Into The Shadows :Call of The temple of shadow’s

Akira awoke to the suffocating scent of damp stone, the kind that clung to your lungs and sent shivers down your spine. The air was unnervingly still, heavy with an eerie silence that made every hair on his body stand on end.

His eyes darted around, trying to pierce through the endless darkness. Yet somehow, a cold light shone down on him, illuminating only the small patch of ground where he sat, as if he were on stage in the center of a vast, empty theater.

"Hello?" Akira called out, his voice echoing endlessly into the void. He clenched his fists, hoping for the sound of a familiar voice—a maid, the physician, anyone. But only the echo replied.

Something felt wrong. His trembling hands touched his face, his chest, his arms—and then he froze. This wasn't the frail, malnourished body of the prince. This was his body—his old body from his previous life. Relief rushed through him like a wave.

"Thank goodness..." he whispered. "So it was all a dream? I'm back?" He glanced around again, doubt creeping into his thoughts. "But... where am I?"

"You're in my realm, boy," a gravelly voice answered, each word dragging through the silence like nails across stone.

Akira snapped his head forward, his heart lurching in his chest. Out of the impenetrable shadows shuffled an old man. He was bald as a polished stone, his wiry beard reaching down to his chest. He wore a sharp suit that exuded elegance, but it clashed horribly with his aura—something deeply unsettling that made Akira's stomach twist.

The man's eyes were the worst of it: black sclera with glowing red pupils, cutting through the darkness like two sinister embers. His smile, stretched far too wide, radiated malice, as though he were savoring a joke only he understood.

"Tell me your real name," the man croaked, his voice low and grating, as if the question itself carried weight far beyond the words.

Akira blinked, thrown off by the demand. "Real name? What is this, some kind of weird password reset?" He scoffed, forcing a bit of bravado to hide his fear. "No thanks."

The man's smile didn't falter. If anything, it widened. "I see you won't tell me," he said softly, his tone almost amused.

Before Akira could retort, a crushing force slammed into him, driving him to his knees. It was as though the weight of the entire world had been dropped on his back. His chest burned, his arms trembled, and his vision blurred from the unbearable pressure.

"What the hell—?!" Akira tried to scream, but it came out as a choked gasp. Blood spilled from his mouth as the weight crushed him further, leaving him trembling, his face wet with tears and sweat. This isn't a dream, his mind screamed. This is real!

His thoughts spiraled into panic. "I-I don't want to die!" he thought desperately, his lips trembling as he looked up at the old man. "What do you want from me?!"

The man leaned back and laughed, his voice echoing like a thousand mocking whispers. With a casual wave of his hand, the crushing force vanished. Akira collapsed to the floor, gasping for air, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"Feisty," the man remarked, clapping his hands. His eyes glinted with amusement as the darkness receded.

Flickering lights began to illuminate the room—or rather, the temple. It was enormous, with towering pillars that reached up into an unseen ceiling. At the far end of the cavernous hall was a massive, intricately carved door, its surface alive with shifting shadows. Around the room stood six statues—twisted and grotesque: horses with fangs, serpents with wings, and other warped creatures that seemed pulled from nightmares.

"Welcome to the Temple of Shadows," the man declared, his voice dripping with theatrical flair. "Your new home, believer."

"Temple of Shadows?" Akira muttered, his throat dry as he pushed himself to his knees. "What is this place? Where am I?"

The man's smile grew sharper, his teeth glinting like polished knives. "You're inside the book. Or rather... the book brought you here."

"Oh, great," Akira said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "First I get reincarnated, and now I'm dragged into some creepy temple by a book. What's next, a cursed toaster?"

The man chuckled, his shoulders shaking with amusement. "Ah, humor. I like that. It's rare to find someone who can crack a joke when they're staring at their own insignificance."

Akira's jaw clenched. "Who are you? Why me? Did you run out of volunteers?"

The man tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "You're here because your desires called out to the God of Shadows," he said smoothly, his tone rich with mock reverence. "As for me... I don't bother with names. Call me whatever you like."

