Setting: Umbral City, the Evernight Empire.
The Evernight Empire, a land of darkness and ancient secrets, lay in the frigid northernmost reaches of the Xuan Yuan Continent. Here, sunlight was but a fleeting glimmer, ceding its place to an all-encompassing, perpetual night. Contrary to the malevolence often associated with its name, "Evernight" stemmed from a governing policy that prized individual strength, one that could be called ruthless, and the presence of mysterious Origin Masters who wielded the power of Darkness.
The empire was divided into territories, each governed by a Lord presiding over cities both large and small. Umbral City, home to the Black Moon Clan, was one of the three main strongholds of the Blackwind Territory—the northwestern region of the empire, renowned for its treacherous mountain ranges, somber forests, and the Astral Martial Academy, an institution that trained the territory's elite Origin Masters.
Within Umbral City, alongside the Black Moon Clan, resided the Thunderflame Clan, famous for their Lightning-attuned Origin Masters, and the Black Iron Clan, who boasted valiant warriors with Black Iron Sword Qi Spirits. While these clans lacked the long history of the Black Moon, they were on a trajectory of vigorous growth, gradually overshadowing the position of the declining clan.
The Black Moon Clan was once glorious under its founder, Ancestor Hei Tian, a legendary Origin Sect expert who also served as a Grand General of the Evernight Empire. He established the clan, passed down the secret arts for cultivating Dark Origin Power, and left behind the Black Moon Saber—a Profound Armament¹ containing terrifying power. But after his passing, the clan slowly fell into decline. Generations of descendants, despite their efforts, only managed to awaken ordinary Origin Spirits; none could inherit the pure power of Darkness.
The current clan head, Hei Jing, Van Nam's father, was a peak-level Origin Master who possessed the Dark Sword Qi Spirit. Though powerful and resolute, he was helpless to steer the clan through its difficulties. His greatest hopes rested on his two children: Hei Van Thanh, his eldest daughter, and Hei Van Nam, his youngest son.
Today was the Origin Spirit Awakening day for the city's younger generation.
Inside the Black Moon Clan's Ancestral Hall, the atmosphere was solemn to the point of suffocation. Van Nam, now sixteen, knelt before the ancestral tablets, his heart a storm of mixed emotions. He recalled the image of his sister, Hei Van Thanh, three years ago, in this very place.
A memory:
Three years ago...
Van Nam, then only thirteen, stood huddled in a corner of the Ancestral Hall, his hands clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He watched nervously as his sister—the person he had always admired and loved—stepped onto the awakening platform. Hei Van Thanh, sixteen, beautiful and proud, placed her hand on the Awakening Stone and shut her eyes, her face a mask of determination.
The Hall fell deathly silent, broken only by the faint, shallow breaths of those in attendance. Clan Head Hei Jing stood at the forefront, his eyes brimming with hope as he followed his daughter's every move. Beside him, the elders were no less tense. The future of the Black Moon Clan seemed to rest entirely on the shoulders of this young woman.
Suddenly, a blinding light erupted from the Awakening Stone. Van Nam squinted, trying to peer through the glare. Then, from behind Hei Van Thanh, a pair of colossal Black Wolves, nearly two zhang² tall, with fur as black as night and crimson eyes like two hellfires, bared their fangs in a powerful snarl and slowly materialized. They raised their heads, their roars echoing throughout the Hall, shaking the very souls of all present.
That was his sister's Beast Spirit, the Twin Dark Wolves—a mutated, exceedingly rare Beast Spirit that harbored superior Dark Power.
A collective gasp of astonishment shattered the silence, followed by a wave of whispers. Awed, envious, and even fearful gazes converged on Hei Van Thanh.
Van Nam clenched his fists, feeling a mixture of pride and jealousy. He knew his sister had done it. She had awakened a powerful Origin Spirit, one that could return the Black Moon Clan to its golden age.
Instantly, an elder with a long, silver-white beard, dressed in an exquisite robe and exuding an air of majesty, stepped out from the crowd. It was Ling Feng, an elder from the Astral Martial Academy—the premier academy in the Blackwind Territory. A look of undisguised admiration lit up his sharp eyes as he gazed at Hei Van Thanh.
"The Twin Dark Wolves... Incredible! This old man has observed the awakening ceremony in Umbral City for many years, but this is the first time I have witnessed a Dark Beast Spirit of such power!" Ling Feng's deep, authoritative voice resonated through the Hall.
He approached Clan Head Hei Jing and clasped his hands in a formal salute. "Clan Head Hei, congratulations on having such an exceptionally talented daughter. On behalf of the Astral Martial Academy, I respectfully invite Hei Van Thanh to join us. I will personally take her as my disciple and nurture her into a formidable Origin Master who will bring glory to your clan."
Overjoyed, Hei Jing hurriedly returned the salute. "Many thanks for Elder Ling's favor! This is a great honor for our Black Moon Clan!"
