Son of darkness

David was running with all his strength, occasionally glancing back. Wounded and barely able to move, he continued fleeing.

Eventually, he reached a mountain. Climbing it, he saw a large temple. Raising his head and holding himself up, he began walking. As he approached the temple entrance, he looked up and saw an inscription: Temple of the God of Darkness.

Entering inside, he saw statues kneeling toward the center, where there was a massive statue.

Looking at it, David asked, "What is this statue?" Lowering his head, he saw an altar. Approaching it, he lay down, exhausted and unable to move any part of his body.

Due to blood loss, he began to lose consciousness. Suddenly, the temple doors slowly began to open, and a massive hand appeared.

The sound of claws screeching echoed through the temple. The demon's body entered. Glancing around, it walked toward David.

David, realizing his end was near, accepted it and rested his head on the altar. Blood flowed from his mouth and ran onto the altar. Suddenly, David's blood turned black.

He closed his eyes just as the Snowy Mountain Demon raised its hand to strike. But the statue stopped the demon's hand. Turning around, the demon attempted to attack it.

Striking the statue, the demon's hand passed through. A mass of darkness enveloped its hand and then its entire body. The demon screamed in agony.

A minute later, the demon's screams ceased, and the statue returned to its place. At that moment, a voice echoed in David's subconscious:

"Number 003 has passed the Prologue of Fate. For his outstanding performance — the killing of character Raihan by the hands of a demon, and for managing to defeat the Snowy Mountain Demon — he is granted a Supreme Attribute. Number 003 shall become the successor of the God of Darkness."

"Additionally, for his achievement, he is granted the title: Lord of Darkness."

Hearing this, David was shocked. A Supreme Attribute and the title of Lord of Darkness? Attributes were usually ranked as Low, Medium, High, and Supreme... and now he had one? And a title?

David was still overwhelmed by the gifts of fate.

Voice of Fate: "The Lord of Darkness has completed the Prologue. He is returning now."

After that, David closed his eyes. When he opened them, he found himself in a hospital room, strapped down. Trying to move, he couldn't break free.

Suddenly, a disgusting smell hit David's nose. Grimacing, he said, "What's that smell?"

The door opened, and a man around 30 years old with a scar over half his face walked in. Approaching David, he began speaking.

"You're awake," the man said.

"Yes," David replied, looking at him. "Can I ask, what's that smell?"

"That's the smell of your body. You could say you've shed the shackles of your human form. You're now a superhuman with abilities."

David replied, "Alright."

The man smiled. "My name is Ethan. Yours is David, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. I'll release you now." Saying this, he began unstrapping David. Once free, David stood up, looked at his body, moved it around, and said, "It feels so light."

Ethan said, "Yeah, it will. Because you're no longer human — you're superhuman. Now, come with me. You'll take a bath and then have lunch."

"Alright." David followed him. After bathing, he came out, looked in the mirror, and put on a blindfold.

Leaving the bath, he went to the cafeteria. Spotting Ethan, he joined him. Sitting down, Ethan asked, "So, how do you feel after the Prologue?"

While eating, David said, "Like shit."

Hearing that, Ethan laughed. "I felt the same after my Prologue."

"Well, eat. Then I'll take you to the Academy of the Awakened. By the way, I forgot to ask — which demon did you fight? Mine was a low-level demon."

David replied, "The Snowy Mountain Demon. Mid-rank."

Ethan's face showed shock. "Mid-rank? Seriously?"

"Yes."

"I see…" Ethan looked down, deep in thought. "In that case, I suggest you stay out of sight of the clans. Otherwise, they'll start wars over you."

David was surprised. "Why?"

"Because only ten people in the world have ever passed a mid-rank demon. They all became successors of gods."

"And you're the eleventh."

David was stunned. "Alright, I got it."

After finishing their meal, they got into a car and headed to the academy. They were silent the whole ride. Arriving at the academy, Ethan said to David:

"Good luck."

David thanked him, got out, and walked toward the academy. Standing before the gates, he thought:

"Such enormous gates..."

While lost in thought, he didn't notice a girl next to him — about 18 years old, with long white hair down to her waist and skin as pale as lig

ht.

Seeing her, David thought to himself:

"Her... I've seen her somewhere before..."