Prologue
A small child rode alone through the village. He looked malnourished and was covered in wounds. The villagers quickly took notice of the child and approached him.
"Is everything okay?"
"P-please… can I have something to drink and eat?"
The child was helped down from the horse and placed on the ground. He could barely stand, his legs trembling.
"Yes, we'll get you something. Wait here."
A few people went to fetch food and water, while others stayed with the child.
"H-hey, tell me… what's your name?"
"I-I was called Mike…"
Mike became part of the village, living alone in a small house built for him by the villagers. He often played with the other children, but without parents, he was never truly happy.
Chapter 1
The hot sun beat down on the boy's neck. The field where he stood was dry and cracked. Beside the field stood a few small houses, and people were gathered around.
"Mike, congratulations, little one — you're almost a grown man now!" A strong, muscular man patted young Mike on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Tasus. Tell me the story about the Dark Claw again."
"Alright." The man sat down on the field and looked up at the sky.
A few other children joined them.
"I was tasked by one of the great Five Kings to kill a Dark Claw. As you know, they are among the strongest creatures. But I brought back its head — and I gave it to the Third King. And as a reward—"
The man stopped, gripping the hilt of his sword. He drew it, and the sunlight reflected on its grey-black blade.
"—I received a sword forged from the Dark Claw's horns."
All the farmer's children gasped in awe.
"Can I? Can I?" they shouted, reaching out their hands.
The man smiled. "Today, Mike will be the lucky one to hold it."
Everyone on the field, even those celebrating, turned their attention to Mike and the man. The field fell silent.
The man cleared his throat.
"Mike grew up in this village without parents. Life hasn't been easy for him. And he hasn't awakened yet — but there's still time today. As a gift, I will train him myself."
The crowd clapped and cheered. The children around Mike were filled with envy — to be trained by the great village warrior was an honor.
The man placed the Dark Claw sword in Mike's hands.
But Mike was too weak — the sword dropped into the dirt with a thud.
"Oops. Looks like you're still too weak," the man teased.
Mike's expression changed — from embarrassment to fierce determination. He gripped the sword's brown hilt, sweat dripping down his face, his skin flushing red. Slowly, the blade lifted.
Everyone watched, holding their breath.
Then, with one final effort, Mike raised the sword high, standing proud as he showed it to the crowd.
"Can I kee—"
Mike's sentence was cut short.
A dark circle was falling from the sky above them.
"Necromancer ability!" the warrior shouted.
But it was already too late. Skeletons had slipped onto the field unnoticed. The circle was a barrier — an arena to trap everyone inside.
Within seconds, the circle touched the ground.
The warrior had just enough time to throw Mike and the sword out of the barrier. Mike landed in the mud, barely outside the field. The sword slipped from his hands.
A black aura rose over the entire field, enclosing it. Inside, skeletons swarmed, cutting down the villagers.
"I still have your weapon!" Mike shouted.
He lifted the sword halfway, dragging it through the dirt, trying to throw it back inside — but it bounced off the barrier.
He could do nothing but watch as the skeletons slaughtered everyone.
Then he saw him — a man inside the aura.
"T-that… must be the necromancer."
The man was dressed head-to-toe in black, wearing a poison-green hood, and holding a staff that looked as though it was made of bone.
A villager ran toward Mike from inside the aura.
"Mike… we're not getting out of here… m-my wife and children… they were slaughtered… you must—"
A shadow wrapped around the man's waist, lifting him into the air.
"W-what? No—!"
The shadow slammed him into the ground, leaving a small crater.
"I… I have to get out of here," Mike muttered.
He hoisted the sword onto his shoulder. It slowed him down, but he had no choice. Turning his back on the field, he ran as fast as he could through the mud.
His heart pounded, ready to burst from fear.
I have to hold it together.
The skeletons were trapped within the shadow aura, so they couldn't follow.
As he ran, a memory flashed in his mind.
"Mike, we'll come back one day," a woman's voice said.
Mike was very young, sitting on a bed, looking unhappy. A man approached.
"Don't worry, son. I'll bring you your own sword, okay?"
Mike's eyes snapped back to the present — he could see the village gates ahead.
"I hate that memory. The biggest lie of my life… 'We'll come back.' Tsk."
He stepped toward the open gate — but standing there was a skeleton, armed with a simple sword.
He hadn't noticed it — the sun had set, and darkness had fallen because of the necromancer's magic.
"Damn this necromancer…" Mike cursed.
The skeleton charged. Mike knew he had to fight. He grabbed the sword from his shoulder — and it fell into the dirt again.
"I'm too weak…"
The skeleton's bones rattled as it swung its sword down at him.
The sword came down with tremendous force but just before it struck Mike
a golden aura exploded from Mike.
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A few words about the story:In the coming chapters, I will gradually explain more about the world, the abilities, and Mike's character. His development will be massive.
If you enjoyed it, feel free to add this story to your library. And if you'd like to leave a review — about what you liked or what could be improved — you can write it here in the comments