Akira's eyes narrowed. "The God of Shadows? My desires?"

The man gave a sly grin and gestured toward the statues. "Yes, your desires. You're like a moth to a flame—driven by ambition, anger, and a hunger to overcome. That's what brought you here. You can use the power offered to you however you want. But," his voice dropped to a chilling whisper, "if you anger the God of Shadows, you'll end up like one of them."

Akira's gaze followed the man's outstretched finger to the nearest statue—a serpent-like creature coiled around a pedestal, its eyes frozen in a twisted expression of terror. He shivered, his heart pounding as his eyes darted to the other statues. Each one seemed to radiate a faint, ominous energy, as if they were more than just stone.

You need to explain what this book is, what this place is, and why I'm here," Akira demanded, his voice rising with frustration. "And sorry to break it to you, old man, but I can't use magic! I'm cursed!"

The old man squinted at him, a knowing smirk curling his lips. "Youngsters these days... always so full of questions," he said with a sigh, but there was a glint of mischief in his eerie eyes. "Very well. That book inside you—it's no ordinary tome. It's an omniscience book, containing ancient knowledge from every corner of this world. And yes, boy, you can use magic. Aura, too."

Akira raised an eyebrow. "Alright, so I can use mana and aura... but why did you call it 'little' power?"

The man chuckled, his grin widening. "Because those are just the crumbs on the plate, child. The main power you possess... is dark magic. The God of Shadows' own creation."

Akira felt a chill crawl up his spine. "Dark magic, huh? So, what? That makes me a dark mage?"

"Precisely, young one." The old man's grin grew even sharper. "Or should I call you... Theodore?"

Akira's breath caught. (How does this guy already know my name? And why does he keep saying it like he's savoring it?) "Yeah, sure, call me Theodore. Or whatever you want," Akira said cautiously, keeping his voice steady.

"It's such a shame you won't tell me your real name," the old man mused, his voice tinged with mock sadness. "I'd love to hear it."

(What is this guy's obsession with names?) Akira thought, trying to hide his unease.

"Alright, enough of the games. Just tell me how to use magic. I told you—I'm cursed! My physician said it blocks me completely," Akira explained, crossing his arms.

The old man laughed softly, his eyes gleaming. "Oh, that's no problem at all. Let me explain why." He cleared his throat and leaned forward, his voice dropping as though he were sharing a delicious secret. "Dark magic isn't like other forms of magic. It's not bound by the rules of light or order. It draws from negative energy, from darkness, shadow, and everything hidden in the depths of existence."

Akira's mind raced. "So... does that mean my curse can be cured?"

"Cured?" The old man tilted his head, his smile turning devilish. "Your curse is already changing. Dark magic feeds on curses, boy. That 'curse' of yours? It's not a hindrance—it's fuel. As the curse integrates into your body, it will make you stronger."

Akira's eyes narrowed. "Stronger? How? My body's a mess! Are you telling me this curse hasn't left me yet?"

The old man's glowing yellow eyes scanned Akira, as though he were peering into his very soul. "Oh, it's still there, alright. And I'll need to investigate further. That body of yours is... unique. That little boy you now inhabit had his internal organs shackled by chains—chains unlike anything I've ever seen. And yet, despite all that, the boy had an affinity for dark magic. It's fascinating, really."

Akira felt his stomach twist. "Wait, wait—what do you mean chains? Are you saying this curse followed me here?"

"Precisely," the old man said casually, as though discussing the weather. "But don't worry. Dark magic will consume it over time. Your body is already adjusting, turning the curse into power."

Akira clenched his fists, his mind spinning. "So dark magic is stronger than regular magic because...?"

The old man straightened, his voice turning grave. "Dark magic allows its wielder to bend reality, defy natural laws, and create chaos. It's dangerous, powerful, and... forbidden in many societies." His grin returned. "But it requires a strong will. A dark heart. And, of course, a willingness to embrace destruction."

Akira exhaled, his pulse quickening. "Alright, that's impressive. Now show me how to use it. Or at least how to break this curse."

