"Weak… I'm so damn weak." Kazik's voice cracked as he cursed, fists slamming against his own cheeks. Damnnn it! he hissed through gritted teeth, each word carrying the weight of his frustration. Why… why… why?? His mind spun in a chaotic storm of self-doubt. I lack talent? Why must I bear this humiliation?
He struck his face again, wincing as the sting tore through his raw, unhealed wounds. Fresh blood mingled with sweat, and yet the pain only fueled his fury. His body trembled with a mixture of anger and despair, every slap a cruel echo of his perceived failure.
Sigh… he was hasty. Too hasty. Acting in desperation, letting impatience guide him instead of reason. He pressed his palms to his face, digging his fingers into his temples as if trying to claw the shame away. "I shouldn't have… I shouldn't have rushed it…" His voice wavered, nearly breaking under the weight of his regret.
"I should have approached her slowly… carefully, so I wouldn't have drawn any attention." He thought, clenching his fist until his knuckles turned white, the tension running up his arm like fire. His chest tightened with frustration, but deep down, he knew it wasn't entirely his fault.
The race of succession within his house was growing fiercer by the day. Every maneuver, every decision was scrutinized, twisted, and used against him. The executives and armed forces, instead of supporting him, rallied behind the first and second sons. Recognition, respect, power—they seemed forever out of his reach. Every step forward felt like dragging through quicksand.
He had pinned his hopes on Salena Draken. If he could somehow tie her to himself, carve a place in her life, maybe—just maybe—he could create an opportunity where none existed. But now… now it was all for naught. The plan had crumbled before it even had a chance to take root.
His shoulders slumped, and a bitter sigh escaped him, rough and low. Anger and regret warred within him, twisting into a gnawing ache that throbbed through his chest. His eyes darkened as he stared at the floor, fingers digging into the palms of his hands. Everything… everything I tried… wasted.
A small, hollow laugh escaped him, almost inaudible, choked by bitterness. "Damn it… damn it all," he muttered, the words barely carrying the weight of his despair. He wanted to shout, to rage, to hit something—anything—but the helplessness clung to him like a second skin.
"No… I cannot give up yet." He ground his teeth, jaw tight, fists curling at his sides. I'd be lucky if they didn't pursue this matter any further, he thought, a flicker of cautious hope burning amidst the storm of his anger.
But the fire in him refused to be dimmed. One day… one day I will repay this hatred and humiliation tenfold. His eyes darkened, blazing with a cold, unyielding determination. Edward… Vern… remember this day. I will pay you back for this debt. The words tore out through clenched teeth, almost a growl, raw with suppressed fury.
[Excellent.] The voice was sudden, slicing through the haze of his thoughts, sharp and unexpected. He froze mid-breath, heart hammering in his chest, as his train of thought broke abruptly. That voice… it wasn't external, yet it resonated in his mind with a clarity that made the hairs on his neck stand on end.
"Wh… what is this? Who… who are you?" Kazik's voice trembled, each word ragged as he struggled to calm his racing heart. His palms were clammy, fingers digging into his thighs, trying to anchor himself to reality. The air around him seemed to thrum with a strange, almost tangible energy.
[I'm the Dragon of Hatred.] The voice rolled through his mind like molten steel, sharp and commanding, resonating deep in his bones. Kazik froze, every instinct screaming at him to flee, yet his feet refused to move. The words lingered in the air, vibrating with an otherworldly intensity that made his skin crawl.
After a moment, forcing himself to draw a steadying breath, he spoke again, voice steadier but still laced with disbelief. "A… dragon? How… how can this be possible?" His chest heaved, adrenaline coursing through him. "There aren't any dragons in this world. If you are truly here… then… reveal yourself!"
[Do not misunderstand me. I am not a true dragon.] The voice resonated again, deeper this time, like a shadow stretching over his very soul. [I am a mere imitation, forged artificially through the emotion of hatred itself.]
