..
He stumbled back, catching himself against the nearest wall before sucking in a breath. His hoodie stuck to his back, damp with sweat, and his knees felt like they might buckle at any moment, but he was up. He was standing. That was enough.
For now.
Leaning against the wall, he took a few minutes to steady himself, his fingers curling and uncurling as he forced himself to breathe. Then, with slow, careful steps, he began walking.
He didn't know where he was going. He didn't have a plan.
But standing still?
That was not an option.
..
---
Location: The Eclipsed Labyrinth.
Year: 2026
Date: February 19th
Time: 2:02 PM
POV: Third Person
---
Damian had been walking for nearly thirty-five minutes. His legs ached, his body screamed for rest, but he kept moving. The dungeon's corridors had changed, the rough stone walls giving way to something more ancient, more refined. And now—
He stood before an entrance.
It looked hidden, like it had been sealed away for ages, but it was open. A massive stone doorway loomed before him, its surface covered in intricate carvings—symbols that whispered of something old and forgotten. Overgrown vines crawled along the edges, partially obscuring the faded engravings. Dust settled thickly in the crevices, untouched for what seemed like centuries.
Beside the entrance, embedded into the wall, was a mysterious panel. It was covered in runes, glowing faintly in the dim light. Even without touching it, Damian could tell—this was a mechanism.
One that had already been used.
He stared at the open passage and then glanced back at the path he had come from. No other way forward. If he turned back, he'd just be retracing his steps—wasting time he didn't have.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
The passage was dimly lit, but not by fire. Strange, ethereal blue torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows that danced in the gloom. Their glow was eerie, almost unnatural, but Damian pushed forward. The hallway stretched deeper into the unknown, and as he walked, the cold, stagnant air carried with it a strange sense of expectation.
And then—he arrived.
A vast chamber opened before him. It was massive, its towering stone walls stretching high, the ceiling barely visible in the dim glow of the enchanted flames. The air here felt heavy, thick with an ancient presence. Dust swirled in the stillness, disturbed only by his presence.
At the center of the chamber stood four medium large pedestals, bathed in soft, radiant light.
Floating above them were four objects.
The first—a book. Its ornate cover shimmered with unknown runes, glowing faintly like whispered secrets locked within its pages.
The second—a medium length sword. Its edge gleamed, radiating a subtle yet unmistakable energy.
The third—a mask. Ancient, it looked cracked, yet alive with pulsating dark power.
And the fourth—an abyssal-colored fruit. It hovered in midair, exuding an ominous, almost forbidden aura.
But Damian's attention snapped to something else.
A snake.
Perched right next to the abyssal fruit was a small black snake. Its sleek, dark scales gleamed under the eerie torchlight, its beady black eyes locked onto the floating fruit as if entranced.
"What the—?" Damian muttered, brow furrowing.
He had assumed someone else had passed through here before him, maybe even taken whatever was in this hidden chamber. He hadn't expected to find a tiny snake.
And then—it moved.
The small snake stretched its jaw **wide—far wider than it should have been able to—**and in a single, unnatural motion, it swallowed the fruit whole.
*Gulp!*
Damian actually heard it. A small, almost comical gulp.
But the moment the fruit vanished down its throat, the snake convulsed.
It thrashed violently, writhing and twisting in clear agony. Its small body coiled and uncoiled at unnatural angles as if something inside it was breaking and reshaping. Its movements were erratic, desperate, and then—
It fell.
The snake tumbled from the pedestal, landing with a soft thud. But even after hitting the ground, it didn't stop moving. It twisted, spasmed, its tiny form shuddering as dark veins pulsed beneath its scales.
Then—blood.
Small trickles of dark blood seeped from its scales, staining the cold stone beneath it.
Damian hesitated.
Snakes. He had always liked them—admired them from a distance. But that was as far as his admiration went. Fear had always kept him from getting too close.
Yet—
Watching this small creature suffer, bleed, thrash helplessly on the ground—he felt something stir in him.
Concern.
And curiosity.
Slowly, cautiously, he took a step forward.
Then another.
And another.
Before he knew it, he was kneeling beside it.