The old man chuckled again, the sound sending a chill through the air. "Excellent choice, Theodore. But I must correct you—your curse is already unbound, thanks to the book. You're no longer a frail, cursed boy. You're something far more dangerous now."

Akira blinked. "So... I'm fine? That's it?"

"Not quite." The old man's grin grew sinister. "Before you can truly awaken your power, you must first... die."

Akira's stomach dropped. "What did you just say?!"

The old man didn't respond. With a snap of his fingers, the floor beneath Akira gave way, crumbling into darkness. Akira screamed as he plummeted, the air whipping past him as he fell through the void.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" Akira shouted, his voice echoing into nothingness.

The descent ended abruptly as Akira crashed into the branches of a tree, bouncing off them like a ragdoll before slamming into the ground with a sickening thud. Pain shot through his body as he groaned, clutching his ribs.

"OLD MAN!" Akira yelled, wincing as he tried to sit up. "Are you TRYING to kill me?!"

The old man's voice echoed faintly from above, sounding far too amused for Akira's liking. "Fufufu, young one. Good luck surviving. You're in the Forest of Beasts now. Try not to get eaten, hmm?"

Akira's blood ran cold. He glanced around the dark, dense forest, the air thick with the sounds of distant growls and snapping twigs. His heart pounded as he pushed himself to his feet, the faint glow of the moon barely illuminating his surroundings.

"Monsters...?" Akira muttered to himself, dread pooling in his stomach.

From somewhere in the shadows, a low, guttural growl echoed through the trees. Akira froze, his breath hitching.

"...I'm gonna kill that old man if I make it out of this alive," Akira muttered, gripping a fallen branch as a makeshift weapon. He turned slowly toward the sound of the growl, his pulse racing.

Akira turned to see a group of creatures lumbering toward him—three-armed, green-skinned monstrosities with heads as grotesque as nightmares. Their jagged teeth glinted in the dim light as they let out guttural growls. Akira's heart stopped.

"Nope, nope, nope!" he muttered, and without a second thought, he bolted.

The goblins screeched in delight, their clawed feet tearing across the forest floor as they gave chase. Akira weaved through the trees, his breath ragged, his lungs screaming for air. The creatures hurled daggers at him, the sharp projectiles slicing through the air. One whizzed past his ear, embedding itself in a nearby tree.

"HELP ME, OLD MAN!" Akira screamed, his voice cracking with desperation. "I DON'T WANT THIS! PLEASE, I'LL DO ANYTHING!"

But no response came. No mocking laugh, no cryptic answer. Just the sound of his own frantic footsteps and the guttural howls of the goblins closing in.

"This isn't like a manga," he thought bitterly. "This is terrifying!"

He felt his legs grow weaker with every step, his stamina depleting far faster than he could afford. His vision blurred, his breaths grew shallow, and his pace slowed.

That's when it happened.

A dagger hurled by one of the goblins found its mark, striking Akira square in the stomach.

"Ugh—!" He stumbled, his legs buckling as he fell to the ground. Pain seared through him, spreading like wildfire. Blood poured from the wound, staining his shirt and pooling beneath him. He screamed, his cries echoing through the forest as hot tears streamed down his face.

The goblins surrounded him, their sharp, hyena-like laughter ringing in his ears. They circled him, their jagged teeth bared in wicked grins.

"Please," Akira sobbed, clutching his stomach. "Please, I'll never come back here again. Just let me go!"

But the goblins didn't understand his pleas—or they didn't care. With gleeful cackles, they pounced on him.

The first goblin's claws tore into his leg, ripping through flesh like paper. Akira screamed as another latched onto his arm, its teeth sinking into his skin. Blood sprayed across the forest floor as the goblins tore into him, their sharp claws and teeth devouring him piece by piece.

The pain was indescribable, each moment stretching into an eternity of agony. He thrashed weakly, trying to push them away, but his strength was fading fast.

"It hurts…" he whimpered, his voice barely audible now. His body trembled as he looked up at the dark, gloomy sky above. "Why… why me?"

