At the top of the mountain, where night embraces the total darkness, Arthur sat alone at the edge of the abyss. The cold air wrapped around his shivering body, but the cold was nothing compared to the pain tearing at his heart. He looked at the dark sky, where the moon seemed like a mirror reflecting his deep wounds-wounds that had never healed.
He screamed at the top of his lungs, directing his words to the harsh emptiness:
"Why? Why always me?
Why am I forced to fight psychological battles I don't want? Betrayals with no escape from them?
Is this life?
How can I call myself the world's strongest fighter, when I can't even save those I love?"
Heavy tears fell from his eyes onto the cold ground, as if the mountain itself shared in his sorrow. His heart twisted, and memories of his sister lashed at his mind like whips. His beloved, his only sister, lay on her sickbed, wilting before his eyes. He had nothing left to lose. An invincible warrior in the battlefield, but now, just a helpless human in the face of an unforgiving curse.
He whispered through his tears, striking the ground with his trembling hands:
"Why? Why can't I save her? Is the power I have... just a burden?"
After some time, Arthur descended the mountain, the darkness following him like a shadow, and he walked with heavy steps toward his sister lying on the sickbed.
He approached her, gently touching her pale face, whispering:
"How pitiful you are... If you had stayed with our family, none of this would have happened to you.
Why did you insist on coming with me? Even though you knew the road would be dark and harsh?"
He sat beside her, his heart heavier than mountains, his eyes staring into the void, seeing nothing but regret.
Suddenly... something unexpected happened.
The cold night breeze stopped.
The trees ceased to sway.
Even the sound of his sister's breath vanished.
The silence settled so deeply, it was almost tangible.
He slowly raised his head and looked around... everything was frozen.
The flames stopped burning, the curtains hung motionless in mid-air, and time... disappeared.
Arthur stood up nervously, feeling only one thing: he was alone.
He whispered to himself, as worry began to creep into his heart:
"What is this?... Am I dead? Or am I..."
He didn't finish his sentence. His astonishment swallowed his words.
In his whole life, he had never seen anything like this.
Then the scene suddenly changed. Everything vanished.
The place turned into a vast gray space, with no beginning or end.
A void extending beyond sight.
Arthur shouted with a hoarse voice:
"Where am I?! How did I get here?!"
A deep, resonant voice, devoid of any echo, pierced the heavy silence:
"You are still alive... but time only flows for those who deserve it."
Arthur turned slowly, his hair standing on end from the tension of the situation.
There, behind him, stood a tall, imposing man.
His eyes gleamed with a strange light, as if they were staring into the very truth itself.
Arthur spoke in a trembling voice:
"Who... are you?"
The mysterious being replied with a calm, death-like voice:
"The name doesn't matter. Time doesn't waste itself on titles.
What matters... is the fate that awaits you."
The being took a step forward, making Arthur quickly step back, instinctively placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Arthur said cautiously:
"Stop, don't move any closer!"
The being smiled a cold smile and said:
"Don't be afraid. You are now within my spiritual realm."
Arthur was confused and asked:
"My spiritual realm? What is this realm?"
The being answered in a steady voice:
"It is a spiritual power that allows me to transport someone's consciousness into this space of mine.
And everything said here, no matter how long it takes, will only take a second in the real world.
So, don't worry."
Arthur's eyes widened, and he whispered to himself in astonishment:
"What a dangerous man... I shouldn't provoke him or make him my enemy."
Then he said aloud:
"Alright... it's clear you're very strong. But what would someone like you want from someone like me?"
The being responded with a serious tone:
"I'll tell you...
I am the master of a world called Alythoria."
He then continued while walking calmly in the gray void:
"My world is vast, filled with countless creatures, both strong and weak.
But unlike your relatively peaceful planet, where your struggles are limited to good and evil, or humans and demons,
my world... is an ocean of chaos.
Your energy system is based solely on mana.
In Alythoria, there is aura, souls, mana, and transformation.
And it is home to countless races: humans, demons, sentient and non-sentient beasts, legendary creatures, dragons, dwarves, giants, light elves, and dark elves...
But that is not the problem."
The being paused for a moment, then spoke with a heavy voice:
"The problem is that Alythoria is a world that knows no peace.
Five hundred years have passed... and the wars have never ceased.
Mindless beasts against humans.
Humans against soul users.
Soul users against everyone.
Dwarves against giants.
Demons against every living thing.
And the result?
A world drained, races wiped out completely.
Like the 'Iveron' people, one of the strongest races, erased from existence.
And since I cannot intervene directly, I need someone strong, capable of making an impact,
someone who can bring some balance, or at least ease the madness.