The snake had stopped thrashing.
It wasn't moving at all.
But it was still bleeding.
Damian hesitated, then reached out. With a single finger, he prodded the snake lightly.
No reaction.
His heart pounded. His instincts screamed at him to leave it alone, but he didn't.
Instead, he picked it up.
The tiny creature fit easily into his palm. It was small—only eleven inches long, two inches wide. Its body was light, fragile. But what baffled him the most was how.
How had something this small swallowed a fruit that was the size of a teenager's fist?
Damian exhaled sharply, his muscles aching as he carefully leaned his back against the pedestal where the fruit had previously been. His entire body felt sore, exhaustion creeping into his bones after all the walking and fighting he had endured in this dungeon. Yet, as he sat there catching his breath, his gaze instinctively returned to the small snake cradled in his palm.
For a moment, he simply observed it. The dim glow of the ethereal torches flickered over its tiny form, casting soft highlights along its scales. Damian could feel his heartbeat quicken—not out of fear, but for an entirely different reason.
If there was one thing Damian had always acknowledged about himself, it was his weaknesses. His fear was the most obvious one, a constant companion that gnawed at the edges of his courage. But there was something else, something that might have been even worse.
Damian had a massive weakness for cute things.
And this tiny snake?
It was dangerously adorable.
His eyes widened in sheer disbelief as he took a proper look at the creature. It was small and chubby, its body curled slightly in his palm. Its scales, a deep midnight blue, shimmered softly under the dungeon's eerie light, like the sky at twilight. Its large, round dark silver eyes were half-lidded, weak but brimming with curiosity, innocence, and intelligence. Tiny crescent moon markings ran along its back, faintly glowing with an otherworldly radiance. Even its short, plump tail left behind small, delicate sparks as it twitched slightly.
It was—incredible.
Damian Derulo 'Oh my God!! It's so cute!'
A small, almost strangled noise escaped him as he poked the snake's nose with his finger, utterly mesmerized. His mind completely shut down to anything else, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. He was too lost in the sheer adorableness of the tiny creature, completely unaware of the fact that it had begun to move.
As Damian marveled at its cuteness, the snake's little mouth slowly opened.
And then—
Damian Derulo "Ah!"
A sudden, sharp sting shot through his finger. He flinched in surprise and looked down—only to see the tiny snake biting him.
For a split second, his instincts screamed at him to panic, to fling it away. A bite from an unknown creature in a dungeon could mean poison, curses, or worse. But before he could react—before he could even process what was happening—a strange weakness washed over him.
His limbs felt heavy. His head dizzy. His vision blurred.
With sluggish, barely responsive movements, he glanced down at the tiny creature still latched onto his finger. His thoughts were hazy, slipping through his grasp like grains of sand. He could see the snake drinking his blood, its tiny fangs buried in his skin, but instead of fear—
Damian Derulo 'Ah… still so cute…'
—his last conscious thought was pure admiration.
And then, everything went black.
---
Unknown to Damian, the tiny snake was doing something far more profound than simply feeding.
The moment its fangs sank into his skin, it began to absorb something from him.
Not just his blood—but his essence.
More specifically, a special energy unique to him and the creatures of The End—Nethermire Essence. Though still in its early stage, this energy was potent enough to trigger significant changes within the small snake.
As the energy coursed through its tiny body, its wounds closed. The bleeding stopped. Strength began to return to its limbs, its vitality restored.
But only for a few seconds.
Then, without warning—pure agony.
The tiny snake convulsed violently, its body seizing as it was forcibly thrust into a transformation far beyond its natural limits.
What followed next was horrific.
It was caught in a relentless, nightmarish cycle of destruction and resurrection. Its body would break down at the molecular level, only to be forcibly rebuilt again—stronger, denser, different. Every nerve in its tiny form was set ablaze, as if it were being ripped apart and reforged over and over.
The process was both excruciating and inescapable.
And as the little snake endured this torment—its body shifting, changing, and evolving—one thing became clear.
It was no longer the same creature it had been just moments ago.
..
.
