Ficool

genius

Umbral Wrath

At the stroke of midnight, the very world itself splits, and people with no special traits get involved in a difficult trial, which is only referred to as the 'Descent'—a realm in which one can live by the right of money, and fear and power are inextricably tied, while every gift has to be paid for. "Kuro Ayanagi", a man who has always been unnoticed, comes to life with a cursed gift: a blackened figure that remembers all the things he has been trying to forget. Every success day by day increases his strength—heaps up the past memories which he wants to keep hidden. In the Descent, might is never free, and he has lost forgetting as a luxury. Kuro, who has already been forced to make doubtful partners out of the other competitors—who each bear a crazy Burden of their own—has to find his way among the beasts, the altering tests, and the ruthless regulations where the power of life and death depends on trust being right or wrong. When things get tougher and the distinction between a man and a beast becomes fuzzy, there is one question that keeps coming up: "How much will he give up of himself before the shadow dictates who he actually is?" This is a gloomy development fantasy packed with emotional tension, lethal tests, and complicated ethical dilemmas. Besides that, the novel delves into themes of endurance, self hood, and the dreadful price that comes with power—all through the metaphor of taking a step forward that extracts something dear from the past.
KUMAOI · 7.6k Views

The Perfect Path To Insanity

Would you give up your humanity in exchange for power? To never die, a chance to be a god? Humans had lost all will to try. Their existence had been reduced to a single, self-destructive purpose: to entertain and please the cosmic gods, known as Forces, in hopes of gaining a 'favour'. After 7 years of these continuous deadly games that suddenly appeared, the Earth we know is no more. Now an apocalyptic playground for the Forces to enjoy. To survive in this ruined world, every single player is compelled to participate in these weekly deadly games. All to win prizes, be granted one of the four Paths designed for Awakeners— those who earned ‘their’ affection and favour. Until Fateless, a ‘humble’ wanted thief, stumbled upon a unique Force, one of the creators of the games. It was then he discovered the grim truth behind his name - 'Fateless' - deemed worthless and discarded at birth, exempt from all four Paths. Consumed by despair and hate, he took a risk and accepted a proposal from a shady cosmic god, granting him a fifth Path, giving him the ability to absorb human life essence to grow stronger, all for a small price. [ “I shall grant you the Fifth Path.” ] [ “The Path of Insanity.” ] [ “No mortal seeks forever without unraveling. Madness is the toll, the tariff paid at the gate.”] [ “You will no longer fear death. Nor die of age. Nor plague. Nor wounds that mortal hands deliver.” ] [ “But immortality is fed… not gifted.” ] [ “Just a tiny tithe. 10% of your humanity.” ] ‘What more is there to lose a bit of humanity, anyway? It only drags one down from their full potential. I could do just about anything without being bound to death. Anything… What a thrill it would be to spit on these cosmic slugs' faces.’
CrimsonJell0 · 5.6k Views