His vision began to dim, the edges of his world consumed by blackness. As his body failed him, the goblins continued their feast, their laughter the last sound he heard before everything went silent.

When Akira opened his eyes again, there was nothing but pitch black.

For a moment, there was no pain, no sound, no weight. He floated in the void, free from everything—the goblins, the forest, even himself.

"I'm free," he thought. "I'm finally free from all of it. No more pain… no more suffering. I don't have to deal with people… with their greed, their cruelty. I can finally rest."

But then, unbidden, memories began to flicker in the darkness.

He saw his old life: his office, the endless piles of work, and Mr. Tanaka, his bloated, greedy boss. He remembered collapsing at his desk, Tanaka hovering over him, asking about unfinished reports as Akira lay dying.

"That bastard…" Akira muttered bitterly. "If only I had quit. Maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe I wouldn't have been pushed into this insane world."

His thoughts turned to the goddess who had sent him here, her serene face flashing in his mind. A surge of anger bubbled up within him, more intense than anything he'd felt before. "She sent me here to suffer," he growled. "If I ever get the chance, I'll make her pay. I'll make all the gods pay."

Just as the rage consumed him, a faint light appeared in the distance. It was warm, inviting, and it drew him in like a moth to a flame.

Akira floated toward it, his mind strangely at peace. "So, this is the afterlife," he thought. "Maybe it's not so bad…"

But as he reached the light, everything shifted.

Akira woke up with a gasp, his body trembling. He was back in the forest, lying on the ground where the goblins had killed him. The air was thick with the stench of blood and rot.

He turned his head—and froze.

There, only a few feet away, was his lifeless body. What remained of it, anyway. His torso had been torn open, his limbs gnawed down to bone, and what little flesh remained was crawling with flies.

Akira retched, bile rising in his throat as he scrambled backward. "No… no, no, no!" he cried. "This can't be real!"

He looked down at himself. His body—no longer broken and bloodied—felt lighter, almost translucent. A gust of wind passed through him, chilling him to the bone.

"I… I'm a ghost?" Akira whispered, his voice shaking.

Before he could process the horror of his situation, the snapping of twigs pulled his attention.

The goblins were back. They sniffed the air, their glowing eyes scanning the area. One of them turned its head, locking its gaze on Akira.

"Damn it!" Akira hissed, scrambling to his feet. His panic mounted as he realized he had no weapon, no plan, nothing.

He turned and bolted, his bare feet pounding against the forest floor. The goblins screeched and gave chase, their laughter echoing in his ears.

"I don't want to do this again!" Akira screamed, tears stinging his eyes. "Old man, if you're listening, HELP ME!"

A dagger whizzed past him, grazing his arm and drawing blood. Akira gritted his teeth, clutching the wound. "Damn it… I swear, I'll kill all of you!"

As he ran, his eyes caught sight of a dark cave in the distance. Without thinking, he dashed inside, his heart pounding as he pressed himself against the wall.

The goblins stopped at the entrance, their screeches fading into silence. Slowly, they backed away, their hunched forms retreating into the trees.

Akira let out a shaky laugh, relief flooding his chest. "Yeah, that's right! Run, you little freaks!"

But his victory was short-lived.

A low, guttural growl echoed from the depths of the cave. Akira turned slowly, his blood running cold.

A massive wolf stepped into the faint light, its dark fur bristling, its glowing red eyes locked onto him. It stood nearly six meters tall, its fangs glinting as it let out another growl.

Akira's legs trembled as he backed away, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm… not getting out of this alive."

The wolf lunged.

Akira's scream was cut short as its jaws clamped down, and everything went dark once again.

Akira gasped awake again, his body fully restored. His skin was smooth, unblemished—no trace of the injuries he had suffered remained. It was as if he had respawned in a cruel game. Nearby, the massive wolf that had devoured him before now feasted on his lifeless body, gnawing at what little was left.

Akira's breath hitched as his eyes widened. "This is… insane. Am I immortal? Am I cursed to suffer this pain forever?"