--
[ February 19th ]
[ 4:31 PM ]
--
---
A dull throbbing ache pulsed through Damian's skull as he slowly stirred awake, his back still resting against the cold pedestal. His vision swam for a moment, disoriented and sluggish, as though he were waking from an impossibly deep sleep.
For a few fleeting seconds, his mind was blank—adrift in a fog of confusion. Then, like a dam bursting, the memories flooded back.
The chamber.
The floating Relics.
The tiny midnight blue snake.
The bite.
Damian's breath hitched slightly as his eyes darted around the chamber, his heart beating just a little faster. But—
Nothing.
The Relics were still there.
The eerie torches still flickered dimly along the walls.
The dust-laden air remained undisturbed.
But the adorable little snake?
Nowhere to be found.
Damian let out a long, tired sigh, running a hand over his face. His body ached all over, the exhaustion weighing him down like chains.
Damian Derulo 'Sigh… Why do I keep blacking out?'
It was a helpless thought, one that had plagued him ever since the Rapture.
Ever since the world had changed, since the madness began, since he was thrown into this nightmarish existence—he had spent more time unconscious than awake.
It was almost comedic.
If it weren't so damn concerning.
With another deep sigh, Damian sat up fully, absently patting down his body, checking for any injuries or—God forbid—missing limbs. His black hoodie was still clinging to him, though it was dirty, tattered, and barely holding together. The fabric was stiff with dried blood and dust, making him grimace in discomfort.
Damian Derulo 'Ugh. My hair feels like I haven't touched it in decades…'
His fingers raked through his disheveled hair, but the moment they brushed against his scalp, he winced. Dried blood. From his earlier injuries. He really needed to clean up.
With a slow exhale, Damian leaned his head back against the pedestal, letting himself breathe.
For once, the chamber was quiet.
For once, he wasn't fighting, running, or struggling to survive.
His eyes fluttered closed for a moment. Then—
Itch.
A soft, prickling sensation crawled up the side of his neck. Damian instinctively reached up to scratch it—but something caught his eye.
Something on his left forearm.
His breath stilled.
At first, he thought it was just dirt—some leftover grime from the dungeon. But no. The markings were too intricate. Too deliberate.
It was a tattoo.
No. Not just a tattoo.
Something else.
Something unnatural.
Shadow-like tendrils wrapped around his entire arm, flowing and pulsing faintly with an eerie yet strangely elegant glow.
The design was mesmerizing.
Mystical runes and abyssal symbols twisted and shifted like living ink beneath his skin, their meaning just out of reach, yet somehow familiar.
And at the centerpiece of the tattoo—
A magic circle or at least, that's what it looked like.
It radiated an ethereal, otherworldly presence, its patterns shifting subtly, as if it weren't just etched onto him… but alive.
Beautiful.
Yet ominous.
Damian's fingers hovered over the marking, his heart pounding with an unsettling mix of curiosity and dread.
Damian Derulo "…What the hell happened to me? Okay, deep breaths."
His voice echoed faintly in the still chamber, breaking the eerie silence.
He inhaled.
Held it.
Exhaled.
Repeating the process a few more times, he felt his heart rate slow—though his mind was still a storm of confusion.
Finally, after steadying himself, Damian looked back at his arm.
His lips twitched.
Damian Derulo "First of all… badass."
He turned his arm slightly, watching the tattoo's shadowy tendrils pulse beneath his skin, shifting ever so subtly like living ink. The mystical runes and abyssal symbols glowed faintly, giving his arm an eerie, otherworldly aesthetic.
Objectively?
It looked cool as hell.
Damian Derulo "Second… What in the actual fuck?!"
His voice rose slightly, filled with equal parts awe, frustration, and mild panic.
What was this tattoo?
Where did it come from?
And more importantly—what did it do?
Before he could spiral further into overthinking, another sharp crawled along his neck.
Instinctively, Damian moved to scratch it—
Hissss.
His body locked up.
The sound came from right next to his ear.
Slowly, very slowly, Damian turned his head—
And froze.
Because there it was.
The snake.
The adorable, tiny, midnight-blue snake from earlier.
But—
It was different.
It was still small—but its scales were now smoother, shimmering like polished obsidian. The crescent moon marking had shifted to the tip of its tail, glowing ever so faintly.
