The God of Death. Ruler of the Darklands. The God who destroyed half of humanity and cursed the rest.

  The books had nothing kind to say about him.

  An icy wind blew at the mention of his name. The dark void rippled in anticipation.

  Kai was impressed. Horrified. Intrigued.

  He had to learn more - even if the answers shattered him.

  His voice shook as he asked:

  “G-gift? What gift? Being a weak, penniless orphan isn’t much of a gift.”

  Kharon sighed, closed the distance and laid a cold, dark stone hand on Kai’s shoulder. A chill seeped into his flesh.

  “Your life has been difficult, brother.” Kharon shook his head. “Our bodies were never meant for that realm. Father had other intentions. But things didn’t go as planned.”

  Who could derail the plans of the Death God?

  “But your weakness has value. Surviving in that harsh environment tempered your body. Making you stronger than any Demon when you return.”

  “A Demon? Me?”

  “What else would you be?” The statue’s lips curved. “Demons are the children of the gods. And you are heir to Death God.”

  The Demon part made sense. Sort of.

  He had always been weaker, taller, wrong compared to everyone in the slums. There had been other signs - like his unusual birth. Or the unnatural hunger.

  But heir? Shouldn’t the eldest be the heir?

  Kharon released his grip on Kai’s shoulder, both hands returning to the soul-devouring scythe.

  “Grandma told Father when to send the book…if you didn’t get it, I’m sure she has her reasons. She’s always right in the end.”

  “The black book with the silver skull?”

  Kharon’s smile widened. “Ah, so you got it?”

  Kai lowered his head as the vision of Noll’s tentacled corpse returned to his mind.

  “No…an acquaintance found it. Someone else has it now.”

  “Hm, that must be where it’s meant to be.”

  Kharon reached into the folds of his shadowy robe.

  “Don’t worry about it for now. Father left another gift for you.”

  As his dark hand returned, Kharon seized Kai’s arm.

  A warm sensation passed through Kai’s hand and up his arm. His heart skipped. Kharon released his grip, and a silver ring curved around Kai’s right ring finger.

  An infinity symbol was engraved on the ring.

  Kharon nodded in satisfaction. “This ring allows you to manipulate space. It will aid you in the first trial. Don’t remove it for any reason.”

  “Wait, the first trial?”

  Kharon released an amused snort. “Did you think you would stay here? Swapping stories with your older brother?” He shook his statuesque head.

  “There’s little time for such frivolities. You’ll soon be in the Darklands, taking the first trial. Unless you want to remain undead forever?”

  Kai’s eyes widened. “You can revive me?”

  Kharon raised his chin. “We transferred your body when you died.”

  Kai’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t have a body?” He examined his naked ‘body’, a finger brushing his arm as he pointed to it. “What’s this then?”

  Kharon sighed softly. “You are merely a soul. Although you can attempt the first trial in your state, anything else would be…difficult.”

  Kai’s mouth fell open. He wasn’t just a Demon - he was undead. But he wasn’t just undead - he had lost his body. Though things could be worse - he could’ve been ashes in the wind.

  Kharon offered Kai an understanding nod, then turned to walk toward the dark, looming Soul Palace.

  “We wouldn’t let that despicable human defile your corpse, but you must pass the first trial before you can reunite with it.”

  The statue glanced back at Kai, who hesitated, then reluctantly followed. “Only souls can enter the first trial. You’ll need to complete the second trial to regain your life.”

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  Kharon released a heavy breath as he reached the giant metal gates and pushed them inward. “You’ll be undead until then, but it’s not so bad. Many beings eagerly made deals with Father to gain undeath.”

  Being undead’s ‘not so bad’?

  Said the Demon who looked like an onyx statue and reeked of death. Kai’s body—no, his soul dripped with fatigue. But he didn’t have the luxury of resting soon. A deadly trial awaited.

  He needed answers, and fast.

  Kharon’s heavy steps echoed through the magnificent, macabre entrance hall of Kai’s Soul Palace. Wooden doors lined the side walls. The bastard strode as if he owned the place.

