The Abyss That Chose Me

It was black.

Not darkness, but something deeper—an absolute void. No light. No sound. No time.

And yet, he existed.

Drifting. Splintered. Cold.

Then, a voice echoed—not through the ears, but directly into the remnants of his soul.

"Aeron Valecross, Archmage of the Ninth Circle… Betrayed by those you raised. Poisoned by the throne you protected. Abandoned by the lover who swore eternity."

The voice was smooth. Genderless. Patient.

He tried to respond but couldn't. His essence was scattered—memories swimming like dying stars around a sunless core.

"You've entered the Void Plane. A prison for forgotten gods, banished relics, and discarded systems."

"But I… am different. I am the last of the Forbidden Systems."

Silence.

Then—a flicker of sound. Not quite a heartbeat, but close.

A memory returned like a dagger:

Aeron, standing bloodied atop the Silver Ramparts, fire and ash swirling behind him. His robes were torn. His staff cracked.

The sky split as the Royal Vanguard descended—men he once led. A familiar voice rang out:

"For crimes against the Crown, Aeron Valecross is hereby sentenced to execution."

Crown Prince Elric, his student. His friend. Sword drawn. Smiling.

And behind him… Elira.

His lover.

Eyes wet, lips trembling—but her magic was the one that sealed his legs in place.

He didn't curse. Didn't beg.

He just stared.

As the divine bolt pierced his chest, he whispered, "You'll regret this."

And the world fell away.

Now, in the Void Plane, something stirred.

"Your hate... it's sharp. It kept your soul intact."

"I offer you a pact, Aeron. Become my vessel. Bear the Void Seed and walk the path of the Forbidden."

"Or fade. Forgotten forever."

He might have laughed, if he had a mouth. Instead, his will flared.

A choice?

There was no choice.

He had work to finish.

"I accept."

The Void trembled.

...

[System Binding Initiated…]

[Void Seed Implanted]

[Warning: Host has no physical body. Preparing reincarnation vessel…]

A swirling tunnel formed—colors, lights, memories not his own funneling through him.

[New Vessel Selected: Aeron Blackthorn – 17 years old. Noble House. Magicless. Disgraced. Engaged to Princess Selene of Solaria.]

[Warning: Vessel's life currently in critical danger…]

...

Thud!

Pain.

Breath. Sharp. Gasping.

He sat up violently.

Air filled his lungs like knives. His vision blurred—then focused on a cracked stone ceiling. Cobwebs danced in corners. Damp mold seeped from fractured bricks.

The taste of blood coated his tongue.

He was lying on a rickety wooden bed in a dilapidated room. A single window, barred. Rusted iron.

His body—slim. Weak. But alive.

His name… Aeron Blackthorn.

He touched his chest, where a bruise was forming. His memory returned in pieces: the original Aeron Blackthorn had been beaten unconscious by his own servants.

Why?

Because he was useless. Magicless. The last disgrace of House Blackthorn.

But now, this body was his.

And the Void System pulsed within him like a second heartbeat.

...

[Void System Active.]

[Welcome, Aeron.]

[Initializing Primary Directives…]

...

He stood slowly. Pain blossomed in his ribs, but he gritted his teeth.

A mirror stood in the corner—dust-covered, cracked.

He wiped it with a sleeve.

A young man stared back. Tousled black hair, a sharp chin. Pale from malnourishment, but with the same cold, storm-brewing-in-silence eyes he'd worn in his past life.

He was back.

Stronger than ever.

...

[Mission: Survive the assassination attempt scheduled tonight.]

[Reward: Void Skill – "Corrupt Mana Threading"]

...

Aeron stilled.

So the girl… his fiancée, Princess Selene… she hadn't just rejected the engagement.

She had sent someone to finish the job.

A corner of his lip twitched upward.

Typical royalty.

He took a breath, then limped to the door. It creaked open. Dust rose from the hallway beyond.

From the far corridor, he heard footsteps—two men. Whispering.

"...worthless brat should've died earlier. Why the princess keeps this engagement active is beyond me."

"Rumor says she's planning to use him for some ritual. Damn freak still breathing…"

Aeron's fingers tightened around a broken candleholder by the wall.

He stepped into the hallway.

The two servants—both armed, sneering—froze.

"What the hell… he's up?"

"Impossible—he was—"

Crack.

The first man fell, unconscious before he hit the ground.

The second swung his short blade—but Aeron twisted, using the man's momentum, and slammed the candleholder into his temple.

He dropped with a dull thud.

Aeron exhaled.

...

[Void Combat Style – Phase 1 awakened.]

[Harem Point +1 | Confidence Bonus Triggered.]

[Skill Gained: "Void Reflex (Passive) – Predict enemy movement by sensing emotional fluctuations."]

...

He blinked.

Interesting.

"System," he whispered, wiping blood off his new clothes, "I want to see everything. Status. Skills. And what else you offer."

...

[Acknowledged. Displaying.]

[Name: Aeron Blackthorn (Valecross)]

[Age: 17]

[Bloodline: ??? – Partially Locked]

[Magic Circles: 0/10]

[System: Void System – Forbidden Path Access Granted]

[Unique Skill: Corrupt Evolution – Consume, Adapt, Enhance any spell or artifact.]

[Active Void Seed: 7% Awakened]

[Affinities: Unknown (Under Assessment)]

[Harem Points: 1]

[Dominion Influence: 0%]

...

He chuckled.

Still at the start, huh?

But not for long.

He turned back toward his room. Time to prepare.

Later that night…

The manor was silent. Moonlight poured over the cracked stone balconies, illuminating the wilted banners of House Blackthorn.

Aeron stood in the shadows behind a pillar. Waiting.

Then—soft footsteps. A blade gleamed in the dark.

A masked assassin crept through the hallway. Slender. Fast. A professional.

She reached the bedroom door, pushed it open—

Only to find the bed… empty.

Too late, she sensed it.

Aeron dropped from above—his knee slammed into her back, pinning her down. One arm twisted her wrist, sending the dagger clattering.

His breath touched her ear.

"Go back and tell your mistress—Aeron Blackthorn is dead."

He twisted her arm slightly.

"But Aeron Valecross lives."

And then, before she could scream, he let her fall unconscious.

...

[Mission Complete.]

[Void Skill Gained – Corrupt Mana Threading: Steal and modify any basic spell to fit Void Alignment.]

...

By morning, the household stirred—only to find the assassin trussed and hanging upside down from the gate, with a note pinned to her chest:

"Next time, send someone stronger."

—Aeron.

The servants murmured. Whispers filled the halls.

Something was… different.

He wasn't walking with his head down anymore.

He walked like he owned the world.

To be continued in Chapter 2: The Crownless Prince and the Cursed Betrothal

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