THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David jolted awake, his scream of "Stop!" tearing through the silence as his chest heaved with heavy breaths. His heart pounded wildly, the rhythm deafening in his ears. He pushed his damp hair back with trembling hands, his eyes darting frantically as though searching for unseen threats.

The darkness around him was absolute, suffocating yet strangely familiar. He exhaled shakily, forcing himself to steady his breathing.

Despite the oppressive blackness, David wasn't afraid. He had always found a peculiar comfort in the void, a sanctuary of sorts where no one could touch him. He took a deep breath, his chest tightening as he tried to piece together the fragments of his fractured thoughts.

Yet, amidst the chaos in his mind, a solitary tear traced down his cheek. The phantom sensation of his mother's touch lingered, painfully vivid. His hand reached up to wipe the tear away, his voice barely above a whisper, "It wasn't her. That wasn't her..."

A faint sound echoed in the void, pulling his attention sharply. His ears twitched as he tried to discern its origin. It was soft, distant, and eerily delicate—almost like the murmuring of a child. David inhaled deeply, steeling himself as he began to walk toward the sound, each step reverberating endlessly in the emptiness.

Time felt meaningless as he trudged forward, the oppressive silence only broken by the faint sound that seemed to move further away with every step. Frustration clawed at him as he muttered under his breath, "This is pointless... I need to find a way out."

A sudden, icy grip seized his heart, paralyzing him mid-step. Fear coursed through him as memories surged like a tide—faces, screams, and the unrelenting despair that had haunted him. A whisper slithered through his mind, seductive and insidious: Why not stay? The darkness is safe. You've done enough.
Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire

The weight of his failures pressed on him, driving him to his knees. His voice cracked as he muttered, "I've done enough... haven't I? Why did I even try in the first place? Why get stronger?" His words hung in the air, bitter and hollow.

As his resolve wavered, a shadow began to form before him. Unlike the illusions before, this shadow felt familiar, unsettlingly so. It coalesced into a humanoid shape, its eyes glowing with fierce purple slits that burned with anger. The figure's voice was sharp, dripping with disdain. "Pathetic," it spat. "Look at you. A coward groveling in the dark."

David's fists clenched, his head snapping up. "What the hell do you know about me?!"

The shadow raised a hand, and David's body lifted into the air, an invisible grip tightening around his throat. He gasped for breath, his legs kicking uselessly. The shadow's laughter was cold, merciless.

"What do I know? I know you didn't deserve her love. You've always held back, afraid to truly fight, afraid to lose. She gave her life for you, and you squandered it."

David's vision blurred as he struggled, his mind consumed by the memory of his mother's lifeless body shielding him, protecting him from the man who had taken her life. A younger version of himself trembled in her arms, tears streaming down his face as her soft, strained voice whispered to him, "Be the light, Mark. Never be afraid of the darkness."

His heart thundered at the memory, and with a desperate scream, a radiant light burst forth from his body. The grip on his throat shattered, and he fell to the ground, gasping for air. The shadow stumbled back, a wall of pure darkness forming between it and the glowing aura surrounding David.

David stood, his breath ragged, his gaze locked on the shadow. "You're wrong," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "She loved me because she knew I wouldn't suffocate in the darkness. I'm stronger than you think."

The shadow's lips twisted into a sinister smile. "And why do you think that?" it hissed.

David's eyes narrowed as he raised his hand, light swirling around his fingertips. "Because you're not me," he said, his voice resolute. "And you never will be." With a swift motion, the light surged forward, engulfing the shadow. Its laughter echoed one final time, mocking yet triumphant. "Excellent... I can't wait to meet the true you—" The voice vanished before it could finish.

Silence returned, broken only by a soft sob. David froze, his head turning toward the sound. He raised his hand, and his aura coalesced into a small, glowing orb. The light hovered above his palm, illuminating the darkness. As he extended his hand, the orb floated upward, casting its gentle glow across the void.

In the center of the illuminated space sat a child, clutching a crude doll made of straw. The child's shoulders shook as quiet cries escaped them, their small frame trembling in despair. David's breath hitched as he took a cautious step forward, the light following him like a loyal companion. "Who are you?" he asked softly, his voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.

David crouched before the child, his breath caught in his throat. Bathed in the soft glow of his lingering orb, the girl before him was a vision of regal elegance. Her deep brown eyes, filled with sorrow yet holding a wisdom beyond her years, met his own.

Cascades of dark, luxurious curls framed her delicate face, their lustrous waves catching the faint shimmer of light. A crown of gold, adorned with gleaming gemstones, rested atop her small head, an emblem of a noble birthright long lost in the darkness.

Her gown, woven from ivory and gold, shimmered even in this void, each thread embroidered with a history David could almost feel. Pearls dangled from her ears, swaying gently as she sobbed, her frail hands clutching a small, straw doll to her chest. Everything about her—from the solemn grace in her expression to the poised way she carried herself—spoke of a destiny carved in grandeur, yet weighed down by unfathomable grief.

David's chest tightened. There was something so familiar about her. Brendah… The thought struck him like lightning. She resembled Brendah, yet not entirely. The features were softer, younger—perhaps an echo of someone long forgotten?

Before he could say a word, the void around him trembled, and the system's cold, emotionless words manifested in glowing red letters before him:

[SPECIAL QUEST ACTIVATED: KILL EVERYONE.]

David let out a breathless chuckle, a bitter smile curling his lips. His fingers tightened around the orb of light floating beside him. They really think I'll fall for that?

With a swift motion, he crushed the orb in his palm. It shattered into dust—tiny specks of stardust swirling around him, illuminating the void in fleeting bursts before fading into nothingness.

As if responding to his defiance, the system's words flickered like dying embers, their red glow dissipating. But new words emerged, their message sinking into his mind like a cold whisper:

[SPECIAL QUEST ACTIVATED: YOU HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN A NIGHTMARE.]

[DEFEAT THE DEVIL OF THE WINTERSNOW.]

David exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing. The nightmare wasn't over yet.