Reincarnated with a lucky draw system

Chapter 421: INTOXICATING FEAR II

[Aaron, try to snap out of it and control yourself,] the system advised, its tone urgent now, cutting through the haze like a lifeline thrown into turbulent waters.

It sensed the shift in him, the way his shadows twitched eagerly at his feet, responding to the intoxicating allure of the fear before him.

But Aaron was already too far gone, the craving wrapping around his thoughts like insidious vines.

First off, his mood had been messy since the day began, soured by the system’s earlier words of uncertainty, not knowing when his soul would be restored had left a bitter knot in his chest, a frustration that simmered and boiled over now.

The weight of his unhealed soul pressed on him constantly, a dull ache that made every delay feel like an eternity.

And secondly, his origin bloodline was creating the hunger within Aaron, awakening instincts buried deep in his lineage.

It thrummed through him like a second heartbeat, urging him to indulge, to reclaim what was his by right.

"Just a taste," Aaron muttered, his eyes fixed on the soldier with unblinking intensity.

The man’s pleas fell on deaf ears, his voice a distant whimper amid the roar in Aaron’s mind.

Like someone sucking air through a straw, Aaron inhaled deeply, drawing the fear from the soldier in a slow, deliberate pull.

It flowed into him like a rush of euphoria, a sweet, intoxicating surge that flooded his senses, warm and electric, mending the frayed edges of his soul with each ethereal strand absorbed.

The soldier’s body went limp, his eyes glazing over as the essence drained away, leaving behind a hollow shell.

Aaron sucked the fear from the soldier until he drained the soul completely of it.

The process felt like sipping nectar from a forbidden fruit, each wave of terror knitting his damaged spirit, the cracks in his soul filling with dark, restorative energy.

The soldier dropped to the floor with a heavy thud, his eyes lifeless, his soul empty and completely devoured.

The body lay crumpled on the cold metal platform, visor cracked from the fall, the faint scent of ozone from nearby equipment mingling with the metallic tang of finality.

Aaron stared at the corpse, the hunger still gleaming in his eyes, a feral light that made the shadows around him deepen and writhe.

Satisfaction coursed through him, but so did a flicker of unease, the line between control and surrender blurring in the heat of the moment.

[Aaron, snap out of it. You need to be in control,] the system urged again, its voice sharper now, pulling at the edges of his trance like a insistent tug on a leash.

"My soul... It healed slightly," Aaron commented, feeling the subtle mending within him, the fractures in his essence knitting together with newfound strength.

The rush lingered, a warm afterglow that made his blood sing, the void around him feeling less oppressive, more alive with potential.

[Of course. That’s the self-regenerating capabilities of your origin bloodline,] the system replied, its tone matter-of-fact, though laced with caution.

It knew the dangers of this path, the seductive pull that could lead to loss of self.

"Why didn’t you tell me then? That there’s a faster way to heal my soul?" Aaron asked, his voice edged with accusation, still in a trance state as he locked eyes with the general who had just arrived.

The man stood a short distance away, bow drawn taut, his uniform crisp but face twisted in fury.

Aaron’s shadows coiled restlessly at his feet, responding to the lingering hunger, the air thick with the scent of impending violence.

"You bastard! What did you do to him!" the general yelled in anger, his voice booming across the platform, drawing his bow once more.

The anger was evident in his eyes, burning like twin flames, his grip white-knuckled on the weapon, muscles taut under his armor.

"You should feel only fear. Not anger," Aaron said coldly, his tone devoid of emotion, shadows deepening around him like a gathering storm.

The words hung in the air, a command laced with dark intent, the void seeming to echo them back in whispers.

Moving swiftly, a blur of shadow and motion that cut through the night like a knife through silk, Aaron appeared before the general.

The man’s eyes widened in shock, too slow to react as Aaron’s blade flashed.

With calmness, he stabbed the thigh of the general who couldn’t react on time.

The sword sank deep, blood welling up in a dark stain on the uniform, the metallic scent sharp and immediate.

"Aarghhhh!!!" The general screamed, his cry piercing the quiet of the base, alarming the other soldiers still unaware of Aaron’s presence.

Pain radiated through his leg like fire, buckling his knee, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to fall completely.

"You bastard!" The general cursed out of anger, his voice raw and defiant, eyes blazing with unyielding fury despite the agony.

Aaron closed his eyes for a while, gathering his emotions amid the chaos.

The hunger still tugged at him, a siren’s call urging him to indulge further, but he fought it back, drawing deep breaths of the cold, sterile air.

He knew, just like with the blood incident long ago, he was craving and losing control, the bloodline’s dark urges rising like a tide threatening to drown his reason.

The last thing he wanted to do was lose control and do things he would regret again.

Memories flashed, past mistakes, bloodied hands, the bitter taste of remorse from losing control once.

He exhaled slowly, shadows retreating slightly as he centered himself, the general’s labored breathing a harsh reminder of the line he walked.

"You should fear me," Aaron informed, his voice steady now, eyes opening to lock onto the general’s with cold intensity.

The words carried a weight, shadows lengthening around them like encroaching night, the base’s lights flickering faintly as if in response.

"And why should I?" The general asked, adamantly refusing to show fear before Aaron.

His face contorted in pain, but his gaze held firm, a spark of defiance burning bright amid the encroaching darkness.

"Fair," Aaron conceded, a faint, humorless smile touching his lips.