Chapter 1: Ab Initio Damnatus

[You have been assigned the Unique Class, Terror]

[Welcome to Enemies of Corruption!]

A harsh, grating sound tore Peace from his peaceful sleep as an unnatural breeze brushed his cheek.

He slowly peeled his eyes open.

’Wait...’

’Why...’

’Why am I outside?!’

The trees, grass, and shrubs around him all swirled in shades of inky black. Yet, despite the darkness, he could see perfectly, albeit without color.

’Am I dreaming?’

But it felt real. Very real.

Peace pushed himself off the ground, only to find that he barely reached the height of a nearby bush. Startled, he tried to speak, but all that escaped his throat was a high-pitched, bestial snarl.

That was when he noticed them... his arms.

No, not just his arms.

Everything was wrong.

His arms were short and rail-thin, covered in sleek, felted black fur and tipped with wicked claws bearing sharp onyx nails.

He seemed no taller than sixty centimeters: the size of a damned toddler.

Peace brought one claw to his mouth and ran the back of his hand across his teeth. They were unnaturally sharp. Even his cheeks felt as tough as leather.

’Serene... Mom...’

Peace tried to cry out for his family, but all he produced was a series of inarticulate gasps.

"Ar. Ugh. Arck."

He cupped his oddly shaped face with both claws. Then he dug his nails into his thin pelt, sending a spike of pain through him and tearing a shriek from his throat. He recoiled and toppled to the ground.

It had to be fake.

’Why does this feel so real?!’

Had he finally lost it after his sister died?

Had she been mistaken? Was she the anchor and he the sail? Had he drifted into hell now that he was unmoored?

Peace forced himself upright, his arms hanging limply at his sides.

’What a joke.’

Wherever he was, whatever he was, why should he care?

Nothing mattered to a man already lost.

Reality or not, the world had already killed his heart...

Why care if it took his body?

Awkwardly, Peace tried to step forward on his taloned feet, but his uncoordinated body refused to cooperate, sending him face-first into the ground.

For the next five minutes, he kept trying and failing to walk. Eventually, he discovered that he could balance better on all fours.

No sooner had he learned how to move than a horrifying roar erupted somewhere nearby, followed by thunderous footsteps.

Before he could make sense of the noise, he scrambled into the nearest bush.

Moments later, a hideous monster stumbled through the forest, proving he had made the right choice.

The abomination stood as tall as two stacked gorillas, even on all fours. Black ooze poured from its gaping maw and lightless eyes. Bones protruded from its body, while its skin appeared to slide from its frame.

Without warning, it halted and reared onto its hind legs, scanning the area...

A vicious growl rolled through the forest.

Then, a black flash shot from a nearby tree and struck the towering abomination.

A tiny attacker latched onto its neck. It resembled a horribly deformed monkey, with inky fluid dripping from its body.

The monkey-like creature sank its teeth into the abomination’s nape and thrashed violently, ripping free a sizable chunk of flesh.

Unperturbed, the larger creature ripped its attacker away and slammed it into a tree.

’Ah!’

Peace remained huddled in the bush, watching the carnage while wishing he were back with his sister.

He was witnessing something inexplicable while dreaming of something impossible.

Suddenly, the monkey monster broke free and scurried up one of the black trees, leaving a trail of sable blood behind it. Then, it vanished into the shadows.

Peace looked up, but with his view shrouded by the shrubbery, he could only listen as the leaves rustled with its movements.

Yet...

’Hungry...’

Peace could think of nothing but eating. That singular instinct slowly devouring every rational thought.

The craving was his, yet it felt terribly improper — not like a simple desire for food, but...

A deafening crack split the air as another black flash struck the abomination’s neck. The hulking creature tumbled to the ground, while the smaller one fell upon its mangled body, biting and clawing without restraint.

The larger abomination twitched beneath the assault, then went still.

At last, the monkey-like creature pulled away.

A fatal mistake.

With ungodly speed, the larger abomination thrust its arm through the monkey monster’s torso.

After a few wild, guttural groans, the monkey coughed up more fetid blood and went limp upon the creature’s claw.

Peace watched from his hiding spot as the heavily injured victor stood and flung the corpse from its arm. It then lowered its oozing maw and began tearing into the body.

Peace should have been revolted. Disgusted. Appalled...

’No, no... I am, right?’

But he couldn’t look away.

’I want some...’

...

’What?’

’No... wait.’

’Why...?’

Why did that dead monster look so appetizing?!

Seemingly satisfied, the wounded abomination staggered into the forest, leaving half of the corpse behind.

Once the creature disappeared and the coast seemed clear, Peace crawled out of the bush and approached the corpse. Cautiously, he brought his face — and whatever excuse he had for a nose — close to the beast.

It smelled awful, but something tantalizing hid beneath the horrendous stench.

’I need it...’

’I need it!’

Driven by pure instinct, Peace fell upon the corpse and began devouring it. Each bite was transcendent, the vile flesh tasting better than anything he’d ever eaten.

’Delicious!’

Morsel after morsel, Peace carved away strips of flesh and stuffed them into his grimy mouth.

Yet, as Peace continued eating...

’What am I...?’

[???] — (Condition to unlock: 1/100)

’Oh gods!’

Revulsion flooded him as the reality of what he’d done seared itself into his mind, putrid black blood covering his face.

’What’s with me?!’

What could have possessed him to lose control and devour the corpse of that thing?!

Only about a quarter of the beast remained, with its bloody, rotting guts strewn across the bleak ground. Beside them lay a strange black shard that had fallen from its body as he ate it.

An incandescent light suddenly streaked overhead, shattering his stupor.

Peace followed its path and saw the larger abomination from before thrashing amid a blaze. Low screeches escaped it before it fell silent, leaving only the wet bubbling of its flesh.

Then, he heard a human shout. The words began as nonsense but gradually twisted into a comprehensible language.

"***** *** ***. **ce shot! Perfectly done, Lacan! As expected of the Duke’s child!"

"Thanks..."

The voicees were close.

Peace released an awkward sigh of relief, only to remember the state of his own body.

’Oh, right... They’ll kill me if they find me!’

His relief gave way to panic as the footsteps drew steadily closer.

The bush was too far away, and running across the open ground would expose him. That left only one option: the black tree directly in front of him.

Desperate, Peace used his claws and talons to scale its trunk. To his surprise, the climb was nearly effortless. Even easier than running on flat ground.

"Did you guys hear that?"

Peace barely managed to conceal himself among the maze of branches before three humans appeared below, gathering around the corpse of the monkey-like monster.

Not a single patch of skin showed on any of them. Each wore skintight clothing beneath a layer of armor. One carried a bow, another a sword, and the last both a shield and a blade.

The swordsman knelt beside the corpse and picked up the strange black stone.

"Seems like the corrupted bastard left us a souvenir too!"

He slipped the stone into a small pouch attached to his waist. Then, the group continued toward the larger abomination’s corpse.

There, they stopped to examine their kill.

"A Wisp of a Vanadar?! It’s our lucky day!"

’Vanadar?’

’Isn’t that...’