  Kai scanned the hall as he spoke: “So how do I check my status and abilities? And - just to confirm: You are my Guardian, right?”

  Kharon revealed an otherworldly smile.

  “Yes, little brother, I will guard you until you’re not so easily crushed like a bug. It’s pitiful to see a dear relative in such a state.” Kharon shook his head and sighed.

  Kai frowned.

  This rude Demon. I won’t be weak forever!

  “But I am a busy prince. I cannot babysit you while you stumble into power.”

  Kharon moved to push open one of the wooden doors. The room inside was bare, its stone walls a deep obsidian hue; the onyx statue tilted his head. “It’ll do.”

  His stone hands gripped his unholy scythe, slamming its blunt end against the floor with a deafening thud.

  The room wobbled as a dark cloud swallowed every inch.

  As the dark cloud faded, Kai steeled his heart and risked a glance at the room before him.

  A faint warmth radiated through the room, fighting against the ever-present chill.

  A forge blazed, casting flickering light across the dark brick walls. Hammers, chisels and other crafting tools lay across a stone table. Beside the stone table sat a stool.

  A crafting workshop?

  “I will leave a fragment of my soul here. Don’t expect me to save you from danger. My fragment is stronger than you are,” Kharon shook his head softly, “but it’s not built for fighting.”

  Kai couldn’t hold himself back.

  “What’s the point of a Guardian that doesn’t guard me?”

  Kharon smirked.

  “A Guardian’s role is to guard you against ignorance, not to protect your body. As you can see, I’m already fulfilling my role,” he said, thrusting his chest outward. “Think of Guardians as guides on your divine path.”

  Kai surveyed the workshop.

  What kind of gear could his brother craft? Maybe it would make up for the lack of actual guarding.

  Kai nodded. “Thank you for your boundless wisdom.”

  Kharon waved his hand and raised his chin.

  “You’re welcome; it’s a big brother’s duty, after all. Oh, you merely have to think ‘status’ to check your status and abilities.”

  Kai followed his Guardian’s guidance.

  Information surged into his brain.

  ***

  [Status]

  Name: Kai

  Rank: Marked

  Artifacts: [Infinity Link]

  Attributes: [Death God’s Lineage] [Space God’s Lineage (Temporary)]

  Gift: [Spatial Manipulation (Temporary)] [Lord’s Command (ERROR)]

  Curse: [Markless]

  His status revealed an overview, but Kai mentally dived deeper for more information.

  [Infinity Link]: Forged from the polished bone of Space God and etched with an ever-looping sigil - this silver ring bends space itself.

  Once a divine heirloom, it was stolen by the devious Death God and gifted to his treacherous son. The ring grants its bearer mastery over space, short-range teleportation and spatial perception.

  When worn, it brands the soul with the Space God’s Lineage, marking the bearer as both inheritor...and thief.

  ***

  Kai’s eyes widened.

  My inheritance is stolen goods. My dad is a devious thief. And the status screen is calling me treacherous? What did I do? It’s all Death God’s fault!

  The ring was as powerful as Kharon said…but what if Space God came for revenge?

  He ignored his worries for now and focused on his attributes.

  [Death God’s Lineage]: You are the inheritor of Death God’s Lineage. You can access the Gifts and Authority of Death’s domain.

  [Space God’s Lineage (Temporary)]: You are the inheritor of Space God’s Lineage. You can access the Gifts and Authority of Space’s domain.

  The lineages were easy enough to understand - except the ‘Authority’ part. It must concern higher-ranked beings.

  He checked his Gifts next.

  [Spatial Manipulation (Temporary)]: You can bend the laws of space.

  You can:

  - Teleport within 32ft

  - Sense activity within 65ft

  - Shorten/lengthen space within 65ft

  [Lord’s Command (ERROR)]: You can command the dead to rise. ERROR! Your rank is too low to use this ability.

  Marked had one Gift each. Kai had two - but that wasn’t reason to celebrate. He was too weak to use one Gift, and the other was temporary.

