Ash and Shadow

Earth was devastated by "The Fall"—a parasitic reality called the Forgotten World began consuming our own—humanity survives in isolated settlements surrounded by corrupting darkness. The city of Valtaros stands as one of civilization's last bastions, ruled by the Church of the Maw, which venerates a mysterious entity believed to be humanity's salvation.

Elias, a ruthless survivor from Valtaros's slums, discovers strange black markings spreading across his skin—the dreaded sign that the Black Maw has chosen him. Forced to undergo its lethal trials that few survive, Elias must navigate a dual-phase ordeal that tests both his skills and his moral character. As he confronts the true nature of the Maw and its connection to humanity's past, Elias faces a fundamental choice: cling to his survival-at-all-costs mentality or embrace sacrifice to forge a new balance between realities.