Dark Ascension

Part II -1

### Chapter 1: Three Years of Shadow

Three years had passed since the death of Arthur's father, and life in the village of Eldoria had changed considerably. Arthur, now ten years old, had dedicated himself to increasing his control over magic. He spent hours each day studying and practicing, honing his dark magic and experimenting with the power Baal had granted him.

Arthur's days were filled with a rigorous routine. He would rise before dawn, spending the early hours meditating and focusing on his mana control. His mornings were dedicated to physical training, ensuring his body was as strong as his magical abilities. The afternoons were reserved for studying the ancient tomes his father had left behind, filled with knowledge about forging and the arcane arts.

Each evening, Arthur would venture into the forest surrounding Eldoria. The once peaceful woods had become a hunting ground for him, where he sought out bandits and magical beasts. The village, once a target for marauders, had become significantly safer, thanks to Arthur's relentless efforts. The villagers, though grateful, began to fear the young boy who returned from the woods covered in blood, his eyes filled with a cold, calculating light.

In the evenings, when Arthur worked in his father's forge, he was often overwhelmed by a sense of nostalgia. The forge still smelled of the coal and iron his father used, and the tools, though now in his own hands, still bore the marks of his father's craftsmanship. Each strike of the hammer against the anvil echoed with memories of his father's lessons, his gentle guidance, and his unwavering support. The sound of metal shaping under his hands was almost comforting, a link to the past.

Arthur's father in this life had been a loving and present figure, a stark contrast to the abusive tyrant of his past life. The memories of his former life's father were filled with pain and fear, a man whose cruelty knew no bounds. But in this life, his father had been a beacon of warmth and kindness, teaching Arthur not just the skills of a blacksmith, but the values of hard work and integrity.

This juxtaposition fueled a growing sense of loss and anger within Arthur. The forge, once a place of solace, became a crucible for his burgeoning rage. Each swing of the hammer was a reminder of what he had lost, and a stark contrast to the torment he had endured in his past life. The love he felt for his father in this life made the pain of his loss even more acute, turning his sorrow into a burning desire for vengeance.

One night, as he hammered a glowing piece of metal, shaping it into a blade, Arthur's thoughts turned dark. He remembered the bandits who had taken his father from him, the nobles who had orchestrated the attack. The blade in his hands became a symbol of his resolve, each strike an echo of his promise to avenge his father's death.

As the night wore on, Arthur felt the ring of Baal begin to warm against his skin. He paused, focusing his mana on the ring. To his astonishment, the ring began to glow faintly. Curious, Arthur removed the ring from his finger and placed it on the workbench. Suddenly, the ring started to expand and form a structure, growing rapidly and almost destroying the forge.

"Fuck!" Arthur exclaimed, panic surging through him as he watched the rapid growth of the structure. He quickly grabbed the ring and slipped it back onto his finger, causing the expansion to halt immediately. The half-formed tower shrank back into the ring, leaving Arthur breathing heavily with wide eyes.

"That was close," Arthur muttered to himself, wiping sweat from his brow. He realized that the ring contained more than just a latent power; it could physically manifest into a tower.

Determined to explore this further, Arthur decided to find a secluded place in the forest where he could safely test the ring's capabilities. The next morning, he packed some supplies and headed deep into the woods, far from the village.