The wolf turned toward him, its glowing red eyes locking onto Akira with a predatory gleam. Without warning, it lunged forward, its massive paw crashing into him like a wrecking ball. The force hurled Akira into a tree, the impact so violent that a sharp branch pierced straight through his stomach.

Akira choked on blood, the metallic taste flooding his mouth. His vision dimmed as the pain overwhelmed him, and his eyes fluttered shut.

He awoke again, his body whole and alive. The night was deep now, the stars and moon shining faintly above him. The forest was quiet, the only sounds those of distant nocturnal creatures.

Akira sat up slowly, shivering in the cold air. He glanced down at himself—still naked, still alive. "Damn it," he muttered, his voice trembling with frustration. "I feel cold. I feel everything."

He hugged his knees to his chest, staring blankly into the distance. His mind churned with memories of his past self—the weak, helpless Akira Kimura.

(I can't keep being pathetic forever. Crying like a scared child. Didn't I learn anything from my old life?)

The memories came flooding back—his middle school years, bullied relentlessly. University, where he was treated like a nobody. And then adulthood, where even his job had been a prison, with a boss who had worked him to death. Akira clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms.

"I was the useless son of the Kimura family. I couldn't stand up for myself then," he muttered. His voice grew louder, angrier. "Not at school. Not at work. Not even to my own father!"

He punched the ground, the pain in his knuckles grounding him. Then, as if something inside him snapped, Akira began to laugh. It was bitter and broken, a sound that echoed into the dark forest.

"Now I get it," he said, his laughter slowing as tears welled in his eyes. "The reason you sent me here… was to kill my past self, wasn't it?"

A familiar voice echoed in his mind, smooth and condescending. "I'm glad you understand. To unlock your true power, you must let go of your old self. Kill who you were, Theodore. Only then can you create a new story."

Akira froze. "You again… the old man," he muttered. He glanced around but saw nothing. "So now you're talking from inside my head? Watching me suffer over and over? You're heartless!"

The voice chuckled darkly. "Fufufu. I simply helped you realize what you needed to. Now, it's your turn to grow stronger. This is your trial, Theodore."

Akira exhaled, his breath shaky. "Fine. You want me to grow stronger? Then I'll survive this damned forest. I'll survive everything."

He clenched his fists and closed his eyes. (In every manga, the protagonist always has some cheesy awakening moment… Let's see if it works for me.)

He began to focus, clearing his mind. His breathing steadied as he tried to tap into whatever power the old man had hinted at. For minutes—maybe hours—he sat there, waiting for something to happen.

Then, like a knife through his skull, a sharp pain struck his head. He gasped, clutching at his temples as his mind flooded with knowledge, memories, and sensations. The book—the omniscience book—was pouring information into him.

Through the haze of pain, he laughed weakly. "Jackpot…"

The voice of the book echoed in his mind, whispering truths about mana. He saw it described as a flowing energy that connected all life, tied to the elements of fire, water, air, and earth. But when it came to dark magic, it was something entirely different—dangerous, potent, and alive within him.

Akira's spiritual form seemed to drift into his own body. Inside, he saw dark, purplish veins flowing with energy—dark magic potent and pure. His spirit self floated closer to his heart, where he instinctively began creating a mana circle, the foundation for wielding magic.

The process was agonizingly slow. Every moment felt like a battle as his body resisted the formation of the circle. Hours passed, but finally, he succeeded. A faint glow radiated from his heart.

As the circle completed, another wave of knowledge hit him. He gasped as he realized what it was: Aura. Unlike mana, aura was tied to one's spirit and strength, amplifying physical abilities.

"Two awakenings in one night?" Akira said aloud, his lips curling into a smirk. "I'll take it."

By morning, Akira sat cross-legged in front of the cave, his body naked but his mind sharper than ever. He meditated, his focus unwavering. The wolf emerged from its lair, its red eyes gleaming with hunger. It growled low, its body tensing as it prepared to pounce.

Akira didn't flinch.

