After hearing Raxus’s story, I had more questions than answers. Killing his siblings because they locked him up made even less sense than before.


    They were the only family he had left—the only ones who didn’t mind looking at that monstrosity of a face and that''s a face that only a family can love. And I still didn’t know why he thought I was a killer.


    I was just an architect in a medium size firm. I’d never even sent someone to the hospital, let alone killed anyone.


    “I’m waiting for your answer, Mr. Hemsworth.” Raxus’s fiery eyes locked onto me, by the sound of his voice he kept getting more impatient by the second.


    “Before I accept, I want to know one thing.”


    “What?!” His irritation was growing, and I was sure the only thing stopping him from burning me alive was well himself.


    “How am I supposed to kill something you couldn’t? And don’t give me any ‘sibling love’ nonsense—you clearly don’t give a shit about them.”


    “Oh, ye of little faith. I’m giving you a hard task, not an impossible one. After you kill my siblings'' apprentices, they’ll lose some of their power. That’s when I’ll step in and deliver the finishing blow.”


    “So, in other words, I kill their lackeys, and you kill them yourself. Then why did you say I’m killing them?” I asked, puzzled and more than a little irritated. It didn’t change the fact that I was expected to take a life but that''s better than being contracted by a sibling to kill another sibling.


    “Well, you are. I’m the bullet—you’re the gun.” Raxus smirked. “Now, enough questions. Every second is precious. I’ll ask again—are you in or out?”


    I didn’t want to be a killer. But I also wanted to get home alive and well. Marry Chloe. Live in the house I just bought for us more.


    I shut my eyes, as if afraid of the words that would come out of my mouth.


    “I’m in.”


    A heavy weight settled in my chest right after the words left my mouth.


    “Wonderful. Now, the preparations.”


    Raxus waved his hand, and in an instant, we were back in his throne room—except this time, he brought the chair I was sitting on with me.


    He slowly walked toward me, stopping when he reached my side. Then, he started circling me. I didn’t know why, but it felt disgusting.


    “First things first—where to place the Desolation Core. My siblings will instantly detect it if we don’t hide it well. This plan will be doomed before it even starts.” Raxus said a little puzzled.


    Of course, it gets more complicated.


    “Also, your skills are pathetic. Why didn’t I try this with someone who can actually fight?” Raxus sighed, his voice both mocking and disappointed well am sorry where am from a 9 mm is better than any martial art.


    After fully analyzing me, he touched my back. It felt exactly like I thought it would—like dried-up grape skins and old man wrinkles. Why? Why did I still have the sensation of touch when I was a spirit? Why couldn’t I just not feel it?


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    I fought the urge to throw up still wasn''t sure how I would throw up without a stomach,but before I could dwell on it, a sharp pain spread through every fiber of my being.


    I wanted to scream, but the pain was too much. The scream was stuck in my throat. If I had a real body, my veins would have been bulging from my forehead and neck by now. The pain suddenly concentrated in my center of gravity, twisting like a hot blade digging into my core.


    After what felt like minutes—hours?—the pain started to fade. I dropped to my knees, gasping for air.


    “What the hell was that?” I choked out.


    “That, my friend, would be your new core. It’s restricted for now, but the seals will break the more you use it. Since the core is in your soul rather than your body, it’ll be nearly undetectable.” Raxus studied me, seemingly satisfied with his work.


    “What is this ‘core’ nonsense, and why did it fucking hurt?”


    “Your questions will be answered at another time. Also, brace yourself—more pain is inbound.”


    “Wait… what do you?”


    Before I could finish, my body floated into the air, straightening until I was lying flat. Raxus started drawing symbols in the air with his red flames. The symbols twisted and flickered in a language I didn’t understand.


    After forming two full sentences, he pushed them toward me. The symbols spun like a bicycle wheel before melting into my chest and my back.


    The first sensation I felt was a slight prick before a large burning sensation as the symbol sunk into me.


    Each one seared into me, one after the other, at different intervals. I clenched my teeth so hard it felt like my teeth were real. I wasn''t sure if the pain was the same or if some of the symbols hurt more than the other.


    “Stooop… it burns!” I screamed, the pain worse than when Raxus had burned me with those ropes of flame.


    “Patience. Almost done. You’ll need these engravings.”


    Even through my agony, I could hear the enjoyment in his voice.


    At this point I wish I had a physical body. If I had my real body, my brain would’ve knocked me unconscious by now to spare me from the pain. But no—this astral form left me fully awake, forced to endure every second of this torture.


    After what felt like months, Raxus finally finished.


    He slowly lowered me back to the ground. At that point, I was too exhausted to even curse at him. I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, taking deep breaths.


    “The engravings will be crucial for you,” he said. “The one on your chest is Master of All Language. You can now speak any language, and new ones will take only seconds to understand. The other is Warrior of Combat. As the name suggests, you’ll have knowledge of various fighting skills. Applying them, however, is up to you.”


    I was too drained to respond.


    Raxus opened a portal.


    “I’m dropping you off somewhere my power is hidden. The moment you step through, you’ll get back your physical body—and my power. Also, a pleasant surprise. Now, hop to it.” He bowed theatrically toward the swirling vortex.


    I sluggishly pushed myself up and walked toward the portal. But before stepping through, I used the opportunity to throw Raxus the finger.


    Big mistake.


    He raised the portal, making me fall from a height of about thirteen feet.


    I landed with a painful thud, dust rising in a thick cloud around me.


    The pain was bad enough, but what worse was that I was buck naked. Tiny pebbles and splinters made their way into places they had no business being yes especially that part pulling that splinter will hurt worse than when it got in.


    “Jesus, that hurt,” I wheezed as the air slowly returned to my lungs.


    I forced myself to my feet, groaning. The air was thick with the scent of oak and damp earth. Gnats swarmed around me, buzzing in the humid air. Massive trees loomed in every direction, their canopies so dense they blocked most of the sunlight. Roots twisted along the forest floor, some even reaching my feet.


    Thick vines curled around tree trunks, some hanging low enough to brush against my skin as I moved. The distant calls of unknown animals could be heard, and somewhere nearby, there must have been running water either a river or a tributary.


    The air was warm but carried a faint chill beneath the humidity—like the kind that warned of approaching rain. Every step I took sent damp leaves and twigs crunching underfoot, the sound oddly loud in the otherwise quiet wilderness.


    I was in the middle of nowhere in a different world, I wasn''t sure if it had continents like mine, I wasn''t sure if it had a continent.