Hello ccc community ! Back from the Depths (of Manga!)

Hey everyone, it's been a little while since my last post here, but I'm excited to finally share what I've been up to! My recent deep dive into the world of manga, sparked by some tempting Facebook recommendations, has certainly kept me busy – perhaps a little too busy for my Actifit step count, haha!

I quickly tore through chapters of "The Return of the Frozen Player", and before I knew it, I was already starting on "The Tomb Raider King." These series have been absolutely captivating, though I must admit, they've turned me into a bit of a couch potato lately! My daily step counts on Actifit have definitely suffered, barely crossing the 6000 mark some days. Today's been a bit better, thankfully! I'm still deep in the current manga, determined to catch up on all the latest chapters and see where the story takes me.

Beyond the entertainment, I'm finding these reads are actually helping spark my imagination for my drawings. I've been struggling a bit lately to let my creativity flow freely, but immersing myself in these fantastical worlds is definitely helping me grow as an artist.

Speaking of art, amidst my manga marathon, I actually managed to create a stunning artwork that I'm incredibly proud of! It's a character piece that I poured a lot into, and I even crafted a nice free-verse poem to accompany it. The character, Aeternus, was inspired by an old comic book character, Tombstone from Freedom Force, but I've put my own unique spin on this version.

I'd love for you all to check it out! Below, you'll find the poem I crafted for Aeternus, which delves into their lore.

Aeternus - A Free Verse

A burden, more than blessing, etched and deep,
Forever bound, a hungry vigil to keep.
My sustenance, the essence of a soul unbound,
Though Reapers kneel, from their own dread I crowned.

My hunger sharpens for the soul unjust,
Their woven lies, a savory, bitter dust.
They dream of safety, cloaked in false reprieve,
But Aeternus waits, their torment to weave.

Unseen I wander, through the mortal sprawl,
Till shadow breaks, and doom begins to call.
Then with the Reapers, by my side they stand,
To carve the essence from a fated hand.

Once mortal flesh, by injustice cursed and torn,
A shattered spirit, into endless reborn.
Chains forged in darkness, bind me ever free,
To hunger for the souls that set me to be.

And so I am, the void's eternal breath,
A living monument to conquered death.
Through fractured form, the cosmic light still gleams,
The endless nightmare of their fleeting dreams.

Thanks for stopping by, and looking forward to catching up with everyone.