The Illusion Of Life

Marlin awoke to find himself lying on the cold ground, bound and surrounded by a group of corpses. The room was dark, the air cold, and a nauseating stench filled the space, making him gag. His head throbbed with pain, and his eyelids felt heavy, as though they were fighting to close again. But he forced himself to stay awake.

Looking around, what caught his attention immediately were the bodies scattered in every corner. The faces were grotesque, their eyes half-open, staring lifelessly as if they were fixed on him. Some of the bodies were decayed, the skin peeled off to reveal bones, and the flesh had decomposed in several places. The body closest to him was that of an elderly man, someone he had seen just the day before at the market, shopping with his brother. Marlin's heart skipped a beat as he realized who it was. He had seen this man in life, and now he was reduced to a corpse, his eyes wide open in an unnatural stare, watching him with that lifeless, haunting gaze.

Marlin's fear deepened as a strange, chilling sensation crept over him. His throat tightened, his skin prickled with dread. For the first time, he felt an overwhelming sense of terror, as if the air itself was heavy with death. The bodies in the room felt like ominous sentinels, each one a silent reminder that this place was not ordinary. It was not his world.

In the midst of the dread, he heard soft whispers coming from nearby. Marlin's heart raced as he realized there were others in the room. Their voices were low but threatening, like shadows creeping closer to him.

One of them spoke in a whisper: "Shall we move to the next phase, leader?"

The leader's voice was cold and detached. "No, we won't move until we receive the will of the Herald of the Abyss, Valios."

Marlin's heart stopped. "Herald of the Abyss?" These words were completely foreign to him. He didn't understand what they meant, but one thing was clear: this world was unlike anything he had ever known. There were forces at play here—forces beyond the natural, beyond anything he could comprehend.

His thoughts raced as he slowly began to accept the truth: this was not his world. This place, with its shadows and whispers, was ruled by something far more powerful than he had ever imagined. He was trapped in a nightmare.

With trembling hands, he tried to free himself from the ropes binding him. He attempted to bite through the cords with his teeth, desperation rising in his chest. But before he could make any progress, a sharp kick to his abdomen sent him crashing to the ground, his body wracked with pain and nausea.

He barely had time to recover before the leader turned toward him, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Marlin. Those eyes were filled with a terrifying intensity, and for a moment, Marlin felt as though his very soul was being weighed and judged. It was a gaze that froze him in place, paralyzing him with fear.

"How did you get past the barrier?" the leader asked, his voice devoid of emotion, but thick with power.

Marlin stammered, his mind a blur. "I... I don't know," he managed to say, confusion and fear bubbling up inside him.

A hard blow came from one of the followers, sending Marlin to the ground again, pain shooting through his side. He tried to gather his thoughts, but the blows kept coming, each one more brutal than the last. His body was beginning to give way under the pressure.

The leader spoke coldly as he approached Marlin. "If you want to survive, you must join us."

Marlin's thoughts were clouded. He was in an awful position, and he felt an overwhelming fear. Yet, despite this, he began to consider the offer that might save him. His life was at risk, but joining this group meant becoming something else, something he never wanted to be.

The leader added with a cunning tone, "You'll sign a contract under the Covenant of the Herald of the Abyss. If you do that, you will become one of us, and you will gain our power. But if you refuse, the consequences will be far worse."

Marlin's face turned pale as he felt the weight of the decision. The offer was tempting, but he knew it wasn't that simple. He wasn't ready to give up everything, but at the same time, he was in real danger.

The leader looked at him with a mocking smile, as if he could read Marlin's thoughts. "Remember, boy, opportunities don't come often. This is just a whim of mine."