《Fallen Chaos》


 Fallen Chaos

    Kingdom of Scot, Capital City: Eldergrove.


    The sound of multiple carts, filled with goods and pushed by merchants, surrounded the market.


    Morning sunlight poured down onto the city''s streets, where people and merchants were dressed in the attire of commoners.


    The women wore long dresses in shades of deep blue and red, adorned with simple lace and floral patterns, while the men sported waistcoats in muted greens and browns, paired with crisp white shirts and trousers.


    They animatedly discussed prices and wares.


    The smell of freshly baked bread and spices wafted through the air.


    Merchants called out to customers as they passed, with sounds echoing from various intersections and corners.


    Meanwhile, a group of people stood at the centre of the market, looking up at a young man on his knees, chained at his hands and legs.


    His face was battered and bloodied, and the dark cloth he wore was tattered.


    He had dirty, unkempt white hair that fell around his face, partially obscuring his eyes. His head was bowed towards the ground, while the crowd shared gossip about him.


    A murmur rippled through the gathered townsfolk, voices filled with contempt and curiosity.


    "I can''t believe he sold us out like that," one woman exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief as she shook her head.


    "He deserves whatever comes to him," a man grumbled, arms crossed tightly over his chest, his brow furrowed.


    "What a fool! Did he really think he could get away with it?" another voice chimed in, disdain dripping from every word.


    A small boy clutched his mother''s skirt, peering out with wide eyes.


    "What a poor soul, may God bless him," a church follower whispered, her eyes reflected a glimmer of pity.


    ''Why do they think I would actually be executed?'' He feigned regret, but deep down, a twisted smile crept onto his face.


    ''Moreover, I didn''t even commit... well, I didn''t commit much. I can''t say I didn''t commit when I "mistakenly" sold the city''s economic information to the Lian Kingdom in Southern England.


    ''Hehehe. That made me a nice sum, but it also landed me here.'' The young man thought.


    Recently, he had sold the most valuable information to the rival kingdom of his own land for a sum of money, as he wanted to treat himself to a "holiday."


    But the moment he exchanged the information and collected the money just outside the kingdom walls, a few brisk walks away from the already vanished buyers, he was suddenly surrounded by firearms and spears pointed at him by the soldiers from the Kingdom of Scot¡ªthe land he was born in.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    And that was how he ended up in this predicament; it had been four days since the initial incident.


    ''I didn''t actually sell anything or anyone out; I gave them a fake document. It''s not like I could get my hands on the real one, and even if I did, why would I be so foolish as to sell it for such a price when I could negotiate for a larger sum from both governments, collect the money, and still scam them!''


    Suddenly, two figures appeared out of nowhere. They had used a teleportation spell, standing behind Caelum.


    Everyone fell silent after their arrival.


    One held a shotgun, directing it at his head; this man was the current local captain. The captain was in his mid-forties, with a rugged face marked by a few scars.


    His dark hair was cropped short, and he had piercing blue eyes. He wore a weathered leather coat over a simple tunic and sturdy trousers.


    The priest, around sixty, had a gaunt face with deep-set, sorrowful eyes. His thinning white hair framed his face, and he wore a long, dark robe adorned with silver embroidery.


    Their demeanour towards Caelum was cold and unforgiving.


    The captain''s grip on the shotgun was steady, while the priest''s expression was a mixture of anger and pity.


    "Caelum, you stand accused of treason," the captain stated, his voice was resolute.


    "You have sold your kingdom''s secrets to the enemy. The punishment for such a crime is instant execution."


    The priest nodded solemnly, adding, "You''ve brought shame upon us all. There is no mercy for betrayers, even in the hands of God."


    Caelum remained silent on the outside.


    Inwardly, he mused, ''What can I say? I''m already meant to die, even if I had never gotten into this; I have been cursed by the Graceless End anyway¡­''


    ...


    The Graceless End is the most feared and mysterious phenomenon in all four kingdoms.


    This curse transforms its bearers into killing machines against their enemies, drawing those foes to them with a relentless compulsion to either kill or be killed.


    Those afflicted are known as the Graceless, and this curse emerged two hundred years ago, on the night of the first Golden Moon ever seen, its origins are shrouded in mystery.


    The kingdoms have deemed Graceless individuals as threats to world peace, fearing that dangerous beings, distinct from the human race, might come for them.


    Once cursed, the Graceless are bound to a life of flight, violence, and despair. Their powers stem from their emotions, with the intensity of their feelings determining their strength.


    Unfortunately, two weeks ago, Caelum received a dream in which he was cursed.


    He saw himself in a cracked mirror, his eyes burning red, as a mark of two serpents wove itself onto his chest, accompanied by a searing pain in his back as another mark began to form.


