The Dark Ascendance

Kazuki Takashi had never known a day of peace. Born to loving parents, his life took a drastic turn when a tragic accident left him orphaned. He was taken in by a cold, unforgiving couple who adopted him, not out of kindness, but for appearances. The pain he endured daily from their abuse became his constant companion. No one knew about the bruises, the scars both physical and emotional that marked his existence. Each blow, each insult, caused a fire of rage to burn hotter within him, though he kept it locked away, unseen.

One day, a seemingly normal school field trip was announced. His class was excited, their destination an old, mysterious forest on the outskirts of town. Kazuki, as usual, kept to himself, lost in his own thoughts. But when they arrived, something strange happened. The forest was thick with a foreboding silence. As they ventured deeper, they discovered a strange, swirling orb in a clearing, a black hole-like entity. It pulsed with dark energy, drawing everything in. Before anyone could react, the entire class was sucked into its depths.

When Kazuki regained consciousness, he found himself, along with the others, in a massive castle. They were greeted by a regal figure, an old, battle-worn king, surrounded by his advisors. The king explained that their kingdom was on the brink of destruction and needed heroes to defend it. Each student was evaluated for their magical potential. One by one, they were granted powerful abilities: fire, water, earth, light, all strong, revered elements. But when it was Kazuki's turn, the crystal scanning his magic remained silent. No attribute appeared.

Laughter filled the room. His classmates jeered at him, mocking him for being powerless. Even his best friend, Jiro the one person Kazuki had trusted joined in the humiliation, sneering at his misfortune. Kazuki's heart sank. Just as his anger and despair reached their peak, something snapped within him. Dark, crackling energy erupted around his body, enveloping him in a sinister, electric aura. The room fell silent, and the king and his advisors stared at him in shock.

"This power…" the king muttered, "It's the magic of devils… And the electric element… the magic of gods."

The revelation struck fear into everyone. A murmur spread throughout the room as they recoiled from Kazuki. But before anyone could react further, Ryohie, the most popular and powerful student, blessed with light and time magic attacked him out of nowhere. Kazuki tried to defend himself, but the difference in their abilities was too great. Ryohie’s light magic overwhelmed him, and the kingdom quickly banished Kazuki for possessing such dangerous powers.

When Kazuki woke again, he was lying in a bed, his body bandaged and aching. A group of four strangers stood around him, their hands glowing with healing magic. He realized he was in a small village far from the kingdom. The villagers had found him and nursed him back to health, though his soul was still broken. The physical wounds might heal, but the betrayal of his friends, his classmates Jiro cut deeper than anything else. Without saying a word, Kazuki fled into the night, leaving the village behind.

Outside, the darkness of the forest loomed. It was night, and the creatures of the wilderness had begun to stir. Monsters lurked in the shadows, waiting for prey. Kazuki stumbled forward, his mind clouded with the memories of everything that had happened his abusive "parents," the taunts and laughter of his classmates, the look of disgust on Jiro's face. The anger inside him flared up again, stronger than ever.

Suddenly, a monstrous figure emerged from the trees a hulking beast with jagged teeth and claws that glistened in the moonlight. Kazuki barely had time to react before the creature lunged at him. He managed to block the attack, but pain shot through his body. He was no match for these monsters. Desperate, his mind filled with rage, he thought of all the suffering he had endured. His blood boiled. The anger, the hatred he let it consume him.

With a primal roar, Kazuki’s fists smashed into the monster. His knuckles split open, blood mixing with the creature's. The sheer force of his punches cracked the beast’s skull, but Kazuki didn’t stop. His bones groaned under the strain, his flesh tearing with every strike. He was no longer fighting for survival, he was fighting to release every ounce of his fury. One blow after another, he pummeled the monster until its body lay lifeless before him.

But there was no time to rest. More zombies appeared, their decaying bodies rushing toward him. Ten at once. Kazuki, fueled by his rage, tore into them with the same ferocity, despite the growing damage to his hands. His fists were shredded, bones visible beneath the tattered skin. Yet, he kept going, his mind focused only on one thing and that is survival.

Then, a new threat emerged a massive orc wielding a spiked bat. The creature towered over him, swinging its weapon with devastating force. The bat connected with Kazuki’s side, sending him crashing into the ground. Pain exploded through his body, but he refused to stay down. Crawling to his feet, his vision blurred from blood loss, he faced the orc once again.

His left eye was struck, a blinding pain shooting through him. But even as his vision faltered, his determination remained unshaken. He would not run. He could not. With a final burst of energy, he lunged at the orc, landing a powerful punch to its liver. The orc staggered, and Kazuki didn’t let up. He kept attacking, ignoring the agony in his broken body, until the creature finally collapsed, defeated.

Exhausted, Kazuki looked up. More orcs, twenty or more were gathering at the edge of the village. His battered body screamed in protest, but he knew there was no escape. He clenched his broken fists, blood dripping to the ground.

His fight was far from over.