Chapter 2: The Hunger of Power

Kael emerged from the ruins of his sect like a specter reborn. The once-familiar landscape of Seras now felt alien, as if he had awoken in a world he no longer recognized. The skies were overcast, the clouds heavy with the threat of rain. But Kael didn’t mind. The storm within him was far more tumultuous.

The dark energy coursing through his veins had reignited his senses, sharpening them to a razor's edge. He could feel the pulse of life in the trees, the scurrying of small creatures in the underbrush, and most importantly, the faint traces of spiritual energy lingering in the air. It was intoxicating, this newfound power, yet it came with a gnawing hunger, a need to consume more.

Zareth walked beside him, his movements graceful and measured. "You must feed, Kael. The power I have given you is only the beginning, but it requires sustenance."

Kael nodded, barely listening. His mind was already racing, thinking of the ones who had wronged him. Master Shen, who had taught him everything only to betray him for fear of Kael surpassing him. The Elders who had conspired to strip him of his cultivation. And Serin... Serin, who had been his closest friend, his confidant, the one who had slipped the poison into his drink.

The thought of them filled Kael with a cold fury. He would make them pay. He would make them all pay.

But first, he needed to grow stronger.

As if reading his thoughts, Zareth gestured to the north. "There is a village not far from here. Small, unremarkable, but with enough spiritual energy to give you what you need."

Kael hesitated for a moment. This was the point of no return. To take the energy of another, to feast on their life force—it was a path that would strip him of his humanity. But then, did he still have humanity to lose? He was already tainted, already fallen. The only thing left was to embrace his fate.

With a steely resolve, Kael began his march toward the village, Zareth following silently behind.

The village was peaceful, a small cluster of homes surrounded by fields of crops. Children played in the streets, their laughter filling the air, while the adults went about their daily chores. It was a scene of tranquility, a stark contrast to the storm brewing within Kael.

He stopped at the edge of the village, taking a deep breath. The spiritual energy here was faint, but it was enough. Enough to sustain him, to strengthen him. His eyes scanned the village, searching for the strongest source of energy.

"There," Zareth whispered, pointing to a large house near the center. "The village elder. His energy is the most potent."

Kael nodded, his heart pounding as he approached the house. The door creaked open at his touch, revealing a dimly lit interior. The elder sat by the fire, a frail old man with white hair and a wrinkled face. He looked up as Kael entered, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Who are you?" the elder asked, his voice trembling.

Kael didn’t answer. He could feel the elder's spiritual energy, warm and inviting, like a feast laid out before him. His hands shook as he reached out, his fingers brushing against the elder’s chest. The old man gasped, his body going rigid as Kael began to draw the energy from him.

It was exhilarating. The power flowed into Kael, filling the void within him, banishing the weakness that had plagued him for so long. The elder's life force was rich, filled with decades of accumulated wisdom and strength. Kael drank it all in, feeling his own power surge.

When it was over, the elder slumped forward, lifeless. Kael stepped back, his breathing heavy, his body trembling with the aftershock of the energy infusion. He felt... alive. More alive than he had ever felt before. The hunger was still there, gnawing at him, but it was sated for now.

Zareth's voice broke through the euphoria. "Good. But this is only the beginning. There are many more who would oppose you, many more who must be consumed."

Kael turned to face the village, his eyes cold and unfeeling. There was no going back. The path ahead was dark, but it was the only path left to him. He would walk it to the end, no matter the cost.

As the first drops of rain began to fall, Kael left the elder's house, his mind already fixed on his next target. The Feast of Demons had begun, and he would not stop until he had devoured all those who had wronged him.

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