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2024-10-29 19:42:56As Xander attempted to crawl back, he found his leg pinned down, rendering him helpless. Despite his desperate struggle, the mage continued to approach him, causing Xander to inwardly sigh, knowing that something dreadful was about to unfold.
With his fate hanging in the balance, Xander knew that his survival depended on outwitting the powerful mage who now stood before him, ready to decide his fate.
"Who sent you to rob me?" the mage calmly inquired, his wrists crackling with lightning bolts, a menacing threat to Xander.
"We don't have to do this. We just accepted a quest from the adventurer's guild," Xander tried to maintain his composure despite the dangerous situation. Ever since he had acquired his cursed powers, his mind had developed a knack for staying calm in perilous circumstances, allowing him to focus on survival.
But in a sudden display of force, the mage raised his finger and fired a lightning bolt that struck the ground just inches away from Xander. His heart skipped a beat, and his body jolted in shock.
"Tell me more. Who posted the quest?" the mage demanded.
"I don't know. I simply joined them because the quest required five men," Xander replied, his gaze drifting to the lifeless bodies of the three bald brothers lying in a heap while Lionel's blood still warmed the ground at Xander's feet.
"I can end your life without making you suffer if you tell me the truth. Otherwise, you'll wish for death," the mage threatened.
“I can see you are hiding something,” said the mage. His instincts sensed that the young man before him held secrets, mistakenly assuming Xander was concealing information about who had orchestrated the quest to rob him.
"I'm telling you the truth. Look, just let me go, and I'll leave the kingdom, never to cross your path again," Xander pleaded, desperately hoping to avoid further bloodshed.
"Seems like you're not good at sharing," the mage snickered, raising his finger. A brilliant blue lightning bolt shot forth, piercing Xander's left thigh. Agony surged through him, and blood splattered onto the ground.
"ARGH," Xander growled in pain, his voice filled with a mix of anguish and frustration.
"You... you have no idea... what's about to happen..." Xander's words carried a dangerous warning that caught the mage by surprise.
"You've got guts, mortal. I'll give you that. Most beg for their lives, unlike you who dares to threaten a mage," The mage's curiosity grew about the young man's enigmatic demeanor.
With the mage's wry smile and approaching steps, Xander had no choice but to tap into his cursed powers. Reluctant as he was, he had no alternative. Slowly, he reached toward Lionel, turning and falling to the ground beside him.
“We don't need to do this. Believe me, you've no idea about the thing within me,” Xander warned, though he knew it wouldn't likely work.
Having a clear view of Lionel's neck, Xander knew what he had to do. The mage neared, placing his foot on Xander's wounded leg, pressing the splinter buried beneath his kneecap.
"ARGH!" Xander groaned, each moment feeling like an eternity as the mage continued to inflict suffering.
"Who posted the quest? There's no point in hiding it," the mage snickered.
"You arrogant..." Xander scoffed, teeth clenched against the pain.
"Swearing at a mage? Punishable by death," the mage sneered.
"You'll kill me anyway," Xander retorted, determination unwavering.
“You...” The mage shouted.
As the mage prepared to speak, Xander seized wet soil, hurling it. The mage shielded his face, granting Xander an opening.
Seizing the opportunity, Xander lunged, teeth sinking into Lionel's neck. Canines turned to fangs, ripping Lionel's flesh and accessing his blood.
Xander closed his eyes and hesitated before drinking from Lionel's neck. Just months ago, the thought would have horrified him. Now, the blood tasted like a divine elixir, the craving growing.
As Xander fed, a miraculous transformation occurred. His wounds healed rapidly, pain receding. The wooden splinter shot out, the wound closing.
The mage wiped dirt from his face, opening his eyes to a nightmarish sight. The young man he'd tortured now stood, blood dripping from his chin and mouth. The mage's confusion was evident. "What... How?"
"I warned you," Xander's voice was cold. The mage watched in astonishment as the young man's eyes shifted from black to crimson red. His eyes glowed like fiery rubies, an unsettling display of newfound power.
