mio_4909

One quiet night in Shanghai, Haoran found a strange cigarette on the wet pavement. Its edges were darkened, but it wasn’t burnt. A thin, silvery mist curled from it, almost like it was alive.

Curious, he lit it and took a slow drag.

The taste was bitter, metallic wrong. A sharp pain spread through his chest, like fire and ice fighting inside him. He coughed hard, but the smoke didn’t leave. Instead, it thickened, twisting into the air like living shadows.

Then, from the swirling smoke, something took shape, a tall figure with glowing ember eyes and skin made of shifting ash. Its voice was deep and heavy, like burning coal.

“You have awakened me,” it said. “Now, your fate is sealed.”

Haoran’s hands shook, the cigarette still between his fingers. He thought he had just found an old cigarette. Instead, he had inhaled something far more dangerous.

Ashen Host

Who would've thought a random Friday night would change everything?

Haoran never believed in fate, luck, or anything beyond what he could see. But the moment he picked up that cigarette, everything shifted. The spirit inside him made him faster, stronger, dangerous. He could sense things before they happened, feel the weight of bad intentions lingering in the air. He wasn't just some broke guy scraping by anymore. Now, he was something more.

Money came easy now. A quick job, a few thugs with wallets full of cash, and suddenly he wasn't starving anymore. But he knew this wasn't sustainable. Beating up small-time criminals and pickpockets wouldn't keep him comfortable forever. He needed something bigger, more money, more ways to use his power without getting caught.

Haoran wasn't stupid. He knew the police didn't care about justice. They cared about order. If bodies started piling up, even criminals, someone would take notice. And if people started whispering about a shadowy figure who never got caught? It would only be a matter of time before the wrong people started looking.

Haoran leaned against the cold, cracked wall of his apartment, staring at the city lights through his dirty window. How far could he push this before it became too risky?

The spirit inside him shifted, like smoke curling through his mind. It had been quiet for a while, but Haoran could feel it there, waiting. Watching.

"You're thinking too much," the spirit finally spoke, its voice deep and knowing.

Haoran exhaled, watching the cigarette burn between his fingers. "I'm thinking smart. You wanna keep this going, right? Then we need a plan."

The spirit chuckled. "A plan? You already have power. What more do you need?"

"Ways to use it without ending up behind bars," Haoran muttered. "Or worse."

The spirit hummed in amusement. "You're learning."

Haoran knew this was only the beginning. He had power, but power without control was useless. He needed to be careful. He needed to be smart.

And most importantly, he needed more

Power