    This was the rumoured way the curse manifested: the bearer would begin to turn pale and cold, as if death were imminent.


    Waking from the dream in fear, Caelum was confused and frightened, ultimately resigning himself to his fate.


    Having always loathed enduring hardship, he decided to go on one last peaceful holiday.


    Stricken by poverty throughout his life, and now at the age of 18, he turned to "betray" his kingdom, feeling he had nothing left to lose.


    ...


    As the local captain prepared his gun, loading the shotgun with double-barrel cartridges, he locked it and steadily rested the muzzle against Caelum''s head.


    At that moment, Caelum smiled.


    The townsfolk below began to look away, some covering their children''s eyes.


    Suddenly, a sound echoed in Caelum''s head, akin to a loud drum, sending a jarring pain through his skull.


    His eyes reddened as he shook his head in agony.


    The two figures stared at him, confused.


    A burning sensation coursed through Caelum''s back, radiating to his neck like molten lava. His limbs began to numb.


    The priest noticed a red mark spreading across Caelum''s neck, two serpents intertwining and opening their mouths wide as if to bite.


    Panic surged through him as he recalled that the manifestation of the Graceless End curse was very similar to this.


    He ordered the local captain to execute Caelum immediately, but the middle-aged man was too bewildered to act.


    "I said kill him! He has been cursed by the Graceless End!" the priest shouted again, snatching the gun from the captain''s hand.


    His hands trembled as he hastily aimed it at Caelum''s head.


    The pain in Caelum''s head became unbearable until, suddenly, strength surged through him, compelling him to break free from his chains.


    Crack... crrr... crack... crack.


    The chains began to splinter as Caelum pulled against them, his eyes glowing red; that same light escaped his gaze, turning everything he saw to crimson.


    ''What is this pain? It''s killing me, I can''t¡ª''


    "Ahhh!!!" he cried out in agony.


    A faint flicker of light appeared before Caelum, a burning inferno taking the shape of an incomplete square.


    A mechanical sound tore through his mind.


    [Welcome, Fledgling.] You''re now a Graceless!


    [Prepare to kill or be killed!]


    His eyes widened in shock, but soon after, his end came...


    Bam!


    The priest fired the bullet, the force of the gun causing him to fall to the ground as the weapon flew from his hands.


    The bullet pierced through Caelum''s skull, sending blood splattering.


    A red hole appeared at the back of his head, the blood spreading through his white hair as his body thudded to the ground, lifeless.


    ¡­


    [Thraxs]: Undead - useless.


    [Class]: Cursed One - locked.


    [Entering your Subconsciousness.]


    [Location]: Fallen Land.

 First fate

    Caelum floated in the heart of a dense forest, suspended in mid-air among the towering trees.


    His eyes were closed, and a vivid red energy enveloped him, swirling gently as if cradling him in its embrace.


    The wind howled around him, causing the branches to sway violently, leaves rustling.


    Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.


    In an instant, the red energy dissipated, vanishing into thin air. The wind calmed, returning to a gentle breeze, and Caelum plummeted towards the forest floor.


    He fell with a suddenness that stole the breath from his lungs, landing with a harsh thud. The impact jarred his body, sending a sharp pain radiating through the back of his head.


    He felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.


    The world spun for a moment, and he lay still, grappling with the throbbing ache that pulsed in time with his heartbeat.


    ¡°Aye, my head¡­¡± Caelum glanced around his surroundings as he stood up from the ground, a hand pressed to his head.


    ''Where am I...? Is this part of the curse?'' he pondered, staring at the tall trees whose leaves shaded the light, leaving his area dark and cold.


    [Confirming your race!]


    [The rise of the Cursed one has begun...]


    [Face your first fate]


    The Fate of Reckoning: This fate compels Graceless Ones to confront their past decisions, which will manifest as enemies in various forms, along with the repercussions that will follow.


    [Once you tame your first fate, you will be brought back to life as an Undead, and if you die, you will remain dead.]


    [Good luck!]


    The inferno vanished, dispersing like smoke.


    ¡°Uhn? Wait, Mr Inferno or Grace! What does all this mean!? Will I be unable to die once I pass this trial¡­¡±


    A cunning smirk crept onto Caelum¡¯s face as he rubbed his hands together.


    He was excited about one thing: the fact that he wouldn¡¯t be able to die, no matter how severe the wound or whatever might happen, as he would be an Undead.


    Of course, he had the common sense to understand what that term meant. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    But in relation to other things the inferno had said, he had no idea.


    Yes, he knew about the curse and a bit about magic, as it was what brought the world into existence. Everyone has magic, apart from a few like him; there are mages everywhere.


    But the worst kind of beings to exist¡ªthe strongest type of magical entities¡ªare those that awaken their talents through the Graceless End curse.