The mage's hands shivered as he raised his hand for a lightning bolt, but the young man blurred, effortlessly evading the attack. The mage's lightning bolt missed, leaving him unnerved.
Before the mage could react, excruciating pain shot through his gut. He looked down, blood trickling from his mouth. A bloody hand protruded from his abdomen – Xander's devastating punch had torn through flesh and bone.
Xander withdrew his hand as the mage turned, lightning bolts around his fists vanishing. The mage's legs wobbled, powerless against Xander's presence. With visible fangs and a blood-covered face, Xander was a terrifying sight.
The mage's gasping words lingered in the wake of his demise, revealing his astonishment.
"You... you're... a blood mage..." he mumbled, struggling to comprehend.
“Xander, we're blood mages. Unique among dark mages. Even others fear us,” Xander recalled Lucious's words. He knew only of mages powered by elemental gods, until Lucious explained the existence of dark mages.
“But we're rare, hunted, hunted by the mage hunters. If you don't master your powers, you will be their prey,”
“I never wanted this power. I want a cure!” Xander remembered shouting at Lucious.
Xander's body surged with power, his senses heightened. He heard the mage's heart, details sharpening around him.
“Drink his blood,” the voice inside him whispered. The urge to give in and bite the mage's neck was strong.
“Use your powers when needed. Don't turn into an abomination,” Lucious's voice echoed.
"Tell me how to rid myself of these powers. Show me the cure," Xander's desperation was clear.
The mage coughed and laughed, blood trickling. Xander's inflicted wound drained his life.
"Run... The only cure... is death..." the mage muttered, the light of life in his eyes fading.
"I can’ tdie, you fool," Xander shot back, defiance and anger surging.
The mage's assumption of Xander's vulnerability revealed ignorance about blood mages. Their abilities were both blessing and curse. The mage lay unaware of Xander's cursed existence, fueling his determination to escape this fate.
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With the mage's lifeless body at his feet, Xander had to act swiftly. He couldn't linger in this dangerous territory. The quest's item waited in the lavish carriage, promising ten thousand gold coins. Xander's heart raced as he weighed the risks and rewards."I need those coins," Xander whispered, determined. Retrieving the item was his chance at a better life, a step closer to curing his powers.“I must vanish from Emberlyn before the mage guild knows he's dead.”Approaching the carriage, he glimpsed inside – red cushions, fragrant jasmines. His focus landed on the brown-cloth-covered quest item.“A human skull? What the hell?” He revealed a jade-green skull, eerie yet beautiful."No time to think," Xander muttered, securing the skull. He didn't investigate; he needed to deliver it and get paid. With the item, he dashed into the forest, heading straight for Emberlyn, where new challenges and dangers awaited him.As the sun dipped, casting a golden hue, Xander emerged from the forest,
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With his payment secured, Xander left the guild, ignoring new quests. He held all ten thousand coins, a relief for his situation. The coin purse safely tucked in his jacket, he joined the bustling streets.A carriage moved through the street. Seizing an opportunity, Xander leaped onto the back, a trick he'd mastered as an orphan to travel without spending a coin.Holding on, Xander rode toward his destination. The carriage stopped on the bustling north side, where ships anchored and goods moved. The silvery ocean glowed under the moon.The carriage halted. Xander dropped onto muddy streets, blending into the crowd and navigating the busy streets.Amid the chaos, a sudden criy erupted."My purse is gone!""Thief over there!""Quick! Get him!"As Xander navigated the bustling port, he noticed a yelling nobleman nearby. But he didn't plan to intervene; pickpockets were common here, and he avoided trouble. Walking past the nobleman, he felt eyes on him. With his rough look, thieves likely
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As the morning sun rose, casting a golden glow over the port, Xander woke. The voices from his dreams faded. He patted his inner pocket, ensuring his coin pouch was safe.He stretched and descended the creaky stairs. Downstairs, the tavern was restored after yesterday's brawl. Patrons sprawled on the floor, groaning from hangovers and dreams.“Hey Xander, hungry? Warm porridge and fresh bread here,” Agatha's gruff voice called as he settled onto a barstool.“How much is it this time? Did you raise the prices again?” Xander asked, rolling his eyes in mock exasperation.“You're a smart one, aren't you? Two gold coins for the porridge and an extra piece of bread will cost you more,” Agatha replied.“Seems like you're making a fortune here. You could open up a branch in the noble district,” Xander teased as he took out the required coins and placed them on the table.Agatha snorted, her brown dress swaying slightly as she pocketed the gold coins in a leather pouch hanging at her side. "N
