Xsafron

In a world overshadowed by eternal darkness, monstrous creatures born from meteorite fragments have ravaged humanity, forcing survivors underground into a colony devoid of light. Among them is Zami Agatoru, a young man burdened by tragedy and destined for greatness. Once a promising warrior of his clan, Zami was the sole survivor of a monster attack that claimed his family and clan. Now, he dwells in the vast, oppressive underworld, facing unimaginable horrors while seeking redemption and purpose.  

Zami’s strength stems not from supernatural powers but from years of relentless training and a cursed ability: revival. Upon death, Zami revives moments before his defeat, retaining memories and honing his skills over countless lifetimes. This ability has allowed him to surpass human limits, evolving both mind and body into the perfect warrior.  

Armed with a black katana forged from an otherworldly stone and a toxic dagger he crafted from monster bones, Zami ventures deeper into the colony. He faces terrifying Vessels, avatars of powerful entities tied to the meteorites. Each Vessel wields devastating abilities, challenging Zami’s resolve and pushing him beyond his physical and mental limits.  

As Zami progresses, he unravels the colony's dark secrets: the origin of the meteorites, the true nature of the Vessels, and the essence of the creatures that worship these fragments. Along the way, he uncovers the deeper truth about himself and the entity that dwells within him—Karesh, a being tied to the meteorite’s power.  

Driven by the need to protect humanity and confront the Vessels, Zami faces impossible odds. From the Abyssal Cradle, home of the fearsome Wailing Dread, to the Forsaken Hollow, where the Silent Agony’s true body lies, and the Withering Spire, where Shattered Dominion warps reality itself, Zami battles creatures that defy logic.  

Amid this chaos, Zami grapples with his humanity. His stoic, emotionless demeanor hides a young man carrying the weight of loss and duty. Moments of quiet—crafting weapons, preparing food, or reflecting on his clan’s philosophy—highlight his depth and resilience.  

Through countless revivals, bloody battles, and grueling challenges, Zami inches closer to his ultimate goal: destroying the meteorite fragments and ending the monsters’ reign. But with each battle, the cost of his journey grows heavier, forcing him to confront the essence of sacrifice, mortality, and the question of what it truly means to be human.

No Path but the Void

Zami stood before the dark, pulsating remains of the Forsaken Hollow, the walls whispering with the faint remnants of Silent Agony's presence. He moved slowly, dragging his steps as if the weight of the world itself was pressing upon him. His once-cracked dagger now lay in ruins, shattered beyond recognition, the last vestiges of its form crumbling to dust in his grip. The Silent Agony shard he had recovered from the true form of the Vessel now burned cold in his hand.

The other two shards—the ones from the Wailing Dread and the Bone Monarch—rested in the pouch tied securely to his waist, their power still pulsating in sync with the twisted rhythm of his heart.

As Zami stepped beyond the crumbling threshold of the chamber, he was immediately struck by a shift in the air. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and the tormented, hollow cries of the Silent Agony reverberated through the cavernous expanse. They were no longer faint echoes but physical manifestations, forming an oppressive chorus of agony that filled the very air.

Zami's eyes narrowed as the world around him seemed to warp. His silver gaze pierced through the shadowed haze, spotting something… disturbing.

The wandering souls emerged from the very walls, flickering like phantoms trapped between the realms of life and death. Their forms, twisted and broken, seemed caught in eternal torment. They moved with a sense of aimlessness, like shadows without direction, yet their very presence filled the space with a suffocating weight.

Agony—the source of their torment—clung to every soul, a miasmic aura that roiled in the air. The once-peaceful expanse of Forsaken Hollow had transformed into a bleak, cursed domain, teeming with the lost remnants of the colony's dead. Every step Zami took was met with the mournful whispers of these souls, their eyes wide with silent pleas that never reached his ears.

Then, amidst the horde of wandering souls, the voice of Silent Agony pierced through the veil.

"I do not care about my kin inside you…" the voice echoed, its tone cold, filled with dark malice. "I will torment you from within!"

Zami's grip on the shards tightened, his heart pounding with each passing second as the ground beneath him began to shake. The tendrils of the Silent Agony twisted around the air like serpents, their mass coiling and uncoiling with an unnatural ferocity.

He could hear the faint scrape of claws on stone as something larger moved beneath the earth. Silent Agony's true form was ever-present in the souls that surrounded him. Zami's eyes flicked toward the bodies of the restless souls—beings who had long since lost their humanity, now mere vessels for torment.

For the first time, Zami felt the weight of his three shards. The power in his hand, still too incomplete to offer him full control, was now a dangerous reminder of the path ahead. Silent Agony's legacy lived on in those shards, and the terror they wrought had only just begun.

Zami steeled himself. "Three shards," he murmured, his voice cold, the battle-hardened tone returning. "And still, there's more to fight."

The wandering souls began to gather in a swirling mass around him, their movements synchronized like a dreadful tide. Each one reached out with empty hands, the agony in their eyes matching the cold rage in Zami's heart. The ground trembled again, and Zami took a step forward, his resolve unwavering.

Silent Agony had claimed this place and its dead, but it would not claim him.

The Weight of Shards