The day had barely begun, yet an unsettling weight loomed over me as I descended into the village. Dawn's light touched the world softly, but my journey was far from gentle. As I made my way down, a horrifying sight stopped me cold—a man, battered and broken, barely clinging to life.
Instinct took over. I rushed to his side, my pulse pounding like a war drum. "Hey! Hey, you'll make it. Just hold on!" I blurted, desperation dripping from my words. "What happened? Speak to me!"
His eyes, dull yet unyielding, found mine. "Don't... worry... yourself," he whispered, his voice like dry leaves crumbling underfoot.
My chest tightened. His life was fading fast, his body ravaged by wounds no mortal could endure. Desperately, I searched for anything—*anything*—to ease his pain. My trembling hands moved with purpose, but as I reached to bandage his wounds, his cold hand fell over mine.
"Don't," he murmured, the word weighed down by finality.
"But why?!" I demanded, my voice cracking under the strain. "You're going to die!"
"I don't mind dying like this," he said, his tone strangely serene. "But I ask you—grant me one final mercy. End this suffering. End *me.*"
My breath hitched, a lump forming in my throat. "You're... asking me to... to mercy kill you?"
His weak nod was all the confirmation I needed, and yet it made my blood run colder than ice. "Yes, young man. That is exactly what I'm asking."
Time seemed to stand still. My mind raced, my resolve cracking. Finally, I whispered, "I... I'll do it."
A faint smile graced his battered face. "Good. Then know this—I am the Dawn Breaker Aaron of the Nine."
The weight of his words crushed any hesitation I had left. I reached for the knife in his holster, its blade gleaming ominously in the soft light. As I positioned it above his heart, my voice trembled, but my intent was clear. "Rest well, Dawn Breaker Aaron of the Nine. Your nightmare is over."
The blade plunged, and with it, the final threads of his agony were severed.
But as his lifeless form lay before me, my hands began to tremble uncontrollably. What had I done? A man's blood now stained my soul. And then, like thunder in the quiet, a voice boomed through my mind:
[You have killed the Dawn Breaker Aaron of the Nine. Your soul core has grown stronger.]
[You have obtained two memories.]
His sacrifice had left me with gifts. An amulet and a sword materialized before me. "Two memories, huh? Well, let's see what you left me, Aaron."
---
**[Amulet of the Night]**
**Rank:** Dormant
**Tier:** 3
*Surrounds an area in darkness, as if it were night.*
**[Dawn Breaker]**
**Rank:** Awakened
**Tier:** 4
*Deals increased damage to beings of darkness, shadows, or light. Can channel all physical energy into a single, suicidal strike.*
---
I stared at the items, my breath catching in awe. "Holy hell, Aaron. Your death wasn't in vain. This sword—it's awakened. This will definitely come in handy."
Regaining my composure, I continued into the village. Heads turned as I arrived, and one by one, the villagers fell to their knees, bowing reverently. Their humility caught me off guard.
"Stand," I commanded awkwardly, waving my hands. "Don't kneel."
The crowd hesitated but complied, their faces riddled with confusion. "My lord, is there something wrong?" one of them dared to ask.
"No," I replied quickly, forcing a faint smile. "I just wasn't expecting this, that's all." *Technically not a lie,* I thought bitterly.
"Can you guide me to Elder Ryan's house?" I added, eager to shift the attention.
"Of course, my lord! Go straight, take a left, and it's the first house on the right," came the reply.
Nodding, I followed the directions, each step echoing with determination. When I reached Elder Ryan's house, I rapped on the door. Moments later, the elder opened it, his expression morphing into one of disbelief.
"My lord," he stammered, "I wasn't expecting—"
"Elder, I need answers," I interrupted. "This won't take long."
He nodded nervously, ushering me inside. "Let me prepare some tea—"
"There's no need. Let's make this quick," I cut him off.
He sighed, his age-worn face etched with concern. "Quick visits are never good. What is it, my lord?"
"My resolve," I answered firmly. "Now, tell me everything about the Moon Crawler—its weaknesses, its habits. Everything."
At my words, Elder Ryan straightened, a solemn seriousness overtaking him. Reaching for a nearby drawer, he retrieved a weathered sheet of parchment. "I've been waiting for this moment. Here is all the information you'll need."
---
**Name:** Moon Crawler
**Rank:** Awakened
**Class:** Tyrant
*The Moon Crawler is a shadowy abomination with a grotesque, distorted smile and glowing white eyes. It crawls on all fours, its unnaturally long arms dragging its body. It emerges only under the cover of night or when the moon shines bright. Despite its immense power, it is slow for its rank, and its disproportionate limbs can be exploited in combat. Beware its bite—it infects victims with parasitic worms, turning them into its mindless thralls.*
---
I scanned the document, my jaw tightening. "Thank you, Elder. This will be invaluable. I'll find a way to bring this monster down. Goodbye."
Without waiting for a reply, I turned and strode toward the temple, my mind racing with plans.
---
Author's thoughts:
tell me what you think of this chapter compared to chapter 1. :)