In a dark room, drenched in the stench of blood and decay, a filthy man, his wild white hair matted and unkempt, knelt before a circle of blood symbols. His long beard was crusted with dirt, and his clothes were tattered rags clinging to his thin frame. His lips moved feverishly, mumbling "Wait for me. Wait for me." The words repeated endlessly until a subtle tremor in the room caused him to freeze.
"Finally," he whispered, tears spilling from his hollow eyes as he knelt before the large, eerie circle. Beside him lay a dagger, its edge dull and stained from countless attempts. With a deep, shaking breath, he grabbed the blade and slashed his arm, cutting deep, letting the blood pour freely to fill the grooves of the symbols. His face contorted in pain, but he welcomed it, his mind fixated on a singular purpose.
As the last drops of blood soaked into the symbols, they began to glow, pulsing with an unnatural red light. The room felt like it was suffocating under the weight of something otherworldly. The glow intensified, forcing the man to squint, until suddenly, a bone-chilling cold washed over him. His body froze as death's icy grip seemed to reach for him.
He forced his eyes open—only to shut them again as quickly as he had. What stood before him could only be described as a grotesque amalgamation of writhing creatures. Its form was an abomination that defied all logic. The man, however, didn't care about its horrific appearance. None of it mattered. As long as he could be with her, he would endure anything.
The being gazed at the man with strange curiosity. This mortal should be dead, yet here he was, still breathing. Intrigued, it lowered itself, inspecting the man more closely. After all, this wasn't its true form. If it had been, this entire world would have been reduced to dust. It had sent only a fragment of its essence—a mere plaything.
The creature spoke, its voice like a chorus of whispers and screams. "Human… why did you summon me?"
The man trembled, his voice cracking as he spoke. "Lord… can you grant me my wish? I will do anything you ask of me."
The being's many eyes squinted, unimpressed. What could this pitiful creature offer that it couldn't take on its own? "What could you possibly do for me?" it asked, a hint of amusement lacing its words.
The man faltered, his mind scrambling. What could he offer? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The futility of it weighed on him, but desperation fueled him. He had to try. The being, sensing his turmoil, smirked—an expression both grotesque and monstrous.
"Tell me," it said, voice dripping with mockery. "What is it that you wish for? Was it truly worth summoning me?"
Taking a deep breath, the man steadied himself. "I want power. Enough power to cross dimensions with a single thought."
The creature sighed, visibly disappointed. Another power-hungry fool. How tedious. "Do you seek to conquer this world and others, human? Your greed knows no bounds.
The man's eyes widened in shock. 'Why was this creature jumping to conclusions?' "No!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking with emotion. "No, I don't want power to conquer. I want it so I can be with the love of my life… she's not in this world. I want to make her happy, no matter what."
The being stared at him for a long moment, contemplating. This human was different, if only slightly. Entertaining this request wouldn't cost it anything. In fact, watching this man struggle might provide some amusement in the dullness of its eternal existence.
"Hmm…" the creature mused. "Very well. I shall make you my apostle. You will have the power to cross dimensions and perhaps even slay lesser gods. But heed this, human: If you ever die, there will be no reincarnation. I will devour your soul. Do you accept?"
The man agreed without hesitation. He didn't care if he didn't reincarnate; it's not like he would seek death. He just wanted to live a fulfilling life with the woman he loved.
The creature's smile twisted into something hideous, its eyes gleaming with malice. "Then, I declare you shall be my apostle until death claims you."
A surge of power exploded within the man's body, overwhelming him with a sickening blend of pain and ecstasy. He gasped, feeling as if his very soul was being torn apart and remade. Just as he was about to thank the being, it vanished, leaving him alone in the oppressive silence of the room.
Then, a sharp, searing pain stabbed into his skull. He clutched his head, collapsing to the floor. Darkness swallowed him whole.
When he awoke, he felt different—stronger. His body hummed with energy. Pushing himself up, he noticed something strange. His hand had sunk into the floor as though reality itself had bent to his will. He breathed deeply, trying to steady himself. The being had left behind information in his mind, knowledge on how to control his newfound abilities, including the ability to set limiters.
Not wanting to go mad with power, he set ten limiters on himself, planning to unlock them gradually as he grew accustomed to his strength.
Standing up, he conjured a full-length mirror in front of him. The man staring back was hardly recognizable. He was taller now, towering at 7'1". His once brown hair was now jet black with streaks of white, and his beard was gone. His eyes, however, had remained unchanged—heterochromatic, with one gold and the other a vivid sky blue. A rare sight.
He willed himself clean, transforming his tattered rags into fresh clothes. Staring at his reflection, he nodded in approval. He looked better—stronger, more capable.
Taking one last breath, he closed his eyes. "Finally, I can meet you," he whispered. With that, he vanished from the room, his journey to another world about to begin.
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Okay that's it for the first chapter let me know your thoughts honestly don't care that much about the power stones as much as the comments cause I need that feed back so I would really appreciate it if you guys tell me what you thought about it.
Also, for anyone who was wondering, I did not nerf him; those limiters can be removed anytime he wants. The only reason I added them was, of course, for the plot. But seriously, I found it quite illogical for him to have full control over his powers right away. If you think about it, this is fiction, not non-fiction what does logic have to do with anything? I'm getting off-topic, but the main point is that I didn't nerf him. Bye! Hope you have a good day.