Shadowblade:Rise of the Outcast

3:

He looked at the sword closer. There is no inscription, no symbol. But his eyes were fixed on a small crack in the stone where the sword was stuck. The crack was throbbing - like a heartbeat. 

His hands raised slowly. He doesn't know why. There is no reason to touch it. But his fingers moved alone. 

When the skin touches the sword handle, the whole world seems to stop. 

Wuuuussshhh! 

A shadow explosion exploded from the altar. The wind screamed. Kael was thrown a few steps back, his chest hit the stone. 

He fell, his body trembled. 

From the altar, black smoke rises slowly. From behind the smoke ... a shadow was formed. Like humans, but not completely. His body was slim, tall, wrapped in a sparkling torn robe like a night liquid. His eyes ... two red light light. 

Kael tried to get up. But his body could not be moved. The shadow looked at him. 

"You ... touch me ..."

His voice is like a deep metal hum. 

Kael swallowed hard. "Who are you?"

"I am a shadow of blood and destruction. I am those who are sacrificed for strength. I ... shadowblade."

The shadow walked closer. Every step makes the floor rumble. His black hands stretched out at Kael. 

"And you ... don't deserve."

Kael felt the pressure over his entire body. Like the bones are destroyed from the inside. He screamed, but his voice was restrained. 

"Stop!" screamed Kael. "I ... I don't want your strength if you refuse!"

The shadow was silent. 

"You ... reject strength?"

"I just want to know ... why am I different," Kael gasped. "Why am I born without a core, why everyone sees me like trash ... if your strength will make me become a monster, I don't need that."

Silence. 

Then, slowly ... the pressure disappeared. 

The shadow retreated one step. For the first time, Kael saw a doubtful expression in his figure - if it could be called an expression. 

"You ... like I used to ..."

Kael was silent. He is still difficult to breathe. But his view remained in that entity. 

The shadow approaches again. But this time, not with the intention of killing. 

"Kael ... an empty child ... I can help you. But with the condition ..."

"What?"

"Your body will be a forum. Our souls will be bound. I will give you strength ... but you will live in two worlds: the human world, and the shadow world."

Kael closed his eyes for a moment. 

Destiny seemed to not give him a choice. If it remains silent, he will die like an exile person. If you accept ... maybe he can answer all his questions. 

He opened his eyes. 

"I accept."

Wuuussshhh! 

Shadowblade exploded into a black fog and entered Kael's body through the chest. His body was thrown back. The sword that was previously stuck in the altar is now in his grasp. 

But not ordinary hands. His left hand ... changed. 

His skin is red in red. His grip is like a claw. But strong. Very strong. 

Kael staggered. Metal clinking sound echoed in his head. 

"We are bound, Kael. You're no longer empty. But don't forget ... Strength always comes at the price."

Kael held the sword handle tightly. His breathing is still heavy. But his body feels ... alive. More than before. 

He stood between shadows and stones, alone, but no longer weak. 

Blood seeps in the temple of Kael as he rose slowly from the cold stone ground. His breathing was severe, mixed with moist aroma and scrap metal. His hands were still holding Shadowblade, a sword that now seemed to be integrated with his veins. 

Just now he made an agreement ... or rather, surrendered himself to something he did not fully understand. 

However, the voice was still echoing faintly in his head. 

"We are bound ... Kael."

Kael walked stumbled, his eyes along the dark hallway full of roots hanging and wet stones. The sound of water droplets and faint whispers came from a distance. Black ravine is not like the human world. Time feels frozen, but the danger feels alive and waiting in silence. 

Suddenly, from behind the wall of the cave, the roar echoed. 

"GRRRRAAAAHHH !!!"

The ground vibrates. Kael took a few steps back. 

From the darkness, a big creature broke through. His body is twice as high as an adult human, with a skin like a crack and blood red blood. The fangs protrude out of the defect jaw. That creature ... the abyss devil. 

Kael froze. His feet are heavy. Fear burst, froze his chest. His hands holding the sword trembled. 

"Why am I ... why can't I move ..." he hissed softly. 

The voice returned - in his mind, but clear. 

"Because you don't know me completely."

"Shadowblade ...?"

"I give you strength. But without a true contract, you will only be a fragile vessel. Let me go deeper ... and you will survive."

The devil roared and ran towards him, his claws raised high. 

Kael screamed in his heart. "If I allow it ... will you control my body?"

"No. I don't want to be you. I just want to ... live. Through you."

Time feels slowing. Kael saw the demon claw almost touching his face. 

"Then ... do it. We make a contract."

"Tied to blood ... united by the will ... now and forever ..."

Suddenly, Kael's body heats up. Black light exploded from inside him. The devil bounced a few steps. The air rumble. The shadow enveloped Kael's body. 

Kael's eyes opened. But now, his eyes glowed faintly red. His hands holding the sword felt lighter. His whole body ... feels like new. 

"We are one now," Shadowblade's voice echoed more clearly. "Move your body. Let your instincts lead."

Kael swung his sword. Instantly, the shadow invaded like a snake from a sword blade, wrapped the demon's feet and stomped it to the ground. 

Kael didn't wait. He jumped, faster than usual. His sword hit the devil's body, creating a dark wound that seemed to burn from the inside. 

The devil screamed, rose and attacked with his claws. 

Kael rolled to the side, then stabbed from the bottom - right to the jaw. 

"Haaaa !!"