Deep in the heart of the Blackwood Forest, where sunlight barely touched the ground, a legend slithered through the whispers of terrified villagers. It spoke of a snake—not an ordinary one, but a creature twisted by dark magic into an evil spirit. Long ago, a powerful sorcerer named Malakar sought immortality. He captured a massive black serpent, believing its venom could grant eternal life. But when his ritual went wrong, the serpent absorbed his dark magic instead. The creature’s eyes turned blood-red, its scales hardened like cursed armor, and its hiss carried the voices of the damned. Malakar vanished that night, but the serpent remained—transformed into something far worse. It no longer hunted for prey; it hungered for souls. Those who entered the forest never returned, their bodies found days later, skin pale and eyes wide with terror.
The Haunting Begins
Years passed, and the villagers avoided the forest, leaving offerings of livestock to appease the serpent spirit. But one reckless hunter, Darian, scoffed at the tales. Armed with a silver dagger, he ventured into the woods, determined to prove the legend false. As dusk fell, the trees seemed to whisper his name. A chilling hiss echoed around him, but no snake was in sight. Then, from the shadows, glowing red eyes locked onto his. The serpent spirit emerged—its body half-solid, half-smoke, its fangs dripping with venom that shimmered like black oil.
Darian struck with his dagger, but the blade passed through the spirit as if it were mist. The serpent coiled around him, its cold touch sapping his strength. He tried to scream, but only a strangled gasp escaped as his soul was ripped from his body. The next morning, villagers found Darian’s corpse, his face frozen in horror. That night, his ghost was seen wandering the forest, his hollow eyes searching for escape. The serpent spirit had claimed another victim, binding his soul to its eternal hunt.
To this day, travelers swear they hear hissing in the wind and see shadows slithering between the trees. Some say the serpent spirit grows stronger with every soul it devours, its curse spreading beyond the forest. Beware the Blackwood—for the serpent spirit waits, and its hunger never ends.