And most importantly—
Its cuteness… had reached an entirely new level.
It was coiled loosely around his neck, its upper body raised slightly, big round silver eyes staring directly at him then it tilted it little head the side a little.
Damian's mind short-circuited.
Damian Derulo 'Holy shit—IT GOT EVEN CUTER.' " Uh Hi? " Damian said awkwardly.
The little snake hissed softly before slithering around Damian's neck, its cool, smooth body brushing against his skin. It coiled loosely for a moment before continuing its journey downward, sliding across his shoulder, then down his biceps, its tiny body barely making a sound. Damian shivered slightly at the sensation, but he didn't dare move.
The snake continued, gliding over his forearm, where the eerie tattoo pulsed faintly. As it reached his wrist, it suddenly coiled around it like a bangle, tightening just enough to secure its position without restricting his movement.
Then, it raised its upper body once more, silver eyes staring at him with a mix of curiosity and quiet expectation.
Damian Derulo "W-What is it?"
His voice was hesitant, laced with nervousness. The little serpent tilted its head, then glanced toward the tattoo on his arm.
Damian felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple.
Slowly, he lifted his free hand and hesitantly tapped a finger on the centerpiece of the magic circle etched into his skin.
The reaction was instantaneous.
The tattoo shimmered to life, glowing with an ominous, shifting darkness, as if it were swallowing the light around it. Before Damian could even process what was happening, a semi-transparent screen materialized before his eyes.
//
____________________________________
[ Origin System Interface ]
---
* [Name] : None.
* [Race] : Primordial Shadow Serpent (Partially Corrupted).
* [Title(s)] : [Mistress Of The Shadows(Peak Celestial Grade - Early Stage Corruption)]
* [Power Tier] : Echo (Awakening Stage)
* [Identity] : The One Who Whispers In The Dark.
____________________________________
[ Facets ]
---
1.[Shadow Manipulation] - Can freely control and shape shadows, forming weapons, tendrils, or protective barriers.
2.[Umbral Shift] - Can be used to move through shadow and teleport through them.
3.[Shadow Dominion] - Grants control over shadows swithin a certain radius.
____________________________________
[ Resonances ]
---
1.[Cosmic Devourer] - Absorbs the essence of other creatures to rejuvenate and heal itself.
2.[Depthless Hunger] - Continuously absorbs power from all forms of energy and darkness, growing stronger over time.
____________________________________
[ Relics ]
---
None
--------------
▶ Give Your Pet a Name to Finalize the Bond:
____________________________________
//
Damian blinked.
Damian Derulo "Wow, it's—"
*Hissssss.*
The sudden sharp hiss interrupted him.
He turned to look at the snake and found it narrowing its eyes at him.
Damian Derulo "What is it?"
*Hiss.*
Damian sighed, feeling a sense of helplessness sink in.
Damian Derulo "I don't know what you want, okay?!"
He ran a hand through his messy hair, frustration creeping into his tone. He had been through too much in such a short span of time.
First, he was bitten by an unreasonably adorable snake.
Then, he blacked out.
Next, he woke up with a mysterious tattoo on his arm.
And now?
Now there was a dangerously cute little snake that had bitten him before—but was now somehow trying to communicate with him.
It was too much, though it wasn't as much as the pressure he felt during the rapture.
Damian let out a long breath and turned back to the screen, rereading the information carefully.
Damian Derulo " It's reall-"
The moment he started speaking again—
*Hissss!*
Damian Derulo "Huh?"
*Hisss.*
His brow furrowed in confusion.
Damian glanced at the snake.
Then at the screen.
Back at the snake.
Then at the screen again.
Finally, he looked at the snake once more.
A long silence stretched between them.
Damian Derulo "...It?"
*HISSSS.*
The snake's sharp reaction made Damian instinctively lean back slightly.
Damian Derulo "Lovely… Strong… Black… Shadow… It?"
Another hiss.
This time, it felt almost exasperated.
Then—
Something clicked in Damian's mind.
'Ahh… I get it.'
His eyes flicked back to the title displayed on the system screen.