That is why... I came to you.
So, what do you say?
Will you accept my help?"
But contrary to what the being expected...
Arthur's response was filled with sorrow and brokenness.
It was as if the man standing before him was nothing more than a ghost without a soul.
Arthur sighed and said with a choked voice:
"You ask me to bring peace to your world... and I couldn't even heal my sick sister?
Are you joking?
You see what I'm going through... and you want me to think about your world?
Who cares about your world anyway?!"
He fell to his knees, pounding the ground with his fist, and screamed:
"I'm about to lose the most precious thing I have... and you're burdening my mind with things that don't concern me!"
The being was silent for a moment, then spoke with a concerned tone:
"What is wrong with your sister?"
Arthur replied in a voice dripping with pain:
"She's cursed... with a rare and dangerous curse.
Her name... is soul corrosion."
At that, the being's eyes widened for the first time, and his features, which had never moved, shifted.
Then he asked sharply:
"How did she get such a curse?!"
Arthur raised his head towards the sky, that sky which, at that moment, seemed like a distorted mirror reflecting his recent past, his past stained with blood and betrayal. He remembered that cursed night... only three months ago.
The darkness at that time was thick, as if the sky had been ashamed of what was happening and decided to close its eyes. In the heart of the castle of one of the Demon Kings, a human rebellion broke out, a revolution for freedom amidst the flames of occupation.
While the armies clashed at the castle walls, Arthur fought his own battle, a fierce struggle against "Krane," one of the strongest Emperors of the Demon Kingdom.
Krane stood proudly and said in an arrogant voice:
"Arthur... what are you doing? Fighting alongside humans? Have you betrayed your blood? Betrayed your father, the Demon King?"
Then he turned to Zila and said sharply:
"And you, Zila, shouldn't you have corrected your little brother's mistake instead of supporting him in his betrayal?"
Arthur screamed, his anger tearing at his throat:
"I will avenge my father! All of you! My cursed family... I will make you taste what I tasted, every torment I went through, every moment of humiliation!"
Zila's features changed, as if Arthur's words brought out from her memory an image of an innocent child almost forgotten... her little brother, the first victim in this bloody saga.
Krane said mockingly:
"Is this your reason? A petty grudge? Is this why you're turning against your people?"
Arthur laughed, but his laughter was filled with hatred:
"You call it a petty grudge?! Torturing a child not even seven years old? Whipping him, cutting off his limbs, injecting him with the harshest poisons? Is this not a betrayal greater than mine?"
Krane was shocked and answered hesitantly:
"Did... your father really do that?"
But soon, his tone regained its harshness, and he said coldly:
"Even so, nothing justifies your betrayal of your people."
"To hell with you, my people, and this whole world!" Arthur shouted. "When I was weak, no one cared for me, and when I became strong, now you remember that I am one of you?"
Arthur advanced quickly towards Krane, and the battle began.
Krane blocked Arthur's first attack with his sword, then parried a surprise kick with his leg. He laughed derisively:
"Do you really think you can defeat me with such little power?"
Zila was about to intervene, but Arthur screamed:
"Don't come near! I will fight him alone!"
"But he's too strong, let me help you!" she cried.
"And I am strong too... and I will defeat him!" he answered confidently, giving her a look full of determination.
She hesitated for a moment, then relented and returned her sword to its sheath.
Krane laughed and said:
"This is ridiculous... you think you can defeat me?"
Then Krane released an enormous spiritual pressure, so much so that the fighters around the castle could feel it. He shouted:
"Let the battle begin!"
The battle turned into a whirlwind of swords, fire, and darkness. The swords clashed, mana against mana, one dark power colliding with another. Half of the castle was destroyed due to the intensity of the combat. The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.
An hour of fierce fighting passed, and Krane decided to end the battle.
He said:
"Well done, boy. You've forced me to use all my power."
Zila was shocked:
"Despite all the power he displayed... he hasn't used his full strength?! Arthur! Fight seriously!"
When Krane heard this, he became angry and said:
"Are you mocking me? I'll make you regret that!"
He unleashed all his hidden energy and transformed into his final form: a giant black demon, with large horns and massive wings like the wings of death itself.
His spiritual pressure reached a point where some monsters and humans evaporated from the mere aura, and others collapsed dead or unconscious.
All battles stopped, and everyone's attention was focused on the decisive battle between Arthur and Krane.
Arthur looked at him and said calmly:
"Out of respect for you... I will use half of my power."
Arthur released a tremendous spiritual pressure, causing the ceiling of the palace to crack, some buildings to collapse, and everyone in the castle to flee.
He, too, transformed into a great black form, growing four large horns.
