Dark Mage POV
The air in the tower was thick with shadows and the scent of burning incense. Candles flickered in the cold, damp room, casting grotesque shapes across the stone walls. I, Maltherion, the Dark Mage, stood before the ancient mirror of reflection, watching the swirling energy that pulsed within it.
My hands trembled slightly, not with fear, but with restrained fury. The son of a minor count had killed my wife—my beloved Emmara—because she had refused his advances. He had dared to touch what was mine, what was sacred, and now he would pay.
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System Notification — Ability Check
A soft chime echoed, and the system interface flickered before me. [SYSTEM — NOR INTERFACE]
Active Skills:
Shadow Manipulation — Level 42
Soul Bind — Level 35
Curse Infliction — Level 38
Dark Mirror Copy (NEW) — Level 1
New Ability Detected:
[SYSTEM — AKENE NOTIFICATION] "You have unlocked 'Vengeance Manifest' skill. Required trigger: Blood oath of injustice. Use with caution. Cooldown: 72 hours. Potential corruption risk: Medium-High."
I exhaled, letting the chill run through my veins. The system had recognized my righteous fury and given me a tool worthy of my cause. I would not fail.
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Dark Mage POV — Preparing the Curse
I traced my fingers along the blood-stained floor, drawing intricate runes that would serve as a conduit for my vengeance. The mirror reflected my intent, amplifying my magical energy, while a ghostly wisp of Emmara's spirit lingered faintly, feeding the power of my resolve.
"Justice will be mine," I whispered, the words vibrating with dark power. "No mortal will escape the wrath I bring."
A system notification appeared mid-air, hovering like a spectral guide:
[SYSTEM — SUPREME WARNING]
Soul Bind target detected: Son of Count Eliran. Distance: 12 miles. Status: Vulnerable. Probability of success: 87%.
Recommended Action: Activate Vengeance Manifest and Shadow Manipulation simultaneously.
I grinned. Efficiency and magic combined—it was almost too easy with the systems guiding my fury.
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System Notification — Target Tracking
I activated the tracking function of the dark mirror, letting my energy flow through the system. [TEMPEST ALERT] appeared:
Target Location Locked: Son of Count Eliran, REF outskirts, traveling with armed escort.
Distance to Target: 12 miles
Optimal Approach: Night, stealth, minimal detection
My lips curled in satisfaction. The system even suggested optimal strategies. But the pleasure came not from convenience—it came from anticipation, from the inevitable reckoning.
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Dark Mage POV — Enacting the Plan
I rose slowly, robes trailing like shadows across the stone floor. A whisper of incantation, a flick of the hand, and the Shadow Manipulation skill awakened fully. Darkness pooled around me, forming tendrils that reached toward the distant city.
[SYSTEM — TEMPEST ALERT] "Shadow Tendrils Deployed. Distance: 12 miles. Mana Cost: 60% total capacity. Success Probability: 92%."
I allowed the tendrils to move across the city, invisible to the naked eye, weaving through the streets, sneaking past wards, and inching closer to my target.
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Reflection on Vengeance
It was not hate that drove me—it was justice. Emmara had been innocent, her life stolen by arrogance and greed. My revenge was righteous, sanctioned by neither man nor god, but by the laws of the universe as I interpreted them.
I paused, looking at the mirror, seeing my reflection flicker between rage and sorrow. "I will protect what remains… my honor, her memory, and my soul," I whispered. "Even if I walk in shadows forever."
The system flickered once more, highlighting my options: full assassination, soul curse, or public humiliation. Each choice had risks and rewards, but my mind had already chosen.
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System Notification — Skill Upgrade
[SYSTEM — NOR ALERT]
Skill Upgrade Detected: Shadow Manipulation → Shadow Mastery
New Effect: Tendrils now bypass minor magical wards and cloak in invisibility.
Cooldown Reduction: 15%
The power surged through me, and I felt Emmara's presence as a guiding light within the shadows. This was no longer mere vengeance—it was destiny.
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Execution
Night fell. I stepped into the streets under the cover of darkness, shadows crawling at my heels. The system confirmed my calculations:
[TEMPEST ALERT] Target nearing isolated alley. Probability of success: 95%. Optimal deployment: immediate Soul Bind with Curse Infliction follow-up.
I whispered Emmara's name, extending my hands. Tendrils of darkness snaked silently, wrapping around the son of the count, restraining him without a sound. His screams were muted within the shadow veil.
"Justice… is served," I murmured.
The Curse Infliction skill activated automatically via the system: afflicting him with endless nightmares, physical weakness, and the knowledge of his own guilt magnified. My vengeance had been precise, perfect, and utterly untraceable.
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Reflection After Execution
I withdrew the shadows and returned to the tower. Silence greeted me, only the faint hum of the system reminding me that everything had gone according to plan.
[SYSTEM — AKENE CONFIRMATION]
Vengeance Manifest Successful
Target Status: Bound, Cursed, Non-lethal Confirmation
Experience Gained: 3,500 XP
Skill Progression: Shadow Mastery +10, Soul Bind +5
I exhaled, finally letting a rare smile touch my lips. Emmara's memory would live on, her honor restored through my actions.
And yet, I knew this was only the beginning. The world was vast, chaotic, and filled with injustice. But with the system, my skills, and my determination, I could right wrongs, punish the guilty, and walk the shadows while maintaining control over my destiny.
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Closing Thought
As the first light of dawn crept into my tower, I gazed out over the city of REF, knowing my next moves. The dark mage's path was solitary, dangerous, and often misunderstood. But it was mine.
And every step, every shadow, every curse would be executed with precision, guidance from the systems, and the memory of a love stolen too soon.