Hei Van Thanh stepped down from the platform, her eyes sparkling with joy and pride. She knelt before her father. "Father, I have not disappointed you."
Hei Jing helped her up.
In that moment, the Ancestral Hall was filled with congratulations and cheerful chatter. The Black Moon Clan felt reborn, a flicker of hope ignited after so many years shrouded in darkness. Van Nam watched his sister from a distance, smiling, silently wishing her a bright future.
Present day:
Van Nam took a deep breath, pushing aside his wandering thoughts to focus on the present. He reached out and touched the Awakening Stone, feeling the familiar, cold stream of Origin Power seeping into every cell of his body.
Outside the Ancestral Hall, the other clans in Umbral City were also conducting their awakening ceremonies. A ceaseless cacophony of whispers, joyful cheers, and disappointed sighs created a chaotic symphony of emotions.
Suddenly, a beam of light, more brilliant than any before it, burst forth from the Thunderflame Clan's estate. It dyed a corner of the sky crimson, momentarily dispelling the gloom of Umbral City. It was followed by a deafening, earth-shattering clap of thunder that shook the very air, causing the faint of heart to tremble in fear.
"It's Lei Ming of the Lei Clan! Rumor had it he would awaken the Thunder Leopard Beast Spirit, one of the strongest Lightning-type Beast Spirits. It seems the rumors were true!"
"The Black Iron Clan is not to be outdone! Hei Tie Gang just awakened the Black Iron Heavy Sword Qi Spirit, weighing a thousand jin³, its power unparalleled! It looks like the Hei Clan has gained another great warrior!"
The chatter only heightened the tension within the Black Moon Ancestral Hall. Elder Hei Yao, who presided over the ceremony, glanced worriedly at Van Nam, his hand tightening around his scepter.
Van Nam kept his eyes closed, seemingly unaffected by the commotion outside. His mind was immersed in a boundless, dark space.
Abruptly, a dense surge of black energy, carrying a bone-chilling cold, erupted from the Awakening Stone. The stone, which had already shown several cracks the moment Van Nam touched it, now trembled violently as if about to explode.
"What... what is happening?" Elder Hei Yao stammered in shock, taking a step back. The others in the Hall panicked, breaking into a frantic stir.
From within the Awakening Stone, a sharp beast fang, blacker than the darkest night and radiating a pure dark aura so suffocating it was hard to breathe, slowly pierced through. The fang was about a chi⁴ long, curved like a reaper's scythe, and emitted a frigid chill that caused the temperature in the Hall to plummet.
"This is..." Hei Yao's eyes widened in disbelief. "A Qi Spirit... The... the Dark Fang!"
The pure Dark aura emanating from the fang stunned everyone. It was more potent and refined than any Dark Origin Spirit they had sensed in years. Clan Head Hei Jing trembled with excitement, his face unable to conceal his sheer elation.
But just as everyone was lost in astonishment and joy, an even more terrifying surge of darkness, like an endless abyss, exploded from within Van Nam's body. The Primal Dark Origin Spirit, his true Origin Spirit, had awakened. It released a dreadful pressure that made everyone present, including Elder Hei Yao, feel as if they were suffocating, their legs turning to jelly, a primal urge to kneel overwhelming them.
In that instant, Van Nam saw the Shadow Realm—a dark, infinite space where the souls of fallen Shadow Beasts were imprisoned. He heard the growls and frenzied roars of creatures bound by chains of darkness.
And then, a mysterious voice, neither male nor female, echoed in his mind, like a whisper from the deepest corners of the universe: "Chosen one, you have finally awakened. The Primal Dark Origin, the source of all shadows, shall be your power. And the Shadow Pact shall be your tool to conquer this world."
Simultaneously, on the back of Van Nam's right hand, a sigil of a dark vortex surrounded by ancient runes slowly appeared, glowing faintly.
Van Nam felt the dark power surging within him, so immense he felt he could destroy the world with a single thought. But he quickly regained his composure, retracting the aura of the Primal Dark Origin Spirit and sealing it deep within his body. The only thing that remained visible was the Dark Fang, hovering in mid-air, pulsing with an aura that made breathing difficult. It was a Qi Spirit that seemed powerful at first glance, but not so overwhelmingly shocking. He knew that for now, concealing his true strength was the best way to protect himself and his clan.
"The Dark Fang... Pure Darkness... Good! Excellent!" Elder Hei Yao trembled with excitement. "Van Nam, you have not failed the clan's expectations! No, you have far surpassed everyone's expectations!"
Van Nam opened his eyes. They remained a deep, fathomless black, but now held a strange light, both wicked and resolute. He knelt before the elder and bowed his head. "Thank you, Elder. I was fortunate to awaken a spirit useful to the clan."
But in his heart, a plan was already taking shape. He would use the Shadow Pact, secretly build his own power, and return the Black Moon Clan to its pinnacle. And then, one day, he would make the entire Xuan Yuan Continent bow before the might of the Lord of Darkness.
(End of Chapter 1)