"Four horns?!" Krane said, shocked. "Impossible... how did you reach this power?"
"And why should I tell someone who will die what he doesn't understand?" Arthur replied disdainfully.
Krane became enraged and said:
"A scoundrel like you mocks a King?! I'll show you my ultimate skill... I've worked on it for over 300 years!"
Krane unleashed immense black mana that covered the sky, which then formed into thin, sharp black threads like the edge of a guillotine.
Arthur laughed and said:
"All this... for threads? How shameful!"
Krane smiled confidently:
"We'll see what these threads can do..."
Krane attacked quickly, but Arthur surrounded his body with a shield of concentrated mana.
"This mana is enough to block your threads!" he said confidently.
But Zila, with her intuition, felt the danger and screamed:
"Arthur! Move away! These threads are different, they're dangerous!"
"Really?" he asked her coldly, turning to the threads... but they had already reached him.
He partially dodged them, but it was too late. They cut off his hand and leg with precision, and with such sharpness that he didn't feel any pain, as if the thread had passed through dough.
Krane laughed and said:
"Weren't you mocking me? Now, with your hand and leg gone, the battle is over!"
Zila sighed and said:
"Fortunately, he avoided the vital areas..." Then she shouted at him:
"Idiot! Are you still taking it easy?! Haven't you learned anything yet?"
But Arthur did not fall. Instead, he slowly lifted his head and said:
"Did you say I lost? A great person like me... cannot be defeated by such trivialities."
His hand and leg began to grow back rapidly, as if they had never been cut off.
Krane was shocked and asked:
"How did you do that? Even high-ranking demons can't do that!"
Arthur replied coldly:
"Do you understand now? This is what my father did to me... cutting off limbs, poisons, experiments. He wanted to make me a body that could never be broken."
Krane fell silent, then said to himself:
"Now I understand... he had a unique body. But instead of benefiting from it, he made it an enemy to us... what a fool."
Crain was lost in his thoughts, unsure whether he should regret or be angry... but Arthur's shout snapped him out of his daze.
- "Crain!" Arthur shouted with fiery confidence, "You should be proud, for you're about to witness a skill you'll never see anywhere else."
The entire castle shook. A massive surge of mana exploded from Arthur's body, overwhelming the sky and earth, visible to the naked eye, dense like boiling mist. Everyone felt its power slicing through the air, even the stones trembled.
In an instant, without any warning, Arthur charged madly toward Crain, shouting:
- "Nine Swords Technique!"
The attacks launched at insane speed, faster than shadows could follow. Crain barely understood what had happened, so he gathered all the mana he had left and screamed:
- "Iron Wall!"
But even his solid defense did not hold. Arthur's strikes were overwhelming, each blow sounding as if the whole castle was collapsing, and the hall's ceiling was completely destroyed.
In the end, Crain couldn't withstand the assault-one sword severed his leg, another his hand. He fell to the ground, screaming in searing pain, blood pouring out like a torn fountain.
- "You damned traitor... you'll regret this!" Crain said, gasping for breath.
But Arthur laughed mockingly and said:
- "Regret? Regret my ass!"
Crain's eyes trembled. He felt real fear, and for the first time, he felt the end was near. Still... he decided something.
- (If I'm going to die, then I must take him with me... if this boy lives, he'll annihilate our people and kill the king himself... no choice...)
Crain dipped his finger in his blood and began drawing the lines of an ancient curse, a forbidden technique he had never used before. A curse activated by the user's death, burning his soul and body entirely... the Soul-Eater Curse.
Arthur didn't notice; he was turning to his sister Zeila, whose face showed sorrow, and he said:
- "Don't be sad, please... we'll finish this and go home, just to rest."
She smiled at him and said:
- "Alright... my little brother."
But she muttered inside:
- (You've really grown... looks like raising you wasn't in vain.)
It was a short moment of happiness... but it didn't last.
**
Zeila noticed the change in mana behind Arthur. She gasped, knowing Crain was about to unleash a curse. She screamed:
- "Arthur!! Watch out!!"
But the moment was already too late.
Crain finished his drawing and shouted at the top of his voice:
- "Die, you bastard! With the Soul-Eater Curse!"
In the next moment, a black wave surged toward Arthur at terrifying speed. He didn't move; he was shocked, frozen in place.
- "Little brother!" Zeila screamed, then activated her final skill: "Void Steps!"
She vanished from her spot and appeared right in front of him... then took the curse with her body.
Zeila fell to the ground.
- "Zeilaaaaaaa!" Arthur screamed, throwing himself over her.
She spoke in a weak voice:
- "Don't scream like that... my ears hurt... I'm fine, but... finish him first."