As the wolf lunged, Akira's eyes snapped open. His hand shot up, catching the massive paw mid-air. The sheer force of the wolf's strike sent a shockwave through the ground, but Akira didn't budge.

With a roar, he flung the wolf toward a nearby tree. The impact splintered the trunk, sending shards of bark flying.

Akira stood, a confident smile spreading across his face. "What's the matter? You wanted me as your breakfast, didn't you? Well, not today."

The wolf snarled, recovering quickly, but Akira stepped forward, his aura flaring around him. "This time," he said, his voice low and menacing, "I'm eating you."

Akira's senses felt heightened beyond anything he thought possible. He could see every detail of the forest—the veins of leaves, the shimmer of dew on grass, even the delicate scurry of ants far below. Most strikingly, he could see mana. It glowed like a shimmering blue river flowing through the air, beautiful and otherworldly, something no ordinary human could ever perceive.

The wolf growled, its massive body tensing as it lunged at him, claws flashing. Akira dodged effortlessly, his movements sharper and faster than they had ever been. The wolf snarled in frustration, swiping again, but Akira leapt backward, landing lightly on a tree branch.

"You're going to have to do better than that," Akira taunted, darting from one branch to another as the wolf chased him below.

The forest became a blur as Akira led the beast through the dense trees. The wolf roared, sending a shockwave through the air that rattled the branches. Akira slipped, nearly losing his footing, but grabbed onto a branch and propelled himself forward, regaining his momentum.

"Keep following me, you oversized mutt!" Akira shouted, a grin spreading across his face despite the danger.

In the distance, he spotted smoke curling above the treetops. He focused his enhanced vision and saw it—the goblin village. A field of crude wooden houses surrounded by spiked fences loomed ahead.

"So you guys live here," Akira muttered, his smirk growing. "Perfect. Let's pay a visit."

With a final leap, Akira vaulted over the goblins' spiked barricade, landing squarely in the center of their village. His boots struck a goblin's head with enough force to crush its skull, blood spraying across the dirt.

The goblins froze in shock for a split second before their high-pitched whistles filled the air. Goblins poured out of their homes, surrounding Akira in a growing mob.

"I told you I'd kill you," Akira said, his voice low and menacing. "And since you all look the same to me, I guess I'll just have to kill everyone."

The goblins screeched and charged at him, their crude weapons swinging wildly. Akira grabbed the dagger from the goblin he had killed and dove into the fray. He moved like a whirlwind, slashing and dodging with precision. Goblins fell left and right, their blood staining the earth.

Suddenly, the wooden fence surrounding the village exploded inward as the massive wolf barreled through, its red eyes blazing with rage. It tore into the goblins, scattering them like leaves in a storm. The village descended into chaos as goblins screamed and fled, only to be caught in the wolf's jaws or skewered by Akira's blade.

Amidst the carnage, the wolf slowed. It staggered, its snarls growing weaker. Poison from the goblins' crude weapons had seeped into its body. With a final pained growl, the beast collapsed to the ground, its massive form lifeless.

Akira stood amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving as he surveyed the scene. Goblins and the wolf lay dead around him, their blood soaking into the dirt.

"Well," Akira muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "That worked out better than I expected. Guess I'm finally getting the hang of this."

As he turned to leave, a sharp, searing pain tore through his head. Akira fell to his knees, clutching his temples as the book's knowledge poured into his mind.

"Damn it… what now?!" he gasped, gritting his teeth.

The pain eased, replaced by a surge of understanding. The book had given him a new skill: Shadow Puppet. The power to manipulate shadows and create copies of people from them. Akira glanced at the wolf's corpse, the gears in his mind already turning.

"I'll save that for later," he muttered, a small grin tugging at his lips. "For now, I need to train."

Two months passed in the illusionary realm. During that time, Akira honed his skills, fighting goblins, wolves, and even orcs. His body grew stronger, his reflexes sharper, and his mastery over dark magic deeper. He fashioned clothes from the wolf's pelt to shield himself from the elements and wielded weapons scavenged from his fallen foes.