Isgram fetched her a glass of water when Fang finished the story and then addressed the phenomenon they witnessed a couple of minutes ago.

"What was that mana Fang? I never felt the stench of death so pungent before today."

"I received a gift from him. I went through some weird trial, that pitted me against some illusions and... He forced me to kill myself to end the illusions. It was a trial of will and sacrifice. When the trial ended he revealed to me that my embracing of death will be my biggest power, since if one fears his own nature one will be consumed by it. Only by conquering that fear, I was able to reach such a connection to the death mana around me.

I have 10 times more mana than before, And I can grow much stronger due to this gift."

Isgram knew these were good news, yet there was one part Fang forgot to mention.

"What were the illusions, Fang?"

Gaia perked her head and looked up at Fang intently.

Seeing they won't leave it be, he revealed the sight of them being surrounded by the elven army, crying for help. Especially Gaia as she wasn't part of the negotiation.

He let the dagger pierce his heart in order to stop the elven army, begging for the power to stop it all.

The air was tense enough before but the emotions now ran wild in their hearts. To Fang, he was no longer the sheltered life kid from before. He was now responsible for their safety. their well-being.

Standing up first, Fang retired to his room and left them with one parting sentence:

"I will never let any of you die on my watch. I'd rather die than disappoint Asu, and more importantly: you." His gaze narrowed toward Gaia.

The dying embers' bursting noises have left Gaia with a mind full of thoughts and Isgram with bigger hugs.

'These are some hard days for Gaia, no doubt about that.' was the only thought floating in Isgram's head.

The heavy rain sealed the night with its harsh tapping on the cave's roof.