His eyes filled with tears, but she smiled despite the pain.
- "You've really grown... truly."
**
As for Crain, he collapsed to the ground, groaning:
- "I... failed... because of you, witch... my plan failed..."
Then his body began to weaken, his heart slowing down. But that wasn't the only problem... Arthur was coming.
**
Arthur stood before him, his eyes burning with indescribable rage.
- "I was about to forget... but you cursed her..."
He drew a dagger, then grabbed Crain's hand and began cutting off his fingers one by one. Crain screamed, squirmed, and begged.
But Arthur didn't listen.
- "Begging? Did I beg when she was dying in front of me?"
He peeled his skin, gouged out his eye, cut off his remaining limbs, then summoned a black scorpion from hell.
- "This scorpion... it's said its sting equals the pain of death a thousand times."
It stung him... then stung him again. Crain screamed until one of his eyes burst and his veins popped. The pain was unbearable.
In the end, "luckily" for him, his heart stopped. His body exploded in hellfire, leaving nothing behind.
Arthur spat on his ashes and said:
- "This is what you deserve."
**
He carried his sister and took her home. She was unconscious.
Day after day... she didn't wake up.
He visited every doctor, but none knew this illness. As if a curse from the heavens was slowly extinguishing her.
He sat beside her, then burst into tears:
- "All of this is my fault... if I hadn't sought revenge... if I hadn't dragged her with me... I wish I had just lived in peace..."
**
After a whole month of coma...
Zeila opened her eyes.
- "Why is my head so heavy?"
Then she saw her brother, sitting beside her, crying silently like a little child.
She smiled... despite the pain.
She placed her hand on his cheek and said:
- "You idiot, don't cry... I'm fine."
Arthur was shocked, shouting:
- "Are you in pain? Are you okay? Don't move!"
She laughed:
- "Stop. I only slept for a day or two, why are you acting like this?"
- "Two days?! You slept for a month! You were hit by a deadly curse because of me!"
Her face changed. She felt fear, but didn't show it. She held her composure, then slapped him.
- "Stop crying like a child."
She grabbed him by the ear:
- "I raised you, I raised a man, not a crying baby."
He said:
- "But because of-"
She interrupted:
- "Enough. In war, there are dead and survivors. That's life, you won't always win. But I'm not regretful. I saved you. That's enough for me."
Then she hugged him.
- "I haven't hugged you in a long time..."
She dozed off again in his arms, whispering:
- "Ugh... damn it... I'm falling asleep again..."
Arthur remained still, silent.
Then he noticed her body suddenly turn cold.
He recoiled in fear.
Zeila never opened her eyes again...
Arthur said, "This is my whole story. Now there are only a few days left before I lose my sister-the only person who defended me, who raised me and was my support. Now, she will die because of me and because of my revenge."
Kayan felt pity for Arthur and said, "It seems your situation is more complicated than I thought, but don't worry. I can heal your sister."
Arthur was shocked and said, "What? Can you really? Do you want to help me or are you tricking me to subjugate me? How can you do that? Even the best healers couldn't cure her."
Kayan replied in a mysterious tone, "Don't compare me to those weaklings. I can help her, but it's not that simple. You must offer a sacrifice."
Arthur responded in confusion, "A sacrifice? And what is this sacrifice?"
Kayan said, "We must transfer half of your soul to your sister. Then I will add half of my soul and a little of hers, combine them together and return it to her body."
Arthur laughed and said, "Are you joking with me? Are you cooking food or what? How will you combine souls? And how will my sister's body accept that? She might die just from seeing our souls merging."
Kayan replied calmly, "Of course it won't be easy. It may take more than twenty years. But I will stop time in your sister's body. Everything in her body will stop, so the curse will not progress."
Kayan said, "I will extract a part of your soul and merge it with your sister's soul, and add part of my soul. I will be careful not to let your soul or mine overpower hers. But the process will require a very long time. It also needs constant monitoring."
Arthur hesitated and said, "But will this help? Will success be guaranteed?"
Kayan answered, "If things go as I hope, the chances of success will be great. But remember, the decision is yours. If you accept my help, I will help you heal your sister. If you refuse, I will return you to her and consider what happened a mere accident that never occurred."
Here Arthur felt confused. Everything was happening so fast. Not long ago, he was watching his sister slowly die before his eyes, and when he had lost all hope, suddenly a new hope appeared before him.
He thought to himself, "Should I believe him? Could he be trying to deceive me? But what could someone with his power gain from tricking me? It seems I have no choice but to trust him."
In the end, Arthur firmly decided, "Alright, I agree to help you."
Kayan replied, "Good, that's fine."