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Intense pain surged through Xander's body. It was a sensation unlike any he'd felt before—an overwhelming hunger for blood. His surroundings seemed to lose color, replaced by a haunting black and white. His vision honed in on the pulsing red dots that symbolized beating hearts. Panic gripped him, and fear threaded through his thoughts."Need to get off the streets," Xander muttered, staggering away from the people around him. He moved unsteadily, his gaze catching sight of a metal gate leading into the sewers. As he stumbled in that direction, a group of sailors and port workers jeered at his disoriented state."Look at this fool,""Hey, where's he headed?""Probably scavenging for more coin to buy more drinks,"Their taunts were like nails on a chalkboard, amplifying the agony he felt. Clenching his fists, Xander fought the maddening urge to lash out and satiate his bloodlust.Xander pressed on towards the sewer gate, the sunlight feeling like fire against his skin, intensifying his
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As the thugs continued to walk away from Xander's body, the boss felt an unsettling hush settling in the sewer. His instincts, honed through years of killing, prickled with unease. Something was not right. Just as he halted his steps, the flickering torches lining the walls suddenly extinguished, plunging the area into disconcerting darkness.In the velvety blackness where the thugs could barely see their own hands, a rustling sound emerged from behind them. The boss was the first to turn around, his heart pounding in his chest."Boss, what's wrong?" one of the thugs asked nervously."Light a torch," the boss commanded. The thug, confused by the abrupt order, didn't dare question him. He hurriedly approached a nearby torch and drew his flint. Striking the blade of his dagger, sparks flickered and landed on the oil-dipped torch, igniting it with a sputtering flame.As the torch slowly illuminated the surroundings, the thugs and their leader stood in stunned silence. Their eyes widened
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"Go away!" Deep within his mind, Xander's voice echoed with frustration and desperation."You're a weakling. Don't fight me. Just let me take control over your body and mind," Xander's second personality retorted in an otherworldly tone, a sinister presence lurking in his words."You're going to get me killed," Xander's true self retorted, the voice resonating with a mix of fear and determination.Meanwhile, in the physical world, Xander's body stood amidst the grimness of the sewer, engaged in a conversation that seemed almost surreal, with his own reflection in a pool of filthy water."They'll search for the killer once they find the bodies. We've already killed the mage!" Xander's more reasonable side growled, trying to maintain a tenuous grasp on his sanity."I didn't kill him. You did," The blood-hungry persona spoke callously, devoid of remorse."It doesn't matter. They're going to hang me. If I'm dead, you can't do anything," the rational part of Xander lamented, the weight of
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Xander entered the room and softly closed the door behind him, his curiosity overcoming his caution. Bloodhound's persistent warnings were met with Xander's determination to press forward, fueled by the desire to uncover the truth and secure the elusive cure.“Who the hell killed this guy?” Xander mumbled to himself, his eyes scanning the room for any clues or the coveted invitation.“Im telling you, Xander. You are getting way deeper into trouble,” Bloodhound's voice cautioned, but Xander was too focused to heed the warning. He scoured the room meticulously, cautious not to make any noise or disturb the scene. As he moved about, his search led him near Roberts' lifeless body.Carefully navigating the room, Xander found himself standing next to a drawer adjacent to the bed.“Please be here,” Xander whispered under his breath, his hope intertwined with the suspense of the moment. He gingerly pulled open the drawer to reveal a collection of books, not what he was looking for. Dishearten
