Shadows of our end - KDA x Male Reader (Original)

Act 2 - 019

"Despair is the first Nightmare. All of us are derived from him. Violence brings Despair, Memory enforces that the Despair will never fade away, Evade ensures that Despair will always await you at your destination, Lonely will separate you to force Despair onto you, Deceit's trickery always leads to Despair."

I nod. "Is that why you gave me this name?" He turns around to face me fully. "Dread, Despair, two of the same."

Lifting his hand to his chest. "That was my intention. When your nature takes form the other Nightmares will soon feed their power into you, at Apex, the two of you will take till there is nothing left to take."

I can recall him clearly, I was terrified of it. Now I am supposed to act like an equal when weeks ago I bolted away... my spirit crushed from one encounter. Memory fades as I take a step forward with Nox appearing beneath my feet to take me to the training arena.

I lower myself down and rest my hand on the shadowy scales.

"What will I become?"

Nox's head moves in such a way as if to show that she acknowledges my words.

Memory answers. "Whatever you hope to become."

And what is that? I am not kin of these creatures but in name, I am acting as a nightmare. Probably a way to lend his power to make me stronger... but in the end what good is a name? Or is there something Eldritch attached to a gift such as this?

One can only speculate.

Nox launches herself over the Arena, I slide down the side and her head shrinks with her whole body being absorbed in my shadow as I land in the centre of the arena. One of many, but this one is just as full as the others. My entrance was dramatic as fuck no matter what way you look at it and everyone that was busy doing something has their gazes locked onto me.

"That was cool," he chuckles as he walks towards me with his hands behind his head. "Got a lot of nerve showing up like that considering you gave everyone the nervous shits for a day but hey, gotta show the world you mean business."

I turn to face him, he doesn't look even a little bit different than before. "Juno."

He smirks at me. "Number One."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Did I take it from you?"

He shakes his head. "Nope. I am comfortable being in the lower tens because you get to relax a bit and grow just under their noses... they won't ever know what hit them if they fucked with me, but you? They know what to expect."

I shake my head. "They've barely seen anything."

He laughs. "Oh yeah I am sure that is the case," he walks up to me. "But then again, word is that there are people that want to take the spot from you already. Barely back and you've made yourself public enemy number one."

I breathe out. "They can burn me to the stake for all I care, when the time comes I will be there when it matters the most."

"As you should," he says with a serious tone. "But look at you, what broke you down is what made you into what you are right now. You don't talk, you act, you don't say, you show...." he gestures at all the people around us, "All's left to prove it."

He lifts his hand to his face, he tears open the back of his thumb with his teeth with blood splattering onto his face. His entire arm is instantly covered with blood like a growth. Bloodmancer... his blood is dangerous, if he so much as draws my blood, I am powerless against him.

"Who are you doing this for?" I ask him.

"For the people too scared to act," he cracks a smile. "Besides, they are watching, they are rooting for you. Show them why you survived."