Kazik's eyes widened, heart thundering in his chest. The hairs on his arms stood on end as a shiver crawled up his spine. The atmosphere around him seemed to twist and darken, as if the world itself recoiled from the intensity of the revelation. His breath came in shallow, sharp bursts, every nerve screaming in awe and terror.
The Dragon of Hatred… how could this be? Kazik's mind raced, pulse hammering in his temples. Is it truly possible? The sensation swirling inside him was intoxicating and terrifying at once—a dark, gnawing bloodlust, eerily similar to the surge he had felt earlier. Could it be… the same force?
His suspicion sharpened. Could this voice be the same person—the one who made me… his stomach churned at the memory, …piss my pants earlier? But before he could dwell too long, a cold, undeniable clarity struck him: his suspicion was wrong. This presence was something far older, far darker, and far more dangerous.
[Although I am caged in this cursed place for hundreds of years after my creation…] The voice slithered into his mind, low and commanding, vibrating through his skull. […I aspire to be free from this hell. And in this… you can help.]
Kazik shivered, a mix of fear and fascination rippling through him. He could feel it—the weight of centuries, of hatred, of raw, unbridled power—coiling around his thoughts like a living thing. Yet the dragon did not reveal its form. Its presence was invisible, yet omnipresent, a dark shadow threading through every corner of his consciousness.
Help it? The word sent a jolt through him, his mind torn between instinctive terror and the dangerous allure of power. The air around him seemed to thicken, charged with an energy that made his skin prickle, his heartbeat spike, and his breaths come faster.
Kazik clenched his fists, knuckles white, eyes darting around as if the room itself might erupt with the dragon's unseen might. If this is true… if I can truly help it… then… what will it demand of me?
The silence that followed was deafening, heavy with anticipation, the unspoken promise of something monstrous waiting just beyond the veil of perception.
"If what you say is true, then what will I gain in return?" Kazik asked, composing himself as he exhaled a deep, steady breath.
[Hahaha… as expected. I wasn't wrong when I sensed your hatred and ambition. Very well, then—I will share half of my power with you.]
The dragon's booming laughter echoed through his mind, each word vibrating like fire against ice. A smirk unconsciously crept across Kazik's bloodied, injured face, despite the pain he bore.
"Half your power?" Kazik asked, testing the boundaries of what he might become if he were to accept the dragon's offer.
[Yes. Half of my power. In human terms… you could reach 5th Severance instantly.] the dragon's voice reverberated in his mind, heavy and intoxicating.
5th Severance…? Kazik let a low, bitter laugh escape his lips. It's true… there is fortune in misfortune. A spark of hope ignited in the depths of his chest—the door to his ambition hadn't closed yet. He steadied his voice and asked, "What do I need to do… to release you?"
[It would be difficult for you to handle it alone…] the dragon's tone twisted with amusement. [But there is someone—someone contracted to me. He will help. And you… you will need to do…] The words faltered, hanging like a blade suspended midair.
So there's another… Kazik thought, suspicion and curiosity mingling in his gaze.
[You must release me… and feed me.] The dragon's explanation grew intricate and meticulous, each detail painted with a dark, almost seductive clarity. Kazik remained silent, absorbing every word, his pulse quickening, the weight of the choice pressing down like molten iron.
Even in his injured state, a thrill surged through him. The path ahead was treacherous, twisted, and unknown—but the promise of power… irresistible.
After listening to the explanation, Kazik asked, "So… it would take at most two years, huh?"
[Yes.]
A low, excited chuckle resonated in his mind. Hehe… you don't have to worry. You just prepare to hand over half your power, and I'll take care of the rest. The dragon's tone dripped with triumph, as if the victory had already been sealed.
[Excellent. Then I will wait for you, Kazik Nathan.]
With those words, the oppressive, intoxicating sensation that had clouded Kazik's mind vanished instantly. His thoughts cleared, and reality snapped back like a whip—his brain normal once more.
Kazik laughed, sharp and bursting, as if confirming that no one was left to interfere. "Hahaha… it seems it won't take me long to pay the debt, will it, Edward and Vern?" he muttered, each word echoing with a dark thrill, a prelude to the chaos and power that was yet to come.