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Three grueling days after their harrowing encounter with the yetis, the trio finally saw their destination looming on the horizon: the dark forest. The sight of it was enough to dampen the spirits of even the most stalwart adventurer. Towering trees, so dense and tall that they seemed to swallow the light, stood as silent sentinels guarding secrets untold. A mist clung to the forest floor, giving the entire landscape an ethereal, yet ominous, quality."Ah, the dark forest. Just the sort of place you'd expect to find in a cheerful tale of adventure and heroism," Xander quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm as they approached. "I bet it's filled with sunshine, rainbows, and friendly woodland creatures just dying to invite us over for tea."Atheria rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, definitely. I hear the dark, soul-sucking void at its heart is particularly inviting this time of year. We should definitely RSVP."Erik, who had been quiet, his gaze fixed on the forest's
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As the trio braced themselves for the yetis' counterattack, the creatures proved their cunning once more. Rather than engaging directly in their weakened state, the yetis used the storm to their advantage, disappearing into the swirling snow to regroup and launch a more strategic assault."We can't let them regroup!" Atheria shouted, her voice barely audible over the howling wind. She continued to fire arrows into the storm, hoping to disrupt the yetis' movements.Xander, breathing heavily from the exertion and the effects of Erik's spell beginning to wane, scanned the edges of their makeshift battleground for any sign of the yetis. "These bastards are smarter than they look. We need to stick together, watch each other's backs."Erik, his energy drained, nodded in agreement, trying to muster what little magic he had left for another protective barrier. "They're using the storm as cover. We need to be ready for anything."Suddenly, from the depths of the blizzard, a large ice boulder,
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As Xander engaged the yeti in a fierce melee, his determination and vampiric strength driving him forward, the battle took a sudden turn. From the shadows of the storm, more yetis emerged, joining the fray with a coordinated assault. These new adversaries didn't engage directly in the close combat but instead launched a barrage of ice boulders and sharp icicles from a distance, adding a new layer of danger to the already chaotic battle."Damn it, there's more of them!" Xander cursed, narrowly dodging a large icicle that whistled past his ear, his focus split between the towering yeti before him and the incoming projectiles. "Erik, Atheria, we've got company!"Atheria, her eyes wide at the sight of additional yetis, quickly shifted her focus to the new threats. "Xander, keep on the big one! We'll handle the others!" She loosed arrow after arrow with precision, each one aimed at the shadows from which the ice attacks originated.Erik, recognizing the need for a defensive strategy, began
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Forced back into the merciless embrace of the storm, the trio navigated the blizzard's fury with renewed caution. The failure of Erik's plan had not dampened their spirits, but it had certainly underscored the power and cunning of their yeti adversaries. The yetis, sensing their momentary advantage, intensified their barrage, the size and frequency of the ice boulders growing as if to crush any hope the trio had of escaping unscathed."This is insane!" Xander shouted, barely dodging another massive ice boulder that crashed into the snow beside them, sending a shower of icy fragments into the air. "They're not just throwing ice anymore; they're aiming to kill!"Atheria, her eyes scanning the swirling chaos for any sign of their attackers, nodded grimly. "Yetis are known for their strength, but this...this is something else. It's like they're toying with us, testing our defenses."Erik, his energy reserves slowly recovering, added, "And they're using the storm as cover, striking from th
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As the trio prepared themselves inside the cave, the onslaught of ice balls intensified, each one larger and thrown with more force than the last. The situation quickly escalated from a mere annoyance to a dire threat. Xander, dodging another icy projectile, couldn't contain his frustration. "Bloody hell! These yetis have one hell of an arm. What's their plan, turn us into an ice sculpture exhibition?"Erik, his gaze fixed on the cave entrance, where the ice balls seemed to be targeting with alarming accuracy, had a grim realization. "They're not just attacking us. They're trying to seal us in. If they manage to block the entrance with enough ice, we'll be trapped here."Atheria, understanding the gravity of their predicament, quickly assessed their options. "We can't let that happen. We need to make a move before we're completely buried. It's clear they want us either trapped or dead."The notion of being trapped by a deliberate strategy employed by the yetis only added to Xander's g