  If he lost the Infinity Link, he was as good as dead.

  Isn’t this broken? Shouldn’t the heir of Death be all-powerful? Where are my Death Knights? My zombie armies?

  Kai swallowed the lump in his throat and checked his Curse.

  With every Gift came a Curse. But Kai’s Gift was unusable. His Curse should be less severe than most.

  The great heir of Death - powerless without his stolen artifact.

  Curse: [Markless]: You have no mark.

  Kai sighed. Having no mark was annoying. It’d make it harder for him to access the benefits a Marked got, like high-paying jobs in the inner city - but easier to conceal his strength, or lack thereof.

  At least my status isn’t completely unbalanced.

  But something was weird - his rank was already Marked.

  Wasn’t that supposed to happen after he started the first trial? He dismissed his status screen and asked Kharon.

  “Hey, my status says I’m Marked. Is that another error?”

  “Hm? Does it? That means the first trial will start any second now.”

  As Kai’s heart raced, Kharon gripped his bare shoulders.

  “Here. You should appear regal at least.”

  A black fabric enveloped Kai’s body. It shifted, writhed, and clung to his skin, taking the shape of an all-black business suit.

  Kai’s brows furrowed.

  A business suit in the Darklands? People wore armour and carried swords, not suits and briefcases!

  He cleared his throat. “Are you sure this is the best choice? Do you have any plate armour?”

  Kharon raised his eyebrows. “Plate armour? Why would you want that? This suit is stronger and more fashionable.”

  “Fashion isn’t my primary concern right now…”

  Kharon scoffed. “It scales with your rank - so you can wear it forever. It has three variants: business, casual and intimidation.”

  Kharon brushed the shoulders of Kai’s suit and nodded.

  “I forged this for you as a reminder of the human hovel you lived in.” Kharon smiled at him with pride and sincerity.

  Warmth seeped into Kai’s heart at the sight of his brother’s enthusiasm.

  “Thank you, big brother.”

  “Wear it with pride, little brother. Fashion is changing in the Darklands, so you’ll be at the forefront. Make us proud in your first trial!”

  The cold, onyx statue wrapped his arms around Kai and hugged him.

  Kai couldn’t remember the last time he had received a hug. Maybe things weren’t so bad.

  Moments later, he was in the Darklands.

  Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter.

  Before you run away because you're not getting your necromancy fix yet - wait!

  Kai will raise the dead in book one.

  But he couldn't have the ability to raise dead armies from chapter 8. With such an OP ability - every fight becomes a matter of throwing more zombies at the problem.

  Because what smart necromancer would do anything else?

  Instead - he gets space manipulation. A power I've seen little of in things I've read.

  I've always secretly yearned for the power of telekinesis (keep that between us). This space manipulation ability is a better version of that - PLUS teleportation.

  In fact, this power is OP.

  How can you kill someone who can teleport out of the way and sense everything around them?

  It's ridiculous. Kai's survivability is off the charts. And why not? We both know I'm not gonna kill the MC.

  It's the handshake agreement we make under the table when you start reading my story:

  You know the MC isn't gonna die - and I promise not to pretend he can with boring and false 'watch out he might die' stakes.

  Even when the MC DOES die (like in chapter 5) - you didn't buy that, right? You saw there were more chapters to read, you knew it wouldn't end there.

  The sad thing is: Kai has little offensive ability right now. The other Marked have Gifts that cause all sorts of trouble.

  How is he gonna survive the trial like this?

  Will he die...again? Maybe...

  But will he stay dead? Of course not.

  How he survives and the strategies he uses to get ahead is the interesting part, right?

  But every other character can die - watch out for them.

  With that being said - I've got a question for you:

  What abilities do you wanna see in the story?

  Comment your answer below.

  But be warned: I'm more than willing to steal the best ideas. I'll try to remember your username and give you credit when the chapter drops.

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  All of the above helps the story get in front of more people - which helps me write more chapters for you.