[Mistress of the Shadows]
'Mistress, huh…?'
Damian Derulo "She…?"
The little snake tilted its head slightly, then slowly turned back to face him—
As if to say "You finally got it."
The moment the little snake tilted her head, looking at him with pure innocence, Damian felt an overwhelming urge to grab her and hold her up to his face.
She was too cute.
His heart squeezed painfully, and he had to physically cover his face with his right palm to stop himself from reacting like a fool. His fingers slightly trembled, his body shaking from the sheer force of his suppressed emotions.
Damian Derulo 'This isn't fair… she's weaponized cuteness!'
It took him a few long seconds to recover from the snake's "attack" on his sanity. When he finally lowered his hand, his gaze returned to the screen, focusing on the last line.
[Give your pet a name to finalize the bond.]
Damian blinked.
Damian Derulo 'Bond? What bond?'
Then it clicked.
Damian groaned, running a hand down his face.
Damian Derulo 'I'm such an idiot…'
No wonder she hadn't attacked him when she had every reason to.
They were already partially bonded.
The little snake continued to tilt her head, observing Damian as he shook his head, lost in thought. However, she couldn't properly see his face because of the nose mask he wore, which she found… unappealing. It was unnatural, and she had the vague notion that humans weren't supposed to cover their faces like that.
Damian, meanwhile, was struggling with a serious dilemma.
Damian Derulo 'What do I name her? It has to be perfect… but… I suck at naming things…'
His dark eyes shifted toward the snake, watching as she coiled gracefully around his wrist.
Damian Derulo "Uhh… Bunny?"
The moment the word left his lips, the snake's entire body stiffened.
Her slitted pupils dilated, and she looked at him as if he had just handed her a wrapped gift, only for her to open it and find nothing inside.
Damian swore he could almost hear the disappointment.
Her stare alone made him feel like he had just committed a crime against nature.
Damian clutched his chest dramatically, taking an exaggerated step back.
Damian Derulo 'Her cuteness is going to be the death of me…'
He let out a cough to compose himself before trying again.
Damian Derulo "Dandelion?"
*Silence.*
The snake froze again, this time her tiny mouth slightly open, as if she had just realized she was doomed to an eternity of horrible names.
Damian swore she was thinking, 'I am doomed… this is my fate…'
And that was it.
That was the final straw.
*Pah!* *Pah!* *Pah!*
Damian smacked his lap repeatedly, his body trembling with suppressed laughter.
His brain was short-circuiting from the sheer adorableness of her reaction.
Damian Derulo 'This is too much!!'
His eyes watered slightly as he tried to calm himself, but the snake flinched, startled by his sudden self-inflicted attack.
She eyed him warily, looking like she was reconsidering her—forced—decision to bond with this peculiar human.
Damian suddenly froze mid-laugh, realization striking him like a bolt of lightning.
Damian Derulo 'What am I even doing?'
His hand fell limply to his side as he let out a long sigh.
Then, something else clicked.
Damian Derulo 'Wait… I should record this—Wait! My phone! I still have my phone!'
Hope flared in his chest as his right hand dove into his pants pocket.
When he pulled out his smartphone, his excitement immediately dimmed.
The device was in a bad state.
The screen was cracked, the fingerprint scanner was broken, and the edges were slightly dented.
Damian sighed again. He wouldn't be surprised if it didn't even turn on.
But to his absolute delight, the screen flickered before coming to life.
Damian grinned, quickly unlocking it. Due to the non-functional fingerprint port and the shattered display, he had to input his password manually, which was a frustrating process.
After finally getting past the lock screen, he scrolled down to his notes app and tapped on it.
Once it opened, he scrolled further down until he reached a specific section.
--
▶ [Female Character Names]
Damian clicked on it, and a list of pre-saved names appeared.
On the screen, there were a lot of names, but only ten were on the screen.