    They are also the most targeted beings, so no one would wish to be cursed just to become the strongest, only to be pursued endlessly by beings from different realms that will stop at nothing to kill a Graceless.


    They could raze towns to bring them down. This is why, once someone has been identified as cursed, they must be killed before the curse begins to take effect.


    Well, as for Caelum, its effects had already begun before he was shot.


    So, in other words, he isn¡¯t dead yet, but if he is unable to tame his fate, then he will be dead.


    At present, he was in his own subconsciousness, now under the influence of the curse.


    ''Wait, come to think of it, I don¡¯t have any talent in the magical aspect... I can¡¯t face whatever is coming head-on; I can only¡­ ''


    Before Caelum could successfully compose his thoughts, a black chain suddenly burst from the ground and wrapped around both of his legs, sending him crashing to the floor.


    The entire scene instantaneously changed to a dark room, where cracks spiderwebbed across the walls and floor.


    He found himself alone in the middle of this room, with a burning stick lying on the ground in front of him.


    This was exactly how the dungeon he had been in before today, on his day of execution, had looked.


    His eyes darted around the room, confused and shaken.


    His breathing came in heavy pants, and his heart raced.


    Suddenly, he heard the sound of a loud wall clock ticking, but it was nowhere to be seen.


    A red figure emerged from the darkness, its eyes as dark as shadows. It seemed to burn and writhe like flames as it crawled towards Caelum, who now struggled to free himself from his bonds as soon as he noticed the being.


    Fortunately, the chains around his legs fell away, and instantly, Caelum leaped backwards to the walls, away from the monster.


    ¡°What¡¯s that thing? You can¡¯t possibly be my mistakes... Hahaha, I knew it was this ugly,"  he mocked as a form of distraction, using his hands to search for a broken brick or a place in the wall where he could insert his hands to pry out a stone.


    But it seemed the monster understood none of his words; no, it didn¡¯t even have ears to perceive the vibrations of his speech, so distracting it with that was impossible.


    The creature writhed and crawled, its dark form radiating an unsettling heat that made the air shimmer.


    Panic surged through Caelum, but he forced himself to think clearly.


    Luckily, his fingers found a jagged edge, and he pried at it, feeling the rough surface scrape against his skin.


    The monster lunged at him, and Caelum barely dodged its grasp, rolling to the side just in time.


    As he quickly stood up, gripping the stone tightly and wearing a wide grin on his face, the creature unleashed a wave of dark energy.


    It slammed into him like a forceful gust, knocking him back against the wall.


    Pain shot through his ribs, but he pushed it aside and stood up again.


    ¡°Hehehe. I can''t be killed by my own mistakes, not in this life, not ever. Don¡¯t worry, baby, I will fix you... a place in hell!¡± Caelum shouted at the top of his lungs.


    The monster charged again.


    Caelum hurled the stone at it, but it barely fazed the beast.


    "Bloody bastard!"


    He grabbed another stone from the wall, swinging it with all his strength at the creature¡¯s core.


    The creature recoiled, flickering as if struggling to maintain its form.


    "Oh my God, I found your weakness! Now die!"


    Caelum lunged forward, thrusting the jagged stone deep into the creature. It writhed in agony, and he felt a rush of triumph as it began to disintegrate into dark smoke.


    "Stupid creature, were you that easy to kill? Acting all mighty, huh?"


    Caelum dusted off his arms and noticed that the ticking clock sound had ceased, the burning stick had stopped, and it was now just blackened, almost as if it had cooled down.


    He picked it up, hoping to use it as a weapon if he encountered anything else. He scraped one end against the wall until it became sharp and pointy.


    He then swung it in a wide arc, laughing and testing its strength.


    After wasting a moment doing that, he fell to the ground to catch his breath.


    "Aren''t I done? Or is that just one of my mistakes...? That would be horrific if so," Caelum mused.


    Just after that, he was suddenly back in the forest, but it was now dark, and thick fog covered the ground, hiding his legs.


    "Uhhn? Wasn''t there daylight or some kind of light around here? How did it become night so quickly? Well, this isn''t the worst thing I''ve seen in my life yet."


    Caelum recalled when he was five years old, playing by himself, and he unknowingly wandered into a forest where he was chased by multiple corrupted beasts¡ªabout five¡ªuntil he nearly fell off a cliff.


    Well, he did fall, but somehow survived.


    Remembering that trauma sent a chill down his spine.


    ''Do I keep on moving now?''


    Caelum gazed at the thick fog and noticed a pair of red eyes a few metres away from him, rushing towards him in a menacing manner.


    It was at least the size of a rabbit and had an enormous head.


    "Oh my goodness!"