Then Arthur asked, "What's your name? How can I deal with someone who hasn't even told me his name?"
Kayan replied, "Since we've agreed, I'll tell you my name only now. My name is Daniel, and I am the ruler of the world of Alethoria."
Arthur said, "My name is Arthur Nazgaroth."
Here, Daniel felt like he had heard that title somewhere before.
Then Daniel said to himself, "Doesn't it seem like it's the title of that great primordial demon? No, no, that's impossible. How could a great demon like him have this child as his son?"
Daniel dismissed his doubts and moved directly to business.
Daniel replied, "Alright, good. Now that we've introduced ourselves, let's get to work."
Arthur responded, "Yes, okay. What am I supposed to do when I go there? Surely you're not telling me I'm going to wander the world, fight, and keep peace in every realm— that's impossible and you know it."
Daniel replied, "Yes, you're right. It would be impossible, and it would take a lot of time, and the failure rate would be high.
But instead of wandering the world, fighting many villains, and trying to find the weak to save them, I will simplify things for you. Through them, you will know your enemies and allies, and they will help make your job easier and your understanding clearer."
Arthur responded, "Alright, that's what I was waiting for.
Now tell me, what should I do?"
Daniel replied, "First, you must unite the humans and help them become allies, because the Beast King's attack is coming.
Second, you must stop the monsters' attack and make them your allies, not your enemies, because the real enemy is the demons, not the monsters."
Arthur replied, "Really? By doing just these two things, the fate of the world will change?"
Daniel said, "You will understand everything once you start the mission. And remember, it won't be easy at all, because there are strong people who can even match your real body's power."
Arthur replied, "Ho ho, looks like things are going to be very exciting.
Alright, I'll do as you said. You have to treat my sister and protect her until I return."
Daniel replied, "Don't worry. I will start the treatment now."
Daniel replied, "Alright, good. Now that we know each other, let us begin the work."
Daniel clapped his hands, and suddenly, Zila, Arthur's sister, appeared.
Daniel slowly raised his hand and used mana, saying, "Soul Manipulation."
Soul Manipulation is a technique that allows its wielder to control souls as if they were toys in his hands. It is a very powerful skill and can destroy even the strongest warriors.
Arthur was astonished by this technique, as he began to notice part of his sister's soul emerging from her.
Daniel extracted a part of Zila's soul and said, "Oh, I remembered. Since I will extract half of your soul, you will not be able to go to another world."
Arthur said in confusion, "Really? Does this mean I won't be able to go? Is it because my soul will become too weak?"
Daniel replied, "Do you think extracting half your soul is an easy matter? When you lose your soul, you don't just feel tired. If I hadn't stopped time in your sister's body, she would have died by now. And if I extracted half your soul directly without stopping time, you would die from the intensity of the pain."
Arthur felt a shiver in his body and said, "You're very scary! Fortunately, you're not my enemy."
Daniel laughed and said, "What an interesting young man! It seems I chose the right person."
Then Daniel added, "Alright, it's fine. There is only one solution, and that is transferring your consciousness to someone else in my world. You can control his body and begin the mission."
Arthur was surprised and said, "Can you really do that?"
Then he looked at himself and said, "Compared to you, I feel like an ant facing an elephant."
He asked, "Will I still remember everything? Will I lose my memory?"
Daniel answered, "Don't worry. You won't lose your memory, and you'll remember everything. But remember, the person you will transfer to is not random. I will transfer you to the best place to begin your mission. But you must be careful."
Arthur said, "Alright."
Daniel replied, "Let's begin the process now."
Arthur said, "Before that, you must promise me to take care of my sister."
Daniel answered, "Don't worry. I will take your body and your sister's body to a safe place where no one can reach. You just have to focus on your mission."
Arthur smiled and said, "Thank you very much for helping me. I promise you I will complete my mission no matter the sacrifice. If I die during the mission, don't tell my sister what happened. Tell her I died in another battle, and don't tell her that I sacrificed myself for her."
Arthur was afraid that his sister would grieve and blame herself.
Daniel said, "Alright, I will do that."
Then Daniel used the Sleep Spell, and Arthur fell into a deep coma.
Then Daniel stopped time on Arthur's body, extracted half his soul and merged it with Zila's soul. He extracted part of his own soul and merged it with theirs. Then he placed the souls in a large white vessel and said, "I will take care of you later."
Then he approached Arthur, looked at him and said, "It seems I chose a true person. Despite his strength and greatness, he did not forget his sister's favor upon him, and cared for her until the end."
Then Daniel used the Consciousness Transfer skill, and sent Arthur's soul to someone else in his world.
He looked to the sky and said, "I wish you success, Arthur."