▶ 1. Selene Vespera
▶ 2. Nocturna Seraphis
▶ 3. Nyxeris Umbra
▶ 4. Umbriel Nyx
▶ 5. Ereva Lunaris
▶ 6. Tenebris Vail
▶ 7. Aetheris Solis
▶ 8. Vespera Noire
▶ 9. Luminara Void
▶ 10. Noxian Astra
--
Damian flinched as he felt the snake shift, her smooth scales gliding across his skin as she slithered from his left arm to his right. She moved with effortless grace, coiling around his wrist like a living bracelet before raising her upper body to peer at the phone screen with curiosity.
Damian splited the screen, the top half showed the note tab, while the lower half show a recording camera.
Her luminous eyes reflected the dim glow of the device as she watched the moving images. She tilted her head, noticing how the camera mirrored her movements. Testing it, she flicked her tongue and turned her head left—only to see the motion captured on the screen below.
A soft hiss escaped her, almost as if in fascination.
Damian chuckled, watching her experiment.
Damian Derulo "You like that, huh?" Damian said, while internally fighting the overwhelming urge to react to her adorable gestures.
The snake blinked at him before tapping her snout against the phone, her expression unreadable but clearly engaged.
Damian let his left arm rest over his face, inhaling deeply as he considered the first option.
Damian Derulo "Alright, how about Selene Vespera?"
The little snake immediately recoiled, her tail flicking in disapproval. She even gave a dismissive hiss before turning away dramatically, as if offended by the mere suggestion.
Damian sighed, shaking his head with amusement ' Thought that one was a good one'.
Damian Derulo "Okay, tough crowd."
He scrolled down, tapping the second name.
Damian Derulo "Nocturna Seraphis?"
This time, the snake flicked her tongue but remained unimpressed. She slithered up his forearm and gently bopped her snout against his cheek before retreating, an almost judgmental air about her.
Damian sighed again, a hand over his heart.
Damian Derulo "You're really hurting my confidence here, you know?"
She simply stared, unmoved.
A smirk played on Damian's lips as he finally highlighted the third name.
Damian Derulo "Alright then… how about Nyxeris Umbra?"
The moment the name left his lips, the snake turned to him, eyes gleaming with a strange, knowing light. Then, in a surprisingly deliberate motion, she nodded.
It was so unexpectedly adorable that Damian had to resist the urge to clutch his chest in dramatics.
Before he could comment, the Origin System Interface shimmered to life, updating in real-time.
//
____________________________________
[ Origin System Interface ]
---
* [Name] : Nyxeris Umbra (Infant).
* [Race] : Primordial Shadow Serpent (Partially Corrupted).
* [Title(s)] : [Mistress Of The Shadows(Peak Celestial Grade - Early Stage Corruption)]
* [Power Tier] : Echo (Awakening Stage)
* [Identity] : The One Who Whispers In The Dark, Bonded Creature To The One Hated By ????.
____________________________________
[ Facets ]
---
1.[Shadow Manipulation] - Can freely control and shape shadows, forming weapons, tendrils, or protective barriers.
2.[Umbral Shift] - Can be used to move through shadow and teleport through them.
3.[Shadow Dominion] - Grants control over shadows swithin a certain radius.
____________________________________
[ Resonances ]
---
1.[Cosmic Devourer] - Absorbs other creatures' essences to rejuvenate and heal herself and her owner.
2.[Depthless Hunger] - Continuously absorbs power from all forms of energy and darkness, growing stronger over time.
3.[Tenebrous Covenant] – A bond forged in primordial darkness, linking the souls of the bonded pair. The strength of this connection evolves over time, granting various benefits
____________________________________
[ Relics ]
---
None
--------------
▶ [Bond Successful!!]
____________________________________
//
Damian read through the updated screen, his eyes lingering on the new Resonance.
Damian Derulo "Tenebrous Covenant, huh? Sounds fancy."
Nyxeris simply flicked her tail, as if she had expected nothing less.
.
.
.
.
.
.
To Be Continued....
A/n : Yello, T.E.D here, sorry I couldn't upload yesterday, I was in a little collision yesterday, it's nothing much, just a few scratches here and there, but my phone is busted, it has my discord logged in and I can't remember the password 😅, anyways, it will be fixed by Monday, so till then, I'll be uploading more chapters.
And again, here's my discord link, your suggestions and criticism are all welcome there.
https://discord.gg/u2yVtVkudz