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Another mythical creature
Huddled in the cave as the storm unleashed its fury outside, the trio tried to make the best of their situation, sharing stories and attempting to keep their spirits high despite the ominous atmosphere. The howling of the wind and the relentless barrage of snow against the cave entrance created a cacophony that drowned out all other sounds. It was during a brief lull in the storm's roar that Xander, his senses always on alert, tensed up, his head tilting slightly as if trying to catch a sound far off in the distance."Did you guys hear that?" he asked, his voice cutting through the relative quiet of the cave.Atheria and Erik paused, listening intently. "Hear what? Just the storm, isn't it?" Atheria replied, a hint of concern creeping into her voice."No, there was something else...a roar. Not like any animal I've heard before," Xander insisted, his eyes narrowing as he tried to peer out into the swirling snow.Erik stood up, moving closer to the cave entrance, his magical senses exte
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Several hours had passed since their conversation about Erik joining them on their journey, the landscape gradually shifting as they approached a vast, frozen lake. The air grew colder, the chill biting through their cloaks. Erik, scanning the area with a practiced eye, suggested they make camp. "This looks like a good spot," Erik announced, gesturing towards a clearing near the frozen lake. "We should rest here for the night. The lake will provide us with fresh water, and we can use the open space to our advantage should we need to defend ourselves." Xander and Atheria nodded in agreement, dismounting their horses and beginning to set up camp. Erik, taking a few steps away from the setup, concentrated for a moment before extending his hands. With a few whispered words, a spell ignited from his fingertips, creating a campfire that crackled to life, its warmth a welcome respite from the encroaching cold. "Show-off," Xander teased, but his tone was light, appreciative of the warmth Er
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Erik's Future Plans
As the trio reached the outskirts of the monastery, preparing to venture towards the source of the corruption, Erik, with his usual blend of humor and practicality, suggested a recon mission."Maybe we three should scout ahead before we bring the whole monk brigade," Erik joked, casting a sideways glance at Xander and Atheria. "No offense to our robed friends, but I'm not sure they're cut out for dragon corpse duty. Plus, it's not exactly a field trip."Laylan, who had joined them to provide final instructions, nodded in agreement. "Erik has a point. It's wise to assess the situation first. And Erik, you're familiar with the forest, aren't you?"Erik shrugged, a half-smile on his face. "Familiar enough to know it's not exactly a stroll through the park even on a good day. But yeah, I know the way."Laylan's expression grew serious, his eyes reflecting the gravity of their task. "Be cautious. The corruption from the dragon's corpse may have... unintended side effects. The forest could
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Root cause of the corruption
Meanwhile, in the silence of his quarters, Xander sat bolt upright in his bed, a sheen of sweat covering his brow, his breathing heavy and erratic. The darkness of the monk's quarters seemed to press in on him, the echoes of his dream still vivid in his mind. It was then that Erik and Atheria, having noticed the light under his door, walked into the room, concern etched on their faces."Erik, Atheria," Xander gasped, trying to regain his composure. "I... I had a dream. It was so vivid, so real."Atheria moved closer, her brow furrowed in worry. "You're sweating buckets. What did you dream about?"Leaning against the doorframe, Erik added, "Yeah, mate, you look like you've just run a marathon. Must have been some dream."Xander wiped his forehead, the images from his dream still swirling in his head. "It was more like a nightmare. I saw a giant golden statue, towering over a crowd of people. There was... there was so much tension, fear. The statue was about to fall, and everyone was pa
