Cherreads

Chapter 4 - The new powers

Lance lifted his eyes to the overcast sky—and the blood in his veins froze. Two spheres hovered in the void above him. One was woven from radiant white threads, glowing with an eerie light; the other was a mass of pitch-black substance, wrapped in a dark mist that pulsed with malice.

Before he could comprehend the sight, the air split behind him as an ambushing warrior appeared, bringing his weapon down toward Lance's head. In the instant before disaster struck, the white sphere exploded violently, unleashing streams of luminous threads. One cluster coiled around the attacker, freezing him midair, while another surged toward Lance's limbs—binding his wrists and ankles before transforming within seconds into sharp white claws protruding from his body.

Lance didn't understand what was happening, but instinct took over. He lashed out with the claws in a swift strike to the warrior's chest, sending him hurtling back with tremendous force. At that moment, a second attacker—a bowman—emerged and fired two treacherous arrows, forcing Lance to dive behind a nearby rock for cover.

As he struggled to catch his breath, the black sphere descended from the sky like a silent meteor and settled into his hands. The moment he pressed it, it burst apart, releasing three serpent-like black chains. Two of them wrapped violently around the archer, restraining him, while the third shot forward—its sharpened tip piercing his neck with chilling precision, dropping him lifeless where he stood.

The chains dissolved, returning to their liquid state. They seeped toward the fallen bow, absorbing it before reshaping it into a cursed black weapon. Meanwhile, the first warrior regained his footing as the white threads faded and charged at Lance with a sharpened blade. Suddenly, thick black mist rose from the ground and enveloped Lance. In the blink of an eye, it transported him to where the black bow lay.

Lance grasped the weapon, stunned. There were no arrows—but the moment he drew the string, the black mist condensed, forming a bolt of darkness. He fired at his enemy's head, striking his eye with perfect accuracy. Yet the warrior continued his charge, undeterred by the wound, filling Lance with dread.

Just before the man could reach him, the mist swallowed Lance again, transporting him back behind the rock where it had all begun. With sharper focus, he drew the string once more and released another arrow—this time aimed at the warrior's throat. The dark projectile pierced his larynx, and at last, the man collapsed into a lifeless corpse.

Lance fell to the ground, his back against the rock, gasping from exhaustion and confusion. As he tried to process what had happened, the outlines of the "System" began to materialize before him—but it was not as before. It was different… stranger… and ominous.

System:

Name: Lance

Primary Ability: Between Worlds

Secondary Ability: Combat Core (Dual Core)

Souls: 2

Soul Sacrifice: 0

Resurrection: 0

Domain: None

A new field appeared:

Power Level: Awakened

Curiosity flooded Lance as he focused on the "Secondary Ability." The moment he did, a detailed explanation unfolded in his mind, as if etched into his thoughts:

[Secondary Ability – Dual Core Explanation]:

It consists of two opposing poles:

— White Thread Core: Your kinetic defense. It weaves cloaks and armor around you, granting explosive speed and casting binding nets to restrain enemies.

— Black Mist Core: Your offensive arcane edge. A mysterious substance that devours any weapon, reshaping itself into its form while infusing it with elemental forces (fire, air, etc.). It also grants "Shadow Traversal," allowing you to move instantly to any place you've stepped within a single day, and to summon black chains—starting at three and increasing as your power grows.

The explanation faded, replaced by a harsher law:

[Soul System]:

— Sacrifice: Consuming souls grants you terrifying enhancements (Warning: sacrificing more than two souls may shatter your body).

— Resurrection: You may raise the defeated as servants within your personal realm, at the cost of other souls—a taxing act (Maximum: 7 entities).

Lance studied this new power with cold focus, then extended his hand toward the corpses of his enemies. Two glowing blue spheres formed in his palm—their souls. Without hesitation, he crushed them together. They burst into liquid energy that coated his hands and flowed through his veins.

[System Notification: Soul Sacrifice Activated (2/10)].

As the system screen faded, a spatial rift opened before him. He stepped through it, crossing that desolate void he had once drifted in, before another gate cast him back into the real world—at the very place where the battle had begun.

Lance examined his body. The white claws still covered his limbs, gleaming with a terrifying edge. With a motion of his hands, he summoned the black substance in his right and the mist in his left. With a single press, the substance transformed into the cursed black bow, while three black chains slithered forth from the mist like hungry serpents.

He looked at his hands—and a low, cold laugh escaped him, tinged with unsettling madness… before abruptly stopping. He raised his gaze to the sky and realized that time in this world had barely moved since his departure.

He walked on. Not long after, the silence was broken by the caw of a black crow.

They locked eyes for a moment—then Lance began to follow it until he reached to his friends.

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